{Kaitlin in the Kitchen}: August 2011

Hey there :) I've got a great side dish recipe to share with you tonight that requires very little effort! I threw a seasoning blend together and it turned out awesome on these potatoes. These will definitely be making many repeats in our house, especially with the fall season approaching it's nice to have something going in the crock pot :) Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 Large Russet Potatoes

1/3 Cup Water

3 Tablespoons Cold Butter

1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

2 Teaspoons Dried Minced Onions

1/4 Teaspoon Paprika

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Chives

Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Directions:

Wash your potatoes and cut them into bite sized wedges then toss them into the crock pot. Pour the water over the potatoes. Mix together your seasonings and sprinkle over the potatoes, adding salt & pepper to your liking. Cut your butter into little pieces and place randomly over all of the potatoes. Cover and set your cooker to high and cook for 2 hours. Mine were perfect at this point. If needed add more salt & pepper after you get a chance to taste them.

Hey there! I can't believe I'm actually here and posting a RECIPE! I'm really hoping to start consistently posting recipes on here again, I really miss it..but with a new baby there's not much time to do anything other than take care of her every need, but I wouldn't change a thing. She will be 2 months old on Saturday, I can't believe it! She's already grown so much and is just smiling away lately..I love it! Okay okay, enough baby talk..back to the yummies! Everybody needs a good marinara recipe. I admit I will absolutely buy a jar of sauce when I just don't feel like making it, even though it's really quite easy and nothing compares to it. My husband and I definitely prefer it homemade, and I'm sure if you've never made your own and you try it, you will too! You may want to double the recipe and make it in a bigger pot but since it's just the two of us I just make a smaller batch. This works great on homemade pizza also! The above picture of spaghetti & meatballs is making me hungry! Buon Appetito!

Ingredients:

1 28 oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes

1 Cup Diced Onions

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Thyme

1 Teaspoon Dried Basil

1 Teaspoon Dried Parsley

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Oregano

1 Teaspoon Granulated Sugar

5 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a pan, add 3 tablespoons of your olive oil and turn on medium high heat. Once oil is hot, add your onions and saute them for about 5-7 minutes or until they start to turn slightly translucent, then add your garlic and saute for another 3 minutes or so, making sure not to burn the garlic. Pour in your crushed tomatoes and mix with the onions and garlic. Add all of your seasonings including salt & pepper, the remaining olive oil, and the Parmesan cheese. Check for seasonings and add more depending on your taste. Lower heat to medium, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes, or even longer at a slightly lower temperature. The longer it sits, the better, but I usually use it within an hour of making it and it's delicious. Enjoy!