Hubby's Childhood Dinner :)

Helping my mother in law take the groceries out I saw a bag of egg noodles and asked her how she makes them. It was very interesting because I learned one of the things that my husband use to eat for dinner when he was growing up and you can imagine that at that moment I wanted to make it for him and see how he reacted to it.

When we went groceries shopping a couple nights after I told him I wanted to buy the egg noodles because I wanted to try making him that special dinner and I wanted to try them myself ( I had never had egg noodles before). He was super excited and was looking forward to seeing the way I was going to make it and if they were going to be just like his mom use or still makes them.

OK, the special dinner is just buttered noodles with ham in them, yes very simple.

On Monday I got busy and made my husband his childhood dinner. The best thing about it is that is super simple to make.

Ingredients:

1 bag egg noodles
1 ham steak (cut in small pieces)
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook your noodles in a pot with boiling salt water until they have your desired tenderness. In a pan put the butter, ham and garlic power until butter is melted then throw in the noodles and salt and pepper to taste.

Let it simmer for about 5-10 minutes and  it should be ready to serve!!!!

It's such a simple dish but it's so good that I would make it every time I have noodles at home. My husband for sure enjoyed it and said that it was as good if not better then how his mom used to make it, of course I was very honored by that :)..

Tonight I'm making pulled pork, let see how it comes out. Have a good weekend!!!!

Strawberry & Mango Smoothie

It's summer and drinking something cold and healthy is the ideal thing to do. People tend to do really cold and ice coke but that is really not good for our health even though it's really refreshing at the moment.

Today I said to myself, why not make a smoothie out of the strawberries you have in the fridge and the delicious mangoes that you cut the other day?! Good idea!!!

Ingredients:

Fresh or frozen strawberries
fresh or frozen mangoes
1/2 cup of sugar
2 cups of water or as needed
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Ice (optional)

Directions:

It's really easy!!! just put all those ingredients in the blender

 and turn that blender on until everything is mixed. Try it and see if it needs more sugar and if it doesn't that means it's ready to serve or put in the refrigerator. 

I didn't add ice to my smoothie today because I didn't want it to get watery since I made so much I can just drink it really cold from the refrigerator or frozen from the freezer.

This is just my way of making it, but again always add your own touch to the things you make. Add ice cream, milk or yogurt if you want, go all the way and enjoy it!!!

Grilling Season is Here!!!

Got a great deal on chicken this weekend and since the grilling season is here and 4th of July is almost here, why not start by throwing some chicken in the grill? And after a weekend of eating out or grilled burgers at home, why not make a side of vegetables to go with that yummy chicken?

OK, so let's start with the side.

Ingredients:

1 lb sweet potatoes
1/2 onion
1 green pepper
2 roma tomatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup shredded cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees and lightly spread olive oil on the bottom.
Cut your sweet potatoes, tomatoes and green peppers in small pieces, season it with salt and pepper, pour the olive oil, mix it all up and slice the onion on top.

Cube the butter on top of your sweet potatoes and veggies and cover with foil paper. Put it in the preheated oven for 45-60 min. Take it out, remove the foil paper, spread your shredded cheese and place in oven for 15 min or until cheese is melted and golden.

Well, our side is almost ready and I already had my chicken seasoned and in the grill.

Make sure you don't burn it before its cooked on the inside. I lowered my heat and placed the chicken on the upper rack of my grill. It keeps it from burning but it also helps the chicken to keep its moisture. Who likes dry chicken?

Now everything is done and here is my finished dinner and ready to eat.

Healthy but tasty dinner!!! The chicken had lots of flavor and the side too. My husband enjoyed it very much and I for sure did too.

Enjoy your day!!!! Happy cooking and eating.

Quesadilla Burgers!!! YUMMY :)

Saturday was a day where we felt like burgers, but we wanted a good homemade burger. I had heard my sister many times telling me how good her quesadilla burgers are so I wanted to try doing them myself. 

I had everything I needed so why not make the so yummy recipe. Well, Let's get it on!!!

Ingredients:

Quesadillas

2 (10 inch) flour tortillas
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup shredded Monterrey jack pepper cheese
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
diced onion
diced canned jalapeno (didn't use this)
bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Southwest Seasoning mix for burgers

2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
crushed red pepper flakes (I didn't use this)
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon dried oregano

Directions:

For burger patties:

Combine all seasoning ingredients. Use one heaping Tbsp. of seasoning mix per pound of hamburger meat. Mix into hamburger meat until well combined. Fry or grill.

