Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Turnovers

From Everyday with Rachael Ray August 2007



Ingredients:
butter
onion
sausage
salt
pepper
eggs
cream cheese
puff pastry

Comments:
There's a very similar recipe out there for these turnovers in a strudel form. I kind of changed this recipe to be closer to the other one by subbing bacon for the sausage (because that's what I had around.) I was also going to add some additional cheese (cheddar) but I forgot to put it in. Whoops. Oh well, they're still good. Good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Firecracker Enchiladas

From Everyday with Rachael Ray August 2007



Ingredients:
vegetable oil
onion
flour
tomato sauce
chili powder
cumin
salt
chicken (cooked)
muenster cheese
chipotle chilis
tortillas

Comments:
Ok, the version of this recipe that I made can hardly be categorized as "Firecracker" anything. I left out both forms of chilis and used a combination of cheddar, mozzarella, and monteray jack cheese thereby eliminated most of the heat. It was still good though. I don't quite understand part of the directions though. They tell you to dip the tortilla shells into the incredibly hot tomato sauce you just made and then roll them up. How are you supposed to do that without causing injury? I just spooned the sauce onto the tortillas and then spooned some move over the top after I rolled them up...

Spring Chicken with Leeks and Peas

(Otherwise known as "Leeky Chicken")

From Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats - #95



Ingredients:
chicken stock
white rice
lemon juice
butter and EVOO
Boneless, skinless, chx breasts
leeks
white wine (I just used more stock)
peas
parsley

Comments:
I could have sworn I made this dish the first time around with this cookbook but I can't find a post on it. Obviously it was good since I bothered to make it again. Leeks are an interesting vegetable and I like pretty much everything I've made with them so far.

Pina Colada Shrimp

From Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats - #95



Ingredients:
jasmine rice
pineapple
onion
garlic
red pepper flakes
salt & pepper
rum
chicken stock
shrimp
pina colada drink mix
shredded coconut
parsley

Comments:
I'd previously made the "master recipe" for this one back last year when I first got the cookbook. Adam had marked this one so while going back through the cookbooks to plan some menus I decided to give it a whirl. I also decided I'd make both at once since they used a lot of the same ingredients. Unfortunately I failed to realize that I'd run out of burners on the stove. Oh well, it all worked out and they both turned out fabulously.

And here's the chicken version:

Grilled Beef Kebabs with Yogurt Sauce

Oh my God. I suck at keeping up with this blog. Blame it on buying a house and wedding planning for the big day which is now less than 3 weeks away!

From Everyday with Rachael Ray August 2007



Ingredients:
plain yogurt
English cucumber
dill
garlic
salt & pepper
ground beef
parsley
cumin
EVOO
Pita bread

Comments:
Now, the making of this recipe didn't really go as planned. First of all, I waited so long to actually make it that by the time I got around to it the English cucumber was, well, not good. So I made the yogurt sauce sans cuke. Then I made the beef kebabs, threaded them all nicely on skewers, Adam put them on the grill outside, and they stuck to it. Hardcore. In an effort to salvage the meat and not have to order pizza or something like that I had him scrape what he could off the grate and I just cooked it up on the stove. Like taco meat, but Greek. Anyway, I think it turned out pretty well all things considered.

Turkey Meatloaf Sandwiches

From Everyday with Rachael Ray May 2007



Ingredients:
sub rolls
carrot
onion
garlic
EVOO
ground turkey
ketchup
Worcestershire
egg
salt

Comments:
This was a recipe Adam pegged and I made it last weekend. We're in the process of trying to clean out the freezer so this helped get rid of some of the ground turkey in there. Overall a simple recipe although the meatloaf is cooked in a skillet in the oven, not a loaf pan so that's kind of weird. It stays nice and moist and makes good leftovers as well.

Chicken Sloppy Joes

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes


Ingredients:
ground turkey
celery
onion
coke
dry mustard
salt & pepper
cayenne pepper
hamburger buns

Comments:
Another simple recipe - I don't think there's a difficult one in this whole book. Just combine and cook for hours and hours. I let this one sit on the warm mode for a while though since I made this on a day where we ended up going to look at a house. We went out for dinner with Adam's parents afterwards but we ate this as leftovers for lunch. It reheats well, but I didn't get a picture of it.

