Flat Bread with Thyme

This is another recipe from Real Simple magazine and it is quite literally "real simple". It hardly even requires a "recipe" but it was yummy, easy and cheap, while making a nice addition to a dinner with my family.

1 lb. pizza dough (since I was in the "real simple" mode, I just used a tube of the refrigerated dough, but I'm sure this would be even better with homemade dough)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon each kosher salt and pepper

Shape the pizza dough into a rectangle and place on a baking sheet. Brush with a little bit of olive oil and bake according to directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper. Remove dough from oven, transfer to a cutting board, brush with the thyme mixture and cut into pieces. Serve warm.

Chocolate Icebox Cake

This is a great dessert for when you want to make something in advance. The recipe comes from the Real Simple magazine--and it definitely lives up to it's name and is a very simple, easy dessert.

2 (15 oz.) containers Ricotta
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
9 0z. package chocolate wafer cookies
1/4 cup shaved semisweet chocolate

In a food processor, puree the ricotta and melted chocolate until very smooth. Line an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 sides. Layer the ricotta mixture and half of the chocolate wafer cookies in the pan, then repeat (3 layers of the ricotta mixture and 2 layers of the cookies, beginning and ending with the ricotta mixture). Refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 2 days. To serve, remove from pan, slice and sprinkle with shaved semisweet chocolate (my slices didn't turn out quite as pretty as I would've liked, so I also added a drizzle of some chocolate sauce that both upped the chocolate flavor and camouflaged my not-so-cute slices---perfect!).

Easy Thai Pasta

I definitely have tried a few recipes that are pretty similar to this, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for easy recipes and I always LOVE a good peanut sauce!

1/2 cup Italian dressing
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lb. whole wheat pasta (any shape is fine)
Peanuts, snow peas, celery and bell pepper

Cook pasta according to directions. Meanwhile, in another pot add the Italian dressing, soy sauce, honey, PB and red pepper flakes and stir together to combine. Continue to heat sauce, stirring occasionally. Add veggies and cover, when there is about 5 minutes left for the pasta to cook. When pasta is done, drain and add to pot with sauce and veggies. Stir to combine and serve warm.