Amazing Homemade Alfredo Sauce

I remember in my single years eating many meals at my dear friend's home. She and her husband welcomed me over often for movies, meals and just time to hang out together, and didn't mind that I enjoyed babysitting their 3 children (of course not!).

She would whip up an amazing alfredo sauce to top some fettuccini and her hubby's yummy grilled chicken. Paired with crusty garlic bread and a large green salad, nothing compares! There were usually leftovers for lunch the next day and it was the perfect meal to make for parties and guests.

When I became a wife, I wanted to make homemade fettuccine alfredo that tasted as good as K's. I called her and asked for the recipe and here it is!

It's a keeper! It sure isn't a low-calorie food at all, but once in a while it's nice to have a hearty, delicious meal.

This recipe makes quite a big batch of sauce (great for taking to your neighbors who have 7 children). We usually use half of the sauce at one meal and I freeze the other half for a quick meal in the future, or I just halve the recipe to begin with. It's great to enjoy it again, without having to make it again. Cooking sauce from scratch takes a little time and effort. But what good food doesn't?


Amazing Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:
1 stick butter
2 tbl chopped garlic
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup parmesan/romano cheese (fresh or powdered)
2 cups chicken broth
32 oz 1/2 and 1/2
2 tsp Italian seasoning
salt to taste

Directions:
Melt butter in large pan on med/high heat.
Add minced garlic and sauté until it begins to brown slightly.

Turn heat down to medium.
Whisk in flour. Add parmesan, stir until blended.

Quickly add all broth at once, whisking as you pour.
Let simmer for a minute or two and add the cream and seasoning.

Whisk away any lumps and let thicken.
Add more flour to thicken, or more broth to thin out sauce to desired consistency.

Salt to taste and enjoy!

We really enjoy this sauce with grilled chicken, fettuccine noodles and broccoli, just like my dear friends used to serve it to me.

I hope that you enjoy this with family and friends. Once you make your own alfredo sauce, you will never want to buy jarred cream sauce form the store again!


Blessings,

I'm linked up with some lovely bloggers at:

Mama Leone's Chicken Soup - A Fall Favorite!

Here is a tasty little recipe for you, one of our family favorites!

It tastes great paired with some crunchy garlic bread. So, gather the ingredients, turn on the stove and get started on a delicious, healthy meal for you and your family. It's sure to warm their hearts and their toes.

 

Mama Leone's Chicken Soup

 

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 Tbl. oil

3 Tbl. butter

1 onion, diced

3 stalks celery, diced

1 Tbl minced garlic

1/2 tsp. dried tarragon

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. paprika

1/2 cup + 2 Tbl. flour

8 cups chicken broth

1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juice

3/4 cup whipping cream or half 'n half

2 cups fresh spinach, sliced

Directions:

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Bake in oven (set at 375) for 15-20 min, or fry on the stove.

Dice chicken and set aside.

 

Heat oil and butter over medium heat in a large pot.

Sauté onion and celery until soft.

Add garlic, tarragon, oregano, paprika, 2tsp salt and pepper.

Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring.

 

Add flour until combined.

Slowly whisk in broth and bring to a boil.

Whisk until there are no lumps.

 

Add diced tomatoes and cream.

Simmer for 20 minutes.

 

Add chicken and simmer for 10 more minutes.

 

Stir is spinach before serving.

Enjoy!

40 Weeks + 2 Days... He is HERE!

I'd like to introduce to you, dear friends, my NEW SON!

 

Andrew L. Baldwin, born on August 27, 2013 at 8:46pm.
9 lbs., 2oz. and 21 1/2 inches long!

 

God answered our prayers for a quick, complication-free homebirth. God is so good! True, active labor and delivery lasted 2 1/2 hours! And this was my biggest baby so far.

My first consistent contractions began around 4:30pm. By the time my midwife arrived, checked my vitals and my cervix, I was dilated to 4 cm - around 6:30pm. Then the fun began.

I will let the pictures do the talking....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Everyone who needed to be there arrived in plenty of time: my midwife, two interns, my friend who took the photographs and my mother-in-law who picked up our other two kids.

God orchestrated the entire event, He is so faithful and trustworthy!

My midwife, Amy, said that Andrew's head size was larger than average (14 3/4") AND his left hand was up against his head when he was born. Even so, I experience no tearing! What a blessing!