Cheese & Herb Breadstick Twists

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
dried tomatoes
romano cheese
water
rosemary
pepper
pizza dough

Comments:
I didn't have any tomatoes and Adam doesn't like them anyway so I left them out. It still turned out just fine. Yes, it's from a slow cooker cook book but this is not a slow cooker recipe. This one takes about 15 minutes. It won Adam's seal of approval so that's good.

Tangy Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
chili powder
celery seeds
salt & pepper
beef brisket
onions
barbecue sauce
beer or ginger ale
kaiser rolls

Comments:
I altered this recipe a little since I didn't have the chili powder or celery seeds and I wasn't about to go buy them just for this recipe. It also says to top the meat with hot sauce and a mango slice and I just ignored that part. I think it turned out ok anyway. I don't like barbecue at all but I could eat this because the slow cooking and other flavors tone the barbecue flavor way down. Even Adam liked it which is good since he chose the recipe! :)

Lemony Pork & Vegetables

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
pork shoulder
flour
pepper
oil
baby carrots
parsnips
shallots
lemon
basil
chicken broth
couscous

Comments:
I'm not a fan of pork but this was actually pretty good. It requires more prep than just throwing things in the pot (you have to brown the meat) but it's still pretty simple. I substituted potatoes for the parsnips. I figured they were both starchy root vegetables so it couldn't hurt the recipe too much. The lemon definately gets all through the meat and veggies. Adam wasn't a fan, but that's ok. More leftovers for me! :)

Brats in Beer

From howstuffworks.com



Ingredients:
brats
beer
onion
brown sugar
cider vinegar

Comments:
Aah, how much more Wisconsin can you get than brats and beer? We have bought brats when they were on sale a while back and decided to throw them in the slow cooker. I'm not generally a brat person, but even I ate them. The sugar and vinegar have all day to permeate the meat and it becomes so tender and isn't so spicy. It does have a rather unappealing gray color though, but that's really my only complaint.

Chicken Caprese Club Rolls

From Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook



Ingredients:
bacon
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt & pepper
EVOO
sub rolls
tomatoes
fresh mozzarella
basil

Comments:
Adam chose this recipe. It was pretty simple to make, the only prep required being cooking the meats and slicing veggies. I used frozen chicken breasts and cooked them in my George Foreman grill so I didn't exactly follow the recipe. And I skipped the basil - it all looked questionable when I went grocery shopping. They seem totally huge, but they really squish down when you take a bite so even I could get one in my mouth.

Slow Cooked Meatballs With Gravy

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
eggs
bread crumbs
onion
celery
parsley
pepper
garlic powder
ground turkey
oil
cream soup
water
gravy mix
bay leaf
thyme

Comments:
I was going to make this during the week but it had too much prep time required for a morning I had to go to work. So I made it this morning instead. The meatballs are made separately and brown them and then pour a gravy-like mixture over them before cooking them for a while in the crockpot. They turned out quite well and the different seasonings in the meatballs and gravy go well together. There isn't any salt (except for what's in the soup and gravy mix) and it kind of surprised me that it really doesn't need any.

The Smokin' Joe Robinson

From Rachael Ray's Open House Cookbook



Ingredients:
pizza dough
bacon
onions
fresh mozzarella
pepper
EVOO

Comments:
This recipe is from a book Rachael put out before she was "famous" and it's full of all kinds of good things for entertaining as well as a whole bunch of her 30 minutes meals at the back section. Adam made this pizza and it turned out great. The fresh mozzarella melts a lot differently than the shredded stuff does and the bacon and onions and cheese together were awesome.

As you can see, I look forward to making a lot more of these recipes in the future (and this is before Adam got his hands on the book!)

Meaty Spaghetti Sauce

From Taste of Home



Ingredients:
ground beef
Italian sausage
green pepper
onion
diced tomatoes
tomato paste
tomato sauce
sugar
Italian seasoning
basil
marjoram
salt
pepper

Comments:
This is the excellent pasta sauce recipe I found that simmers all day long in the crockpot. I made it with the green pepper for the first time today and I'm not sure if I like it or not. I also always have used all ground beef since I'm not a sausage fan. It's so good. I just make a batch and throw it in the freezer for later.

