“Heavy Pasta” Birthday Dinner!

Hello, and welcome back! Yesterday I told how we planned, decorated, and pulled off the surprise party for Piano Girl. Today, I’m sharing the menu and recipes.

A week before my daughter’s birthday, I asked her what meal she would like for her birthday dinner. Now this didn’t tip her off to our surprise because I always cook the birthday person a meal of their choosing. She just didn’t know it would be for a group! Her reply? With a sigh and a far off gaze (literally), she said two simple words.

Heavy. Pasta.

So, we went Italian!

I set out some water and Artichoke Spinach Dip for the guests to snack on while the garlic bread was in the oven and Piano Girl was recovering from the shock she received as she walked in the door. This recipe is originally from Paula Deen, with only minor changes. I served it with an assortment of crackers.

Artichoke and Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and drained

2-3 cans (depending on how much you like artichokes) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

3 cups grated Parmesan cheese 

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients and bake in greased casserole dish for 30-40 minues or until bubbly and golden. 

*****

Main Course:

Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread Sticks, and

Heavy Pasta!

While I will always love a freshly made alfredo sauce served immediately from the stove, that just wasn’t going to work for a crowd. When I need something more manageble for a larger gathering, and especially if I need to make it in advance, this Three-Cheese Pasta Bake from Southern Living (March 2005) is a good alternative. My kids love this! I served it with garlic bread sticks and my friend’s (Kelli) recipe for Caesar Salad. I’ll have to share it sometime. As Kelli would say, “It’s the bomb!”

Three-Cheese Pasta Bake 

Ingredients:

1 (16-ounce) box ziti

2 (10-ounce) conatiners Alfredo sauce

1 (8-ounce) sour cream

1 (15-ounce) ricotta cheese

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/ cup chopped fresh parsley

1 1/2 cups mozzarella (I use more!) 

Prepare the ziti according to box direction; drain and return to pot. Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with ziti until evenly coated. Spoon half of mixture into a lightly greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Stir together ricotta cheese and next 3 ingredients; spread evenly over pasta mixture in baking dish. Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle iwth mozzarella. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly. 

Added note: I also stirred in some chopped, grilled chicken! 

*****

And for the best part of the meal…

Cookies and Cream!!!!

My girls and I are crazy over cookies-and-cream anything! If there is ever an option for cookies-and-cream when we’re ordering milkshakes, cupcakes, or any other dessert, we will always opt for CAC! My mother-in-law has the BEST recipe for a Cookies and Cream dessert that she has served for many events and was sweet enough to share with me many years ago. It’s easy and a family favorite!

Cookies and Cream 

1/2 gallon vanilla icecream

1 large Cool Whip

1 pack of oreos, crumbled (more if you want to give each serving an extra whole oreo!) 

Soften the vanilla icecream. Stir all ingredients together and pour into a caseerole dish. Freeze over night or all day. 

I served this with some canned whipped cream squirted on the sides and a whole oreo on top. I also had bottle of chocolate magic shell at each table for the girls to add if they wanted. And who would want to?!

This dessert is soooo creamy and delicious! I could eat it every night and never get tired of it. Just go ahead and double the recipe! I always do! You won’t regret it.

I hope you enjoy one or all of these recipes. If you do, let me know what you think! But if you only try one, defintely go for the Cookies and Cream!

I’ll be back tomorrow for a “Fluff the Nest Friday”!