Day Nine Recipe: Chilli Mac n'Cheese Casserole

Here is my recipe using up left over chilli stored in my freezer.

DAY 9 RECIPE:



CHILLI MAC N’ CHEESE CASSEROLE

This is a super simple, super delicious meal to make. You may want to double this recipe, as I have made it here for just 2-3 servings.

INGREDIENTS:


2 Cups Chilli ( I use leftover chilli, or I am sure you could use
Your favourite store brand in a can)
¾ Cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
+
¾ Cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
¾ Cup Macaroni Noodles, uncooked
1 tbsp Butter or Margarine

DIRECTIONS:
Butter a small casserole dish (7”x7”).
Add Chilli to dish. Add ¾ cup cheddar and macaroni noodles to chilli. Stir to mix.
Sprinkle top with remaining ¾ cup cheddar.
Cover with foil.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes, or until cheese is nicely browned.

***Watch closely for the last 10 minutes, can easily over brown as you can see in the photo of my not quite perfect turn out tonight.(Kids are very distracting!) Still tastes great though!

Leftovers....

So after the last week and a bit I have accumulated a large amount of leftovers. Now to find something good to make from them. For today at least I will be trying to come up with a new recipe for something with some leftover chilli....Thinking a chilli mac n cheese casserole of some sort...tune in tonigght to see what we come up with!

Day Eight recipe: Sheppards Pie

Well, here it is, Sheppards Pie.....A bit of an experiment on my part, but apparently I have come up with a very tasty rendition of this classic dish. I hope you all enjoy it!

DAY EIGHT RECIPE:
SHEPPARDS PIE

INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp Butter or margarine
1 lb Ground Beef
1 Medium Onion, diced
4 Garlic cloves, peeled, crushed and minced
2 Celery stalks, sliced
½ Cup Carrots, sliced
1 Can Sliced Mushrooms, drained
3 Tbsp Tomato Paste
3 Tbsp Flour
1 Cup Beef Broth
2 tsp Thyme
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Pepper
1 Cup Frozen Corn
5 Cups Mashed Potatoes
2 Cups Cheddar Cheese, Grated

DIRECTIONS:
Heat butter in a large pot, or a large sauté pan over a medium high heat.
Sauté onions, celery, carrots, mushrooms and garlic in butter for about 5 minutes.
Add beef and cook another 10 minutes or so, until there is no pink left in the beef.
Add tomato paste,, stir and cook another 2 minutes.
Sprinkle flour over everything and mix in; cook another minute.
Add broth. Stir constantly and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low, simmer for about 25 minutes.
Stir in corn and cook another 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and spread in the bottom of a 9X13 casserole dish,
Top with potatoes, and sprinkle cheese over the top.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is nicely browned.

"Screaming, Dreaming and Sand": Possible Break Through

"Screaming, Dreaming and Sand": Possible Break Through

http://www.mommysdailydinnergrind.blogspot.com

Pie?

I was talking via facebook to my Aunt this morning. We were discussing food photography. She showed me a photo of a pie she had made, and long story shorter, now all I want is some delicious pie!!!
I am wondering if it is just me, or if other people consider pie to be a meal replacement for dinner? I am thinking that James would find it rather odd that I was serving pie for dinner. My kids would probably enjoy it though!
Hmmm...Any dinner suggestions?

DAY SEVEN RECIPE: SLOW COOKED RIBS

DAY SEVEN RECIPE:

SLOW COOKED RIBS


Fall off the bone, super tender pork ribs in a tomato based sauce. Messy,
But so delicious!


INGREDIENTS:

2-3 Lbs Pork ribs
2 Cans Tomato Sauce, 14 0z
½ Can Cola, or Beer
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Hot Sauce
1 Tbsp Onion Powder
2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp Oregano
2 Tbsp Rosemary
½ Tsp Nutmeg
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Molasses
¼ Cup Brown Sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Pre heat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large casserole dish, mix all ingredients together EXCEPT RIBS. Mix well, making sure everything is evenly incorporated.
Now add ribs to everything else. Trying to make sure that the ribs are completely submerged.
Cover with foil, put in oven and bake for at least 3 hours. Check and turn every hour or so, they are done when the pull apart easily with a fork.

Slow cooking

Good afternoon all! Well, I am currently changing dresses on tiny little dolls for my daughter. Painfully irritating as the dresses are made from rubber! Good God, who comes up with these marvelous ideas? Jack asses!
Anyhow I have also just about 10 minutes ago, put some of my famous and amazing ribs in the oven. They are a slow cooked treat, a favourite of James. Actually really fast prep, like tops 10 minutes and then they just basically sit in the oven for like 3 or more hours. tender and tasty. Great with roasted potatoes...yum. Hope you all will enjoy the recipe tonight. They are definately a hit with anyone who tries them, and usually pretty cheap to make. I am going to go enjoy some much needed down time with my kids while the ribs cook! Will post the recipe tonight!!!

Day Six Recipe: Pizza with sausage,olives, green peppers and sauteed onions.

Hey everyone! Here it is, DAY SIX RECIPE:


PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE, OLIVES GREEN PEPPERS AND SAUTEED ONIONS


INGREDIENTS:
CRUST:
1 Cup Lukewarm water
2 & ¼ tsp Quick Rise Yeast
1 tsp Sugar
2 tbsp Canola Oil
1 tbsp Cornmeal
Cooking spray ( like PAM)
2 & 2/3 Cup Flour
2 & ½ Tbsp Butter or Margarine
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Garlic Powder


SAUCE:
1 14oz Can Tomato Sauce
1 tbsp Oregano
2 tsp Garlic Powder
2 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Salt
½ tsp Pepper


TOPPINGS:
4 Sausage Links, your favourite kind
1 Small Onion, thinly sliced
10 Black Olives, Pitted, and sliced
½ Green Bell Pepper (or your favourite color), diced
3 cups Mozzarella Cheese, grated


DIRECTIONS FOR CRUST PREPERATION:
In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in water. Add yeast. Cover and let rise about 10 minutes.
In the meantime Combine flour, salt, oregano, and garlic powder. Cut in butter or margarine until crumbly.
Add yeast mixture to flour mixture. Stir slightly with a fork. Knead together until dough gathers into a ball.
Pour oil over and roll the dough ball to evenly coat in the oil.
Cover with a tea towel and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
Spray Pizza pan, or sheet pan with cooking spray. Lightly dust with cornmeal.
Place dough ball in the middle of the pan. Press out with your fingers towards the sides. Make as thin or as thick as you like at this point. I prefer a bit thinner. Remember that it rises as it bakes, to about double the original size. Cut any excess off the sides. (Extra dough makes great breadsticks!). Prick with a fork all over, and bake just the dough for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees.


DIRECTIONS FOR SAUCE PREPERATION:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir.


DIRCTIONS OR TOPPING PREPERATION:
Remove sausage from casing. Place in a non stick fry pan and cook over a med high heat, making sure to break up any really large pieces.
After about 5 minutes of cooking the sausage, add the onions to the pan.
Continue cooking over a med high heat, until sausage is fully cooked and onions are slightly browned.


ASSEMBLY OF PIZZA:
Top partially baked crust with sauce (as much as you like).
Next step: toppings.
There is some debate here. Some like everything underneath the cheese. Around here we put the majority of the cheese on top of the sauce, then we put on the topping then a scant layer of cheese over the toppings. You can choose whichever is best suited to your family.
After the pizza is assembled, bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until all the cheese in the centre is melted. A nice finish to the pizza is to broil for about 5 minutes to brown it up nicely.

