Burgers

These were the best burgers ever!  I think they were 5 guys quality!

1 lb ground beef
2 TSB ketchup
Several dashes of worcershire sauce
1/4 cup panko crumbs
1/2 TBS garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp parsley flakes
4 slices of colby jack cheese
8 slices coooked bacon
8 bread and butter pickle slices
mayo, mustard, ketchup
4 hamburger buns, buttered and toasted on the griddle

mix the ground beef with the ketchup, worcershire sauce, panko and spices.  Separate the meat into 4 balls and shape into thin patties.
Fry patties on med high heat in a skillet, or grill them if you like.  I don't like any pink at all, so after I get them browned on the outside I turn the heat down to med low and allow the inside to cook without burning the outside.
Place the cheese on each slice and cover for about 30 seconds until it melts.
Put it on a bun and add your toppings!

Just so ya know: if you aren't toasting bread on a griddle you are a disgrace to all sandwich makers everywhere. Punishable by death!  Ok so, maybe that was a little harsh, but the point is that it makes the sandwich!

Potatoes:  I bought these little baby yellow potatoes, scrubbed and cut in half and then tossed in olive oil, garlic, onion and parmesan cheese.  Bake at 400 until tender, about 20 minutes.

Asian Noodles w/ Curry, Crab Won Tons!

My husband said this tasted like Pad Thai, he's a cuddly little thing, but this taste nothing like Pad Thai.  I called it Asian Noodles because I don't know what in the deuce to call it.  But I also made some curry, crab won tons and they were pretty delicious, too.

1/2 cup oyster sauce
2 TSB soy sauce
4 TSB brown sugar
2 TSB rice vinegar
2 tsp molasses
2 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder (fresh if you have it, I didn't)
2 TBS sweet chili sauce
3 eggs
2-3 TBS sesame oil
4 chicken breaks, cut into bite sized pieces, rather thin
package of rice noodles, follow instructions on package.

Combine the first 10 ingredients in a bowl, stir to combine and set aside.
Season chicken with salt, pepper (I'm not gonna lie, I usually add some cayenne pepper and/or garlic here, too.  I just can't help myself.)
Wait, make the eggs first, scramble them in the wok w some butter and set aside.
Anyways, heat about 1 TBS of sesame oil in the wok on high heat.  Add chicken and stir fry until browned and no longer pink, set aside.
Heat another TBS or so of sesame oil in the wok and add drained rice noodles, stir fry for about 30 seconds to a minute then add sauce and cook until well combined and noodles have a little brown to them.  Add chicken and egg.

For the wantons I only needed to make about 8 for Christopher and I so I am guessing at the measurements.  About 1/4 cup of cream cheese, softened.  about 2 TBS of chopped crab meat, few green onion slices, few splashes of soy sauce and a generous sprinkle of curry powder.  Wrap in a won ton wrapper and fry until brown.

Left Over Taquitos!

We love love love taquitos!  You can make anything into a taquito, it's great!  Last night I made the taco stew thing, remember that? Well, my husband raved about how delicious it was so I though, maybe I can get away with making some more rice and eating left overs.  Wrong!  I had quite a bit left and it was got about to be going to waste. So I grabbed some corn shells from the pantry heated about 1/2 inch oil and that was dinner.  I used the filling cold, so if would hold together.

It was like a new dinner!  But, don't tell my husband.  He hasn't caught on yet.

Taco Stew

This started out as Taco Soup, turns out I'm not real good at soups so it became more of a stew.  It was very good tho!

1 small package of lean ground beef
4 TBS taco seasoning (I buy bulk so I guess a packet will do)
1.5 TBS flour
These spices I don't know how much:
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Cumin Powder
Cayenne Powder
Crushed Red Pepper
Just a tad of Chili Powder
Salt and Pepper
1 Can whole kernel corn, drained
1 Can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup Cheddar cheese
2 TBS diced pickled jalapenos
2 cups chicken broth
1 package frozen sweet plantains
Sour cream
2 cups cooked rice

Brown ground beef in a deep pot until no longer pink, drain grease. Add flour to meat and cook until that raw flour taste cooks out.  Slowly add chicken broth stirring to break up any clumps.  Add spices, corn, black beans, and jalapenos.  bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer as long as you can, at least 20 minutes.
Stir in cheese.
I cooked the plantains according to the package directions and fried up some corn tortillas I cut into slices while waiting.
Serve with more cheese, if desired, sour cream, plantains and tortillas.
Serve over white rice.

