Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

It's absolutely amazing how my son inspects food.  I guess it makes sense...he is seven, but it used to be so much easier to fool him.  He used to not like meat, except McDonald's hamburgers.  So I started making him very thin burgers and putting them in a brown bag (with a small toy of course)...ringing the doorbell and telling him Mr. McDonald dropped off his hamburger.  He totally fell for it.  Now, not so much.  "What's in this mom?"  "Is that a pepper mom?"  "Don't try to fool me mom." 

Who did I fool on this meal?  Josh.  SHHHHHH!!!  Do not ruin this for me.  Josh does not like pork...or so he says.  He has tried it, but I think it is more in his head than anything...because this is the second time I mixed a little ground pork with ground beef and he has said, "This could NOT be more delicious."  I just smile and say thanks.  :-)

I have been having a great time with a new cookbook...as usual.  You have to try this one!  Just delicious.  Even picky picky Eva ate her whole dish! 

Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

• 1/2 lb. extra lean ground beef
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 lb. lean ground pork
• 1/2 cup chopped carrots
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 12 ounces whole wheat pasta
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. In a nonstick Dutch oven, cook ground beef and onions in oil over medium-high heat until beef is no longer pin, stirring to break up beef.  Remove from Dutch oven.
2.  In same Dutch oven, cook pork, carrot and garlic until pork is no longer pink.  Drain off any fat.  Return beef and onion to Dutch oven.
3.  Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, red pepper, fennel and salt.  Bring to boiling.  Reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, about 25 minutes until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.  Stir in milk.  Cook about one minute to heat through.
4.  Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain.  Serve sauce over pasta.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Yum Yum Yum!!!  Enjoy.

Bake Sale Cookies...Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Yes!  I totally cheated at these.  But if you know me and my record of baked goods...it's not, well...so good.  I always end up with some form of battle scar (burn).  I get frustrated...I yell...and my poor family wants me to leave.  Grrr...

So, why do I offer to make cookies for the bake sale you ask? Or cut-outs for Marcus' birthday?  Because even though I am not a good baker, I am a good mom.  And I know Marcus appreciates it and is proud to say "My mom made those cookies!"  or cupcakes, or whatever it is I volunteer for.  

Even if these don't count because they are the easiest cookies to make ever, I have to say...it is a bake sale miracle!  I managed to make 4 dozen + cookies without a burn.  AND the kitchen was clean, all the dishes were done and I was not "losing it" when Josh got home from work.  I am so proud.  HAHAHA!

Here is the recipe, just in case you can't read the Hershey Kisses Package...LOL.

I actually made one pkg of peanut butter and one sugar cookie because of all the food allergies these days!

Easy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Prep time 12 min

Bake time 9 min

Makes approx. 3 dzn.

• 36 Hersheys Kisses Milk Chocolates
• 1 pouch Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie mix
• 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 egg
• granulated sugar

1.  Heat oven to 375 degrees

2.  remove wrappers from chocolates

3.  Stir cookie mix, oil, water and egg in medium bowl until soft dough forms.

4.  Shape dough into 1" balls.  Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet

5.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.  Immediately press a chocolate into the center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely.  Enjoy.