About once every two months I make a huge pot of pasta sauce. The thing I love about pasta is that it's very quick to fix, once you have the sauce. And there's quite a few variations.
In my sauce, I put
2 lbs hamburger meat
1 package hot (or mild) italian sausages
3 reg size jars traditional prego spaghetti sauce
1 onion chopped
1 green, yellow, red, and orange bell peppers, diced
garlic powder, salt and pepper, italian seasoning.
1. In a crockpot, pour the spaghetti sauce, add veggies and stir. (low heat)
2. In a large skillet cook the hamburger meat and sausages (skins off) til done. While cooking add salt and pepper and italian seasoning. When cooked thru, drain, and add to sauce.
3. I like to let my sauce simmer in the crockpot for 3-6 hours. Add the garlic powder to taste.
4. At the end of the day, turn off crockpot and let sauce cool. Once it's about room temp, I pour 3 cups of sauce into large gallon size freezer ziplock baggies. This will make about 5 bags. When i'm ready to make them, I just take out of freezer, plop bag in a bowl of lukewarm water to thaw for 30-45 minutes, then pour into a bowl with a can of tomato sauce and microwave.
Tonight we're having spaghetti, but on the menu for the next month is tortelli (the premade kind in the grocery store), rigatonni (penne pasta cooked, sauce, and 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese added in the last 5 minutes to melt), ravioli, and maybe some manicotti. It's great and cheap. The sauce costs about $20 total (that's $4 a meal), the pasta $1-4, so it's my fall back when i need to really stretch those pennies.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Ideas for Valentines Day
VALENTINES DAY
GIFT IDEAS
1. A Skeleton key with a note that says 'you unlocked my heart'.
2. Gift certificate to a day spa.
3. Roses are the standard, but if he/she has a favorite go with those instead.
4. Fill someone's car with balloons in their favorite color.
5. Plan a romantic, homemade dinner just for two.
RECIPES
1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Banana's.
You'll need 1 bag of chocolate chip (semi sweet or milk chocolate)
2 tbs butter flavored crisco
1 dozen strawberries, washed
2-4 banana's, cut up into bite size pieces
1. Fill a small sauce pan with water and place on stove top over med-high heat. Place a small skillet over the saucepan. Empty the chocolate chip bag into the skillet, and add the crisco. Stir around to mix evenly, and to keep from scalding. Make sure all lumps are out.
2. On a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper, place your strawberries and banana slices. Use a toothpick to handle the banana slices.
3. Once the chocolate is melted, take skillet off of heat and hold next to the wax paper. Quickly roll the strawberries and bananas in the chocolate and place on the paper to dry. Let the chocolate harden for about an hour, then transfer to plate and place in the fridge.
2. Lovers Chocolate Drink (serves 4-6)
4 1/4 cup milk
4 oz semisweet chocolate
5 tbs sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp allspice
1 shot peppermint schnapps or whiskey
4-6 cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
1. In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients except the cinnamon, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Beat the mixture until it stops boiling and becomes frothy. Serve with the cinnamon sticks.
3. Apple Sweets (makes 10-15)
2 1/2 cups peeled apples, sliced
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup finely chopped almonds
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1/2 tsp cinnamon powdered sugar
1. Steam apples until soft, which should take about 30 minutes. Let cool. Puree in a food processor or blender. Pour into a medium saucepan and stir in the sugar. Simmer over low heat until it thickens, or for about 45 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in the almonds, lemon rind, and cinnamon. Pour onto a greased cookie sheet. Spread into 1/2 inch thckness and chill. Cut into heart shapes and sprinkle with the powdered sugar. To store, seperate the pieces with wax paper.