Teriyaki Chicken with Fried Rice

This is fool proof and too easy!

1 pack of BLSL chicken, cut into bite sized pieces
1 small can of pineapple rings
Garlic Powder (maybe 1/2 tsp)
Onion Powder (about the sameish)
1 tsp crushed red pepper
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 bottle Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste or Marinade
1 TBS butter

For the Fried Rice:
2 cups cooked white rice
Soy Sauce (about 2 TBS)
Garlic and Onion Powder (I have no clue how much)
3 dashes of Cayenne Pepper
3 Eggs
1 TBS Sweet Chili Sauce
Sesame Oil  (around the wok twice)

Melt better over med high heat, add chicken and cook until chicken gets a little brown, doesn't have to be cooked all the way thru, in fact I prefer it not be.  I like to cook it on high heat to get that little browned and then finish cooking in the sauce.  It always turns out so tender that way.

Remove pineapple rings from can and stir in the brown sugar w the pineapple juice to dissolve.  Add to chicken, season w salt, pepper, onion, garlic and both peppers.  You can throw in the pineapple now if you want.  It's your call.  Add the teriyaki sauce and put a lid on it.  You have rice to make!

Heat wok to med high heat and melt a little butter, scramble eggs and set aside.
Crank up the heat and add the sesame oil.  Once hot add rice and remaining ingredients and stir frequently so it doesn't burn.  (If you want to add peas and carrots, do it now, I don't so I didn't.)   Make a well in the middle of the wok and add the Sweet Chili Sauce so it "melts", stir to combine.  Fry until your little heart is happy and add the egg back.  Service with Chicken.

If you don't feel like going thru the trouble of making fried rice, I often just service with white rice  because the teriyaki sauce is so amazing.  My husband would love it if I made rice with every meal, overnight.  Even with spaghetti.  But I don't, because that's dumb.

Meatball Subs

I think I have made you meatball subs before.  I made baby buffalo chicken sandwiches for Amanda and Michael's Burfday party at my house and I had half a pack of the Hawaiian sweet rolls left over so I made baby meatball subs to use them up.

20 frozen meatballs (not Italian)
1 1/2 cup ketchup
3 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
3/4 cup brown sugar
Whatever bread you wanna use
butter
cheese (I like mozzarella)
bread and butter pickles

Preheat pan to med heat and add meatballs. Cook a few minutes to defrost and brown a bit.

Add Worcestershire sauce and allow to reduce just a tad, not too long.  Add ketchup, garlic and onion powder and brown sugar and stir to combine.

Put it on low, put a lid on it and let it roll for about 20 minutes to heat the meatballs thru.  Stir it occasionally.

On your griddle (if you don't have one, stop what you're doing and go buy one right now..I'll wait......)

You're back, great.  Heat griddle to 350 and brush with a stick of butter, just enough to cover the griddle.  put the buns inside down into the butter and allow to crisp up and soak up the butter.  Remove when just starting to brown.

Add meatballs to the sub rolls, top with cheese and pickles if you so desire.

This is one of my favorite meals.  Kid friendly, too.  Actually, most of my recipes are because I'm a picky kid eater.  It's cool, it's how I roll.

Onion Pasta

This is an easy, quick pasta meal.  It takes less than 30 minutes and my picky husband really liked it.  I'm not a big fan of this left over, so eat it all or throw it away.  Or you could choke it down at work the next day and dream about a burger.  Whatever tickles your fancy.

1 tub of onion and chive cream cheese

1 tsb of garlic

dash of cayenne pepper

1 lb chicken, cut into bite sized pieces 

salt and pepper

2 tbs butter

Whatever pasta you want.  I made cork screw cuz it looked fun

Heat butter in a skillet on high and saute chicken until just browned on the outside.  Chicken doesn't have to be done, you just want a little color on it.  

