Gotta Love Barbecue

The second weekend in May we spent all day attending a huge smoker in the back yard. At the end of the day we had chicken, ribs and Boston butts ready for the Mother's Day celebration we were hosting the next day. The smoker is so big that we filled it up and had tons of cooked, seasoned meat to put in the freezer. Tonight we are having barbecued pork sandwiches with some of that leftover meat.

I like to fry new potatoes with the peeling still on them and I have a bucket full of red and white new potatoes fresh from the garden. Scrub them well, quarter and slice them and boil them in salted water till almost done. Drain well. In a heavy skillet, heat oil or butter and a sliced of onion till the onion starts to brown. Add the potatoes and cover till the potatoes are cooked through. Remove the cover and let the potatoes get crispy.

I will also slice some other fresh, yummy goodness and serve with my favorite dressing to dip them in. I am not getting much produce from my garden yet, but I have cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers from the gardens of my family.

Enjoy the fresh produce ( the Farmer's Market is open 2-3 days a week) and the sunshine.

Something Different. . .

I feel like I have been stuck in a cooking rut, you know, the same things over and over. This morning I have been looking for new recipes that sound good and have found one for grilled chicken that I am going to try tonight.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken
1/2 cup olive oil (or less)
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste (optional)
5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into strips
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Divide the marinade and use 1/2 of it for some fresh vegetables (onions, peppers, squash, even steamed new potatoes) to grill, too. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.

Serve the chicken, grilled veggies and the marinade you used on the veggies(not the marinade from the chicken) over cooked brown rice.

Lazy Sunday

It is a cool, overcast Sunday morning and a nice change of pace from the miserable heat we have been having. Tonight we are have any easy, lazy dinner and movie.

I am making club sandwiches (smoked turkey, honey ham, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on a hoagie roll). I will also make loaded fries. Cook the fries (the spicy ones work well for this) according to package direction. When they are done top with barbecue sauce, bacon bits, shredded cheese, sour cream and chives. Super easy and delicious, too.

We like honey mustard on our club sandwiches, which I make using 1/2 c miracle whip, 1/4 c honey and 1/4 c mustard. I am also making a Cajun mayo to go on mine, 1/4 c mayo and 1 t Cajun seasoning. Mix well and refrigerate for the flavor to develop.

Enjoy your easy meal and your quiet Sunday!

Better than a Steakhouse

It is a fabulous sunny day and after a few errands I think we will settle into a lazy Saturday afternoon here. For supper we are having fresh green beans and new red potatoes from the garden, summer squash and maybe some zucchini (the first from my garden may be ready today), and a fantastic, thick juicy steak.

The green beans are easy, just dump them in a pan of water, add a chicken cube and some onion and cook till done. If you want to go old school, replace the chicken cube with a slice of bacon, or a spoonful of bacon grease. About 1/2 hour before you are ready to eat, add the potatoes to the beans and cook together.

Quarter, then slice the squash and zucchini, boil in a little water with a little onion *and green pepper till soft, drain. Mix in 1 egg, 1/2 cup mayonnaise and a cup of shredded cheese. Pour into a casserole dish and top with bread or cracker crumbs. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. My kids will eat two or three helping of this squash casserole.

For the steaks, mix up a tbsp Italian seasoning (you know I use it on everything), 1 tsp red pepper, crushed or ground, 1 tsp black pepper and a dash (or two) of garlic powder. sprinkle on both sides of the steaks before grilling. I like mine with a sprinkle of blue cheese.

I might even make some ice cream, if the kids are willing to help . . .

Have a great Saturday, everyone.

*When I say onion, I usually just use a slice, chopped up. We like the flavor here, but don't want everything full of onions.

4th of July (early)

Tonight would be a good night for an easy supper. We are going to the park for hot dogs and cotton candy. After we eat and socialize with the community, we are going to some friends house to visit and watch the fireworks. YAY for small towns and the celebrations of freedom going on all over this week.

