Pizza Wheels

I made these the other day just to mix it up a little bit and I was so happy I did. These were delicious.

1 recipe pizza dough (below)
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 pkg pepperoni (I use turkey pepperoni)
1-2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 tbs. Johnny's Garlic seasoning (You can get this at Costco and will be glad you did, so good!)
1/4 cup grated parmesan.

Make pizza dough and let it raise for 30 minutes. Roll it out into a long rectangle, like cinnamon rolls. Spread sauce (you want the sauce to be thin), layer pepperoni, and cheeses, then sprinkle with Johnny's. Roll it up lengthwise, so you have a long roll, again just like cinnamon rolls. Cut into 1 1/2-2 inch slices and lay on a greased cookie sheet. Let them raise for about 45 minutes, sprinkle with a little extra parmesan cheese, back at 375 for about 20-30 minutes or until it looks cooked and golden brown.

Serve with marinara or ranch. So good!

Chicken Gyros

photo from Handle the Heat

{I wish I had taken a picture of mine because they really did look this good!}

I am so excited about tonight's dinner that I couldn't wait to post. Seriously, so yummy! I also found a new food blog that L.O.V.E. It's could Handle the Heat and it's definitely worth looking into. So onto tonight's meal...

For the tzatziki sauce:

• 16 oz. greek yogurt or plain yogurt
• 1/2 hothouse cucumber or 1 regular cucumber, peeled and seeded
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced {I used the jar minced garlic and only did 1 tsp instead of 2}
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper
• Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
• Extra virgin olive oil

For the chicken:

• 4 cloves garlic, smashed {Again the jar garlic and only did 3 tsps instead of 4}
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tsp. red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 2 heaping tbsp. plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp. dried oregano
• Salt and pepper
• 1 1/4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips or bite sized chunks

To assemble:

• Pita bread, whole wheat if possible
• Fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
• Red onion, sliced thin (I skipped this because I don't like raw onion) {so did I}

To make the tzatziki sauce:
If using plain yogurt, strain the yogurt using cheesecloth over a bowl. Let strain for several hours or overnight, if possible, to remove as much moisture as possible. Note, if using lower fat yogurt there will be more liquid strained. If using Greek yogurt, skip this step.

Shred the cucumber. Wrap in a towel and squeeze to remove as much water as possible. Mix together the yogurt, shredded cucumber, garlic, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon juice. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

To prepare the chicken:
Combine the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, yogurt, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. Whisk together until mixed well. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and mix well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Preheat broiler. Cook chicken under broiler for about 2-4 minutes per side, depending on size of pieces. Once the chicken is completely cooked through, transfer to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes.

Warm pitas. Top with chicken, tzatziki sauce, diced tomatoes and sliced onions. Serve immediately.

Copied from here.

Chicken, Corn and Black Bean Quesadillas

I made these tonight. I wasn't sure if my kids would eat it and Matt was still at work, so I invited some friends over. They were a hit! Everyone (except Ethan because he doesn't like anything!) loved it. And it was super fast. Probably 30 minutes start to finish...maybe less. I did a little less garlic and I used half pepper jack and half mild cheddar cheese. I also did butter instead of oil when cooking the quesadillas. I would really recommend these!

Photo by sugaredwhisk.

2 tablespoon canola oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups corn kernels
1 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded or cubed*
1/3 cup water or broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 can black beans
2 ounces cream cheese
2 cups Mexican blend cheese (PepperJack would be great too)
4 large (burrito sized) flour tortillas

* I seasoned my chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and chili powder and cooked it stove top.

Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil in a large skillet, stir in the garlic and corn and cook until the garlic is fragrant. Add the chicken, water (or broth), cumin, chili powder, oregano, and black beans and bring to a light boil. Simmer for 5-10 minutes to let the flavors meld. Remove pan from the heat and stir in the cream cheese.

Heat another large pan (grill pan, or cast iron skillet) over medium-high heat, brush pan surface with canola oil. Place a flour tortilla onto the hot pan. Build a quesadilla by layering a handful of cheese, 1/4 of the chicken mixture and another handful of cheese on one half of the tortilla. Fold tortilla in half and apply pressure to top to create a sear on the bottom of the tortilla and to make everything stick together. Once the bottom of the tortilla is browned flip over and brown the other side, once again applying pressure to the top to help the browning process. When both sides are browned remove quesadilla from pan and cut into 4 even triangles with a sharp knife or pizza cutter. Repeat process with remaining tortillas, brushing pan with canola oil before each quesadilla.