Turn the heat down to med low and add cream cheese, garlic, cayenne, salt and pepper.  

Stir on low to melt and put a lid on it and allow chicken to finish cooking.  

Spoon over cooked pasta.  

For the bread I just used regular crescent rolls.  I bake them according to the package directions and about the last 5 minutes of baking I melt 1/2 stick of butter with a lot of garlic powder and parsley.  And by a lot,  I mean probably a solid tablespoon or more.  pour over the bread and bake another 5 minutes or so.  Sprinkle w Parmesan cheese. 

Amanda and Michael's Burfday Party!

My friend, Amanda, and her husband, Michael, celebrate their birthday's together every year because they are one day apart.  Talk about short end of the stick, right?  At least her bday is the day before so if he slacks on the present she can get him back the next day....like instant karma.

Anyways, we had her and a few other friends over for some apps and game night that started at 6 and lasted until the wee late hours of the evening.  Ok, so everyone left around 1am, but we are almost 30 and thats gettin a bit late for us.  I made a bunch of delicious food and just as most of it was being finished I realized I took NOOOOOO photos.  This is what I hadn't yet devoured on my own plate.  Sorry for the poor quality, paper plates don't make a great back drop.

The menu consisted of the following:


Mini Buffalo Chicken Samiches
Cuban Roll Ups
Crack on a Stick
Potato Skins
Bean Dip
Potato Salad
Pasta Salad
Chocolate Chip Brownies
Mini Cheesecakes
Funyuns- Amanda and I used to eat them as kids. Like the whole bag. In one night.

The picture above showcases the Potato Skins:
8 medium sized baking potatoes
oil
salt and pepper
cheddar cheese
bacon
sour cream

Heat oven to 350.  Scrub potatos and place in a pan.  Drizzle with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hrs.  Remove and let cool.
Once cooled enough to handle, slice in half lenght wise and scoop out some of the flesh and save for another use.  Don't go crazy scooping out the flesh, you just need a little dip for your bacon and cheese.  I should probably rename to something like potato boats or something, because I want more than just a skin!
Anyways, put the potatoes skin side down back in the pan and brush with a little more oil, return to the oven to crisp up a bit.
Remove and add crumbled, cooked, bacon and cheese and put back in the oven just long enough for the cheese to melt. Top w sour cream.  Delicious.

This little guy is a Cuban Roll!  He's sad because we ate his friends. 

2 cans of crescent rolls

6 slices of ham

1/4-1/2 cup of cooked pork (I used left over pork loin I had made for dinner) 

2 TBSP dijon mustard

2 TBSP dill pickle relish 

1/2 cup of swiss cheese (I used shredded because its what I already had) 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Unroll crescent rolls and separate in 2 pieces (4 rolls total) 

You need to lay it out long ways to start building.  Layer mustard, cheese, ham, pork and then pickles

Starting at one end roll, jelly roll style and press the seams to seal well.  Using a sharp knife cut into 5-6 pieces and lay on a greased baking sheet.  

Bake and serve.  They are great, even at room temperature!  They were all gone. 

Crack on a Stick AKA Brown sugar smokies: I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com a long time ago and it is a friends and family favorite and I HATE making them.  Loathe it, would rather slam my head in a sliding glass door.  Why? I dont know, they are sooo easy. You will need:

Aluminum foil
One package of Lil Smokie Sausages
1 package of bacon
2 cupsish of brown sugar

Preheat to 350
Line a deep 13x9 inch pan with aluminum foil.  Let me say it again, Line a deep 13x9 inch pan with aluminum foil.  DO IT!  If you don't you will hate me, yourself, the world and somehow it will be your husbands fault and I can't be liable for breaking up marriages over caramalized bacon grease.
Spead brown sugar in the bottom of the aluminum foil covered pan.
Cut bacon into 4-5 pieces and wrap around sausage and secure with a toothpick.
Place sausge on top of the brown sugar and bake for about 30-45 minutes until the bacon looks cooked.
Remove from pan fairly quickly and place on your serving platter.  Little hint: lightly spary your service platter with non-stick spray.  You're Welcome.


