Super Easy Pot Roast

Super Easy Pot Roast

This is a wonderful recipe because the crock pot does most of the work.  It can be loaded in the morning and it will be ready for dinner.  Makes for a wonderful comfort meal on cold nights plus extra for leftovers all week.  It can be made with any kind of vegetable you like and remember to not add anything you don’t like but more of the ones you do.

Take your cut of meat and season it with whatever you like.  I use a grill rub and paprika.  Next sear it on both sides which will only take a few minutes or if you don’t have time that is fine just skip to put roast in crock pot and add enough water directions.

**(Sear definition: Grease a pan and heat it up so it is hot.  Drop the meat in it and leave it for about 5 minutes until the meat turns brown but watch so it doesn’t burn. Flip it and do the other side and do the same.  This is done to hold in the moisture of the meat but is not a necessity.)

 Put roast in the bottom of the crock pot. 

If you seared the meat take the frying pan that you used and add a little water.  Stir it so all the bits on the bottom have come off the pan and pour it over the Roast in the crock pot.

 Add enough water, bouillon or some other fluid to cover the meat plus a little more.  (Apple juice would work)

You can then add any or all of the following: potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, peppers, squash or sweet potatoes.  If I have forgotten a vegetable you love go ahead and add it. 

Season well with whatever you like, cook on low or high depending on your slow cooker for 5-7 hours or until the meat is 160 degrees.  This super easy Pot Roast is done. 

**(I use salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, basil, cumin, paprika, chili powder, and whatever looks good at the time.)

Super Spicy Bloody Mary

Super Spicy Bloody Mary

This is a great recipe and takes only a few items.  You can make as spicy as you want and either add vodka or not. 

I start mine with a short glass but you can use a tall one if you like.

The items you will need for sure are tomato juice of any kind and celery salt.  Two must haves of a good Bloody Mary, everything else is optional.

If you want salt on the rim of your glass.  Get the rim wet and dunk into course salt.  I skipped that step because I am trying to watch my salt intake.

Put in a few ice cubes and put in tomato juice to about 1/3 of the glass.  I use a super spicy mix of tomato juice.  You don’t have to use expensive Bloody Mary Mixes.  You can use any kind you have on hand. 

I then put a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce and hot sauce.   More if you like super spicy Bloody Mary or omit if you don’t.

Now for those of us over 21 you can add a shot or pour of any flavor vodka that might go with tomato.  (Bacon flavored vodka works well)

I put a few sprinkles of celery salt then add more tomato juice and another layer of spicy stuff if you want.

Stir and add olives, cheese sticks, beef sticks, pickles or celery.  Then a dash of celery salt on top of the ice.

 I will add olive juice too if I have olives on hand. 

You don’t have to wait till you have all ingredients to make this Super Spicy Bloody Mary drink just use what you have in the refrigerator. 

Enjoy

Taco Cups

Taco cups make dinner easy.  It is only a few of your favorite ingredients and bake.  Great for lunch or dinner.  I use won ton wrappers because they have fewer carbohydrates than a taco hard or soft shell.

Ok here we go.

Taco cups

Spray a muffin tin with non stick spray any kind will work.  Form in the muffin tin won ton wraps.  Fill with all taco ingredients you like.

 In my taco cups I use ground beef, black beans, black olives, tomatoes, and cheese on top but any of these can be substituted with your favorite taco ingredients.

If meat is not for you use black beans and re-fried beans. It usually depends on what I have in the house.  These can be made with leftover so just be creative.  I love cheese so I will use more cheese that anything else but if dairy is not for you just use the ingredients you like.

You will bake on 350 for about 20 minutes until won ton is crispy.   The taco cups will bake at different times depending on your oven so just keep an eye on it until you have made a batch.

Let cool and top with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and salsa.  My salsa recipe is on the blog too, just search salsa.  Refrigerate any left overs for lunch the next day.

Enjoy

Easy Enchilada Bake

Easy Enchilada Bake is just like regular Enchiladas but takes half the time and is less messy.   If any ingredients in my recipe are not your favorite just substitute ones you like.  

Pre heat the oven at 350 and we shall begin.

Easy Enchilada Bake

First you will need to figure out what kind of meat will be in your Enchiladas.  Whatever you have on hand will work and if you have no meat items just make the vegetarian kind.  Either way they will be fantastic.   So, first order of business is cooking the meat product if it is not already cooked.  You can use ground beef, chicken, shredded beef, or seafood.  This is a great time to use leftover meat from another dish or canned chicken will work too.

Cook meat according to package directions and you can add anything you want to the meat while it is cooking (peppers, onions, seasoning, or any vegetable you like).    Set aside when it is fully cooked. 

