Easy Does It

Cajunfied Chicken Burgers

2012-08-04T15:45:00.001-07:00

I have never used ground chicken before and needed to experiment with it. I had bought this Cajun Seasoning when I was in Charleston S.C. to visit my family, and have not had the chance to try it out. So why not now if Im going to do experimenting right? These burgers are pretty spicy so test your seasoning before using it, if you're not really into spicy food. It was a sinus clearing cajunfied kinda supper! I hope ya'll will enjoy it as much as we did.

What you will need:

1 lb of ground chicken
Chopped 1/2 onion
2 minced garlic cloves
chopped red bell pepper
chopped green onions
3 chopped mushrooms
Cajun Seasoning

Saute' your onions, garlic, green onions, mushrooms, and red bell pepper. Salt and pepper them.

When your vegetables are done, pour them into a mixing bowl.

Add your ground chicken into that bowl and 2 tbsp of your favorite cajun seasoning and mix the saute'd vegetables together.

In the same pan you saute'd the veggies, heat up enough olive oil to cover pan on med. high. Form your chicken patties and place in pan with heated oil. Cover for 10 minutes, flip and cover for another 10 minutes until patties' are finished (No pink in the middle).

Now if you really want to get Cajunfied, add some Cajun sauce. That is 2 tbsp mayo 1 tbsp ketchup 1 tsp of Cajun seasoning.

Enjoy Ya'll!

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

2012-08-01T22:28:00.003-07:00

I had a lot of things to get done today and really did not want to add a dinner that had a lot to do to prepare it. So I turn to my good ole' trustee crock pot, it never fails me for those lazy or busy days. The best way to eat pork is when it is slowly cooking all day tenderizing until its meat just falls off the bone. The smell in your house is just BBQ heaven.

What you will need:

Pork Shoulder Butt or Pork Shoulder Picnic (what I used)

Liquid Smoke (hickory)

1 can Dr. Pepper or Root Beer

Your Choice of BBQ sauce

Sliced Onions and Minced Garlic Cloves

Salt and Pepper

Optional: Garlic Powder or Pork Rub

Place your Onions and Garlic at the bottom of pot add your salt & pepper.

If you have a Pork Rub you can go ahead cover that around your meat. If not just go ahead and place on top of Onions and Garlic. (I dusted my meat with Garlic Powder)

Add a few drops of Liquid Smoke (not too much its concentrated)

Pour your can of Dr. Pepper or Root Beer in the pot. Do not use diet soda, these colas work as a tenderizer.

Spread a little BBQ sauce on top of meat.

Place your lid on and wait for 9 to 10 hours.

When your meat is done take it out and place in a bowl to do your shredding, it will be so simple because it will just fall off the bone. Once its pulled apart drain liquid from crockpot and put the pork back in. Add your favorite BBQ sauce, mix, and let cook on low for 30 Minutes.

Add your favorite Sauce. I additionally, added 2 tbsp Mustard and a cap full of Apple Cider Vinegar.

I like to enjoy my sandwich with cole slaw on top, its a southern thang ;)!

Enjoy!

Beer Tacos

2012-07-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

My grandfather had the family over for supper, and he added a very special ingredient I never thought you could use for tacos. While letting the meat simmer in the beer I took a taste test and could not believe how amazing it was. You can definitely taste the beer in the ground beef. If you're drinking a beer along with your tacos makes the experience that much more enjoyable.

What you will need:

1 lb ground beef
1 bottle of dark lager beer
1/2 package of taco seasoning
Taco shells/Soft tortilla
Shredded Taco Cheese/Queso Fresca Cheese

Brown your ground beef at med. high temperature and drain.

Stir in your taco seasoning so that it sticks to your meat.

Add your bottle of beer into your meat pour slowly. Simmer for 35 minutes on Med. temperature covered, until your beef has absorbed all that beer and you can taste that goodness.

For a quick night fix, you are done just heat your tortillas and shells, add your meat and toppings and you have a fast dinner with amazing flavor!

What I like to do is take a soft tortilla place queso fresca on top then lay a hard shell on top, heat up oil in a pan place the soft and hard tortilla in the pan and fry until cheese has melted and hard shell is attached to the soft shell. Its kind of like the gordita crunch from Taco Bell.

Or like I show below do the same but instead of frying together, place in a 400 degree preheated oven for about 15 minutes until cheese is melted. There you have it Beer Tacos!!!

Melt in your Mouth Crock Pot Ribs

2012-07-23T23:26:00.003-07:00

I live in an apartment that does not allow us to use a grill, and in the summer its totally a staple to make ribs, at least in my opinion. So a quick and clean prep and 6 hours later you have fall off the bone, melt in your mouth ribs! Someone was looking after us apartment dwellers ha ha.