The Mini Buffalo Chicken Samiches I have given you the recipe previously.  The only difference was that I boiled the chicken on low for a few hours while I prepared other things.  When it was done I shredded, added my spices and hot sauce and put it directly into the crockpot on low.  I served them with my ranch dressing and I put out celery, lettuce and little hawaiian rolls.  Not one person ate the celery.  Not a single stalk of celery was consumed.  I think one or two people put lettuce on their sandwich, but I put it out and it's not my fault they didn't want that yucky green stuff.  I tried.  Thats my story.

I belive I have made bean dip for you in the past.  Some girls in my art class in high school turned me onto this and it has been a party fav ever since.  Its super easy and you can make it ahead.  Just layer cream cheese, Hormel Chili with Beans and then top with 2 cups of shredded cheese.  Add some hot sauce or cayenne if you want and then bake until it bubbles.  Serve with chips or crackers.

Potato Salad like my Momma makes.  Lady makes the best macaroni and potato salad and she doesn't really like either of them.  I love, love, love it when she makes it.  Taste like home.

5 medium sized gold and red potatoes. (It's what I had)
1 cup of mayo
1 TBSP of Dijon Mustard
1 tsp onion powder
Dash of galic powder
1/2 tsp of celery seed, that's the secret
2 TBSP of dill pickle relish
3 chopped boiled eggs
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel and cube potatoes and boil in salt water until tender, do not over cook. Drain and allow to cool.
In a big ole bowl, add potatoes and everthing else,  Mixing carefully as to not break up all the poatoes.  Its a salad yo, not mashed potatoes.  You kinda just have to add and taste to how you like it, but don't skip the celery seed, it's the best!

Pasta salad was nothing special so I won't bore you with the details.  I didn't make my normal pasta salad because the little glass dressing thing was dirty.  It was good, but it wasn't all that.

The brownies that everyone loves is a big lie.  I do have a recipe that Anita gave me to make some from scratch brownies that were amazing, but I didn't have time for all that.  I chopped up 2 hersey bars and threw it in the brownie batter.  Everyone things I'm all Sarah Lee up in here over some boxed brownies.

The Mini Cheesecakes were really good and I totally cheated, but I'm tired so you will have to wait on this recipe because its night night time.

Heres a picture of my adorable little nephew, Julian to hold you over.  Isn't he just a doll!  :)  Thanks for stopping by.

BBQ Bacon Chicken!

Chicken, BBQ and Bacon...does it get any better?  I normally would have grilled the chicken in this recipe, however, my grill is in pieces and at the county dump right now so I had no other option.  RIP grill, you will be missed until I get another one and then I'll trash talk about how you didnt evenly distribute heat anyways and I'm glad you're gone.  Until then, break out the skillets!  

5 BLSL chicken breast

2 TBSP butter 

2 cups BBQ sauce (use whatever we are gonna put a bunch of stuff in it anyways)

2 TBSP brown sugar

1 TBSP honey 

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp parsley flakes

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

10 slices of cooked bacon

5 slices of cheese (I used Colby, but use whatever you have in the fridge) 

Season chicken with salt and pepper while melting butter in a skillet.  

Once butter and skillet are hot, hot, hot, lay the chicken in the skillet and just allow to brown for about 30 secs to one min on each side.  

Reduce heat to medium-low and add BBQ sauce, sugar, honey and spices.  Stir together and allow to simmer for about 25 minutes or until the dishwasher is unloaded.  Just be sure the chicken is cooked all the way. 

Once chicken is cook thru, top with 2 pieces of bacon and then the cheese, return the lid to the pot and cook until cheese is melted and serve.  

I really like this, my husband does, too, he just doesn't know it.  If you aren't into spicy cut out the cayenne and red pepper flakes.  We like to endure pain while we eat.  Do what feels right.  

Lazy Chicken Parm

Add caption

My husband loves Chicken Parmesan, but when I get hope at 7 or 8 pm breading and frying chicken is not happening, That's why I call it "Lazy".  

4 Tyson spicy frozen chicken patties

4 slices of mozzarella cheese

Spaghetti and Sauce (see previous spicy spaghetti sauce) 

Prepare chicken patties according to instructions, I usually bake them until very crisp.  I spoon about a TSB of the spaghetti sauce on the chicken and then top with cheese.  Return to the oven to melt the cheese and serve with spaghetti and bread.  

