Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Creamy Lemon Pasta Side

My local grocery store had a huge pasta sale so I decided to go and buy a bunch of neat ones, that I don't usually use.  I found a campanelle box and figured I'd make it for supper, as a side to our sausage-dogs.  

First: Made the pasta al'dente & drained: 

While pasta is cooking - I started the sauce:
Heat up 2 C half/half cream
1 tsp beef bouillon granules
1/4 C lemon juice
Salt & Pepper
Parsley
Onion powder

 Also: Cook a pkg of bacon, cut into small pieces.
Once bacon is done & sauce is hot:

Add in a can of sweet peas,  
Stir it all together:

Eat & Enjoy!!


Friday, June 20, 2014

Pork, Potatoes & Tomatoes

I guess, some days I just feel like making beans & weenies and some days I want to be adventurous and make things I've never tried before.  I found a new recipe on facebook for pork tenderloins and pinned one for mash-potatoe-cakes.  So I decided to try them both and add in some Parmesan tomatoes.  None of these were my own recipes, I copied straight from the original posters.... so here's the links & few things I've added or changed: 

Pork: 

I made the pork according to the directions - however, in the end I wanted more 'sauce'.  So I mixed in the cooking juices along with a blop of brown sugar and a good squirt of yellow mustard.  It was not as thick as I wanted it, but it was delicious way to top the pork!

Mashed Potato Cakes:

The ONLY thing I changed here was that I used panko bread crumbs to the mixture instead of some flour.  It gave it a good crunch and seemed to hold it together better.

Parmesan Tomatoes:

The one thing different I did with these is I don't bake them, as it says.... I just pop them under the broiler until they look crispy and done.  YUMMY!



Everything turned out wonderful and tasted delicious.... I just wish it wasn't all sort of, the same color.  I know you've heard me say it before.... my food may not always LOOK correct or great, but it tastes good.  LOL. 

Enjoy!


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Camping: Dessert Apples

So... I wanted to also find a simple dessert that wasn't too heavy.  My boys will sit and eat apples all day if I let them, so I decided to find an easy apple dessert.  Searching all my pins - and success!!

INGREDIENTS:
Apples: peeled and sliced, not too thin
Few tablespoons of lemon juice
Brown sugar
Marshmallows
((Forgive me for not measuring my ingredients.... by now you should know I don't like to measure unless it's absolutely necessary.  lol))

DIRECTIONS:
* Peel and slice apples ahead of your camping trip.  Lightly coat with few tablespoons of lemon juice to keep them from browning.  (I made my apples the day before camping and we ate them on day 2 of  camping and they still weren't brown.  Yay!)
* Place all your apples in a pot safe to use on the grill, or over an open flame
* Put a good amount of brown sugar on top of the apples.... I'd say I did about a cup over my 5 apples
* Top with a handful of marshmallows.... stir all together.
* Cook over the grill until the apples are tender then devour!!

Man.... my boys were SO happy eating this... warmed up their tummies on such a chilly camping night!




Camping: Ranch Salsa Chicken

Super easy.... that's what's important when you're camping.  It's supposed to be relaxing and calming and a nice time.  So complicated food takes away the 'chill' nature of it.

SO.... foods that appear complicated but aren't are my favorite while camping.  Again, I scoured the internet (mostly pinterest) and found a good chicken recipe.  

INGREDIENTS:
You're favorite salsa (mine was a homemade recipe I made a few days earlier, had tomatoes, green peppers, black beans & corn in it.  I let it sit for a day before eating it, then mix in some coumin, garlic powder, chopped onions & 1/2 pkt ranch seasoning.  YUMMY!!)
Chicken breasts
Water

DIRECTIONS:
* Pour water into a tin dish (or whatever you plan to use while camping & grilling)... about 1 cup will do
* Place chicken in the dish
* Top with your salsa
* Cook over fire until done.  If the water is gone, add a little more to keep chicken cooking & juicy
* When you serve it, scoop the salsa on top of the chicken. 
* Eat & Enjoy!




Camping: Chips

Sometimes you just need a bag of chips!!






Camping: Breakfast Burritos

I've read many, many blogs.... posts.... pins about what to make when you go camping.  Lots of them were directions on how to make breakfast burritos.  Yum!  So I've combined what I liked most about each one and made them!  They were delicious!  

Make Ahead:
Brown 1 lb your favorite ground sausage (I added in 1 can of black beans at the end)
Make 1/2 bag of hasbrowns (season as desired)
Bake 18 scrambled eggs, add chives & seasons as desired



** Roll the burritos together and wrap in tin foil before you go **
Sausage
Hashbrowns
Eggs
Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

Once you're camping and it's time for breakfast, just throw them on the grill.
Ours got a bit black, but it added to the flavor.  
YUMM!!




I used a whole bag of cheese & made 7 burritos... I think, I'd use more cheese in the future, so it 'glues' everything else together a little better.  You cook, you learn.  
=)


ENJOY!