So...I didn't make stuffed french toast.

No, it didn't happen like I had hoped.  But tonight!...It still won't happen because I have mutual.  Tonight it is an oldie but a goodie.  And a fastie which I really love.  Tonight it is going to be Tuna and Toast!  I'll post something! 

But now my son is wanting his second breakfast.  :) 

Stuffed French Toast.

Teaser!  This is what I'm making for dinner.  Let me know if you want to know how I made it!!

Beef. It's what's for dinner.

I promise we have not fallen off the world.  We are still clinging to the edge of it so don't despair yet. 

I'm sure you all know that meat is expensive.  But, have you noticed that the family packs of meat are significantly less so?  If you are like me and only cooking for two...or two people who eat more like four...don't judge...then you are left with a bunch of leftover meat.  Well, you can still take advantage of the deal.  Just make sure you also buy some freezer ziplock bags and label what you put in there so that two months down the road you aren't grabbing a bag of something thinking, "What in the world?!"  Or you could do what I'm doing this week and just make a few dinners involving beef.

This week I bought a family pack of beef cubed for stew.  I made beef stroganoff last night, I'll make some extra baked potatoes tonight and use extra potatoes and beef to make a Steak and Potatoes casserole, and if I have any left over after that they can go into an omelet on Friday!

The beef stroganoff is nothing special and can be found in just about any cookbook.  I did make one change though.  I generally substitute plain Greek yogurt for sour cream in every recipe.  You can't taste the difference and it really boosts the "good-for-you" factor. 
But just in case you really want to know where mine came from, it's from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, Bridal Edition.  My mother got it for me when I got married and I absolutely LURVE it.


*baby's up..gotta go!*

Wilted Spinach Salad

To tell you the truth, I was a little leery - any recipe that starts out with the word "wilted" - but, Meg assured me it was one of their favorites so I gave it a try. And everyone LOVED it, even my husband who is really not a big spinach fan. I'm definitely adding this to our family's list of favorites. :)

*pic*

Wilted Spinach Salad

1 recipe wilted spinach salad dressing (see below)
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup fresh baby spinach greens
2 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbly
1 green onion, finely sliced

Prepare Wilted Spinach Salad Dressing; set aside. Place mushrooms in a bowl. Pour half of dressing over sliced mushrooms. Microwave for 1 minute. Refrigerate remaining dressing for later use. Prepare salad by placing 1/2 cup spinach greens on each dinner plate. Spoon desired amount of mushroom dressing mixture over each salad. Top with crumbled bacon and green onions. Makes 2 servings.

Wilted Spinach Salad Dressing

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup salad or olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 Tablespoon grated onion

Mix all dressing ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth. Keeps up to 3 weeks in refrigerator.

Macho Nachos

First of all, I have to apologize for the hour.  This is technically for Meatless Monday but it is not coming in until 9:40 PM.  Suffice it to say I was simply not home all day and my baby has been in need of his mother all evening.  I think he is finally asleep now so I'll share with you a recipe that really allows you to sort of purge your pantry and veggie drawer.  It also takes something that is sort of naughty and turns it into something very nice.  :) 

 

Macho Nachos

Tortilla chips

Red kidney beans or black beans (drained and rinsed)

diced Jalapenos or diced green chiles

Cheese of choice (I use extra sharp cheddar cheese)

Cumin, Garlic powder, Chili powder or Cheyenne pepper

That's basically the gist of it.  Then you can add what ever other veggies you have or want to put on there.

Corn

Black olives

Bell pepper

Avocado 

Tomato

Layer the chips on a plate that can be put in the microwave or a dish that is oven safe.  Top with drained beans and season to taste with seasonings.  (The cumin is what's going to give it that smokey "Mexican" flavor.)  Add jalapenos and whatever veggies you like and top with cheese.  (I would leave the avocado and tomato until after you have toasted the nachos.)  You could make multiple layers if you wish-- I usually do.  Then either microwave or broil until the cheese is nice and melted.  Top with avocado and tomato if desired and watch these fake-out nachos disappear! 

St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Dinner

We make this dinner every year on St. Patrick's Day, in honor of our Irish heritage. And then we watch John Wayne's "The Quiet Man". I know, it's corny, but we all love it! :)


St. Patrick's Day Dinner:

Put in Dutch oven:
3-4 lb. corned beef brisket
2 onions sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 whole cloves
2 bay leaves

Put in enough water to cover. Cover and simmer 40 minutes per pound of meat or till fork tender. Take out meat. (So start it kind of early. There's been a few St. Patrick's Days that we have eaten dinner around 8:00 p.m. :) )

Add:
6 medium potatoes pealed and cut up
6 carrots pealed and cut up

Cover and cook 10 minutes.

Add:
1 medium head of cabbage, sliced into wedges with the core removed

Cook 20 more minutes. Meanwhile, care corned beef into thin slices, against the grain. Serve alongside the vegetables.

(Leftovers for breakfast: Finely dice potatoes and corned beef and fry in just a little bit of butter till potatoes are browned on their edges, for corned beef hash.)

Avocado Pear Turkey Burgers

This was an experiment gone right!  :)  First, I had never put pears on a burger.  Second, I have never made turkey burgers.  Turns out it is quite tasty!  Give it a try.

Avocado Pear Turkey Burgers

3 lbs ground turkey
two handfuls of Parmesan cheese
1/2 handful of garlic powder
1/2 handful of dried thyme
one egg

Mix the above and separate into 6 patties. 

Sliced pears and mozzarella cheese.
While grilling the pears, top the patties with pear and melt the cheese on top of it. 

You can serve these any way you would like but I did so with chipotle mayo, avocado, and tomato on toasted whole grain bread.  :)  I made up a side of sweet potato fries (frozen...I cheated) and that's what we had for dinner at my house tonight!!!