4. Lemon Chicken (serves 4)
(Mango's are often used in love potions, and lemon's add calrity to romance)
2 lbs chicken breasts, cubed
1 tbs grated ginger root
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
1 tbs lime juice
1 tbs lemon juice
2 green onions, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbs olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 tbs soy sauce
1 lemon, very thinly sliced
2 tbs cornstarch
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1. Saute the chicken, ginger root, lime peel, orange peel, lime juice, lemon juice, onions, and garlic in the olive oil until the chicken is white. Ad the chicken broth, soy sauce, and lemon. Stir and let simmer for 15 mintues. Mix the cornstarch with 3 tbs water until smooth. Add the chicken a little bit at a time, stirring consantly. Mix in the mango cinnamon, sugar. Simmer until the mango is warm and the sauce is thick. Serve over hot white rice.
5. Passion Pasta (serves 2)
1 small can minced clams
fresh garlic
1 small can italian tomatoes,drained but juice reserved
oilve oil
grated parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
linguine or spagheti noodles for two, cooked
1. Combine the clams, garlic to taste, and tomatoes in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer. Stir in 1-2 tbs oilve oil, a tbs or two of the tomato juice, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Keep tasting as you add for the perfect balance. Pour over the cooked pasta.
TRADITIONS
1. Pick a dandelion that has gone to seend. Blow the seeds into the wind. Count the remaining seeds on the stem. That's the number of children you will have.
2. If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you'll see how many kids you're gonna have.
3. Sew a lovers knot (two intersecting circles) on your clothes to show you're in love.
4. Strawberries are the fruit of romance.
GIFT IDEAS
1. A Skeleton key with a note that says 'you unlocked my heart'.
2. Gift certificate to a day spa.
3. Roses are the standard, but if he/she has a favorite go with those instead.
4. Fill someone's car with balloons in their favorite color.
5. Plan a romantic, homemade dinner just for two.
RECIPES
1. Chocolate Covered Strawberries and Banana's.
You'll need 1 bag of chocolate chip (semi sweet or milk chocolate)
2 tbs butter flavored crisco
1 dozen strawberries, washed
2-4 banana's, cut up into bite size pieces
1. Fill a small sauce pan with water and place on stove top over med-high heat. Place a small skillet over the saucepan. Empty the chocolate chip bag into the skillet, and add the crisco. Stir around to mix evenly, and to keep from scalding. Make sure all lumps are out.
2. On a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper, place your strawberries and banana slices. Use a toothpick to handle the banana slices.
3. Once the chocolate is melted, take skillet off of heat and hold next to the wax paper. Quickly roll the strawberries and bananas in the chocolate and place on the paper to dry. Let the chocolate harden for about an hour, then transfer to plate and place in the fridge.
2. Lovers Chocolate Drink (serves 4-6)
4 1/4 cup milk
4 oz semisweet chocolate
5 tbs sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp allspice
1 shot peppermint schnapps or whiskey
4-6 cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
1. In a large saucepan, combine all of the ingredients except the cinnamon, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Beat the mixture until it stops boiling and becomes frothy. Serve with the cinnamon sticks.
3. Apple Sweets (makes 10-15)
2 1/2 cups peeled apples, sliced
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup finely chopped almonds
1 tsp grated lemon rind
1/2 tsp cinnamon powdered sugar
1. Steam apples until soft, which should take about 30 minutes. Let cool. Puree in a food processor or blender. Pour into a medium saucepan and stir in the sugar. Simmer over low heat until it thickens, or for about 45 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in the almonds, lemon rind, and cinnamon. Pour onto a greased cookie sheet. Spread into 1/2 inch thckness and chill. Cut into heart shapes and sprinkle with the powdered sugar. To store, seperate the pieces with wax paper.
4. Lemon Chicken (serves 4)
(Mango's are often used in love potions, and lemon's add calrity to romance)
2 lbs chicken breasts, cubed
1 tbs grated ginger root
1/2 tsp grated lime peel
1 tbs lime juice
1 tbs lemon juice
2 green onions, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbs olive oil
1 cup chicken broth
1 tbs soy sauce
1 lemon, very thinly sliced
2 tbs cornstarch
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1. Saute the chicken, ginger root, lime peel, orange peel, lime juice, lemon juice, onions, and garlic in the olive oil until the chicken is white. Ad the chicken broth, soy sauce, and lemon. Stir and let simmer for 15 mintues. Mix the cornstarch with 3 tbs water until smooth. Add the chicken a little bit at a time, stirring consantly. Mix in the mango cinnamon, sugar. Simmer until the mango is warm and the sauce is thick. Serve over hot white rice.