What you will need:

Package of Country Style Ribs (pork) or you can use beef ribs too. You also can use boneless or bone in packs of ribs.

BBQ sauce of your Choice ( I love me some honey BBQ)

1 Whole Onion

Garlic Cloves

Liquid Smoke

Salt and Pepper

Set your crockpot on low.

Slice your Onions and Garlic Cloves and place at the bottom of the pot.

Place your ribs on top of the Onions and Garlic. Add a few drops of Liquid Smoke ( I used Hickory).

Pour your BBQ sauce over ribs so it covers them. Sprinkle some Salt and Pepper on top. Pop on that lid and let cook on low for 6 hours.

See simple, quick, and clean and your house is going to smell like a BBQ Roadhouse ;)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Cherry Coke Cake

2012-07-22T17:23:00.001-07:00

Oh yeah, you heard me right, a Cherry Coke cake! I have heard of Coca-Cola Cake and have always wanted to try that, but I jumped right on it when I read a Cherry Coke Cake. Something about the cola makes it so moist and you can even taste it in this scrumptious dessert, it is absolutely the best cake I have ever ate. I am not joking about this at all, but you will want to have a Cherry Coke to go along with this, for some reason you just crave it after you take that bite. I hope you really enjoy this recipe, I know I did and probably wont stop talking about it for days. ha ha

What you will need:

Box of Betty Crocker Chocolate Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 cup of Cherry Coke
1 10 oz or larger jar of Marichinos Cherries
Reserve 1/4 cup of the cherry juice
3 eggs
1/2 Cup of Vegetable or Canola Oil

Frosting:

1 Cup of Marshmallow Creme
Jar of White Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.

Chop up your Cherries about 25 (remove stems), save some cherries to place on top of your cake when finished, it gives it that much better of an experience if you leave a cherry on top ;).

In a bowl add your Cake mix, eggs, oil, cherry juice that you reserved, and your 1 cup of Cherry Coke. Mix together for 30 seconds.

In a 13x9 pan grease it and flour it so your cake don't stick. I have a Wilton non stick pan so you can omit that if you have a non stick pan as well.

Pour the batter in the pan and place in oven for 35 minutes, or until center is done. Do a knife check by poking it in the middle and if the knife comes out clean your cake is done!

Let your cake cool for probably about an hour. Once the cake is cooled you can start making your frosting. In a bowl mix together your Marshmallow Creme and your Cake Frosting together. Pour over cake and smooth out.

Nice and neatly pop the cherries on top. I would suggest covering the cake and placing in the fridge for about an hour, I love the way it tasted chilled and the frosting was perfect. But if you simply just cant resist dig in ya'll! This cake really topped it off for me, and I hope so for you too!

Enjoy!

Check out that cherry effect mmm...!

Sorry, I had to do a vintage effect!

Crock Pot Banana Bread

2012-07-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

Yes you heard it right! A banana bread in the crockpot! I couldn't believe it myself that you could bake in these things, so I put mine to the test to see how this turns out and WOW! It was so much better than my oven version, it comes out real moist and packs a lot of flavor. This is definatly a must try for you avid crock potters!

What you will need:

3 Ripe Bananas
3 eggs
1 cup of sugar
2 cup of flour
1 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 cup of margarine or butter
Walnuts (optional)

In a bowl combine your eggs, sugar, and butter/margarine.

After mixed well add your 1 Cup of flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.

Add your other 1 cup of flour and mix well. It will be a thicker and that is the way you want it!

Time for the good stuff! Mash them naners! haha that's what my grandma use to call them. :)

I don't have a masher so a good ole' fashion drinking glass will do the job!

As soon as you have a nice mash a little chunky but smooth go ahead and pour your bananas into your batter.

At this time you can add any nut, fruit, candy, whatever it is you like in your banana bread, do so now. I left mine plain today, even though I do like a good walnut in my bread. :)

I buttered and dusted my crock pot with flour so my bread wont stick to the ceramic. Close your lid and place your temperature on low setting and let it cook for 4 hours.

4 hours later you have a nice golden shiny bread that has your house smelling like heaven!

The easiest way to get this thing out is to take a spatula and slide it all the way down to the bottom and on the other use another spatula or another type of utensil to hold underneath it so it doesn't break in half!

Enjoy!

Peach Cobbler

2012-07-13T10:37:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite desserts I could eat anytime of the year, although I make the best in the summer season. Nothing tastes better than when using fresh peaches vs. canned, but if that is all that is available then ya gotta use what ya can get. I love to eat mine with a side of vanilla bean ice cream even without its just fantastic! I'm a guilty cobbler eater for breakfast if there's leftovers haha! Nothing wrong with that, I mean peaches are fruit too right?! haha This is super easy, fast, and extremely delish!

