Cooking Day 2:

Today, I spent a lot of the day cooking again. Ive been in a total concocting mood for the last few days.

I attempted to make some cinnamon roll cookies that I saw on Pinterest first. I say attempted because as I was about to roll my very loose dough, I realized I had forgotten the flour. So, I rolled up the dough, threw it back in the mixture and added the flour. After that, I had cinnamon sugar cookies instead of cinnamon roll. oh well--they tasted excellent anyway! 

 To make these cookies you need: (adapted from Stephanies Kitchen recipe)

3/4 cups butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg yolk.

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Extra sugar if desired.

 To make:
1. Mix butter and sugar in a mixer.
2. Next, add vanilla and egg yolk.
3. Then, add flour and salt.
4. To have the right amount of egg white and water, mix egg white and water together.
5. Make dough into a rectangle on parchment paper.
6. Brush with egg white/water
7. Sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar.
8. Put back in mixer and mix a bit so the sugar and cinnamon get rolled in.
9. Roll dough into small balls (My dough made 20 cookies)
10. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 18-20 minutes or until golden-y brown.
11, Sprinkle with some granulated sugar if desired.

 Yay for cookies!

Next, I made a taco casserole. Tacos are one of my favorite foods but I decided I didnt want a tortilla or shell. I was going to make it with rice but instead, I got some whole wheat pasta for the bottom. It was delicious.

 What You Need:
1 pound of ground beef
box of whole wheat elbow macaroni
shredded cheddar cheese (I used a taco blend)
1 package of taco seasoning
Can of black beans
Lettuce (shredded)
Tomatoes (cut into small pieces)
1 Avocado
Sour cream
Salsa

1. Make pasta, black beans and meat as directed. Add taco seasoning to meat when it has finished cooking as directed by package.
2. Layer pasta, beans, meat and cheese in a casserole dish.
3. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10-12 minutes or cheese is at desired melting point.
4. Put serving in a bowl and top with lettuce, tomato, avocado, sour cream, salsa and a little extra cheese.

*Substitute toppings as desired--however you would make a taco!
*I also suggest a bigger bowl. I tastes REALLY good with all the additions mixed in so get a bigger bowl that doesn't make everything fall out (as mine did)

Enjoy!