Mediterranean Skillet

Mediterranean Recipe Shannon found online.  He would not click on the link for directions, so I just made it as instructed.  It was so delicious.  So the next time we made it, I made it oddly again! SO YUMMMY!!! I am sure you are supposed to saute the veggies first!

1 lb ground beef
Salts
2 TB Olive Oil (I used Jalpeno Olive Oil from Gilbert's in Topeka - downtown)
1 Onion
1 Purple Onion
1 tsp Oregano
2 Cloves of Garlic (I used 3)
1 Zucchini
(I recommend 2)
1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes (I used entire container)
Feta Cheese

DIRECTIONS - cook how you think is best:

Add ground beef to pan - on one side

On other side:

Add 2 TB Olive Oil

Add half yellow onion and purple onion - diced 

Add Garlic and Oregano, salt

When beef is done, add sliced zucchini.  I cut mine into 4 pieces

Add the other half of the onions

Cook until zucchini is tender, I did not have a lid, so I would probably cover to help speed up the cooking process.  

Add sliced cherry tomatoes

Once tomatoes and zucchini seem cooked, mix in some feta cheese!

We ate the entire pan - it is soooooo GOOD!!!!

Add more Feta Cheese

Fire Crackers

A coworker handed out seasoned pretzels (a recipe she got from me years ago) and seasoned crackers, I chose the crackers!  I ate the entire bag, so addicting.

Mix together:

• 1 cup Canola Oil
• Packet of Ranch Dressing (I used Kinders - next time I will use Hidden Valley Ranch brand)
• 2 TB chili pepper flakes
• 1 tsp garlic (recipe did not call for this, I added it)
• 1 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

Add crackers to large bowl or containers, pour oil mixture over and mix well, I used a rubber spatula, and stirred occasionally.  

I didn't really measure, there was so much oil, that I kept adding crackers, but the original recipe called for 1 lb crackers - a mix of cheez its, mini saltines, and mini club crackers.  

The recipe called for 2/3 cup of each cracker (NOT ENOUGH crackers). 

I used for sure the following amounts, but added more:

• 12 oz Mini Club Crackers 
• 1.5 Cup - Reg Cheez its
• 1.5 Cup - White Cheddar Cheez its

TIK TOK CINNAMON ROLLS

 I am a TikTok Addict, LOL!!!

Well a co worker made these delicious cinnamon rolls, I could have eaten the entire pan.  

I thought the first thing I am going to bake in our new home is cinnamon rolls! So I asked her for the recipe. Well to my surprise, they were not homemade, but the same recipe I had been seeing on Tik Tok!  I would have not ever guessed they were from a can.  Of course mine did not taste as good as hers!

Cover bottom of 9x13 pan with heavy cream 

Put cinnamon rolls on top of cream

In a bowl combine one stick melted butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and 1T Cinnamon

Pour mixture over rolls

Cover and bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes

Once done put on frosting that comes in can with rolls (I let them cool a bit, probably should have allowed them cool longer)

Tik Tok Sugar Cookies

I found this recipe while on Tik Tok. 

I own almost every kitchen gadget, with the exception of a cookie cutter!!! I have never actually rolled out cookies.  I normally make my moms nutmeg sugar cookies and just roll them into a log and slice! YUMM.  I also like them plain.  These cookies were easy to make and SUPER easy to work with.  I am kind of addicted super delicious - These stayed yummy for days!!! But it was fun to make!

• 1 cup of butter
• 1 cup sugar

Blend for 2 minutes

Add

• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla

Blend

Add

• 3 cups of flour
• 2 tsp baking powder

350 degrees, 11 minutes

• 
  

Vegas Yummies

40 Minute Buns

 https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/40-minute-hamburger-buns/

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water (110° to 115°)
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 to 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil and sugar; let stand for 5 minutes. Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 3-5 minutes. Do not let rise. Divide into 12 pieces; shape each into a ball. 
• Place 3 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Preheat oven to 425 deg;.
• Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Bake until golden brown, 8-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Fat Shack

FAT WONDERGEM™

Chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, french fries & golden honey bbq

 

Quinao

Quinoa

    To cook add to sauce pan:

         2 cups of water

        1 cup of Quinoa

bring to boil, cover with tight lid and cook on low for 15 minutes.  

Let rest 5 minutes to absorb water, fluff.

Corn - to taste

Pesto (from Aldi's) - to taste

Cilantro - to taste

Salt and Pepper

Homemade Tortilla

My mom was visiting this week, we made tortilla's for the first time.  We should have made these a little thinner (but I love thicker tortillas), a press would be perfect.  

3 cups of flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

5 TB butter

1 cup hot water

Mix dry ingredients into mixer.  Add butter and water, mix with hand.  