What you will need:

4 Peaches (if its not peach season and none is available 1 large can of peaches should do)
1/2 Cup of melted butter or margarine
1 Cup of milk
1 Cup of Flour
2 Cups of sugar (if youre using canned peaches just 1 cup of sugar)
1 Tbsp of Baking Powder
Ground Cinnamon or what I use is Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
1 tsp of Salt

Preheat Oven 375 degrees

Remove the skin from the peaches. You can remove with a knife which is quicker or you can boil them and quickly blanch them in ice cold water it will make the skin peel right off (This peach step you can omit if you are using canned peaches)

Slice up your peaches! There is a pit in the middle so be careful!

Add 1 cup of sugar and mix well.

Add a capful of vanilla flavoring.

Add your cinnamon sugar to your taste and mix.

Go ahead and mix up your dry ingredients (1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, 1 tsp of salt, 1 tbsp of baking powder.) Once that is mixed gradually stir in your cup of milk and mix well.

Melt your 1/2 cup of butter or margarine and place in your baking dish, I used a pie dish because I like a thick cobbler, this recipe is also good for a 9x13 baking dish.

On top of the melted butter pour your batter mixture DON'T stir please :), leave as is.

Pour the peaches on top and sprinkle to your liking of the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Place in the oven and bake for a good 45 minutes until you have a nice golden crust. Poke a fork in it to make sure your batter has completely baked through.

Now all you need is a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream mmmm..!!

Enjoy!

Eggplant Lasagna

2012-07-01T22:59:00.001-07:00

Want to have a nice Vegetarian dinner tonight? Those are sometimes nice to have and no meat. The plus side on that is its cheap, light, healthy and simple. My boyfriend called this "chick food" so if you have that manly meat and potatoes kinda guy, make sure there is back up ha ha!

What you will need:

1 large eggplant
15 oz tub of Ricotta Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
8 oz can Tomato Sauce
12 oz can Diced Tomatoes

Slice your eggplant longways into thin strips. Rub Olive Oil,Salt, and Pepper. Place in over for 10 minutes until you have a golden look.

Heat up your Tomato sauce and Diced tomatoes and add your Italian Seasoning. Stir and simmer for 10 minutes.

Take a pan ( I used a pie dish because it is only 2 people eating) place a small amount of tomato mixture at the bottom. Place a few slices that will cover the sauce of eggplant as if you were layering noodles in a regular meat lasagna. Make a layer of Ricotta Cheese on top of eggplant, then layer tomato mixture.

You will keep layering until the pan cant hold any more layers, then cover the top with Mozzarella cheese. I sprinkled a little parsley on top just to garnish.

Bake for about 45 minutes.

Voila!

Spicy Chili

2012-07-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

I know its summertime and chili really isn't the first thing to come to mind, but its so popular around my house that I have to make it every once in a while. But when that cold weather comes brewing in this is the best! Now I make my chili super spicy, if you're not into that heat you can minus those couple ingredients and its still an awesome dish!

What you will need:

1 lb of ground beef
1 package of HOT chili seasoning (you can use a regular chili seasoning if you're not into the hot)
Can of Kidney Beans (drained)
Can of Stewed Tomatoes
Can of Tomato sauce

Pinch of Chili Powder
Pinch of Garlic Powder
1/2 Onion
Garlic Clove (minced)
Tabasco Sauce ( My secret ingredient he he)

Take a pot and heat at med. high temp. Place your ground beef in and brown it along with your chopped onion and minced garlic.Once browned drain and add 1/2 the content of the chili seasoning and mix together so it sticks to the meat. (hold the other half for later)

Add your Kidney Beans, Stewed tomatoes, Tomato sauce then stir. After stirring that up a pinch of both Chili powder and Garlic powder, and the remaining Hot Chili sauce. Stir that together, let simmer for 2 minutes, then add a few or more drops of Tabasco Sauce. The Tabasco sauce is to your liking of spiciness, I would recommend tasting your chili before adding way too much.

Stir and let simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes!

Enjoy!

Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms

2012-07-01T11:31:00.003-07:00

I love me some portabella mushrooms, you can do just about anything with these bad boys! I am going to make these in the oven, although the best way to make them is on the grill, so if you have a grill by all means please fire up that grill! In my previous blog posts, I've talked about how my boyfriend is that meat and potatoes kinda guy and is leery about trying anything out the box. I made him try these and he couldn't believe how good they were!

What you will need:

2 Portabella Mushrooms ( Or how many is in your family, the more mushrooms you have the more you will have to up your ingredients.)
1/2 package Cream Cheese
1 Garlic Clove minced
1/2 cup Frozen Spinach (fresh chopped spinach works great too!)
2 tbsp of Parmesan Cheese

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Take your mushrooms and place on an oven pan (make sure to remove the stem in the middle first) coat with Olive Oil and Salt on both sides. Place in oven for 10 minutes.

