Chili Queso Dip

Ingredients:

1 lb Sausage
32 oz Velveeta
10 oz can Rotel
1 cup Onions, diced
4 oz(?) can diced green chilies (optional)
1/2 salsa (optional)

Directions:

In a fry pan cook sausage and onions until done. Drain excess grease if necessary. Cube the Velveeta and add it to a crock pot, then pour the rotel over the cheese, and then the sausage over that; stir until everything is evenly incorporated. Set your slow cooker on high until the cheese is completely melted, then turn to low or warm for serving.

If needed, add some milk to keep the dip creamy.

I got this recipe from Kaitlin in the Kitchen but added the salsa and green chilies. My co-workers and I loved it, it had a lot of flavor and was just a good snack. It makes a lot, so make sure you're hungry or feeding a lot of people.

Rosemary Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon freshly chopped rosemary leaves, plus 4 sprigs rosemary, with hard woody stems
5 large garlic cloves, 2 cloves minced, 3 cloves smashed
2 pork tenderloins, about 1-pound each
4 slices maple bacon

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, fresh ground black pepper, chopped rosemary, and minced garlic and mix well. Rub the mustard mixture over the surface of the tenderloins and wrap in plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Place rosemary sprigs and smashed garlic in the center of a roasting pan. Remove the plastic wrap from the tenderloins and top each with 2 slices of maple bacon. Tie with kitchen twine to secure bacon strips.

Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer, inserted in the tenderloins, registers 160 degrees F. Remove from oven when desired doneness is reached and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes on a cutting board. Remove kitchen twine, slice and serve with your favorite sides. Garnish with the rosemary sprigs and garlic

This dish made the house smell wonderful. It was a tasty dish, the flavors were delicious and it was not there wasn't so many ingredients. My tenderloins weren't both one pound each, but pretty close. You just have to double check to see if you meat is cooked. I ended up cooking it for around 37 mins.

M was the first to plate his food, there wa bacon missing off an entire tenderloin even though he only took a few slices of it. He loves his bacon.

Cheesy Penne

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh penne pasta
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces aged English white Cheddar, grated
Kosher salt
Fresh finely ground black peppercorns

Directions:

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta, cook until al dente, and drain. Return pasta to the saucepan.

Whisk milk with Dijon in small bowl and add to the pot with cooked pasta, along with cream and grated Cheddar. Stir over medium-low heat until the cheese melts and the mixture is nice and thick. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper and serve. Happy indulging!

This recipe was okay, I tend to under season more than over season dishes. I thought I put a lot of salt, but after finally sitting down to eat, there wasn't enough. It was very cheesy to me either. It was a sticky mess and not creamy how I like it. M said is was "okay".

Hello...hello?

::taps microphone:: Anyone still here?

I know I don't have many followers but I want to apologize for not posting in so long. I have only tried a few new recipes lately. I keep ending up going right back to my "regular" dishes every week. Plus I was on vacation for a while and M had to fend for himself. That meant eating cereal, take out and items I had stuffed in the freezer just for him. :)

Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 medium bananas mashed

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the butter mixture until smooth. Finally, fold in the sour cream, walnuts and bananas. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

O.M.G this was so good and very moist. I cooked mine for exactly 60 mins, I bet it could have lasted at least another couple mins. But everyone who tried it loved it. I recommend this recipe.

Apple Stuffed Porkchops

Indgredients:

1/4th chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
1 box of Stove Top
2 cups chopped apples
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup of apple juice
6 (1 1/4 inch) thick pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large skillet saute onion in butter or margarine until tender. Remove from heat. Add the Stove top, apples, celery, apple juice and salt. Mix all together. Cut a large pocket in the side of each pork chop; season inside and out with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon apple mixture loosely into pockets.

In skillet, heat oil to medium high and brown chops on both sides. Place browned chops in an ungreased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 25 minutes longer or until juices run clear.

It tasted pretty good. I needed to get rid of apples that were soft and this was quick and easy.

Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds ground chicken breast, available in the packaged meats case
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
1 cup medium heat taco sauce or 1 (14-oz) can stewed or fire roasted tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn kernels
Salt
8 (8 inch) spinach flour tortillas, available on dairy aisle of market
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded pepper jack
2 scallions, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil - twice around the pan. Add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. Add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.

Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese. Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Top with the scallions and serve.

This is a 30min Rachel Ray meal. It was very quick and easy to make. It didn't have much seasoning but tasty.

Cajun Jambalaya

Ingredients:

12 medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped
4 ounces chicken, diced
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning, recipe follows
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
3 bay leaves
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
3/4 cup rice
3 cups chicken stock
5 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced
Salt and pepper

Directions:

In a bowl combine shrimp, chicken and Creole seasoning, and work in seasoning well. In a large saucepan heat oil over high heat with onion, pepper and celery, 3 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, Worcestershire and hot sauces. Stir in rice and slowly add broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rice absorbs liquid and becomes tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. When rice is just tender add shrimp and chicken mixture and sausage. Cook until meat is done, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning.

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning:

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Yield: 2/3 cup

This recipe has a lot of flavor. To add more of a bite I add a couple more teaspoons of hot sauce. M and I love this recipe and eat it at least once a month.

Kalua Pig and Cabbage

Ingredients:

1 (6 pound) pork butt roast (or shoulder)
1 1/2 tablespoons Hawaiian sea salt
1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring
1 head of cabbage cut up (not thin)

Directions:

Pierce pork all over with a carving fork. Rub salt then liquid smoke over meat. Place roast in a slow cooker.

Cover, and cook on Low for 16 to 20 hours, turning once during cooking time. For the last hour of cooking add the cabbage to the pot and stir. Remove meat& cabbage from slow cooker, and shred, adding drippings as needed to moisten.

TIP: You will notice that there is a lot of oil in the slow cooker and you want to get rid of it. After pulling out all of the meat and cabbage, pour the juices into a container and pop in the freezer for 30 mins or longer. The fat should rise to the top and harden up enough to skim it off easliy so you can use just the juices.

OH.MY.GOODNESS. I love love Hawaiian food and my favorite meal to buy is the Kaulua pig and cabbage, on the lunch plate you get rice and macaroni salad too. I didn't think it would taste the same, but oh yes it does! I love this recipe and it's so simple. M loved it too, he was a bit puzzled by the cabbage, he isn't big on it.

Easy slow cooker french dip

Ingredients:

4 pounds rump roast
1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
6 French rolls
2 tablespoons butter

Dash of onion powder (optional)

Dash of garlic powder (optional)

Provolone or Mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions:

Trim excess fat from the rump roast, and place in a slow cooker. Add the beef broth, onion soup and beer. Cook on Low setting for 7 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Split French rolls, and spread with butter. Bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.

Slice the meat on the diagonal, and place on the rolls. Serve the sauce for dipping.

This was a very easy and good dish. I am not big on french dip but M loved it. I didn't use the can of beer because we don't drink any and I didn't want to buy an entire case of it, so I added an extra cup of beef broth. The beef ended up being shredded for me. I suggest popping it in the fridge to cool and it would slice a lot easier.