Fit For a King!

After laying on the couch for most of the day (I was sick...sniff, sniff), I started craving some of the most bizarre things. The thought of my mom's creamed tuna, coconut cake, and scallops crossed my mind.  As mentioned, I was feeling a little under the weather...so these items didn't seem like a feasible meal. After skimming various recipes on Pinterest, I stumbled upon a meatloaf recipe by Ree at The Pioneer Woman.  For maybe the 3rd time in my entire life, I developed a craving for meatloaf.  Meatloaf has never been my favorite. I remember as a child being forced to eat meatloaf.  Luckily, I grew up on a farm where we slaughtered our own meat.  It was fresh and delicious, but meatloaf always seemed like a waste of good quality meat.  That was until I came across Ree's recipe.

Her recipe was flavorful, delicious, and easy to make with my Kitchenaid Mixer.  Paired with Balsamic & Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower from EatingWell and broiled asparagus with olive oil, sea salt, and butter - this meal was to dye for!  Here is Ree's recipe for meatloaf:

Remember: original author's recipes are in black and my additions are in blue.

My Favorite Meatloaf

Ingredients

• Meatloaf:
• 1 cup Whole Milk (I used 2% milk)
• 6 slices White Bread (I used potato rolls because they are delicious)
• 2 pounds Ground Beef
• 1 cup (heaping) Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
• 3/4 teaspoons Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1/3 cup Minced Flat-leaf Parsley
• 4 whole Eggs Beaten
• 10 slices Thin/regular Bacon
• Sauce:
• 1-1/2 cup Ketchup
• 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
• Tabasco To Taste (I eliminated this ingredient so there wasn't any spice)

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour milk over the bread slices. Allow it to soak in for several minutes.

Place the ground beef, milk-soaked bread, Parmesan, seasoned salt, salt, black pepper, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Pour in beaten eggs.

With clean hands, mix the ingredients until well combined. Form the mixture into a loaf shape on a broiler pan, which will allow the fat to drain. (Line the bottom of the pan with foil to avoid a big mess!)

Lay bacon slices over the top, tucking them underneath the meatloaf.

Make the sauce: add ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, and hot sauce in a mixing bowl. Stir together. Pour 1/3 of the mixture over the top of the bacon. Spread with a spoon.

Bake for 45 minutes, then pour another 1/3 of the sauce over the top. Bake for another 15 minutes. Slice and serve with remaining sauce.  I had to bake an extra 30-40 minutes because my loaf was too thick.  

Sickly Saturday...

Hi All!  I know in my last post I promised some recipes the next day.  Well...that didn't goes as planned.  It seemed life got away from me this week.  School was busy, I got a new tutoring gig, I started running more frequently, and I have come down with a cold (or allergies with this crazy weather!) Therefore, I am writing to you from my couch because my head is so congested and all I want to do is sleep.

To keep myself from nodding off, I wanted to share with you the Chili's Copycat Recipe posted by Six Sisters' Stuff blog.  This recipe was a 2 minute blender sensation that my husband has been requesting every third day!  It had the wonderful flavor that I come to expect from my favorite restaurant chain.  The ingredients were simple, but I could make it more flavorful by using fresh produce (when I am having company and want to really impress them!)  Take a look...it is DEFINITELY worth a try!

Chili's Copycat Salsa Recipe:

(Recipe from Deals to Meals)

2 cans (14.5 oz each) whole tomatoes, drained
1 small (4 oz) can diced or whole jalapenos (not pickled)--about 4-5 jalapenos (or less if you don't like a lot of spice)
1/4 c. yellow onion, cut into quarters (you can also use dried minced onion)
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt (depending on how much you prefer)
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. lime juice

Place all of the ingredients together into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Serve with tortilla chips.

Three Day Weekend...Three Days of Recipes!

Amazing BATGIRL cake and lollipops made by my sister-in-law!

This weekend was jam-packed with my niece's birthday party, my husband's family visiting from Miami, and a quick date with two of my best friends.  Not to mention my usual weekend routines of cleaning, shopping, and COOKING!