The bread that you see in the photo is a slice of french loaf slathered in pesto sauce and then I melt mozzarella cheese on top.  

This is one of my husbands favorite meals and its sooo easy.  

Mexican Rice Casserole

I'm not gonna lie, other than the 2 cans I have no clue how much of each spice was used.  I am guestimating completely, just eyeball it.  I really like cumin so I dump a bunch of that into it.


4 BLSL chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
4 garlic cloves
1 TBSP onion powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika (spanish smoked)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 cup of apple cidar vinegar (or regular, I've used both)
juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup of salsa (we dont do chunks so I blend the salsa)
1 can of whole kernal corn, drained
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 package of frozen sweet plaintains
1 cup of rice
2-3 cups of chicken broth

Heat just a touch of oil in a deep pot add chicken, season w salt and pepper.  "fry" on high just to get a little brown on the chicken, add vinegar, lime, salsa and spices. turn to low and allow to reduce.

Defrost plaintains in the microwave and chop into bite sized pieces, set aside.

Add beans, corn and plaintains to the part, add about 2 1/2 cups of chicken broth, bring to a boil.

Add a cup of rice and turn heat to low.  Put a lid on it for about 20-30 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.  I had to add a little more chicken stock, so keep and eye on it.  Don't let the bottom burn, or let it burn if you want--you're the one cleaning the pot, not me.

I've also added sausage to this and thats really good as well.

***top with cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and/or chips.  The cheese is not the star, the plaintains are so don't glob tons of cheese on top.  I'll be mad.

BuFfAlo ChIcKeN SaNdWiChEs

This is one of my husband's favorite meals.  I double the recipe if we have company over.  They are always finished.

4 sub rolls

4 BLSL chicken breasts

2 cloves of garlic, pressed

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp parsley flakes

1/4 to 1/2 hot sauce (I use Lousianna or Franks) 

Couple Squirts of Ranch dressing

4 slices of provolone cheese

5 TBS butter

Cut chicken into bite size pieces, season w salt and pepper.  Just a little salt, ur hot sauce will do most of that. 

Heat 2 TBS of butter in a skillet on high, add garlic and stir, add chicken and brown for just a few minutes.  I like to get a little crisp on the outside of the chicken.  

Turn heat down to low, add onion powder and parsley flakes.  Add hot sauce.  I dont measure, so I put enough to coat the chicken completely with a little left over.  Put a lid on it and let it go for about 10-15 minutes until chicken is done. 

Meanwhile, heat griddle to 350.  Split rolls in, not completely in half.  Melt butter on griddle and smear bread inside down onto the butter, allow to toast for just a few minutes, until it starts to brown.  Don't skip this step!  I know it doesnt seem important, but it makes all the difference.  If you don't have a griddle or just feel lazy at least toast them in the oven for goodness sakes!  

Once you remove the bread from the griddle place cheese inside and allow to start melting.  Spoon chicken into sandwiches and top with ranch dressing. 

Deliciousness! 

For my ranch, my Aunt Leticia taught me to mix 1 cup of mayo, 1 cup of whole milk and one of those ranch packets and refridgerate over night.  If I need it the same day I put it in the blender for a few minutes and add to the freezer for about 20 minutes and then back to the fridge until I need it.  That just helps to thicken the sauce.  

Potato-Burger casserole

So I saw something similar to this on Tricia Yearwood's cooking show, but she did not add enough to make it delicious so I fixed it.....some of the way.  ]

1 lb of ground beef
1/2 small onion
3 cloves of garlic
1 TSB of parsley
2 TBS butter
Few dashes of Worcestershire sauce

1/2 stick of butter
1/4 cup of flour
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
2 tsp of Dijon mustard
Few dashes of hot sauce
2 cups of milk

5 red potatoes, peeled and sliced

15 Ritz crackers

Start by boiling the potatoes until just done, don't over cook. Layer in the bottom of a 13 x9 in pan.  sprinkle with salt and pepper

In a pan add onion (I chopped it really fine) and pressed garlic to a pan with a little butter, add ground beef and cook until no longer pink.  Add Worcestershire sauce.