While waiting for your mushrooms to heat up, go ahead and take1/2 a cup of frozen spinach, half a package of cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and your minced garlic clove. Mix it up!

Take your mushrooms out the oven let them cool for 2 minutes.

Take your filling and place on top of your mushroom ( the underside of the mushroom ) Once stuffed you can add buttered bread crumbs and/or mozzarella cheese on top (I used string cheese, hey it works!), or you can just leave as is.

Place back into the oven for another 10 minutes, always check to make sure the middle of the filling is hot.

Enjoy!

Cajun Fries

2012-06-26T21:51:00.001-07:00

If you're into things with a kick you'll love these fries! If you're making these for a get together, the cool thing is you can choose to Cajunfy these or leave them be, because some people cant take the heat ha ha. Now since I have a lil' one its hard to make a lot things so doing a preparation before hand is a plus and you can do this with these until youre ready to fry or bake them.

All you need is :
4 potatoes
1 cup of flour
1 tbsp Onion Salt
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tbsp Paprika
salt and pepper to taste
Cajun Seasoning

Wash your potatoes and skin them. Once they're skinned slice them into french fry shapes. You can slice them long ways and then turn flat and chop thin sticks. If you are planning on making these later put your potato sticks into a bowl with cold water and salt so they dont bruise. Place in the refrigerator.

If your potatoes were soaking in the salt water go ahead drain and dry them.

Heat your oil on med. high temp.

Dust your fries in flour so your batter will stick.

Mix your flour and seasonings (excluding Cajun Seasoning) into a bowl and pour 1 cup of water to make a batter.

Dip your potatoes in the mixture.

When coated place in the frying pan with the heated oil and fry them for about 10 minutes, until you get a nice golden fry.

When done place them on a plate with a napkin to drain the oil and sprinkle salt over them, this is where you sprinkle your Cajun Seasoning to your liking. You sprinkle your Cajun seasoning on after the frying because the oil is still wet and holds it better to your potato.

Enjoy!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

2012-06-10T22:11:00.003-07:00

I made my homemade Rotisserie Chicken the night before. Out of that I had leftover chicken and I was able to make a homemade Chicken Stock out of it. So half of my work has already been done for me yay! This recipe the biscuit topping is just so buttery and moist it just melts everything in your mouth.

What you will need:

Leftover chicken meat
Chicken stock ( http://clairesblog128.blogspot.com/2012/06/homemade-chicken-stock.html ) That is my recipe for it.
2 Cans of cream of chicken
Bag of frozen peas and carrots ( in my pictures I have them canned, only because I didnt make it to the grocery store, you can use these but I prefer the frozen)
3 Hard boiled eggs
1 stick of melted butter
1 cup of flour
2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of pepper
1 cup of milk

Boil your eggs, peel the shells off, chop them up.

Place your leftover chicken at the bottom of the pan.

Place your peas and carrots on top of the chicken.

Mix your chicken broth with your cream of chicken. Pour over the peas and carrots.

Stir your mixture up. Add your chopped boiled egg , salt and pepper.

Now make your biscuit batter. Mix your flour, baking powder, salt and pepper.

Add your milk and stir. Then add your melted butter and stir in.

Now pour your batter on top of your pie filling.

Bake for 30 minutes until you have a nice golden crust.

There you have it an Easy Chicken Pot Pie. It was so delicious we didn't even have leftovers!

Enjoy!

Homemade Chicken Stock

2012-06-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is fairly simple, I didnt have the normal ingredients like carrots and celery around so I improvised. I have to say I love it better than the original recipes.

All you need is:

1 Chicken Carcass
1/2 White Onion
Green Onions Chopped
Garlic Cloves
Salt and Pepper

Heat up a large pot or stock pot at Med. high temp.

Drop your carcass in the pot along with your onions, garlic, and salt and pepper (to your taste) I used about a tbsp of salt and a tbsp or pepper.

Add your water last, let your water boil, then turn down to med. temp. cover and simmer for an hour and half. After that hour and half reduce your simmer to low for 2 hours.

Take a strainer and place over a bowl to catch your stock, place a paper towel in the strainer so none of the bones, onions, and garlic seep threw. You can use a think cloth like cheese cloth as well to strain.

Pour your pot into the strainer over the paper towel and let the juices flow through. When its done you should have a nice smooth clean broth. You can use right away or store in the refrigerator for later use. This stuff is so yummy I love making soups out of it and my chicken pot pie.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Rotisserie Chicken

2012-06-07T07:01:00.001-07:00

I love those pre-made rotisserie chickens from the grocery store, but for some reason they sell out before I can ever get one. So I vowed to myself I would learn how to make one one day. Sure enough its as easy as going out and picking one up from the store, if not easier ha ha. I have to say also it taste a whole lot better and its a whole lot more juicier if you make it on your own, I'm talking fall off the bone juicy.

