Pizza lovers

I have to say that I love pizza and I am pretty picky about my pizza (Therefore, I only like to eat pizza I make or from Barro's)

First:

start off with your favorite pizza dough recipe, if you don't have one: here's a simple one used for the bread/dough machine:

- 1 cup water

- 3 cups bread flour

-1 1/2 Tbsp dry milk

-2 tsp sugar

-1 1/4 tsp salt

- 2 tsp butter

- 1 tsp fast rise yeast

(this makes 1 large pizza)

put ingredients in machine in order. once finished, place in a greased bowl. cover with plastic and towel for 45 min.

roll out the dough to desired size and thickness onto pizza sheet.

sprinkle corn meal onto sheet before dough.

prick dough w/ a fork

Preheat oven 400 degrees and cook for 15-20 min.

TOPPINGS:

first, I made garlic butter and spread over entire dough:

(butter, garlic, parsley)

- pizza sauce

- cheese (mozzarella is best)

- sliced tomatoes

- sliced zuchinni

- pepperoni

- gorganzola cheese sprinkled on top

- olives (optional)

- pizza seasoning: oregano, basil, marjoram

Breaded Chicken

This recipe is one that comes along because you don't have one of the ingredients, after you have already prepared everything else; so then you have to compromise:

and then it turns out great!

Ok, so this is breaded chicken, but different :)

Instead of using egg wash, I used:

heavy cream (about 1/2 c)

butter (about 1/2 - 1 tbsp)

sour cream (about 1-2 tbsp)

mayonnaise (about 1-2 tbsp)

(everything is estimated, because I just eyeballed everything)

Mix all your ingredients and add to a shallow dish. Add bread crumbs to a different shallow dish, along with Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.

dip your chicken into the crumbs, then the creamy mix..making sure well coated, then crumbs again. Add to hot oil on pan. Fry until golden brown and flip chicken.

When you drain your chicken..put a cooling rack upside down onto paper towel and add chicken to cooling rack to drain.

These are super yummy and crispy and the chicken is very tender!

Thumbprint Cookies

• 1 1/2 c sifted flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 c butter or margarine
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1 egg separated
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 c finely chopped pecans (or blended)

Sift flour with salt. Cream butter in mixing bowl and add brown sugar. blend in egg yolk and vanilla. add sifted flour and salt and mix. shape dough into balls and dip into beaten egg white and then into blended pecans. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press floured thumb into center of cookie.

Bake 375 degrees for 12-15 min, fill the indentions with nutella (as shown), or whatever you'd like.. be creative.

Pork Tacos

Well.. tonight was Mexican night and this is what I had :)

First, you make the salsa.. takes the most time: recipe here

Second, make your bean dip here

Third, guacamole here (at the bottom)

Then, get some ground pork ( you can use meat too or ground chicken) and cook it: season it with seasoning salt and pepper.

Meanwhile.. cut up some spinach leaves and iceberg lettuce..set aside.

grate some mozzarella cheese, set aside.

put your taco shells in oven on low broil in middle..let broil for just a minute to get warm

add your beans, then pork, sour cream & quacamole, cheese, then lettuce. serve with chips and salsa!

I know this is super easy.. just thought I'd share anyways:)

Bean Dip

Sorry for the poor picture quality again.. well that's blackberry for ya.
So this is bean dip :
there are many different ways you can do this, I'll start from best and then go from there:
first, you can boil some pinto beans in a pressure cooker, then add them to a pan and refry them.
second, you can open a can of refried beans
third, you can use dried refried beans from your food storage.

So, once you have the beans...
add them to a bowl. Next, add about 1/2 amount of sour cream to beans ratio. Then, add about 2 laughing cow cheese triangles or cream cheese (about 2 tbsp).
add dried chopped onions (about 1 Tbsp)
add dash of salt and pepper
add dash of garlic powder

stir and serve.