Assembling the complete quesadilla burger:

Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Spread butter on one side of each tortilla. Put one tortilla, butter side down in the hot pan. Sprinkle the cheeses evenly onto the center of the tortilla in the pan- but not all the way to the edges. 
Put the tomato, onion, bacon and jalapeno over the cheese, add the cooked seasoned burger and cover with the other tortilla butter side up (like a grilled cheese sandwich). When the bottom is browned, about 45-90 seconds, flip the quesadilla and grill the other side. 
Remove the quesadilla from the pan and using a pizza cutter, cut through the middle. Serve.

I did some small changes on the recipe, you know how I like to add my own touch to things. One of the changes was not adding the jalapeno or red pepper flakes ( you can tell we don't like spice food) and it came out perfect. As you can see we ate it with some chips but you can serve it with fries or anything you'll like. My husband enjoyed them so much and I did too, we'll be making them again for sure. 

Have an awesome week!!!

My Triple Chocolate Brownies

On my post yesterday I told you a little about my special dessert. Well, let me tell you more about it, I'm pretty sure you will love it.

You might be wondering, why I call it triple chocolate brownies? and what's special about them? Well, to start let me tell you that it's triple because it has chocolate in three different ways not three types of chocolates (gotcha!!!) and it's special because I use the cheapest box of brownies and give it my own touch.

Let's get started!!!!

Brownie Ingredients:

1 box of brownie mix
1 chocolate pudding snack
10-15 Oreos cookies
Ingredients called in the box

Directions:

Pre-heat oven on 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray.

Follow the directions on the box of brownie mix and then add the pudding to it. Break your Oreo cookies in small pieces and throw them in the mix.

After your mix is ready pour in prepare baking pan and put in oven for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

OK, if you noticed I've already used chocolate two times in the brownies (don't count the pudding) and if you haven't notice yet I'll tell you at the end.

Now, let's go for the third use of chocolate. YUMMY!!!!

Homemade Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

1 cup chocolate chips

1 can condensed sweet milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Cook on low in a saucepan until completely melted.

And now here is the finished product!!!!!

Yes, I flipped it a little bit to early and some parts in the center broke that's why it looks like that. But I covered it with the special homemade chocolate frosting. Doesn't it look good!!!!

A close up of my brownie with Oreo cookies covered with chocolate icing. Triple chocolate brownies. 

Let me tell you that it is soooo moist and soooo yummy. Hope you enjoy it!!!!

Homemade Chinese Cashew Chicken

Yesterday we were supposed to get together with friends so I wasn't going to make dinner but the get together got cancelled. When my husband called me to let me know about the cancellation all I could think was "what can I make for dinner now". I had already made dessert but no dinner yet.
I had been craving Chinese food and had found a recipe for cashew chicken so looked around for my ingredients and  had everything I needed for it.
This is a really easy, fast recipe to make and super tasty (of course if you like Chinese).
Here is the recipe.

Cashew Chicken Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken, chopped
8 cloves garlic
1 cup cashews
1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
4 tablespoons Hoisin sauce (bought it at Walmart for $1.97)
8 green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons corn starch
3/4 water or chicken stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat large skillet or wok over low heat. Add olive oil, garlic and cashews to skillet. Saute over low heat until garlic becomes golden, but don't let the garlic brown, or it will become bitter.

2. Salt and pepper chicken. Add chicken to skillet and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Add cornstarch to a small bowl with the water and mix well. Add cornstarch and water to chicken. Then add hoisin sauce and vinegar. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened. Just before serving, add green onions and serve with rice.

Every time I make a new recipe I wait until my husband takes the first bite to see his reaction. If it's super good he rolls his eyes and says "ummm" but if it's just OK he says "it's good but..." Yesterday he rolled his eyes and said that he didn't have to go to our local Chinese restaurant because he has it at home. Those little comments make me feel so good and give me the push to keep doing it with the same love or even more. 

Have a good day and wait for my special dessert recipe. :)

What to Make for Dinner? That's The Question!!!

Have you felt like you don't know what to make for dinner? Well, that's how I felt last night. It was 5:30 pm and I was still wondering when the thought hit me; hey, you can make your own version of vegetable mac & cheese!!!
So I said to myself, LET'S GET STARTED!!!!

