Thursday, July 30, 2009

Ez Pz Cheezy Goulash


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Ez Pz Cheezy Goulash
1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion
2 cups water
2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
1 can Rotel
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
salt, pepper, cumin, chilli powder, to taste
Half of a box of elbow macaroni
shredded cheddar

Directions
Saute the ground beef over medium-high heat, until no pink remains. Add the onions and garlic to the pot and saute until they are tender. Add 2 cups water, along with the tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning. Stir well. Lower heat and place a lid on the pot and allow this to cook for 15 to 20 mins until the macaroni is tender ;)

Sprinkle shredded cheddar on top when serving. I also used scallions and sour cream on mine.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

COOKIE CRAAAAZY!

I have 3 lil cookie monsters :)
Boy were they thrilled that I made 3 diff types. Even had some good friends come over and sample them.

Lets start with Peanut Butter Cookies
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Jacey's PB Cookies
2 cups flour
1 cup butter flavored criso
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Mix. Roll into balls. Dip fork in powdered sugar and criss cross.

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until just lightly browned.



Macaroonies


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EZ PZ Macaroonies
1 14 oz bag of shredded coconut
3/4 c sugar
6 T flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
5 egg whites

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Drop by rounded spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Now onto the sinfully wonderful chocochip cookies
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Choco Chippers
2 sticks butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cup unsifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup Ghiradelli MILK chocolate chips, 1 cup Ghiradelli semi sweet choco chips

Preheat oven to 375. Stir flour with baking soda and salt by whisking in a bowl; set aside. In large mixer bowl, cream butter with sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. I rotate the cookie sheet half way thru by setting the timer for 5 minutes. Rotate, then continue to bake.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Your basic French Toast

This is just a standard/basic recipe. I like the basics and it allows you to add or change anything you want! This one is standard and its just how my mom makes it so it brings back memories and that's the way I like it!

My kids eat this until they are sick.. On this day I didn't have any good bread like texas toast but it is still just as yummmy!

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French Toast

8 slices bread of your choice, the thicker, the more it will soak up so you might need to add more eggs
4 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS
In a shallow mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.
Quickly dip slices (do not soak) in egg mixture and cook until golden brown on both sides. I use a griddle.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup.

Chicken ~N~ Dunklins

Thats what my Teegan calls them!

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Jacey's Chicken N Dunklins

3-4 chicken breasts, skinless/boneless
1 box or 2 cans chicken stock
water
salt, pepper, dried parsley, oregano

Place chicken breasts in stock and add water enough to cover the chicken breasts, the pot will be about 1/2 to 3/4 full. Add seasonings.

Cook on medium/high heat until chicken is cooked thru. Maybe 20 mins?

While chicken is cooking make your dunklins (teegan calls them that), follow recipe below and set aside.
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Remove chicken and cut into bite sized pieces.
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Add back to boiling broth and pinch off little bite sized pieces of the dunlkins and drop them in.
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Cook until bubbly and the whole pot is thick and not runny and all of the dunklins float to the top.
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In my family we like extra dunklins so I make a double batch of them.


Dunklins
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
2 tsps. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsps canola oil
3/4 c. milk

Mix in bowl until soft dough forms. Then drop by spoonfulls into boiling broth.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Green Beef Tacorito's

Totally made up name but ya it works :)

It's basically like my green beef enchiladas with taco meat and beans but once you change the name, the kids totally dig it!


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Green Beef Tacorito's

1 lb ground sirloin
6 tortillas
grated cheddar cheese
1/4 small onion
1/4 small green pepper
1 can fat free refried beans
Half of a jar of taco bell taco sauce
1 can fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 small can green chillis

Saute your ground beef and season as you'd like. I use chilli powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper and cumin. Add in your onion and bell pepper once your beef is almost cooked. Add in taco sauce and a splash or two of water to thin it out. Saute until combined.

Warm up tortillas to soften them up. Spread beans on the bottom of tortilla, sprinkle your meat in and add cheddar cheese. Repeat for all 6. You will have meat left over.

Combine left over meat, soup, green chillis and about 2 tbs water to thin out. Stir and pour over the 6 enchiladas.

