Pasta Caprese

For me, almost no flavor screams "summer" quite like the combination of tomato, mozzarella, and basil. Throw some pasta in there, and I'm drooling already.

I found this recipe on Kraft's site and it pulled together very, very quickly - a perfect weeknight meal! I've made something similar in the past (Giada's Fusilli alla Caprese) and really, no one way is better than the other. Just throw it all together and you're good to go!

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. capellini or spaghetti, uncooked
• 1/2 cup KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups halved grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
• 1/3 cup fresh basil, finely sliced

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 2 min. Add tomatoes; cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

DRAIN pasta. Add to tomato mixture; mix lightly. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

French Onion Burgers

I loooooove things that are French Onion. My blog contains FO risotto, chicken casserole, pork chops, mac and cheese... it's just yum.

So of course, when The Rookie Chef posted this recipe for FO Burgers, I was all about it.


The recipe did not disappoint at all. I used a whole packet of FO mix even though I only used a pound of turkey. I also didn't mix the dip in with the meat; I spread it on the bun instead of ketchup. I would for sure make these again!


Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef (I used just 1 lb of ground turkey)
  
• 1 envelope (about 1 1/2 ounces) onion soup mix
• 8 ounces French onion dip (1 cup)
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/8teaspoon pepper
• Buns and the other fixings you desire

Fire up your grill!

Mix all ingredients (minus buns and additional toppings) and shape into 8 patties

Grill patties to the degree of wellness that you prefer

Throw on a bun and top with lettuce, tomato, or whatever you choose!

Pudding Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I promised one of my classes that I would bake for them since they won this little contest we had at school. It took me weeks to get around to it, and I felt terrible, but finally I did it!

I found this interesting recipe for Pudding Chocolate Chunk Cookies on the Kraft site and decided to go with that.

I liked these a lot, actually, though I think I'd like to play around with pudding flavors next time. They make mint and cookies and cream and all kinds of cool ones! For this one, I used plain ol' chocolate.


Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Instant Pudding, any flavor
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2-1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 pkg. (12 oz.) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Beat butter, sugars, dry pudding mix and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix well. Gradually add flour and baking soda, beating until well blended. Stir in chocolate chunks. (Dough will be stiff.)

DROP teaspoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheets. Cool completely on wire racks.