What's For Dinner???

Stuffed Peppers wrapped in bacon-- (Cream Cheese stuffing!) The HEB has them in the meat dept ready to grill--YUM!!!

Asian Salad

Ranch Potato Casserole

YUM!!!!

And French Silk Pie for Dessert---I'll post the recipe soon. This is my hubby's favorite ever!!!! I have been making it since college when we went to a fundraiser Dessert Fest at our church, and I bought the cookbook that year!

Dinner was a hit tonight!!!


Ranch Potato Casserole

6 to 8 med. potatoes, cubed (I used the tiny bag of fingerlings, unpeeled)

1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. prepared Ranch dressing
1-2 strips bacon, torn (I only used 1 strip of turkey bacon & it seemed enough)
2 tbsp. fresh minced parsley (I just sprinkled in some dried)
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

Boil the potatoes until tender (approx 15 min) & set aside. Combine sour cream, dressing, parsley & 1 cup of cheese. Carefully mix in the potatoes. Place in a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Top with 1/2 cup of cheese & bacon. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

http://stephscafe.blogspot.com/ I am loving her recipes these days!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Okay, I am the girl who really hates vegetables--basically of all kinds. I am trying really hard to acquire a taste for them. And I have finally learned to eat quite a few--but I have a loooong ways to go.

BUT this recipe was NOT hard at all -- I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. It became a favorite of mine tonight!!! Hubby, guests, and baby loved it too.

Probably not new to most....but I am passing it on just in case you have never tried it.

I found it at one of the BEST blogs for recipes that I have found -- Check it out!



Mimi gives more details and TONS of pictures.

Mashed Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower
3-4 Tablespoons butter
3-4 Tablespoons half and half
Salt
Pepper


Remove all leaves and the stem on the head of cauliflower. (I knock the stem part on the divider in my double sink and the entire stem will come off of the head.)

Cut cauliflower into florets.

Place florets in salted boiling water and cook until fork tender; about 10 minutes. (I think it took a little longer than 10 min--we just kept testing with fork)

Remove from burner and drain cauliflower in colander until well-drained.

Pour cauliflower florets into bowl of food processor.
Pulse and grind cauliflower until all pieces are mashed well; stopping to scrape down sides as needed.

Gradually add butter and half and half to mashed cauliflower while pulsing -- until mixture is the consistency of mashed potatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pour mashed cauliflower back into your pan. Keep warm on Low heat until ready to
serve

Bacon-Cheese Tarlets

1 can of Crescent Recipe Creation Dough Sheet
1/3 cup shredded Swiss Cheese
1/4 cup chopped cooked bacon
1 Tbsp chopped green onions (optional)
1 egg and 3 Tbsp whipping cream

Unroll dough, cut into 12 squares.

Press squares gently into 12 ungreased mini muffin cups shaping edges to 1/4 inch high rims

Spoon cheese into cups

Top with bacon and pimientos

Beat egg and cream until blended

Spoon about 1 Tbsp mixture into each cup

Bake at 375 degrees F

15-20 min.

Cool 5 min

Remove from muffin cups.

Great appetizers -- But we loved them for dinner with veggies!

Apple Cinnamon Pancake

Served this for breakfast last time my parents came to stay---and everyone LOVED it!!! It is a great dessert or breakfast.

Apple Cinnamon Pancake

3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tbsp butter

Inside:
3-4 Tart Apples (Granny smith) peeled and cored (I use my pampered chef apple peeler)
1/4 c melted butter
1/4 c sugar
cinnamon

Topping 2Tbsp melted butter
Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven 450 degrees. Beat eggs, milk, salt for pancake. Melt butter on stove in a cast iron skillet. As soon as butter is hot, pour in batter and place in oven. After 15 min lower to 350 degrees for 10 more min.

Saute sliced apples in butter, add sugar, cinnamon. Firm but not soft. Slide cooked pancake onto platter. Pour apple mixture to one side. Fold over pancake. Drizzle butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Slice and Serve.

You can also just use the filling as a topper for your pancake recipe--or Hungry Jack :)

YUM!!!!!

pot roast, I finally got it right!

From Tara's Kitchen:

Pot Roast
I used a Diet Coke and it was fantabulous!