All you need:

1 whole chicken

McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning

Oh yeah, and you're going to need a Crock Pot. So set it on low.

Take your whole chicken in the sink and remove from the plastic. Note: Most whole chickens still have the giblets inside, so this part is messy, and its the one thing I dont really fancy doing ha ha. Stick your hand inside the canal (chicken butt ha ha) and pull the giblets out or you might be able to shake them out too.

Once you're done place your chicken in the Crock Pot. (Wash your hands) Take the Rotisserie Seasoning and sprinkle the top of the chicken, flip it over with a spatula if you don't want to touch the chicken and sprinkle some more on this side.

I like to place Garlic Cloves in my pot, because anything with garlic taste better, I say!

Now cover and in 6 hours you will have one scrumptious rotisserie.

You probably will have leftovers save the carcass and you can make homemade chicken stock or the leftover meat for a tortilla soup, or even chicken pot pie.

I hope you Enjoy!

Breakfast Quiche

2012-06-05T21:59:00.003-07:00

Mornin'! Day off for the man of the house and wanted to treat him to a special breakfast, he deserves it. So I woke up extra early to sneak in the kitchen hoping the smell of breakfast wakes him up.

This is what you will need:

1 tube of breakfast sausage
1 can of crescent rolls
6 eggs
Shredded cheddar cheese
White gravy http://clairesblog128.blogspot.com/2012/06/country-style-gravy.html

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.

Grease a pie dish.

Unravel the crescent rolls into a pie dish. Pinch together triangle creases so it's all connected.

Fry your breakfast sausage up at med. high temp. Once its done drain and place on a plate with paper towel.

Make a white gravy. This my Country Style Gravy recipe http://clairesblog128.blogspot.com/2012/06/country-style-gravy.html

Once you have made your gravy pour it over your crescent dough.

Place the sausage on top.

Beat 6 eggs and 3/4 c of milk. Pour that mixture on top of your sausage.

Cover with the cheddar cheese. Place the Quiche in the oven and bake for 45 minutes until eggs are done.

Oh yeah, by the time you take this out the oven the family will be waiting with their plates in their hands. This is so delicious, and filling.

Enjoy!

Bacon Cheddar Pie Burger

2012-06-05T17:41:00.003-07:00

I was craving something super gooey, cheesy and salty last night. The best thing that could come to my mind was a cheeseburger. I didnt want the whole plain add a slice of cheese on top and call it a day. I wanted a crunch and I wanted that extra cheese! So I stuffed some shredded cheddar in the middle and some on top and added that heavenly piece of pork, bacon! Yea I probably could have called it a heart attack burger but it was so worth it. You can never have too much cheese, I say!

Here is what you will need:

1 lb of ground beef.
Shredded cheddar cheese
Bacon
Worcestershire Sauce
Salt and Pepper

Fry your bacon up! I do this before I mold my burgers, to get this step out the way and your bacon will be ready when your burgers are done.

Remember place your done bacon onto a plate with a paper towel, it soaks up that grease. You will have a nice crunchy bacon, mmm I could eat this stuff all day.

Now while your bacon is frying up go ahead and seperate 4 patties, and go ahead and mold them round and flat.

Take about 3 tbsp of shredded cheddar cheese and place in the center of one patty. With the other patty place that on top. Close the sides up so it holds the cheese inside.

Heat up a frying pan at med. temp. and drizzle some worchestshire sauce in it.

Place your patties in the frying pan and cover with a lid for 10 minutes.

Flip your patties over and cook for another 10 minutes covered.

Patties should be done if the juices are running clear, go ahead and top with some shredded cheese place lid back on for 5 minutes so your cheese melts.

Place your burger on a bun and top it off with your bacon and condiments of your choice.

This stuff is so cheesy, make sure you have tons of napkins ha ha!

Enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Rice

2012-06-03T16:15:00.002-07:00

This is a very light rice that is perfect for those summer days. You can use it for those days on the grill and even Mexican food. I'm not too much of a fish person but I think it would go perfect for seafood, definitely shrimp that's my favorite. In this recipe I used real rice not the instant rice. I used to be terrified to make the real deal because I've messed it up so many times. I've been practicing lately and I wont go back to the instant, it makes a difference for sure.

Here is what you will need: (this is for 4 servings)

1 Cup of white long stemmed rice
2 Cups of water
1 tbsp of butter
1 whole Lime
About a handful and then some of Cilantro.
1 tbsp of salt

Add your rice, salt, and butter to the water. Heat the pan to Med. High stir and wait for your rice to start boiling. As soon as your rice boils tightly place a lid on the pot (do not remove) immediatly set your burner to low to simmer for 15 minutes.