Pasta w/ creamy steak sauce and Garlic Bread

This pasta dish is super easy.. and the garlic bread, just delicious.
So, cook any kind of pasta you like or have for that matter.
I like to add italian seasonings to the boiling water w/ the pasta (the grinder kind)

The sauce:
I cut up a fillet Mignon in tiny little pieces. added diced onions to the pan. season the fillet with seasoning salt (I use gourmet season salt by gonga breath). let cook for just a minute
add your pasta sauce : this can be any kind of tomato sauce, whether homemade or from a jar (classico or bertoli are the only ones I will buy).
dice 1 tomato in tiny pieces, add to the sauce (as you are adding them, mush them in your hands).
add Alfredo sauce (again homemade or jar)
add heavy whipping cream (just a little)
add some grated mozzarella cheese
simmer covered.

Garlic Bread :
here's the good part..
I used Swiss braided bread.. yummy, they deliver it to my door every week for only $3! (but you can use any kind.. except sandwich bread..unacceptable)
butter (I use the bremmel yogurt kind) about 1-2 tbsp
cream cheese or laughing cow Swiss cheese triangles (about 1/2 tbsp or 1 of the triangles)
grated mozzarella cheese, just a couple grates
grated Parmesan roman cheese, same as above
chopped parsley, about 1/2- 1 tbsp
minced garlic, about 1/2 tbsp
mix ingredients together and spread generously onto bread slices
put in the oven on low broil for just a few minutes, until edges are golden brown :)

(sorry for the poor picture quality..taken via cell phone and sent to facebook and then copied onto here.. just the easiest and fastest way for me to post)

Thai inspired Chicken

This meal was a total experiment, but worthy for posting :)

here are your ingredients:

• soy sauce
• oyster sauce
• black vinegar
• white wine vinegar
• olive oil
• dijon mustard
• sesame seed oil
• teriyaki sauce
• garlic
• onion
• heavy cream
• spiracha sauce (hot chili sauce)
• paprika
• brown sugar
• honey
• edemame
• pine nuts (opt)
• black sesame seeds (opt)

Cut white onion and garlic, sauté.

Add cut up chicken (I used 2 large chicken breasts). season with salt, pepper, and paprika (very light)

add water (about 1 cup) and cook covered on med-high heat

in a seperate pan, add equal parts soy sauce, oyster sauce, black vinegar, white wine vinegar, brown sugar (about a tsp), honey (about 1/2 tbsp), spiracha sauce (add anywhere from a tsp on.. depending on your liking to heat), and olive oil. stir until boiling on high heat.

reduce heat, add dijon mustard (about 1 tbsp) and stir until mixed well.

add to chicken and add about 1/4 c heavy cream and a few splashes of teriyaki sauce. Next, add edemame, pine nuts, and black sesame seeds. Stir and simmer covered on med heat until done.

(I didn't use pine nuts this time, but thought it would be a nice addition to the dish)

also.. the black sesame seeds in the chicken could look kinda funny.. (like bugs in your food).. so you could just add it to the cooked rice onto your dish :)

This dish goes well with calrose rice (short grain).. yum!

Pastel and Hamburger misto

Didn't know what to call this.. but it is just something simple we ate for dinner tonight and quick :)
*It's just hamburger meat ( first you sauté some chopped onions and garlic, then add your meat, seasonging salt, and pepper
*Then for the rice: I would like to know how everyone cooks their rice.. so here's what I did (just leave a comment and tell me how you make your rice..love to know different ways). I add a tiny bit of olive oil, onions, and garlic and then rice and sauté until coated. Next add hot water (cover until about your first knuckle deep) boil on high then cover and cook on med.
*Steamed corn on the cob and carrots
Mix it all together and you get the best of both worlds .. cheesy huh.

This my dear is what we call Pastel (pronounced like posh-tew) Is it yummy in my tummy (of coarse most things fried are). salgadinho's are tasty salty treats!
So, first you need masa (which is the flattened dough, which I'm sure none of you are going to make..unless you have a tortilla press, otherwise..you need to buy this, which is sorta like an egg roll dough. I get these in Brasil and they are round.
*Add your meat in the center. dab your finger in some water and seal the edges. fold over and seal by pressing a fork all the way around the edges.
*Next .. you fry in med-high heated oil...until golden brown.
(side note: make sure your meat isn't too hot when making these, because it will make a tear in your dough because of the heat).
This is a typical Brasilian home meal.. enjoy

Chicken Mango Quesadilla

This recipe makes a big difference using fresh homemade tortillas, like I have here.. but those are few and far between, so others will work as well. also, the salsa is homemade, just check out the salsa recipe!