Too Hot to Cook Inside

Here's hoping it doesn't rain tonight. My garden is in terrible shape. It needs to be tilled so bad I have been out there with a hoe every morning this week, trying to get ahead on the weeds. If we can avoid another downpour, we will spend most of the evening outside in the yard and garden. I plan on having everything ready to toss on the grill when we are ready to eat. Small, new red potatoes, squash and zucchini, marinated and grilled and smothered chicken.

Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, marinated in your favorite barbecue sauce. Grill until done, top with a little more barbecue sauce, a slice of thin ham and a slice of Colby-jack cheese. When the cheese starts to melt, remove from heat and serve. If you like such things (I do, no one else in my house does) add chopped onions and sliced mushrooms between the ham and the cheese.

Steam the potatoes in the microwave until mostly done, then butter, season (I like dry ranch dressing mix, but just season salt works well) and toss in a grill pan till crisp. Slice the squash and marinate in your favorite vinegar based salad dressing for 5-10 minutes and grill till cooked through.

Quick, easy and the heat stays outside!

I Love Mexican Food

All but one of us here LOVE tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Tonight I am trying something a little different hoping to please the whole family, taquitos. My recipe calls for shredded chicken (canned or rotisserie works well) but I have pork left over from last night's supper and will be using that. Ground beef would work well also.

Season the meat as for tacos, add a can of chopped green chilies, and cilantro. The recipe calls for corn tortillas but I can't see why flour wouldn't work. If you use flour skip the next step, if you use corn, read on. . .

Heat vegetable oil in a skillet, dip the corn tortillas in, working and rolling one at a time, to soften them up. (Corn tortillas are a little hard to deal with. They don't soften up like flour ones do and tend to crack when rolled.)

place 2 tablespoons of meat on tortilla, top with a little cheese, roll up like a cigar and lay seam side down in a pan. Bake at 425 for 10 - 12 minutes.

Serve with salsa, guacamole, nacho cheese, ranch, whatever you like best. I am going to try a few with re fried beans or black beans for my picky eater.

Enjoy your fiesta!

Crock Pot Pork Chops

Here we are on day 5 of the heat wave and I am looking for something good that I can cook in the crock pot to keep the heat to a minimum. I have 4 thick cut pork loin chops that would be good on the grill, but it is just to hot. A nice pork roast or tenderloin would work, too.

Quarter (peel in you need to) enough potatoes for you family and put these in the bottom of the crock pot. Season the pork with pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning(this is all purpose to me, it has everything you need in it) and brown in a skillet. When the pork in brown put it in the crock pot and add 1 can cream of mushroom soup and some beef broth. Cook on low 8-10 hours.

I will serve this with the fresh veggies now coming out of my garden (and Daddy's garden). I may fry some squash (I don't have any green tomatoes big enough to fry, yet) and make a cucumber salad with mayo, vinegar, sugar and some crisp fresh cucumbers.

I will soon begin canning and freezing my fresh veggies. Is anyone interested in the procedures? If so, I will post those, too.

Fresh, Fresh, Fresh

I just came in from may garden where I picked green beans for the first time this year. I only got enough for supper, but they are fresh and yummy.

After breaking and washing them I will cook them with a chicken cube and a slice of onion and the new red potatoes I dug at my father-in-law's house yesterday. I have yellow squash, too, that I got out of my grandmother's garden (gardening in my family is totally a family affair). I like my squash stewed with a little onion and green pepper, in a little chick broth. Sprinkle a little cheese on it, yum yum!

That would be enough for me, but the rest out the house thinks we need meat so I am making hamburgers, too. I have posted these on here before, but I will remind you how I fix them. A pound of ground beef, breadcrumbs, rosemary, thyme, a couple slices chopped bacon, a little beer, mix well, patty and freeze to set. Grill and serve with cheese and other yummy toppings on sweet Hawaiian rolls.

Happy Father's Day

We are going to a cook out at my in-laws today for Father's Day. I have had a crazy day in the kitchen. Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Apple Cabbage Slaw and the Ultimate Chocolate Cake.

