Pot Roast Pappardelle

I've been looking for a recipe like my beloved dish at one of my favorite places to go on a date, Caffé Molise, and I think I found a good one!  Of course the boys put their noses in the air because, gasp, there are tomatoes in it, but Thom, Kapree and I all loved it.  Thom and I agreed that next time I will double the 'sauce' because there wasn't nearly enough of it's goodness to smother the pasta and meat.  This recipe is a winner!


Pot Roast Pappardelle
Recipe adapted from The Crumbly Cookie


Ingredients:

1 (2½ to 3 pound) boneless chuck roast, tied
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed
1½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 cup dry white wine (I used cooking wine)
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 package papardelle pasta (I got mine at Trader Joe's, I have also found it at Harmons)
freshly grated parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions:

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Season the roast on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, place the roast in the pot and brown it on all sides, turning it every 3 to 4 minutes for even coloring. Transfer the browned roast to a plate. Reduce heat to medium, add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic, and sauté, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the onion is golden. Stir in the thyme, wine, tomatoes, and ½ teaspoon salt. Return the meat to the pot, along with any juices that accumulated on the plate. Bring liquid to a simmer, cover, and place the pot in the oven.  Braise the meat, turning it every 45 minutes or so, for about 2½ hours, or until the meat is fork-tender and the sauce has thickened.
When the meat is almost done, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and stir to separate the noodles. Cover the pot until the water returns to a boil, then uncover and cook the pasta according to package directions, until al dente. Drain the pasta.  Remove the roast from the pot, and slice or shred it. Serve with the pasta and sauce, topped with the cheese.

Smoky Tex Mex Sloppy Joses

Something happened last night.  For the first time in MY ENTIRE LIFE, I liked sloppy joes.  It's true.  I can't believe it either.  Not only did I like it, but the kids like it too.  Now, 'somebody' (okay, it was Thom)(smile) had a few critiques, but no meal is perfect.  Especially a meal I make.  I got it out of April's Rachael Ray magazine.  I also don't think it's a coincidence that this recipe includes bacon in it, because it's a well known fact that bacon makes EVERYTHING better.

Smoky Tex Mex Sloppy Joses
Rachael Ray

Ingredients:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil or vegetable oil, for drizzling

4 slices bacon, chopped

1 lb. ground sirloin

Salt and black pepper
1 onion, chopped (duh, I omitted this)
2 serrano or jalapeño chile peppers, finely chopped
3 to 4 cloves, garlic, chopped
1 tbsp. chili powder 
1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1 cup lager beer, at room temperature (I used a cup of beef broth)
1 cup tomato sauce
1 tbsp. light brown sugar
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tbsp. hot sauce, such as Franks® RedHot®
4 burger rolls, toasted

Toppings: crushed Fritos corn chips, pickled jalapeño rings and sweet red pepper relish

Directions:

In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of oil over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel to drain. Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until browned, stirring with a spoon to crumble it; season with a little salt and black pepper. Return the cooked bacon to the pan and add the onion, chiles, garlic, chili powder, cumin and coriander. Cook, stirring, until the onion is softened, about 5 minutes.

In a medium bowl, stir together the beer, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, vinegar and hot sauce. Pour the mixture over the meat, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until ready to serve.

Using a large ice cream scoop, spoon the Sloppy José mixture onto the roll bottoms. Layer with the crushed corn chips, pickled jalapeños, red pepper relish and roll tops.



Thom's critiques were that he wished it had onion in it(oops, did I forget to add that?  My bad....) and chopped red bell pepper.  I GUESS I can do that next time, and there WILL be a next time.  I really liked this.  I'm still in shock because of my lifelong aversion to sloppy joes, but leave it to Rach to make sloppy joes YUMMO. 

Copycat Jack in the Box Tacos

 

 

 

Are you thinking, "Oh no you didn't!"??  I'm here to say to you, "Oh, yes I did!!!"  I made fake Jack in the Box Tacos for dinner and they were fantastic.  In fact, I had to take this quick cell phone picture on a paper plate because they were being inhaled so fast!!  I don't know why I love Jack In the Box Tacos so much, but the fact that there aren't any to be had here in Northern Utah might add to their allure for me.  Caleb begged me to make these, and I can never say no to any of my children........ when they are asking for something that I really like.  If they want something gross then it's super easy to say no.  Anyway, you will NOT be sorry if you try these delights, I promise you!!