5. Passion Pasta (serves 2)
1 small can minced clams
fresh garlic
1 small can italian tomatoes,drained but juice reserved
oilve oil
grated parmesan cheese
salt
pepper
linguine or spagheti noodles for two, cooked
1. Combine the clams, garlic to taste, and tomatoes in a small saucepan over low heat. Bring to a simmer. Stir in 1-2 tbs oilve oil, a tbs or two of the tomato juice, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Keep tasting as you add for the perfect balance. Pour over the cooked pasta.
TRADITIONS
1. Pick a dandelion that has gone to seend. Blow the seeds into the wind. Count the remaining seeds on the stem. That's the number of children you will have.
2. If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you'll see how many kids you're gonna have.
3. Sew a lovers knot (two intersecting circles) on your clothes to show you're in love.
4. Strawberries are the fruit of romance.
Hamburger and My George Foreman Grill
I have a problem with kitchen gadgets. I have mroe than I have counter space. The food processor, blender, and several small hand held gadgets have a home in one of the bottom counter. On top are my rice maker, crockpot, and kitchen aid mixer (which I just love!!!). I try to avoid the kitchen section of most stores (as well as the shoe section) so I have heard of but never tried the George Foreman Grill. Emily, my best friend, swears by this thing. She says it's just perfect cuz on those nites where she's experimenting with a new recipe or just doesnt feel like cooking her boyfriend can fix himself a hamburger and viola, dinners done. Well, I try to avoid 1)adding to the collection and 2)following the trends (ha), so I was a bit surprised on my birthday when my parents got me a George Foremand Grill and a Pizzazz Pizza Oven by Presto.
They've both been sitting, still in the box, in the corner of the living room. I was afraid to open them because I have NO where to put them. But last night I decided to fix hamburgers. This decision was made because of the left over meat and hamburger buns from the previous nite of taco burgers. I hate wasting food and it was either that or the hamburger helper.
Now to say i'm a novice in the kitchen is incorrect. Blonde, yes. I couldnt cook a hamburger to save my life. Dont ask me how but I always find a way to either get it to stick to the pan or fall apart. So when I announced I was going to attempt, yet again, this feat, Vinnie suggested I try the GF grill.
I have found my new best friend. OMG this thing is awesome!! Just plug it in, let it warm up, put the burgers on, drop the lid, set the timer, and presto chango dinner is done. I am in love. I didnt get burned by popping grease, the burgers got completely cooked thru, and I was able to get the rest of the kitchen clean while they were cooking instead of standing over a (violent) stove. Can I have a Amen?
It comes with a handy dandy instruction book that has several recipes that look very yummy. But last nite Vinnie fixed the patties. (I have this thing about sticking my hands in raw meat. It's too cold and my hands go numb. Dont ask). He added 1 cup of chopped dried onions, 1 1/2 cups A-1 sauce to 3 lbs hamburgers and they turned out just delicious. Pop some french fries in the oven, slice a tomato and call it a day.
I love easy dinner days.
Ps. The pizza oven is still in the box. Update later.
They've both been sitting, still in the box, in the corner of the living room. I was afraid to open them because I have NO where to put them. But last night I decided to fix hamburgers. This decision was made because of the left over meat and hamburger buns from the previous nite of taco burgers. I hate wasting food and it was either that or the hamburger helper.
Now to say i'm a novice in the kitchen is incorrect. Blonde, yes. I couldnt cook a hamburger to save my life. Dont ask me how but I always find a way to either get it to stick to the pan or fall apart. So when I announced I was going to attempt, yet again, this feat, Vinnie suggested I try the GF grill.
