Jambalaya

This is a wonderful dinner for those cold nights. It is easy to make and I usually start with a box of Jambalaya mix and add a few other ingredients. Only takes about 30 minutes to be table ready.

Jambalaya

I start the Jambalaya with the box mix because it is easier than trying to season to get it spicy so I let them do the hard work. I pour in the mix with a couple cups of water and let that start boiling. I will cut up the sausage into bit size pieces and put it into the mix. You can use any combination of sausage or sea food you would like. I will usually pick precooked sausage or cook it before I add it to the pot. I then add a can of diced tomatoes, green chilies, black beans and some diced peppers. If this sounds too spicy leave out the green chilies or if it needs more add some jalapenos.

When the Jambalaya comes to a boil you need to simmer it for about 15 minutes or until the rice is done.

Serve the Jambalaya with corn bread or crackers.

Enjoy


Slow cooker Jambalaya

Penne Alfredo

This is a wonderful meal that will satisfy every member of the family.  It is easy to make and can be whipped up in about 20 minutes.  Have fun with it and enjoy the left overs that seem to taste even better than the night you cooked it.

Penne Alfredo

 

 

I started with boiling some Penne noodles. 

 

 

 

In another pan I sautéed in 2TBS of butter some red and yellow peppers, onions, and mushrooms.   I added some salt, pepper.  When the veggies were soft and translucent I added this to the penne noodles and let it sit while I made the Alfredo Sauce. 

 

I added a stick of butter to the pan and melted it. When the butter was melted I added 2 cup of heavy cream and 3 cups of Parmesan cheese.   I added some more salt and pepper and some other seasonings I like.  You can add them or others you like if you don’t like or have the ones below.

(paprika, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning and oregano

 

 

 

 I combined the penne noodles to the Alfredo sause and tossed.

When the Alfredo sauce I added to the Penne noodles was warm I add some fresh peas and chopped ham.  I kept it on medium heat until it was hot through.  You can add it all to a bake safe dish and top the Penne Alfredo with the cheese or a sprinkle of some bread crumbs of your choice and put it in the oven for a little bit if you like.  If it seems too dry add a little more cream.  There should be plenty left for lunches or dinners for the week.

 

 Enjoy

 

 

Other Penne Recipes

Goulash

This is the Flashback dinner recipe.

This goulash  recipe that my mom made on a regular basis and I still love it today. It is one of the best comfort foods of the past. You can make it a variety of ways so don’t worry about following the recipe just sub out what you don’t have in the cupboard for what you do. Cooking is not a science so don’t worry about measurements either. Here is the recipe.

Goulash

I started with a pound of ground beef and fried it up with some peppers, onions and celery. You can add or omit any of the veggies above.

I added some frozen meatballs I had in the freezer too and cut them in half. When that was warm I added some spaghetti sauce, can or two of tomatoes. Now you can use whatever red sause or tomatoes. Tomatoe paste, puree or any other will work. Can spaghetti sauce works well because it has lots of seasoning in it already. If you would like to make sauce from scratch I have added a link to a recipe for that below.  You can add salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, oregano, basil or just some Italian seasoning. You can add any other seasoning you like. Let it simmer for a bit so the flavors can get happy together.

Boil some noodles. This choice is up to you so whatever you have you can use. I used egg noodles but the original goulash my mom made called for plain macaroni.

When they are done add them to the sauce and toss.Warm it and it is ready to serve.Add some cheese on top when you dish it up. This is wonderful old fashioned goulash.

Enjoy


Old fashioned from scratch spaghetti sause recipe

Chicken Fried Rice

This great chicken fried rice recipe is easy to make and everyone will love it. Great to have left overs because it taste better the next day.

Chicken Fried Rice

In a large frying pan cook on medium heat onion and celery with the boneless, skinless chicken of your choice. I use chicken thighs or you could use chicken breast or tenders. Use any amount of onion and celery that you like or omit if you don’t like them.

Make rice (minute or long grain) according to package directions. When it is finished you put it into a large frying pan and start to recook the rice.

Add the chicken and veggies to the pan of the fried rice and flip or stir until hot. Add chicken stock so it doesn’t get too dry before it cooks through.

Sever the chicken fried rice with the Chow mein recipe here on the blog.
 

Chicken chow mein recipe

 

 

You should add a bag of frozen or a can of mix vegetables, mushrooms and seasoning.

Some seasons you could add are ginger, parsley, tai, and soy or chili sauce.

Taste every 5 minutes to make sure it is seasoned to your liking and enjoy this wonderful comfort food of chicken fried rice.

Enjoy




The history of fried rice

Liver and Onions

 

I know Liver and Onions is not the most wanted recipe but it can be made to be very tasteful.  Just season with lots of different flavors and it will be wonderful.

 

Liver and Onions

 

I fried up ½ pound of bacon with some onions and peppers.  Take out the veggies and bacon set them aside.

 

 

Start by putting egg wash or yogurt in a dish and bread crumbs or crushed up pretzels in another dish. 

 

 

 

Put liver in liquid and roll in crumbs.  Heat back up the pan of bacon fat.  When hot put in the coated liver.

 Cook for about 10 minutes and flip.  Cook for about 10 more and you can flip it one more time if you need.  When there is 5 minutes left put the liver, onions, bacon and veggies in the pan together.  Heat them so everything is hot.  This is truly the best liver and onions recipe you can find.

 

 

 

Enjoy

 
Liver and onion recipes

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

My deal of the week was finding gluten free cookie mix for .99 a box.  Decided to try it because I am trying to eat more gluten free foods but I need dessert.  The box had flour and brown sugar in it so I added the rest and made a wonderful gluten free chocolate chip cookies.  The box mix was gluten free but it may not be if you add products with gluten in them to beware about what you might want to add to the cookies.  If you don't have the gluten free cookie mix you can use gluten free flour and brown sugar as the subsitute. 





Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Start by pre heating the oven to 350 .

I took out the gluten free cookie powder mix and put it in a large bowl.  I added a stick of butter and one egg.  1 tsp of vanilla extract will make it sweet.

I mixed in 1 cup of chocolate chip and 1 cup of diced pecans but you can add any amount or kind of chips you would like.  Only rule is there can't be more chips than batter.

Bake the gluten free chocolate chip cookies for 10 minutes and let sit until they are not soft anymore and transfer them to a cooling rack.





Enjoy




More Gluten Free Cookies

Pot Roast

This is a wonderful pot roast recipe because the crockpot 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.

 Pot Roast

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 the next part, add enough water directions.

**(Sear definition: Grease a pan and heat it up so it is really hot.  Drop the meet 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.  (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.  I like to cook it until it until the pot roast falls apart easily.   This is such a wonderful slow cooker recipe.

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

 Enjoy



Roast Beef Recipe