For the potato salad, boil eggs and potatoes as usual for potato salad, add mayonnaise and mustard, shredded cheese, a spoonful of sour cream, and bacon bits. Mix well and top with chives.

For the slaw, chopped cabbage, shredded carrot, a chopped apple, 3/4 c mayo, 1/4 vinegar and a tbsp sugar. Mix well and chill.

Here is the tricky recipe. (it is so worth the effort)

Sift together 2 c each sugar and self rising flour and 1 t cinnamon.
In a pan, melt 2 sticks butter with 4 T cocoa, pour over flour and mix well. Add 1/2 c milk and 2 eggs. Mix till smooth, pour into 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Icing
In a pan, bring 1 stick butter, 4 T cocoa and 6 T milk to a boil. Removed from hear and add 3 1/2 c (add more as needed to make and icing consistency) powdered sugar and 1 T vanilla. Mix well. Pour over cake while still warm.

Pizza Monsters

We had take out pizza last night and my 2 little pizza monsters both said "this isn't as good as your Mom." So tonight I am making homemade pizza.

I start with my bread machine, 1 1/3 c warm water, 1 package yeast, 3 1/2-3 3/4 cups flour (I use self rising), 2 T olive oil, 1 T honey, 1-2T Italian seasonings. Pour in the water first, then the other ingredients as listed. Set the bread machine on the dough cycle and let it do all the work. This will make 2 pizzas. This dough makes good bread sticks, too. Just double the recipe.

Prebaked, ready to top pizza crusts are OK, so are the mixes (you can add your own seasonings to these) that you just add water. We are just a little spoiled around here.

When the dough is ready, divide it into 2 portions, (or 4 for individual sized pizzas) roll each into a 12 (6-8)inch circle, place on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and top with your favorite toppings. Bake at 475 for 10-12 minutes.

Homemade pizzas are nice because no one has to compromise on their favorite toppings. We have one meat lover here, 2 pepperoni and pineapple and one loaded with everything. Everyone can have what they want on their pizza. The kids can even top their own. Enjoy!

This is a late addition to the breadsticks, when you put them in the pan, brush with melted butter and garlic salt, then pour the rest in the pan while they bake. The kids LOVED these.

Everyone Deserves a Day Off

It is really HOT today! I just got a phone call from a friend who needs a favor. It must be a big favor because when she comes over tonight she is bringing pizza for supper from a take and bake pizza place. I think I will make something yummy and cool for dessert.

Mom's Chocolate Pie
1 1/4 c sugar, 3/4 c flour (self rising), 3T cocoa, 3 eggs, separated, 2 1/2 c milk, 2T butter, 2 t vanilla, 1/2 t cream of tartar, 1/2 c sugar, 1 pie crust.

mix the first 3 ingredients well in a saucepan and set aside. In a bowl, combine egg yolks and milk and mix well. Add to sugar mixture, with butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick. Add vanilla. Pour into pie crust and set aside. In a cold metal bowl beat egg whites and cream of tartar on high for about a minute. Add sugar a little at a time, beating on high till stiff peaks form. Spread over pie filling and bake at 325 for 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and refrigerate, then cut and serve. YUMMY.

If I want a really rich pie, I add a square of semi-sweet or unsweetened baker's chocolate while cooking the custard mixture. It will melt and make the pie almost dark chocolate.

Kids Choice

My life is always easier if I let the kids plan supper. I know they will eat what I fix and I don't have to think about it. That said, I am taking their suggestion (hot dogs) and adding to it.

Start with jumbo sized hot dogs, slice a pocket into one side (not all the way through the other side or the ends), stuff the pocket with some kind of good melting cheese and wrap the hot dog with a slice of partially cooked bacon. Grill till the bacon is crisp, basting with barbecue sauce if you like. Serve these on a but with your favorite toppings. I like chopped onions, tomatoes, pickles and mustard but the kids think ketchup is the only topping.