I have found my new best friend. OMG this thing is awesome!! Just plug it in, let it warm up, put the burgers on, drop the lid, set the timer, and presto chango dinner is done. I am in love. I didnt get burned by popping grease, the burgers got completely cooked thru, and I was able to get the rest of the kitchen clean while they were cooking instead of standing over a (violent) stove. Can I have a Amen?
It comes with a handy dandy instruction book that has several recipes that look very yummy. But last nite Vinnie fixed the patties. (I have this thing about sticking my hands in raw meat. It's too cold and my hands go numb. Dont ask). He added 1 cup of chopped dried onions, 1 1/2 cups A-1 sauce to 3 lbs hamburgers and they turned out just delicious. Pop some french fries in the oven, slice a tomato and call it a day.
I love easy dinner days.
Ps. The pizza oven is still in the box. Update later.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Mac n Cheese Variations
For the longest time I refused to eat Mac n cheese. While I was married to my first husband it was a daily staple. In his eyes you could have it for dinner everynite, just change it up. There was the little smokies, a can of chilli, hot dogs, and tuna. There were more but I cant remember (selective memory).
But the other day I was perusing my cupboards and found a box and thought, hmmm, what the heck. One of my favorite concoctions was always the tuna and peas. Great for lunch, get your vitamins, and easy to fix. So I thought today I would share the recipe (not that it's hard to figure out). I think i'm going to fix this for lunch tomorrow.
Ingredients
1 box mac and cheese
1 can tuna
1 can sweet pease (drained)
1. Fix mac and cheese as directed on box. Add drained can of tuna and peas. Let simmer for a few minutes. (I prefer this cold, so i'll fix it and store in fridge for a few hours).
But the other day I was perusing my cupboards and found a box and thought, hmmm, what the heck. One of my favorite concoctions was always the tuna and peas. Great for lunch, get your vitamins, and easy to fix. So I thought today I would share the recipe (not that it's hard to figure out). I think i'm going to fix this for lunch tomorrow.
Ingredients
1 box mac and cheese
1 can tuna
1 can sweet pease (drained)
1. Fix mac and cheese as directed on box. Add drained can of tuna and peas. Let simmer for a few minutes. (I prefer this cold, so i'll fix it and store in fridge for a few hours).
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Taco Burgers
Tonite we had two of my nephews over for dinner, Ian who's 8 and Michael who's 11. I had opted for a cheat nite of hamburger helper stroganoff. (besides having a horrible day at work, I got my first tattoo 3 days ago and my back is still killing me) Vinnie, on the other hand, had a bigger appetite. The rule in our house if you dont want what I have planned then you either have to cook or buy whatever it is that you want. (I got tired of planning a two week menu and having half of the food spoil because it wasnt what he wanted to eat). What a sweetheart I have that he stopped by the store on the way home and bought the ingredients. (I'm being nice because he also bought the ingredients for a fuzzy navel. Ahhh... I can hear the bubble bath calling me now).
So he was in the mood for taco burgers. Now of course this meal isnt complete without the story of when I first cooked them. We had been together about 4 months and he said 'i'm in the mood for taco burgers'. I had never heard of them before but figured heck how difficult could they be? So off I go to the kitchen and start cooking. I'm about done when Vinnie comes in and was like what the heck are you doing? Um... cooking? I guess I had a blonde moment in the planning department, and instead of cooking HAMBURGERS I had ground up the meat, like for a taco. Oh so you meant taco BURGERS, not TACO burgers. Sooooo... needless to say I didnt try to put the meat on a hamburger bun. So now everytime we have this meal Vinnie has to recount this story. I think for him it was an insite as to what to expect from me in the kitchen.
