Monday, February 28, 2011

Hamburger Beef Stroganoff & stuffed mushrooms

I have been wanting some good Beef Stroganoff... I make 2 versions of this, the kind where you have to simmer the beef stew meat for hours to tenderize it (I make it stovetop and in the crockpot) and the easier (much easier btw) version which I am sharing today.  It is good old comfort food at it's best.... serve with a side of veggies and you have a complete meal.  I had leftover whole stuffing mushrooms so I made stuffed mushrooms to go along with this...
* note: I will be putting a couple of different variations of the stuffing for the mushrooms.... pick whatever is your favorite or try them all...yummm... my family loves these and they make great party appetizers...

Hamburger Beef Stroganoff

1/2 package wide egg noodles
2 T. butter & salt & pepper for the noodles
1 lb. ground beef (or can use turkey etc)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 onion, diced small
1/2 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. Worchester sauce
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
seasonings of your choice: ( I used 1/2 tsp. onion and garlic powder, seasoned salt & pepper, sprinkle of Mrs. Dash & red pepper flakes, parsley flakes, and a pinch of sugar)

In pan cook egg noodles till al dente, drain mix with the butter and a little salt & pepper to taste.  In large skillet brown hamburger, mushrooms, onion & garlic cooking until meat is done and veggies are tender, drain off fat (if necessary).  Deglaze pan with Worchester sauce add mushroom soup, milk & seasonings.  Bring to a rapid boil, turn down heat to simmer and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.  Add sour cream stirring turn off heat.  Serve over egg noodles....

Stuffed Mushrooms

1 package of whole mushrooms for stuffing (sometimes marked gourmet stuffing mushrooms)
1 box of Stove top  stuffing mix ( I use chicken)
1 1/2 cups water-for stuffing
1/4 cup butter -for stuffing
1/4 tsp each garlic powder & poultry seasoning
1/4 cup butter, melted

Cook stuffing mix according to package directions adding garlic powder & poultry seasoning to water & butter mixture.  Wash mushrooms quickly (don't soak in water) and remove stems.  Place  mushrooms on aluminum foil lined baking sheet .  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Fluff stuffing with fork. Take large spoonful and stuff each mushroom cap pressing stuffing into stem area, and really mounding stuffing up. Continue until all the mushrooms are done.  Drizzle the tops of mushrooms with melted butter .  Place in oven and bake for around 20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and stuffing is golden brown.


**Variations for mushroom stuffing:

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms: Cook 1/2 package of Bob Evans sausage (I usually buy the roll kind and have tried it with regular & sage flavored).  Break apart and cook sauage until done and crumbled into very small pieces.  Mix with done stuffing and stuff mushroom caps and bake like above receipe states. (Sometimes I add a little shredded parmesan cheese in the last 1-2 minutes of baking...yum this step is optional)

Crabmeat Stuffed Mushrooms:Take 1 can crabmeat, drain crabmeat.  Flake crabmeat with fork checking for any shell bits (remove them) and add to done stuffing.  Stuff mushroom caps and bake like above recipe states.

Celery/Onion & Apple Stuffed Mushrooms: Dice one stalk celery & 1/2 onion and 1/2 apple fine.  Saute in 1 T. olive oil & 1 T. butter along with a pinch of salt & pepper.  Cook on medium until mixture is soft.  Contine and make stuffing adding stuffing ingredients to the pan.  Stuff mushrooms with this mixture and bake like above recipe states.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Macaroni & Cheese soup with bacon

I saw this recipe the other day on the blog of a Frugal Antics of a Harried homemaker (http://www.wiseanticsoflife.blogspot.com/) (*note I wish I knew how to put in their link on my blog maybe someone can help me with that tried looking it up but can't figure it out...) and I thought mmmm...sounds yummy... well my friend Angie over at a Lil country sugar ( http://www.alilcountrysugar.blogspot.com/) made this today and I thought I have had a rough night with the little one not sleeping I need something yummy and fast (not much patience on my part in the kitchen today...) so I am gonna try it.... here is my spin on it I changed it a little (put my own spin on it)... it was so yummy definately gonna keep this in the old soup rotation... I love love love soup... thanks ladies for inspiring me to make this.....check out their blogs they rock :)
There links are over to the right side of my blog... check them out along with the others....

