Spaghetti Pie

This is great for left over spaghetti but don't wait till you have left over spaghetti  try it!!

About 1lb package of spaghetti
2 eggs
1- 2 tbls of Italian bread crumbs
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of crushed garlic
mushrooms, carrots,peas, red or green peppers( or both) any kind of vegetable you want to use ( sauted)

1/2 -1 cup of mozzarella
a few tbls of parmigiana  cheese
1/2c tomato sauce
1 tbls olive oil

tomato sauce
olive oil

Cook spaghetti according to package, except cut the cooking time down to about 3 minutes less
Drain Spaghetti and put into a big mixing bowl
 Add the rest of the ingredients to the spaghetti
mix well
If you have a large oven proof fry pan  use it.
Pour a little more oil in the pan swirl it around and heat pan
when pan is ready add the mixture and flatten it down cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes

Heat oven to 350
Transfer pan into oven and cook for about 20 minutes
If you do not have a oven proof skillet put mixture into a pie dish

When finished you can flip the spaghetti pie onto a serving platter and add more sauce,swirl of olive oil,cheese and Italian parsley for garnish.

Slice and eat.
Serve with garlic bread and a salad or saute broccoli with garlic (or both)

ENJOY!!!

Chicken BBQ

Yes BBQ in October, it's quick,easy and taste great!!

4- 6 chicken boneless breasts
2 tbls of canola oil
1 sliced onion
1 med to large green pepper
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1/4-1/2 cup of either homeade or  your favorite bottled BBQ sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Clean chicken, if they are too thick pound them  down
Take a large enough fry pan that will fit all the chicken in it , preferably a pan that you can transfer right from the stove top into the oven. If not have a cookie sheet ready to transfer the chicken on to.

Preheat oven to 400
Heat oil in the fry pan
salt and pepper the chicken breasts
 
when oil is hot saute onions and pepper for about 3 minute
put them to the side add chicken cook for about 2 minutes

Pour BBQ sauce, peppers and onions over chicken
Sprinkle the garlic on top
Transfer into oven and back for about 10 minutes or until done
to crisp the top you can, if you want put the chicken under the broiler for a minute or so depending on how you like it. (if you think it needs more sauce add it, its a matter of taste)

Serve with a baked sweet potato, broccoli and a salad.
*To keep with the BBQ ,serve with potato or macaroni salad.

         ENJOY!!!!

Vegetable Bean Chili

   Chop 

1 med. onion
1 carrot

1 large red bell pepper
one large green pepper
1 small zucchini
1 stalk of celery
2 cloves of garlic
In a med/large pot saute all the above with about 2 tbls of canola oil
Sprinkle about 2 tbls of chili powder and 1 tbls of cumin over the veg, stir
Drain two cans of beans of your choice (black beans, small white beans, pink beans etc).
pour into pot with vegetables.
Add one large can of crushed tomatoes and about 1/2 can of water, if the chili is too thick add either more water or some broth to it.
Now add another 2 tbls of chili powder and 1/2 tea more of cumin.Taste it to see if the spices are what you
want.
salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil
Lower the heat  down to a simmer cover and cook for about 45- 60 minutes
Taste make sure all the seasonings are in balance .

Serve with grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced avocado,some tortilla chips and you can even make corn bread
or corn muffins(from that little blue box)

     Enjoy!!!!!

Back to the Autum Stew

I forgot  some ingredients ;
1 sweet potatoe
2 cups of butter nut squash
 these two veges add a nice touch!!

Autum Stew

You can use beef, chicken or just vegetables

              Beef Stew

11/2 lbs of stew meat (chuck) cut  into the size you like
1 stalk of celery cut up
1 large onion cut in chunks
1 lbs of  baby carrots , frozen or fresh
1 lbs of string beans frozen or fresh by the way I used frozen veges it makes it easier
1 cup of frozen corn
1 cup of frozen peas
1 bag of frozen baby Brussels sprouts
2 cloves of garlic chopped

1 tb of flour
salt
pepper
2tbls of canola oil or olive oli

2 tbss of beef  bouillon  (if using chicken , use chick boulion,for vege use vege bouillon
(Better than Bouillon is what I use)
1 can of tomato soup
Water

Dredge meat in flour, salt and pepper
Heat oil in a pan
add meat in batches to brown
transfer meat to a dutch oven or a crock pot
Add onions and celery to pan and cook for a few minutes, brown a little
put onions and celery with the beef
Add the rest of the vegetables to the beef and onion mixture
Stir together
Add tomato soup and two cans of water into mixture
dissolve the bouillon in about 1 cup of water and add to the mixture
add the garlic
Stir together 
Put into a slow over 325 for  at least three hours
If using a slow cooker follow their directions
***About a half hour before the stew is done take it out of the oven and stir it. Remove about 1/2 cup of the broth put into a bowl and add 1-1/2tbs of flour and stir till smooth, pour it into the pot,stir and put back into oven  to finish cooking.This will thicken the mixture  up.Do the same if you are making it in the crock pot

When finished cooking check to see if you need more salt  and pepper.