Serves 5 (me and 4 hungry boys/men)
Ingredients
3 lbs hamburger meat
3 packages taco seasoning
3 avacados
2 packages quacamole mix
1 block colby jack cheese
1 onion, chopped
1 tomato, sliced
ketchup, mustard
hamburger buns
corn chips
1. In a bowl mix together the hamburger meat, taco seasoning and onions until well mixed. Form into patties and cook in skillet til done.
2. Mix quacamole mix as according to package directions.
3. Serve burgers with sliced cheese, quac, and tomatoes. Let everyone fix burgers as they choose. (i like yellow mustard, cheese, quac and a tomato on mine, ian had his with ketchup, michael plain, and both Vinnie and Tony had theirs the same as mine minus the mustard)
So he was in the mood for taco burgers. Now of course this meal isnt complete without the story of when I first cooked them. We had been together about 4 months and he said 'i'm in the mood for taco burgers'. I had never heard of them before but figured heck how difficult could they be? So off I go to the kitchen and start cooking. I'm about done when Vinnie comes in and was like what the heck are you doing? Um... cooking? I guess I had a blonde moment in the planning department, and instead of cooking HAMBURGERS I had ground up the meat, like for a taco. Oh so you meant taco BURGERS, not TACO burgers. Sooooo... needless to say I didnt try to put the meat on a hamburger bun. So now everytime we have this meal Vinnie has to recount this story. I think for him it was an insite as to what to expect from me in the kitchen.
Serves 5 (me and 4 hungry boys/men)
Ingredients
3 lbs hamburger meat
3 packages taco seasoning
3 avacados
2 packages quacamole mix
1 block colby jack cheese
1 onion, chopped
1 tomato, sliced
ketchup, mustard
hamburger buns
corn chips
1. In a bowl mix together the hamburger meat, taco seasoning and onions until well mixed. Form into patties and cook in skillet til done.
2. Mix quacamole mix as according to package directions.
3. Serve burgers with sliced cheese, quac, and tomatoes. Let everyone fix burgers as they choose. (i like yellow mustard, cheese, quac and a tomato on mine, ian had his with ketchup, michael plain, and both Vinnie and Tony had theirs the same as mine minus the mustard)
Source of Creamy Chicken and Noodles
I recieved a comment regarding the Creamy Chicken and Noodles. Carol said that if you go to the gooseberrypatch.com, they have a reference section where you can look up recipes. This recipe was in Jolly Holidays Cookbook page 130. I had no idea you could look these up. Super cool. Thanks Carol.
Bar B Q Pork Chops
I got this recipe from my grandmother, and is one of my favorite. I remember eating these as a kid and fighting over the last one. They're very simple and cheap. In fact i've been told they were 'hillbilly' pork chops, mostly becasue i've always referred to them as 'ketchup pork chops'. I guess that just doesnt sound too appetizing to most people. It wasnt until i was dating a japanese guy who tasted them and said 'it's homemade bar-b-q'. Yay! Now when I say i'm making these no one is like 'uh what?'.
They cheap (the best part), sweet and tangy, and go great with mashed potatoes, cream corn, and buttermilk biscuits.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 pork chops
2 cups ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1 lemon sliced
Olive oil
1. Preheat oven to 375. Line Baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Gently rub the pork chops with the olive oil. Use just a drop for each one. (The oil makes the meat jucier).
3. In a bowl mix the ketchup and brown sugar. Slice the lemons. Totally coat the pork chops in the ketchup mixture, place on the baking sheet, and top with a slice of lemon.
4. Cook for 45 minutes.
They cheap (the best part), sweet and tangy, and go great with mashed potatoes, cream corn, and buttermilk biscuits.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 pork chops
2 cups ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1 lemon sliced
Olive oil
1. Preheat oven to 375. Line Baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Gently rub the pork chops with the olive oil. Use just a drop for each one. (The oil makes the meat jucier).
3. In a bowl mix the ketchup and brown sugar. Slice the lemons. Totally coat the pork chops in the ketchup mixture, place on the baking sheet, and top with a slice of lemon.
4. Cook for 45 minutes.
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