Mini Pizza

Rhodes Rolls

12 minutes - 375 degrees
Shannon broiled his at the end. I also put butter and cinnamon and sugar on one for dessert.  We split it.

Cheesy Potatoes

I love cooking.  I really haven't cooked a meal lately, so busy with school/teaching.  My favorites are baked beans and cheesy potatoes, among many others. My family made fun of me, asking if those were cheesy eggs, asked why I didn't cut them up, ummm I was just being lazy, hahaha.

Canned Potatoes
Velveeta Cheese
Onion
Rotel
Picante Sauce

3 cans of potatoes - drained and rinsed, place in 8 x 8 dish
3" slice cut off of new block of cheese, could have used less, tear and place around
Rotel
I just poured a bit of Picante Sauce in

Mix all together and bake, I stirred half way through

40 minutes
350

I didn't have any brown sugar for my baked beans, so I just used BBQ and onions - YUMMMO!!

Chicken, which I didn't take pictures:  Chicken Tenderloins, Cream Cheese, Topped with precooked bacon.

Bake 30 minutes 35 minutes

Breakfast Bierocks

I love Bierocks! I made a breakfast mixture. Then added to Rhodes Roll - I put two regular sized together, you could also just use one roll.

I did not keep track of how much of each that I used.

Sweet Potato - sliced - cook sweet potato in skillet, then added onion.  I would suggest microwaving potato first, then adding to skillet, will save a lot of time.

Bacon - I used precooked bacon - I LOVE CRUNCHY bacon - microwaved my bacon

Egg white - cook in skillet, then

Combined with Sweet Potato and bacon crumbs.

Bake 20 minutes 375


I think cheese would be good inside as well.

Macaroni Salad

1 can sweet and condensed milk
2 cups of Miracle Whip
1/4 cup vinegar - apple cider
1/2 cup sugar
1 onion diced
1 green pepper diced
2 large carrots shredded
16 oz curly macaroni - Rotini

Cook noodles - rinse with cold water.
Add ingredients - mix.

Cornbread Taco Bake

Tried a little mix to our cornbread taco bake, where we bake our cornbread, then on top place taco seasoned meat, topped with cheese.


Famous Daves Cornbread - yummo.  First time purchasing this.

1lb hamburger
1 onion
cook

add

Taco seasoning
8oz tomato sauce
Rotel
1 can corn

Place mixture in 8 x 8 baking dish, add mixed cornbread on top of mixture.

Could add shredded cheese on meat mixture or onto of cornbread

cook 25-30 minutes or until down.

400 degrees, I wasn't sure what temp, it too a bit longer for cornbread to get down, so maybe 350 for 30 minutes.

King Ranch

Shannon found this recipe - YUMMO.

It has been 3 weeks since I went to the grocery store.  I am down to 1.5 onions, when we run out of onions, it's time to do an online order!!!! :)

Cream of Chicken
Cream of Mushroom
Cream of Cheddar
1 onion
Rotel
Chili Powder
Garlic (frozen- PictSweet)
Pepper
Salt

1 lb cooked hamburger

1 lb pasta



King Ranch Beef Pasta 1lb ground beef 1can Rotel 2 cans of cheddar cheese soup 1 cream of mushroom soup 1 cream of chicken soup 1tsp minced garlic 1/2cup diced onions 1lb cooked pasta Cook ground beef with onions. Add chili powder, salt&pepper or your favorite seasoning to taste. Drain Well Mix Rotel, cheese soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup to ground beef. Add cooked pasta to mixture. Heat until warm.

Bbq Cornbread Casserole

1 box cornbread mix (along with ingredients required for preparing batter)

1 lb ground beef

Bar-B-Q Sauce

1 15 oz. black beans, rinsed and drained

1 15 oz. can corn, drained

shredded Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese - optional

Hot Pepper flakes - optional

Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.  Grease a 9 x 9 baking dish.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef.  Add beans, corn and barbecue sauce.

Prepare cornbread batter according to package instructions.  Pour cornbread batter into the bottom of the greased baking dish.  Spread beef mixture evenly over the batter  Sprinkle cheese over the top and cook at 375°F for 20 minutes or until cheese is fully melted and the casserole bubbles.  Remove and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Strawberry Cream Pie

This is one delicious pie. Super easy. Yum yum

My Dad and I love ours warm. 

1 - 1.5 cups fruit - sliced - fresh or frozen strawberries

   granny smith apples are also delicious  (picture has 1 cup). I like 1 cup. 

Mix together:
3/4 sugar
2 TB Flour
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream

1 egg

Then add fruit, mix. 

Mix and place in uncooked pie crust.