Ingredients
• 1 (4 lb) top sirloin roast
• whole garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (or to taste)
• 5 carrots, chopped into large chunks
• 6 large potatoes (or as many as you like)
• 1 large onion, sliced (optional)
• 2-3 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (optional)
• 1 (3/4 ounce) package brown gravy mix (I suggest to use low-sodium)
• 1/2 cup water or beer
• 2-3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 1 (10 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (optional or to taste)
• 1 (10 ounce) can cola, beverage (Coca Cola is the best for this)
Directions
1. Set oven to 350 degrees F (will reduce oven temperature later).
2. Make small slits all over the roast then insert a garlic clove in each slit (make as many slits and use as many cloves as desired).
3. Season the roast with black pepper.
4. Grease a roasting pan.
5. Layer the sliced onions (if using) and garlic into the bottom of the pan, then place the roast on top.
6. In a medium bowl combine the brown gravy mix with water mixing into a smooth paste, then add in the onion soup mix, mushroom soup, minced garlic, cola beverage and Worcestershire sauce; mix well to combine.
7. Pour the cola mixture over the roast.
8. Cover and cook at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour.
9. Uncover and place the carrots and potatoes around the roast.
10. Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees F and continue cooking covered for another 2 hours.
11. Remove from oven and turn the roast over, place back in oven for another 1-2 hours or until roast is tender (could take longer than 2 hours, as you are cooking at a low temperature).
12. Let the roast stand for 20 minutes before slicing.

Enchilada Casserole

From Tara's Kitchen:

Enchilada Casserole (3 layers)

Enchilada sauce or salsa (I used 1 can of red ench sauce)
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
4 C shredded cheese (set aside 1 C for the top)
2-3 # of browned ground beef w/1pkg. of taco seasoning
Corn tortillas cut into 1/4s (10-12, depending on how much you like tortillas?)

Mix the first 4 items in a separate bowl to create a cheese mixture. Grease bottom if a casserole or 9X13 dish. Line bottom of pan w/tortillas. Then scoop beef over tortillas, next cover with one layer of cheese mixture. Repeat w/tortillas until you have a total of 3 layers. Top with remaining cheese. Cook for 40 minutes at 350.

We usually eat this alone but would go well with Spanish rice, we serve guacamole with it as well.

Report on Pork Loin---Served on Hoagies with Sweet Potato Fries

Wow!!!! So I cooked Amy's Pork Loin tonight --- rubbed it down with seasoning, poured water and 1/2 Lipton package over it --and turned it on in crock pot--and walked away.

We pulled it apart-added our favorite BBQ sauce-we love Jack Daniel's sauce-and served it on Hoagie Buns!

YUM! I have to say it was the best sandwich I have had in a long time!!!


We served the Hoagies with SWEET POTATO FRIES--My favorite side dish!!!

Never had Homemade Sweet Potato Fries?

So easy--cut in fry size, place in ziplock with 2 Tbsp Olive Oil and seasoning....shake it up....place on sprayed non-stick pan lined with foil---bake until desired crispness.

I think cutting a sweet potato is hard work--remember I don't do cooking well....so this time I found them in precut packages at the supermarket --- woohoo!!! The potatoes came in a cooking bag--pierce hole, microwave for 7 minutes, and then finish the cooking process in the oven for desired crispness.

Even my newly 1 year old LOVED this meal!!!

Dani's Kitchen

What was for Dinner at Dani's last night?

I marinated chicken in the refrigerator in barbeque marinade...matt grilled it today and it was VERY yummy!

I made macaroni and cheese from scratch-recipe below...sort of! It's not very precise, but the ingredients are things we always have on hand. It is quick and easy also, so it works great for a last minute meal idea! In Oregon, we eat this as the main entree!

Sophie ate frozen peas straight from the freezer, because she prefers that to salad.

I also served it with salad (ania ate along with frozen peas) spinach, romaine, cherry tomatoes, cheese and olive oil vinegarette. (I try not to offer the creamy dressings at home.)

RECIPE:

Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:
2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni
3 cups milk
1-2 regular sized bag of your favorite cheddar or mixed cheese (depending on how generous you are with your cheese layering! I use a lot of cheese!)
Seasoned Salt
Lemon Pepper
Flour

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Boil 2 cups of elbow macaroni for 10 minutes
Scald (heat on low/med. being careful not to burn) 3 cups of milk

Spray deep square casserole dish with non-stick spray

Layer:
1/2 macaroni
Cover macaroni with flour...not a super thick layer, just enough to cover the macaroni
Sprinkle with seasoning salt and lemon pepper...you'll have to experiment with this based on how seasoned you and your family like it! I probably use 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. lemon pepper on
each layer
1/2 cheese
Layer again with the macaroni ending with the cheese on top

Pour the scalded milk over the entire dish (it should cover well and less milk needed for whole wheat pasta)
Bake on 400 for 30 minutes!