 

Copycat Jack in the Box Tacos

Recipe from here

 

Ingredients:

 1 lb. ground beef
1/3 cup refried beans
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. chili powder
1/4 cup mild taco sauce
12 soft corn tortillas
3 cups cooking oil
6 slices American cheese (each cut in half)
1 head lettuce, chopped fine (I actually use cabbage because I like it better, and the kids don't like either on their tacos, thus the greenery free picture above)

 

Directions:

 Slowly brown the beef over low heat, using a wooden spoon to chop and stir the meat, keeping it very fine and smooth.   When the beef is brown drain the fat.   Add the refried beans and use the wooden spoon to smash the whole beans into the mixture creating a smooth texture.   Add the salt, Chili powder, and Taco Sauce to the mixture.   Remove from the heat.   In another skillet heat 1/4 inch of oil until hot.   Test with a small piece of tortilla − it should bubble when dropped into the oil.
Spread 1/2 of the beef mixture on the center of each corn tortilla.   Fold the tortillas over and press so that the beef filling acts as an adhesive and holds the sides together.   Drop each taco into the pan of hot oil and fry on both sides until crispy.   When cooked, remove the tacos from the oil and place them on a rack or some paper towels until they are a little cooler.   Pry open slightly and add 1/2 slice American cheese and some lettuce.   Top with additional taco sauce to taste.

 



Carne Asada

Tonight we grilled up some carne asada and had some delicious tacos for dinner.  And by we I mean Thom because I was officially banned a couple of weeks ago from the barbecue after I made grilled chicken jerky.  So grilling isn't my strong suit?!  SO.  WHAT.  Maybe it was my master plan of having Thom do all the cooking on the grill this summer?  Aha!!  There is no way I am going to let the ridicule of my lame attempts at grilling get me down.  In fact, I am kind of loving myself right now because of the amazing meal I made tonight.  Good job self!!!  Honestly, it was super hard making a marinade, putting a steak into it and then letting Thom go outside and grill it.  Don't forget the cabbage I had to slice to top the tacos!  And the avocados!  Duh!  I also made homemade salsa!!  Yep, I worked really, really hard on this incredible dinner tonight!!  Seriously, though, this carne asada is, as Caleb would say, DANG good.

Carne Asada
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup orange juice 

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup lime juice

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. ground cumin

1 tbsp. paprika

1 tsp. Mexican oregano

1 tbsp. black pepper

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 cup olive oil

3 lb. flank steak   

 

Directions:

 

Combine the orange, lemon, and lime juice in a large glass or ceramic bowl along with the garlic, soy sauce, chili power, ground cumin, paprika, Mexican oregano, black pepper, and cilantro. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until marinade is well combined. Remove one cup of the marinade and place in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for use after the meat is cooked.

Place the flank steak between two sheets of heavy plastic (resealable freezer bags work well) on a solid, level surface. Firmly pound the steak with the smooth side of a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch. After pounding, poke steak all over with a fork. Add the meat to the marinade in the large bowl, cover, and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate.

Remove the steak from the marinade and grill to desired doneness, about 5 minutes per side for medium rare. Discard used marinade. Remove meat from heat and slice across the grain.

Pour the one cup of reserved, unused marinade over the hot meat and serve immediately.

 

This is delicious in tacos, burritos, nachos.....  heck, just eat it plain.  THIS IS SO GOOD!

 

 

Grilled Steak with Black Bean, Corn and Tomatoes

This is SO GOOD!  Of course the kids skipped the topping and went straight for the steak.  You know, I have always been one to respect a straight shooter, and when they come right out and say, "No way am I going to eat that black bean crap!" there is nothing I can do but nod and say, "You can say that again!!"  Because all I want is harmony folks, family harmony.  And more black bean crap for MY steak, if I'm going to be honest.....


