Thursday, September 22, 2005

TEX'S FAVORITE MEATLOAF

Tex loves meatloaf. Yes, I know - - - but he does. I could make it every week and I don't think he would complain. For the working woman...that comes home at lunch....I start the first part of the recipe. This makes it go faster when I get home.


2 tbls. butter
1 large onion
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped ( or sub. green bell pepper)
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. chopped thyme leaves
1 tsp. chopped rosemary
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley (1 tbls. dried)
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1Tbls Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream (milk)
2/3 cup Breadcrumbs
1 lb ground beaf
1 lb sausage (I use only Jimmy Dean or you can substitute hamburger)
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. pepper
4 slices bacon (cut in half)

In skillet heat butter and add onion, celery, pepper and cook, stirring occasional, until softened and beginning to carmaelize (about 6 minutes).
Add garlic, thyme, rosemary, & parsley and cook for 2 minutes (less if using dried seasonings). Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Then transfer to bowl, add eggs, mustard, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce and cream. Mix and add bread crumbs, meat, salt, pepper, and mix until combined.
Transfer into 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan - -with your hands form a loaf shape
Arrange slices of bacon on top of meatlaf.
Cover with remaining 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (may need additional).
Bake  at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the bacon and sauce are slightly caramelized.
Let stand


This recipe was orginally from Emeril. But I have Carolaized it. It is a little easier and cheaper.
One of the things I like about this recipe in that cooking the first 3 ingrediants make this a better meatloaf in my estimation. PLUS....you can always improvise....like don't have bell pepper or celery......then don't put it in. It still turns out.

Also makes GREAT sandwiches!

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Quick & Easy Pork Chop Skillet


This was an excellent pork chop recipe that I would definitely make again (link in title). The only think I would do differently is reserve the pears for some other use and just use the pear juice.
As sides we had french bread & zucchini from the garden. Naomi (almost 11 months old) loved it!

Monday, September 12, 2005

Good Meatloaf

After vacation I was so sick of fast food!!! But I also didn't have anything fresh in the fridge, thank goodness my mom taught me to stock the freezer & pantry! I had ground beef & corn in the freezer and some potatoes in the pantry. Talk about comfort food! The only problem is that I don't have a favorite meatloaf recipe so I went to allrecipes.com and found 1 that sounded good (link in title above). The only changes I made was using BBQ sauce on top instead of recipe b/c I ran out of ketchup. I also cooked it in muffin tin which cut the cook time in 1/2. Then I microed the corn and boiled and mashed the taters and ta-da, dinner is done!

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Old School Hamburger Helper

Feeling less than enspired last night, I was trying to figure out something to make w/ 1/2 lb. of left over ground beef. Then I remembered "my meal." Growing up this was the "Tricia Special" because I could make it all by my self! I haven't made it in ages so I gave it a whirl and the "recipe" came back to me just like riding a bike. Here it is:

Make 1 box of cheap mac & cheese as directed. Add a couple of slices of cheese at the end and stir till melted. Then add 1 can of chili beans and 1/2 of cooked ground beef (seasoned to your liking). Heat and Serve. If you want to be fancy you can put it in a casserole and heat in the oven w/slices of cheese on top.

Quick & super easy, the way I like it!

CAROLA'S CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

This is my easy version of Chicken Noodle Soup. I made it yesterday because my mom had come down with Vertigo ...again. I believe it can help cure you. Is this role reversal? I am now making soup for my mom when she it sick!! Ha HA
I have always loved the way the Mennonites made it. There was a certain flavor and I could never figure out what it was. Well about 15 years ago when we made a trip to Kansas for a Ensz reunion I finally learned the secret! It was Anise seed!!

4-5 Chicken Breasts (I use the boneless-skinless from Costco)
Put into a crock pot and fill to 3/4 full.
Add: 1 diced Onion
1/2 tsp. or less of Anise Seed Put into cheese cloth and tie up with twisty.
Optional: Shredded Carrots
1 - Tbls. dried parsley
Cook all day.
Remove chicken and shread.
Remove anise seed bag.
Return to chicken to pot.
Add 1-2 TBLS Chicken Soup Base (I get mine from Smart & Final....it's bright yellow)
Cook 1 - 1lb pkg Noodles. Add to chicken soup.
Add salt and pepper to taste! I use approx 1-2 tsp salt. 1/2 tsp pepper.
Also add more water if needed.... I usually do.

Set back and wait for the yum's, uhs and ahs!!

Thursday, August 18, 2005

GREEN BEANS WITH HAMBURGER

Soy sauce adds an Oriental punch!

I have been making this easy & tasty recipe for my family for years. It was out of the Betty Crocker cookbook. It is one of those recipes that can be made at the last minute. I always keep ground beef on hand in the freezer and a pkg. of green beans. You can also substitute fresh green beans or broccoli.