Chop up your Cilantro and half your lime.

Check on your rice after 15 minutes. (Do not remove your lid yet) If your rice has appeared and soaked up all the water, like the photo below, take off the burner and let sit for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes are up you can remove your lid. Your rice should look just like this.

If you have a juicer this would make it easier. So I'll do it the old fashion squeezin' ha ha.

Stir your rice to get the lime juice mixed in well, then go ahead and put your cilantro in your rice, stir it around.

There ya have it! A nice light summery side.

Enjoy!

Mushroom Chicken

2012-06-03T14:43:00.001-07:00

I love this chicken recipe! Especially since this is a breast and I am anti white meat. Its way too dry for my liking. I like to call all white meat Choke Chicken, yeah I know its weird but I seriously feel like I am going to choke swallowing the stuff. Anyways, I figured out a way to make a dark meat lover LOVE white meat. The special ingredient is...butter! Yes I know I make a lot of my foods with it, but it tastes so darn good. The star ingredient mushrooms, gives off a very earthy taste mixed with the onions and garlic. Its just pure and simple divine.

This is what you will need:

3 large boneless skinless chicken breast
Flour
Garlic clove
White Onion
4 large white button mushrooms

First chop up your mushrooms, about 2 tbsp of onions, and mince one garlic clove.

Take a stick of butter (or margarine) and melt at Med. temp in the frying pan.

After butter has melted add your garlic and onions.

Make a plate for your flour. I put a tbsp of Garlic powder in my flour for my taste, you can add salt, pepper, or leave it plain flour.

Now take your chicken and cut in half horizontally ( your preference on how you would like to cut your chicken)

Take your chicken and dip in the flour. This will give you a nice creamy sauce and give a little crisp to the chicken

Place your chicken into the pan cover with a lid for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes flip the chicken over and place mushrooms into the pan, try and get some of them into the butter sauce in the pan. Cover with a lid for another 10 minutes.

Go ahead check to see if your chicken is done (VERY important step you dont want any chicken raw)

Once its done, plate it and cover with your mushroom sauce. This chicken is so tender and full of flavor you're going to want to go back for seconds

Enjoy!

Southern Fried Pork Chops

2012-06-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I know its so not healthy but with the word Southern in it, you gotta know its going to be so good but so bad for you ha ha. I like to top mine off with Country Style Gravy it just completes this fried goodness. I don't have much words left to describe this, once you try it you'll know what I mean.

What you will need:

4 Boneless Pork chops
1 Cup Flour
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Onion powder
1 Tbsp Paprika
Salt and Pepper
Canola Oil
1 egg
Whole milk

In a frying pan pour the Canola Oil halfway full. Turn the temp. to Med. High.

While waiting for the oil to heat up go ahead and make your egg and milk mixture. 1 large egg and 1 equal part milk. This is what will hold your flour to your meat.

Now in a plate mix your flour, garlic salt, onion powder, paprika, and a pink of salt and pepper together.

Take your pork chop and dip into the flour mixture first. This is going to make your crust thicker.

Next, dip your floured pork chop into the egg mixture.

Now dip your pork chop back into the flour mixture. Make sure its all covered evenly and press on that flour to give it a nice crust. Repeat with the rest of the chops.

Do a pan test. Drop a drop of water into the oil if its hot enough it will pop. You can also flick a piece of flour in and if it sizzles and pops its ready. Place your pork chops into the oil, (be very careful to not splash and watch for popping grease, you don't want to burn yourself) let them fry for about 15 minutes. Carefully flip them over and fry for another 10 minutes. Always check to make sure they are done by taking one out and cutting through the middle to check for color. A light pink and white is what you're looking for or a full white for those who like a dry chop.

When they're done take them out and place on a plate with a paper towel. This will soak up the grease so you wont have a wet plate.

I top my pork chops off with my Country Style Gravy. Here is the link for my gravy recipes.

http://clairesblog128.blogspot.com/2012/06/country-style-gravy.html

Enjoy!

Country Style Gravy

2012-06-02T09:43:00.004-07:00

Can't be a Southern Gal and not know how to make gravy ha ha. There's so many different types of gravy you can make but my favorite of them all is just the plain ole' Country Style. Add some sausage to it and you can have it for breakfast on your biscuits, omelets, hash browns, well I think you get it ha ha. Its quick and simple to make only thing is you need to stay right with it and continuously keep stirring. Its very easy to mess up, so make sure you follow the recipe as it says. I made the mistake and tried rushing it..bad idea I had to pour the whole thing out and start over. Not trying to scare you just giving you a heads up for the first time gravy makers ha ha!

