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Oh so much has happened since I last blogged here. I promise that this little neglected spot is going to be more active now that I'm a stay-at-home mom. Catch up with our happenings here and then scroll down for a Lockett family favorite meal. My goal is to feature one of the meals I cook each week, with recipes and tips to go along. Enjoy!

The Meal:
Summer Vegetable Pasta with Citrus Sauce, French Bread

&
Chocolate Kahlua Bread Pudding with Vanilla Whipped Cream

Summer Vegetable Pasta
adapted from Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook

8 ounces dried tri-color rotini pasta
(I buy the vegetable pasta with spinach, tomato, and beet flavored pasta)
2 cups asparagus, cut in one inch pieces
1 medium yellow squash
1 medium zucchini
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
(To cut calories, spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray and omit oil.)
1/2 cup whipping cream
(You can do this with milk to cut a few calories, but it's not as creamy)
2 teaspoons lemon zest

1st - Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot
2nd - Saute asparagus, squash, zucchini, and garlic in olive oil in large skillet
3rd - Drain pasta and return to large pot
4th - Add vegetables to pasta
5th - Pour whipping cream and lemon zest into skillet and cook until thickened, and reduced to about 1/3 cup
6th - Pour sauce over pasta and vegetables, stir well

French Bread
from The Peach Tree Tea Room Cookbook, Fredericksburg, TX

1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
3 cups unsifted unbleached flour
1 cup unsifted whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Extra virgin olive oil
Cornmeal

1st - Dissolve yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water.
2nd - Combine the flours and salt in stand mixer fitted with bread hook attachment. Add yeast mixture to mixing bowl.
3rd - Allow mixer to knead dough until completely combined, and no longer sticky. Scrape edges as needed
4th - Brush inside of large bowl with olive oil and place dough inside, brush top of dough with olive oil, cover with towel and allow to rise one hour.
5th - Once dough has doubled in size, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured cutting board. Divide into two parts. Shape each part into a long narrow loaf.
6th - Place loaves on a greased cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover, and let rise about 30 minutes.
7th - Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.

Serve one loaf of bread with dinner, but save the second for making this fantastic bread pudding.

Chocolate Kahlua Bread Pudding
adapted from Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons, Too cookbook

1-pound loaf French bread, cut into cubes
(or any bread you have around the house, seriously, I've even made it with whole wheat bread and no one knew the difference.)
3 cups milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup Kahlua
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Hershey cocoa powder
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons pure almond extract
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
12 ounces Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips

1st - Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease a 13 X 9 inch baking dish.
2nd - Place bread cubes into baking dish.
3rd - Wisk together next 10 ingredients and pour them over the bread evenly.
4th - Sprinkle chocolate chips over entire baking dish.
5th - Smoosh bread with back of a large spoon, forcing it to absorb liquid, allow to stand for 20 minutes.
6th - Bake the pudding for 1 hour, or until set, serve warm with vanilla whipped cream.

Vanilla Whipped Cream
my own version, thank you very much

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients in stand mixer bowl fitted with wisk attachment. Beat until soft peaks form.

This whipped cream is heavenly on coffee or hot chocolate too!

Questions, food victories? Please share and comment below!