Category Archives: Easy

Goat Cheese, Meatball and Sun-dried Tomato Panini

This is what happens when you are super hungry and all you have are interesting tidbits of things in your frig to eat. Everything in this panini was leftover from some other recipe I’d made, but together they were yummy and perfect.

Ingredients:
2 slices bread
2 meatballs, cut in half
2 sun-dried tomatoes
Goat cheese, the soft spreadable kind

Instructions:
Make a sandwich out of the above ingredients. If you have a panini maker, use it. If not, heat a skillet over medium low heat and spray with cooking spray. Place sandwich in skillet and put a heavy skillet on top of it for a few minutes. Flip the sandwich over, place the skillet on top of it again and cook for a few minutes on that side.

What did the family think? I was the only one who ate this and I would make another one right now, but I am out of meatballs.

Where did this recipe come from? Me

Photo from Appliancist

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Italian, Sandwich, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make

Jamie Oliver’s Evolution Potato Salad

I checked out Jamie Oliver’s cookbook from the library last week. In the book there is a pledge to learn a recipe from each chapter of the book and teach two or more other people on the condition that they do the same. So, here is my recipe from the salad chapter. Learn it, love it and pass it on.

Ingredients:
1-3/4 pounds baby potatoes, peeled our not peeled, you decide
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
small bunch of fresh chives
1/4 cup yogurt
2-3 slices bacon

Instructions:
Bring a pan of salted water to a boil. Peel 1-3/4 pounds of baby potatoes, if you like, or leave them unpeeled, chopping any larger ones in half; leaving the smaller ones whole. When the water is boiling, add the potatoes to the pan and bring back to a boil for about 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes. Test them with the point of a knife to make sure they’re cooked through. As soon as they’re ready, drain them well in a colander and put them into a bowl.

The trick is to dress the potatoes while they are still hot – mix 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and stir well. Toss the hot potatoes in the dressing.

Finely chop a small bunch of fresh chives and sprinkle them over the potatoes. Toss well before serving.

Toss the dressed potato salad and chives with 1/4 cup of yogurt.

Put a frying pan on the heat and add a splash of olive oil. Thinly cut slices of bacon into small pieces and add to the pan. Toss and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and golden. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle over your potato salad and serve.

We had this with hamburgers and fruit salad.

Did I change anything? I left out the lemon zest that was in the original recipe.

What did the family think? Hubby and I liked it. I liked the yogurt and lemon in it and the bacon was a nice finish. The boys don’t like potatoes.

Where did this recipe come from? Jamie Oliver

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Salad, Side Dish

Tuscan Pasta with Sun Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce

This could have easily come from a restaurant. It was so good and so different than the pasta dishes I usually make. Everyone loved it and we even had enough left over for the boys to take it in their lunch boxes to school too.

Ingredients:
1 (20-oz.) package refrigerated four-cheese ravioli (or whatever kind you like)
1 (16-oz.) jar sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce (I found some by Classico)
2 tablespoons white wine
15 oz. can diced tomatoes, throughly drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:
Prepare pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, pour Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan. Pour wine into sauce jar; cover tightly, and shake well. Stir wine mixture into saucepan.

Stir in tomatoes and basil and cook over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Toss with pasta, and top evenly with 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

What did the family think? Thumbs up from everyone!

Where did this recipe come from? My Recipes

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Lent, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

Pesto Salmon

I bought some salmon at the store yesterday, but I didn’t have any really big plans for it until I remembered that I had some leftover pesto in the frig…

Ingredients:
1 lb. salmon
2-3 T pesto
cooking spray

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Coat glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Place salmon, skin side down, in the baking dish.

Spread pesto on salmon.

Bake for about 10-12 minutes (depending on how thick the salmon is).

What did the family think? The boys don’t normally eat salmon, but hubby and I thought it was fantastic.

Where did this recipe come from? Me

photo from Cook Everyday

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Fish, Lent, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make

Mini Pancake Muffins

These are a quick, easy and fun way to have pancakes without having to make pancakes. The kids think it’s fun because they get to use their hands, too.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 egg
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, blueberries…whatever fun things you like to add to pancakes

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Sift together with a wire whisk.

In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, maple syrup and melted butter until just combined.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until combined.

Stir in chocolate chips, blueberries, etc.

Bake for 8-9 minutes.

Did I change anything? The original recipe called for chocolate chips. We had some blueberries, so I used those instead.

What did the family think? They went back for seconds and thirds.

Where did this recipe come from? Bakerella

Photo from Bakerella

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Filed under After School Snacks, Bread, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Vegetarian

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

It’s that time of year again…time to break out all things pumpkin. These are full of chocolatey pumpkiny goodness and your family will LOVE them.

