Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Cheesy Jalapeno Rolls...


"Baby it's cold outside!"

    As the Fall weather winds down and Winter prepares for her debut I find myself preferring the crock pot for dinners. Warm aromas permeating the senses. Warming you from head to toe, heart and soul. Sunday dinner is the perfect opportunity to indulge in the smell of fresh rolls. Rolls with crisp outsides and tender, soft white centers, perfect cheesy layers...

     Because my little one is sensitive to spicy foods we halved our batch of jalapeno rolls. Which also meant we had plain rolls later for a dripping butter and honey dessert! The jalapeno rolls were served with crock pot sloppy joe meat. I used the ingredients from the Food.com version of Test Kitchens: Sloppy Joe Recipe.  To convert the recipe to crock pot, simply brown your meat, onions and garlic. Then add it as well as the other ingredients to your crock pot on low for 4-5 hours. Once your meat is going, roll up your sleeves and start the rolls.

   
    Start by combining room temperature milk with warm water and yeast. You could use whole milk, I always have 2% on hand and it works like a charm. Allow the yeast mixture to become frothy before adding it to a mixing bowl that contains: sugar, room temp butter, salt, one egg, and two cups of flour. Mix until everything is wet and well mixed. Change to bread hook and add remaining flour a cup at a time. Mixing well after each addition. When dough is sticky, but firm and pulls away from sides of bowl turn onto floured surface and hand knead until smooth and elastic.

    Allow dough to rest and double in size! Punch down and roll out into a large circle. Add your jalapenos and cheese. Cut into triangles. (I usually get 16 triangles, you can cut more for smaller and more rolls) Roll them up into a cheesy croissant. Place on a buttered baking sheet and allow to rise once more. During the last few minutes of rising, boil 5 cups of water. Pre heat oven and place boiling water on the lowest rack with the rolls on the middle rack. Hello crispy crust. Hello tender middle. Bake for 20-25 minutes until tops are golden brown. Brush tops with melty butter. Serve warm, and of course... Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Mini Cheesy Turkey Shells...



        This is the picture that popped up in my "memories" from Facebook this morning! Two years ago today we were enjoying our first snow fall! You would have to know my family to really understand the disappointment today's mere rain showers are bringing! I promised my hubby a snow dance before he left the house for the day. Channeling ancient Winnebago Indian powers....... Just kidding, but really we are on pins and needles. 

     You could say we bleed ski doo. Its an old family tradition passed down through many wintery generations. The past few Utah winters have been... meh! We have had snow of course, but it has been years since we got a good dumping.

     So as I sit here with my hot chocolate and Ludo omelet... Did you watch "What Phil is having" last night? He is a riot! The little one is busy with "homework" and AM 1390 has been transformed into the annual holiday station fittingly playing "Let it snow"... I realize just how ready for the season I am. Yesterday the little and I got a jump on Christmas shopping. Putting the horse before the cart as usual, because first of course is turkey day! Our family will have the opportunity to host, and I couldn't be more excited. Stuffed with the fixings, blissfully content as we welcome the holidays! I can hardly contain myself waiting for time spent with my little family away from the hub bub. 

     Just in case you are feeling like me today, lets talk turkey! Lets take it a day at a time. A holiday at a time. Here is a turkey recipe to rein the emotions back in....  

My intention was turkey pot pie but I ended up with a "cheesy turkey shell" due to my poor planning and not purchasing enough pie crusts to top these tasty little things!

Try them out my kiddos and husband loved them! You cannot go wrong with a creamy white sauce and cheese! You will need:

1/4 cup butter or margarine
3T. finely chopped onions
3T. finely chopped celery
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup flour
2 c. milk
paprika
two 9" pie crusts
about a cup each of your choice in veggies
and of course turkey!

    Preheat oven to 375. In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add onions, salt, pepper and celery. Saute until tender. In a separate saucepan bring your diced mixed veggies to a boil. Do not overcook them! They will cook in the oven, so you want them slightly crunchy. Once your onions and celery are tender add flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in milk and bring to a boil. Boil one minute then remove from heat. Stir in your veggie mix and your turkey...diced or shredded will work!


1. Roll out the pie crust. Using a cookie cutter or kitchen glass cut out 12 circles.
2. Place pie crust circles into greased muffin tin.
3. Load them up with your turkey mix! Don't be afraid to fill them up as they will cook down in the oven! Top with cheese.

                   Top with shredded cheese and paprika. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

A Family Favorite! Easy Peasy Sweet and Sour Chicken!

    The baby is eating eggs and crunchy, crumbly toast in our bed, my side this time. The washing  machine is whirling and twirling around the first of at least five hundred loads of laundry. The gorgeous fall sun is warming up the house and soul. Kiddos are off to school, besides the one littering the bed sheets with tiny toast crumbs of course. My amazing guy is out the door for the day. Its just me, my coffee, Dr. Meredith Grey (How did life exist before Netflix anyway?) poised to take on the day!