Originally posted here: http://www.sugaredwhisk.com/2011/chicken-corn-and-black-bean-quesadillas/

Boursin Chicken

This recipe it so yummy! I thought I had posted it here, but alas I have not, so here it goes.

1 small onion diced
1 pkg mushrooms sliced
4 chicken breasts, sliced in strips (like for stir fry)
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 cup cream (or you can use milk or 1/2 and 1/2 or a combination of them all)
2 Tbs. sour cream
1 pkg Boursin Cheese

Saute the mushrooms and onions in the oil. (You can of course, leave these out if you are not big fans, I however, love them in it.) Once the onions are translucent, add the chicken and cook over low heat until it is cooked through. Add the milk and sour cream and season with salt and pepper to taste. Crumble the Boursin into the sauce and slowly stir it in until melted and smooth. Bring to a low boil for just a second and then serve over rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles or just eat it plain.

Kristy's Mango Peach Pulled Pork

Heather (Mike's wife) Morgan posted this on her blog and it sounded so good! And since it's a crock pot meal, it works for this month. I am posting it here and plan on making it when Matt gets back.

1 pork tenderloin

1-2 cup brown sugar
2 cups Mango Peach Salsa (or salsa of your choice)

Stir together brown sugar and salsa in a slow cooker. Add pork (frozen is okay if it'll fit in the slow cooker). Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Shred pork with 2 forks before serving. If you get the Costco pork and cook it fully, it pretty much falls apart on its own. It's super tender and juicy.

Serve on nachos, in tacos, or in a salad. The possibilities are endless and SO YUMMY!

**NOTE: I added the label to all the Crock Pot recipes we currently have the on the blog. There are 14. Just a few more days for this theme so let's get posting. Any ideas for next month?!**

Barbequed Meatballs

Rachel won't let it go, so here's a recipe. I tried her cream sauce meatballs and unfortunately I had these to compare to so... I guess you could say "I've had better!"

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 can evaporated milk (5 ounces)
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. pepper
1-1/2 lbs grounds beef

Sauce:
1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. liquid smoke, optional
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

In a bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 1-inch balls; place in a greased baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Meanwhile, combine the sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour over meatballs. Bake 10-12 minutes longer.

I serve it on egg noodles.

Meatballs with Cream Sauce

Yep, it's me again. These were great! And relatively easy.

MEATBALLS:

1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk
2 T. ketchup
1 t. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup quick oats
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
3 T. flour

CREAM SAUCE:
2 T. butter
3 1/2 T. flour
1/4 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
14 oz. can chicken broth (If you want your sauce thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup)
2/3 cup milk
2 T. minced fresh parsley

In a bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients EXCEPT the beef and flour. Add beef and mix well. Shape into balls. Roll in flour, shaking off excess. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet and bake, uncovered, at 400 for 10 minutes. Turn meatballs, bake 8-10 minutes longer or until no longer pink. Meanwhile, for the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, thyme, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add broth and milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened. If using the full can of chicken broth, the sauce doesn't thicken overly much, but it is delicious that way. If you want it slightly thicker, cut down the chicken broth to 1 cup. Drain meatballs on paper towels; transfer to a serving dish. Top with sauce and parsley. Serve over rice or egg noodles (I used egg noodles and loved the result!).

Chicken Empanadas

I made these tonight. So good! It wasn't too hard, but it did take time. I wouldn't recommend making them when you have two children who need your attention and no husband around to watch the kids for you. It was insane, but worth it. In fact, I am having to force myself to not eat five more right now!

1 box of pie crust (I ended up making my own because the pie crust I bought was c&*p - I used Alicia's pie crust recipe)
1 chicken breast
2 small potatoes
1/2 white onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 -1/2 cup salsa
Shredded Cheddar cheese
spices (season all, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne)
salt and pepper

Unroll the two crust and use a small cup (3 inch diameter?) to cut out circles, as many as you can get. Lay out on greased tin foil and cover with a towel.

