{Recipe} Spicy Potato Roast

I was in charge of a vegetable for Easter Sunday.
I wanted to try something new and delicious.
When I saw a recipe for Crispy Potato Roast over at Smitten Kitchen...
That was the recipe I just had to make.

This was such an easy recipe to execute.
It would also be really easy to eat the entire pan.
I can't wait to play with different flavor combinations!

Spicy Potato Roast
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients
5lbs Gold Yukon Potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil, divided
4 Tablespoons melted Unsalted Butter, divided
2 Shallots, sliced
Sea Salt
Red Pepper Flakes
Cayenne Pepper (optional)
8 Sprigs of Fresh Thyme

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
After peeling and washing the potatoes, slice them with a mandolin 1/8" thick.
Peel the shallots and slice them with a mandolin 1/16" thick.
Melt the butter and mix with the olive oil.
Pour half of the mixture into a 9x13 glass dish.
Sprinkle some sea salt, a light layer of red pepper flakes, and the faintest dash of cayenne in the dish.
Place all of the potatoes vertically in the dish... there should be three rows.
Separate all of the shallot rings and randomly push them in between each of the potatoes.
Sprinkle any leftover shallots on top of the potato dish.
Pour the rest of the oil/butter mixture on top of the potatoes.
Sprinkle with more sea salt, red pepper flakes, and a dash more of cayenne.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, them place the sprigs of Thyme on top.
Bake for another 15-30 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
If the potatoes brown too quickly, cover with foil to prevent burning this delicious dish.
Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

{Recipe} Hawaiian Meatballs Over Rice

I love the flavors of this meal and how filling it is.  

The touch of sweet with the salty... Mmmmm!

It makes for great leftovers too:)

Hawaiian Meatballs over Rice

Yields approx. 70 meatballs

Meatballs

1 can Evaporated Milk

3 lbs Ground Turkey or Hamburger

1/2 t. Garlic Salt

2 cups Oatmeal

2 Eggs

1/2 cup Onion, finely chopped

1 t. Pepper

2 t. Salt

Sauce

2 cups Ketchup
or
1 cup Ketchup
1 can Green El Pato

1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar

1 T. Liquid Smoke

1/2 t. Garlic Salt

1/2 cup Onion, finely chopped

Green Onion, chopped for garnish (optional) 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the meatball ingredients well and shape into 1- 1 1/2 inch balls.

I use a 1 Tablespoon cookie scoop.

For the sauce, mix all the ingredients together in a pot and heat it until it boils.

Pour a 1/4 cup of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish, and spread around.

Place the meatballs in rows, then pour the rest of the sauce on top.

Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes.

If using a rice cooker, we do half white basmati, and half brown rice...

Started at about the time we put the meatballs in the oven.

This way they are done at roughly the same time.

Scoop, Serve, and Enjoy:)

{Crazy Cooking Challenge} Easy Red Sauce and Whole Wheat Pasta

This month I joined up with the Crazy Cooking Challenge. 

The theme was Red Sauce and Spaghetti

I found the the recipe I wanted to use for the challenge over at Budget Bytes...

It truly is thick and rich,

It was simple to make, and has the potential to be very adaptable to experimentation:)

I served this with whole wheat spaghetti noodles, homemade wheat bread garlic toast, and Lemon Pepper Asparagus.
It was a very filling and yummy meal.

Thick and Rich Pasta Sauce

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Garlic, minced

1 (28 oz) can Crushed Tomatoes

1 (6 oz) can Tomato Paste

1/2 Tablespoon Sugar

3/4 Tablespoon Salt

1 teaspoon Basil
1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano

20 cranks Fresh Cracked Pepper

Pinch Crushed Red Pepper

Add the oil and garlic to a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.

Add the two cans of tomatoes and stir until combined.

Add the rest of the ingredients and adjust to preferred taste.

Simmer the sauce, then cook on low for 10-15 minutes.

This was easy to make, and I look forward to making it again in the future.

Reality Check-

Next time I make this, I am adding more garlic, more cracked and red pepper, less sugar, and fresh basil if I can find it.

I accidentally had the stovetop set at too high of a temperature, it cause my garlic to brown sooner than I would have liked.

I should have had everything measured and ready to go so that I didn't have to keep pulling the garlic and oil off of the heat.

{Recipe} Cabbage Burgers and Happy New Year

Last Week I Guest Posted over at One Artsy Mama, I love her blog and all of the great projects she does for kids.  She asked me to post about a holiday tradition and I chose one of the best.

Growing up, New Years Day was always one of my favorite holidays.  

New Years Day meant Cabbage Burgers.  

It is the only day of the year we get them, which makes them taste extra good.  

For the first time in my 27 years of life I have broke the tradition and made Cabbage Burgers early, so that I could take a picture for this post.

The legend for New Years Day is...  however much cabbage you eat on the first day of the year, that is how much fortune/prosperity you will have in the coming year.  

