Mexican Corn

This corn salad goes great with tacos, burritos, enchiladas, you name it.
It is quick and simple so you can make it anytime.  I didn't have jalepenos and it was still delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups corn (about 4 ears), cut from the cob
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 glove garlic, grated
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 handful cilantro, chopped
• 1 lime, juice
• 2 tablespoons cotija (or feta), crumbled
• chili powder to taste

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the corn, toss and let it sit cooking until charred, mix it up and let it char again, about 6-10 minutes.
3. Add the jalapeno, saute for a minute and remove from heat.
4. Mix everything and serve warm or at room temperature.

http://www.closetcooking.com/2012/08/esquites-mexican-corn-salad.html?m=1

Refried beans

I have always enjoyed Mexican food. Growing up I can tell you that I never touched the refried beans that came with my meals. Fast forward to 2013 and I like them now. Here is a recipe to make them at home.

We enjoyed these beans but I need to invest in a masher.  I had to mash them up with a fork.  So they weren't as smooth as I would like.  But still tasty


 Refried bean recipe:

2 strips bacon
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (or 1½ cups cooked pinto beans)
1 cup chicken or veggie broth, divided
1/4 cup salsa (optional)
Shredded cheese and sliced scallions, for garnish (optional)

Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon until crisp, being careful not to burn. Remove the bacon pieces to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, leaving the grease in the pan. (Save the bacon for another use, like BLTs)

Add the onion to the pan with the bacon grease and cook until just tender, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin, cayenne, and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the beans to the pan. Pour in about 2/3 cup of the broth, bring to a boil, and reduce to a light simmer. Let simmer for about 10 minutes or until the beans are soft enough to mash easily.

Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the salsa if using, and mash the bean mixture as desired. For a chunkier texture, use a fork or potato masher. For a smoother texture, pulse the mixture in a food processor. Add up to 1/3 cup more broth for a lighter texture if needed. Adjust seasonings to taste. Top with shredded cheese and sliced scallions. Serve.
http://tasteofhomecooking.blogspot.com/2012/05/refried-beans.html

Corn Salad

During the summer we love making this corn salad recipe.  It is a great side to take to a bbq, potlock, whatever.  It is simple and yummy... a great combination.  I can't believe summer is almost over!

For this receip, I like to use fresh corn off the cob but have used frozen corn many time and it is still delicious. I don't have exact measurments.  You just put in the amount that you would like and what looks pretty :)


Corn Salad Recipe

Corn-- approx taken from 6 ears of corn
chopped  purple onion
chopped fresh basil
equal parts oil and balsalmic vinegar
tiny bit of lime juice
tiny bit of hot sauce
feta cheese

mix all together.  Let sit for awhile so flavors soak in.  Serve cold

Cheesy quinoa mac n cheese bake

Ingredients

Here is a little bit healthier version of mac n cheese. My kids love mac n cheese. They would eat it every day if I let them. While they didn't love this they did eat it. So that is a plus. My husband enjoyed it a lot. I think it needs to be a little creamier/cheesier. I would make it again but add less quinoa or make more of the cheese mixture.  You could easily play around with this recipe and add whatever you would like.  I might add some hot pepper seasoning or a little hot sauce next time. 

     Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
• good pinch of salt
• a few grinds of seasoning salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup soy milk or non-fat milk
• 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese, more for sprinkling
• Optional- Crushed Red Pepper, Panko Bread crumbs for topping

1. Cook quinoa to packaged instructions until fully cooked. (About 15 minutes)
2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 13x9 inch dish( or 8 individual ramekins) with cooking spray.Whisk together eggs and milk in large bowl. Fold in quinoa mixture and cheese.
3. Cook for 30-35 minutes

http://aroundthetableri.blogspot.com/2012/02/cheesy-quinoa-mac-cheese.html 

Oven Baked Parmesan Fries

These are delicious. Make them and don't feel guilty. I even got my little guy to eat them. Just be careful if you let you kids help. Mine dumped the entire bottle of thyme on them!


Ingredients
4 large unpeeled russet potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt (optional)
Directions
1.Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2.Place the potatoes in a mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Season with garlic, thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt. Toss until evenly coated. Lift the fries out of the bowl and spread onto a nonstick baking sheet in a single layer. Save the remaining oil in the bowl.
3.Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through baking. Return the fries to the bowl with the olive oil, sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and parsley. Toss to coat, then spread again onto the baking sheet. Return to the oven, and bake until the Parmesan cheese melts, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the fries with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt to serve.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

Brown Sugar Apple Sauce Bake

We love this applesauce. It is almost like a dessert. It is my favorite part of the meal. I made it for my in laws and they gobbled it up. My mom found this recipe in a gooseberry patch book.

25 oz jar of applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup bisquick
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter softened

In medium bowl mix first 3 ingredients.

Spray casserole dish with cooking spray. Pour applesauce in.

In a bowl mix last 3 ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle over applesauce.

Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 350

Chicken Stuffing in the Crockpot

I made homemade stuffing for the first time last week. It turned out pretty good. I love using the crockpot... esp during soccer season when I am so busy.
Ingredients:
5 skinless, boneless chicken breast
halves
1 (9x9 inch) pan cornbread, cooled and
crumbled
8 slices day-old bread, torn into small
pieces
4 eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried sage
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream
of chicken soup
2 tablespoons margarine
Directions:
1. Place chicken in a pot with water to cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 20 minutes, or until cooked through. Cool, and cut into pieces.
2. In a slow cooker, stir together chicken, cornbread, bread, eggs, onion, salt, pepper, sage, chicken broth, and chicken soup. Stir until well blended. Dot with margarine.
3. Cover, and cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours. Remove lid, and fluff with fork. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

recipe from allrecipes.com

Oven Roasted Potatoes

We had chicken with garlic cream sauce the other night with broccoli and cauliflower. I had some left over potatoes from when we made potato soup (I will have to post that recipe later) so I was looking for a way to use them. I found this recipe at all recipes.

I would think you can use whatever seasonings you want. These had a tiny kick to them b/c of the red pepper flakes. We liked that, but if I was making them for company I would maybe leave them out since not everybody likes that.

Ingredients
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2.In a large bowl, combine oil, garlic, basil, marjoram, dill weed, thyme, oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir in potatoes until evenly coated. Place potatoes in a single layer on a roasting pan or baking sheet.
3.Roast for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, turning occasionally to brown on all sides.

A birthday dinner

Mike turned 34 on Tuesday. With soccer and work I just don't have time to cook some fancy meal. But I did manage to make a few favorites and possibly a new favorite.

Since it is fall I picked up a quart of Eat N Park Chicken Noodle Soup. Mike loves the homemade noodles.



I was going to pick up some bread but decided I could make his favorite cheddar bay bisquits. I posted the recipe awhile back here


Then I made a side dish to go with it that we call tater tot casserole. It is So bad for you but Mike loves it. It is pretty much your standard "funeral potato" recipe or simliar to the Duggar recipe except we don't put ground beef in it.


Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
1 (32 ounce) package frozen potato rounds
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.
Adapted from allrecipes.com


For dessert I made some peanut butter chocolate rice krispie Treats.

They were more like "buckeye" cookies but they were yummy. Mike took a bite and did this groan noise. So they were a hit. But they are very rich. Here is the recipe:
* 3 cups Powdered Sugar
* 1-½ stick Butter, Melted
* 2 cups Peanut Butter
* 3 cups Rice Krispies
* 16 ounces, weight Semi-sweet Chocolate

Mix the powdered sugar, butter, peanut butter, and Rice Krispies together in a large bowl. Lightly butter a 9×13 baking dish, then spoon in the peanut butter mixture. Use a spatula to spread evenly. Melt the chocolate, then layer evenly on top. Refrigerate for an hour or two, then cut into bars and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Happy Memorial Day... Grilled Corn on the Cob

Happy Memorial Day! Since everyone is usually grilling today here is a yummy simple recipe for corn on the cob. Mike makes this all of the time. We got the recipe from one of Steven Raichlen's books. His books on grilling are the best. He gives step by step directions and has tons of great recipes. He started the beer can chicken craze.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

1. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2. 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)
3. 1 garlic clove, minced
4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
5. 4 ears of corn
6. Vegetable oil, for the grill

Directions

1. Light a grill. In a bowl, mix the butter with the Parmesan and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Strip the husks from each ear of corn and remove the silks. Using kitchen string, tie the husks together at the end of each ear to form a handle.

3. Lightly brush the grate with oil. Grill the corn over a medium-hot fire, turning, until partially cooked, about 5 minutes. Brush the corn with the Parmesan butter and continue grilling, turning frequently and brushing with more butter, until deeply browned and tender, about 5 minutes longer. Serve at once with the remaining Parmesan butter.

Enjoy!

Grilled Broccoli & Cauliflower Parmesan

I have been trying to incorporate more vegetables into our meals. I don't really like vegetables. I have always eaten potatoes and corn. You can add broccoli to the list starting in my late 20's. It has to be cooked though. I can tolerate cooked carrots and cooked cauliflower. No raw veggies for me. That might just be about it. Hopefully Hayden does not get my eating habits/preferences. So far he likes a few more veggies then me. But again cooked, almost mushy.

Anyways, here is a recipe for broccoli and cauliflower that I made the other day. I thought it was ok. But you can't go by me since I don't like veggies. Mike really enjoyed it. We made it on the grill but you can make it in the oven also.

Here is the recipe: (which I cut in half and left out the sun dried tomatoes)

1 sheet (18x24-inches) Non-Stick Foil

4 cups broccoli florets

2 1/2cups cauliflower

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

4 ice cubes

PREHEAT oven to 450°F or grill to medium-high. Combine broccoli, cauliflower sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and basil.

CENTER vegetable mixture on sheet of Reynolds Wrap Release Non-Stick Foil with non-stick (dull) side toward food. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese; top with ice cubes.

BRING up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal making one large packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside.

BAKE 20 to 25 minutes on a cookie sheet in oven OR

GRILL 12 to 15 minutes in covered grill.

I got the recipe from a grilling cookbook but you can also see it here