Ingredients:

2 cups elbow pasta
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup water
2 tbs butter
1/2 cup broccoli
1/2 cup sweet peas
1/2 onion
1 small tomato
1/2 green pepper
1 tsp mince garlic
1 zucchini
seasoning to taste

Directions:

In a pot add water and salt, let it boil then add the pasta.

Heat your pan and put the 2 tbs of butter, add the onions and pepper and let it cook until onion is soft and clear. Add your veggies and let them cook for about 5 minutes.

Add the cheedar cheese, heavy cream, water and you seasonings. After your sauce is ready add your pasta and let it cook for 10 minutes on slow heat. Serve with your favorite side and sprinkle some parmesan on top.

ENJOY!!!!

My husband enjoyed it very much and the best thing is that it was a very light dinner. Let my tell you that dinner was ready in less the 30 minutes and I was able to take a shower and all before my hubby got home at 6:45 pm. For a person that didn't have a clue on what to make for dinner, I think I did pretty good.

Have a nice day!!!! 

Apple Pie for Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day and my dad loves apple pie, so why not bring him a delicious apple pie to celebrate this special day. 

Let's get started!!!! 

The first thing I got was my pie crust, I bought it at Walmart (it's easier then making it yourself) and it brings two crusts. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

6 to 7 sliced apples

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches)

2 tablespoon butter

1 egg white

Additional sugar

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the sugars, flour and spices; set aside. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. Add sugar mixture; toss to coat.

Line a 9-in. pie plate with bottom crust; trim pastry even with edge. Fill with apple mixture; dot with butter.

Using a pastry cutter, cut an even number of strips from the remaining rolled out dough. Transfer every other strip to the pie top and weave in the lattice by folding every other strip back onto itself and laying another strip perpendicularly. Fold the strips back across and repeat until completed.

Beat egg white until foamy; brush over pastry. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Cover edges loosely with foil.

Bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 20-25 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack.

AHHHH!!! So yummy!!:) 

Everyone liked my pie and I liked it too, it was delicious and I have to mention that it was my first time making it. We served it with vanilla ice cream on the side. 

Enjoy your day and happy cooking!!!!

Steak with Deluxe Stir Fry Veggies

This is what I made for dinner Thursday night and it was very flavorful and tasty; as I've been telling you we have been trying to eat healthier and lighter so this meal was perfect for us. 

I would normally eat this with rice or some other starch but I have been learning that it's not necessary and at the end of your meal you would end up with more energy. 

My husband enjoyed this so much as if it was his favorite meal and I enjoyed seeing him enjoy it. 

All you need to make this delicious meal is:

1 lb. Beef steak 

Bag of frozen vegetables or fresh if you prefer

seasoning to taste

1 tsp. vegetable oil or olive oil

1 tablespoon of tomato sauce or more if you prefer

Directions:

Pour the oil in your hot pan. When the oil is hot put your meat and cook it until no more red is coming out but don't over cook it because then it will be all hard. 

Add your vegetables and let them cook just until they are nice and hot and stir in your tomato sauce. I did tomato sauce just enough for the taste but not to give color. Remember to add your own twist to things they might come out even better. 

Have a nice weekend!!! :)

 

Raspberry Bars

Hubby wanted a dessert with raspberries in it so as we were walking by the baking stuff at Publix I saw this box and the best thing is that it was buy one get one free.

It is so easy to make just as what the box says and you only have to add butter to it, no milk or eggs just butter. Pretty easy right?!!!
These are the directions on how to make them:
1. Stir melted butter and full pouch crust mix together with a fork until mixture is crumbly.
2. Spoon 2/3 of crust mixture into prepare pan. Press firmly into bottom of pan.
3. Bake 15 minutes or until edges begin to brown at 350 degrees.
4. Spread full pouch raspberry filling evenly over hot crust. Crumble remaining crust mixture over filling.
5. Bake an additional 26-28 minutes or until bubbly around edges. Cool completely before cutting.

I used a bigger pan so I made 2 boxes. Used one for the bottom and the other one for the top and mixed in both pouches of raspberry filling. 

This are my raspberry bars after they were done and ready to eat. Enjoy!!!

Feels More Like Summer but Here Is My "Pasta Primavera"!!!!!

Hey, where is the meat?!!! No meat in this pasta, not even the smell of it but I can assure you that is delish. Just for you to know primavera is spring in Spanish.