Cut your chicken breast into pieces. On a pan, add olive oil, onion, garlic, and about a tbsp of honey, let sizzle for a minute or so.

add your chicken pieces to the pan. add salt, pepper, chicken seasoning, and chicken broth (about 1/2 c). when halfway done, add a couple pinches of brown sugar...(unusual, but delicious I promise)

Cover chicken on med heat and cook until done. (meanwhile, prepare your salsa and cut up a mango into small pieces).

In a different pan, add oil or pam on med-high heat. Soften about a tbsp of cream cheese. Spread the cream cheese onto a tortilla, then add to the hot pan. Next, add your cheeses (I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar). Then, add your cooked chicken. Let heat up for a couple minutes, then add mango pieces. cover with another tortilla (or fold tortilla in half). cook until tortilla is crispy on both sides.

Garnish with sour cream and fresh salsa (guacamole is good too!)

Mashed Potato Cakes

I used red skin potatoes for this recipe,but you can use any kind you'd like.

cut the potatoes in quarters and cook until done ( a little overdone tends to be easier to mash).

Next, once cooked and cooled, peel some of the skins off, leave some for fiber.

use and electric mixer:

add: butter, sour cream, heavy whipping cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper, milk, chopped dried onion. (opt, I also used about 2 laughing cow swiss cheese triangles)

mix until combined and creamy, yet somewhat lumpy. (use now for some yummy mashed potatoes and reserve any leftovers in fridge) or..

reserve and cool in fridge until firm.

Add olive oil to pan on med-high heat (or pam spray if you prefer).

add dried or fresh parsley to potatoes and grated mozzarella cheese. mix well.

Spoon out about a tablespoon amount of the mashed potatoes and form into a ball, then flatten like a small pancake.

cook until crispy golden brown on both sides

and enjoy.. yuuummm!

I ate these with some steak and fried zucchini :) delish!

Not your grandma's meatloaf...

I know it's amazing, I'm actually posting something! Let's just say I've been VERY busy....

Anyways, here is the B-E-S-T recipe for meatloaf I have ever tasted. My picky kids love it & eat a ton, so does my husband so it is definitely a crowd pleaser and simple which is my other prerequisite for a meal.  This isn't the best picture, but it was the best I could do with 3 hungry boys impatiently waiting to devour these.

{Yummy} MEATLOAF

2 lbs. ground beef 

1 chopped medium onion

2 eggs

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. sage

25 saltine crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place ground beef in large bowl. In food processor or blender put onion and egg together & chop (it will look a little foamy). Pour over hamburger and mix. Add all ingredients except crackers. Put crackers in food processor and chop until fine, like a dust. Add & mix ingredients well. Put meat mixture into an 8x8 square pan & bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 

Or, if you're in a hurry or want to be fun (always describes me) then put the meatloaf into a cupcake pan filling each cupcake equally & bake for 30 minutes. 

TOPPING: (do NOT skip the topping!!!! It totally makes this dish)

1 cup ketchup

1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon mustard

Heat together on stove. Pour liberally over meatloaf when it comes out of the oven.

*I don't like mustard much so I do a little less for my family & add more of the brown sugar. Add a little more or less of any of the 3 ingredients to your taste.

**If your ground beef has more than 7% fat, you may want to use more crackers. I'm sure that ground turkey would be delicious with this recipe as well, but I haven't tried it.

***There are 4 of us in my family & making half of this recipe is perfect for my family, with a few leftover cupcakes even.

Enjoy!

Butterfinger Brownies

This is awesome. Very easy... We had them on Father's Day.

