Lemon Basil Zucchini Alfredo

So I've been working on this recipe for a little while. I loved similar recipes from Pioneer Woman and Our Best Bites, so I combined and tweaked the two until I came up with this. And it may in fact be my all-time favorite meal! It's more of a fresh Summer meal, but it's still soooo good any time of the year. It's the type of meal that I have one or two bowls of it AFTER I'm full. :) Hope you like it!

2 chicken breasts

12 oz angel pasta

½ stick butter

zest of 2 lemons

juice of 4 lemons

1 c half and half

1 ½ c grated Parmesan cheese

at least 20 basil leaves (the more the better), chopped

2 T red wine vinegar

2 T olive oil

1 medium zucchini

1 t dried oregano

salt and pepper

Place chicken in a zip-lock back with the juice of one lemon (about 3 T), 2 T olive oil, and 2 T red wine vinegar. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes. Slice your zucchini in half length-wise. Drizzle or spray with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Salt and pepper chicken. Grill chicken and zucchini (I broiled it in the oven). The chicken takes longer than the zucchini. Chop and set aside.

Cook your pasta. (I always use angel hair pasta because it cooks in just 4 minutes!) Drain and set aside.

In a medium pan, melt butter over medium heat. Squeeze in the juice of 3 lemons (about 9 T). Whisk together. Pour in half-and-half. Whisk until hot. Add about a cup of cheese and whisk until melted. Salt and pepper.

Combine zest, oregano, basil, pasta, chicken, zucchini, and sauce in a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and enjoy!

Nutter Butter Ghosts

Looking for a fun idea for your Halloween parties this week? My mom made these little ghosts a lot while we were growing up and they are really yummy and quick!

1 package Almond Bark or 1 package white chocolate chips and 1 T shortening
1 package Nutter Butters
mini chocolate chips

Melt chocolate in microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until smooth and melted. Using a fork, place a cookie in chocolate and turn to coat, tap off excess chocolate. Place on pan lined with greased wax paper and add ghost eyes. Place in fridge until hard. Enjoy! Happy Halloween!

Steak Sandwiches

This is a recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman. It's one of our very favorite meals. Make this for your husbands and it's sure to be a real hit.

• 1 whole Large (or 2 Small) Onions
• 1-2 sticks Butter
• 2 pounds sirloin steak (if you get the pre-cut for stir fry it's lots faster)
• seasoned salt
• ½ cups Worcestershire Sauce
• Tabasco Sauce, to taste (optional)
• 4 whole French/deli Rolls (I love Aunt Hattie's hoagies are awesome and you can find them at Walmart)
• slice mozzarella (optional)

Slice onions and cook in 1/4 stick butter until soft and light brown. Remove and set aside.

Slice steak against the grain. Season with Lawry’s.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter over high heat (in same skillet) until melted and beginning to brown. Add meat in single layer. Cook one side until brown, then flip and cook until brown, about a minute on both sides.

Add 1/2 cup (at least) Worcestershire sauce, 5 to 6 shakes Tabasco, and 2 tablespoons butter. Add cooked onions. Stir to combine.

Butter halved French rolls and brown in skillet.

To assemble, lay bottom half of French roll on plate. Add cheese, meat mixture, followed by a spoonful of juice from the pan. Top with other half of roll, cut in half, and devour!

It's also just as yummy to use less butter. You could probably even only use half the amount.