Spicy Roasted Vegetable Mac and Cheese

Pictures by The Comfort of Cooking

Spicy Roasted Vegetable 

Mac and Cheese

I thought this was a wonderful recipe that makes that simple child's Macaroni and Cheese more for the adult with Spicy Roasted Vegetables added to it. Yum! Looks so good and and so flavorful. Who doesn't like Mac and Cheese when it looks like this? This is a great little recipe that I found on The Comfort of Cooking. 

Click HERE for the Recipe

Thanks for stopping by!

Dori

Mini Mexican Pizzas

Mexican Mini Pizzas

I was feeling the need to cook some Mexican food, but didn't want to make the usual that I always do. This little recipe is simple, easy, cheap and the best part is that the family loved it. 

These were a BIG hit with the kids and the hubby. My favorite part is the garnishments on top but my kids were happy without it. It was something different and would also be a great way to feed lots of people. 

Ingredients

1 package of large whole wheat tortillas

1 lb of ground beef (you will only use 1 cup) freeze or use leftovers for taco salad.

1 package of taco seasoning

1 C of picante salsa

1 Cup of refried beans

Shredded Mexican cheese

Salt and pepper 

Optional - Black olives, lettuce, sour cream, chopped green onions and tomatoes.

Directions

Cook up your ground beef in a skillet and add the package of taco seasoning with 1/4 cup of water. You are only going to use 1 cup of this meat but I either freeze the rest for later or use it for taco salad the next day.  In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of taco meat, 1 cup of salsa and 1 cup of refried beans and mix well. I added a little salt and pepper.   Using a cup (I showed a picture of the size of cup I used) cut of circles of your tortillas. I got three out of each one. Spray your muffin tin pan and put the tortillas in the pans. You can see how I folded one little area to fit them in. Using a cookie scooper I filled each one. Top with desired amount of cheese and olives. Serve with garnishments of lettuce, sour cream, chopped green onions and tomatoes. 

Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Dashing Dish

Thanks for stopping by!

Dori

Cream of Mushroom Soup with Buttered Crackers

Cream of Mushroom Soup with Buttered Crackers

I am in love with this recipe. There is something special about a homemade soup from scratch instead of buying it in a can. The taste is unmatched. The buttered crackers in the end make it perfection. Once those babies sink in that hot soup and the butter melts you will be in heaven.  Such a comforting soup. 

I have step by step pictures of what I did. My kids LOVED it. My husband LOVED it. I am proud of this one an thankful for the recipe I found and adapted just a little bit from Dinner with Julie. She added Sherry and Thyme to hers. I didn't have either on hand and it turned out amazing. Thank you Julie for a wonderful recipe that I love. 

Ingredients

2 T Olive Oil

1/4 cup of butter

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 cups of mushrooms sliced and diced

2 T of Flour

2 Cans of Chicken Broth

Salt and Pepper

1 to 1 1/2 cups of Heavy Whipping Cream

Mini Saltines or desired Crackers with Butter

1 Ham hock (optional)

Directions

Heat 2 T of oil and 1/4 cup of butter in a pot set at medium heat. 

Add the chopped small onions and cook until soft.  Next add the mushrooms and the minced garlic, add some salt and pepper to taste. Cook the mushrooms until they are soft, and they start to turn golden. Moisture will start to come off of them. Add the flour and stir to coat the mushrooms. Cook for a few minutes.  Add the two cans of chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Next add the heavy whipping cream, the ham hock, salt and pepper and let simmer   until the flavor from the ham is the desired taste. Top with mini saltines and butter.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dori

Homemade Croutons

Pictures by Sweet Pea Chef

Homemade Croutons

Today for lunch I was craving a salad, I got all the ingredients I love on my salad including the croutons. The croutons I had were store bought, tasted great but they were very hard and they are expensive to buy (if you buy the good one), I can't stand the cheap, dry and stale ones. I love croutons and I don't buy them very often because it isn't really a need in the budget. 

My favorite croutons ever our from The Outback restaurant, they have always been the best in my book. Now I know why I liked them so much. They are just like homemade if not homemade there daily. They are perfectly fresh and delicious and that is what I want at home for my salads. My kids love to eat croutons dipped in ranch. They will love this new treat.  

I thought about this while I was eating my salad and then thought "Why am I not making croutons, it can't be that hard". It was one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments. It isn't hard at all, in fact it is so easy my kids could do it. I went to the computer and looked them up and sure enough SUPER EASY!

You can make any flavor you want. I personally would try different things like Garlic, Parmesan Cheese, different herbs, the possibilities are endless. These would also be wonderful served with a warm cup of soup. 

 Next time you go to the grocery store and you see those french breads they have by the registers pick one up......I found these croutons on Sweet Pea Chef. 

Click HERE for the Recipe

Thanks for stopping by!

Dori

Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce

 Pictures by Our Best Bites

Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce

I have seen many recipes for good Red Enchilada Sauce, but this is the first one I have seen for a really good Green Enchilada Sauce. If you have ever been to Cafe Rio this compares to their sauce. Just so you know Cafe Rio is one of my favorite places to eat in the whole world. 

There is nothing better than eating fresh and not processed, so anytime a good fresh recipe like this comes along it has to be shared. You could serve this over cilantro rice, in a warm tortilla, tacos, enchiladas....etc.

I found this recipe on Our Best Bites. Great blog with wonderful recipes. This recipe is better than any canned sauce AND the comments go on and on about how good it is.

Click HERE for the Recipe

I made these Enchiladas below with canned Green Enchilada Sauce. This recipe would be great with these.

Green Chile and Pepper Jack Cheese Enchiladas

Thanks for stopping by!

Dori

Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Herbs - YUM!

 Pictures by Pinch of Yum

Garlic Butter Spaghetti with Herbs

I have a daughter who could eat noodles every day of her life. She makes the noodles and adds a little butter salt, pepper and if she is feeling really crazy, sometimes cheese. She loves it and has got me hooked on the too. I must have the cheese. My kids love this quick, easy and cheap meal, snack or whatever they need it to be at the moment. Try it, your kids will love it. Every kid I have ever made it for has gobbled it down. 

Now, for a more advance version for ME, I found this oh so delicious recipe on Pinch of Yum.

I have never thought of taking this simple dish that we already made and adding a few ingredients like garlic and herbs to making the more mature version of Kallie's noodles. Love the recipe.

So simple.

Click HERE for the Recipe.

Sometimes SIMPLE is just better....

Thanks for stopping by!

Dori