We eat Cabbage Burgers, 

Homemade KFC Coleslaw, 

and yummy Oriental Cabbage Salad.  

A southern tradition is to also eat as many black eyed peas as you can for luck.  

My great grandma who originates from Louisiana, brings those every year.  

I don't need luck that bad, because those are not my favorite:)  

When most people hear about cabbage burgers they're like, "What is that?" 

 I think it comes from Germany, though my heritage is French, so who knows how it came about... as it was pointed out to me this week, it makes sense that it most likely originated in Ireland.
 

When people hear about it, they are skeptical until they try it.  

My mom got the recipe from my dad's side of the family and it has spread to multiple family members now.  Now I spread it further by sharing it with you.

Cabbage Burger Recipe

A double batch of Homemade Bread Dough rolled out 1/4 inch thick and cut into 5x5 inch squares

1 large + 1 small head of Green Cabbage- shredded

approx. 2lbs Ground Beef

1 medium Onion- minced

Salt and Pepper to taste

Makes approx 30 burgers

Drop the ground beef and minced onion into a large stock pot and start browning the beef and onions. 
 Do not drain.  Start adding cabbage until it reaches the top of the pot.  You probably won't be able to fit all of the cabbage in at once, so wait until it cooks down, add the rest until it all fits.

After everything has been in the pot for about an hour on medium heat you are ready to add it to the bread dough.  Roll it out 1/4 inch thick and cut it into 5x5 inch squares.  Place a spoonful of the cabbage mix in the middle of the dough square.  Pull all of the sides up and pinch it in the middle so that no filling falls out.  Flip the burger over and bake at 350 degrees until the bottoms of the burgers are browned. 
 I start checking at about seven minutes on my oven.  As soon as they are browned pull them out and butter the tops.  Let it cool for a couple of minutes then dig into the deliciousness:)

My mom and I use homemade dough, but to simplify, you could totally use Rhodes Rolls and Cole Slaw Shredded Cabbage bags.

These may just taste ordinary to you, but they are special because I only get them once a year. 

May you have a 

Happy New Year 

filled withProsperity and Luck in 2012.

{Recipe} Sweet Roasted Turkey

The week before Thanksgiving, I was shopping at Winco.

I spent over $100 and got a free 20 lb turkey.

I was excited and nervous, as I have NEVER baked a turkey before.

I have issues with meat, though I do love turkey and chicken...

I have issues with raw meat, especially if I have to touch it...

I have a small kitchen, and this was a big bird.

When talking with my boss about it, he told me of the way he cooks the turkey, and I had to try it.

I waited for the turkey to defrost, then I threw away the neck, and I couldn't find the giblets.

I was getting a panicky, gagging sensation... 

When I finally found the Bag O Giblets...

They were put in upside down, and spilled everywhere.

Matt thought it was funny...

I did NOT...

I am prissy when it comes to raw meat.

I sucked up my courage,

because I knew this would taste good once it was actually cooked.

This bird required a lot of prep and effort, but it was so worth it in the end.

Sweet Roasted Turkey


Ingredients
1 Turkey, thawed
3 Celery Stalks, cut into thirds
1 White Onion, cut into wedges
4 Apples, peeled and cut in half
Orange Juice, must be 100% juice like Simply Orange
Sprite Zero
Lemon Pepper
Oregano, ground
Sea Salt
Garlic Salt

There will be a lot of hand washing involved, so keep a container of anti-bacterial soap handy.
The Night Before
Place the turkey in an oven roasting pan.  Remove the Bag O Giblets and the neck.  Take some paper towels to soak up the raw juices from the cavity.  Using your fingers, place them in between the skin and the meat.  Separate the skin from the meat all of the top of the bird.  Take a few heaping tablespoons of lemon pepper, and rub it on the meat in between the skin.  Do the same thing with the sea salt.
Pour half the container of  Orange Juice and a third of the Sprite around the bird.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to marinate.  The sea salt and carbonation will help trap in the juices.
Rotate the bird two times during the night.

The Morning Of
Take the bird out of the fridge.  Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.  Drain out the orange juice/Sprite mixer and pat the outside of the bird and the cavity with paper towels.  Peel, chop, cut the apples, celery, and onions.  Rub the inside of the cavity with oregano and garlic salt.  Stuff the apples, celery, and onions into the cavity.  Place the roasting pan on a cookie sheet after you have covered it with tin foil.
Bake for 5 1/2 hours.  For the last 1/2 hour I turned the heat up to 325 and removed the foil.  Let it sit for 15 minutes before carving.  Be sure to remove the apples, celery, and onions before carving.
I put mine in at 10am and it was ready to eat at 5pm, when my mom and grandparents came over.
Gobble it up and enjoy!