Grilled Steak with Black Bean, Corn and Tomatoes
Recipe from SkinnyTaste

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. flank steak
1/2 tsp. cumin
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper to taste

For the black bean, corn and tomatoes:

3 tbsp. red onion, minced
1 tsp. olive oil
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
2 medium vine ripe tomatoes, diced
1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cups frozen corn kernels (fresh is fine)
2 tbsp. finely minced cilantro
kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste


Directions:

Season steak with the crushed garlic, cumin, salt and pepper and set aside 5-10 minutes
Combine red onions, olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper in a medium bowl and set aside a few minutes. Add tomatoes, black beans, corn, cilantro and set aside.

Heat a clean lightly greased indoor or outdoor grill on high heat. Grill steak on high heat, 6-8 minutes on each side or until your desired degree of doneness. Let the meat rest about 5 minutes before slicing. Slice the beef into thin slices across the grain, place on a platter and top with corn, black bean and tomato salad.

Mongolian Beef

I got this recipe from my sister years ago, it is so good.  I just paired it with sticky rice and broccoli and we were good to go!!

Mongolian Beef
Recipe from Stick of Butter

Sauce:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup dark brown sugar

Steak:
1 cup vegetable oil
1 pound flank steak
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 large green onions

Make the sauce by heating 2 teaspoons of vegetable in a medium saucepan over med/low heat. Don't get the oil too hot or you'll get a major spatter when adding the other liquids. Add ginger and garlic to the pan and quickly add the soy sauce and water before the garlic scorches. Dissolve the brown sugar in the sauce, and then raise the heat to about medium and boil the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Remove it from the heat.
Slice the flank steak against the grain into 1/4-inch thick bite-size slices. Tilt the blade of your knife at about a forty-five degree angle to the top of the steak so that you get wider cuts.
Dip the steak pieces into the cornstarch to apply a very thin dusting to both sides of each piece of beef. Let the beef sit for about 10 minutes so that the cornstarch sticks.
As the beef sits, heat up one cup of oil in a wok (you may also use a skillet for this step as long as the beef will be mostly covered with oil). Heat the oil over medium heat until it's nice and hot, but not smoking. Add the beef to the oil and sauté for just two minutes, or until the beef just begins to darken on the edges. You don't need a thorough cooking here since the beef is going to go back on the heat later. Stir the meat around a little so that it cooks evenly. After a couple minutes, use a large slotted spoon or a spider to take the meat out and onto paper towels, and then pour the oil out of the wok or skillet. Put the pan back over the heat, dump the meat back into it and simmer for one minute. Add the sauce, cook for one minute while stirring, and then add all the green onions. Cook for one more minute, and then remove the beef and onions with tongs or a slotted spoon to a serving plate. Leave the excess sauce behind in the pan. (of course husband and I fought over the extra sauce, it's good stuff).

Skinny Swedish Meatballs

We're trying to lower our fat and calorie intake but still want yummy food - Gina to the rescue!!  We didn't miss the heavy gravy that would normally go with these meatballs at all.  Pretty sure all the kids went back for thirds!

Skinny Swedish Meatballs
Recipe from Gina's Skinny Recipes

Ingredients:

1 tsp olive oil
1 small onion, minced (SKIP!! at least I did.....heehee)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 celery stalk, minced
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 lb 93% lean beef
1 egg
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp allspice
2 cups reduced sodium beef stock
2 oz light cream cheese


Directions:

In a large deep saute pan, heat oil on medium heat, add onions and garlic; sauté until onions are translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add celery and parsley and cook until soft, about 3-4 more minutes. Let cool a few minutes.
In a large bowl combine beef, egg, onion mixture, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and allspice. Mix welland form meatballs with your hands 1/8 cup each (fill 1/4 cup then divide the meat in half). Add beef stock to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and slowly drop meatballs into the broth. Cover and cook about 20 minutes. Remove the meatballs with a slotted spoon and set aside in a serving dish. Strain the stock, add to blender with cream cheese and pulse until smooth. Return to pan and simmer a few minutes to thicken, then pour over meatballs.
Garnish with parsley and serve over noodles or with toothpicks if you want to set these out as an appetizer.

Meatball Stroganoff

I have had this recipe FOREVER.  I have no idea where I got it, all I know it that it rocks!!!


Meatball Stroganoff

Ingredients:

1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp. ketchup
1/4 cup oats
1 tbsp. finely chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. ground beef

2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
1 tbsp. paprika

1 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. minced parsley
1 pkg. egg noodles (prepare according to package directions)

Directions:

Combine egg, ketchup, oats, onion and salt.   Add beef and mix well.  Shape into balls.  Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  In saucepan, combine soup, sour cream, milk and paprika.  Heat through.  Add meatballs, cover and cook until heated through.  Serve with noodles tossed with butter and parsley.

