Ham Steak ~ Meal Idea

Not really a recipe, but more of a dinner idea :)

I love eating ham steaks. One is around $3 and feeds a family of 4. I like to "fry" it in a skillet until browned on both sides and serve with some type of potatoes (either mashed or fried) and sweet peas. The kids are particularly fond of the meal and it's something I grew up eating frequently as a child.

Allergy-Free Meatloaf

I stumbled upon this recipe in, if I remember correctly, Food Allergies for Dummies. Matthew was on an elimination diet at the time but it became one of our go-to meatloaf recipes!

It can be made egg-free!

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 lb. ground beef (I get the 96/4 for meatloaf)
• Garlic
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 1/2 tsp. parsley
• 1 tbsp. potato flour [or if wheat isn't a problem - all-purpose flour] with 2 tbsp. water = egg!
• Salt and pepper

**I also use veggies - carrots, green bell pepper and celery. Sometimes I cube up small pieces of potatoes, other times I use oatmeal - but those are not part of the original recipe**

Directions:

Saute onions. I add green bell and celery in after a minute or so and then carrots at the very end. I dice my celery and green bell and use a potato peeler for my carrots.

Mix up the potato flour [I still haven't been able to find it] and water.

Mix everything together.

Using a meatloaf pan or for extra crispiness all around, a casserole dish or cookie sheet, form into a loaf. Bake at 350 for an hour to an hour and a half!

Italian Pineapple Chicken

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 can (8 oz.) sliced pineapple, drained
• 1/3 cup shredded cheese of your choice (Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack)

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There are 2 ways I make this particular recipe.
1) Flatten chicken to 1/2-inch thickness. Pour salad dressing into a shallow bowl; dip chicken in dressing. Heat skillet with oil. Add chicken; cook over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Remove and keep warm. Add pineapple slices to the skillet; cook for 30 seconds on each side or until lightly browned. Place a slice on each chicken breast. Sprinkle cheese if desired.
2) If you have a George foreman grill, place chicken breasts on grilling plate and pour dressing over the top. Cook for 3-4 minutes and flip. Pour dressing over other side and cook 3-4 minutes. Take off and add pineapple slices to grill, cook for 30 seconds. Top chicken with pineapple slices and cheese.
**You can also make this on an outdoor grill as well.**

**VARIATION**
Cube chicken and pineapple and cook in a skillet, adding pineapple when chicken is almost done. Cook white rice on the side and pour chicken mixture over it.

Recipe Source: Unknown

Wendy's Spicy Chicken Filet Sandwich

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 6 to 8 cups vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup Frank's original red hot pepper sauce
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
• 4 chicken breast filets [I did 8 or so tenderloins]
• 4 hamburger buns
• Toppings: mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes

Directions:

Combine hot sauce and water in small bowl.

Combine the flour, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder in another shallow bowl. If needed, trim chicken to fit buns.

Coat each piece in flour.

Then dredge in diluted hot sauce.

Then coat in flour mixture again.

Heat oil in deep skillet until bubbly or in a deep fryer to 350. Fry chicken filets for 8 to 12 minutes or until they are light brown and crispy. Remove chicken to a rack or to paper towels to drain.

**You can grill the face of the hamburger buns while frying the chicken in a hot skillet over medium heat. The traditional toppings are mayo, lettuce and tomato. We didn't have lettuce or tomato, so I did ketchup and also pickles and cheese.

Recipe Source: Food.com

Cheesecake Pancakes

OMFG!!!!!!! YES, I SAID CHEESECAKE PANCAKES!!! Thanks to Mrs. Crocker :]

(Printable Version)
What you need:
Pancakes:

• 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened [I changed the original recipe because I didn't want chunks of cream cheese in my pancakes]
• 2 cups Bisquick pancake mix
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 eggs

Syrup:

• Fresh strawberries
• Strawberry syrup for pancakes

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.

Brown on a skillet or griddle.

Serve with the strawberries on top and covered in syrup.

Absolutely delicious.

Sunny Day Rainbow Cake

I got this recipe from another website, but ended up going to another blog to understand it more. I still think it is much too complicated and I dumbed it down! LOL.

You can't tell me that it doesn't look absolutely AWESOME!

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 2 boxes white cake mix
• Eggs [as called for on each cake box]
• Oil [as called for on each cake box]
• Gel food coloring
• 2 (8 oz.) cartons Cool Whip
• 2 boxes instant pudding vanilla flavor
• **Note - I didn't do the frosting like the recipe - I used Funfetti frosting from Betty Crocker!**

Directions:

Mix together the two boxes of cake with eggs and oil.

Separate into 6 bowls. About 1 heaping cup in each bowl.

I bought one of each of these. I used all of the gels in the first set and the orange and purple in the neon colors.

