French Toast

I didn't forget to take a picture this time! Be proud....be very proud! It's a phone pic....but its a pic so don't get all judgy. I think the phone pic looks pretty good. I would cook this meal and eat it. Ha! 

We bought the bread at Costco after tasting devouring 5 slices with melted butter from the little vendor/samplers. Those people are dangerous. I pretty much purchase all the food they beg me to sample. It's a psychological thing that Costco does. Don't believe me...read this. 

The bread sat in the bag for about 2 days until I decided to slice it up, soak it in some egg and milk mixture, and fry it up in butter. I love my arteries. 

*Just wanted to mention that I use a large black cast iron skillet to make my french toast in. I find that it makes a better crust and cooks the toast better. 

*When adding the butter to the pan, be sure to turn down the heat each time you add more. If you add butter to the already hot skillet, it will burn the butter and your toast. You want to melt the butter, increase the heat, then add the bread. 

French Toast

4 slices of  2-3 day old french bread

1/2 c. milk (I used soy)

1 egg

1 tbsp. cinnamon

3 tbsp. butter

Fresh Fruit of any kind

Syrup (warm this in the microwave or pan)

Powdered Sugar

Mix the milk, eggs, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a large skillet. Place 1 slice of bread into the mixture coating each side. Place in the hot skillet and cook on both sides. Repeat with remaining slices, stirring the milk, egg, and cinnamon mixture each time. Add butter to the pan as needed. Serve warm, topped with fruit, powdered sugar, and syrup. 

That Time I Forgot to Take Pictures...

So I made this awesome chicken tonight with grilled asparagus and totally forgot to take pictures of it. I promise it's good......and I will make it again.
I should smack my own self for not taking any pictures of this yumminess, but hey, life happens.

I am a mom now and if I actually combed my hair and my kid ate at least one thing nutritious it's a good day.

This my friends is a good meal. I grilled it all but it can totally be done on the stove or in the oven. I am going to give you the grilled version. If you want the oven version email me or leave a comment.

I was proud of myself with this meal. The best part....it was super easy!

Bacon and Mushroom Chicken

3-4 Chicken Breasts
5 Mushrooms (whichever type you like)
3-4 pieces of bacon
2 tbsp. Tuscan Sunset Seasoning (Penzy's)
1 tbsp. Red Wine
1 tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1/2. c. Shredded Cheese (I used mexican blend because I had some left over from taco night)
Salt and Pepper
foil (enough to put the mushrooms in and put on the grill

Season the chicken with the Tuscan Sunset Seasoning and Salt and Pepper. Add Chicken to grill and begin to cook. Cut bacon into 3rds (cut 1 slice 2 times) Place on the grill and let cook. Cut up the mushrooms and put in foil. Add Red Wine, Balsamic Vinegar, and Salt and Pepper. Stir together and combine the foil to close shut. Put on the grill to cook. Remove the bacon once it is done to your likeness. Remove the mushrooms from the heat and place to the side. Once the chicken is cooked through place 2 tbsp. shredded cheese on top. Let the cheese melt a bit and add bacon and mushrooms on top of the cheese. Place 2 more tbsp. of cheese on top of the bacon and mushrooms. Once the cheese is melted remove the chicken from the grill and serve.

Enjoy!

Meatball Sandwich...Why not?!

Sometimes you just want a meatball sandwich. This recipe is simple, make the meatballs, throw them in the crockpot for a few.....then it's time to eat.

This picture does not do this sandwich justice. It's delicious. It cooks in the marinara sauce the whole time, giving it powerful flavor.

Meatball Sandwich

1 lb. hamburger (I used 93%)
3 tbsp. chopped parsley
1 tbsp. onion powder
1tbsp. garlic powder
1 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg (beaten)
1 tsp. salt
1tsp. pepper
1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce (I used Trader Joes brand)

Pour the jar of marinara into a crock pot and put on high. Mix all of the rest of the ingredients together and form into balls. Once the marinara starts to heat and bubble up, place the balls into the marinara. Some meatballs will be on top and the marinara will not touch them but that is ok. It will cook down and you will be stirring. Place the lid on and let the crock pot do its thing for 2-3 hours. Take the lid off and stir, being careful not to break up the meatballs. Let cook for another 2 more hours with the lid on.
Serve on your favorite bread, spooning the delicious marinara on top and a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.

Pork Roast with Black Eyed Peas

I am super late with this post but.....hey, It's still January so you can, maybe, implement this yummy recipe next New Years! HA!!

I have Southern and Northern roots in my blood. Family from up North but born and semi-raised in the South. If I had to choose I would pick the South. Better food, friendly people, BUTTER!!

Now don't get me wrong, the North can throw down in the kitchen. I have been to many a fine restaurant, but there is just something about Southern comfort food that does a body good.

