Italian Hash Brown Dinner

These potatoes are always on sale at our grocery store. I love to make scrambled eggs with them, but I had some extra left over in the fridge and you need to use them within 3 days. So... this recipe was on the back of the bag.

Ingredients:
  ~ 1/4 lb ground beef
  ~ 1/4 package Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns
  ~ 1/4 cup chopped onion (I omitted)
  ~ 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (I omitted)
  ~ 1 can diced tomatoes (un-drained)
  ~ 1/4 teaspoon salt (I used Sicilian salt)
  ~ Italian-style frozen green beans (my own addition)

Directions:
1.  In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and onion. Once cooked, add the potatoes and mushrooms. Stir in, then flatten in an even layer, covering the whole skillet. Cook for 6-7 minutes, until slightly brown on the bottom.

2.  Drizzle 1/2 tablespoon olive oil on top, then flip the potato/beef mixture. Cook for another 6-7 minutes.

3.  Stir in tomatoes, green beans and salt. Cook until the beans are fully cooked. You may also top with 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese.


Source: Simply Potatoes

Strawberry Angel Dessert

Perfect for cookouts! And when you randomly have 4 pounds of strawberries in your refrigerator...

Ingredients:
  ~ 1 angel food cake (about 10 oz) (I only used about half of the cake)
  ~ 1 box strawberry Jello (6 oz)
  ~ 2 cups boiling water
  ~ 1 lb frozen sliced strawberries **
  ~ 1 cup cold water
  ~ Cool Whip (optional)

Directions:
1.  Cut up angel food cake into small pieces. Spread over the bottom of a 13x9 pan.

2.  In a separate bowl, prepare the jello according to the package (mix 2 cups boiling water with jello until dissolved. Then add cold water). Add the strawberries to the bowl and mix well.

3.  Pour the strawberry mixture over the top of the angel food cake. Use a spoon to push down some of the pieces of angel food cake, so that they absorb the jello.

4.  Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator until the jello sets (I made this in the morning for an evening cookout and left it in there for about 7 or 8 hours).

5.  Cut into squares and serve with whipped cream (or not :)).



Source: monstermama-monstermama.blogspot.com

** I used fresh strawberries, sliced in a bowl with sugar. I lost count how many strawberries I used, but the amount doesn't really matter. Use as many as you'd like!

Pan-Fried Pork Chops

We love pork chops. But every single time I make them, I make them the same way. Breaded and baked in the oven. I wanted something different and quick, and found this recipe.
Ingredients:
  ~ 1/4 cup flour
  ~ 2 pork chops
  ~ 1/4 teaspoon salt
  ~ 1/4 teaspoon pepper **Instead of salt and pepper I used a pepper steak spice blend we had. I definitely recommend experimenting with spice collections like this. It came out amazing!**
  ~ 2 tablespoons canola oil

Directions:
1.  Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil.

2.  Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper (or other spice combination). Dredge pork in the flour.

3.  Once the pan is hot, add the pork. Cook on one side for approximately 5 minutes. Flip, and cook for another 5 minutes or until done. Serve with homemade applesauce. 



Source: myrecipes.com

Quick Homemade Applesauce

My mom usually makes a batch of homemade applesauce every fall. It takes almost all day to cook, but was always so worth it. Today I had some pork chops I needed to use, but I hate to have pork chops without applesauce. And I had no car for the day. And only an hour until dinner. I found this recipe online and thought it was a pretty good quick substitute for my mom's recipe!

Ingredients:
  ~ 5 peeled, cored, and quartered apples (The website said to use good cooking apples... I just used what I happened to have in my fridge.. 2 Golden Delicious and 3 Gala) *If possible, use different varieties of apples. My mom swears that it makes it taste better than when it is made with only one type of apple*
  ~ 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
  ~ sprinkling of cinnamon (depending on how much you like. I like a lot)
  ~ 1/4 cup brown sugar
  ~ up to 1/4 cup white sugar (I used a full 1/4 cup. This depends on how sweet you like your applesauce)
  ~ 3/4 cup water
  ~ 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1.  Put all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes (I used a full cup of water and it was too much. After 20-30 minutes my apples were still hard. I then turned it back up to boiling for another 10 minutes or so).

2.  Remove from heat. Mash with a potato masher (if you like chunky applesauce. For smoother applesauce, try putting in a food processor).

3.  Serve either hot or refrigerated (I've eaten it both ways.. warm for dinner, cold for breakfast). According to the original recipe, it also freezes well, for up to a year~





Source: simplyrecipes.com

Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

I made this the week after Easter, to use up the rest of the leftover ham. The dairy version apparently tasted amazing. The dairy free version was ok. Edible but nothing over the top.
Ingredients:
  ~ 3 tablespoons Fleishmann's unsalted margarine
  ~ 2 tablespoons flour
  ~ 1 1/2 cups almond or soy milk
  ~ salt and pepper
  ~ 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
  ~ 12  ounces 1/4 inch sliced baked ham
  ~ 1 cup thawed frozen broccoli (I put it in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds to thaw it)
  ~ 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions:
1.  Pre-heat oven to 350°. 

2.  Butter a baking dish. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted margarine over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for approximately 1 minute.

3.  Remove saucepan from heat and whisk in milk. Return the pan to heat and bring to a simmer while still constantly stirring.

4. When the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and add salt and pepper. Set aside.

5. Spread 1/3 of the sauce over the bottom of the baking pan (I split mine in half, between two pans). Top with half of the potatoes. On top of the potatoes, add the ham, broccoli, and cheese. Add another 1/3 of the sauce and repeat until you run out of sauce, potatoes, ham and broccoli.

6. Top off with cheese, if desired, and bake for approximately 45 minutes.




Source: www.foodnetwork.com

Barbecue Meatballs

A good dinner on a night when you realize you have hardly any food in your kitchen! I served on top of white rice and French cut green beans.

Ingredients:
  ~ 1/2 lb ground beef
  ~ 1 egg 
  ~ 1/4 cup bread crumbs
  ~ 1/4 cup ketchup
  ~ 1/4 cup brown sugar
  ~ 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  ~ sprinkle of garlic powder
  ~ sprinkle of onion powder

Directions:
1.  Pre-heat oven to 350°. 

2.  Mix first 3 ingredients in a bowl and form into 1 inch balls.

3.  Place meat balls in a 8x8 baking pan.

4. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over meatballs.

5. Bake for approximately 45 minutes. Serve on top of rice.



Source: Sarah Elizabeth