Macaroni & Cheese soup
2/3 cup bacon bits ( I used the fully cooked) precrumbles but you can also chop up 5 slices and fry them up and use the bacon fat to saute the vegetables
1 onion, minced fine,
1/4 cup each celery & carrot minced fine
1 T. Worchester sauce
2 T. bacon fat
1 can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups macaroni ,dry
4 cups milk
seasonings of your choice here's what I used :
1/2 tsp each; dry mustard, paprika, onion powder, chili powder
1/4 tsp parsley flakes, black pepper & nutmeg
1/4 flour
1 8 oz block grated co-jack cheese
1 8 oz block grated mild cheddar cheese (save 1/3 cup shredded cheese for top of done soup)
3 chicken buillon cubes
1 T. cornstarch
1 T. water

In large pan place water and buillon cubes bring to boil and cook pasta as directed on package.  While that cooks, in soup pot place bacon fat, melt add onion, celery & carrots and salt & pepper to taste.  Saute until veggies are tender add garlic and cook for about a minute or until fragrant.  Deglaze the pan with worchester sauce, sprinkle flour over mixture stirring for a couple of minutes add chicken stock and seasonings.  Whisk constantly or until mixture comes to a boil.  Drain pasta . Add rest of the ingredients to the pan mixing well.  Keep stirring until cheese melts and mixture is boiling.  In small bowl mix cornstarch and water.  Add to soup mixing well bring soup up to boil and cook until slightly thickened.  Serve soup in bowl and add a little remaining shredded cheese to top of bowl.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

1st Anniversary :):)

Well today is my first wedding anniversary... I have been married to my wonderful husband Ian for one whole year.... alot has happened in that year, we have been blessed with a new baby, I lost my job, my husband got a job after losing his almost 2 years ago (thank you God :) there has been many ups and downs but I am so happy that I am doing these ups and downs with my best friend and soul mate..... Love you honey....
I want to make this an extra special day of yumminess for my beautiful husband, so there will be lots of recipes to share today ...... I want to share this day with you too...show those around you that you love lots of yumminess and love too.... Isn't that what food is, sharing and love...

Happy Anniversary Ian... hope we have many many more to come...I love you

Breakfast:
Breakfast Frittata
Cherry/Blueberry Coffee cake

Dinner:
Filet Mignon wrapped in Bacon
Baked bacon macaroni & cheese

Breakfast Frittata
4 eggs, beaten well with splash of milk & salt & pepper
3 slices bacon, sliced thin
4 baby Yukon gold potatoes, washed and cut lenthwise & crosswise in half then thinly sliced
1/4 onion chopped
1/3 cup shredded cheese
Serve with toast of your choice

In large oven proof skillet place bacon, let cook for about 1-2 minutes or until it starts sauteing, add onion & potatoes, salt & pepper to taste.  Stir mixture coating well, place lid on pan and continue to cook stirring often until potatoes are tender and bacon is done around 4-5 minutes.  When done, pour eggs over mixture stirring well and cooking for about 1-2 minutes or half way done, spread egg mixture into even layer in pan.  Place pan under broiler.  Heat for abaout 1-2 minutes or until eggs are firm and have puffed.  Sprinkle with cheese and cook for about a minute  until cheese melts.  Serve with toast & coffee cake.


Cherry/Blueberry Coffee cake

1 cup butter/margarine softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour
1/4 cup water
1 tsp almond extract
1 can cherry pie filling
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract

Preheat oven to 350.
In large bowl place butter & sugar.  Cream well with electric mixer.  Add almond extract & salt mix well.  Add baking powder, water & flour, mix well.  Pat into greased 13 x9 pan.  In same bowl as batter mix pie filling, blueberries, 2 tsp of sugar and 1/2 tsp almond extract.  Spoon small spoonfuls over top of cake.  Bake for 45-50 minutes or until done.  Cool slightly then serve....


Dinner:
Filet Mingnon wrapped with bacon
Macaroni & Cheese w/ bacon

Filet Mingnon

2 Filet Mignon steaks
2 slices bacon
olive oil
seasonings of your choice ( I made a spice blend of seasoned salt, garlic & onion powder,montreal steak seasoning, paprika, black pepper & a sprinkle of chili powder)
Steak sauce (optional)


Preheat oven to 400.  When you cook the macaroni and cheese make sure that there is room for the steak skillet in your oven also.  Over medium high heat place a little olive oil.  Wrap each steak with the bacon slice and secure with a toothpick on both sides to keep the bacon attached.  Crust (coat each steak liberally) with the seasoning mix sprinkling and patting down on the meat.  Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.  Place steak in oven and cook for about 10 minutes (I take my meat out several minutes before it is done  I like medium rare in Filet's but make sure your bacon is done, it won't be crispy but cooked through) and put aluminum foil tightly over the pan to finish and carry over cooking time letting the meat rest about 5 minutes.  Serve with steak sauce . 