Every new year I make a pork roast, with sour kraut and black-eyed peas. This is all supposed to bring good luck based on Northern and Southern beliefs. Pork and sour kraut from the North and black-eyed peas from the south. I'm a pretty lucky girl by my standards at least.

This was good stuff here. Yummy food. Tasty. Delicious. Seasoned. Northern and Southern delightful.

Pork Roast

2 lb. Pork Tenderloin
2 sprigs Rosemary (remove from stems and finely chop)
3 chopped cloves of garlic
1 tsp Tumeric
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
1/4 c. Olive Oil

Wash and pat dry the pork tenderloin. Using a small paring knife make about 10-15 little slits in the top of the pork. This is to stuff the seasoning into the meat. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl. Using your fingers grab some of the seasoning and begin to stuff inside of the little slits. Once all are stuffed rub the rest of the seasoning all over the meat. Place in a ziplock bag and let marinate for 2-24 hours. The longer the better. Bake uncovered in a small baking dish at 400 degrees until meat thermometer reads 140-145 degrees. Take out of oven and let rest for 15 minutes. Slice thin. Enjoy.

Grilled Tilapia and Lemon Seasoned Zucchini

It is still pretty hot here in Texas so I wanted to fire up the grill before the cold set in. It's comin' y'all!

I grilled this amazing tilapia and zucchini after marinating it for a few hours. It was delicious.

 This recipe is so simple. You just need a little salt and pepper, lemon, and olive oil. 

Slice the zucchini length wise and then slice in half. Be sure to cut the ends off, as they can be a little tough. 

Zest a lemon.

Put the zucchini in a ziplock bag along with some salt and pepper, the zest of the lemon, and the juice from the whole lemon that was zested. Seal the bag and shake to incorporate all of the flavors. Place in the refrigerator to marinate. I did this in the morning and then took it out for dinner. 

Wash and pat dry tilapia. Season with Gazebo Room Greek Dressing and Zatarains Big and Zesty Garlic and Herb Seasoning. Remove Zucchini from the refrigerator and fire up the grill!  

This is the end product. A nice healthy dinner that is Paleo friendly! 

Shrimp Fried Rice

I made a yummy chicken fried rice with lots of vegetables hidden within. It was so flavorful and could be a side dish or main dish. 

I chopped up red and green cabbage, yellow, red and orange bell peppers, purple onions, green onions, and heated up some frozen peas. 

Shrimp Fried Rice

1 lb. Shrimp, no tail, peeled and deveined

2 c. cooked rice

1 c. chopped red cabbage

1 c. chopped green cabbage

1/4 c. each chopped red, orange, yellow bell pepper

1.2 c. chopped red onion

1 tsp. minced garlic

2 c. frozen peas thawed

1 egg scrambled

1/4 c. soy sauce (will separate throughout recipe)

1/4 c. honey (will separate throughout recipe)

4 tbsp. rice vinegar  (will separate throughout recipe)

4 tbsp. olive oil  (will separate throughout recipe)

In large dutch oven heat 2 tbsp. olive oil. Cook garlic and onion until onion is translucent. Add in Shrimp with 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp. honey, 2 tbsp. rice vinegar. Let cook until shrimp are cooked through. Carefully put mixture with sauce into a bowl and put aside for later. Heat remaining olive oil in pan and add cabbage and bell pepper, cook until cabbage is wilted. Add in peas, rice, egg, and shrimp mixture. Add in remaining sauces slowly, stirring to coat rice. 

Chicken and Dumplings

My hubby had to get his wisdom teeth out a few weeks ago so it was my duty as a wife to make sure he had soft foods to eat. After a few days he was able to chew a little more "tougher" foods so I decided to make him chicken and dumplings. I never made this before and have seen a zillion different versions of it. One of my favorite You Tube vloggers, April from CookWithApril, made a similar soup so I decided to put my own twist on it.

I used my crockpot and let the chicken simmer all day in spices. Once it was done I shredded the meat, turned the heat up to high, put the biscuits (dumplings), covered, and let it cook. It was ready in 30 minutes and boy was it delicious. 

Chicken and Dumplings

1 can of refrigerated biscuits

2 chicken breasts

1/2 c. chopped green, red, and yellow bell pepper

1/2 c. purple onion

1 tsp. tumeric

2 tbsp. finely chopped parsley

2 c. water

*1 Knorr Homestyle Stock

*You can just use 2 cans of chicken stock but the Knorr adds all of the seasonings so there won't be a need for salt or pepper. If you use the chicken stock you will need to add in salt a pepper.

Place all ingredients, except for biscuits in a crock pot. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Shred chicken and put back in crock put, stirring all ingredients in crock put together. Turn crock put to high setting. Cut 5 biscuits into fourths and place on top of the soup mixture. You will cover the entire mixture with the dough so be sure to fit all of the pieces in. You may need to add more biscuits if you have a fairly larger crockpot or if you used more chicken. Cover with lid and let cook for 30 minutes.