After eating this kind of heavy lunch, we did fruit and celery boats (celery with peanut butter) for dinner. You can even make a little sail on the boats with a toothpick and a little cheese on the end of it! Makes eating a veggie dinner more fun! :)

Visit Dani for some daily encouragement at her blog!

Crock Pot Pork Loin -- Entree or Sandwiches!

What's for dinner tomorrow from Amy's Kitchen?

Get your Crock Pot out!!!

4 lb Pork Loin

Rub salt, pepper, garlic powder, Tony's seasoning into the meat on all sides.

Put meat in crock pot.

Add 3/4 cup water.

Add 1/2 package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix.

Turn crock pot on low for 8-10 hours.

Should be falling apart-tender.

I serve it with potatoes and corn and carrots ---

OR our favorite is to make sandwiches on hoagie buns -- tear a little apart and add favorite BBQ sauce!

Thanks Amy!

Easy Cobbler

Tried and True Family Recipe from generations before:

1 cup flour -self-rising
1 cup sugar
1 cup Milk

Mix together.

Melt a few heaping Tablespoons of butter in the bottom of your dish (I use a deep, oval casserole one).

Pour in mixture above -- and then drop in fruit. I use peaches.

Bake 350 degrees -- until golden.

YUM! Serve with vanilla icecream :)

What's For Dinner?

Tonight from the Kitchen of JMBMOMMY:


Shrimp Alfredo
(You can use Chicken!)

I didn't have a recipe or a plan...but this is what I did and it turned out yummy!

Rigatoni -- I used Barilla brand -- boiled for 10 min and rinsed in cold water.

I used Wild Gulf Brown Shrimp Peeled and Deveined - Raw - Ready to cook. 16 oz

Heated a Wok for 3-4 min (until pan begins to smoke) then added 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Stir fried the shrimp for 2-3 min and seasoned with salt and pepper. Okay, I like my shrimp reallllly done --so I continued to cook it longer--I want them to be browned a little-weird I know. I also love a buttery taste--so I add a little country crock lite at the end. Not healthy I know.

Then I added the rigatoni to the wok and 16 oz jar of Alfredo Cream Sauce -- I used Archer Farm brand. Remember, I don't love cooking....so you can of course make your own sauce....but for me this is easy, yummy, and only 80 calories--and NOT heavy like homemade sauces!

Once it was all mixed together and steaming hot...I sprinkled Italian Seasoning VERY generously. Stir again.....

Hubby topped his with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Served with Crescent Rolls.

Fish Cakes

From the Kitchen of Wendy:

What she had to say: "The following is a recipe that's been a bi-monthly fare, at least, sometimes weekly, at our home. I tried it with my finicky nephew this summer and he loved it!"

Take 1 pkg. (6oz) of your favorite flavor Stove Top Stuffing Mix (I use a cheap off brand instead of Stove Top) and 1/3 cup Mayo and mix & match your recipe from these options:



fish options add-in choices vegetable possibilites


12 oz salmon, 1 Tbsp. lemon chopped
drained, skin and juice, 1 cup shredded green onion
bones discarded mozzarella cheese



2 cans (6oz each) 2 Tbsp. sweet pickle shredded
tuna, drained and relish, 1 cup shredded carrots
flaked cheddar cheese




Then follow the 3 simple steps:

1. Mix together stuffing mix with 3/4 cup water, mayo, fish, add-ins and 1/2 cup vegetables. Cover and refrigerate 10 minutes.
2. Heat large non-stick skillet sprayed with cooking spray (or oiled with 1 tsp. veg oil) on medium heat. Shape 1/3 cupfuls of the stuffing mixture into patties. Add to skillet in batches.
3. Cook 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides, turning over carefully.

Makes 6 servings, 2 fish cakes each.
I serve with ketchup, or you could use tartar or cocktail sauce.

"Using the web to help wives and moms with tried & true recipes-what a good idea!"

Thanks Wendy!!! Can't wait to try it!!! This sounds like it could be a fav of ours!!!

SuperBowl Bites

From the Kitchen of Amy

We love these for dinner or appetizers! Great for Parties!

INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground beef chuck
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese (I use more!!!)
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
24 (2 inch square) dinner rolls, split


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix ground beef chuck, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and dry onion soup mix.
Spread even amounts of the ground beef onto the bottom half of each roll. Place top halves on, forming little sandwiches. If you purchased the rolls in aluminum foil pans, you may return them to the pan for baking. Otherwise, place them on a baking sheet or baking pan. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until meat is cooked through.

