I am not ......

I am not a formally trained chef or cook, I just love to cook for my family and friends. I will post new or old recipes that we love on my blog and hope that you will love them too! Please tell me what you think.......

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Pot Roast

4 to 5 lbs. Roast
2 cups baby Carrots
2 cups of Celery  cut into larger chunks
1 Large Potato cut into wedges
6 Mushrooms halved
Salt and Pepper 1/4 tsp
2 sprigs of Thyme
2 cloves Garlic smashed
1 Bay Leaf
1/2 cup Red Wine
1 cup Beef Broth
1/4 cup  Leeks sliced
1tbsp Oilive Oil

Pre heat oven to 450
In a dutch oven pour Olive Oil into pan. Place Roast, Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Red Wine, Leeks, Celery, Carrots, Potato, Bay Leaf, Thyme, Mushrooms, and Beef Broth in the pan. Cook for 30 minutes at 450. Then lower heat to 425 and cook for 2 1/2 hours covered. You could also cook this in a Slow Cooker for 5 hours on high.




Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Bruschetta Chicken

2 Chicken Breasts
7 Roma Tomatoes Chopped
3 Garlic Cloves Minced
1tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1tbsp Parsley Minced
1tbsp Basil Minced
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Salt and Pepper
1tbsp Pine Nuts
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Pinch of Sugar


In a larger skillet cook Olive Oil, Chicken, Salt, and Pepper until Chick is Browned on both sides. Then add Roma Tomatoes, Garlic, Parsley, Basil, Balsamic Vinegar, Pine Nuts, and Sugar. Cook all ingredients together until Chicken is fully cooked. Serve over Rice or Noodles then top with Parmesan Cheese.

The family loved this one!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Deconstructed Enchiladas

Ground Beef or Turkey
1/2 cup Salsa
1/2 cup water
1 can of condenced Tomato Soup
1 can of Black Beans drained
1tsp Cumin
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 clove Garlic minced
6 to 8 Corn Tortillas ( Ripped into small pieces)
2 handfuls of Mexican Blend Cheese
Sour Cream
Avocado



Cook meat in a large skillet on stove top. Add to Meat and mix together Salsa, Cumin, Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Tomato Soup, Black Beans, and Tortillas on medium heat. Then sprinkle Mexican Blend Cheese over the top and cover. Turn heat to low. When cheese is melted serve with Sour Cream and Avocado slices on top.

*** If it seems too dry add just a little bit more water and mix. You can substitute Pinto or Kidney Beans if you do not have Black Beans on hand. Photo shows Pinto Beans below.




Saturday, November 3, 2012

Mexican Chicken Chili

2 Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts
3 Garlic Cloves
1/2 tsp Cumin
1tsp Chili Powder
1tsp Paprika
1 tbp Parsley
1 Bay Leaf
1tbsp Tomato Paste
1tbp Ketchup
1pinch of Sugar
1/2 cup of Salsa
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 can of Kidney Beans undrained
1 can of Black Beans undrained
1can of Diced Tomatoes undrained
2 Celery Stalks chopped
2 Carrots chopped
1 large Potato chopped into chunks ( skin or no skin)
Mexican cheese
Tortilla Chips
Sour Cream
Avocado


Cook all ingredients in Crockpot on high for 5 hours.  Serve topped with Cheese, Sour Cream, Avocado, and Crumbled Tortilla Chips!!!! Yum.

**** You can substitute Beef or Pork instead of Chicken.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Guilty Pleasure Carbonara

1/4 cup Olive Oil
1tbp Mascarpone cheese
2 tbp butter
4 to 5  Garlic Cloves crushed
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/3 cup Pancetta
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup Sliced Mushrooms
1/4 cup Leaks chopped
2 Egg yolks beaten
1/4 cup Parsley
1/4 cup Pasta boiling water
1tbp White Wine
Spagetti Pasta
Frozen Artichoke Hearts to taste
1/4 cup Fozen Peas

Boil Pasta.

In a large pan on medium to low sauté mushrooms, leaks, pancetta, olive oil, butter, white wine, salt, pepper, parsley,  artichoke hearts, garlic, and peas until cooked. Do not burn.

Then add drained pasta, pasta water, mascarpone, eggs, and parmesan to the other cooked ingredients. Mix and stir gently on low. Do not burn. Serve with extra parmesan on top. Enjoy!!!




Sunday, October 28, 2012

Rosemary & Garlic Lamb




1/2 cup Red Wine
4 Cloves of Garlic Mashed
1 tbp of Rosemary
1tsp of Parsley
1/2 cup of Vegetable Broth
Salt and Pepper to taste
3 Lamb Shanks ( smaller)  or a small Roast of Lamb


Cook in Slow Cooker ( Crockpot) for 5 hours on high. Enjoy! Serve with Your favorite Potato side.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Bacon Brownies

1 cup Bacon Diced
Ghirardelli Brownie Mix( or from scratch)

Make Brownie Mix per instructions. Then add 3/4 cup of Bacon and stir into Brownie Mix evenly. Then sprinkle 1/4 cup over the top before baking. Bake at 325 for 55minutes. Enjoy!!!!!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Curry Chicken Salad

The Recipe of the Day: Curry Chicken Salad: 2 Cooked Skin Removed Chicken Breasts Diced 1 Celery Stalk Diced 1/4 cup White or Yellow Onion Diced 2 tbs Mayo 1/2 tsp Curry Powder 1/...


Monday, June 18, 2012

Watermelon Refresher

Two to Three cups Watermelon mashed in a pitcher.
Two to Three cups Water.
1/4 cup Sugar or Sugar to taste.
1/4 of a lime juiced.

Mix and mash together in a pitcher.  Drink over ice.

I added a Mint leaf or two! Yummy.



Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Corn Bread with Bacon

1Box of Jiffy Corn Bread Mix
1/4 cup Chopped Leeks
1/4 cup Chopped Bacon
1 Egg
1/3 cup Milk
1/3 cup of Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Mix all ingredients together well.  Preheat oven to 400. Oil a 8x8 pan.  Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!