Last week was extremely busy and I found myself frustrated because I didn't spend enough time in the kitchen.  Well, those feelings quickly changed after many last minute requests.  To be honest...I love satisfying those that eat my food.  I'm embarrassed if a recipe turns out less-than stellar.  However, I like to please everyone consistently while focusing on perfecting one recipe at a time.  This weekend had me juggling several recipes at once and I felt overwhelmed.  Here is a list of everything I made this weekend and you can see why I was overwhelmed (any Pinterst finds are hyperlinked):

1.  Buffalo Chicken Cheese Ball
2.  Sausage Balls (MY FAVORITE Pinterest find of the week!)
3.  Crab Dip
4.  Chocolate Cupcakes
5.  Chili
6.  Chili's Copycat Salsa
7.  My Dad's Biscuits (family recipe)
8.  Banana Muffins

Woah!  I'm exhausted and I wasn't even hosting a party!  Luckily, most turned out delicious and I am adding them to my MUST HAVE recipe book.  Here is a quick breakdown of my experience and feedback on some of the above mentioned recipes.

1.  Buffalo Chicken Cheese Ball - quick and easy to make, delicious flavor, love it as a spread, husband was not a fan of cheese ball idea - wished it were a hot dip.  I forgot to take photos...but click this link and see the original post by Kristen at Forkful of Comfort.

2.  Sausage Balls - quick and easy to mix (time consuming to make balls), amAAAHHHHzing flavor, could eat them daily, rave reviews from all that indulged.  Christy at the Girl Who Ate Everything hit the nail on the head with this recipe.  It reminds me of a great recipe that my Aunt Katherine always makes for the holidays.  Here are some photos of the process...

3.  Crab Dip - expected greatness because of the creator...turned out it was not my favorite, too many other flavors (like mustard and pepper jack cheeses), still in search of a hot crab dip. :(  Paula Dean has officially disappointed me for the first time in MY LIFE! I couldn't even bare to show you photos...sob!

All of this is probably a lot to take in.  Therefore, I'm going to sign off for tonight.  Please check back tomorrow for more information about the Chili's Copycat recipe and I might be willing to share my family's biscuit recipe (a true southern phenomenon!)  Ciao!

Beer Me Up, Scotty!

In my 30 years (almost!) on Earth, my one true vice is BREAD.  I could eat bread in so many ways - toasted with butter or jam, dipped in oils, fresh and hot out of the oven, and flavored.  Therefore, Pinterest allows me to search bread recipes all day long.  So far, my favorite bread recipe that  I found...and couldn't wait to try...was Lululu's Honey Beer Bread.  Not only was the recipe quick and easy to whip up, the sweet and malty taste was to die for.  In fact, as I write this entry I'm contemplating going downstairs to put a little butter and honey on a slice!

If you have an hour and all of the ingredients (don't forget a can of beer!) then you are in business.  Check out the recipe below and give it a whirl.  Don't mind the missing chunks...my husband nibbled a few bites before I took my photo!

Ingredients (one loaf):

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder

2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons honey

1 can beer

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat over to 350F. Grease a 9″x5″x3″ loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Using a wooden spoon, stir the beer and honey into the dry ingredients until just mixed.  (Microwave the honey for 5 to 10 seconds beforehand to make it easier to stir in)

Pour half the melted butter into the loaf pan. Then spoon the batter into the pan, and pour the rest of the butter on top of the batter. Use a pastry brush to spread it around.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until top is golden brown and a toothpick/knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

HOLY ENCHILADA!

If anyone is from Kentucky, you know that we are known for a few things.

1. The Kentucky Derby
2. Basketball
3. Whiskey
4. Corvettes
5. Authentic Mexican restaurants

Number 2 is my absolute favorite!  It is quickly followed by number 5.  I absolutely LOVE Mexican food. Los Nopales and El Tapatio are my favorite restaurants in my hometown, Elizabethtown, KY.  Every time I visit my family and friends these restaurants are a mandatory pitstop.  It is even better when I can convince someone to pay for my meal!  Some of my must-have dishes are grilled chicken, cheese dip, bean burrito with cheese sauce, and enchiladas.  