Lazy Days

Here we are again....pressure is on,still trying to decide what to make for todays dinner. I am thinking, I feel kind of lazy today, perhaps we should order pizza. Yummy...I really like pizza! Oh wait! Now that we live in (basically) the north pole, ordering pizza is not quite the same. Very limited options. No delivery. Both pizza places in town are pretty sub par and crazy over priced.
I guess I will make my own pizza. Much tastier, cheapier and right here at my own house. Would be quicker I guess If I had two ovens, but you work with what you have:) Yummy....pizza!
Well I guess my  day won't be as lazy as I had intended. I guess that is good right? Isn't the new year supposed to bring new found energy and motivation? I'll dig a little deeper for that today I guess.....will post the pizza recipe tonight.....Sausage, olives, sauted onions and pepper pizza....Hope it is a good one!
mmmmmm.....pizzzzzzza:)

Day five: Chicken Noodle Soup (for the wicked...hee hee)

Day 5 Recipe:


CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP




INGREDIENTS:
1 lb Chicken(breast or thigh, no bones); cubed
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 &½ cups Carrots, sliced
4 Celery stalks, sliced with tops chopped
1 large Onion, sliced
3 Garlic cloves, peeled, crushed and minced
1 Small turnip, grated
10 cups Chicken stock
2 Bay Leaves
1 tsp Dried Sage leaves
1 tsp each Salt & Pepper
2 cups Short cut noodles ( I generally use Rotini)




DIRECTIONS:

Heat Oil in a large pot over med high heat.


Add chicken, season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes or until there is no pink left in chicken.


Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes.


Add stock, bay leaves and sage.


Simmer on low for up to two hours.


Approximately 7 - 8 minutes before serving add noodles and turnip. Cook for about 6 minutes, making sure not to overcook the noodles.


Remove from heat, pick out bay leaves and serve.

Today is another day....

So the saying goes...another day,another dollar. Apparently not intended for me....more suiting for me as "another day, still no dollars"! Haha. Oh well. Today IS another day. Time to get cracking on my dinner plans I guess. Have so much leftover chilli from yesterday. Too much to finish before it goes bad. I put it in 5 sandwich bags and froze them. Good for those days when making dinner from scratch is not an option.  I seem to be gathering quite a collection of frozen leftovers. In all honesty though, I find it much better to have frozen leftovers rather than rotten ones. These little frozen life savers are great though, and many will spark new recipes for this fabulous blog! Keep checking for those! There will many to come!

I think for today I will make some chicken noodle soup. Kids like it, hubby loves it, and it is a great way to get lots of veggies into everyone! Another added bonus: it makes the whole house smell amazing! Soup it is! I always make a giant pot of soup, and then I freeze it in sandwich bags (like the chilli) for individual portions and easier thawing. AWESOME!

I hope you all enjoy it! For now I have some clean up to do, as my son has apparently decided to use me as a napkin for his mercilessly squished banana pieces....yum.

Photos

Well, as I am sure you can all see, I have finally got the photos of the food for each recipe up and on the site. I am sure you can all see as well tht I only have green plates; AND that I am not a photographer!  HAHAHA! Oh well, I really wanted to put up some photos of the finished projects for everyone to see though:)

Day Four Recipe: Kick Ass Chilli

Here it is guys, my super awesome kick ass chilli, I hope you all enjoy it, please tell me what you think!


KICK ASS CHILLI


INGEDIENTS:
½ lb Ground Beef
½ Lb Ground Pork
1 Large Onion, diced
1 Large Bell Pepper, color of your choice, diced
3 Stalks Celery, diced
5 Garlic cloves, peeled crushed and minced
2 cups Sliced Mushrooms
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14 oz can Tomato Sauce
1 5.5 oz can Tomato Paste
1 19 oz can Red Kidney Beans, drained liquid reserved
2 tbsp Molasses
2 tsp Thyme
3 tsp Oregano
2 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
3 tsp Chilli Powder
1 tsp Chilli flakes
½ tsp Pepper
½ tsp Salt

DIRECTIONS:
Brown meat over med high heat in a large pot.

Drain any excess fat off meat when it is done cooking.

Add onion, bell pepper, celery, mushrooms and garlic. Continue to cook for approx 5 minutes.


Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and liquid from beans; stir to evenly distribute.