450 degrees for 15 minutes
325 degrees for 25 minutes

1 Pie Crust:

1 3/4 cup sifted flour

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp salt

4 TB milk

Andes Mints Puppy Chow

Shannon made this puppy chow this summer!!! YUMMO!!!! I love Andes Mints.  I made this to give away to my administrators in a treat basket tomorrow!!!!

 

Ingredients

6 C. Rice Chex cereal

1 2/3 C. Andes Mints (You can use less and add chocolate chips if needed!)

1 C. brownie mix*, OR 1 C. powdered sugar plus 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

Extra Andes Mints to mix in, optional

*NOTE: Brownie mix straight from the box! So just the powder stuff :)

Directions

1. Pour cereal into a large bowl.

2. Unwrap and melt Andes Mint on medium-low heat on the stove. Stir until smooth. (Andes Mints can be expensive, so you can replace some of the Andes Mints with chocolate chips if needed.)

3. Pout melted mints over cereal and gently fold until covered.

4. Dump chocolatey cereal into a large plastic bag (or tupperware with a lid) and add brownie mix. Shake, shake, shake until coated!

5. Pour onto a cookie sheet to cool.

6. Serve with extra mints for decoration!

Turtle Brownie Cookies

Dillons sells Turtle Brownie Cookies (6 for 4.98) - and I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM.  They are fudgy, with a gritty texture - yummm.  The caramel the melted and made a toffee like edging - DELICIOUS.  So my mom and I made our own!

1 box brownie mix
1 egg
1/3 cup oil
2 TB water

Mix above ingredients.

Add:
1/2 Chopped Caramels
1 Cup broken pieces of Pecans

Using a 1" cookie scoop.

Makes 25 cookies

Bake 370 degrees 15 - 20 minutes (middle should rise)

Our cookies turned out delicious.  The caramel - was chewy YUM YUM YUM!!!!!

Baby Cake Maker

If you do not have one of these machines, YOU MUST go out and get one!  It is my favorite.  I was very hesitant at first.  I didn't purchase one until a year after they came out.  Now I am the proud owner of four!  My students love these. 

Favorite Flavors:

Strawberry Cake with White Chocolate Chips
Brownies
Yellow Cake with Cinnamon Chips
Spice Cake with Butterscotch Chips

Aloha Cake

A co-worker had foot surgery and will be off of work for several weeks.  We are taking her dinner tomorrow night.  I was in charge of the dessert.  It took me a while to find something perfect and delicious to make...I mean, what do you make a Family and Consumer Science Teacher (FACS).  So I searched my blog for ideas.  Kind of stressful cooking for a HomeEc teacher! I hope she and her husband enjoy this cake.  It is so refreshing!!!

1 white cake mix

4 eggs

½ cup vegetable oil

1 can (15 oz) mandarin orange sections, undrained

1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple

1 3 oz. pkg instant vanilla pudding

1 large 10 oz carton cool whip

1 small can mandarin oranges drained (optional)

Combine cake mix, eggs, oil and mandarin oranges with juice. 

Beat on low for 2 min.

Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 35 min.  Set aside to cool.  When cooled pierce top of cake at regular intervals with fork.  Drain pineapple and pour juice over cake.  Mix instant pudding mix (dry) with drained pineapple and whipped topping.  Spread mixture over cake and decorate with mandarin oranges (optional)

Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

Skillet Quinoa

I found this recipe on Damn Delicious - however, I made changes.

I just threw all of the ingredients into a pan, covered and brought to a boil.  Reduced heat to simmer for 20 minutes!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil (did not use)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (used one cube frozen garlic)
• 1 jalapenos, minced (used jarred sweet and spicy - just added some)
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (used a can of tri color beans)
• 1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste (did not use)
• 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced (did not use)
• Juice of 1 lime (did not use)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves (used one cube of frozen cilantro)

Sweet Potato Beef Soup

I really had no idea what this was going to turn out like, but YUMMO!!!!

Ingredients:

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 onion (diced)
Celery (diced) (I did not measure - guessing two stocks)
Carrots (diced) (probably 10 baby carrots)
32 oz. of low sodium beef broth (Imagine Brand)
1 beef bouillon cube
1 cube frozen garlic
2 sweet potatoes

Brown ground beef and half of the diced onion.  Add the rest of the onion and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.  I used my Nicer Dicer to chop up my veggies.

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

In a large pan combine:

1 large diced onion
2 large sweet potatoes- cubed
2 TB Chili Powder
1/2 TB of Cumin
1 Can diced tomatoes
2 Cans Rinsed Black Beans
1 garlic clove (I used a frozen cube)
2 Cups Low Sodium Organic Chicken Broth

Bring to boil, simmer until done.


I think next time I will add quinoa and frozen corn.

ENJOY!

