Roast Pork with Sage and Cracked Peppercorns

October 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I don’t know why Fall makes me think of pork, or roasts, but I cook them more often and this is one that uses apple cider. Apple cider is Fall all the way! Easy recipe to throw together the night before , or the morning even. The pork needs to marinate for at least 12 hours and you could serve it with applesauce.

Ingredients

2 quarts apple cider

1/4 cup kosher salt

1/2 cup fresh sage, chopped up and divided

2 tablespoons freshly ground cracked peppercorns.

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 lbs boneless pork loin

Directions

Combine cider, salt and sage. Stir together in a bowl until the salt dissolved. I just stir and leave it for five minutes. Take the pork loin and place in a plastic bag. Pour your mixture over the [Read more…]

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Homemade Coffee Creamer

October 3, 2012 by 14 Comments

Coffee, let’s face it. It’s a must! What goes better with coffee than a cookie? No this isn’t going to be a cookie recipe, it’s Homemade Coffee Creamer! You’ll have to add the cookie in afterwards if you really want it 🙂

I used to run out of creamer all the time but skimmed through a frugal cookbook to come across the easiest ever recipe. Why didn’t I think of making it myself before? No clue, now though I have fresh cream to my own liking.

You can add different flavors, like caramel or french vanilla, add some mint in there if it floats your boat! Use skim, half or whole milk. You decide what goes into your creamer and be happy with it. On with the recipe!
[Read more…]

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Baked Fingerling Potatoes

September 26, 2012 by 9 Comments

My family loves these tasty fingerling potatoes! Fingerling potatoes are so easy to deal with, and I’ve found they are just about the only ones my kids will eat that don’t have to be made into mashed potatoes. Why, I have no clue, don’t bother asking at this point. You can lightly season these, grill, bake, steam you name it and they will come out perfectly each time.

Ingredients

1 lb fingerling potatoes

1/3 cup parsley chopped (should be fresh)

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 tbsp butter

1 garlic glove minced finely

1/2 tbsp chopped thyme

1/2 cup virgin olive oil

1-3 tablespoons water (or even chicken broth if you have it)

 

Directions

Preheat Oven to 350F

Line baking pan with foil and drip some of the oil onto the bottom . Wash and scrub the potatoes. Line the pan with the potatoes and drizzle [Read more…]

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Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe

September 21, 2012 by 6 Comments

I love making this dish for several reasons, one of course it feeds a large hungry family, second it’s super easy and third you can freeze it and re-heat or cook it at a later date. It’s been super busy with school and activities which most of you can relate too. This dish is hearty, and believe it or not easy to set up.

My favorite way to make this is with garden vegetables, but you can use meat, I used peppers, zucchini and eggplant for a vegetarian dish. I have never used no boil lasagna noddles before but have been told by many they use my easy recipe with it and it comes out even quicker, you choose what you’d like!

I make it extra cheesy. 🙂

Ingredients

1lb of your choice vegetables washed, skinned and sliced (eggplant, zucchini and red bell peppers fit nicely together. Make sure they are not sliced thickly, or it will take longer to cook.

2-3 cups of your favorite tomato sauce or 3 pint jars homemade tomato sauce.

Lasagna noddles either oven ready (no boil) or cook regular lasagna noddles as directed on package.

2 teaspoons Italian seasonings

couple [Read more…]

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Vegetable Bake Recipe

August 28, 2012 by 8 Comments

Here’s a great summer veggie dish-

Vegetable Bake

This vegetable bake is fast and easy. Use any soup mix you’d like or simply season it to your liking and change things up. I didn’t use soup mix this time and just tossed basil, Parmesan cheese some pepper and garlic on it. Great summer dish!

Ingredients

1 envelope soup mix (onion, garlic mushroom, even ranch dip would work just don’t use full package)

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 medium sized eggplant peeled and sliced

1 medium zucchini sliced

1 medium yellow squash sliced

1 large tomato

2 tablespoons butter

Oven 375F

In a small bowl mix up the soup mix and cheese. Spray a baking dish [Read more…]

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Oatmeal Bread Recipe

August 10, 2012 by 5 Comments

This is a wonderful bread, my kids eat this up just for a snack! Those that don’t or won’t go through the hassle to knead bread this bread is for you!