Yesterday I bought a couple pounds of fresh green beans so I have those for supper tonight, a fresh tomato (with cottage cheese) and french fries for the kids. I can't wait till my garden starts producing all those yummy fresh veggies so I can quit going to the farmers market, I can just go outside.

Some Like It Hot

Tonight I am making blackened pork chops on the grill. If you haven't figured out by reading my posts, we like things spicy around here. This dry rub recipe can be toned down for the kids or spiced up for the adults by adjusting the amount or red pepper.

Blackening Spice
1tbsp thyme, 1tbsp oregano, 3tbsp paprika, 1tbsp ground red pepper, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp salt. We like ours a little sweet, so I will add a couple tsp brown sugar, but that is up to you.

Preheat the grill till HOT. Rub your meat with the spice mix(this is good on pork, steaks, fish, just about anything) and grill. Turn the grill down when you put the meat on, but make sure it is hot to start with. The spice rub will smoke so this is a dish best fixed outside.

Steam or parboil small new potatoes (or cut up peeled potatoes) and toss in a grill pan, spray with oil or melted butter and sprinkle with the dry rub. Cook till brown and crisp. This can be done in a skillet on the stove if you'd rather.

Add a green vegetable or salad and supper is ready.

Yummy Italian

The kids and I love this dish, although I have to add an extra step to jet Jeff to eat it. He is my picky eater.

I start with a package of Italian sausage. I like the turkey sausage because there is no grease. Snip off and discard the casings and brown the sausage like you would ground beef. Add 2 jars of spaghetti sauce, we like the chunky garden blend. If you have someone who doesn't like chunky or veggies, pour the sauce into the blender and puree first. Simmer the sauce mix while you boil the pasta. I use mini bow tie pasta or something else small. The kids like the change from spaghetti. When I serve it I plate the pasta, top with some shredded cheese (the kids like Velveeta), then top with the sauce. Serve with the yummy cheese rolls that follow and a salad and you have a pretty easy meal the kids love.

For my cheese rolls I melt a stick of butter, add 1 cup of self rising flour, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, and 1/2 tsp each garlic salt and dill. I use my cookie scoop to scoop these out into small balls, flatten slightly with a fork and bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

This makes enough for the kids to have lunch the next day, you can cut it in half easily if you need to.

Just a Casserole. . .

Tonight I am fixing what my kids call Mom's Favorite. My mom used to make this when I was a kid and we loved it. I made a few modifications and my kids love it, too.

Brown, drain and rinse a pound of ground beef. Mix in a can of corn or a cup of frozen corn, 1 cup of shredded cheese and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Pour into a casserole dish. Top with sliced boiled potatoes (tater tots or frozen hash browns fill in nicely here) and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. TA-DA! Instant supper, almost no work. It freezes well, so double the recipe and have supper one night next week, too.

Have a happy Monday everyone!

Easy Sunday

It is a beautiful day and I am planning an easy meal tonight.

I am grilling smoked brats with onions and peppers, loaded baked potatoes with bacon, cheese, butter and sour cream and squash and zucchini, marinated in Italian salad dressing and grilled. Everything is easy and outside. Pre-bake the potatoes in the microwave, stuff them and finish them on the grill with everything else.

A meal like this leaves plenty of time to enjoy the sun and your family. Or hide in the shade with a good book!

Time to Reward the Kids

It is a beautiful Saturday morning so I am going to torture my kids by making them help with chores inside and outside the house today. I do have a yummy reward planned for them for supper.

I will start by setting up the deep fryer outside. I hate that greasy smell in the house. Mix 1c flour(if you use self rising, you shouldn't add salt) add a dash of salt, about 1/2 tsp each black pepper and garlic powder, and 1tsp of chili powder. A little Old Bay seasoning is good in place of the salt, too. Scramble a couple eggs in a bowl, and prepare a bowl of breadcrumbs.

Whatever you like to fry (my list of yummies follows) needs to go into the flour, coat well, dip in egg (beer works too) then into the breadcrumbs, then into the fryer. Cook till golden brown and delicious, drain well on paper bags or leftover newspaper. Eat immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree oven for no more than 20-30 minutes.