New Year's Meatballs

Our meal yesterday was what I traditionally make on New Year's Day. Since I am a creative genius, I have named it New Years Meatballs. I have had these meatballs on New Year's as far back as I can remember. (I won't comment on exactly how far back I can remember). What I CAN remember is being so excited for my mom to make these meatballs every year. It was the only day of the year she would make them, and they were SO GOOD! I always looked forward to New Year's Day so much more than New Year's Eve, entirely because of these balls of meaty goodness!


I made a double batch this year, since my boys are getting bigger and along with that comes bigger appetites. It was a good thing I did, because my oldest son came home with two of his friends in tow, and they finished off two or four meatball hoagies a piece! It was so fun listening to them talk about girls, muscles they claimed to have (I think my son lied said he had a four pack), and tease each other about who was going to get clobbered when they all start on the wrestling team next month. This is what I've always wanted, to be the home the kids want to hang out in, and if that means I need to make double or triple batches of New Year's Meatballs every year from now on, then I'm all over it!!


New Year's Meatballs

(recipe courtesy of Maxi Patty, a.k.a. Mom)

1 lb. ground beef
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. parsley
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and shape into 1 inch meatballs. Fry in a saucepan drizzled with olive oil. Meanwhile, make the sauce. You can use any kind or recipe of spaghetti sauce, but I always use the kind my mom used all those years ago, Lawry's, which is now called McCormick. Prepare your sauce and when the meatballs are browned all on sides and cooked through, add them to your sauce. We like to eat them on sub rolls topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Barbecue Beef

Barbecue Beef



Ingredients:

1 3-4 lb. cross rib roast
1 can Coke (or Pepsi)
1 tsp. garlic
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup Coke (or Pepsi)


Directions:

Place roast in slow cooker. Pour 1 can of Coke on roast. Cook on low for 5 to 7 hours. After meat has cooked put it in a bowl and use two forks to shred meat. Drain the coke and fat out of the slow cooker. Mix the garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, barbecue sauce and 1/4 cup of coke and add along with the shredded beef to the slow cooker. Cook for another 1 to 2 hours.

Crispy Orange Beef

Crispy Orange Beef

Recipe from Allrecipes


Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds beef top sirloin, thinly sliced
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup long grain rice
2 cups water
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons orange zest
3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
8 broccoli florets, lightly steamed or blanched
2 cups oil for frying


Directions:

Lay beef strips out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Allow to dry in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, rice vinegar, orange juice concentrate, salt and soy sauce. Set aside.

Meanwhile, combine rice and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes, or until rice is tender. Add more water at the end if necessary. (I use Calrose rice, because I really love sticky rice and I just make it in the rice cooker. Comes out perfectly sticky and yummy every time).

Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Toss dried beef in cornstarch to coat. Fry in the hot oil in small batches until crispy and golden brown; set aside. Drain all of the oil from the wok except about 1 tablespoon.

Add orange zest, ginger and garlic to the remaining oil, and cook briefly until fragrant. Add the soy sauce mixture to the wok, bring to a boil, and cook until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Add beef, and heat through, stirring to coat. Serve immediately over steamed rice, and garnish with broccoli.

Homemade White Castle Sliders

After biting into one of these babies Colby leaned over to me and whispered "There's O's in these, isn't there?" Yes, I did it. I put O's in something for once in my life. O's would be onions, which I hate. Detest. Loathe. Curse. Despise. Shun. Usually...... But I knew in my heart of hearts that I couldn't honestly make a fake White Castle wannabe without onions. And shock of shocks, I ate TWO of these guys, I loved it, and I didn't mind the O words at all. Now husband, don't get all jazzed thinking we're going to have onions in our meals now, because that is just crazy talk. While we were eating dinner, one of the kids said out loud, "Are there onions on these burgers??!" and another one answered immediately, "Onions! No way! Mom made these!"

See? I have a reputation to uphold!