Macaroni & Cheese with bacon

1/2 box macaroni
1/4 cup each butter & flour
seasonings (seasoned salt, garlic & onion powder, salt & black pepper to taste)
2-3 cups milk
2-3 cups cheese ( I use sharp cheddar, co-jack, and mild cheddar)
2-3 slices bacon, thinly sliced and cooked until crisp (remove from pan and set aside)

Cook macaroni according to package directions.  While macaroni cooks, melt butter in saucepan.  Sprinkle in flour to make a roux.  Whisk and cook for 2-3 minutes add milk & seasonings whisking continuously.   Cook until thickened and boiling.  Add cheese whisking until melted.  Drain macaroni.  Add to cheese (save about 1/3 cup to sprinkle on top) mixture, and add bacon, taste to adjust seasonings if necessary.  Mix well and place in greased casserole dish.  Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese ontop is melted and bubbly.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Chicken potpie & Triple Chocolate Cake

The last 2 days have been absolutely awful.... Yesterday I invite my in-laws over for dinner and about 25 minutes before they are set to arrive & have dinner the power goes completely out... which means the beautiful Roasting chicken I have baking in the oven will not be done, and the pear crumble sitting on the counter waiting to cook while we are having dinner will not be done either, so there goes dinner & dessert.. geesh... Thank god I have a gas stove so at least I can light the burners and cook on top of the stove.  Thank god also that I had a big package of pork chops in the fridge waiting for me to put them in the freezer (glad I hadn't gotten around to doing that yet :)   so when the power goes off it is getting dark, so I get the candles out, start cooking the pork chops on top of the stove, get the veggies cooking and then when I am done cooking the power comes back on....  yeah.... so I turn the oven back on, put the chicken back in and cook the pear crumble while we eat pork chops, mashed potatoes, veggies and salad.... Now I have an entire huge roasting chicken to find something to do with.... and the pear crumble btw turned out awesome... Think chicken potpie, and tomorrow I am experimenting with Chicken enchilada mexican pizza... if it turns out ok I will be posting the made up recipe if not...forget I even mentioned it :)
Then onto today last night we had a horrible snowstorm that dropped about a foot of snow in our area.  I went to pick up my son and got stuck in waist high snow.... thank goodness I got pulled out and made it home.... geesh tomorrow has got to be better.....

Anyway for the potpie, use whatever veggies you have on hand, frozen, canned leftovers from last night.... whatever...

For the dessert this is easy you mix everything right in the ungreased baking pan.  I got this recipe from the new Betty Crocker cookbook and put my little spin on it... you can use whatever chips you like, semi sweet, milk chocolate, peanut butter, white choc chips use what you have....

Chicken potpie

1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 T. worchester sauce
seasonings of your choice ( I used Mrs. Dash,  Montreal steak seasoning, garlic salt, dried onion,  pepper, parsley flakes, and a dash of
 poultry seasoning)
1 cup of frozen mixed veggies, thawed and drained, (or 1 can of mixed veggies, drained or can use leftover veggies)

2 cups Bisquick
1 cup milk
1 egg
sprinkle of parsley flakes

Preheat oven to 400
In sprayed baking dish place chicken, sour cream, milk, soup, worchester sauce, and seasonings mix well.  In bowl mix Bisquick, milk, egg & parsley flakes with fork beat well.  This should be the consistency pourable thick pancake batter.  Pour over chicken mixture spreading and covering the top.  Bake for about 35-40 minutes until light brown and bubbling around edges...


Triple Chocolate Snack Cake

1 2/3 cups flour
1 cup sugar (I used part brown & part white, but use what you have)
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup water
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or whatever variation you like)
Powdered sugar (optional)


Heat oven to 350.  Mix, flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, & salt with fork in ungreased 8 x 8 pan.  Stir in remaining ingredients (except powdered sugar & chocolate chips), mixing well with fork (make sure you get in the corners good the flour mixture tends to get stuck in the corners) mixture will be thick.  Spread batter evenly in pan.  Sprinkle with the chips.  Bake for around 35 minutes checking cake with toothpick and making sure it comes out clean.  Cool cake.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve...

Friday, February 18, 2011

Glazed Ham and Sweet Potatoes

Somedays are just so hectic and busy that all you want is dinner QUICK!!!  I am not saying dinner consisting of dried cereal out of a box, or a sandwich or a pint of ice cream cause you are starving and don't want to go out to dinner.... something yummy and quick.... and not scrambled eggs (which are perfectly fine, but not always what you are looking for that is quick and satisifying....)
For a really quick and go to dinner (think on the table in20-25minutes:)  that is my idea of quick... I serve this with whatever kind of veggie I have on hand (think frozen or canned veggies cooked in the microwave), or you can have cottage cheese & fruit... use what you have...also if you do have more time I skip the canned sweet potatoes and wrap in foil sweet potatoes (that have been scrubbed clean poked with a knife) and place them on a baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for about an hour and 10 minutes or until done.  During the last 20 minutes of baking I cook the ham slice and heat up the other veggies or sometimes make a salad....