I will be cooking sliced summer squash and zucchini, button mushroom caps, I have heard broccoli is good, so I might try that, sliced potatoes are always a hit here, remember to salt them as soon as they leave the oil, and a pound of peeled, deveined shrimp (the kids' favorite). Make sure if you are cooking any seafood you cook it last or everything else will taste like fish. Have plenty of your favorite dip around. I like horseradish and cocktail sauce but the family only wants ketchup on everything!

Because you are cooking outside, the mess is pretty minor. Remember to keep your oil hot so the food cooks faster and is less greasy. This is a good meal to entertain with because everyone wants to eat as the food comes out of the fryer and will stand around talking, eating and drinking.

Don't forget, if you know anyone with a shell fish allergy, using the same oil you cooked shrimp, to cook something else, can cause an allergic reaction.

My Favorite Chicken Wraps

This is one of my favorite things. They are very similar to the Chicken Fajita Rollups at a popular local restaurant. I don't make them often because it isn't Jeff's favorite thing, but it isn't always about him!

Start with the marinade
2c water, 1/3 c. soy sauce, 3T sugar, 2T vinegar, 1T ground red pepper, 2t liquid smoke, 2 t paprika, 2t garlic powder, 1 t onion powder, 1 t pepper. Mix all in a zipper bag and add 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

While the chicken marinates for an hour or 2, mix up and chill:
1/2 c mayo, 2T minced onion, 2T chopped tomato (canned is fine), 1T buttermilk, 1 T vinegar, 3/4 t paprika, 1 t chopped green chilies, 1/2 t sugar, pinch each dill, cumin and cayenne.

Grill the chicken, then chop it fine, layer on a flour tortilla, lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese, then roll up like a burrito, serve with pico de gallo and the dipping sauce you made.

I usually serve these with fries or chips.

4 chicken breasts is a lot for us, but the leftovers freeze well, wrapped and them you have some for the next time you want them.

Bonus Post!!

I have never made this but it comes highly recommended from a cake lover (Daddy) and a chocolate lover. I may try it for dessert tonight!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (microwave safe)
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Leftovers

Supper tonight will be super easy.

Yesterday I cooked a roast, carrots and potatoes in the crock pot all day. After supper I cut all the leftovers into bite sized pieces, strained the broth it cooked in and refrigerated it all. Tonight when it is time to get supper ready I will skim the fat off the broth, dump everything into a big pan, heat and thicken. Instant Beef Stew. Add a can of biscuits (or make your own) and you have a quick, easy meal.

A sprinkle of shredded cheese on top of each bowl make in even better. Two meals out of one crock pot makes supper quick and easy. I will have to plan again for tomorrow night. . . .

Easy and Yummy

OK, folks, I have an easy one for you today. I am tired of running with the kids all day, then coming home and fixing supper, even if I do have it already planned and laid out so today I am letting my crock pot do the work for me.

I am starting with a round steak, but any roast will work. Heat a little oil in a skillet, add some sliced onion, season the beef with pepper and garlic powder and brown all around. While the beef browns, add carrots and potatoes to your crock pot, enough water to cover, a beef bouillon cube, (or use beef broth instead of water), a little basil and thyme and maybe a bay leaf.

Put the roast in, on top of the veggies and add a can of cream of mushroom soup, or a can of beef gravy if you don't like mushrooms. Set your crock pot on low and have a good day. Your supper will be ready when you are.

Pork Chops

I have been pondering supper for an hour now. It is hard to plan supper when it gets hot and no one wants to eat. (I don't have that problem, I always want to eat)

I have pork loin chops and I think I will marinate them all day and grill them tonight. I will start with pineapple juice, teryaki sauce, brown sugar, garlic, red pepper, and Worcestershire sauce (I might add a little liquid smoke, too), mix well and pour into a zipper bag. Add the chops and let soak all day. Slice an apple and lay the slices on the pork chops while they grill.