This is all you will need:

1 Cup of Whole Milk (you can use Buttermilk too)
5 tbsp of butter (margarine works too)
4 tbsp of flour
Salt
Pepper

Since these are the basics I didn't post a picture of all the ingredients together.

First Melt your 5 tbsp of butter in a med. temp pot.

Once the butter has melted add your 5 tbsp of flour.

Stir until you get a dark yellow paste ( most people call it a peanut butter consistency)

GRADUALLY add your milk to the pot while stirring at the same time, when it gets thick again add a little more milk. You will continue doing so once you have a gravy like texture.

Add your salt and pepper. (This is to your liking) I would recommend 1 tbsp of pepper and 1 tsp of salt. Do your taste testing :).

If its really creamy and thick you made have made gravy! Make sure you do a taste test before serving so you know you put enough salt and pepper in it.

Doesn't this look yummy? That is if you're like me and love anything deep fried in gravy ha ha. These are Southern Fried Pork Chops and will be posted in my next blog entry.

I hope you enjoy!

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

2012-06-01T18:58:00.000-07:00

I am originally from South Carolina and I have never heard of Cheesy Potatoes before until I moved here to Michigan. I've noticed its a big staple at most family gatherings here, so I asked for the recipe to this and I would get all these steps that I thought took too long to make. So here is my simple version, and I promise once you make this be prepared to make tons more. I get asked all the time at family gatherings to make my Cheesy Potatoes.

This is what you will need:

2 LB bag of Southern Style Hashbrowns (cubed)
2 8 oz tubs of Onion and Chives Cream Cheese
2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup. (you can also use cream of celery, they both taste good)
1 bag of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat your over at 350 degrees.

Pour the Cream of Mushroom and scoop out the Chive and Onion cream cheese into a large bowl.

Mix the Cream Cheese and Cream of Mushroom together then place the bowl into the microwave for 3 minutes.

After the mixture has heated enough in the Microwave stir until its completely combined together. You then pour the frozen hashbrowns in another bowl.

Pour the mixture onto the frozen hashbrowns.

Combine the mixture with the frozen hashbrowns make sure everything is mixed evenly. Pour a handful of shredded cheddar cheese into the potatoes mix it together.

Pour the Cheesy Potatoes into a 9 x 13 in baking pan. With the rest of the shredded cheddar cheese in the bag go ahead and spread that evenly on top of the potatoes.

Place the Cheesy Potatoes into the preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 45 minutes until cheese is melted and you can hear the creamy goodness underneath bubbling.

Trust me you will be a hit if you make this. When I make this for supper my boyfriend will eat it for snack and even breakfast ha ha. I hope you enjoy!

Twice Baked Potatoes

2012-06-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

These twice baked potatoes are to die for. My man is one of those meat and potatoes kind of guy. If I ask him what he wants for supper I always get the can we have baked potatoes? Now, I personally don't care for the plain butter and sour cream on top. It never seems to keep a buttery creamy taste that I want its to dry for my taste and I don't really care for the skin too much. This is a perfect combination that keeps him happy and me happy so now I don't mind making these.

This is what you will need:

2 Potatoes (I used the Large Steakhouse)
3 Tbsp of Sour Cream
1 Minced garlic clove
3 slices of cooked bacon crumbled ( you can also use bacon bits)
1 Tbsp of chopped green onions
1 Tbsp of Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp of butter or margarine
1 Tbsp of Parmesan Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt

Preheat the oven at 400 degrees

First what you will do is rub Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a pinch of salt onto the potatoes.

Now take a fork and puncture vent holes all around the potatoes.

Place the potatoes into the oven for 45 minutes

Place the bacon strips in the microwave for 4 minutes (you can skip this step if you would prefer Bacon Bits). Place a paper towel over the bacon so it doesn't pop grease all in your microwave. You can fry it if you please I put them in the microwave to safe time and pans.

After 45 minutes are up place a knife in the middle of the potato to make sure its done. (You'll know when the knife slides in with no resistance) Go ahead and cut the top of the potato off longways. You can save the top half if you would like but there is no use for it in this recipe

Scoop out the potato until its hollow leave a little starch around the skin so it doesn't collapse or tear when placing the filling in. Place the scooped out potato starch into a bowl to prepare for all the goodies.

Add your sour cream, minced garlic, diced green onions, garlic powder, butter, Parmesan cheese and the bacon. Mix them all together and stuff the mixture back into the potato skins.

Top it off with some cheddar cheese to your liking. Place back into the oven for another 15 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Voila! A nice creamy mash packed with a ton of flavor inside with a salty crispy skin.

Italian Breaded Pork Chops

2012-06-01T13:39:00.002-07:00

Ah, the pork chop, one of my family's favorite meat. I honestly do not think you can go wrong with this meat. Just don't overcook it, you need a light pink inside or you'll end up with a sore jaw and no flavor. This is one of my healthier ways of making a pork chop that I would like to think ha ha. Instead of using a canola oil for deep frying I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for a nice brown.

