Easy Meatloaf

2 pounds ground beef

2 eggs (lightly beaten)

1 onion, chopped

1 cup of milk (I used 2%)

1 cup plain dried bread crumbs

salt & pepper to taste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

1/2 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, combine the beef, egg, onion, milk and bread crumbs.  Season with salt & pepper to taste and place in a lightly greased pan (I line with foil and grease that).

In a separate small bowl you will combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup.  Combine those ingredients well and spread evenly over the meatloaf.

Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I served with green beans and mashed potatoes.

Enjoy!!!!

No-Knead Bread

This bread is delicious and so easy!  I split mine into 2 loafs and tried 2 different toppings...Cornmeal on one and Everything Bagel seasoning on the other.

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon instant yeast

2 teaspoons kosher salt

cornmeal, wheat bran or any other seasoning you would like to try for the topping

First, in a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt - then add 1 1/2 cups water and mix until well blended, dough will be a sticky and shaggy.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for at least 12 hours, 18 is ideal (that is what I did) at warm room temperature.

Second, when dough is ready (when the surface is dotted with bubbles), lightly flour your work surface and place the dough on it, sprinkle the top with a bit more flour and fold over itself twice.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rest another 15 minutes.

Third, use just a touch more flour (to make the dough not stick) and shape the dough into a ball shape.  On a dry cotton tea towel (kitchen towel) add the flour and cornmeal or whatever seasoning you are using and place the dough (seam side down) on the cotton towel and cover with another cotton towel and let it sit for another 2 hours, it will most likely double in size.  

Lastly, when you have 3o minutes left preheat your oven to 450 degrees and place your heavy 6 to 8 quart pot into the oven.  When the 2 hours is up carefully pull the pot out of the oven and place the dough in the pot, seasoned side face up.  Then cover in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, then remove lid/cover and bake for an additional 15 to 30 minutes until the bread is golden brown.  Then pull out and cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy!!!!

Pizza on Rye

 This is a great item to just have on hand in the freezer and heat up in minutes!

1 pound 93/7 ground beef

1 pound ground sausage 

1 pound Velveeta (I used the 2% reduced fat), cubed

1 teaspoon dried Basil

1 teaspoon dried Oregano

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons dried Parsley flakes

1 loaf Rye bread (I cut in half or you can even cut into quarters)

Brown the meats together and drain well.  Return to heat and add cheese.  Let this melt, stirring often.  Then you will add the rest of the ingredients and mix together.  Spoon onto the slices of Rye bread.  Place on a cookie sheet and freeze. Then transfer to freezer bags.  Do not thaw.  When ready to serve, broil 5 to 7 minutes and serve hot.

Great to serve as a quick appetizer, with soups and salads!

Enjoy!!!!

Cheese Board

I love taking a cheese board to a dinner party, you can play with so many different ideas of what to add.  Here are some of the items I always try to make sure I put on my cheese boards, just always trying to have a bit of something for everyone.

Items To Include:
-2 different types of cheese
-2 different types of crackers
-a nut (I used almonds here)
-1 or 2 meats
-olives
-a berry (I used raspberries)
-a citrus (I used clementines)

Cream Spinach

3 pounds of frozen spinach, cook according to package directions and then drain and squeeze out all of the remaining moisture
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 ounces of cream cheese (I used reduced fat cream cheese)
1/2 cup of milk (I used 2%)
pinch of nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a large saute pan sauce the butter, onions & garlic for about 5-8 minutes, then add the cream cheese and blend together.  Once that has incorporated nicely add the milk and make sure all is blended together and then add the nutmeg, salt & pepper.  Now add the drained spinach and mix well.  Spoon into a baking dish and top with grated parmesan cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.  Enjoy!!!!

Chili Peanut Chicken

Our family loves any food with an asian kick and let's be honest the kids love rice!

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper
1 teaspoon of dried ginger
3/4 of peanut sauce
1 tablespoon of Asian chili paste/sauce
1/4 cup peanuts (I crush them up)
2 green onions (chopped)

In a saucepan I turned to medium heat, spray with pam and then add the chicken and top with 1/2 of the salt, ginger and black pepper and cooke for 3-4 minutes, then flip the chicken and top with the remaining of the salt, ginger and black pepper.  Add lid to saucepan and let it start to cook and drop the heat to simmer.  then once you think the chicken is getting tender add the peanut sauce and then chili paste/sauce and replace with lid.  Just let it cook low and slow until you can shred the chicken.

Once chicken is cooked and you have shredded it you are good to go!

Serve on top of white rice and then top with crushed peanuts and green onions.

I also served with an Asian salad on the side for our veggie.

Enjoy!!!!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I was going to make taco pie for dinner tonight and then realized that I didn't have a taco seasoning packet at home, so why not try and make my own!

1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried Oregano leaves
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (you could add an additional 1/4 teaspoon if you wanted more of a kick)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 Cumin

Mix all together, you can double or triple the recipe to make sure you always have some on hand.

Enjoy!!!!