Now, living in New Jersey I often think that because we are a diverse state, we would have some great Mexican restaurants.  That is not the case!  I cannot find ANY Mexican restaurant that compares to my hometown favorites.  So, I have begun a mission to collect simple, easy recipes that satisfy my cravings.  Cue Lacey at Sweet Pea (which I found on Pinterest).  She created a great shredded chicken enchilada recipe that was delicious and filling.  I suggest that everyone make this dish tonight...enjoy!  

I didn't alter any part of this recipe.  Lacey at Sweet Pea did a fantastic job!  

Shredded Chicken Enchiladas

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (1 1/2 cups) enchilada sauce (I use Mild)
kosher salt
ground black pepper
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup shredded Monterrey jack cheese, divided
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, divided
12 6-inch corn tortillas
cooking spray

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Add the minced garlic to the enchilada sauce in a deep skillet and heat to boiling. Generously sprinkle kosher salt and ground black pepper over the chicken breasts and then nestle the chicken breasts into the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the sauce, set aside and let both the chicken and the sauce cool.

Using two forks, shred the chicken breasts by holding one fork steady and slowly scraping the other fork, prongs faced backwards, away from the other fork. Transfer the shredded chicken to a large bowl. Add half the enchilada sauce, 1/2 cup each of the Monterrey jack and cheddar cheeses and the 1/2 cup of cilantro to the shredded chicken. Stir to combine.

Wrap the corn tortillas in a damp cloth or paper towel and microwave on high for 20-30 seconds until pliable and warm. Using cooking spray (if desired), oil a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the chicken mixture along the center of the tortilla. Gently, but firmly, roll the tortilla around the filling and place into the baking dish, seam-side down. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Lightly spray the tortillas with cooking spray (or brush lightly with olive oil). This will help the tortillas turn golden in the oven and will also help keep them from cracking. Place baking dish in the oven, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until the tortillas begin to turn golden.

Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas and sprinkle remaining cheese over the sauce. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp. fresh cilantro. Lightly cover baking dish with aluminum foil and place into the oven for 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil after 20 minutes and bake, uncovered, for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is golden.

Remove form the oven and let stand 5-10 minutes prior to serving.

Feel free to add a dollop (or two!) of sour cream and some more chopped cilantro for a garnish if you’d like.

Valentine's for the Kiddos

My co-teacher and I were contemplating what to get our kids for Valentine's Day.  We considered our normal Valentine's Day cards and pencils.  But, of course I turned to Pinterest to check all of my options.  There were many great ideas (scroll down to see everything that I viewed.)  But, I settled on these great, inexpensive bookmarks that are quick and easy to make.

I found the idea from my friend's board and when I tried to find the direct link it was credited to Jennie Olcott (but no actual link to view).  

All you need are enough paint samples for each kid - Valentine's Day colors preferably!  Then, cut them into bookmarks.  Next, find a hear-themed stamp of your choice and ribbon.  Here are some photos of my bookmarks:

Here are a few other ideas that I considered:

1.  Our Class Would Knot Be The Same

2.  Crayola Hearts

3.  Valentine's Votives

  

Oh So Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

With Valentine's Day approaching and hearing about Whitney Houston's death, it was a weekend of comfort foods.  I went through several cookbooks, many recipe apps on my iPad, and Pinterest.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to make, but I knew it had to be delicious.  It didn't take long for me to stumble upon Sweetapolita's Cinnabon-Style Gourmet Cinnamon Buns.  


Now, if you are like me, I have to run past the Cinnabon store at the mall.  I feel like I gain 10 pounds just looking at them. I often can't resist and end up sharing one with my husband.  The gooey center and soft dough with a tall glass of milk is PERFECTION!  However, I do find that the Cinnabon is extremely sweet and sometimes I get a toothache from eating one.  What is a girl to do?  Either deal with it or find a homemade alternative.  The homemade solution seemed like the best option for two reasons.  First, it would cost a lot less to make a batch.  Second, I could make them anytime!   


