Winter Beef Stew

You will need:

1lb stew beef

1 1/2 cup water

2 cups beef stock

2 celery stalks

2 carrots

2 medium red potatoes

1/2 onion

2 tbsp flour

salt and pepper

Macaroni (optional)

It's snowing outside and we're trapped inside, so it seemed like a perfect day to make beef stew.

Coat the beef chunks in flour mixed with salt and pepper.

Drain any fat after you've cooked the beef.

Add the beef stock and water.

I added an herb mixture I bought at a local market. This would be the time to add your favorite spices.

Let simmer for about 1 hr.

Add the diced vegetables and let simmer for 30 minutes.

If you choose to add macaroni, add in the last 10 minutes.

Personally, I thought it was a great addition.

Dig in and Enjoy!!!

Easy brunch meal: Scrambled eggs recipe

You will need:

2 medium red potatoes

1/4 green pepper

1/4 onion

2 cloves garlic

3 eggs (I ended up using 4)

salt and pepper

EVOO

Quarter potatoes.

Begin by drizzling the olive oil in a large skillet.

Cook potatoes for about 3-5 minutes or until tender.

Add the other vegetables until onions are cooked through.

Remove the potato mixture.
Add eggs in pan and cook until almost done.
Then add back in the potato mixture.

Simple and easy and makes for a good brunch.
I found it good to add some shredded cheddar cheese on the top of mine.

Dig in and Enjoy!!!

Personal Supreme Pizza

You will need:

flat bread

1 can tomato sauce

1/4 green pepper

1/4 onion

1 clove garlic (2 cloves if you're like me!)

1 bag shredded Italian blend cheeses

1 bag pepperonis

mushrooms

I can't believe I haven't made these sooner! I'm really kicking myself for this one. There are so many different kinds of pizzas you could make. I also made a white pizza with sliced Roma tomatoes, broccoli florets, and ricotta cheese which was even better than this one!

Begin by laying the flat bread on the pizza stone.

Spread the tomato sauce on evenly out to the edges.

Take about a handful of cheese and spread it out over the sauce.

Dice all the veggies and meat and spread them out over the pizza.

You could also use sausage. ground beef, or ham too :)

Add some extra cheese on top.

Put in the oven at 375 for 12-15 minutes.

If you like it crispy I'd lean more towards the 15 minutes.

Look at how yummy!!!


So good!

I called it my fancy pizza because the flat bread is so thin I had to eat it with a fork.

My husband used his hands, of course. ;)

It was equally delicious using a fork or your hands.

Dig in and Enjoy!

Salmon with Pesto Mayo

You will need:

4-5 salmon fillets

1/4 cup of mayo

3 tbsp purchased basil pesto

salt and pepper

grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

This recipe was so easy and quick, plus very tasty.

Wash the salmon and pat it dry.

Salt and pepper the salmon.

Mix the pesto and mayo together in a small bowl.

Brush it onto the salmon fillets.

Make sure not to put to much on because I found the pesto very overpowering.

You have two options for cooking.

You can broil away from the heat for about 4-6 minutes.

Make sure to turn over fillets halfway through broiling

Be careful with fish not to overcook.

You can tell it's done when the fish begins to flake easily with a fork.

OR

Set oven to 350.

Cook about 10 minutes.

Pair it with some rice and a salad and you've got yourself a meal! :)

Dig in and Enjoy!

Jambalaya

You will need:

Kielbasa, diced

1 green pepper,diced

1 onion,diced

1/2 cup diced celery

2 cloves of garlic, diced

4 cups chicken stock

2 cups uncooked brown rice

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 Cajun seasoning

Salt and pepper

Hot sauce

(optional for you, not optional for my husband,everything has hot sauce)

Creole jambalaya is the most common which usually consist of more than one meat and usually seafood, like shrimp. The Cajun version has no tomatoes and includes green peppers, onions, and celery. Mine is probably closer to the Cajun version since I used a lot of Cajun seasoning however I did use tomatoes in mine.

Begin by chopping the kielbasa, my husband helped on this one.

Did I mention we have a newborn?

...who was screaming his head off...

Anyway, where was I?

Oh, right, so...

Chop the kielbasa and cook on medium heat until lightly browned.

Dice the green peppers, onions, and garlic and add them to the kielbasa.

Cook until onions are translucent.

It just takes a few minutes.

Add the rice and stir in the chicken stock.

Add your spices.

Bring it to a boil and then reduce heat and let it simmer for about 40 minutes.

Keep a close eye on it so the rice doesn't get to sticky.

And there you have it!
It was simple & delicious, plus my husband loved it!
He was practically licking his plate by the end of the meal.



Dig in and Enjoy!

Chili con carne with pinto beans

You will need:

pinto beans

ground beef

1/2 green pepper

1/2 onion

garlic

2 cans of diced tomatoes

chili powder

cumin

My husband really hates black eyed peas so how convenient for me on New Years day to spice things up and make something else besides black eyed peas. My husband told me days before he really thought it sounded good to have a big bowl of pinto beans and cornbread. Yeah, that sounded alright, but I decided to kick it up a notch and do something a little different. This meal was really simple and a good start for me.

Of course step one was rinsing and draining the beans.

Soak them overnight.

The next day take them out and rinse them.

Bring water to a boil and add the beans until beans are tender.

Meanwhile, chop 1/2 green pepper and onion.

Brown about a lb of ground beef.

Go ahead a throw some fresh garlic in there too!

I know you want to.

Of course some salt and pepper. (must be said like pepa' just for kicks!)

Add the green peppers and onions in.

Also 1 or 2 can of tomatoes.

Use what you like, I like the diced tomatoes but you can also use the petite or chunks, whatever you're into!

Make sure to use the spices you have in your kitchen...

chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes...

Add the pinto beans, put the lid on and let simmer for about two hours.

And voila, you've got yourself a delicious dinner.

The cornbread muffins were a great addition.

What's nice also, is that this makes for great leftovers for work the next day!

Dig in and Enjoy!

my 2010 project begins!

This year I am making a commitment to myself to create something i've never made before in the kitchen.

At least one new dish per week.

Now it must be said that I am no whiz in the kitchen and don't have to much experience, but the items I will be making this year will be practical.

They will be easy for anyone who works all day and still wants to come home and eat a good meal.

I'm a wife and mother to a newborn, and this year really hope to become a better cook!

So, bon appetit!!!