Empanadas!

Try these super easy, super yummy meat pies. Sour cream is a great topper to these delicious Empanadas.

What you will need

1lb ground meat, chicken or pork
2tsp minced garlic
1tsp chili powder
1tsp garlic salt
1tsp cumin
1/4 cup black beans
1/2 cup of salsa
1 package pie crust, or a pie crust recipe

Begin by preheating the oven to 400*.

Now, brown the ground meat(you don't need to add any additional oil), add in the minced garlic. While browning chop ground meat to a fine consistency. After finished browning, if you have a large amount of oil, drain. If not, continue by adding spices including the black beans and salsa. Once your meat is finished sit aside.

*you may substitute or change items, try corn, peppers, fresh tomatoes


Now take your pie crust and cut into squares.


Once in squares take a spoonful of meat and place on the pie dough and crimp edges.



Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until brown.

I served with rice. I cooked rice according to the package and added in 1 beef bullion cube and 1tbsp of butter. Once the rice was finished I mixed in the extra beef mixture.

Chocolate Bark

My friend Kristy posted on facebook about making some bark, so I got a taste for it and this is what I made. Very simple, really yummy!


What you will need

1lb of melting chocolate(ie:chips,wafers)
your choices of fillers/toppings(marshmallows,peanuts,almonds,peanut butter chips, raisins)


To start line a tray with foil or wax paper. Next sprinkle your toppings/fillers on the tray. I used marshmallows, peanuts, raisins and peanut butter chips.

Next melt chocolate, melt in 25 second increments in the microwave or melt on a double boiler. Once melted pour over your toppings.



Put your tray in the refrigerator to cool.

Once cool, break into chunks.

Stuffed Shells

What you will need

1 small container ricotta cheese or 1lb fresh ricotta
1 jar your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 tbsp parsley flakes
1 8oz package mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup, plus a sprinkle Romano or Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic salt
approx. 16 pasta shells

1 egg(you will only need to egg if you use fresh ricotta, not the container from the dairy section

Start by bringing a pot of water to a rapid boil and preheating your oven to 350*. Then boil your shells, for about 10 minutes.

Next mix together your cheeses(using 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese), garlic salt and parsley, add in an egg if necessary. I like to taste the mixture before adding an egg to make sure the seasonings are right. Once your shells are finished boiling rinse with cold water so they are cool enough to handle.


Now, place a layer of sauce in the bottom of a casserole dish, sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese.



Fill shells with your cheese mixture.


Ladle more sauce on top of shells and cover with cheese and bake until bubbly and lightly browned.


I serve with salad and french bread.

Pancakes

These pancakes have a similar taste to buttermilk pancakes without buttermilk. I found a recipe similar to this on allrecipes.com and changed it a little.

What you will need

1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup. white vinegar(you can sub apple cider vinegar, it will be a little sweeter)
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract(optional)
1/4 cup butter melted
cooking spray

Combine milk and vinegar in bowl and set aside for 5 minutes(this will allow the milk to sour and take on that buttermilk flavor)

Combine all dry ingredients together and whisk. Now add dry ingredients to "soured" milk, vanilla, almond extract, butter and vanilla. Mix together until you have little to no lumps. Heat a skillet, use cooking spray to help with sticking. Enjoy!

Tacos

What you will need

1 lb. ground beef, chicken or turkey
3tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground red pepper
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
3/4 cup water

Start by browning 1lb. ground meat, mixing and crumbling into small pieces. Once browned, drain all grease.

Return meat to the pan and add in all spices and water. Simmer for approximately ten minutes. Once finished serve with desired toppings.

Parmesan Oven Fries

What you will need

3 large potatoes
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1tbsp parmesan cheese
2tsp oil(veg,extra virgin)

Start by preheating your oven to 450*

Now, cut the potato in half then in quarters(or thirds, depending on how large you want them)

Next coat the potatoes in the veggie oil. Then sprinkle on the salt, pepper and parmesan.

Finally bake for 30 mins turning half way through.

Chicken Wraps

This recipe(if you can call it that!) is very simple. I made these this week while on vacation. It's all pre-made items made into a delicious, inexpensive meal. The total cost is approximately $7.00 and will feed one person for 6 days(1 wrap per lunch) or will feed 6 people one time.


What you will need

One Rotisserie Chicken
One package of grated cheese(I used mild cheddar)
Ranch dressing
Large Tortilla wraps
lettuce

Chop up the Rotisserie Chicken into bite size cubes
Shred lettuce

Place tortilla on a plate, next place a layer of lettuce, next put a layer of cheese. Now you will put desired amount of ranch dressing. Finally roll tightly into a wrap and enjoy.

One bowl brownies

What you will need
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cups butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour

optional
chopped nuts
cream cheese

If you would like to make these cheesecake brownies, simply soften one 8 ounce package of cream cheese, add in 1/2 cup of sugar and one egg. Blend well. Once blended place in dollops on top of brownie mixture then swirl into brownies.

This recipe is courtesy of Baker's and is my favorite homemade brownie recipe. Start by preheating your oven to 350* Next chop 4 ounces of unsweetened chocolate.




Place chocolate in a bowl and add in 2/3 cups butter




Take chopped chocolate and butter and melt in the microwave. Melt in 20 sec intervals stirring each 20 seconds(this will take about a minute)




Next add in 2 cups of sugar and mix well





Now add 3 eggs and 1tsp of vanilla and blend well









Finally add in 1 cup of flour.





Line your baking dish with foil so that the end are sticking out of the pain, once the foil is in the pan spray with oil. Bake for 30-35 mins.

Lasagna

What you will need...

9 Lasagna noodles
2lbs mixed mozzarella and provolone cheese
7 hard boiled eggs
1 jar or one homemade recipe of your favorite sauce
1lb ground mild sausage
1lb ground beef
1/4 cup of romano cheese
1lb fresh ricotta cheese(you may also use a container from the dairy section)
2tsp chopped garlic
2tsp garlic powder
1tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

To being preheat oven to 400*. On the stove top, brown ground beef and ground mild sausage together, adding in salt, pepper and garlic powderNext boil 7 eggs, to boil the perfect egg, follow these directions. Next boil lasagna noodles to al dente. Once eggs are boiled, chop into small pieces. Now you may begin your layering. Start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle with your romano cheese.


Next take your ground meat/sausage mixture and add to the top of your sauce and romano cheese.



Now add your chopped eggs.


Next drop small dollops of ricotta over the chopped egg.

Now sprinkle with your mozzarella/provolone cheese mixture


Next add three more noodles over top of the cheese

You will repeat these layers twice, on the final layer after the noodles, add more sauce and sprinkle with romano cheese



Finally sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella/provolone cheese mixture, once finished bake in a 400* oven for approximately 20 minutes. If desired, serve with garlic bread and a salad.

The perfect hard boiled egg

For the perfect hard boiled egg, take the desired amount of eggs and place them in a pot of water(make sure there is enough water to cover the entire egg. Bring water to a rapid boil and boil eggs for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes is up, leave eggs on the stove top for another 10 minutes. Then take the eggs and run the pot of water under cold tap water, allow eggs to sit in the cold water for another 10 minutes. Once those 10 minutes have passed, crack and peel eggs. Enjoy!

Welcome!

This blog is going to be a collection of my recipes, I will try to add a new recipe every day or so.

Simple.....most will be very simple,not many ingredients and little time to create.

Savory....there will be plenty of savory dishes.

Sweet....plenty of desserts for your eating pleasure!

Enjoy!

If you have any requests for recipes.....let me know!