Pasta and Cookies

This is a quick post.  No pictures.  Just me.  And maybe a recipe or two.  So, what's on my mind?  Cookies.  And pasta.  And chicken parmesan.  And my boys.  And baseball.  All things that make me happy.

So, this weekend, MY Rangers, locked up a trip to the World Series.  It is SO awesome!  And exciting!  And one of Caleb's favorite things right now is watching baseball.  And one of his favorite questions right now is "What's he doing?" so we spend a lot of our time explaining double plays and walk off grand slams. 

Also, this weekend I made cookies.  A lot of them.  I made Amish sugar cakes (I already posted that recipe) and chocolate chip cookies.  Are you ready for this recipe???  It's INCREDIBLE which means that it only has four ingredients and amazingly delicious.

Incredible Cookies...

1 box of cake mix

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 eggs

1.5 c. mix-ins

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Combine all ingredients and spoon onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cook slightly on pans before transferring to cooling rack.

NOTES:  I prefer to use Betty Crocker cake mixes.  They just bake up better than other brands.  For chocolate chip, I like to use the golden vanilla flavor.  You can use any flavor cake mix and mix-in you like.  It's FUN to come up with new ideas and combinations!  :)

While I was making cookies, Caleb was "helping" me.  He is really good at eating cookie dough out of the bowl and saying "more please...tatou Mommy!"  He also helps out by sitting on the floor in front of the oven and watching the cookies bake.  He sings the cookies songs.  His old stand by is "Old MacDonald".  I'm sure the cookies appreciate it.  It makes me think of when people play music at their plants to help them grow.  I'm sure Caleb's sweet voice helps the cookies be extra delicious. 

After the cookies were out of the oven and tested for quality control, I made dinner.  Our menu? 

Topsy Turvy Lasagna...

1 # ground beef

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 # pasta

16 oz. cottage cheese

1/2 c. grated cheese

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Cook pasta and drain.  Brown ground beef, drain, and add sauce.  Grease a 9 x 13" baking dish.  Pour in pasta, top with beef mixture, top with cottage cheese, and sprinkle grated cheese over the top.  Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown and yummy looking.  Let cool slightly before serving.  Serve with yummy bread and healthy veggies. 

I am in love with chicken parmesan.  I think it's my favorite thing to order when we go to Italian restaurants.  But it's REALLY easy for a restaurant to screw up.  I CAN make it myself and it turns out super yummy but, holy moly, is it ever an investment of energy, time, and love.  People have been telling me about a restaurant in our area that has awesome chicken parm.  The restaurant is called Oliva's and it's in the Keller area.  We're going to give it a whirl tonight and see if it lives up to the hype.  ;)

Well, that's it.  Hope you love it! 

Love,

Emmy  :)