Herb Pork and Potatoes

Here's a good one for a Sunday dinner. You'll have pork leftovers too. Leftovers are always good!

3/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 4 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
6 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed or 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons
3-4 lb pork roast
1 pound small red potatoes, quarterd

In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients using a whisk. Place the pork in a large shallow baking pan. Drizzle with 3/4 of the herb mixture. Toss potatoes with remaining herb mixture; place around the pork.

Bake, uncovered at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees and potatoes are tender. Let pork stand for 5-10 minutes before slicing - this will keep the juices intact. Yield: 3-4 servings with potatoes, plus leftover pork.

String Cheese Meatloaf

This is a great recipe for meatloaf I got from a Quick Cooking magazine many years ago and changed a few things to create a my own variation. I am not a lover of meatloaf but this one is really good. Tastes almost like meatballs. I've included a picture - although it doesn't do it justice.

Ingredients

1 cup meatless spaghetti sauce, divided

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs (I use Contadina Four Cheese)

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 pound ground beef

3 pieces of string cheese

In a bowl combine 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce, egg, bread crumbs, and garlic. Crumble meat over mixture and mix well. Press half into a greased 8" x 4 " x 2" loaf pan. Place two pieces of cheese, side by side, near one end of the loaf. Cut the remaining piece of cheese in half; place side by side on opposite end of loaf. Top with remaining meat and press down firmly to seal.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until meat is no longer pink and a meat themometer reads 160 degrees; drain. Drizzle with the remaining spaghetii sauce; bake 10 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing. Yield: 6 servings

Note: I usually make some pasta and pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over it to serve with the meatloaf. This means no waste!

Comfort Food

Plain and simple...the following recipe is pure comfort food. We are still in a deep freeze here - they are saying 25-30 below with the windchill tonight. Great - like we haven't had enough. Below is a recipe from Paula Deen I changed it a little. It was very yummy and easy to make. I included a photo this time - beware it may make you hungry.....

Chicken Florentine

2 (10 ounce) packages of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

6 chicken breast halves (about 4 pounds), cooked, boned and shredded

2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans of of condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 pan. After draining spinach, put into a large bowl. Add the shredded chicken.

In a medium bowl, combine the soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar cheese, lemon juice, salt & pepper to taste, and wine. Whisk together to make a sauce. Pour the sauce over the spinach and chiken. Mix well.

Place the mixture into the greased 13 x 9 pan. Pat down evenly and smooth with a spatula. Combine the Parmesan and bread crumbs and sprinkle over the top. Dot with butter.

Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbly.

Baby It's Cold Outside....

I just checked the weather on weather.com and it is -17 degrees with the wind chill - but hey the sun is out. I found the following recipe for hot cocoa on Allrecipes.com and I am definitely going to make it today.

We had to run out (and I mean run because you don't want to stay still when you step outside today) to take my daughter to a birthday party and my son to a soccer game. Even only being outside from the car to the door chilled me to the bone. This is the kind of weather where you want to sit by the fireplace (except I don't have one - but I can imagine), sip hot cocoa and read a good book under a big comfy blanket.

Okay here's the recipe for the hot cocoa

Creamy Hot Cocoa

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature. Top with whip cream if you like. Enjoy!

Mozzarella Chicken

This one is yummy. Takes a little bit of prep but definitely worth it.

Ingredients
4 chicken breasts
1/2 cup butter, divided
Salt & Pepper to taste
4 slices of mozzarella cheese
1 egg beaten
2 cups all purpose flour for coating
1 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs (I like four cheese bread crumbs)
2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup dry white wine

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and greasea 13 x 9 pan.
2. Place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and flatten with a meat pallet.
3. Spread 1/4 cup butter over the inside of the chicken, then add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Place a slice of cheese on chicken, roll and close with toothpicks.
5. Repeat with each breast.
6. Dip rolled breast in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs.
7. Place coated breast in greased pan.
8. To made sauce, melt 1/4 cup butter and add garlic. Add wine and simmer all together - about 5 minutes.
9. Pour sauce over chicken and bake in preheated oven for 30-45 minutes.

Serve with noodles & butter and a side salad.

Northern Italian Pasta Shells

This is a great recipe for some good Italian comfort food. It makes quite a bit, I sometimes fill another pan and freeze it - or just cut the recipe in half. This recipe is compliments of the Paula Deen show on Food Network. It takes awhile - but is worth it.

3 pkgs frozen, chopped spinach, thawed
3 lbs ground beef
2 (8 oz) cream cheese
2 large onions, chopped
1/2 cup Grated parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 jumbo eggs
1 (1 lb) package jumbo pasta shells, cooked
1 jar spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain spinach well and place in large bowl. Brown beef, drain, reserve 2 tbsp beef fat in pan and place meat in same bowl with spinach. Stir in cream cheese until blended with the meat and spinach. Saute the chopped onions in the reserved meat fat. Transfer onions to the bowl with the other ingredients and stir to combine. Add grated cheese, salt & pepper. Let mixture cool and then add eggs. (If mixture is too warm the eggs will start to cook.) Stuff the shells with the meat mixutre. Place in large pan and cover with jarred spaghetti sauce. Cover with foil and bake for approximately 1 hour.

