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Ham and Swiss Scalloped Potatoes

February 3, 2012 by

Yesterday, we talked about how to make white sauce.  That is the basis for this dish too.  The simple white sauce poured over layers of potato, ham ans shredded Swiss cheese makes for a wonderful dinner.

In order to keep the baking time to a minimum and ensure the potatoes get cooked all the way through, I boiled the whole potatoes and then sliced them.  Since everything is hot going into the oven, it only needs about 20 minutes to melt the cheese and finish off the dish.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:  [Read more...]

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No Recipe Required – 10 Ways to Cook Beef Roast or Other Cuts of Beef

January 19, 2012 by

Have a cut of beef in your freezer that you need to fix for dinner?  Not in the mood for a recipe?  No problem!

Here are some ideas to get you started.  No recipe required.

These ideas are for roasts or other cuts.  If you’ve got a nice steak, you’ll want to choose a different cooking method.

All of these ideas can be done in the oven or slow cooker.  The cooking time will depend on the cut of beef and how large the piece is.  As a general rule, beef roast or a round steak weighing about 2-3 lbs. will take 6-7  hours on high in the slow cooker.

9 ways to fix beef roast or other cuts of beef

  1. Salsa – any type.
  2. Diced tomatoes and green chilis.  Shred the meat and serve in tortillas or slice and serve with cornbread and veggies.
  3. Enchilada sauce, shred and serve in tortillas.
  4. Jar of gravy, add potatoes, carrots and onions cut in chunks.
  5. Cream of mushroom soup.  Serve with baked potatoes.
  6. Spaghetti sauce -  Pour over the meat.  Add green peppers and onions.  Serve over angel hair pasta.
  7. Bbq sauce – Shred or slice and serve on buns.
  8. Sprinkle with Italian seasonings, add onions, garlic and a splash of red wine.
  9. Bay leaf, rosemary, salt and pepper, red wine or beef broth.
  10. Make French Dip Sandwiches – Pour can of beef broth and 1 Tbs. worcestershire sauce over meat. Shred and serve on sub buns.

 

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Grilled Fish Sandwich with Homemade Tartar Sauce

January 17, 2012 by

Sometimes, when I sit down to write up a recipe post, I can’t find anything to say.  This is one of those times.

Because, really, the beauty of this sandwich is that it’s so simple.

Grilled fish that cooks up quick on a George Foreman or other indoor grill.

Cajun seasoning  kicks the flavor up a notch or three.

Homemade tartar sauce that is just mayo with a little sweet relish stirred in.

Put it on a bun, serve it with fries and carrot sticks or salad.  It’s a little out of the ordinary, but casual and easy enough for a weeknight supper.

Here’s what you’ll need:  [Read more...]

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Italian Sausage Enchiladas – Don’t be afraid to substitute ingredients

January 13, 2012 by

Sometimes I make a recipe exactly as it’s written.  Maybe because I’m not familiar with the dish.  Or because it’s a baked good that will just work better if I follow directions.  Or because I like the results of that specific recipe.

But other times, I use recipes as a jumping off point.  I swap out ingredients for what I have in my pantry or fridge.  This is how I cook most often.  I love to read comments from readers that say something like, “I loved this recipe.  I used chicken broth instead of beef, added more veggies, skipped the green chilis and topped it with cornbread.”  It’s not the same recipe at all, but the reader loved it! She used her creativity and shopped her pantry to serve her family a meal that they all liked.  Success!

One reason I like enchiladas so much is that they are a prime candidate for substituting.  These enchiladas are a recent result of shopping my pantry and fridge for ingredients.  They are simple to make and my family loved them.

Here’s what you’ll need.  Feel free to substitute as needed.  The recipe makes about 9-10 enchiladas.  The picture above only shows part of the recipe. [Read more...]

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No Recipe Required – 10 Ways to Fix Chicken on the Fly

January 3, 2012 by

Does this ever happen to you?  You know dinner is going to be chicken because you’ve got a pack of boneless breasts/thighs/tenders or bone-in legs/breasts/thighs.  But you have no desire to think up a recipe to turn them into dinner.

You don’t need a recipe.  You just need some ideas.