Add molasses and all seasonings, stir well.

Reduce heat to low and cook for at least ½ hour. Stirring every 10 minutes or so. After 1/2hour add kidney beans. Continue to cook over low heat for at least 15 minutes. Can stay on the heat for up to an hour.






**Freezes really well and tastes even better reheated the next day! ENJOY!!

A day for Chilli

Good afternoon my fabulous followers! I have just arrived back at home. I was out earlier to go to my long awaited dental appointment. Was so excited to finally get this over with, as it has been a long time coming. When I arrived at the office I was informed, to my utter shock and amazement, that somehow I had gotten the time wrong. Now I have to head back in two weeks! What a pain. Mommy brain I guess. EVERTHING must be written down in order to remember.
While out and about I had noticed quite a chill in the air. Being that we live in Northern frozen Alberta, not a surprising find. Though I do feel that a chill in the air is a day for some chilli. So be prepared for my super awesome chilli recipe tonight. I am going to pull some ground beef and some ground pork out of the freezer and prepare.
I wonder why it is that someone would call this dish chilli? It is not served cold, or "chilly" and I imagine it would be rather hideous if it were to be served in that manner.....so where did this name originate? I leave you readers,to ponder this and/or research this odd question that frequently pops up in my somewhat foggy mind......

Day Three Recipe: Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Here is what I came up with for the chicken tonight. Hope you all enjoy!

DAY THREE RECIPE:
Chicken and Mushroom Pasta


INGREDIENTS:
2 Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1+1 Tbsp Butter or margarine
1 Small Onion, thinly sliced
5 Garlic cloves, peeled crushed and finely minced
3 Cups Mushrooms, Washed and sliced
OR
1 Can of mushrooms
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Pepper
¼ tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Dried Sage Leaves
2 Tbsp Flour
½ Cup Chicken broth
½ Cup Milk

1 LB Uncooked Noodles of your choice
8 cups Water
1 tsp Salt


DIRECTIONS:
In a large shallow sauce pan, heat oil and 1 tbsp butter over a med high heat.

Add cubed chicken to the pan and cook for about 6-8 minutes. Now add onion, mushrooms and garlic to pan, season with ½ tsp salt, pepper and sage leaves.

Cook over med high heat, stirring every few minutes. Remove from pan after about 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked all the way through(NO pink).

While cooking the chicken mixture, place water and 1 tsp of salt in a large pot to boil. Once water is boiling add noodles. Cook until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and reserve.

Add 1 tbsp butter and flour to drippings in the pan. Reduce heat to med low. Stir constantly for 2 min.

Add chicken broth, and milk continuing to cook for approx 8 min or until thickened.

Add a dash more pepper, and nutmeg. Stir. Place chicken and veggies back into sauce and stir together. Keep on a low heat just until everything is heated all the way through again.

Top noodles with sauce and enjoy

Oh my,

Good morning my lovely and wonderful followers! Almost afternoon already! Had a late night last night with these crazy kids of mine! Makes for a late morning and some tired eyes all around. I remember when waking up at 9:30 am was an EARLY morning! Now it feels as though my day has all but disappeared! What to do now?
My feeding schedule is off! Breakfast at 10:00, lunch at 1:00? Is my goal of a 5:30 dinner time ridiculous? I will just finish cleaning up from lunch when BAM! Time to start dinner! And I don't know what to make still. Hmm. Does anyone else ever feel like their whole life revolves around making food and cleaning up the mess? It feels like that is all I ever do! LOL.
Time to gather all the tiny bits of energy I have left, fueled by french vanilla cappuccinos and turtles, I will push forward! Plan dinner, gather ingredients, celan the house, go to the grocery store, watch Dora, play cars and barbies, and maybe even try to fit in a bit of excersise at some point in time!
I am thinking chicken for dinner tonight....something not too messy and relatively simple I think...tune in tonight to see what we come up with! Or, of course, if you have any suggestions, feel free to post them!
Off to my daily grind!