Ingredients:
Your favorite brownie mix
6 mini butterfinger bars or 2 full size bars
1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Directions: Prepare the brownie mix as directed. Fold in the chocolate chips. Spray pan and pour batter in 9x13 pan. In a ziplock bag, put your butterfinger bars in. Take out your frustrations, and beat it with a rolling pin to crush them. :) Then sprinkle on the top of the brownie batter. Bake as directed on the box.. And wha-la, you have yummy butterfinger brownies!

Peruvian Lomo Saltado

Sorry the picture doesn't quite do it justice.. I keep forgetting to take a picture before we've already eaten!

• Start off by cutting your golden potatoes into strip, for french fries and soak in cold water..reserve in fridge(this releases some of the starch)
• Slice your steak into strips and marinade in a ziploc bag: a few dashes of cumin, paprika and soy sauce, with a little bit of salt and pepper. reserve
• take out your potatoes and drain and dry
• cut up a few baby carrots, roma tomaotes, white onion, red onion, green onion, and cilantro.
• heat olive oil in pan on med-high. remove meat and fry until meat is about medium, remove and reserve in bowl.
• add 1 tbsp olive oil, add onions and carrots and fry for 1 minute. add tomatoes and meat . add a few splashes of white wine vinegar and soy sauce. cover and simmer on medium heat.
• fry french fries on med-high for a few seconds, drain, then turn up heat to high and fry again unti golden brown, drain (drain in strainer, not paper towel).
• add french fries to stir fry and cilantro and a few sprinkles of parsley. add salt and pepper to taste!

This one tastes pretty authentic for you Peruvian food lovers! Serve with rice and black beans (recipe to come)

Garlic & Mint Grilled Chicken

1/2 c. Fresh Mint leaves
1 TB Lemon Juice
1 TB Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 TB Soy Sauce
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Ground Pepper
4 Cloves of Garlic, chopped
4 Chicken Breasts
Fresh Mint Sprigs

In a blender or food processor combine mint leaves, lemon juice, oil, soy sauce, chili powder, pepper & garlic. Cover & blend until smooth. Place chicken in a self-sealing baggie & set in a shallow dish. Pour marinade over chicken. Seal bag & turn to coat in marinade. Refrigerate for 4-24 hours. After marinading, drain chicken & discard any leftover marinade. Grill & garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

Orange Roasted Chicken in Crock Pot

This meal is so nice for Sundays! you can stick it in the crock pot and it's done when you get home!

Cut up your chicken into pieces.. about 3 pieces per chicken breast.
add to crock pot.
then add your spices: salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and savory.
add about a 1/2 c of chicken broth and fresh squeezed orange juice..or you can also add orange slices!
diced onion: about 1/2 of a white onion
then add your glaze:
in a pan, add: 3 tbsp butter, 3tbsp dijon mustard, 3 tbsp honey, about 1 tbsp of apricot jam..or in my case I used pepper jelly (deliciously made by a local vendor), and about 3tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice. let boil for a couple minutes and simmer for a few more.

plug in your crock pot and about 3-4 hours later you have dinner!

opt.. you can also bake this dish: just bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes

Broccoli Salad

This dish is visually appealing and surprisingly delicious! I made it for the first time for some friends at a BBQ.

Ingredients:

• 1 broccoli head
• cherries (or even grapes)
• carrots
• feta cheese
• pine nuts
• red onion
• salami
• apple cider vinegar
• sugar
• mayonnaise
• salt & pepper

Cut up the broccoli head into small florets, put in bowl. cut off the stem and slice into thin slivers (make sure you shave the outer layer of the broccoli stem first, leaves, etc). cut up a few carrots into thin slivers, add to bowl. cut red cherries; cutting around the seed (you should get 3-4 slices out of each cherry). dice up about 1/3 of a red onion. Add about 1 cut of feta cheese. Slice salami into strips and add to bowl.

Dressing:

Add about 2 large spoonfuls of mayonnaise. Then, add about 2-3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Add about 1-2 tbsp of sugar. Mix well, then grind a few pinches of salt and pepper to taste.

(sorry, these measurements may not be exact, you have to add wet ingredients on how they look according to how much dry ingredients you have...hope that makes sense)

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

I am ready to share the best chocolate chip oatmeal cookie you will ever make!

