Recipes of the Week: Bacon Bow Tie Pasta & Guinness Crock Pot

SH here and I am loooving all my new recipes! It's getting a lot less intimidating with each new thing I try, and I'm really loving trying new foods in my own home :)

Bacon Bow Tie Pasta
I picked this gem up at MyRecipes.com and the full bacon bow tie pasta recipe is right here for you!
The recipe is pretty simple and it didn't take long for me to make. I did use gluten free pasta instead of bow tie pasta to keep the gluten out of this dairy heavy recipe. Honestly anything with bacon is f$%^& delicious for me! The sauce was easy to make... and dude, bacon for dinner? Yes please!
My husband is not a huge cream cheese fan and did think this sauce was a bit heavy and creamy - but it's bacon, he'll be fine.

All ready and stirred up in the pot with sauce, noodles and crispy bacon!

Serve hot :)

Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew
I made this recipe for my office - we had a pot luck to celebrate St Paddys Day so I knew this sick twist on my usual crock pot fav would be amazing. BakedByRachel.com had a great recipe that I followed for this one - you can check it out for yourself right here.

It does take a bit of prep work (crock pot always does) but it's so worth it and it smells so damn good when you wake up! (I got wifey points for waking up to an apartment smelling like beef and guinness) :)

All chopped up and ready to go

Add that Guinness in! I used a whole bottle :)

Pure St Paddys Day food joy!

What new recipes have you all been getting yourself into? Trying out holiday themed recipes? Sharing with your office or family? Post links below - I'm always looking to try something new :)

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Spaghetti Squash: Your New Best Friend

Lacey, here! Pasta tends to be my most ravenous craving. If I want it, I need it, which makes it pretty difficult to say no to. A few months ago I discovered spaghetti squash, and havent made "regular" pasta in months (we were making quinoa based pasta, much healthier than most stuff you find at the store, but still...).  The great thing about spaghetti squash is it has that same texture as spaghetti, while giving you nutrients, and still allowing you to make those fun pestos & sauces we all love so much.

Here's how I do it.

1. Get yourself a spaghetti squash.
2. Preheat oven to 375.
3. Cut it in half, length-wise, and scoop out the seeds, just like a pumpkin.

4. Face cut side up, brush the meaty part with olive oil and bake 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of your squash. Check with fork by poking. Should feel on the softer side.

5. When finished, allow to cool a little and use a fork to scrape out the "noodles".

6. Top with your favorite pesto (here's my fav) or make a fun veggie topping like I did the other night.

 

Veggie Topping:
1. In a pan, sautee sliced carrots, onion, and green pepper (or whatever veggies you'd like). Always cook the most dense ones first since they'll need longer time.
2. At the end of cooking, add in fresh chopped tomato and top with olive oil & oregano, parsley, and onion powder. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes on low heat.
3. Put on top of your squash!

Easy peasy!!!
Eat up!