Boil the chicken breast, when cooked shred it (really small) and season with salt, pepper, cumin and chili powder to taste.

Preheat the oven to 450. Peel and dice potatoes, really small! Finely dice the onion. Put a tablespoon of butter in a nonstick frying pan and cook the onions about 5 mins, then add potatoes. Cook until potatoes begin to soften. Add garlic and spices (chili powder, season all, a dash of cayenne, and cumin). Mix in chicken and salsa. Taste, add more salt if needed.

Stuff the dough circles with meat mixture and some cheese. Fold in half and press with a fork around the edges. Brush with an egg yolk and water mixture (about 2 yolks and some water to thin it).

Cook at 450 for 11-13 minutes (until golden on top)

Meat Cupcakes

Sounds gross huh? They actually are pretty good. Matt doesn't like meatloaf so he didn't try them, but Hailey and I enjoyed them. And they make great leftovers for a quick lunch for Hailey. The girl that posted it here, said her kids love them. Try it out...you might be surprised.

This recipe is originally from Kraft Foods. Here's the link to their recipe. It's a mix & match, so you can do various flavors. The barbecue one is our favorite.

1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 pkg. (6 oz.) stuffing mix
1 cup water
1 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 c. barbecue sauce
3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375*. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and garlic powder until well blended. Press evenly into 12 medium muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Make an indentation in center of each with back of spoon. Spoon barbecue sauce evenly into indentations. Bake 30 minutes or until meatloaves are cooked through. Top evenly with cheese; continue baking 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Chicken Fa"Hotties"

I made these tonight and they were really good, not too different in taste than regular chicken fajitas, but way easier and the meat is shredded and I like that. Next time I will do the same thing but with beef. The best part is, you make it in the crockpot, so that right there is a winner in my book.

• 4-6 chicken breast boneless, skinless, frozen
• 3 peppers - sliced
• 1 med-large onion sliced
• 1 package Lawry's fajita seasoning
• 1-2 packages flour tortillas
• sour cream
• shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese of your choice)
• other favorite toppings
• crock pot

1. place frozen chicken and onion in crock pot
2. pour fajita seasoning packet over chicken (you might need two packets depending on the size and amount of your chicken)
3. add water as directed on packet
4. cook on Low for 6 hours
5. stir before adding the peppers to help the chicken shred
6. the last 1/2 hour add your sliced peppers
7. give it one more stir to mix it all together
8. place chicken on tortilla's
9. add your favorite toppings
10. eat and enjoy!

Turkey Marinade

Aunt Ellen made this recipe years ago when I went to visit and I have been looking for it for a while and suddenly it popped up on one of the recipe blogs I frequent, so I made it yesterday. It is so good and makes for some very tender turkey. Just make sure you marinate it for 24 hours or you will miss out.

I would only do half this recipe though. I used a turkey breast and cut it into slices then grilled it the next day. You could also do chicken breasts. Anyway yummy summer grillin'.
1 quart 7-up or gingeralle (I have used diet and didn't notice)
1 pint oil
1 pint soy sauce
1 Tbsp horseradish
1 tsp garlic powder
Marinate for 24 hours in a Ziploc. Yummy.

Dr. Pepper Pork Roast

I made this last night and it was SO good. I wouldn't cook it in the oven as long next time around because parts of the roast dried out. Just keep a close eye on it and decide. I also think it would work in a crock pot.

3 or 4 pound Boston butt or boneless Beef pot roast
1/2 Two liter Dr. Pepper (not Diet)
2 to 3 T Liquid smoke
2 T minced garlice
1 large onion coarsely chopped
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Directions

Use a large pot or dutch oven with lid.
Cover the roast with the Dr. Pepper (may require more depending on the size of your pot)
Add the liquid smoke, garlic and chopped onion.
Cover loosely ( I use aluminum foil)
Bring to a boil on the stove top and simmer until tender. 60 to 90 min.
Place in shallow baking pan and brush the Sauce over the meat.
Bake in a pre heated 350 degree oven. 45 to 90 min. (depends on the toughness of the meat)

Ranch Chicken Wings

These are SO easy and really good. If you don't want 24 wings, you can cut that down, but keep the sauce measurements the same.