I'm enjoying the day in bed with my baby boy - he is a pro-nurser and is opening his eyes to look around often. Such a sweetie!

Blessings to you from this thankful momma,

 
 

40 Weeks + 1 Day

Why is it that after your "due date" time seems to slow down to a steady crawl?

Last night I had steady contractions for an hour or so and then they let up. Well, okay baby boy, you can stay in a little bit longer but not much. We are ready to see you!

This time around there is no crib, no changing table, no baby monitor, no baby burrito wrap thing... this time is different. I'm different. I know how I mother and what suites me and my family. I feel confident and encouraged.

The pie chart below is 50% true. My mother is staying with us right now while my father is in Oregon on business, so she will definitely know when labor begins... and ends  :o)

via

 



Thoughts of my water breaking while at the mall yesterday and the park today crossed my mind. Although it has never broken before the end of labor before. Crazy prego fears.

So many thoughts are going through my head, yet I'm determined to stay positive, focused, as relaxed as possible and full of faith. Fear has NO place here and must GO!!!!

I look forward to posting on the birth of my son very soon!

Blessings,






Here are a few pics of some family fun we have had over the past few days. These memories are some of my favorites - right before our family expands :o)



A Cracker Barrel Breakfast with Grammy. What a treat!

Here Mo and Daddy play a game... that neither of them know the name of or rules for.

Checkers with my boy. All he wanted to do was to stack them.

 

Our family of four... for only a little while longer!

 

My girl on the go at the park! She is learning to master the art of riding her bike!



Making It! {Thoughtful Momma Monday}

Thoughtful Momma Monday

We are making it through a hot, Texas summer. It hasn't been as horribly hot as I remember past July and Augusts to be, and I'm sooo thankful! Because I'm carying more around this summer... in my belly!

38 weeks with a sweet baby boy!

Picture taken 8/12/2013.

 

I have been nesting like crazy - making messes of piles and then re-organizing and cleaning as I go. I am finally ready to rest, put my feet up (or rather go for a walk around the block) and wait with expectation for my newest little love to arrive.

 

We also started a daily home school routine and it has been lots of fun! Thank goodness for the internet (and for generous, book-buying grandmothers)! There are so many great ideas out there for home school mommas of preschoolers. We have been enjoying taking our time through the alphabet - learning to write each letter and learning the sounds that each makes. My girl is a great student! She loves to learn and is always hungry to know more!

 

 

Focusing hard - circling her favorite/best letters.



 

Also, my sweet momma has moved in with us while my dad ties up some work back in Oregon. Having her here has been a blessing through and through. She loves to cook and bake and we are reaping the benefits of her delicious talent! We enjoyed fresh blueberry pie, fresh peach crisp and a made-from-scratch chicken pot pie all in the same week! Whew!

 

I find myself very often emotionally overwhelmed and tired but I'm looking forward to sitting back and holding my new baby soon. Sometimes I wish we knew the exact day and time to expect our baby, but the Lord has kept it a surprise, probably so that we will wait on Him and gain our strength from Him... daily! Even though I'm a tad "prego crazy lady", I feel loved and cared for. Each day I pray that God give me peace and joy... oh, and patience (I feel a bit short on that fruit of the Spirit lately).

 

Our lives are OVERFLOWING with God's blessings and joys. He is truly making something beautiful out of our messes. Here are a few pictures of what we have been making...

 

 

Homemade kites and lemonade at school!

 

Noodle necklaces  :o) 

 

Queen and King crowns for the royal couple.

 

Pie, pie and more pie with Grammy!

 

Progress! She finished learning her alphabet with flying colors!

A tasty stop for a celebration lunch!

 

New discoveries at the Children's Aquarium.

 



Fun memories at Moriah's surprise "Alphabet Party"!

We played fun alphabet games and ate some tasty treats to celebrate her

finishing what she started. She kept calling it her birthday party  :o)

 

 

We are making it.... we won't give up! We will continue to learn, grow, accept challenges and run to Jesus. Above ALL this momma needs to run to Jesus throughout each day. He is so able and willing to help me with any struggle I face. I am realizing my need for Him more and more.

 

 

I leave you with a verse that encouraged my heart today:

 

 

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

to the soul who seeks Him."

~ Lamentations 3:25

 

 

Here's to waiting for and seeking the Lord! He is so faithful!

 

 

 

May God bless you abundantly,