Homemade White Castle Sliders
Recipe from Big Red Kitchen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dried onion flakes (of course, you know I only used about 1 tsp. Baby steps! Baby steps!)
2 pounds ground chuck- 80/20 ground beef
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
6 slices cheddar cheese
24 small party rolls (potato if possible)
24 dill pickle slices

Directions:

Evenly spread the onions on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Gently press the ground beef on top of the onion flakes. Press evenly making one giant pattie. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Using a paper towel, pat the excess grease from the top of the pattie. Top with cheddar cheese, return to oven for 2 more minutes. Remove from oven, let set 5 minutes then cut into 24 patties. Slice open and separate each party roll. Place bottom of rolls on a large platter. Using a spatula lift pattie with onion layer onto each bun bottom. Top each slider with a pickle slice then the bun lid. Serve immediately. Makes 24 Sliders.

No Peek Beef Tips

This was a super easy dinner that the kids all loved. I served it with mashed potatoes although I was told that next time they would like it with noodles. I loved sticking it in the oven after church, taking my required Sunday Afternoon Nap and waking up to delicious smells and our meal finished.



No Peek Beef Tips

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen


Ingredients:

2 lb. - Beef tenderloin tips, Stew Meat, Chuck Roast or Chuck Eye (Cubed)
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 – packet brown gravy mix
1 - packet lipton dry onion soup mix
1 – small can mushrooms
1 - cup water or ginger ale

Directions:

Add cubed meat to a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a big bowl mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over the meat add mushrooms and stir to coat. Cover with foil and bake at 300 degrees for 3 Hours do not remove foil until done. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes or noodles.

Nacho Pie

I should have made two of these because it was inhaled in 2 point 3 seconds. It has already been requested as a birthday dinner, high praise in our home!!





Nacho Pie

Recipe from Mommy's Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1/2 cup chopped onion (of course I skipped this!)
1 8 oz. can tomato cauce
¾ cup water
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 tube crescent roll dough
1 1/2 cup crushed tortillas chips
1/2 cup sour cream (I didn't add this)
1 cup cheddar jack or plain cheddar cheese
additional sour cream for garnish, diced tomatoes and sliced black olives.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. In large skillet brown beef and onion over medium heat until done. Drain off any grease. Stir in tomato sauce, water and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. Separate crescent rolls into 8 triangles. Place in greased 9 inch pie plate points facing towards the middle. You might have to maneuver the triangles a bit at the end and turn some of them side ways, that's OK as long as the pie plate is covered completely. Press onto bottom and up sides of plate to form crust. Seal perforations. Sprinkle 1 cup crushed chips over crust. Top with meat mixture. Using a spatula spread sour cream over meat. (I skipped this step because I don't like sour cream). Sprinkle the cheese and then remaining 1/2 cup crushed chips. Bake 30 - 40 minutes or until cheese melts, pie is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before cutting. Add a dollop of sour cream, diced tomatoes and black olives for garnish. If the crust starts to brown to quickly cover the pie plate with foil from the bottom and up around the sides to cover crust.

Machaca Burro

We have yet to find a great Mexican food restaurant near where we live. It's been nearly two years, and to say we are in withdrawl is no exaggeration. Luckily, I have some recipes that help us hold out until the next Arizona trip and was able to pull some fantastic tortillas out of the freezer from my last Arizona trip in January!!




Machaca Burro

I have no idea where I got this recipe, I've had it about 15 years


Ingredients:

3 lb. chuck roast
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup bacon drippings or vegetable oil
1 cup beef stock
1 medium onion, chopped (Obviously, I only used about 1/16 onion, finely minced into practically a paste)
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 small tomatoes, chopped (I only used 1 tomato so my kids wouldn't freak out)
1/2 cup chopped green chiles
1 tbsp. lime juice


Directions:

Rub the roast with salt and pepper. Warm 2 tbsp. oil, brown meat on all sides. Reduce heat to low. Pour stock over the meat and add half the onion and garlic to the pan. Cover and simmer until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove the meat, reserving liquid. Shred the meat.

Warm remaining oil and saute remaining onion and garlic until soft. Add the meat, stirring for about 10 minutes. Stir in the reserved liquid, tomatoes, green chiles and lime juice. Cook over low heat for 25 minutes.

I made some black beans and added them to my burrito, along with cheese and fresh salsa.

