Quick & Easy Alfredo Sauce

Alfredo, mi amore

This sauce is easy and delicious, and it cooks in about the same amount of time as pasta.  These factors--but mostly the taste--have caused me to no longer purchase Alfredo sauce.  Why buy it, when homemade tastes so much better?

Quick & Easy Alfredo Sauce

½ c. Butter
8 oz. Cream Cheese
2 t. Garlic Powder
2 c. Milk
¾ c. Parmesan Cheese
⅛ t. Black Pepper

Melt butter.  Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with a wire whisk until smooth.  Add milk gradually, whisking to smooth lumps.  Stir in Parmesan cheese and black pepper.

Serve over your favorite pasta, or use on homemade pizza.

*Adding spinach is optional.

Trail Mix

Trail mix could be called the ideal snack: that perfect blend of salty and sweet, crunchy and soft, protein and carbs.  It's not only for the trail!  I'm planning to take some on an upcoming road trip; but I also like to snack on it during the week at work. 

The beauty of making my own is that I get to choose what goes into it.  As much as I like peanut butter, I'm not a huge fan of peanuts; some trail mix contains cranberries or sesame seeds; and the list could go on.  I simply leave these things out.  I also get to choose how much of each ingredient there is: I can guarantee that there is plenty of chocolate.  ☻    

That being said, this is how I make trail mix; but feel free to use whatever you like or have on hand.  These are my preferences, and do not necessarily represent the feelings, taste buds, or preferences of anyone else.  

I use almonds; cashews; raisins; and M&M's™ candies.

Measure 1 cup of each into a bowl and mix.

Store in an airtight container.  A quart jar holds four cups of mix.

Take some on your next adventure!

Trail Mix

1 c. unsalted, roasted almonds

1 c. cashew halves and pieces

1 c. raisins

1 c. M&M's™

Combine and store in an airtight container.  Adjust ingredients to your liking.

*Enlarged to show texture