(props to a girl named Keely and my friend Jackie who gave me the recipe)

Also.. when posting recipes.. please add a tag to the post for example, if it's a Chinese dish, tag it as Chinese as well as whatever else the dish consists of..so people can look up all the Chinese dishes, etc..Thanks!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c oatmeal (blend in blender until fine)

2 c flour ( I use wheat flour..can use white if you'd like..I like to pretend it's healthier)

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 c brown sugar

1 c sugar

2 eggs

2 sticks imperial margarine (I swear it tastes better with this brand of margarine)

1 tsp vanilla

1-2 c chocolate chips

1 c chopped pecans

Mix your dry ingredients, then your wet and combine with mixer. add the oatmeal last and I tend to use my "clean" hands to mix it, it works better. then, add the chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

Bake @ 350 for 8-10 minutes

Peruvian Pollo Saltado

I was super excited for this recipe I came up with.. I crave it often! we go to Ricon..I think that's what it's called (some Mom & Pop Peruvian restuarant with our friends and it delicious! just wanted to try out my own little version of what they make.. so here you go)


Ingredients:
1-2 tbsps minced garlic
1/4 of red onion cut in wedges
1/4 of white onion cut in wedges
1/4 cup of diced green onions
2 tbsps chopped cilantro
4 potatoes
3 large chicken breasts cut in small slices/pieces/strips..whatever you want
cumin
paprika
soy sauce
black pepper
white wine vinegar
peanut, vegetable oil, or olive oil ( I used olive oil)
red & green bell peppers (opt) or sliced baby carrots (what I used)
1-2 tomatoes

in a ziploc bag.. put chicken (cut up) in with a few tablespoons of soy sauce, a few dashes of cumin and paprika. marinade in fridge for 15 minutes or so. In a wok or deep pan, heat oil, a few tablespoons to coat bottom and cook marinated chicken (work in small batches to cook evenly). reserve cooked chicken in bowl. meanwhile, cut up potatoes into french fries and fry in oil (vegetable oil preferably) until golden brown. drain and set aside.

add about a tablespoon of oil (olive oil) in same pan used for chicken and add garlic until golden brown. add the onions and (opt you can add red/green bell peppers.. I opted out, since I don't like them and just added sliced baby carrots..even better!) stir and fry for a few seconds. add a few splashes of soy sauce and white wine vinegar. add a few pinches of cumin and stir. then add the sliced tomatoes and add a few pinches of paprika, stir. return chicken to pan and toss gently. add chopped cilantro and then the french fries. stir gently and serve with white rice (which I am assuming everyone can make..if not, let me know and I will post..thanks!)

Cheese Ball

Ok I'm sure most of you know how to make a cheese ball.. but I figured I'd post it in case you don't! they are super easy and fast

depending on the size of your ball you want, I used 2 packages of cream cheese (fat free..no one can even tell). add 2 triangles of laughing cow swiss cheese(they are in the cheese isle in a small round container), parsley, 1/2 packet-1 packet of ranch dip seasoning, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese (keep adding the cheese until you get an even mix)..mix ingredients until well blended. Roll up your cheeses in a ball and roll in crushed walnuts (or whatever nuts you like). wrap in cellophane and store in fridge. serve with crackers.. like wheat thins or crackers hard enough to spread the cheese on it.

Pasta Pizza

This is one of the fastest and easiest meals you can make and be creative!

For this one, I did small cheese ravioli.. but you can do any kind of pasta.

Cook the pasta "al dente". Drain and set aside. In a sauce pan, simmer pasta sauce..any kind you like..marinara, whatever! and add: italian seasoning, 1 triangle laughing cow swiss cheese spread (I use this alot), a few tbsps of heavy whipping cream and alfredo sauce.

Add pasta to pan and pour sauce over it. Then add shredded mozzerella cheese on top. Then.. add your ingredients..whatever you like on your "pizza". I added: cherry tomatoes, olives, and pepperoni. Then I sprinkled the top with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.