Peanut Butter Cookies

From allrecipes.com



Ingredients:
flour
baking soda
salt
brown sugar
white sugar
butter
eggs
creamy peanut butter
vanilla

Comments:
We finished Adam's grandma's cookies so I asked him if he wanted me to bake some other cookies this morning. He requested peanut butter. Just peanut butter though. Nothing else! (Last time I made them I snuck chocolate chips in them. He wasn't amused.) Anyway, I ran out of brown sugar so I substituted additional white. The first thing he said when he tasted one was "they're not chewy." Never pleased, this one. Anywho, I thought they were good. :)

Rosemary Scented Red Potatoes

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
red potatoes
water
butter
lemon juice
rosemary
salt
pepper
garlic
parsley

Comments:
I intended to make the incredible slow cooked pasta sauce I love so much today but discovered I was one can short on the diced tomatoes. So I noticed I had red potatoes and decided to make this recipe instead. Pretty simple chopping and combining and then sit back and smell it cook. The potatoes cook for so long they just fall apart when you're ready to eat them. They also get carmelized and get a great taste to them. Yum.

Beef & Tortellini Soup

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
round steak
flour
salt
pepper
onion
butter
beef broth
pasta sauce
carrots
water
Italian seasoning
zucchini
cheese-filled tortellini

Comments:
Another awesome crockpot recipe! I've been really bad at following recipes lately. In this one I swapped out some olive oil for the butter (it's used to brown the meat before it gets thrown in the crockpot), didn't have any carrots or Italian seasoning so I left the carrots out and just threw in some stuff that sounded like it belonged in an Italian blend (oregano, thyme, basil, parsely, rosemary, etc.) I think it turned out just fine in spite of my improvisations. And Adam liked it (with the exception of the cut of meat which wasn't my choice - I just followed the recipe.) I don't think it's possible to have a difficult crockpot recipe. Yay!

Slow Cooker Chicken & Noodles

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
carrots
onion
celery
parsley
bay leaf
chicken legs
cream of chicken soup
water
dried thyme
pepper
egg noodles
frozen peas

Comments:
I actually used the bay leaf in this one although I did use my bscb (boneless, skinless chicken breasts) rather than legs. Who needs to be picking meat off bones when you can buy it already done for you? Anywho, another classic crockpot recipe involving chopping, waiting for 8 hours, and enjoying the yummyness. Have I mentioned how much I love the crockpot? And since Adam most likely won't touch this one (something about chicken and noodles together in a dish grosses him out) there are lots of leftovers for this coming week!

Fish (minus the chips)

From Alton Brown via FoodNetwork



Ingredients:
flour
baking powder
kosher salt
cayenne pepper
Old Bay Seasoning
beer
whitefish
Cornstarch

Comments:
For Ash Wednesday last week I made my second attempt at cooking fish that I wanted to eat. I used the unoffensive pollock as my whitefish choice. I don't even know what Old Bay Seasoning is so I left that out. I also went uber wussy on the cayenne area. The recipe itself is pretty easy. You mix the batter and let it hang out for a bit in the fridge while you cut the fish into portions. Then the fish is dipped in cornstarch, the batter, and dropped into the deep fryer. I had an experience with the first batch completely sticking the basket (at which point I abandoned the basket and just dropped them directly into the oil.) Other than that it went well. And I actually ate them too. Woo!

Chicken Parmesan Subs

From Everyday with Rachael Ray March 2007



Ingredients:
EVOO
garlic
chopped tomatoes
Salt & pepper
crushed red pepper
Oregano
Chicken cutlets
butter
hoagie rolls
mozzarella cheese

Comments:
I'm not sure why these are called "Chicken Parmesan Subs" since there is absolutely no parmesan involved, but whatever. I made a few alterations in the recipe (used diced tomatoes, regular old chicken breasts, butterflied) and managed to burn the edges of the bread while toasting it up. But they still tasted just fine. They're kind of messy to eat but I'd say it's worth it.

Oriental Beef & Broccoli

From Better Homes & Gardens Simple Slow Cooker Recipes



Ingredients:
round steak
carrots
onions
grated ginger
garlic
water
soy sauce
beef gravy mix
broccoli florets
cooked rice

Comments:
This is the first recipe I've tried out of this new cookbook I got. I actually bought this one from the store, not online. Wow. Anyway, it's as simple as crockpot recipes get. Chop veggies, throw them in the pot with meat, cook for 8 hours, the end. It was an interesting blend of flavors. Adam didn't dig it (reminded him of beef stew, which apparently he doesn't like) so I get all the leftovers. Reheated quite well for lunch today.