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Mixture

This and that!  I enjoyed this on an Ezekiel tortilla that I crisped in oven.  The leftovers were enjoyed without tortilla - YUMMO!

Cook.

Onion

Diced Bell Pepper

Sweet Potato

Add:

Frozen Corn

Black Beans - drained and rinsed

Add:

Cumin - 1 tsp

Chili Powder - 1 tb

Garlic Powder - added some

Frozen Cilantro

Couple splashes of Franks Hot Sauce

Add precooked bacon - crisp in microwave before adding.

ENJOY!

New Running Shirt

From Runnerdecals.com

Custom made by Susan Weber!  Visit her website for CUTE sports decals from running, yoga, karate, to motivational quotes!  Start by reading her story at peacegirlsports.com!  SHE ROCKS!!!

Eggless Sugar Cookies

I found this recipe on Cooks.com, however not really a sugar cookie...more like a shortbread type of cookie???? But it didn't stop me from eating, and eating!!!!!! The dough was especially good!

2 cups butter
2 c. sugar
3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Cream together butter and sugar. Mix dry ingredients into creamed mixture. Use a cookie scoop, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes until lightly browned.  I dropped my pan a few inches to flatten the cookies.

I used salted butter.  Next time I will not add salt.  A bit salty to my liking.

This would be delicious as cookie dough - adding chocolate chips! For my next batch. 

Asparagus

1/2 tsp coconut oil

Onion

Half bundle of 

asparagus 

Salt

Pepper

Cook 25 minutes

400 degrees

Spaghetti Squash

What the neatest thing.  This was the first time I had Spaghetti Squash.  I cut the ends off and cut it in half.  Placed one side in the microwave face up, for five minutes.  Let is set for a few minutes.  It was hot to hang on to.  I then placed it in a skillet and added Ragu.  I enjoyed this with a side of Quinoa.  

Snickerdoodle Cake Batter Blondies

Taking treats to school tomorrow for my Accounting class. Found this recipe on Girl Meets Life. Update!! Students gobbled these up. One student said these are delicious!!! Yea!!!

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (this will be the topping), set aside. In a separate large bowl combine the cake mix and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon. Mix in the melted butter, then the beaten egg. Place batter in a greased 8×8 pan or 8-inch cake pan and top with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for 20-23 minutes or just until the edges turn golden. Let cool for 30 minutes before cutting because the gooey center needs to set. The result will be a decadent, cake-batter texture.

White Chocolate Cookies - Snickerdoodle Bars

I started out wanting to make Snickerdoodle Bars!  From Back for Seconds.  Made up the batter, than went to look for cinnamon, oops - both my containers are at school.  So now.........hmmmmm.  The batter tasted delicious, so I just added white chocolate chips - I hope the students like them!

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 cups brown sugar (packed)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 2/3 cups all purpose flour

Topping

• 1/8 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 In a mixing bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, and salt, and  mix well. Add the baking powder and flour, a little at a time, and mix until incorporated.  Spread into a greased 9x13" pan.

Step 2

Mix together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over cookie dough.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the pan comes out with fudgy crumbs.  Do not over bake. Let cool before cutting. Store tightly covered.

Blue Diamond - Nut-Thins

I am obsessed with these crackers!  I LOVE THEM.  I can eat an entire box in one setting - so just warning you!  I accidently grabbed the flax seed crackers, instead of the chia seeds, which I like a little better.  But the Almond Nut Thins - YUMMM!!!!

I am enjoying them with a 100 calorie single serving of gauc and jalapeno hummus!!!

Sauted Veggies, Parsnips and Quinoa

Pork Loin Chops

Ingredients

2 pork loin chops

Old Bay Seasoning

Braggs Seasoning

Black pepper

1 onion

1 sweet potato

coconut oil

1 cup organic vegetable broth

Sprinkle seasonings on both sides of chops.

In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Brown pork chops on each side. Add the onions and broth to the pan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Turn chops over, and add remaining salt and pepper. Cover, and cook until water evaporates and onions turn light to medium brown. Remove chops from pan, and serve with onions on top.

Mint Vanilla Dipped Marshmallows

Boo - o - Grams. Halloween Fundraiser

We have been doing this Halloween fundraiser for 14 years!  The first year mom and I made the rice krispie treats as bats and pumpkins in a rice krispie treat mold - which was so much work.  We had only sold them for $1.00.  Needless to say that was the last year of molding them.  Years following we just cut them into squares and put them in cute Halloween bags.  The previous two years we made pumpkin and witch cake pops along with the rice krispie treats!  Those were cute, but took a lot of time!  This year we had pushpops, which I made!, cupcakes purchased from Wendy's Party Treats, square rice krispie treats, gummy bears, and seasoned pretzels!  To see all of my cake pop creations click here!