Serve with egg noodles,mashed potatoes or crusty Italian Bread.
**This is great made the day before the flavors really marry nicely!!
 
                          Enjoy!!









.

Chicken Cutlets and mashed Potatoes

 A bout 4 boneless chicken breast sliced thin (I like to pound them down a little)
!/2 cup milk
1/2 tbs of paprika  
After cleaning and pounding the chicken and cutting into pieces about the size of your palm
put the chicken in a bowl add the milk and paprika, put in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
about 1 cup of onions
1 cup of sliced mushrooms (white, portabella etc.)

2 cloves of crushed garlic
1/4 cup of Marsala wine
1/2 cup - 1 cup of chicken broth
1/2 tbs of butter
1 Tb of olive oil
1/2 tbs of flour
fresh chopped  Italian parsley
salt and pepper



Get you potatoes ready by peeling and placing them in cold water with asalt.

Chicken
Take chicken out of the fridge , shake off excess milk dip into a bread crumb mixture
set aside
you can either fry the cutlets or bake them

FRY Heat: about 1/2 inch of canola oil in a pan
Add cutlets to pan do not over crowd the pan
cook on one side and then flip over
drain on a paper towel

BAKE: Oil a cookie sheet with about 1- tbs of oil
place chicken on sheet and bake on 400 for about 25- 20 minutes turning once
make sure chicken is brown.

Boil your Potatoes use your favorite recipe

Keep Chicken on the paper towels while preparing the Gravy

Sauce::
In a fry pan (use the same one if you fried the chicken in)
Heat up the oil and butrter
add onions cook for a few minutes
add slice mushrooms stir and cook for another few minutes
add garlic
add flour and stir and cook for about i minute
add wine carefully stir
add broth
Put chicken back into pan and heat through for about 5 minutes on low heat
If sauce is too thick add a little more borth
salt and pepper to taste
Put chicken on serving plate and garnish with parsley

Serve with mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, roasted beets and a green  salad!!

ENJOY!!

Lentil Soup

Now that Fall is here it's a great time for Soup!!



! cup of dry  lentils, rinsed
about 2 carrots slice 
1 stalk of celery sliced
about 1/2 cup of onion chopped in med chunks
clove of chopped garlic
1 10 oz box of frozen mixed veggies (peas, carrots, corn, sting beans)
either 4-6 cups of broth or bouillon mixed to equal about 4- 6 cups of broth
I use Better then Bouillon veggie 
1 Tbls olive oil

Now this part you can do or not:, but I tell you not only is it good for you, but it tastes great too!

If you have some mixed salad green and or spinach that you can not really use for salad and thinking about  tossing them  DON'T, Steam them in a little bit of water till wilted, cool them down and then whirl them in  your blender.
Add to the soup

how to put the soup together
Heat olive, add onion ,garlic, carrots,& celery cook for a few minutes
Add broth and lentils and greens, bring to a boil
Add the rest of the ingredients
Lower the heat and simmer with lid on till lentils and veggies are cooked
Taste to adjust seasonings salt, pepper and any other spices you want to put in.

Serve with homemade croutons or a slice of Italian bread on top with a sprinkle of parmigiano cheese .

Enjoy!!

Piza Pizza

Pizza night tonight , homemade that is

You will need Pizza dough either homemade or you can get it at your local Pizzeria or grocery store.
I like making my own, it's fun! Find a recipe on line.

You will need to have your oven on a high temperature 500 will do
Preheat oven while you are putting the pizza together.


 Toppings for two Pizzas:
Pizza #1
Marinara sauce, mozzarella , grated parmigiano cheese, fresh and powdered garlic, fresh chopped basil,olive oil, dried oregano, salt and pepper
.

Spread dough on a very lightly greased pizza pan or cookie sheet. Here is a little hint dust the bottom of the pan with a little corn meal too.
Spread marinara sauce and  all the other ingredients on the pizza dough, ending  by drizzling the olive oil on top of pie.




Pizza #2

About 3 cups of fresh spinach saute in garlic and olive oil(after cooking squeeze out any water)
1 cup of sauted  mushrooms sliced
1/2 cup of sauted red onions sliced
3 plum tomatoes sliced thin
2 garlic cloves  crushed
olive oil
mozzarella  , grated parmigiano , cheese,oregano, fresh chopped basil, salt and pepper

Spread dough on lightly greased  pan and corn flour,  lay tomatoes on top add some garlic and some mozzarella, then the rest of the toppings ending by drizzling the olive oil over the pie

Bake in hot oven for about 10 minutes or until the crust is nice and golden
Let pizza pie sit   for a minute or two before cutting.

Enjoy with a tossed salad and a glass of Wine.