In the pot you used for the potatoes, obviously empty now, melt half a stick of butter. Once melted add flour and stir for a few minutes until browned slightly, just enough to get rid of the flour taste.

Add hot sauce and stir.  Gradually add milk and whisk.  Allow to come almost to a boil and start to thicken.  Add cheese and Dijon mustard and stir to melt cheese.

Add ground beef mixture to the cheese mixture and pour on top of potatoes.

Crush Ritz crackers and add to the top.  Bake for about 20 minutes until top is bubbly. Longer if you mixture has been in the fridge.  (I made this the night before and added the crackers the next day before baking, took about 35 mins)

I served it with grilled butter bread and a pickle.

This was better.  Next time I will add half a block of cream cheese to the cheese mixture and I will use hash browns instead of the sliced potatoes.  I may even double the cheese/beef mixture.

Everthing French Bread Pizzas!

Walmart had everything french bread, like the bagels, ya know!  It was exciting.

1 Loaf of french bread (everything bread!!!)
1/2 cup of jar pizza sauce (or left over spaghetti sauce)
package of sliced pepperoni
3 sausage links, cut into small chunks
1 package of sliced mozz cheese (I use Sargento)

Preheat to 350

brown sausage in a pan until nice and crips, drain on paper towels and set aside.  (I like johnsonville new orleans style)

Cut bread in half lenghwise and then cut those pieces in half, so you have 4 half slices.

Spoon 2 TBS of sauce onto each bread piece (more or less for your liking, but it was a thick piece of bread, so i used a little more than I normally would)

Add sausage and pepperoni to the party and then top with cheese.  I like to use sliced cheese because the shredded end up all over my pan and it pisses me off.  I have to clean it, cheese is wasted, its a lose-lose situation.

The flavor of the bread was so delicious I didnt need to add much extra in the way of spices.  These turned out very good and I was full after one piece.

Chicken Roll Ups

3 BLSL chicken breasts
3 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 tsp onion powder
1 TSB vinegar
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 TSB parsley flakes
1 TSB chopped cilantro
1 tsp of chopped pickled jalapenos
juice of one lime
3/4 cup of Mexican melting cheese
10 Corn shells
oil for frying

Start with sauteing the chicken in a little oil  with garlic on pretty high heat and add spices and jalapenos. Then add vinegar and lime juice.  Reduce to low and let simmer and reduce.  (add a little more vinegar if looks too dry)

Add about 3/4 cup of cheese and allow to melt.

In a small frying pan add just enough oil to completely cover the bottom, heat to high.

One at a time, put the corn shells into the oil and fry maybe 25 seconds a side.  You will see when they start to brown a little.

Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel, immediately, while the corn shell is still pliable, add about 2 TSB of chicken mixture and roll up and set aside.

Repeat until all the chicken mixture has been used, I did about 10.

Normally, I would smother these in cheese and enchilada sauce and bake, but my Hubs isn't a big of enchiladas.  They were very good this way.  I topped with a little cheese and sour cream.

Baked Ziti Lasanga Style

I love lasagna, but my husband isnt a big fan.  I should claify, he doesnt like the big long lasagna noodles, so I basically made lasagna without making lasagna.  He really likes this.  The ricotta cheese with the pesto is the star!


1 box of ziti (or any cylinder pasta, I used rigatoni), boiled until al dente
1 jar of ragu original spaghetti sauce
3 giant cloves of garlic
1 package of link sausage, sliced thin (I used johnsonville new orleans flavor)
1 tsp of onion powder
1 tsp of basil flakes
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsb good cayenne pepper
1 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp marjaram flakes
1 tsp parsley flakes (I was out of fresh)
1 package of ricotta cheese (16 oz)
2 TBSP prepared pesto
1 package of slized mozzarella cheese
1/2 grated parmesan cheese

Cook sausage until browned on both sides, drain any excess fat.
Add prepared spaghetti sauce and the rest of the ingredients except the cheese and pesto sauce.  Allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes, longer is time is available.
Mix pesto sauce with the ricotta and set aside.
Mix just a enough pasta sauce with the cooked pasta to barely coat.
In a lasagna dish (sprayed to hell and back with cooking spray) add half of the pasta, spoon over 1/2 of the tomato sauce, 1/2 ricotta cheese mixutre and then a few slices of mozzarella cheese and repeat ending with mozzarella cheese on top.