You will need a baking dish and how big is up to you.  (9x9 will work for 1-3 people and a 9x12 for up to 8 people)  These are all just a suggestion if you like leftovers just go with big baking dish.

Get out all your ingredients out that you will be using. 

Examples of layering ingredients are below:

Cheese, black olives, onions, black beans, refried beans, peppers, corn, tortilla, tomatoes, green chilies,  jalapenos, cheese sauce if you like, red or green sauce of your choice( I use enchilada and verde sauce), and whatever other items you would put on your tacos.

1.        Put some sauce in the bottom of a pan to just cover the bottom then a layer of tortillas (1-3 will work depending on the size baking dish you use).

2.       Layer meat over the tortillas and any of the ingredients you pick but only use half this layer.   Add sauce and cheese.

3.       Then start over with another layer of tortillas along with the second half of the ingredients you selected. 

4.       The last Enchilada layer is just tortillas with sauce and chees over the top. 

Bake in oven for about 40 minutes on 350 or 375 depending on your oven, until it has been bubbling for about 20 minutes.  Everything is cooked in it so it just needs to be heated through.

Take out and let sit for about 10 minutes before you serve so the liquid can evaporate off. 

Dig in and enjoy this easy Enchilada bake recipe.

Easy Salsa

Easy Salsa

This salsa can be made without measuring cups and spoons.

Salsa can be made as spicy as you would like.  You can use only the veggies you like.  It only takes 5 minutes to make.  Salsa can be low in fat and high in vitamins and can be put on everything forms eggs to celery.  So here goes.


Easy salsa


You will need a food processor or a chopper as I call have.


Put in the food chopper 2 cans of tomatoes with green chillies or without if you don't want it too spicy. Then cut up half a pepper what ever color you like. You can and more than half if you would like.  On top add cilantro as much as you would like.  This recipe will be trial and error till you find the combination you like of veggies and salt.

Put top on and chop until you are at consistency you like.




I usually taste at this point to see if it needs more salt or cilantro.  The salsa is done at this point and ready to eat.  You will never go back to store bought again because it is so easy to make.

Enjoy this easy salsa recipe and add diner life to your favorites.





Benefits of eating Tomatoes

Roasted Tomatillos

Roasted Tomatillos

 

Tomatillos are made into Verde sauce.  This is super easy and can be stored up to two weeks in the refrigerator for use in anything calling for a sauce.  My lifes dream is to teach everyone easy ways to make fantastic food.  Diner life is how it happens. 

Tomatillos are found with the produce and you will have to take the husk off them before you cook them.

Wash Tomatillos and cut in half.  Put them in a oven safe pan.

 Drizzle oil over the top and toss with your hands.  Season how you like.   I like just salt and pepper. 

Roast at 375 for about 40 minutes maybe longer or until soft and mushy.

 Let cool and put in processor with all fluid in pan.  Puree until Tomatillos until smooth.

Put in containers and refrigerate the Tomatillos until you need it.  Will last up to two weeks.  You can use in any dish sauce is needed. 

 

Enjoy and hope my lifes dream is becoming yours.

Tomato Pie

This is a wonderful old fashion recipe lost because of the box era. If it can't be made out of a box we don't like to tackle it. This recipe is easy to follow and I will just write it out.
Easy as Pie.

 

 

Tomato pie

Fit a refrigerator pizza crust in a greased pie plate. I use a pizza crust because it is so absorbent and can take the extra fluid from the tomatoes. Cook following directions on package until toasty brown and crispy.  While the crust is cooking you can fry 6 slices of bacon (ok fry the whole package you will need some for snacking).

Slice about 6 large tomatoes and let them sit for at least 20 minutes patting the extra fluid away. Salt and pepper to taste.

When the pie crust comes out of the oven season and cover bottom with mozzarella cheese. Let the cheese melt.

The next level after the mozzarella cheese is a layer of tomatoes then season with whatever you like (basil, Italian seasoning, oregano etc.). Then slice an onion and put half on top of the tomatoes. Crumble up the bacon and put half on top of the onions. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of flour over the tomatoes and onion.

Then a layer of mozzarella cheese starts the process again.

Tomatoes, onions, flour and bacon on top of that with more mozzarella cheese on top.

Last topping is the crusty stuff.

Mix together 2 Cup of cheddar cheese with 1/2 cup of miracle whip or mayonnaise, and 1/2 cup of sour cream.

Top the pie with the mixture of cheese and mayo.

Put in the oven and back on 375 for about 40 minutes. Top crust should be a little brown and crispy.

Enjoy