German Rouladen (stuffed beef)

4 Sirloin tip steaks (thin cut)
4 strips of bacon
8 strips dill pickles
1 onion, diced
Mustard
Salt and pepper
8 pieces Provolone cheese
Olive oil
1 can beef broth
1 small can tomato paste
1 small can evaporated milk
1-2 Tbsp flour

1. Lay out meat, drizzle with mustard, salt and pepper. Then place 1 strip of bacon, 2 slices cheese and 2 pickles on each.
2. Roll up tightly and secure with either toothpicks or floss.
3. Drizzle oil in *crock pot, place meat on top. 
4. In medium bowl combine flour, broth, tomato paste and evaporated milk.  Whisk mixture until well mixed & pour over meat.  Add onion, cover & cook on low 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.  Serve!

*On the stove, heat oil in large pan, brown meat on all sides. Pour in 1 C. water, cover and let simmer on med/low heat for 1 1/2 hours. Remove meat, add broth to pan and bring to a boil. Whisk in remaining ingredients and return meat to pan. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes. Serve.

Easy German Red Cabbage

1 head of red cabbage, chopped
1 Gala apple, finely chopped
Red Wine Vinegar, to taste (1/2-1 Tbsp.)
Brown sugar, to taste (about 1 Tbsp.)
Olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2C. Chicken broth
Salt & pepper

-Heat oil and onion in medium saucepan and cook until onion become translucent.
-Add vinegar, sugar, broth and apple. Bring to a boil.
-Add cabbage, salt & pepper. Stir well.
-Cover & simmer until tender. (At least 30 minutes. I let mine simmer for about a hour)

Simple Deviled Eggs

*4 Hard Boiled Eggs
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Salt & Pepper
Cajun Seasoning
Paprika

-Peel the eggs and cut them in half. Remove the yolks, place them in a small bowl and mash them.
-Add a large spoonful of mayo and mustard, salt & pepper, and Cajun seasoning to taste. Mix well.
-Spoon the mixture back into the eggs, top with paprika. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. :)

*The easiest way to make hard boiled eggs is to place the eggs in a medium pot, cover with water. Place the pot on the stove and turn the heat up to high. Once the water begins to boil place the lid on the pot and remove from heat. Let sit at least 12-15 minutes before removing from water.

Creamy Chicken Meatballs With Pasta

Meatballs:
1 lb. ground chicken
1/2 C. grated Parmesan
3 green onions, chopped
Salt & pepper
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1/3 C. milk
1/4 C. breadcrumbs

-Combine all ingredients together in medium mixing bowl and mix together well
-Form into meatballs (I just use wax paper to put them on)

Creamy Sauce:
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 green onions, chopped
Salt & pepper
1/2-1 C. chopped mushrooms
2 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 C. chicken broth
2/3 C. whipping cream

1 box pasta (rigatoni, gemelli, anything fun!)

-Heal oil in large skillet or sauce pan, add onion and mushrooms, cook 2 minutes until mushrooms begin to darken, add broth, flour and salt & pepper, bring to boil then reduce heat to med/low
-Add meatballs to pan along with cream, cover and cook 15-20 minutes until meatballs are cooked (be sure to stir often to rotate the meatballs)
-While sauce is simmering cook pasta according to directions, drain and add to meatballs and sauce
-Serve and enjoy!

~I didn't have mushrooms when I first made this dish (I thought I did) and it was still very very yummy so don't be too worried about it if you don't have them on hand when you make this! :)

Easy Risotto

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 C. arborio rice (you can use regular white rice if you'd like)
1/4 C. sparkling white grape juice
1 1/2 C. chicken broth
Pepper
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

-In small/med saucepan heat butter and oil on medium heat until butter is melted, add onion powder, parsley and rice. Stir rice continuously until the ends of the grains are beginning to become translucent.
-Add white grape juice and continue to stir until liquid has absorbed
-Add 1/2 C. broth and continue to stir until liquid has absorbed then add another 1/2 C. broth, continue to stir, add remaining 1/2 C. broth and continue to stir constantly until rice is creamy and liquid has been absorbed
-Add Parmesan and pepper to taste, stir well and serve!

~Risotto is always good but I really love it most in the colder months, I even make this for breakfast or lunch on occasion. It only takes about 20-30 minutes and can serve 1 person as a main dish or 2 people as a side dish.

Intro to Autumn Soup

Ingredients:
2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 lb. chicken breast tenders, chopped
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp dried sage
2 tsp dried bay leaves
1 tsp dried parsley
Salt & pepper
2 cans vegetable broth
1 1/2 C. whipping cream
1 Tbsp. olive oil

-Heat oil in large pot and add garlic, cook until beginning to brown, add chicken and cook until done
-Add potatoes, beans and carrots along with sage, parsley, salt & pepper and cook for 3 minutes
-Add broth along with 2 cans of water (just fill the cans with water when you empty the broth), add bay leaves and bring to a boil
-Add cream, continue to let boil another 2 minutes, stirring often
-Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer 20-30 minutes until vegetables are soft and soup is beginning to thicken
-Serve! :)

Homemade Donuts and Glaze

These donuts are more cake-like donuts and I don't have a donut cutter so I just used a cookie cutter and it seemed to work fine. And when I was almost out of dough I just used to remaining dough to make donut holes!