Ingredients

1 cup boiling water

1cup rolled oats

1/3 cup shortening, softened

1/3 cup honey

1/2 tablespoon salt

4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (this will be the water your dissolving yeast into)

1 egg

4 1/2 – 5 cups whole wheat flour

Directions

Dissolve yeast into the 1 cup warm water. Make sure it’s about 110F . Set it aside. You want to boil the other cup of water and pour oats, shortening , honey and salt in there. Stir till everything mixes together. Set this aside to cool. About lukewarm.

 

Pour [Read more…]

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Mashtini- Fun Food from @BobEvansFarms GIVEAWAY

August 9, 2012 by 34 Comments

August 19th is National Potato Day, and our friends at Bob Evans have some fun recipes for you to try out. So cute- Martini’s with mashed potatoes instead of alcohol. We even did a “kiddie” version, my son loved it. Instead of the harsh alcohol with syrup-y sweet flavors why not try some awesome Bob Evans mashed potato recipes like, Sweet Swirl Mashtini, Mediterranean mashed, and the incredible Bob Evans Wildfire Mashtini (which is the one we did).

With the right ingredients and some Bob Evans mashed potatoes, anything is possible. Carbonara mashed potatoes, or a Club Mashtini both with crispy bacon- and what’s not better with bacon, I ask you?

Here are a few of the fun recipes:

Club Mashtini
Prep time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4 mashtinis

INGREDIENTS:
1 package (24 oz.) Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes
1/4 cup Swiss cheese, shredded
1/4cup ham, diced
1/4cup Bob Evans oven-roasted diced turkey (from Bob Evans Restaurant) or 1/4 cup of any diced, cooked turkey
1/4 cup cooked bacon pieces, crumbled
1/4 cup ranch dressing
4 mini gherkin pickles (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1.Prepare Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes by following the recommended microwave instructions on the package.
2.Place about 1/3 cup (1/8 package) of mashed potatoes in a martini glass.
3.Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. diced ham on top of potatoes.
4.Place another 1/3 cup (1/8 package) of mashed potatoes on top of diced ham.
5.Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. of each on top of mashed potatoes: Swiss cheese, turkey and crumbled bacon pieces.
6.Lightly drizzle ranch dressing over toppings.
7.Garnish with toothpick and sweet gherkin.

MEDITERRANEAN MASHTINI
Prep time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Serves: 4 mashtinis

INGREDIENTS:
1 package (24 oz.) Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes
1/4 cup pepperonata
1/4 cup marinated artichokes, chopped
4 oz. grilled marinated chicken, sliced
1/4 cup prepared pesto sauce
Parmesan crisps

DIRECTIONS:
1.Prepare Bob Evans Original Mashed Potatoes by following the recommended microwave instructions on the package.
2.Place 3/4 cup (1/4 package) of mashed potatoes in a martini glass.
3.Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. each [Read more…]

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#FeedtheFamily with Target

July 30, 2012 by 8 Comments

A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend Target’s Feed the Family event in New York City. Target showcased all different ways to feed your family with products you can buy right at your local Target. From soup to nuts- well, from the recipes, to ingredients, to cooking utensils, accessories, and back to school products, it really covered everything.

As a Target shopper, it gave me some good ideas. Target is one of the least expensive stores I know of to shop at, and I got some good ideas to try. I’m not that creative- so it was awesome to be poked a bit, LOL.

I thought this was a cute take on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich- just for a little variety. Take a variety of crackers, some peanut butter, jelly, and cranberries for good measure- and there you go! 🙂

And of course- every child’s favorite, mac and cheese!

They also have some cute lunchboxes and food-on-the-go containers to get ready for back to school.

Target created the expanded food layout in response to research and feedback from guests who requested more fresh food selection in the convenience of their local Target store. The new and enhanced store redesign allows Target stores to further serve as a one-stop shopping destination for busy guests who can now complete their grocery list or pick up tonight’s [Read more…]

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