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups water
2 TBLS. soy sauce
1 TBLS. dark molasses
1 Pkg. (9 0z.) frozen cut green beans, broken apart
3 TBLS. cornstarch
1/3 cup cold water
3 to 4 cups hot cooked rice

Cook and stir ground beef and onion in large skillet until meat is brown and onion is tender.
Stir in garlic, 1 1/2 cups water, soy sauce and molasses; heat to boiling.
Add green beans and heat to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 15 minutes.

Blend cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water; stir gradually into meat mixture.
Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
Boil and stir 1 minute.

Serve over rice. I like to make sticky rice .... which can be made by using medium grain (silver pearl)
Can garnich with French fried onion rings.
If desired, pass additional soy sauce


I have even made this for company! Last week we had our friends (& my co-worker) Joann Stevens and her husband Randy over for dinner. To complete this oriental meal I made Chinese Chicken salad.... less the chicken! I have a great homemade recipe for the dressing....that will come at a later time.


I also served Pot Stickers. This is my NEW favorite side dish!
They are from Costco in the frozen section. It's a yellow package called Ling Ling's Chicken/Vegetable Dumplings. Use the One Pan Method to cook Quick and easy and soooo good!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Catfish Au Lait

Click the link above for the recipe.
This is poached catfish (2 frozen fillets). It was VERY GOOD, much to my surprise. I halved the recipe b/c it is just Steve & I and little Naomi. We also had Spinach Parmesan Pasta & Salad w/Marie's Blue Cheese vinaigrette. Tasty & Healthy!

Monday, August 15, 2005

Anytime Calzones



I made this dough a couple of weeks ago. Tonight I defrosted (directions in recipe) 2 and filled them w/mozzarella, Canadian bacon, tomatoes, & fresh basil & rosemary. They were delish! Also, instead of baking I grilled them. Yummy!
Dough Recipe Link http://www.bhg.com/recipe/recipedetail.jhtml?recipeId=R069381
calzone Recipe Link http://www.bhg.com/recipe/recipedetail.jhtml?recipeId=R069382

Friday, August 12, 2005

Grilled Chicken on the Cheap

Grilled Marinated Chicken
-Thighs ($.79/lb.) marinated in 1/2 c vinegar, 1/2 c oil, 5 t Montreal Chicken seasoning, 1 t Italian seasoning for 2 hours. Grilled till done, YUM!

Grilled Zucchini
-Sliced long way with oil, salt & pepper.

Wild Rice
-bulk from WinCo; cooked in chicken broth.

Cucumbers
-marinaded in 1/2 c sugar, 1/2 c vinegar, & 1-2 c water.

Watermelon

Thursday, August 11, 2005


The Mom Posted by Picasa

QUICK & EASY

Well after a full day at the water park what do you feed starving grand kids and husband? Something we already have on hand. So here is what we had last night:

BBQ HAMBURGERS - I always keep some high quality hamburger patties (from Costco) on hand in the summer time. These are so good that you can even eat BBQ'd plain and not as a hamburger.

FRIED POTATOES
I have come up with a relatively quick and easy way to cook these and they make a great side dish. You can use Red or Russet potatoes. Slice very thin. I use my Slicer from Pampered Chef. Heat up the frying pan .... pretty hot... with bacon grease. Yes! I said bacon grease. It gives those potatoes the BEST flavor. I save my bacon grease in a small covered container in the fridge. If you want to fry up some bacon.... crisp and when potatoes are done sprinkle crumbled bacon on top. Yummy!
Anyway add the potatoes to your skillet sprinkle with diced onions and sprinkle with pepper and seasoned salt. COVER! Check on every 5 minutes or so and turning when slightly brown. Takes approx 20-30 minutes to cook.

TEX'S RECIPE FOR BEANS
1 lb. Hamburger
1/2 onion - diced
2 cans Texas style beans

Cook hamuburger, drain grease. Add onion and cook. Also add pepper and salt (or seasoned salt). Add two cans of the Texas sytle beans. If you watch they sell these at Winco... cheaper than anywhere else. Cook till hot and serve.

This is Tex's recipe ... of course when he eats it he will add some jalopeno peppers to it.

I try to keep these beans on hand at all times.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Left over Chile Verde

So much Chile Verde, so many ways to eat it!
This week we've had Chile Verde Nachos, Chile Verde Enchildas and I think I'm going to attempt some sort of Chile Verde Soup tonight, plus I have some to freeze.

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Chile Verde

WinCo had pork sirlion roast for $1.49/lb. I put 3 lbs. in the crock pot w/garlic & 1 can of salsa verde on top. Come dinner time I'll shred it and add refried beans rice & cheese into a tortilla and top w/Las Palmas Green Chile Enchilada Sauce. Yum!