Serve with mashed potatoes and Lima beans. I cook my Lima beans with a little sugar, rosemary and thyme and my kids love them.

Summer at Last

Wow, school is finally out for summer. Today we will be helping Mom set up her pool. I know it will be a long day so I am getting things ready to toss on the grill when I get home. Tiny hamburgers on sweet Hawaiian rolls, baked potatoes ready to cut up and fry and maybe some fresh corn on the cob (not from the garden, yet, from the store). The tiny burgers are a little more trouble, but my kids eat them really well. I guess they are cuter than regular sized burgers.

For the burgers I mix up a pound of ground beef, an egg, bread crumbs, some fresh rosemary and thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, 2-3 slice of bacon, chopped, and about 1/2 cup of beer. I make small patties (I am serving them on little rolls) and freeze. Set them out of the freezer about 20-30 minutes before grilling.

I will cut up (or shred) the cooled, baked potatoes, toss them in a hot skillet with a slice of browned onion and cook till G B, and D (golden brown and delicious). These are good with a little powdered ranch dressing mix tossed in, too.

The corn is easy, shuck and silk, wrap in plastic wrap, add a little water and microwave for 8-10 minutes or until done, butter and serve.

Game Food

Sundays during football season are made for game food. You know what I mean, the same kinds of food you would eat at a tailgate party. I know it's not football season, but I am making game food tonight and we will find a football movie to watch.

When I make buffalo "wings", I start with 3-4 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized chunks. Coat with Shake n Bake and cook according to package directions. While the chicken cooks, make the sauce. Melt 3 tbsp butter in a pan, add a dash of garlic powder, a dash of black pepper and 1/2 to 3/4 cup of your favorite hot sauce. When the chicken is done, toss in the sauce and serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

I will probably make fries smothered in bacon, cheese and barbecue sauce to go with these. This is a very popular game day meal around here. Happy Sunday everyone!

A Dish Fit for a Cookout!

Happy Saturday everyone. I am not cooking supper today because we are going to a cookout tonight. I thought you might like the much requested baked beans recipe I am making to take to the party.

Start with 2 big cans of pork & beans ( I use the 35 oz can because I have a big crock pot) Drain them in a colander, and pour into your crock pot. Add a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce, 1/4 chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper, about 1/2 cup yellow mustard, about 1 cup brown sugar, a dash or 2 of hot sauce and a pound of browned and crumbled sausage. Mix well. Cook on low for 5-6 hours.

Anytime we go to a potluck someone asks me to bring these beans so they must be pretty good. The best thing on a day like today is that they go together fast and I can be outside in the sunshine while they cook.

Enjoy the Sunshine!

Bonus Post!!

I am adding a bonus post today because I am happy. I got all my replacement parts in for the canner I bought at an estate auction last fall. I put water in it and tried it out and it works!!! I don't have to wait for Mom to be done with her canner before I can get started this year. I can work on my canning when I want to!!!

OK, I am done acting silly over something as outdated (to most people) as canning green beans.

Can You Really Have Breakfast for Supper?

All week as I plan supper I cook enough to send leftovers in Jeff's lunch the next day. Because he doesn't work on Saturday I don't have to worry about tomorrow's lunch on Friday night.

I think tonight we will have breakfast. We love a real, old fashioned (read "fat on a plate") breakfast. I will fix bacon or sausage, or maybe both, scrambled eggs with cheese, biscuits, fried potatoes and gravy.
The biscuits will come from a can, I like homemade biscuits but don't like the mess. If I am tired from a long day, the potatoes will come from the freezer. The kids and I like sauteed mushrooms, onions and shredded cheese on our fried potatoes. Of course, you never messed anything up by putting cheese on it! Jeff will make the gravy. I love to cook and can eventually figure out anything, but my gravy is always as thick as wallpaper paste so he makes that for me.

I hope everyone has a great day!

Do People Really Eat Meatloaf?