Bake at 400 degrees until cheese is melted and dish is bubbly.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

German Chocolate Cheesecake

Besides red velvet cake, German Chocolate is my husbands fav. Cheesecake is my fav so this combines the best of both worlds. My kids licked their plates..and um so did Kyle ;)

This is TO DIE FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had it warm but I bet its even better cool!

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German Chocolate Cheesecake
INGREDIENTS
1 (18.25 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla


FROSTING:
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter, cubed
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
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DIRECTIONS
Prepare cake batter according to package directions; set aside. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined.
Pour half of the cake batter into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Gently pour cream cheese mixture over batter. Gently spoon remaining batter or until a toothpick inserted near the center comeover top; spread to edge of pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour until a toothpick comes out crumbly.

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For frosting, combine sugar, milk, butter and egg yolks in a heavy saucepan. Cool and stir over medium-low heat until thickened and a thermometer reads 160 degrees F. Remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla; fold in coconut and pecans. Cool until frosting reaches spreading consistency. Frost cooled cake. Refrigerate leftovers.

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To DIE for crockpot roast

We eat this once a month. Then the next day I take the meat and veggies and make roast chimmichangas.

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Ingredients
1 beef roast, I use Eye of Round
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package brown gravy mix, dry
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package dried Italian salad dressing mix
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package ranch dressing mix, dry
1 cup chicken stock, 1/2 cup water
1/2 small onion
1/2 small green bell pepper
4 small potatoes (or as many as you'd like)
equal amounts of baby carrots, not cut

Directions

Season beef roast with coarse black pepper and kosher salt and sear in a very hot pan on all sides.

Place beef roast in crock pot.

Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.

Pour the stock and water around the roast.

Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

Take out and slice, take extra juices (there will be a lot) and mix with a package of brown gravy mix on stove until thickened.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Geen Beans Italiano

My oldest would not eat green beans no matter what. My other 2 love them but she wouldn't. One day I drenched them with italian dressing (my girls love salad and love italian) and she tried them and loved them and kept coming back for more. So now she won't eat them any other way. It's become a tradition in our house.

In a rush we have canned green beans a lot. Sometimes fresh if I have time but we like ours super soft so we stick with canned alot.

I open 2 cans and pour in about 1/4 of a cup (lil more or less depending on how much you like) of Zesty Italian Dressing over the top.

Viola!

An easy way to jazz up a canned staple.

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Pan Fries

Kyle greatly prefers these to mashed taters and so I thought I would do that as a special treat for him. Plus we had mashed taters last night.

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Pan Fries

4 large raw Russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/8-inch thick)
1/2 of one large onion, or 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 Tbsp or more of canola oil
Seasoned Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Dash of garlic powder

Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a medium to large skillet on medium high heat until sizzling. Place a single layer of potato slices on the bottom of the pan. Add a light layer of sliced onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add another layer of potatoes, another layer of onion slices, sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Keep layering until you've used up your potatoes and onions

Lower the heat to medium and cover the pan. Let cook for about 10 minutes, until the potato layer at the bottom is nicely browned. You can move aside a little bit with a fork to see if the bottom edges are browned

Gently flip the potatoes over, a section of the pan at a time, so that the layer that was on the top is now on the bottom, and the browned potatoes are now on the top. Add another Tbsp of oil. The oil will help the browning. Cover and let cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the bottom layer is now browned

Once the bottom layer is browned, remove the lid of the pan and let continue to cook for 5 more minutes.

Serves 5

A TEXAS STAPLE for those non-texans out there :)

This is why the state of Texas is such a big state..tisk tisk!

I am amazed how many of my out of state friends have no clue what chicken fried steak is! Here it is guys and a disclaimer: IF YOU ARE ON A DIET LOOK NO FURTHER..JUST THE SIGHT OF THIS WILL MAKE YOUR BUTT BIGGER..TRUST ME..
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Chicken Fried Steak
4 tenderized beef cutlets (known in supermarkets as "cube steak")
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
all-purpose flour
cooking oil or melted Crisco®
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper


Even tho these cutlets are already tenderized I always put them in a ziplock bag and give em a hard bang with my metal meat tenderizer. Great way to relieve stress! I have also soaked mine in buttermilk ahead of time but it makes the steak fall apart if left too long. Plus this is faster.