Strawberries & Cream Angel Food Cake

From my own (limited) imagination



Ingredients:
angel food cake mix
cool whip
strawberries

Comments:
The final piece of the V-Day spectacular. I made the angel food cake and then put it into mini-bundt pans to make individual servings rather than one big cake. I managed to majorly overfill the pans so I ended up with upside-down angel food cake muffin looking things. Oh well. I thawed some cool whip and strawberries, threw them all together in a big dish and voila, instant fancy dessert. Kind of. But really, what's sexier than whipped cream and strawberries?

Glazed Carrots

From Everyday with Rachael Ray March 2007



Ingredients:
baby carrots
white wine
butter
herbs
salt

Comments:
Another part of V-Day's meal. I substituted chicken stock for the wine (for two reasons really: 1) I didn't have any white wine (10 jillion bottles of red, but no white), 2) I don't like the taste a white wine takes on when it's cooked down.) Herb-wise I used some parsley and thyme. They were quite good. Nothing too fancy, but it was still an elegant dish.

Peppered Pineapple-Beef Kebabs

From Everyday with Rachael Ray March 2007



Ingredients:
sirloin steak
EVOO
black pepper
salt
pineapple
sugar
cooking spray

Comments:
I made this as part of the Valentine's Day spread for Adam. It was pretty simple. Just rub the meat the pineapple in an obscene amount of pepper, thread on skewers, and fill the house with smoke by cooking them on a grill pan indoors. They turned out quite well and Adam tells me they even reheat great. Next time I might cut back a bit on the pepper since neither Adam nor I are its greatest fan.

Sprecher's Beer Bread

From The Sprecher Brewery Company



Ingredients:
Sprecher Beer Bread mix
Sprecher beer

Comments:
This is what we're planning to put in a gift bag for our out of town guests at our wedding. It couldn't be easier. But the mix into a bowl, add a bottle of beer (I used their Amber for this batch), stir, put in a loaf pan, and bake for 45 minutes. Delicious. They also make a root beer bread mix that we have yet to try out.

Chicken Pasta

From Everyday with Rachael Ray March 2007



Ingredients:
EVOO
Shredded chicken
frozen peas
chicken broth
garlic
short cut pasta
cayenne pepper
parmesan cheese
salt
butter

Comments:
The name alone should indicate that this recipe was perfect for me. What do I love more in life than chicken or pasta? Together, even better! This recipe was totally simple and similar to something I make using rice rather than noodles. I even put in the cayenne and I did ok. The chicken broth made a nice background taste to the chicken and peas. I had to fight with the cheese since I was getting down to the end of the block (note to self: get more parmesan) but other than that it was relatively painless.

Tiramisu

From Everyday with Rachael Ray February 2007



Ingredients:
espresso
brandy
brown sugar
egg yolks
sugar
heavy cream
mascarpone cheese
ladyfingers
cocoa powder
bittersweet chocolate bar

Comments:
Although more complicated than most of the recipes found in RR publications, this was still pretty simple. I had to dig my double boiler out from the oblivion of the back of the cupboard though. It seems like there's a lot of alcohol in it, but you really can't taste it when everything is put together. Yummy. We're nuts about the tiramisu at Good Company and while this can't compare, it's decent enough. :)

Eggplant Parmesan Rigatoni

From Everyday with Rachael Ray November 2006



Ingredients:
vegetable oil
eggplant
flour
salt
rigatoni
EVOO
garlic
canned tomatoes
mozzarella
basil
parmesan

Comments:
This was another pretty simple recipe. You make eggplant chips (kind of) and throw them on top of the pasta and quick sauce made from the tomatoes. It was pretty good. I had a heck of a time with the cheese though. It was like pizza - all stringy.

Fish Stick Po' Boys

From Everyday with Rachael Ray October 2006



Ingredients:
fish sticks
mayo
lemon juice
hot sauce
sub rolls
tomato
shredded lettuce

Comments:
I realized I hadn't really been cooking much lately and since this is a pretty brainless recipe, I went for it tonight. You basically cook the fish and then put it in the bun with the other stuff. I left out the hot sauce though because I'm a wuss.

Cookies! Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate Chip

From Diana Rattray via about.com:
PB Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate Chip



Ingredients (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip):
butter
peanut butter
sugar (white and brown)
egg
flour
baking soda
baking powder
salt
chocolate chips


Ingredients (Double Chocolate Chip):
butter
sugar (white and brown)
egg
flour
baking powder
salt
chocolate chips
milk
vanilla

Comments:
It's cookie-baking season! I made these back-to-back since they baked at the same temperature for the same amount of time. They are very different cookies but they're both yummy.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

From Rachael Ray via FoodNetwork



Ingredients:
scallops
lime juice
sesame oil
grill seasoning
bacon

Comments:
Adam made this. Apparently it was good. I wouldn't know. I just took a picture and am posting it on this site. :)

Stuffed Pork Chops

From Robin Miller via FoodNetwork

I spaced on this picture too. I've been bad at that lately.