    Ahhhh! The quiet lull in between the summer and the holidays. A few quiet weeks between mayhem. Local pumpkin walks with toasty mittens and melty hot chocolate. Leisurely afternoons with my best girls. Perhaps that's really why I prefer Fall? Besides the warm aromas. Crisp morning air filling your morning run lungs. Beautiful scenery..... and on and on. Fall really is special. Last week as we bribed and begged with the little one to smile and pose one more time for the 2015 family photo spectacular, I mused about the year that has so quickly passed us by. Time as usual is flying by.

    All we can do is cherish today. Savor these minutes that will come, and most assuredly go.  Sit down together at the family dinner table and remember this day, this season. The times their faces aren't glued to their phones. The statistics on family dinners are amazing. After the world has its way with your family, welcome them home with a favorite. Enjoy the quiet times in between the whirlwind of life. Here is one of our favorites. From our family to yours!


                                                      Sweet and Sour Chicken




    You will Need:
For the sauce
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup vinegar
* 1/4 cup pineapple juice
* 1/4 ketchup
* 1 T soy sauce
* 1/2 t salt
* 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
* (optional) diced onions and peppers

For the chicken
* 4 chicken breast cut into bite size pieces
* 3 eggs slightly beaten
* 2 cups flour
* salt
* pepper
* olive oil

Directions:
Pre heat oven to 350. In a large skillet heat about a tablespoon of olive oil. In batches, dip the chicken pieces in the egg first followed by the flour. Make sure the pieces are well coated. Place them in the large skillet season with salt and pepper and allow them to brown, flipping occasionally. After browned place in a baking pan in a single layer.


       Allow the crust to set for about 10 minutes while you prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, mix all of the ingredients. Heat the sauce over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and sauce is bubbly. We prefer a little extra sauce. This sauce will thicken in the baking process. If you would like a little extra sauce for dipping, simply double or repeat the sauce recipe.



    Once sauce is prepared pour sauce and pineapple chunks over chicken. If you doubled recipe, only use half of the sauce over the chicken. Place chicken in the oven and bake for one hour. To keep the chicken coating crisp, allow the chicken to bake for at least 35 minutes before flipping. While the chicken is baking start your rice cooker!



 Enjoy! I'm off to fold laundry. Sweep the bed. Snuggle a lil one while we work on the alphabet. Perhaps grab a shower.... Bring it on Tuesday!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Coconut Oil Onion Rings and a Winner!!



Congratulations Jodi T!


     Jodi has won a quart of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil! Thank you to everyone who entered my very first giveaway! Many more great opportunities on the horizon!

    There were so many wonderful suggestions on the use of Coconut oil! Some I had not heard of, some I would like to try, and some I already love!

    One of our new favorite summer time burgers was inspired by Coconut oil! Parmesan crusted, crunchy onion topped! Yum!

Crunchy Purple Onion toppers:


2 medium purple onions sliced into thin rings
2 cups flour seasoned with pepper and garlic salt
1 cup buttermilk
*no buttermilk? Prepare your own by adding four teaspoons of white vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Allow to sit for at least fifteen minutes*
2 t cornstarch
2 beaten eggs


Start by dredging your onions a batch at a time in the egg mixture. Next coat with flour.  If you did not know...the trick to truly crispy fries and onions is cornstarch! Mix the cornstarch into your buttermilk and dip your floured onions before finally frying in Coconut Oil until golden brown! Place on a paper towel lined plate and salt lightly! You are in for a treat!

Loressa

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

In the mood for something new...

 
   Do not say Yuck! Yet! I love Lidia Bastianich! Of course you may know this from my post about Boston Cream Cupcakes! The lady amazes me! A few weeks ago my kids and I happened upon an episode where she made these lovelies! My daughter and I were salivating! I could not wait to try this recipe! Enjoy!


Lidia's Italy: Home

serves: 6 to 8

"You might be used to breaded and fried zucchini cut in French- fry fashion, but when my mother fried zucchini, she would always cut them in rounds or slices. I liked them that way: they made great sandwich stuffers, especially when the flavors and moistness of the zucchini seeped into the bread. For over-the top flavor, add a few slices of Swiss cheese and melt under the broiler or in a sandwich press. The perfect Italian lunch."
 
Ingredients

vegetable oil, for frying
4 large eggs
kosher salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups fine dry bread crumbs
1 cup grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 pounds medium zucchini, sliced into 1/4-1/2 inch-thick rounds on the bias*

Directions

Heat 1 inch of the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Beat the eggs in a bowl with a pinch of salt, and stir in the mint. Put the flour in one shallow bowl, and mix the bread crumbs and grated cheese in another. Dredge the zucchini, in batches, in the flour, then the egg, then the bread crumbs, shaking off the excess. Let the rounds rest on sheet trays while you finish all of the zucchini. When the oil reaches about 365 degrees (or when a piece of zucchini sizzles on contact), slip a batch of zucchini into the oil. Fry, turning occasionally, until crisp and golden all over, about 2 minutes. Drain the zucchini on paper towels, and season with salt. Let the oil return to temperature between batches, and repeat with the remaining zucchini, seasoning with salt as soon as they come out of the oil.