Beat together the egg and milk with seasonings and set aside.

Dredge the cutlets in the flour, shaking off the excess. Then dip each cutlet in the egg/milk mixture, then back in the flour. Set cutlets aside on a piece of waxed paper.

Heat the cooking oil in skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes. I learned years ago from a great chef, Sara Molten, that you take the end of a wooden spoon and put in the center of the oil and when bubbles come up from all sides your oil is ready.

Place each cutlet into the hot oil. Fry cutlets on both sides, turning once, until golden brown. When blood comes to the surface its time to turn. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook 4 or 5 minutes until cutlets are done through. Drain cutlets on paper towels.


And it is against the law, section 1.1 made up, that if you do not serve this with white gravy you will be punished greatly..


Texas Cream Gravy
After the cutlets are removed from the pan, pour off all but about 2tablespoons of oil, keeping as many as possible of the browned bits in the pan. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot.

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons flour in the hot oil. Stir with a wisk, quickly, to brown the flour. Cook for about 2 minutes to cook out the starch.

Gradually stir in 2 cups whole milk (yes whole milk so it will be rich and creamy, stirring constantly with the wisk mashing out any lumps. Lower heat, and gravy will begin to thicken. Sprinkle fresh ground black pepper (my husband likes lots) and seasoned salt to taste into gravy. Continue cooking and stirring a few minutes until gravy reaches desired thickness.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sopapilla Cheesecake is THA BOMB!

This was wonderful. We had it warm but I can only imagine how it would be cold! The filling is sweet and creamy and the top is crunchy just like cinnamon toast! I didn't pay attention to the recipe when I bought it so I only had one can of crescent rolls and used an 8x8. And I also didn't roll them out. I pieced them together to form a single layer to make it more rugged. So do what you wish ;)
Either way the results will be the same and sure to wow you everytime!


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Sopapilla Cheesecake
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Beat the cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth; set aside.
3. Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each sheet into 9x13 inch rectangles. Press one sheet into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough, and brush with melted butter. Stir together 1/2 cup of sugar with the cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle evenly over the top of the cheesecake.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

This is good warm or cold.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Classic Sugar Dumplins

Sugar & Spice Dumplins

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Canola oil, for frying
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
2 cans buttermilk biscuits
Heat 2 inches peanut oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F.

In a shallow bowl, stir together the ground cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Tear apart pieces of each bisquit and roll in your hands to shape a ball. Fry until golden brown. Watch them, they will burn withi seconds.

Drain on paper towels and then toss in the cinnamon-sugar.

This cinnamon-sugar recipe can be used for all kinds of stuff including sopapillas. You can store what you have left in a container.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

It's like pulling teeth to get my husband to eat meatloaf. I make it several different ways. This way and paula deen's cheeseburger meatloaf with sauce he will eat.

I will take pics once I serve it with a salad, baguette and mashed taters!

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf
Ingredients
1 lb ground chuck
5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 (8 ounce) package cheddar cheese, grated
2 large eggs
1/4 cup crushed ritz crackers
1/4 cup miracle whip
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 to 2 chopped scallions
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Sprinkle of cumin, sprinkle of garlic powder
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon jack daniels mustard (or 2 of dijon), I used 2.5 or so of the jack daniels and the mustard was overpowering.

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Spray meatloaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except ketchup and mustard , mixing well by hand.

In a small bowl, combine ketchup and mustard.

Stir in 1/4 cup ketchup mixture into the meat mixture.

Place meat mixture in baking dish and shape into a loaf.

Spread remaining ketchup mixture over meatloaf.

Bake for 40 minutes.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Stuffed Shells

Yum!


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Stuffed Shells
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 box of jumbo shells
1 24 oz container of ricotta cheese
1 pkg shredded mozzerella
1/2 small onion
1/2 green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves
1 egg
1 large jar of preferred spaghetti sauce
Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning (for filling)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Boil your jumbo shells for 13 mins in salted water, drain.