This is what you will need:

Italian Style Bread Crumbs
Flour

Parmesan Cheese

Garlic Clove

4 boneless pork chops

Garlic Powder

Salt (optional)

First get your crust material prepared. You will need to pour a 1 1/2 Cups of Bread Crumbs and 1 Tbsp of Parmesan Cheese in a dipping plate.

Add 1 1/2 Cups of Flour and 1 Tbsp of Garlic Powder in a separate dipping plate. Add a pinch of salt to the mixture, this is optional.

Make an egg wash. 1 large egg mixed with equal part water, then beat together until blended completely together.

Here's the fun and messy part! Take your pork chop and dip into the flour mixture, coat evenly. This going to allow the bread crumbs to stick easier to the chop.

Go ahead and dip the floured pork chop into the egg wash.

Now dip the pork chop into the bread crumb mixture. Coat it nice and evenly.

Heat up a pan at medium temp. add your Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (If you have another kind of cooking oil you can use this as well, I love the Olive Oil because it gives it a nice flavor)

Mince a clove of garlic and saute' in the pan. Be careful to not let the garlic burn.

When the garlic starts to sizzle, go ahead and place your pork chops into the pan keep on that side for 10 minutes.

Flip over leave on that side for another 10 minutes. Take a knife and fork and check your meat to make sure its done. If its still not done flip over for 5 minutes and then flip back to the other side for another 5. It should be done by then.

I promise you will love these! I have never been much of a pork chop kinda gal because I thought they were too dry and tasteless, nope not these. Enjoy!

Chorizo and Eggs

2012-06-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Okay so this a very simple recipe right down to the basics. Now when I say simple I mean 2 ingredients, simple! I have heard all about the Chorizo thing on the Food Network and from friends. I was so curious I had to try it, so I was told the best way do so is with eggs. Ever since the first time I made this, I have to make it for breakfast everyday now, literally. The best thing that I like about this dish is I don't have use any kind of seasoning like salt and pepper to give it flavor, the chorizo is packed with its own unique flavor.

This is what you'll need:
6 Eggs
4 oz of Chorizo

You can find the Chorizo in a 8 oz tube, you will only need half. Go ahead and squeeze the Chorizo out the casing into the frying pan that has been heated at med. high temp.

Chunk out the meat, dont stir or break down, youre going to want chunks of Chorizo not a hot dog chili consistency.

Beat your eggs.

Now that the meat is sizzling go ahead and pour in your beaten eggs. Don't mix the eggs and Chorizo together yet. Stir around the eggs until they are starting to get thick.

Once they are starting to get thick go ahead and mix the Chorizo. Continue stirring until you start to feel the eggs sticking to the pan then instead of stirring fold over the eggs continuously until you get a nice scramble.

Traditionally I think you would use a soft tortilla but I like to eat mine with buttered toast. I also like to top it off with that white Queso Fresca Cheese that crumbles, that's just a preference of mine. Enjoy!

Easy Tortilla Soup

2012-05-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

This is an extremely easy recipe, perfect for those nights you want a quick meal that feeds the whole family. I normally don't like anything that has soup in the description because the only thing I think of is I wont get a full belly from this. I tell you this makes a plentiful helping .

So this is everything you'll need:
1 can of Rotel salsa
1 can of Corn
1 can of Black Beans
1 can of Cambell's Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup
1 can of Chicken Broth
2 cans of chunk chicken in a can (You can also use any kind of chicken like a rotisserie which gives it a better taste than canned)
1 packet of taco seasoning (choose your own heat)
A lime or 2 (Optional)
Of course this meal wont be what it is without the tortilla chips

Heat up a pot at med. temperature drop in the chicken and pour half the content of the taco seasoning on top.

Take a spoon and saute' the two until taco seasoning is mixed well with the chicken and you hear the sizzle in the pot.

Now add the Rotel salsa,Corn, Black Beans, the remaining taco seasoning and Chicken Broth stir all together. (Hint: Drain the Black Beans run with water just so the juice from the can doesn't turn your soup black.

Add your Cambell's Fiesta Nacho Cheese Soup then stir together.

Cut a lime wedge and squeeze the juice into the soup drop the lime in the pot. (Optional)
Now cover with a lid and simmer on low for 15 minutes.

I like to serve my soup in a bowl surround it with the tortilla chips on the side. Douse some sour cream on top, shredded cheese (or I like to use the Queso Fresca Cheese that crumbles mmmm...) and cut a lime wedge out on the side to squeeze when ready to eat.
Of course you can add any kind of topping you would like!

There you have it! A super quick, simple and cheap meal for the family!