Cakey Donuts:

2 1/4 C. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4-1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/2 C. sugar
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 C. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Oil for frying

-Mix dry ingredients together
-Beat egg with sugar in separate bowl until well mixed, add butter, milk and vanilla and mix well
-Add dry ingredients and mix well, be careful not to over-mix
-Heat oil in pan while rolling out the dough to about 3/8" thick, cut with cutters and fry until golden on both sides
(if the dough is difficult to work with then refrigerate for about 1 hour and be sure to work with a floured surface)

Donut Glaze:

1/4 C. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C. powdered sugar

-Heat milk and vanilla on med-low heat until warm
-Gradually add sugar, whisking slowly
-Remove from heat and drizzle over donuts

(makes 18-24 donuts)

My version of Lover's Style Pasta

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp butter
2-4 Tbsp olive oil
Chili powder
1/2 C. chopped black olives
3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 can Italian stewed tomatoes
4 strips of bacon
Grated mozzarella cheese
*1 Tbsp capers
Spaghetti pasta

-Heat oven to 400, line small baking pan with foil and place bacon in pan, bake 15-18 minutes and remove from oven
-While oven is cooking heat butter and oil in medium saucepan, add garlic and chili powder and cook on medium heat until garlic begins to brown
-Add olives, tomatoes and balsamic vinegar and continue to cook about 5 minutes
-Add stewed tomatoes and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer
-While sauce is simmering cook pasta and add bacon to sauce (crumble into pieces first)
-Once pasta is finished add to sauce, toss well and top with cheese and capers
-Serve and enjoy!

(good with bread & butter or crescent rolls)
*Capers can be found at the grocery store on the same isle with the olives, they're in a small jar and are little green things, they really don't have a strong flavor other than being a little salty and they are used for more decorative purposes

Chicken, Broccoli and Hashbrown Casserole

4-5 Idaho Potatoes, grated
4 Tbsp. sour cream
1 can Cream of Chicken
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 C. cheddar, grated
1 crown of broccoli, chopped
4-5 chicken breast tenders, cooked and chopped

-Combine potatoes, sour cream, cream of chicken, onion and cheddar and place in medium baking pan, top with butter and bake at 350 for 45 minutes-1 hour
-Top casserole with chopped chicken and broccoli, top with more cheese if desired and continue to bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted, serve

Bacon-wrapped Pork Chops

3 Pork Chops
6 strips of bacon
Olive oil
2 Tbsp butter
Oneira seasoning
Worcestershire sauce

-Heat oil and butter in medium pan, cook bacon for a few minutes until cooked slightly
-Wrap 2 strips of bacon around each pork chop and secure with toothpicks, place in pan
-Sprinkle with Oneira and pour on Worcestershire, cook 5 minutes and turn, sprinkle with more seasoning and sauce
-Continue to cook until pork chops are cooked throughout and bacon is crisp, serve

Mom's Irish Soda Bread

2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C. shortening
2 tsp. caraway seeds
1/2 C. raisins
3/4 C. buttermilk
1 Tbsp. sugar

-In medium mixing bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda. Cut in shortening.
-Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
-Place dough onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes until loaf is lightly browned. Let sit on wire rack 5-10 minutes before serving.

Easy At-Home Tin-Foil Dinners

1 lb. ground beef
3-4 med. potatoes, thinly sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
2 green onions, chopped
2 cans Cream of Mushroom
Salt & Pepper
Chili powder
Oneira seasoning
Tin foil-tear into 3 large squares

-In small bowl season beef with chili powder and Oneira (to taste), mix well. Shape meat into 3 patties and place on foil.
-Top meat with potatoes, carrots and green onions. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and Cream of Mushroom.
-Wrap up foil tightly, place dinners on large baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 1 hour, or until meat is cooked through and veggies are soft.

Bananas Foster

2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 bananas, cut in half lengthwise and halved
1/4 C. dark rum
Ice cream in 2 bowls

-Melt butter in small saucepan, add sugar and cinnamon and cook on low heat until sugar is dissolved stirring constantly
-Add bananas carefully and cook until they soften and begin to brown, turning occassionally
-Slowly add rum and cook until hot
-Remove pan from heat and tip pan to side and ignite (the flames will rise well above pan so be careful)
-When flames subside lift bananas onto ice cream and top with sauce, serve immediately

Easy Sloppy Joes

Sauce:
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire
1 C. ketchup
1 tsp. mustard

-Combine all ingredients in small bowl and mix well

Meat & Spices:
1 lb. ground beef
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Onion powder (about 1 tsp)
Chili powder (at least 1 tsp)
Paprika (about 1/2 tsp)
Olive oil
Hamburger buns
(I don't usually measure my spices, just add to taste)

-Heat oil in med. pan, add garlic, meat and spices, cook until done, drain
-Add sauce and cook another 5 minutes or so until sauce is cooked in, add more spices if you'd like
-Serve
(This is also yummy when topped with cheese)

Banana Bread

Banana Bread:
1/2C. butter, softened
1 C. sugar
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2C. flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. baking soda

-In med. mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar with hand mixer, blend in bananas, then vanilla and eggs
-Whisk in dry ingredients until just blended
-Pour into greased 9x5" bread pan
-Bake at 350 for about *60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
-Let sit for about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool

*Check bread at 35 minutes, if it appears to be very brown or is beginning to burn on top then cover with a foil tent