This glaze is sweet and spicy...yummmm... sometimes I even add a couple of splashes of hot sauce to this to "spice" it up :)
Glazed Ham

1 center cut large ham "steak"
1/4 cup orange marmelade
1/4 cup coarse ground dijon mustard
3 T. brown sugar
1 T. molasses


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.    On large baking sheet place aluminum foil (for easy cleanup, cause this glaze is sticky). Place ham in oven for 10 minutes or until warm. Drain any liquid off of ham.  While ham bakes mix  together marmelade, mustard, brown sugar & molasses.  Brush ham on both sides with this glaze and place ham back in oven heating through for around 15 20 minutes until ham is done and glaze is bubbly... enjoy....


Easy Sweet Potatoes

1 large can sweet potatoes (drained)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg
3 T. butter
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup mini marshmellows
salt & pepper to taste


In large pan place all ingredients (except marshmellows), and heat to boiling mashing potatoes with a potato masher (or fork) until slightly chunky.  Heat stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved & potatoes are bubbling, stirring often. (about 5 minutes).  Sprinkle mini marshmellows over potatoes, place lid on pan.  Let sit around 5 minutes until marshmellows are melted on top.  (Alternatively: Can also place the potatoes in a baking pan, sprinkling marshellows over top then baking in the oven for around 5 minutes or until golden)

If using oven roasted sweet potatoes skip using the canned potatoes and follow the recipe. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Brownies 2 ways :)

I was looking for something chocolate and yummy... looked around the house looking to get into some kind of trouble ;)   ...yummmm chocolate trouble  (my favorite kinda trouble)..... I was kinda thinking of brownies.... and when it comes to brownies there are so many different ways to make them...  with nuts, without nuts, rocky road, with marshmellow cream & hot fudge drizzled on top, almond joy, peanut butter, with m & m's or Heath bars on top... the list goes on and on and on... then it hit me... why not make one big 13X 9 pan full of brownies 2 different ways ......that way I don't have to decide on one way.... Then I realized that I didn't have enough chocolate to make them from scratch :(  which made me sad.... then I saw a box of brownie mix in the cupboard... ah ha... done... now which 2 ways do I want them.....I saw a new jar of peanut butter in the cupboard & next to it a bag of shredded coconut..... hmmm.... Peanut butter & Almond joy brownies... yummy!!!
Use whatever kind of brownie mix is your favorite ( I think in the near future I will be posting my homemade goodness one) but until then use your favorite mix (just make sure that it is for a 13X9 pan not the 8X8 pan... then use whatever toppings your family likes or you like since you are the one making it... LOL just kidding... enjoy... have a little chocolate today... my friend tells me I need something to "sweeten me up" ... I was like hey I am nice.. he laughed and laughed.. he was kidding btw... :):):)


Chocolate Brownies

1 brownie mix (make sure it fits into 13X9 pan not a 8x8)
ingredients for the brownies (mine took 2 eggs, 1/2 cup oil & 1/4 cup of water)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup coconut
1/3 cup chopped almonds

nonstick spray
13X9 pan

Preheat oven directions to your brownie mix, and spray your 13X9 pan with nonstick spray.
In large bowl place brownie mix, adding chocolate chips mixing well to coat chips with dry brownie ingredients.  Add rest of brownie ingredients listed on box (not toppings ingredients) mix well to combine.  Pour into prepared pan and smooth out into a even layer.  On half the brownie mix sprinkle coconut & almonds.  With a teaspoon mix the coconut & almonds into batter smoothing out when done.   With 2 teaspoons on the remaining 1/2 the brownie mixture spoon small spoonfuls of peanut butter every couple of inches over batter you may have to use a little more peanut butter depending on how big the spoonful are.  With a knife swirl the peanut butter through the brownie mix. Place in oven and bake according to package directions.  Let cool cut into squares and enjoy.  :)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Italian Beef Sandwiches

Nothing says yummy like some messy, yummy, oozy sandwiches... Just makes my mouth water thinking about these yummy things.... The house smells amazingly delicious.... These were not the brain child of me... I got the recipe off of http://www.justapinch.com/.... you should check it out... they have some delicious things going on there... I did make a few adjustments "putting my own spin" on this recipe.... but it is delicious... the woman that gave the recipe owned a restaurant and she said she sold 600 lbs of this stuff each and every week... that is a definate success in my book and something worth trying... so here it is... enjoy


Italian Beef Sandwiches

2-3 lb Beef Roast
2 packages Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix (dry, not made into dressing)
1 can beef broth
2-3 garlic cloves smashed

rolls for serving


In large crockpot place roast and garlic cloves.  Pour beef broth over roast.  Sprinkle dressing mix over roast and broth.  Cook until falling apart (shredding) easily around 8-10 hours on low.  Serve shredded meat on rolls, and serve broth in small bowls on the side for dipping the sandwiches... To serve dip the sandwich in broth then eat.... enjoy