My husband and I had been talking about incorporating more veggies to our meals and also try not to mix food groups that much. The night before and last night we had dishes that left our stomachs feeling awesome, specially mine. For the past couple of weeks I've been feeling bloated and even had a mild case of indigestion the other day so that's why we are doing all this.
I even went online and order in amazon a recipe book called "Great Taste No Pain" it brings 112 recipes to help you with those issues, my mother-in-law uses the diet and it works for her so I decided to give it a try.
This doesn't mean I'm not going to eat my delicious hamburgers and fries or my delicious pizza, what it means is that at least 3-4 nights a week we will be eating extremely healthy and of course I would be sharing those dishes with you.

Today I want to share two recipes one is my Pasta Primavera and the other.....Let me save it for last. :)

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients:

Note: measurements are estimates. Use your best judgment.

Half an onion, finely diced

Handful of cherry tomatoes, halved

Handful of fresh broccoli florets

¼ cup frozen corn

Half pepper, finely diced

Drizzle of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 clove garlic, minced

As much pasta as you desire. For two, I usually cook a half pound.

Instructions:

Fill a large pot halfway with water, and bring to a boil. Add a pinch or two of salt, and throw some pasta in. I used penne pasta. Have a strainer ready over your sink. Pour the contents of your pot into the strainer, under cold running water. The cold water stops the pasta from cooking — and you definitely do not want overcooked pasta. Once cooled, drizzle with some olive oil, and delve your hands into the pasta to toss it. You don’t want your pasta sticking to itself and drying out.

In a large chef’s pan over medium-high heat, saute your finely diced onions and peppers, your corn, and your tomatoes. Once the onions begin to soften, add the broccoli, garlic, salt and pepper and a little more olive oil. The tomatoes will start to cook, and their insides will provide a nice base for the sauce.

When the broccoli is cooked to your taste (I like mine still crisp, with parts of the edges browned), stir in the heavy cream. The sauce should take on a light tomato-cream consistency.

Toss the pasta with your primavera sauce, and serve with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Doesn't this look delicious!!!!! I can tell you that it was and we did not miss the meat at all. The only thing that this plate called for was some.....

Yes, some buttery Paula Deen style biscuits. So I started searching for that recipe and here it is, the easiest way to make biscuits with lots of butter. YUM!!!!!

Sour Cream Butter Biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups self-rising flour

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature

1 cup sour cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease miniature muffin pans.

Mix the flour and butter together, add the sour cream, and blend well. Place spoonfuls of the batter in the muffin pans. Bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

They were delicious!!!!! I made my biscuits bigger so had to give it 15 minutes instead of 10. 

Enjoy, and have a good rest of the week!!!!

Let's Eat Our Veggies!!!!! Vegetable Spiral

Let's eat our veggies!!!! Yes, we are trying to incorporate more veggies in our meals even though we always do have salads or broccoli with them but wanted to try a wider variety of veggies. 

The other day for the first time I tried zucchini and loved it, so last night for dinner I made a dish  that had caught my attention on pinterest and it had lots of zucchini in it. It also looked really pretty and tasty. Here is the recipe and pictures for that  delicious dish, even though I always change a couple of things to make it my own. 

Vegetable Spiral

2 tbsp. olive oil (divided)

1/2 large sweet yellow onion cut in half and sliced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1-2 russet potatoes, unpeeled

1 zucchini

1 yellow squash ( I used sweet potato)

2 large Roma tomatoes

Sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 60 seconds. Spread the onion mixture on the bottom of the baking dish.

Slice the potatoes, zucchini, squash and tomatoes in 1/4 inch thick slices. Layer them alternately in the dish on top of the onions, fitting them tightly into a spiral, making only one layer. Season with sea salt, black pepper to taste. Drizzle the last tablespoon of olive oil over the top. Feel free to add other spices in this too.

Cover the dish with tin foil and bake for 35 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Uncover and sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top and bake for another 25-30 minutes or until browned. Enjoy.

The top picture shows the dish all ready to go in the oven, doesn't it look pretty already!!!

This is my veggies all ready to eat, as you can see I added some shredded cheese besides the grated Parmesan ( had to do my own thing in this!!! :) )

Ohhhh!!!! this looks so good and it tasted so yummy that I would eat veggies for the rest of my life. My stomach felt light but satisfied, not bloated like sometimes it does after I finish eating. 

As you can see we ate this with some chicken made in red sauce, and it was super delicious. I encourage you to do this if you are having trouble getting someone in your family to eat his/her veggies, it's so good!!!.