24 chicken wings and/or drumettes (I found a "party pack" that had 12 of each)
2 envelopes Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix
1/3 c. butter/margarine, melted
1/4 c. Tabasco sauce (I used Smoked Chipotle Tabasco - really great flavor without so much heat.)
3 Tbsp. vinegar
paprika

Combine margarine/butter, Tabasco and vinegar. Dredge chicken in ranch mix; then dip in margarine/butter mix. Arrange on a cookie sheet (I would line it with foil and spray with cooking spray) and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. Turn over, then sprinkle again. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes more. Serve with bleu cheese dressing, if desired. (Doesn't really need it, though!)

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

I just made this for dinner tonight and wow, it was so good I had to blog it. Give it a try and if you think about leaving out the lemon wedge, don't, it makes the dish. (I actually used a lime wedge since I didn't have a lemon, but the citrus flavor added the last touch, so don't omit it!) It was so easy and took about 20 minutes prep and cook time. It is from Giada de Laurentis. Sorry I don't have a picture.

2 large eggs
1 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan
4 (1/2 to 3/4-inch thick) center-cut pork loin chops (each about 10 to 12 ounces)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon wedges, for serving

Whisk the eggs in a pie plate to blend. Place the bread crumbs in another pie plate. Place the cheese in a third pie plate. Sprinkle the pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Coat the chops completely with the cheese, patting to adhere. Dip the chops into the eggs, then coat completely with the bread crumbs, patting to adhere.

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add pork chops, in batches if necessary, and cook until golden brown and the center reaches 150 degrees, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to plates and serve with lemon wedges.

Chicken Taco Rice

1 lb. chicken- I like to use chicken tenders, they are the easiest to work with
2 Tb. oil
1 can chicken broth
1- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 pkg. taco seasoning- mild
1- 12 oz. can drained corn
1 med. red pepper- sliced in strips
1 1/2 cup minute rice
1 cup shredded cheese
1 bag tortilla chips
some sour cream
Some guacamole

Sautee chicken in oil in a big skillet (big enough to hold all of these ingredients). When chicken is done, in skillet, just break into bite-ish size pieces with forks. Add broth, tomato sauce, and seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, simmer for 5 minutes. Add drained corn and sliced pepper. Bring to a full boil. Stir in uncooked rice. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover again and let stand for just a little while. Serve with chips, sour cream and guacamole. This is even better hours after you make it so you can make it one night have it the next day or make it in the morning and have it that night. Obviously heat it up if you don't eat it right away. Yummy!!!

Taco Bowls

I just found this on a recipe blog Jacque guided me to, and I haven't tried these, but I thought they were a fun variation and kids might love them.

20 6 inch flour tortillas
1 lb ground beef
taco seasoning
16 oz shredded cheese

Preheat the oven to 350. Trim about 1/2 inch from edge of tortillas, push into muffin tins.

Brown ground beef, add seasoning and about 2/3 cup of water, simmer until water is absorbed. Put about 2 Tablespoons of meat into each muffin tin. Cover with cheese. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and tortillas are brown.

Serve with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, avocados, etc.

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa

We made this tonight and put it on salad with Guacamole Ranch dressing, cilantro, cheese, olives and tomatoes, soooooo GOOD!!! Tyler said it is pretty stinking close to the real thing, give it a try

CAFE RIO PORK (copycat recipe)
Slow cook your pork roast in a crock pot with garlic and a little water until you can pull it apart. At that point add the following

1 can diced green chilis
1 to 2 cans of medium or hot enchilada sauce (the red stuff), depending on how much pork you use
1 can of either Dr. Pepper or Coke (I used Dr. Pepper)
At least 1 cup of brown sugar but use as much more as you want to get your sweetness
salt to taste.
It is so easy to make too.


Tomatillo Dressing
1 Pkg. Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Mix
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Cup Mayonnaise
2 Tomatillos
½ to 1 clove garlic minced
½ to 1/3 Bunch Cilantro, chopped
½ tsp. Lime Juice
½ to 1 small Jalapeno (seeds removed) (optional)
Blend all ingredients together in a blender.