I must admit that I read Sweetapolita's recipe and thought it was a long process.  In the end, it would have taken several hours to complete.  That doesn't seem practical for a quick treat.  So, I decided to experiment and see where I could take a shortcut and make these delicious rolls in less time.  Here is what I came up with and according to my husband, "WOAH!"


Like some of my previous posts, Sweetapolita's recipe is in blue and my modifications are in black.

Yield: 12 large buns

 

Ingredients:

Dough

1 (1/4 ounce) package dry yeast

1 cup warm whole milk

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup margarine (or 80% margarine 20% butter spread)

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup bread flour (I did not have bread flour.  I used self-rising flour instead.)

Filling

1 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/3 cup margarine (or 80% margarine 20% butter spread)

Method:

For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.

Add sugar, margarine salt, eggs, and flour, mix well.

Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour.

Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size. (I was an impatient baker...after 1 hour my dough had not doubled...I moved forward with the recipe out of starvation.)

Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 21 inches long by 16 inches wide.

It should be approx 1/4 thick.

To make filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

Spread the softened margarine over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the surface, leaving about 1" untouched around edges.

Gently roll into a fairly tight roll, trying to keep the filling inside.

With a sharp knife, slice into 12 pieces.

Place on parchment lined cookie sheet about 2" apart, cover with lint-free cloth, and let rise for another hour. (Again, I was extremely hungry.  I DID NOT let the dough rise for an hour...went straight to the oven.)

Bake in 400 degree on rack just above centre, for about 10 minutes, or until light golden brown.

Note: I came across an 80% margarine 20% butter spreat at my local grocer, which is what I used for the dough, filling, and frosting. If you can't find such a thing, go with the recommended margarine, as opposed to butter.

Sweetapolita uses the Gordon Family icing recipe.  It is as follows:

Icing:

4 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup margarine

1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla flavor

1/8 tsp lemon flavor (I DO NOT LIKE LEMON FLAVOR...so I skipped this ingredient.)

Method: (As a time saver, I did not follow the directions as stated.  Instead of 30 minutes...my frosting took 5 minutes.)

• Combine cream cheese and margarine.  Beat until smooth.
• Add powdered sugar.  Beat until smooth.
• Add vanilla.  Beat for another 30 seconds.
• Taste to goodness!

Photo Frenzy!

If anyone follows me on Pinterest, you know that I pin a ton of ideas daily.  I have found many great recipes and home ideas this past week...so check them out!  I will definitely be trying some new recipes this weekend and create posts once I'm finished.  However, today I must give credit to Meghan Buell.  She is not a Pinterest user.  She is actually the mother of one of my students.  Today, she came in to present to  the class about her son (he was our student of the week). I typically have a parent come and share photos/tell stories about their child to celebrate. Well, she took the cake!  Here is what she created...I thought it was so creative and one-of-a-kind.

Now, you may be thinking, what is this?  Well, Meghan created 23 puzzles that had various photos of her son on them.  Each student received a photo puzzle and had to try to put it together.  Afterwards, they shared stories about the moments each photo displayed.  It was a great way to highlight her child's life instead of creating a Powerpoint or poster.  The students loved seeing all of the photos and had a great time putting the puzzles together.

Before Meghan left, I asked her exactly how she created these photo puzzles.  I mentioned Pinterest and told her that I would be posting this idea tonight.  Here are her directions:

Materials-

• 8x10 photos
• foam poster board
• Modge Podge spray adhesive
• Slicer or scissors

How to make-

1. Use spray adhesive to adhere photo to foam board.  Use adhesive sparingly because the foam board will disintegrate. 
2. Use a slicer (her husband has many tools!) or scissors to cut foam board/photos into puzzle pieces. She created 12 piece puzzles.  

If you are looking for a creative way to share your child's life through photos...try this out!  I am so glad that I learned how to make this project.  It will definitely be used in the near future!