I made this the day before and baked the next evening after work.  Baked about 30 minutes total.  Be sure to cover for at least half of the cooking time or ur cheese will be too brown.

Pesto Cheese Bread

2 left over sub rolls (or hot dog or hamburger buns)
2 tsp prepared pesto
2 slices mozz cheese

Preheat to 350
spread pesto on each roll half and top with cheese.  Bake until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.

Eggs in a Basket

Christopher loves eggs in a basket from Cracker Barrell so I decided to try at home. 

I didn't have a circular biscuit cutter, but I did have a heart shaped cookie cutter.  The Hawaiian Sweet Bread people now make a loaf of bread, its amazing.  I use that for the bread.  Amazing. 

2 slices of of Hawaiian Sweet Bread

2 Eggs

1/2 Stick of butter

Salt and Pepper

Heat electric skillet to 350.  Using a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter cut a hole in the middle of the bread.  Save the hole 

Keeping the paper around the butter as a handle, rub onto the griddle 

Place bread and cut outs into the butter and swirl around to absorb as much butter as possible. 

Crack egg inn the center of each piece of bread and allow to cook until just barely set on the bottom.  

Add more butter to the griddle and flip over.  Cook until bread is browned on the other side.  

You may have to adjust cooking time depending on how runny you want the egg yoke.  I like it to be a little runny so I allow the bread to toast for a few seconds before I add the egg.  

I served this particular delicacy with Cheese Grits and Bacon I made in the oven.  

Chicken Pot no Pie!

I love some chicken pot pie, but this way just saves me a little time.  Altho, my husband was being an extra pain in the ass than normal this evening, he might disagree.  He's all complaining he's hungry and asking how much longer.  When the slops on a plate it's done, okay??

4 BLSL chix breats, cut into pieces
2 cups of O'brien potatoes, frozen
1/2 cups and carrots (total not of each), frozen
1 jar of chicken or turkey gravy, the little one
2 TBSP of butter
1/4 tsp thyme
1 tsp parsley flakes
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp onion powder
Dash of white wine
water
salt and pepper to taste

For the "Pie Part"
1 can of Grands flaky biscuits
4 TBS butter
3/4 tsb of garlic powder
1/2 tsb of parsley flakes

Preheat to 400 degrees
Melt butter in a skillet, add garlic.  I use a garlic press because I hate my hands smelling like garlic, judge me if you want, but I am no Rachel Ray.
After letting the garlic cook for a minute or 2 add the chicken on high heat to brown for just a few minutes.  Add salt, pepper, thyme, garlic and parsley.  Add the dash of white wine now.  I buy those little baby bottles of wine and keep in the fridge to cook with.  I think I used Chardonnay this go around.  Wine doesn't last in this house so I buy these baby bottles specifically for cooking.
Add potatoes and stir to coat w butter and spices.  Add peas and carrots
Add gravy to the mix.  Fill the jar w about 1/3 cup of water and add.
Turn down the heat and simmer about 25 minutes, covered.  Stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, cut biscuits into quarters and throw in a bowl.
Melt butter, garlic and parsley in the microwave until butter is melted.
Pour butter mixture over biscuit and stir to coat.  I tried to go in "hands on" and that mess what hot!  Stir w a spoon until its not like sticking ur hand in lava coated biscuit pieces.  U'll thank me later.
Bake about 10 minutes until browned.  Serve over Chicken mixture.

I love this stuff.  My hubs wasn't as big a fan.  He ate the entire giant plate I made him, but said it was "aight".  Ass.

You can add more peas and carrots (or corn) if you'd like.  I add just enough to say we actually had a veggie at dinner.  It's all about food politics, shame really.

