Friday, February 27, 2009

Beer and Onion Brats!

It's Friday night and I've been running around all day, I'm too tired to be in the kitchen for long so for dinner tonight, we're having Beer and Onion Brats with Salad. 

Quick, easy and OH SO GOOD! 

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BEER AND ONION BRATS
 
 
1 package (19.76 oz) Johnsonville Fresh Original Bratwurst 
1 large onions, thinly sliced 
2 bottles (12 oz each) beer 
2 tablespoons olive oil 
 
Place the brats in a nonstick pan, cook on both sides for a few minutes, until brown. 
 
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Add the onion and beer, cover, turn down heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 
 
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Drain the beer into a colander, return the skillet to the stove, add the olive oil and fry for a few minutes until onions start caramelizing. 
 
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Serve on your favorite bun. Spread a little mustard and smother brat with the cooked onions. 
 
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Mini Meatloaves!

There's something so utterly comforting about a meatloaf isn't there? 

But I like to mix things up sometimes, and making mini meatloaves is the perfect way to get the right portions for my kids.....and with this recipe I get in their veggies too. 

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MINI MEATLOAVES
 
 
1 lb ground beef 
2 slices of bread, cubed 
1 egg beaten 
1 small onion, finely chopped 
1 (10 3/4 oz) can vegetable soup, undiluted 
 
 
In a bowl combine all the ingredients. Shape into small loaves and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until the juices run clear. 
 
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Top with ketchup and serve with mashed potatoes or fries or whatever you're in the mood for. 
 
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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough!

I usually make the Honey Pizza Dough, which you can find here in my recipes. I've been making that one for years and it's my family's favorite. It's fluffy and it rises beautifully. But sometimes when I'm in the kitchen doing my freezer cooking on the weekends, I throw this one together and pop it in the freezer. This recipe will make 8 individual pizzas, all you need to do is make the dough, divide it into 8 balls, flatten them into discs and then freeze them between sheets of wax or parchment paper. 

When you want a quick meal, pull one from the freezer and add the toppings and bake. DONE! I'm going to give you the original recipe that can be found on Martha Stewart's site, but I tell you I don't follow it to the letter. For example, she divides the dough into two balls and freezes those first and then refreezes the actual pizzas. I don't do that, I immediately divide the dough into the portions I want and freeze them. That's it.... 
 
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WHOLE-WHEAT PIZZA DOUGH  
Credit: Marthastewart.com

 

Ingredients 

 * 1 1/2 cups warm (115 degrees) water 

* 2 packets ( ounce each) active dry yeast * 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for bowl * 2 tablespoons sugar * 2 teaspoons coarse salt 
* 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for kneading 
* 2 cups whole-wheat flour (spooned and leveled) 
 
 
Directions 
 
1. Place water in a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Brush another large bowl with oil. 2. In bowl with yeast, whisk sugar, oil, and salt. Stir in flours with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms. Transfer to oiled bowl; brush top of dough with oil. 

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Cover bowl with plastic wrap; let stand in a warm spot until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour. 

3. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface. With floured hands, knead until smooth, about 15 seconds; divide into two balls. 

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4. Set balls on a plate (they should not touch); freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Then freeze in a freezer bag up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator. 

5. Divide each ball of dough into 4 pieces. Using your hands, stretch each piece into a 5-inch disk (if dough becomes too elastic to work with, let it rest a few minutes). Freeze shells on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Stack frozen shells between layers of parchment paper. Freeze in a freezer bag up to 3 months. Bake from frozen. 

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Here's what I did with mine: I cut the dough into 8 equal parts. Formed them into balls 

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Made them into discs, froze the ones I wasn't using and then rolled out the others for us for lunch. 

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The kids love homemade pizza because they get to put their own ingredients and do whatever they want, like smiley faces. There was sausage, bacon and pepperoni pizza 

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Mommy and daddy decided to turn theirs into calzones. YUM....all we did was put all the toppings that we wanted and then folded the dough over and pinched the ends to seal. Daddy's was all about the meat, bacon, pepperoni, sausage and cheese 

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Here's mine, sausage, bacon, jalapeno, onion slices and cheese 

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Hearty Red Beans and Rice

A stick to your ribs kinda meal....so filling and delicious. 

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HEARTY RED BEANS AND RICE 
Credit: Gooseberry Patch Family Favorites 

 

1 green pepper, chopped 
1 onion, chopped 
1/2 c. green onions, chopped 
1/2 c. celery, chopped 
2 T. fresh parsley, chopped 
3 slices of bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled, drippings reserved 
1/2 lb. polish sausage, sliced 
2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed 
1 c. chicken broth 
6 oz can tomato paste 
2 oz jar chopped pimentos, drained 
2 T. ketchup 
1 t. chili powder 
1 1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce 
3 c. cooked riced 

 

Saute green pepper, onions, celery and parsley in reserved bacon drippings in a skillet over medium heat until tender. Stir in bacon, sausage and next 7 ingredients. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over cooked rice. Serves 4.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Virginia's Baked Spaghetti!

Rich, creamy and the best baked spaghetti you'll ever taste. This recipe is for 12 servings so I made only half the amounts and even then, it's a lot of spaghetti, which is going with Curt to work tonight. 
 
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VIRGINIA'S BAKED SPAGHETTI  
Credit: Gooseberry Patch Cookbook

 

16-oz. spaghetti noodles, cooked
2-(24-oz.) jars spaghetti sauce
2 lbs. ground beef, browned
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
12-oz. evaporated milk
3 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
 

Combine spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce and ground beef in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat; add flour, Parmesan cheese, salt and garlic powder, stirring constantly until smooth and bubbly. Add evaporated milk and one cup cheddar cheese; stir until thickened.

Pour half of spaghetti noodle mixture into a greased 13"x9" casserole dish and pour the cheese mixture over top. Pour remaining noodle mixture into dish; top with remaining 2 cups cheddar cheese. 

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. 

Serves 12. 

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