Ingredients:
EVOO
leeks
apple
oregano
rosemary
salt & pepper
bread cubes
chicken broth
thick-cut pork chops

Comments:
I made this to use up some pork chops I had thawed for another purpose. It is super simple and basically involves chopping stuff up, shoving it inside the chops, and watching it cook. I don't eat pork so Adam was the taster. He told me it was a keeper so I guess that means it was good.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

From Alton Brown via FoodNetwork

I totally forgot to take a picture of this. I'm sure I'll make it again though.

Ingredients:
chopped spinach
artichoke hearts, chopped
cream cheese
sour cream
mayo
Parmesan cheese
red pepper flakes
salt
garlic powder

Comments:
If you read my personal blog, you'll know we became obsessed with this dip after a trip to Applebee's. This recipe is super simple and super tasty. I've made it twice already. Note to the faint of tongue: go easy on the red pepper flakes. Even with 1/2 of the amount recommended it's HOT!

Double Chicken Dumpling Stoup

From Rachael Ray Show 11/13/06



Ingredients:
EVOO
celery
onions
carrots
bay
salt & pepper
chicken stock
ground chicken
nutmeg
egg
garlic
bread crumbs
parmigiano cheese
peas
gnocchi
parsley

Comments:
I caught this on Rachael Ray's TV show (that I record everyday, by the way.) I tried it out this evening since Adam doesn't like chicken broth based foods and he's at work. I had to make a few adjustments to the recipe since I hate bay and couldn't find gnocchi or Parnigiano Reggiano cheese to save my life. I used some pre-made potato dumplings instead and it turned out ok. It was mighty tasty although I had a hard time deciding whether to eat it with a fork or a spoon. Where are those plastic sporks when you need them?

Adam makes Apple Pie

Whole Wheat Rigatoni with Bacon

From Everyday with Rachael Ray October 2006



Ingredients:
Whole wheat rigatoni
EVOO
bacon
bay leaves
onion
salt & pepper
chicken broth or white wine
crushed tomatoes
parsley
grated cheese

Comments:
This time I used whole wheat pasta. I'm not really a fan. Other than that, this dish turned out well and was pretty tasty. Adam disliked the flavor the wine gave it so maybe next time I'll use stock instead.

Adam Makes Applesauce

Ingredients:
apples
cinnamon
sugar
water

Penne with Cauliflower Sauce

From Everyday with Rachael Ray October 2006



Ingredients:
whole wheat penne
EVOO
garlic
onion
cauliflower
chicken broth
rosemary
Pecorino Romano cheese
pepper

Comments:
I didn't use whole wheat pasta, I used parmesan cheese, and I left the arugula garnish off. Other than that I pretty much stuck to the recipe. :) The cauliflower definately is something different to top pasta with. It was surprisingly good.

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

From Everyday with Rachael Ray October 2006



Ingredients:
grated parmesan cheese
paprika
parsley
tilapia
lemon

Comments:
More fish. I don't eat it. Don't know what it tasted like. Chances are it wasn't too bad because Adam ate some of it for lunch yesterday and he hasn't died yet.

Moroccan Beef Patties with Couscous

From Everyday with Rachael Ray October 2006 (can't find a link to the recipe online)



Ingredients:
salt
couscous
pepper
ground beef
garlic
onion
paprika
cinnamon
cumin
allspice
EVOO
parsley

Comments:
I have the distinct feeling I've made this recipe before, but perhaps it was worth repeating. It's very simple to make and although I managed to get the couscous to fly all over the stovetop, it still tasted good in the end. The little burgers have quite a kick though, so be careful!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

From Debbie's Kitchen.com



Ingredients:
green bell peppers
ground beef
cooked white rice
onion
worcestershire sauce
ketchup
egg
seasoned salt
garlic powder
pepper
tomato sauce

Comments:
For some reason I had been having this craving for stuffed peppers. So I went online, got a recipe, and made them. They turned out great. They're delicious and kidn of good for you too! Great combination.