Here are 10 ways (plus a few cooking methods) to get you started.   [Read more...]

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Wimpys aka Sloppy Joes

December 19, 2011 by

When I was growing up, my family always called sandwiches like this Wimpys.   I’m not sure how old I was when I figured out that everyone else calls the Sloppy Joes.

When I made these, my intention was to just use a can of Manwich.  But I couldn’t find it anywhere in the grocery.  I looked in all the logical places, but no Manwich.

So, I decided to make some homemade.  This recipe is adapted from Simply Recipes.  Her recipe has ketchup and carrots.  I used chili sauce and red peppers.  Mine also has more meat, but I liked her base of seasonings although I skipped a few of the herbs and spices.  Change this up for your tastes and pantry.

Here’s what you’ll need:  [Read more...]

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Baked Sweet Potatoes Topped with Chicken Apple Sausage and Apples and Baked Potatoes Topped with Creamed Chicken

December 13, 2011 by

Would you believe that delicious stuffed potato is a 15 minute meal?  Now that’s fast food!

It’s super easy to fix, thanks to the sweet potato.  They are all scrubbed, wrapped and ready to microwave from Express Bake PotatOH!

As soon as I was contacted by the Express Bake PotatOH! people I knew what I wanted to do with the sweet potatoes.  And it didn’t disappoint.   Sweet potatoes have never been topped so well.  While the potatoes took a spin in the microwave, I fixed the sausage and apple topping.  The entire meal was ready in about 15 minutes.

I also had the opportunity to try baked potatoes and fingerlings.  Delicious and so easy!  I topped the baked potatoes with creamed chicken.  My kids loved it.  The potatoes bake perfectly in the microwave.  Express Bake PotatOHs are perfect for nights when you’re in a hurry.  They can be topped with all kinds of things or eaten as a side dish.  Either way, they are quick and healthy.

Here’s what you’ll need for  the Sweet Potatoes topped with Chicken Apple Sausage and Apples:  [Read more...]

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Chicken and Broccoli “Stir Fry” in the Slow Cooker

December 9, 2011 by

Stir fry is a cooking method that can’t really be replicated in a slow cooker.

But you can make a pretty good fake!

I’ve made this recipe twice now.  It’s easy and quick to fix.  The chicken gets cooked in stir fry sauce for several hours.  The veggies are added later, so they don’t get mushy.

No ingredient photo this time.  I was in a big hurry both times I’ve made it. [Read more...]

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Tortellini Meatball Soup with Mini Baguettes

December 6, 2011 by

This meal is so fast to get on the table.  The soup cooks up very quickly and Sister Schubert’s Mini Baguettes are not only the prefect accompaniment, they are also quick to the table.

Do you like dipping bread in your soup?  I do and these were perfect for doing that.  The outside of the baguette is crunchy, making them great for dipping.  The inside is soft and warm, which gives them a homemade taste.  I also really appreciate that they are individual servings, versus a whole loaf that needs to be cut.  When you need to get dinner to the table fast, every little time-saving step helps!

The other thing I love about this whole meal is that it requires no advanced planning.  It’s basically a pantry/freezer meal.  All the ingredients can be kept on hand and pulled out when you need them.  The Mini Baguettes warm in the oven while the soup comes together.   I love meals like this!

Here’s what you’ll need to make the soup:  [Read more...]

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Smoked Sausage, Cabbage and Oat Soup

December 1, 2011 by

A while back I shared how excited I was to find Quaker Steel Cut Oats at the grocery store.  They are significantly less expensive than the other brand I’ve seen and I like to use them for oatmeal in the slow cooker.

I never imagined I would use them in soup.

But then The Sweets Life linked up a recipe for Scotch Oatmeal Soup for Ingredient Spotlight: Cabbage.  I knew I had to try it.  The oats are kind of like barley.  They add heartiness to the soup.

I modified The Sweets Life recipe a little bit.  Hers doesn’t have any meat in it and I knew I’d get much further serving a soup full of cabbage to my family if I included some meat.  I was right.  They all ate the soup and liked it.

Here’s what you’ll need to make a pot:  [Read more...]

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