*Note: Cut slices 1/4 inch thick if you like crispier

slices, or ½ inch thick if you like meatier slices.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Move over Cowboy! Momma's got a new favorite!


What you are looking at is heaven on a bun... er crust!

   Papa Murphy's delectable Cheeseburger pizza is divine! My cute neighbor brought me a slice last weekend and it is all I can think about! Hence the blogging via treadmill:) My husband had different sentiments...H said, and I quote "If I wanted a cheeseburger I would just get a cheeseburger!' Men! 

You have to try this pizza! While you are there try the new pizza kits for the kiddos!


Monday, January 16, 2012

Crock pot barbeque coke chicken...

    Say that five times fast! Nothing says Sunday like delicious smells emanating from the kitchen. I am a believer in Sunday dinner. From childhood the one day you could actually wrangle everybody to the table was Sunday. Last night we tried this delicious recipe with a few tweaks!

1 cup Coke
1/2 cup Italian dressing
12 ounces barbeque sauce of your choice
1 clove diced garlic
1 small onion diced
salt and pepper
 boneless chicken breasts

    Combine all ingredients in crock pot. Savor the delicious smell for 4-6 hours. Shred chicken with fork and then enjoy on a butter toasted sesame bun!



Sunday, January 15, 2012

Success....I think!

     I love to try new things! I love knowing that "Yes I can!" Or the "Yeah, I tried that and well...." My sweet husband's grandmother was Italian and I am forever hearing stories of a lady I never knew but love. He loves to talk about her cooking. I have wanted to try gnocchi for a while but honestly felt intimidated! I found the best recipe and tutorial! 101 Cookbooks It was a chore I won't lie. I felt nervous as I began to knead the potato's.....I think my first time went pretty well!


    The whole fork trick had me perplexed! I have the confidance now to try again! We served them over hot garlic marinara sauce and cheesy french bread! Try it out and let me see your success!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Whats for dinner this fine Saturday?



            I am trying my hand at homemade Gnocchi for the first time ever! Pics and recipe coming soon!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Phew...

     Fall cleaning and rearranging accomplished...Check! Giggling as we rolled our overindulged ate like piggies at grandma's house bodies into bed...Uh huh! A trunk full of goodies that will make for awesome Christmas projects...Yup! Holding hands as we made our way home....Of course:)

Happy Monday!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Heaven and snow...

     I wish I could upload smells and then I would share with you the wonderful smell of my kitchen! This kind of weather makes me want to cook! Warming up in the kitchen creating all sorts of good stuff!!
     Every year this is a day yearned for...the first batch of pumpkin bars day:D I posted this delicious recipe last year and you can find it under the pumpkin bar post! Cream cheese frosting tops this tasty treat. There goes my diet!
    The recipe for pumpkin bars calls for two cups of pumpkin and in the 29oz can there are a little over three...I always wince when I spy the leftover pumpkin in the fridge for weeks with nothing to add it to! I was in a crock pot mood this morning! I had a package of ribs in the freezer and pondered over barbeque pork sandwiches...Salivating yet! The smell is torturing me!!

    I love trying new things....Today I made a pork marinade out of that leftover pumpkin and holy stars for the love of Liza! I used chilli sauce and some chipolte barbeque sauce also...I just tasted my work after the last few delicious hours of simmering! Is it dinner time yet!! I cannot wait to see the faces of my lil family when their chilly noses get a whiff!

Happy keeping warm!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

White Chicken Chili : D

This is one of my all time favorite recipes. So easy and so tasty. It is even easy to stick in the crock pot!

16 oz Chicken Broth
2 - 15.5 oz cans of Great Northern White Beans
2 - 4 oz cans of Chopped Green Chiles
Cooked, cubed Chicken (I don't really put a figure on it, how ever much I am in the mood for.)

Some onion - to your preference diced or sometimes we used dried onions
3 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 cup of Sour Cream
1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream (Half and Half works if you prefer.)
Cooked Rice - to your own preference, we usually make about 3 or 4 Cups of uncooked rice

Put the chicken broth, white beans, green chiles, cooked chicken and all of the spices in a large pot. Bring it to a boil and then let it simmer. The original recipe says to let it simmer for one hour with occassional stirring. This helps all the spices blend, however if you are impatient like me, you just add a little extra water or chicken broth and let it boil for about 30 minutes and it tastes great.

At this point you might be wondering what on earth you just made! It will look dark and taste very strong....but you remove it from the heat and whisk in the sour cream and the heavy whipping cream. This will be more of what you were expecting! Taste it, if it is still too strong for you, put in a little more of one or both of the creams. You can either pour it over the cooked rice or mix the rice into. Rick and I like to eat it with chips and cheese.
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