YUM!!! YUM!!!

Cooking With Kids

I found this VERY simple recipe and Had some Fun Cooking With My Kids this morning:

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup Peanut Butter (Creamy)
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Mix together ... Drop on cookie sheet in 1 inch balls

Bake at 250 degrees until brown.

Some thoughts: Super easy for the kids! Ingredients on hand! They seemed to bake realllly slow to me. Maybe too low temp??? I was afraid to change it since it was the 1st time we baked them. I wish I would have timed them....but I didn't. Super yummy--my little girl LOVED them!

EVEN BETTER THAN THE COOKIES
was the teaching moments-- we discussed words like recipe, ingredients, oven, degrees, vanilla, cup, ounces,etc.
the process--the kids could handle measuring, mixing, etc. since it was only 4 ingredients
the prep time -- it was a short process--so they didn't get bored with it.

Do you have a great recipe that is good for getting the kids in the kitchen with you and opening up those teaching moments?? Share it with me. Email me and I'll post it and link to you!

Happy Day with the Kids! Yay for Saturdays!!! Can you tell I have my first in school this year? :)

JMBMOMMY

Live Love Eat

I Just LOVE this blog and ALL the YUMMY recipes. They are usually super easy and practical.

Check Out Live.Love.Eat


Here is an example of two recent recipes posted:

Southwestern Tuna or Chicken Casserole

Nonstick cooking spray
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cups corn kernels, frozen & thawed
1 (10.5-ounce) can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1 cup store-bought bottled tomato salsa
1 teaspoon chili powder, if desired
1 (6-ounce) can tuna packed in water, drained & flaked (OR CHICKEN)
2 1/2 cups rotini, penne or fusilli pasta, whole-wheat if desired, cooked according to package directions
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, reduced-fat or fat-free

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat with the canola oil & when the oil is hot, add the onion & celery. Cook & stir until the vegetables soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in corn & cook 2 minutes longer to incorporate. Stir in the soup, salsa & chili powder until well blended.

Add the tuna & cooked pasta, stirring just to coat. Pour into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the top evenly with cheese. Bake for about 25 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Tomato Mozzarella Skewers
24 slices white bread
6 tblsp olive oil
8-9 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4" slices
6 ripe plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4" slices
1 cup fresh basil leaves, plus extra chopped for garnish
Salt & Pepper
2 tblsp fresh flat leaf parsley



Preheat over to 425. Trim crusts from bread & cut each slice into 4 squares. Arrange on baking sheet & brush with oil. Bake 3-5 minutes until pale golden. Remove bread squares. Make 32 stacks, each starting with a square of bread, then a slice of mozzarella, then tomato & basil. Sprinkle with salt & pepper, then repeat, ending with a piece of bread. Push a skewer through each stack & place on baking sheet. Drizzle with remaining oil & bake upright for 10-15 minutes until cheese begins to melt. Garnish with basil & parsley.



Check out LiveLoveEat for more ideas to bring to your table and for pictures!!!!

Fast & Easy - YUM!

From the Kitchen of Christy!

Visit Christy at The Burgess Family.

1 lb ground beef
Pizza Sauce
Shredded Cheese
Hamburger Buns

Brown hamburger meat, drain
Lay hamburger buns on greased cookie sheet
Spread pizza sauce on buns
Top with browned hamburger meat
Top with shredded cheese
Bake in oven until cheese is melted

Fast & Easy - YUM!

Obviously, you can vary the toppings and the servings.

Thanks Christy!!!

Easy Crockpot Dinner

From the Crockpot in Tina's House!

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
16 oz sour cream
2 cans cream of chicken soup

Mix and cook in the crockpot on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Use SC/CoC as a gravy to serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Enjoy!!
Tina

Hang out with Tina at Golden Goodness

Reason for this Blog

Planning meals is not easy for me. I am a mom of 3 little ones and married to a wonderful man--but none of them offer any help in this area. For a long time, I have neglected to cook regular meals and many days end up out to eat with my family. I have made a committed to cook more, plan more, and STOP eating out as much.

So, I welcome ANYONE to email me their daily / weekly menus and recipes. It doesn't have to be anything new or exciting---anything will be better than what I have been doing :)

My guess is I am NOT alone in this. Some of us are probably much better at it than others--but we probably could all use some inspiration sometimes.

If you want to be a coauthor of this blog--I welcome you. Just let me know. If you just want to submit ideas...email me. And I'll post them.

Hopefully, this will help us all Bring More to the Table and Spend quality time with our families with quality food :)

Blessings.