"Wunderbar!" he exclaimed with great relish.

I have come to a decision! Lasagna and strawberry shortcake. I have a busy weekend so that's all you get this week. I guess I should mention that I won't be posting anything next weekend. I am in a wedding and I will be gone Friday - Monday....Sorry

*shrugs* I got nothin

Ok guys I must admit, I bit off more than I could chew last week. So I'm keeping it simple this week with recipes I have made hundreds of times. Still not sure what I'm going to make and I probably won't know until I go to the grocery store. Maybe something along the lines of lasagna, chicken pot pie (PA dutch style) or deer and fried macaroni (super secret family recipe) *throw hands in the air* I don't know! I'll figure something out.

Side note: I am making the Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies tomorrow and promise to add pictures to the recipe.

Purple Monkey Dishwasher Soup

Urban Dictionary definition of Purple Monkey Dishwasher- Despite claims this phrase originated on "The Simpsons", it actually existed long before it was used in the show. The phrase is intended to portray the distortion of facts when passed from person to person.

Its use in "The Simpsons" was accurate; Bart starts a rumour by whispering to one person who whispers it to another, etc. By the time the rumour reaches the front of the crowd, the phrase "Purple monkey dishwasher" has been added to the end due to people mishearing the original rumour as it passed from person to person.

Due to the popularity of "The Simpsons", the phrase has since become a commonly used response to opinions stated based on hearsay and unconfirmed rumours.

Example-Person A - "I heard from a friend of a friend that John cheated on Linda with Karen!"
Person B - "Purple monkey dishwasher."

Example- Nora's pregnant with Greg's baby after sleeping firt with Tony, John and Barney...but she's telling Tim it's his due to their fling at Thanksgiving....purple monkey dishwasher.

Now that you understand what it means let me explain how it came about. I could never come up with a name for this soup. Every time I tried to describe it I would add something new or forget something important. So it would come out like this 

"Hey Kacey what are you eating?" 

"Its a bacon potato leek soup...with tomatoes...but it's not a creamy soup like a potato soup usually is. Uh, er *awkward silence* purple monkey dishwasher" 

One more thing before the recipe. These pictures do not do the soup justice. I'm sorry I was just not feeling creative today. Luckily I make this soup all the time so I'll try again later. Enjoy!

Purple Monkey Dishwasher Soup

Ingredients

olive oil

6 slices of bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

3 small ribs celery from the heart of the stalk, finely chopped

2 small to medium carrots, shredded

3 leeks, trimmed of rough tops and roots

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper

3 medium starchy potatoes, such as Idaho, peeled

2 quarts stock (I typically use a combo of vegetable and chicken)

1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

Directions

Heat a medium soup pot or deep sided skillet over medium-high heat. To the hot pan add a drizzle of oil and the bacon. Cook bacon until brown and crisp. Add the chopped celery and carrots. Cut leeks lengthwise and then into 1/2-inch half moons. Place the leeks into a colander and run under rushing cold water, separating the layers to wash away all the trapped grit. When the leeks are separated and clean, shake off water and add to celery and carrots. Stir veggies together, add a bay leaf and season with salt and pepper. While the leeks cook to wilt, 3 to 4 minutes, slice the potatoes.

Thinly slice potatoes or shredded them (like hash browns)

Add stock to vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add potatoes and tomatoes. Cook 8 to10 minutes until potatoes are tender.

I know, I know! It's a crappy picture.
 I'll take a better one next time I promise.

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Let me first start off by saying I'm sorry. I don't have time to make these right now. I will this week but not today. *hangs head in shame* I still wanted to give you the recipe today. 

Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

Candied Bacon

8 slices thick bacon

1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar

Cookies

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 whole egg

1 egg yolk

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Candied Bacon

Preheat the oven to 350º.

Line a baking sheet with tin foil sprayed with non-stick spray. Lay bacon in a single layer and sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bake at 350º for about 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes, or until crispy. Let cool.

Cookies

Preheat the oven to 325º.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the whole egg, egg yolk and vanilla, mix to combine. Slowly add the flour and baking soda, mix well. Using a spatula, stir in the chocolate chips and bacon.

Roll the cookie dough into golf ball sized balls, approximately 24. Bake at 325º for 15-18 minutes.

Bacon Shot (aka Lumberjack)

Warning: If you got to a bar and ask you for a Lumberjack you will not get bacon with it. The bacon lumberjack is made only at a bar in Harrisburg PA. This is my interpretation of it. I have no if the amounts are the same as they put in.

Lumberjack Shot

1 part Yukon Jack

1 part Bailey's Irish Cream

2 parts Butterscotch Schnapps

optional- a few drops of maple syrup

1 piece of crispy bacon

Mix the Yukon Jack, Bailey's and Butterscotch Schnapps together. Alternate eating the bacon and taking the shot. Tastes like pancakes! 

BLT Pasta

BLT Pasta

                                                                  Ingredients

1 (12oz) package of fettuccini

5 strips of bacon

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1/3 cup sliced sun dried tomatoes

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cups arugula or baby spinach

parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper

Directions

Heat water to a boil for pasta, salt water and cook pasta to al dente. Put aside 1 cup pasta water and drain pasta.

Cut bacon into half inch strips and cook over medium heat until crisp. Drain grease; add garlic and sundried tomatoes. Cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add oil and remove from heat. Start by adding ½ cup reserved pasta water. Keep adding water till you reach desired consistency. Stir in pasta. Add arugula and sprinkle with parmesan cheese

Optional- Add arugula with pasta and stir together. 

Maple Bacon Corn Muffins

I love these muffins. They not only taste great but they make the kitchen smell AMAZING. If you don't want to make the corn muffins you can just go buy a box of cornbread mix. My feelings won't be hurt, I promise. 

Maple Bacon Corn Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 cup canola oil

1/3 cup  maple syrup

 

1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

Directions

In a bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, beat the eggs. Add cream, oil, maple syrup and bacon; beat well. stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour into a greased muffin tin (or use paper muffin cups).

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm.