Yummy Meatloaf

As I've said before, one of my husband's (and probably this holds true for a lot of men and women) favorite foods is meatloaf. I was getting bored of making my usual meatloaves, so I decided to switch it up some and this meatloaf is delicious and probably my new favorite.  I especially like the "gravy sauce" on top.  No need for ketchup or anything else to make it tasty! Give this simple recipe a try and you will not only get a full serving of protein, but also fiber!

Shopping List:
1) 1-2lbs Ground meat (I used 1 pound and that would probably feed 4 people no problem)

2) Grape Nuts Cereal

3) 1 Small Sweet Onion

4) 1 Egg

5) Worcestershire Sauce

6) Minced Garlic

7) 1 Can Tomato Paste

8) BBQ Sauce

9) Apple Cider Vinegar

10) Seasoning: Parsley and Cumin

***********************************************************************************

To Begin:

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl place meat, one egg, 2 teaspoons minced garlic, a few generous shakes of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon parsley and cumin, 1 cup finely diced onion.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Then in a food processor or your blender place about 1 to 1 and a half cups grape nuts.  Blend until they are made into smaller pieces and then add to meat mixture.  Mix well.

Place meat in a cooking sprayed loaf pan.

Then for sauce on top mix in a bowl 1 can tomato paste, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce and 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar.

Place over the top.  Bake for 50-55 minutes.  Serve with your favorite sides.  Enjoy!

Ham and Pea Casserole

I was drawn to this recipe because I thought it was a interesting mix of ingredients.  Normally you see the turkey, peas and stuffing casseroles and not many dealing with ham or cornbread for that matter.  It was pretty simple to make(except you have to make the cornbread ahead of time) and it tasted good; with a nice mixture of salty from the ham and a hint of sweetness from the peas and cornbread.  It's also nice because besides the cornbread making, it is a throw in a bowl, mix, place in a casserole dish and bake type of dish.  Which is nice on a busy night or with small children.

Shopping List:
1) Two Ham Steaks

2) 2 Cups Peas (frozen)

3) 1 Can Cream of Celery

4) Milk

5) 1 Jar Mini Onions

6) Cornbread Mix (this will probably mean you need eggs and oil or milk also, I made two packages, I did have leftover, but I don't know if one package would make enough)

***********************************************************************************
To Begin:
(make your cornbread the night before)

Preheat oven to 350.
Then the day of cut the cornbread into small cubes(you will need 3 cups).  Place in a large mixing bowl.  Cube ham steaks as well and place in bowl.  Place 2 cups thawed peas and about 1/2 cup of mini onions in the bowl as well. 

Then in a small bowl mix your can of cream of celery and 1 cup milk.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Pour over cornbread mixture.  Mix well.

Pour into a casserole dish and bake for 50 minutes. 

Yes, it's that easy! (o:

Enjoy!

Bloody Mary Egg Bake

Ready to taste a Bloody Mary as a meal?  While I may not like the drink, this is a delicious and simple meal.  It is great for Brunch, Breakfast or like my husband and I like, Brinner(breakfast dinner).  Give this a try at your next brunch gathering or dinner and you will get a lot of happy eaters! (o:

Shopping List:
1) 9 Eggs

2) Soft White Sandwich Bread(like wonderbread or another type like that)

3) 1 16oz Jar of Salsa (I would reccommend one that is not very watery)

4) Celery Salt

5) Milk

6) Pepper Jack Cheese (shredded)
*************************************************************************************

To Begin:
Preheat your oven to 375.

Then get out a 9 by 9 baking dish.  Spray with cooking spray.  Then you are going to layer bread and cheese in the pan.  First take the bread (cutting of the crust) and line the bottom of the dish (it took me 4 pieces), the add a cup of cheese, do this two more times, but instead of adding cheese the last time to the top of the bread stop.  So there are three layers of bread and only two cheese. 

In a bowl then scramble the eggs, add 1 teaspoon celery salt and some pepper and salt if to your liking, and two cups of milk.  Mix together throughly then pour over the bread and cheese. 

Bake for around 40-45 minutes.  However, I would take it out halfway through and prick the top of the eggs with a fork or knife because mine began bubbling up on me.

When you take it out, then add the jar of salsa and one more cup of cheese to the top.  Place back in oven for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and salsa is warmed.

Let stand about 5 minutes before serving.  YUM!

 

Sausage Cacciatore

If you are looking for an inexpensive, but impressive dish to share with family, friends or just yourself.  This is sure to be a pleaser.  With simple, good tasting ingredients this dish offers good bang for you buck and you can change up the types of vegetables in it or even the type of sausage(like I did). It's also a very simple dish for making large quantities if you are having guests and it should be a huge hit!

Shopping List:
1) 4 Sausages (normally it calls for Italian sausage, but I used Applewood Chicken Sausage, it is great in this dish because it has a smokey, sweet flavor that really goes nicely in this dish.  It is also all natural, which is a plus to me.  You can also use turkey if you prefer.)

2) 3 Large Yukon Potatoes

3) 1 Sweet Onion

4) 1 Crate of Sliced Mushrooms

5) 1 16oz Jar of Marinara Sauce (I got mine from fresh market, their brand, it was DELICIOUS)

6) Complete Seasoning (that is the name of it)

7) Other seasonings that you most likely have: Paprika, Parsley and Salt and Pepper

Optional: Loaf of bakery bread to make garlic toast

***********************************************************************************

To Begin:
Start by preheating your oven to 375.

Then clean and dice your potatoes, slice your onion, and also your sausage.  Place these items along with your mushrooms in a large ziploc bag.  Add 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1-2 teaspoons paprika, parsley and 1 tablespoon complete seasoning.  Shake and mix.

Pour onto large baking sheet (with sides), sprinkle with a small bit of salt and pepper.  Place in oven for 30 minutes.

At 30 minutes remove and pour marinara sauce over the mixture, spread it around so you coat everything thoroughly.  Cook another 30 minutes.

Once time is up for the cacciatore, remove from oven and start your broiler on medium or low.  Slice bread, spread with butter and sprinkle with garlic powder.  Place under broiler until golden brown along the edges(about 5 minutes).

Enjoy!

Apple and Chicken Curry

A great Sunday night meal.  Throw it in the crock pot in the morning or early afternoon and that evening have a delicious family meal.  It's different from a normal curry, but has a lot of flavor and the apples make it that much better!

Give this easy dish a try and Sunday night dinner won't be hectic or a long drawn out process!

Shopping List:
1) Chicken Breasts with Bone in (but skinless); one per person

2) Celery

3) 3  Macintosh  or other favorite baking Apples

4) 1 Sweet Onion

5) Apple Juice

6) 1 Can Cream of Celery Soup

7) 1 Package Rice Pilaf

8) Raisins

9) Seasoning: Tumeric, Cumin, Paprika, Cinnamon

***********************************************************************************
Put your crockpot on Low for 8 hours.

Season chicken breasts with  salt and pepper.  Place in crockpot.

Slice apple into decent sized slices(don't do too thin or they will fall apart) along with the onion.  Place in crockpot.

In a bowl mix together the can of cream of celery and 1 and 1/2 cups apple juice.  Pour over the chicken, apples and onions. 

Then add spices: 2 teaspoons cumin, turmeric, and paprika.  1-2 teaspoons cinnamon.  Add salt and pepper.

Cover.

When 2 hours is left add stalks of celery (cut into 2-3 in. pieces) and about 1/2 to 3/4 cup raisins.

Cook rice.

Serve chicken over rice.  Delish!

Caramelized Onion, Zucchini and Bacon Quiche

Has to be the BEST quiche I have ever made.  I think I could have polished the whole one off on my own.  I had to restrain myself from having a third slice; which is a good thing and also a bad thing(quiche isn't the lowest calorie dish, but SO worth it!)

It also was pretty easy to make and only took me about 20 minutes of prepping, which was pretty simple stuff and easily done with a little one (you can run go check on them and not worry about anything burning).  You also know that if your hubby enjoyed the meal it was worth every second to make it for him; especially after a long day of work.

Shopping List
1) 7 Eggs

2) 8 slices Microwavable Bacon (you can use normal, but this just was easier for my sanity)

3) Greyere Cheese or if you don't like spending the much money on cheese Colby Jack works well

4) 1 Sweet Onion

5) 1 Smallish to Medium sized Zucchini

6) Grey Poupon Mustard

7) 1 Refrigerated Pie Crust 

***********************************************************************************
To start, preheat your oven to 350.

Then slice your onion into moon shape slices, somewhat thin.  In a pan with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil caramelize your onions (add salt and pepper to taste).  Cook for about 15-20 minutes.

Dice your zucchini, microwave your bacon, shred about a 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups cheese and place your pie crust into a pie pan.

With about 5 minutes left on the onions add your zucchini to the pan and about 1 tablespoon grey poupon mustard.  Stir.

Tear bacon into bite sized pieces and in a bowl beat your 7 eggs, add a small bit of milk and salt and pepper.

In the pie pan layer first your cheese, then the onion and zucchini mixture, next the bacon and finally the eggs.

Let cook on top rack for 35 minutes and then let sit for 5 and serve.  So good...I might go get another piece myself.  HAHA

 

Chicken and Pasta Soup

This is a nice and easy meal for a cool, rainy winter evening.  It is also really simple because it is a crockpot meal, so you throw the stuff in before you leave in the morning and 8 hours later (or 3 to 3 and a half hourson high and in the afternoon) come home to a nice smelling home and a meal ready and waiting.  It's also a nice change from the normal chicken soups and has a kind of "greek" flavor to it because of the dill and, if you use it, feta cheese.

Since having my new little guy these types of easy meals make life doable, especially when a little somebody likes to be held a lot, which leaves little time for slaving infront of the stove. It's also nice that most of the items in this meal are basic pantry/home staples and then all you need to add is some chicken.

Shopping List:
1) 1lb. Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts

2) 1 Small Bag Frozen Peas

3) 1 Can Diced Tomatoes

4) Fresh Dill

5) 3 Carrots Sliced or 15 baby Carrots Sliced (1 in pieces)

6) 1 16oz Container of Chicken Broth

7) Favorite Small Pasta (I am using Shells)

8) Fresh Spinach

Optional: Crescent Rolls or Crusty Bread; also Feta Cheese

***********************************************************************************

Into the crockpot place the chicken broth and 4 cups water.  To this add your can of tomtatoes (don't add the juice), chopped dill(about 4-5 Sprigs), and chicken(cut into healthy sized chunks).  Season with salt and pepper.

About 30 minutes before it is time to eat add 1-2 cups pasta and peas.  Stir once.

Then right before serving add 2 good sized handfuls of spinach, let wilt and then serve.  You can add Feta cheese to the top for an extra zing.  YUM!