Put some coloring in each bowl.

Mix well and add more coloring if you would like. The brighter, the better.

**Parchment paper is a must - I didn't use it - fail** - In a 8 or 9 inch cake pan...use about 3/4 if not a little more of the red batter. Then do about 3/4 of the orange. And a little less than 3/4 for the yellow. You want to get the batter as close to the middle as possible for this one.

In your second pan, do the same...start with purple, then blue, then green.

[Got a little messy here!] In the second pan [that started with purple], do the rest of the yellow, then the rest of the orange, then the rest of the red.

[Much nicer looking in this one. LOL.] Do the same in this pan, start with green, then blue, then purple.

Bake according to box instructions. Use a cutout circle of parchment paper so you don't end up with this. Let cool completely before moving to a wire rack. I ALWAYS am too antsy for the cooling. And it always turns out not so great. LOL

Place your layers on a plate or serving platter....piece together if your's falls apart. LOL. Also really watch your cooking time. I did mine a the minimum and the bottom got dark. :/

Frost. To make the recipe's frosting...just combine and mix together. You can add coloring if you want.

Still looks good even though it's a Frankenstein Rainbow Cake, huh? LOL

I'm gonna be pooping rainbows for a week :]

Juicy Burgers

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 1 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 3 tbsp. bread crumbs
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp. onion, I use about 1 to 2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• Seasoning salt
• Pepper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, until just combined.

 Make into patties. I have one of these thingamajigs...it's amazing! This was before I flattened them out.

Grill!

And serve! :]

Recipe Source: Food.com

Steak Fajitas

This is pretty basic of a recipe, but my fajitas HAVE TO HAVE only ONE kind of fajita seasoning mix...and that is the Kroger brand. No other fajita seasoning compares...not McCormick, not Taco Bell, NOTHING. So if you don't have a Kroger near by...find a friend or family member and make them send you some. LOL. My husband's mom sends me some when I run out :]

This is a recipe that I have been making for years on end. Nick and I used to grocery shop for my family when I was 17 and he was 18 and we would make steak fajitas for lunch. We have dubbed them steaky hitas. They are very much a comfort food in our relationship :]

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• Steak, cut into strips or bite-size pieces
• 1 to 2 green bell peppers, cut into strips
• 1 onion, cut into bigger strip-like pieces
• 1 packet KROGER fajita seasoning
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

Cook onions and green bell peppers in vegetable oil over medium-high heat until onions begin to turn translucent and the peppers are tender.

Meanwhile cook the steak until brown over medium to medium-high heat.

Drain steak, if needed. Add steak in with the vegetables. Then add the packet of seasoning and water. Simmer for 5 minutes.

I always eat my fajitas or tacos on Azteca flour tortillas. I like my steak fajitas with sour cream and cheddar cheese. Toppings are really up to you :]

My Apologies

I've been a little M.I.A. I'm trying to spend as much time with my husband as possible before he deploys and I've also been extremely swamped with homework.

Tomorrow I am going to try and get 5 new recipes up. So I promise there will be new ones up soon and I will try my hardest to do it tomorrow.

Hope everyone is having a good autumn so far :)
Sarah

Tex Mex Pork Chops

{Update 3/6/2012} This is definitely one of our family favorites. My husband isn't huge on pork chops, but he devours these like they are a big fat juicy steak! I got a couple of good pictures recently.

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 1 tsp. vegetable oil
• 4 boneless por chops
• 1 1/2 cups chunky salsa
• 1 (4 oz.) can diced green chilies
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:
**No pictures for the first few steps...stupid camera!**
** Heat oil in frying pan over medium high heat. Brown chops on one side, about 2 minutes, and then flip them.

Add the salsa, chilies and cumin to the skillet and mix well.

Lower heat, cover and simmer for 8 minutes (I had to cook mine longer, so make sure you check to make sure the pork is cooked all the way through before moving onto your next step).

Remove cover and top each chop with cheese. Cover and simmer an additional 2 minutes, until cheese melts.

Serve immediately. I served with refried beans. Next time I'm making Spanish rice with it as well. It was incredibly delicious and in fact, I really would like some now. :(

Recipe Source: Food.com

Oreo Muffins

Ahhh seriously amazing!!! Great with a glass of milk (Nick was dipping his in - ew! LOL)

(Printable Version)
What you need:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup margarine [or butter], melted
• 20 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

Directions:

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Combine milk, sour cream, and egg in a separate bowl.

Add melted margarine and milk mixture to flour mixture. Stir until just blended.

Gently stir in cookies.

Spoon batter into 12 greased muffin pan cups. Bake at 400 for 20 to 25 minutes (mine got DARK at 20 min so definitely keep an eye on it OR lower the temp). Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Recipe Source: Food.com