Mexican Pizza and Rice

We are still eating left overs incognito.  I am happy to announce that I used all the left overs and we will be moving onto another genre of food.  Thank God.  Nonetheless, it was delicious

You will need:
3 Pack of those cheapo pizza crusts, already made
3 Heaping TBS pizza sauce
Left over taco meat
1 1/2 cups of left over shredded cheese (the Mexican stuff is amazing)
left over corn, about 1/4 cup
1 TBS chopped pickled jalapenos
Sprinkle of lettuce
Sour Cream dollops

I brushed the crusts with olive oil and preheated to 425.
I toasted the pizzas for about 3 minutes so the bottom wouldn't be soggy from the pizza sauce.
Next, add one heaping TBS of pizza sauce onto each pizza.
Top with meat, jalapenos (add beans, tomatoes, olives, or whatever you had left over) Top generously with cheese.
I like the cheese on top of the toppings because I feel that it holds everything together better.  Plus its like a little pizza surprise.  Is there corn? I don't know, bite it and see.
Bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese is browned and the bottoms are crisp.

We also had a bowl of that yellow rice bag mix that was bland and blah.
I had about 2 cups of rice left over and about 3/4 cup of the pork you saw me use last night for the Cuban sandwiches.  I just heated the pork with 2 TBS of butter and 1 TBS of taco sauce.  I added cumin, garlic and at tsp of chopped cilantro and a sqeeeze of lime juice.  I added 1/2 cup of water and let it simmer while my pizzas were in the oven.  Delicious.  Below is the pic of the pizzas.  I put lettuce on top of his pizzas, which he inhaled.

I

Gucamole

As you saw in the last post, we had a Mexican Fiesta, complete with Mexican music playing in the  back ground.  No one had a clue what they were saying, but it set the tone.  Anyways, I made pork and beef tacos and also Chicken Enchiladas that were AMAZING.  What did I take a picture of?  The stupid gucamole that I don't even eat!  What was I thinking?  Probably that I was hungry and didn't care.  I dont eat that yucky looking green mess, but I had 2 friends that said they did like it.  From one of the reviews I may have added a touch too much lime juice so I adjusted it for the recipe.

2 ripe avacados
1 roma tomato, chopped and seeded
juice of 1/2 lime
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsb of garlic powder
1/2 tsb of onion powder
3 TSB fresh chopped cilantro

So basically I added everything together in a bowl and mashed the hell out of it and folded the tomatoes in at the end.

They ate half of it and said they liked it.

Kinda Cuban Sandwich

I often have to disguise left overs for my husband to eat them the next day.  Yesterday we had a Mexican Fiesta with some friends and I had left over pork to use.  Originally, I made a pork loin in the crock pot with a bottle of Dr. Pepper and a can of Chipotle Chilis on high for 4-5 hours.  After I shredded it, I added the juice of one lime to the mix and just kept warm on the stove until time to serve on tortillas.  This evening I had Hawaiian Sweet bread loaf so I used that in lieu of the traditional roll the Cuban usually is served.  BTW, if you didn't know those amazing little Hawaiian rolls came as a loaf now I probably just changed your life.  You're Welcome.

4 slices of Hawaiian Sweet bread
4 slices of deli ham
about 1/2 cup of left over pork meat, shredded
4 slices of provolone cheese
4 sandwich lenght bread and butter pickles (that's my fav, use what u want)
Dijon Mustard, I like Grey Poupon.  (mainly I just like saying Grey Poupon)
Half a stick of butter

Heat griddle to 350 degrees
Melt about a TBS of button on griddle and lay down 2 slices of bread, Swish around to soak up all the butter.  If you are worried about calories you are on the Wrong blog, my friend.  Moving on.  Layer one slice of cheese, half the pork, 2 slices of ham, pickles, then another slice of cheese.  Spread mustang on other bread pieces.
Top with the other piece of bread, mustard side down. Spread some more butter on a different part of the griddle.  You should be ready to flip by now.
Flip sandwich into the butter and allow to brown on the other side.  It only takes a few moments, don't walk away and yell at the dog, don't answer the phone, don't go pee. Stand right there and chillax until its done.  I tell you this from experience, because I was just going to send a quick text and then next thing I know the bottom is a little more brown than I wanted.  Don't you worry about all that, it still tasted great.
I served this delicious little guy on a white chinet paper plate.  I know what you're thinking: Classy.  Ur right.