Cheeseburger Rolls

I am all about making easy, fast meals - as if you couldn't tell. If I wasn't in a hurry, there is a really good chance I would have made homemade dough for this recipe (really!), but I was having a busy day, so I left out some Rhodes rolls to thaw and they worked out perfectly. These were great, I will definitely make them again.



Cheeseburger Rolls
Recipe made up by me after seeing similar things here and there.


Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste
2 tsp. Worcester sauce
12 Rhodes rolls, thawed out
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

(I'm sorry about these directions, for some reason I had a hard time putting in writing what I did!!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground beef in a pan. Add salt, pepper and minced garlic to your taste. Add 2 tsp. Worcester sauce. Stir everything together and set aside.

Take a roll and press it out. Put a few tablespoons of the ground beef mixture onto the roll, then put a little bit of cheddar cheese on top. Close the roll by bringing the sides up and pressing them tightly together. Repeat with all the rolls.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

I saw this recipe on Pioneer Woman's blog a while back and put it on my 'To Try' list.  I am SO glad I did, I loved this.  I made one little change, because of my issues with cottage cheese, and I've also seen modifications where people have added corn and other things.  This is a keeper

Sour Cream Noodle Bake
Recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Ingredients:

1 ¼ pound ground beef
1 can 15 oz. tomato sauce
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 oz., weight egg noodles
½ cup sour cream
1 ¼ cup small curd cottage cheese (I used a 15 oz. container of ricotta cheese)
½ cups sliced green onions (less To Taste)(I didn't add these because I forgot to buy them)
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Drain fat, then add tomato sauce. 1/2 teaspoon salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, then simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

Cook egg noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream and cottage cheese (ricotta cheese for me). Add plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Add to noodles and stir. Add green onions and stir.

To assemble, add half of the noodles to a baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, then sprinkle on half the grated cheddar. Repeat with noodles, meat, then a final layer of cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until all cheese is melted.

Three Cheese Beef and Ziti

I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe yet, I make it ALL THE TIME. I found the recipe in a random cookbook my Grandpa gave me right after I got married, so, that was pretty much just a few years ago. No? Almost 20 years ago? What the? Anyway, I started calling it Fake Lasagna after awhile, because that usually got a more favorable response than the actual recipe name. Please feel free to call it ANY NAME YOU WANT!!! I was super nice to my kids with no taste (you know who you are!), and only put ricotta cheese on half of it. You two are spoiled.

There is a reason why this is on my regular recipe rotation, this is fast and yummy!!



Three Cheese Beef and Ziti
Recipe from some old Reader's Digest Cookbook from five, twenty years ago.


Ingredients:

8 oz. ziti, macaroni, or other small pasta
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, chopped (of course I don't add this, are you kidding?)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
10 oz. frozen french style green beans, or whatever kind you like, partially thawed
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Directions:

Boil the pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, saute the beef and onion(bleh) in a large skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently to break up any clumps, until the beef is browned - about 5 minutes. Drain off the excess fat. Stir in the tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the green beans, reduce the heat to low, and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

*** Let me just take a second to confess that I don't ALWAYS add the green beans. I would love for them to be in it, but I get a lot of complaints when I do, and sometimes, I just don't want to deal with that.

Stir in the cooked ziti, then place large spoonfuls of the ricotta on top but not touching. Sprinkle the mozzarella in between. Cover and cook just until the mozzarella melts and the ziti and beans are heated through - about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese.

Steak Kabobs

Beef Marinade for Kabobs




½ cup apple juice
¾ cup sugar
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp. ginger
½ onion, chopped


Marinate meat as long as desired (but at least an hour). While these are marinating, soak skewers in water for at least a half an hour. Cut steak in strips and put on a skewer with veggies, then grill on the BBQ.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

Brown Sugar Meatloaf
Recipe from Allrecipes


Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 5x9 inch loaf pan.
Press the brown sugar in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar.
In a mixing bowl, mix thoroughly all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup.
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices are clear.


*What I did differently - I used probably only a 1/4 cup ketchup (yuck), NO ONIONS (hate onions!), and panko crumbs instead of cracker crumbs. I also mixed the ketchup and sugar together instead of just layering it.

** Now I just use barbecue sauce instead of ketchup.  I also make it in muffin tins, and cook it at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.  Yum.