Brown your ground meat seasoning with seasonings of your choice. I used salt, pepper, cumin, and chilli powder. When almost browned add in your garlic, onion and bell pepper. Saute until no longer pink. Add jar of spaghetti sauce and turn heat off.

Meanwhile in seperate bowl combine ricotta, egg, 3/4 of your mozzerella cheese, couple of tbs of parmesan cheese and italian seasonings (basil, oregano and parsley) to taste as well as salt and pepper to taste.

Spoon a bit of sauce on bottom of 9x13 casserole. Using a tbs or so fill each shell and place in casserole. After each shell is filled, cover with meat sauce and sprinkle remaining mozzerella and amt of parmesan to your liking.

Bake 20 to 30 minutes until brown, bubbly and the cheese is crusty and melted.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Pioneer Woman's Beans & Cornbread

No need for a pic since she has one on her site. This is one of MY FAVORITE blogs. We had this yesterday and it was to die for!
Try it ;)

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/08/beans_and_cornb/

Friday, May 1, 2009

Sugar & Spice Minis!

Sugar and Spice Mini Muffins
1 3/4 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/3 c. vegetable oil
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
3/4 c. milk
Topping
2/3 c. melted butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin cups with cooking spray.
Whisk together the first five ingredients in a mixing bowl. With a whisk beat together the sugar, oil, egg, and milk in a seperate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients blending well.
Divide the mixture evenly between 36 mini muffin wells, or 12 standard size muffin wells.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
While the muffins are baking melt the butter for the topping in one bowl and set aside. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar mixture and set aside. When the muffins are baked remove from the pans while they’re still hot and dip each one in the butter, and then roll in the sugar

M&M Cookies

M & M Cookies

1 cup butter, 2 sticks
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons real vanilla, I use mexican
2 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 packages, or about 2.5 cups of semi crushed plain m&m’s


Directions
1
Cream butter and sugars, then add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and finally add m&m’s.
2
Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet.
3
Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or lightly browned.
4
I make frozen balls of dough to take out and bake as needed.

Southwest Beef & Tater Casserole

Small pic, had to high jack it cause I forgot to take one before my family devoured the entire thing!
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Southwest Beef & Taters

1 pound extra-lean ground beef
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 can Rotel, undrained
1 can (about 12 to 15 ounces) corn
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 medium potatoes, peeled, thinly sliced, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese



Grease a 13 x 9 casserole with Pam
Heat oven to 375

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef, breaking up, and the onions. Cook, stirring, until beef is browned and onion is tender. Add garlic; cook, stirring, for about 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomatoes, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cumin.
In the prepared baking dish, arrange half of the sliced potatoes, then top with half of the corn and ground beef mixture and half of the cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the remaining cheese. Cover tightly with foil and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
Serves 6.

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole

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Chicken & Stuffing Casserole
INGREDIENTS
3 to 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (boiled in chicken broth)
6 ounces dry bread stuffing mix
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed fat free cream of mushroom soup ( i find the cream of chicken too salty)
1 3/4 cups chicken broth (from boiling the chicken)
3/4 cup milk
1 small can of green chilis

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Layer the chicken in a 8x8 casserole pan sprayed with pam. Sprinkle stuffing mix over the chicken layer.
In a large bowl mix together the soup, broth and evaporated milk. Stir well. Pour this mixture over the stuffing mix, making sure it gets to the bottom of the baking dish (poke around with a fork to let it saturate into the bottom layer). Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until it starts to bubble in the center.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Wham Bam Thank Ya Maam Brownies

These are amazing! I mean seriously so much better than a mix. And a one bowl recipe.

My new favorite brownie recipe!!!

12 T. unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks)
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour 12 pecan halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 13×9 inch pan sprayed with Pam.
Melt the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl.
Whisk in the sugar, then whisk in the cocoa powder, followed by the vanilla extract and eggs.
When mixture is smooth, add salt and baking powder and cinnamon and whisk thoroughly, breaking up any lumps in baking powder and taking care that it is thoroughly distributed.
Scrape sides of bowl and stir (do not beat) in the flour.
Pour into pan and spread to edges.
Arrange nuts over top.
Bake on center rack of oven for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.