My kids do, they love meatloaf. We rarely have leftover meatloaf around here and if we do, it makes great sandwiches later.

I start with a pound of ground beef, an egg, 1/2-3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, just enough liquid (milk, broth, etc) to moisten the breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, black pepper, a Cajun seasoning to taste, mix well and pack tightly into a loaf pan. Sometimes I put 1/2 the meat, make a hollow, fill with cheese and then the rest of the meat. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, top with a mixture of 1 c. ketchup and 1/4 cup brown sugar and bake another 15-20 minutes. Let sit 10-15 minutes before you cut it.

I will make mashed potatoes and peas (or maybe Lima beans) to go with this. I was planning to make a cake but Mom brought me some chocolate caramel rice krispie treats, so those will be dessert.

I hope everyone reading this is enjoying it. I know the planning is really helping me. I can't wait till the last minute to think about supper, I have to do it early. Have a great day everyone!

New Recipe?

I found this recipe in a cookbook and it looked really good so I'm giving it a try. If you try it, let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.

Start with a beef roast and enough water to cover it in your crock pot. Add 2-3 tbsp dried Italian seasoning, plus a bay leaf and a little extra garlic. Mix in 1 package dry Italian salad dressing mix. Cook all day in the crock pot, shred and serve on hoagie rolls. I am going to saute some onions and bell peppers for mine, and maybe top with a little mozzarella cheese. I will serve this with potatoes (My hubby thinks I must have potatoes at every meal) and some green beans from last summer's garden.

A note at the bottom of the recipe suggested using a can of beef broth for part of the water, reducing the liquid down after the meat is done and serving it like a french dip.

My father-in-law has started digging new potatoes in his garden, I may go get some of those, I love creamed new potatoes! (who am I kidding, I love all new potatoes) It is time to start looking for the beginnings of those yummy fresh vegetables from people who put their gardens out early or at the farmers market.

It's Getting Hot

No one wants to cook when it gets hot and around my house no one really wants to eat much either. Tonight I am making club sandwiches.

I start with a loaf of Hawaiian sweet bread, sliced, spread each slice with honey mustard (1/2 c. miracle whip, 1/4 c. honey, 1/4 c. mustard) top with a slice of cheese (we like smoked provolone), ham, turkey, bacon, and top with the second slice of bread. Butter both sides and grill like a grilled cheese. A George Foreman grill works well for this, too and can handle several sandwiches at once without having to turn them. When the sandwiched are brown and crisp and yummy, remove them from the heat, open up and add lettuce and tomato slices. Serve these with a big pickle wedge and chips or fries. It is a better club sandwich than you will find in any restaurant.

Last night we added 4 more rows of green beans to the garden and ordered parts for the old canner I bought at an auction last fall. I can't wait for fresh green beans. I am even looking forward to all the work because I know how good those garden fresh beans will be next winter.

Supper on a Busy Day

Happy Monday everyone! The sun is shining here and I have lots of yard work to do. My flower gardens look like I am growing weeds, it is time to plant my next round of green beans in the garden and laundry is a never ending chore here. I need something easy for supper tonight. I have 2 packages of smoked sausage grillers. I am also making what we call "loaded" fries and broccoli.

The sausages are easy, just toss them on the grill. While the sausage cooks, chop some onions and green peppers (you only need enough to top the sausages), melt a pat of butter in a small skillet, cook the onions till they start to brown, add the pepper, a dash of pepper and garlic powder and about 1/2 a beer (drink the rest) and cook till it thickens. You may want to start this before you do the meat as sometimes it takes a little longer to thicken that it does the sausages to cook.

Bake the fries according to the instructions on the label, when they are done brush on your favorite barbecue sauce, sprinkle with bacon bits and shredded cheese and put back in the warm oven to melt. I like to top mine with sour cream and chives, too.

I have fresh broccoli from Dad's garden. I just put as much as we want in a microwave steamer bag (love those things) and cook it according to the label on the bag. Supper is quick and easy and tastes like you worked harder than you really did.

I have to get to work! Have fun.