Note: I use my hands for mixing and stuffing the shells - it is messy but much easier. The shells are less likely to break also.

BLT Macaroni Salad

1/2 cup mayo
4 tbsp chili sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
3 cups cooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup chopped seeded tomato
2 tbsp chopped green onions
3 cups shredded lettuce, iceberg works best with this recipe
6 bacon strips, cooked crispy and crumbled

In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients; mix well. Add the macaroni, tomato, and onions; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate. Just before serving, add lettuce and bacon; toss to coat. Serves 6.

Spicy Popcorn

Spicy Popcorn is a great snack to serve at party. If you are having a Super Bowl party in a few weeks this would be a hit. Goes great with a cold beer!

Spicy Popcorn

1 cup kernals
Oil
4 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne powder

Combine all the dry ingredients and set aside. Pop kernals in oil, drizzle with butter, and toss with the mixed dry ingredients.

Tuna Salad Coneys

This is another meal my mom used to make - super easy and cheap. Tuna Salad Coneys would be great to make with kids. After reading this recipe it may not sound appetizing - but it really is very good.

Tuna Salad Coneys

1/4 lb Velveeta Cheese, cubed
3 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 7oz can of tuna, drained
2 tbsp chopped onion
2 tbsp chopped stuffed olives
2 tbsp pickle relish
1/2 cup mayo
5 hamburger buns

Combine all ingredients lightly - fill buns. Wrap each one in foil. Cook at 250 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Enjoy!

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

This was a favorite of mine growing up. My mom would always make this when she had her dinner parties and she would always save me some. It is also very easy!!!

Chocolate Eclair Dessert - serves 12

1 box graham crackers
2 small Jello instant "French" vanilla pudding
1 - 9 oz Cool Whip, thawed
Chocolate Icing (See recipe below)

Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Made pudding according to package using whole milk only. Line the greased pan with whole graham crackers. Cover with 1/2 of the pudding, add another layer of graham crackers, add the rest of the pudding and then another layer of graham crackers. Spread with chocolate icing and refrigerate to chill. Serve with a dollop of cool whip.

Chocolate Icing

2 squares semi-sweet chocolate
2 tsp white Karo syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 tbs milk

Melt chocolate and butter. Add remaining ingredients. If too thick, add more milk in little amounts.

Enjoy - this one won't last long!

A Hearty Breakfast Casserole

The following recipe is great for a brunch or a special breakfast. I make this every Christmas and my family loves it. Plus I can make it a day ahead which saves me time Christmas morning. Goes great with toasted English Muffins.

Sausage & Egg Bake

1lb ground sausage
1 large onion chopped
8 oz shredded mild cheddar cheese
12 slices of bread
8 eggs
3 cups milk
3/4 tsp dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cracked pepper

Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Brown sausage - don't drain. Saute onion with sausage and set aside. Cut bread into quarters. Lay in greased pan the following: 1/2 of bread quarters, 1/2 of sausage & onion mixture and 1/2 of shredded cheese. Repeat layer. Beat together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and dry mustard. Pour over layers. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Before baking remove cover and bring to room temperature. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

French Onion Soup

This is one of my husband's favorite soups I make. It is very simple and cheap - that's my husband cheap and easy!!

6 large onions, slice thin
1 cup butter (not margarine)
14 beef bouillon cubes or 14 tsp of the loose bouillon
8 cups of water
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt

In large skillet saute onions in butter until limp. Transfer onions and butter to a large pot. Add water, bouillon, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Cover and simmer on low 4 to 6 hours. Serve in individual bowls with a slice mozzarella cheese. Put under broiler for cheese to melt. I also like to serve with crunchy, warm french bread.

Note: If you are short on time you can simmer for two hours - I have done this and it still tasted great.

Enjoy!

Appetizer: Shrimp Dip

Here is a great recipe for shrimp dip - I very often get asked for copies of this recipe when I bring it to parties.

1 can medium shrimp, rinsed and drained
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of Miracle Whip
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp finely chopped green onions

Mix together the cream cheese and Miracle Whip in a medium bowl until well blended. Add the garlic powder, green onions and shrimp. Mix together and chill for at least one hour. Serve with crackers and enjoy!

In The Beginning....

Welcome to my new blog! Not only do I hope to use this blog as a place to share recipes, cooking tips, as well as any other useful food tips - but it is also a place to organize and house all my recipes. I have recipes everywhere - on recipe cards, printed off the computer, in cookbooks that are earmarked and even some in Mircosoft Word documents. It's no wonder I can never find a favorite recipe when I need to. This is where the organizing comes in. Everday I will try to post a new recipe - I emphasize try. In the beginning it may be even be more than one a day.

Additionally, I am always looking for new recipes and ideas to change my existing recipes. So please feel free to leave comments with suggestions.

Since I have two small children, Marie is 8 and Shane is 6 - I am always looking for recipes kids love. My son is an extremely picky eater and won't even try new things. So it can be a bit tricky finding new recipes for him. He gets this from my husband of 12 years, Rick - who will at least try new things, but forget about things out of the ordinary. He is basically a meat and potatoes type of guy. And he likes his food plain, plain, plain - no spices for him.

Well, that's all for now - I hope you all enjoy the recipes I post and I look forward to your input. Have a great day!