This was one of the juiciest turkeys I have ever had.  The flavors were all subtle, but blended well together. Next time I am going to add more lemon pepper, and maybe try lemon juice instead of orange.  The recipe is very forgiving and easy to customize different flavors.  It made for EXCELLENT cold turkey sandwiches the next few days:)

{Recipe} Barbecue Chicken Pizza w/ EASY Homemade Dough

Barbecue Chicken Pizza is so simple to make... and SUPER yummy!
These two elements are the key to not living on noodles and cereal the rest of the semester:)
 (Plus, the kids eat it so that makes it even better)

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

1 lb. Chicken- cooked, shredded
1/2- 3/4 c. Fiesta Blend Grated Cheese
approx. 1/2 c. Barbecue Sauce (We use Sweet Baby Ray's Original)
1 batch Homemade Pizza Dough

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Roll out dough on a pizza pan, then add and spread the barbecue sauce.
Top with shredded chicken and sprinkle with cheese.
Place pan in the oven and bake 15-18 minutes.
Check pizza to make sure it is cooked through in the middle.
ENJOY!

This is an easy pizza to add to... thinly sliced red onion, green onion, pineapple, cooked brown sugar bacon, banana peppers... it's up to you:)

Pizza Dough

2 1/4 t. Active Dry Yeast (one packet)
1 T. Sugar
3/4 c. Warm Water
2 1/4 c. Flour
2 t. Salt
3 T. Oil

Mix yeast, sugar, and warm water; then set aside for 10 minutes until bubbly.
Mix in other ingredients.
Roll out on floured surface until it is the size of the pizza pan.
Place on greased pizza pan and add desired toppings.
Bake at 400 for approx. 15-18 minutes.

{Recipe} Stuffed Lasagna Rolls

Stuffed Lasagna Rolls

9 Lasagna Noodles, boiled

15oz Fat Free Ricotta Cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

1 lb Chicken Breast, cooked & shredded

20 oz. Spaghetti Sauce of your choice
2/3 cup Mozzarella Cheese, grated

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Pour enough spaghetti sauce t cover the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and chicken breast in a bowl. 
Lay one lasagna noodle out in the bottom the baking dish. 
Spread approx. 1/3 cup of cheese mixture down the length of the noodle.
 Start at one end and roll the noodle; placing it in the pan with the seam side down. 
Repeat with remaining noodles. 
Top with the rest of the spaghetti sauce. 
Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of each roll.
Bake until the filling is warmed and the mozzarella is melted.

Optional Add-ins:
Fresh Spinach boiled and drained, mixed in with the ricotta/parmesan cheese.
Sauteed Portobello Mushrooms and garlic (my favorite)
Sliced Turkey Pepperoni
Ground Turkey
Recipe Adapted from Six Sister's Stuff

{Recipe} Sweet Turkey Supreme and Pork Chop Supreme

{Source}

Sweet Turkey Supreme

by Amanda Joy Petersen

4 Turkey Cutlets

4 Orange Slices cut 1/4 inch thick

4 T Raspberry Jam

4 T Orange Juice

4 T Brown Sugar (we used Brown Sugar Splenda)

Turn oven on to 350 degrees.  Lightly Spray a 9 x13 glass dish.  Place the cutlets into the dish and put an orange slice on top of each one.  Now place 1 Tablespoon of the other ingredients on top of each cutlet.  Cover the dish with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove tinfoil and use a turkey baster to place juices back on top of the cutlets.  Leave the tinfoil off and bake for another 20 minutes; basting approx. every 7 minutes.  Just make sure the meat reaches an internal heat of 165 degrees.  When it's done, remove the orange slices and serve with the sides of your choice and enjoy.

*Added~ Try different varieties.  Blackberry Jam, Lemon Slices, and Lemon Juice or Strawberry Jam, Macerated Fresh Strawberries, and Key Lime Juice... Yum!

I have issues with meat.  I am practically a vegetarian.  Not because of any higher motive, but because I am a picky eater who just has a hard time eating meat.  I don't have as hard of a time with turkey, thus the recipe above, and most of the time I am okay with chicken.  There is very few Pork recipes I will eat.  Practically burnt bacon is one, and the following recipe with it's sweet, delectable bites is the other.

{Source}

Pork Chop Supreme

by My Mommy:)

4 Pork Chops

4 Lg White Onion Slices

4 T Lemon Juice

4 T Ketchup

4 T Brown Sugar

{Same directions as above}

Turn oven on to 350 degrees.  Lightly Spray a 9 x13 glass dish.  Place the pork chops into the dish and put an onion slice on top of each one.  Now place 1 Tablespoon of the other ingredients on top of each cutlet.  Cover the dish with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove tinfoil and use a turkey baster to place juices back on top of the pork chops.  Leave the tinfoil off and bake for another 20 minutes; basting approx. every 7 minutes.  Just make sure the meat reaches an internal heat of 165 degrees.  When it's done, remove the onion slices and serve with the sides of your choice and enjoy.

*Added~ You can eat the baked onion slices, I just always give mine to my mom.  You can also use the leftover yummy sauce to dip each pork chop bite in...waste not, want not:)