Ingredients:
2 c flour
1 & 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp cloves
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp coarse salt
1 c unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 c sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1 c pumpkin puree
12 oz chocolate chips
Cooking spray

Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 350. Line bottom and side of 13×9″ pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Spray with cooking spray.

Whisk together the flour, spices, baking soda and salt.

Cream together the butter and sugar on medium-high until smooth. Beat in the egg & vanilla. Beat in the pumpkin puree.

Add the dry ingredients and mix on low just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Using an offset spatula (or the back of a spoon), spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (or with a few crumbs, not batter). Cool completely in the pan.

Did I change anything? The recipe above has the amount of sugar I used. I cut the original amount in half. I figured it already had a whole bag of chocolate chips in it, so it was going to be pretty sweet anyways. I sprayed the aluminum foil with cooking spray because I was worried about these tasty treats getting stuck to the aluminum foil. That would ruin all of the fun.

What did the family think? Hubby won’t eat them because there is pumpkin in them. I know, he’s weird.

Where did this recipe come from? Bake at 350

photo from Bake at 350

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Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Easy, Vegetarian

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

There’s oatmeal in them, so they’re healthy, right? ๐Ÿ™‚

Ingredients:
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup rolled oat

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees with the rack in the middle position.

Melt the butter in a large microwave safe bowl.

Add the brown and white sugars and let cool a bit.

Add egg, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.

Add flour and wheat germ and mix. Then add the chocolate chips and oats and mix everything up. The dough will be quite stiff.

With a spatula spread dough evenly into a greased 8×8 baking pan or a similar sized pie dish.

Bake at 350 for 25รขโ‚ฌโ€œ 30 minutes.

Cut into bars when cool.

Did I change anything? I added the wheat germ and I would have put in a lot less sugar had I thought about it before I dumped it all in there.

What did the family think? It has sugar, butter and chocolate. Enough said.

Where did this recipe come from? Food.com

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Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

Pepperoncini Crock Pot Roast Beef

This recipe saved us last night. We had violin and tae kwon do testing and this yummy recipe was cooking away while we were out doing all of that and was ready to go when we got home.

Ingredients:
3 lb. beef chuck roast, trimmed of most fat
2 garlic cloves, sliced
16 oz jar pepperoncini peppers (remove stems after cooking)
6 slices provolone cheese
Hamburger buns

Instructions:
Make small cuts in roast and insert garlic slices in cuts.

Place roast in the slow cooker, and pour the entire contents of the jar of pepperoncini, including liquid, over meat.

Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

Shred meat and serve on buns with pepperoncinis and provolone cheese.

Did I change anything? The original recipe didn’t say anything about the provolone. Everything is better with provolone, in my opinion, so I added that in.

What did the family think? Hubby and I really liked it…a lot. Our oldest ate his, but it wasn’t his favorite. Our youngest ate the cheese and the bun and one bite of meat.

Where did this recipe come from? Food.com

photo from Serious Eats

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Make Ahead of Time, Sandwich, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make

Lasagna Flatbread

These were so fun…it’s like lasagna and pizza all rolled into one.

Ingredients:
15 oz ricotta cheese
8 oz shredded mozzarella, divided
3 oz parmesan cheese
2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 egg
1 lb Italian sausage
1/2 (26oz) jar marinara sauce
6 flatbreads

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375.

Combine ricotta, 1/2 of the mozzarella, parmesan, Italian seasoning and egg. Set aside.

In a large skillet, cook sausage or hamburger until it is no longer pink. Drain off fat. Stir in marinara sauce (use as more or less depending on how saucy you want this). Set aside.

Assemble the flatbreads. Spread 1/6 of the cheese mixture on top of flatbread. Top with 1/6 of meat sauce and sprinkle with 1/6 of remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat for remaining flatbreads.

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted on top.

Did I change anything? For the flatbreads, I used naan since the only flatbread I could find at our store was really, really flat.

What did the family think? It was a hit!

Where did this recipe come from? Plain Chicken

Photo from Plain Chicken

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Filed under Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian, Super Easy to Make

Pumpkin Pie Cream Cheese

If this doesn’t say fall, then I don’t know what does. It’s like having a pumpkin pie cheesecake and spreading it on graham crackers, bagels and waffles. Yum!

Ingredients:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, pumpkin and sugar until smooth. (You could also use an immersion blender or wooden spoon.)

Add the pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

What did the family think? Only two of us have tried it so far and we LOVED it.

Where did this recipe come from? Ezra Pound Cake

photo from Pinch My Salt

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Filed under After School Snacks, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Easy, Make Ahead of Time, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian