Baked Chicken-Bacon Alfredo

Recipe by Our Best Bites

8 oz. penne or bowtie pasta

1 recipe Guiltless Alfredo Sauce (1 16-oz. jar would work in a pinch)

2 chicken breasts, grilled and chopped (about 2 c. chopped chicken)

6 oz. (1/2 package) cooked bacon, chopped

1 14-oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1/2 c. chopped green onions (about 1 decent-sized bunch)

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350.

Prepare pasta according to package directions.

While pasta is cooking, prepare Guiltless Alfredo sauce. When pasta is done, drain and add to the sauce. Toss with chopped chicken, bacon, artichoke hearts, green onions, and 1/2 c. mozzarella. Season to taste.

Transfer mixture to an 8×8″ baking dish and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.

I used just a regular alfredo sauce recipe, we're not a huge fan of the guiltless alfredo sauce here but this was really good. Serve it up with a green salad and french bread. Easy-peasy lemony squeezy!! Definate key is a good sauce!!

Blackberry Cobbler...

So if you're wondering why I'm gaining so much weight, it's not the pregnancy, it's my eating! Another Ree Drummond recipe that's yum-o!

1/2 stick butter, melted

1 1/4 cups plus 2 TBSP sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup whole milk

2 cups fresh (or frozen) blackberries

whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 3 quart baking dish with butter or non stick spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk 1 cup sugar with flour and milk. Whisk in the melted butter.

Rinse blackberries and pat dry. Pour batter into baking dish. Sprinkle berries evenly over the top of the batter. Sprinkle 1/4 cup sugar over the berries. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 1 hour. When 10 mins of the cooking time remains, sprinkle with remaining 2 TBSP sugar over the top (I forgot to do this and it was fine). Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream!

Cherry Limeade

This is another Pioneer Woman recipe but I made it last weekend when we had some friends up and it was yum. A fun drink for any occasion!

2-liter bottle lemon-lime soda

1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (only like 6 limes or so)

1 cup sugar

1 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries, with juice

Thin lime slices

Chill all ingredients before mixing.

When cold, combine the lemon-lime soda with lime juice, sugar, cherries with their juice and lime slices in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate 30 mins. Enjoy!

SPINACH SALAD

This is my sister-in-law, Nicole's recipe and it is super good!!!

1/2 bunch fresh spinach
1/4 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup sugared almonds (or slivered almonds)
1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 head lettuce
1/2 can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

Microwave bacon on a plate covered w/paper towel to absorb grease. Cook 2-3 minutes. Crumble cooked bacon. Mix lettuce, spinach, and mushrooms together. Sprinkle bacon, oranges, cheese, and almonds on top. Serve with Poppy seed dressing.

POPPY SEED DRESSING
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 teaspoons poppy seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon pureed onion
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
Mix all ingredients (except oil) until sugar is completely dissolved.
While beating on high speed drop 2-3 drops of oil into mixture. Gradually add remaining oil in a thin stream to complete emulsification.
* This recipe makes A LOT of dressing, may want to half it.

SUGARED ALMONDS
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter

Blend sugar and melted butter well. Coat almonds and spread them on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Stir after 7 minutes. When lightly browned, remove from oven. Loosen nuts with a metal spatula and let them cool completely.

Hot corn-

This is so easy and so delicious!!!

One bag of sweet corn from freezer, 8 oz cream cheese, jalapenos (as many as you want) put in a pan, heat and stir until it becomes creamy!