Double Porterhouse with roasted garlic steaks, grilled potato salad with Mexican corn on the cob with mayo, lime and grated cheese

They say pictures are worth a thousand words.. well here they are..Its memorial day weekend Will take the time to post recipes when it's not so busy.. Enjoy!

Spicy-Sweet Glazed Bacon and cheese filled Burgers with baked german potato salad

One word...okay two.. NO LEFTOVERS!!!!!!!!!!! yummy.. next time.. need to double this one.

Quarter pounders coated with a dry spice rub, which forms a tongue-tingling crust on the outside of the burger and provides a delicious contrast to the sharp cheddar cheese filling.

• 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp chipotle powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 4 rolls

Prepare the grill for cooking over med heat. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, spices, salt, and pepper and stir until blended. Set aside. Using your hands, form the beef into 8 patties of equal size. In a small bowl, toss the cheese and crumbled bacon together until well combined. Place an equal amount of the cheese mixture on 4 of the patties. Top each with one of the remaining patties and pinch the edges to seal in filling. Generously pat each burger with the spice mixture. Grill until desired degree of doneness. About 5 minutes per side for medium.

Baked German Potato salad

• 2 lbs peeled, and cubed potatoes
• 2 slices bacon chopped
• 2/3 cup chopped celery
• 2/3 cup chopped onion
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup chopped dill pickle

Cook the potatoes in just enough water to cover for 12 minutes, or just til tender, drain
Meanwhile in  large skillet cook bacon over med heat until crisp. Drain bacon reserving drippings in skillet. Add celery and onion to drippings, cook and stir for 1 minute.
Stir in  flour, salt and pepper, cook and stir for 1 minute more. Stir in 3/4 cup water and vinegar. cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in sugar. In 2 qt casserole, combine potato and bacon. Add celery mixture, stir gently to combine
Cover and bake in 350 oven for about 30 minutes. Stir in pickle. Serve warm.

Tomato=Basil Pasta Sauce

I loved how this tasted. It was light and not heavy on your stomach in the hot weather like reg sauce is.

•  1 can condensed Broccoli cheese soup
• 3/4 cup half and half or milk
• 3 fresh plum tomato's, coarsely chopped. About 1 cup.  Or 4 canned plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves, or 1 tsp dried basil
• 3 cups hot cooked fettuccine

In 2-quart saucepan, stir soup, half-and-half, chopped tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and Basil.Over medium heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pour over fettuccine; toss gently to coat. Garnish with sliced fresh plum tomato and fresh basil sprig, if desired. 

Chuck Wagon Salisbury Steak

I love Salisbury steak... and said wow.. lets  try this...  it was nothing like salisbury steak!!! More like a hamburger.. It was good.. just not what I thought it would be.

•  2 cups corn flakes, crushed
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bbq sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 lb ground beef

In a mixing bowl, combine corn flakes, egg, bbq sauce, salt and pepper. Beat until thoroughly mixed. Add ground beef. Mix and shape into patties and place in a 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Baby Bam Burgers with Cheesy fries

Its Emeril and Rachael Ray recipe night *l* There is nothing like biting into a burger and getting a mouthful of flavor and that is what these burgers are. It says you can make 12 2-ounce burgers.. but you could just make them regular size.

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp  ketchup
• 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Baby Bam * recipe to follow*
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• small dinner rolls

baby bam

1.  3 tablespoons paprika
2. 2 tablespoons salt
3. 2 tablespoons dried parsley
4. 2 tsp onion powder
5. 2 tsp garlic powder
6. 1 tsp ground black pepper
7. 1 tsp dried  basil
8. 1 tsp dried Thyme
9. 1/2 tsp celery salt

Mix all the ingredients in a  mixing bowl. Stir well. Store in a airtight container for up to3 months.

Place meat in a large mixing bowl. Add the onions, garlic, ketchup, relish, mustard,baby bam salt and pepper and mix with your hands until all the ingredients are well incorporated.

Form the meat into patties, using about 1/4 cup for each.  Preheat a large skillet over med-high heat. Cook until done.

VERY VErY GOOD... even my picky grandson ate some!



Cheesy Fries

• frozen French Fries, any brand or shape, prepared to package directions
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups shredded yellow cheese 
• 1/4 cup ketchup

Put fries in the oven, while they are cooking place a saucepan on med-high heat on the stove. Add butter and melt it. Add the flour and stir. Cook butter and flour together for 1 min or so. This is called a roux. ( sounds like Roo, Tigger and Pooh Bears friend) and it helps to thicken up sauces.  Use a whisk to stir as you pour the milk into the pot. Keep stirring until the milk gets thicker. Use a wooden spoon or heat safe spatula to stir in the cheese. When all of the cheese melts, take the sauce off the heat and stir in the ketchup. This is the secret ingredient. When everyone asks what you put in your cheese sauce that makes it taste so good, just say milk and cheese, you can NEVER tell what the secret ingredients are that  you add. Pour the cheese sauce over the fries.

Now I added alittle hot sauce to give it some kick.. I think I would leave out the ketchup next time and just do alittle hot sauce.

Spaghetti Pie

I knew it was going to be a busy day so decided to get the crockpot out!

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese
• 1 pound burger,* beef, turkey*
• 1 32 oz bottle of spaghetti sauce
• 3 cups cottage cheese
• 4 oz mozzarella cheese

Boil spaghetti 7 to 10 min, brown the burger.
Drain spaghetti and cut up. Add eggs and Parmesan. Stir well. Pour 1/2 cup sauce on bottom of crockery.
layer 1/2 pasta, 1/2 cottage cheese, 1/2 meat and sauce, 1/2 mozzarella and repeat
 Cover, plug in  and cook on low 6 - 8 hours.

Spicy Three Bean Salad

It was a hot muggy day here and I really didnt want to add more heat to the day with cooking so I found this recipe. It was soo good.. I added corn to add veggie to it and I also had a yellow pepper instead of the green.

• 1 can * 16 oz* kidney beans rinsed and drained
• 1 can * 16 oz* Great northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can * 16 oz* Black Beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup diced green pepper
• 1/2 cup diced red pepper
•  1 cup of zesty Italian dressing.

Toss all ingredients in large bowl
Refrigerate, and Serve in bell pepper halves if desired.

Corn Chowder

As it has been rainy and cool the last week I decided to use my leftover chicken and added it to the chowder.

• 1/2 pound salt pork, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 cup diced raw potato
• 2 cups water
• 2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 bay leaf
• salt and pepper
• 3 tbs flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups corn
• 2 tbs chopped parsley

Saute salt pork until crisp and golden. Add onion and celery, cook until tender but not browned. Add green pepper, potatoes,water, turmeric, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Simmer 20 minutes, until potatoes are barely tender.
Mix flour with 1/2 cup milk. Heat remaining milk and add to blended flour. Stir into hot soup and heat, stirring until mixture thickens. Add Corn and Parsley. Cook about 4 minutes. Check Seasoning.

Like I said.. I had leftover chicken so I added that.  very yummy!

I will add pictures later as they will not let me at this time *l*

cranberry-orange pork chops

 This was very good. The tart but sweet berries along with the mandarin orange.. gave it just the little zip you need. I also made it with potatoes but I think rice or orzo pasta would be just the thing.

• 6 boneless pork chops ( 1/2 inch thick)
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 tbs canola oil. * I used olive as that is what I had*
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 can ( 11 oz/ ) mandarin oranges, drained
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 tsp all spice
• 1/4 tsp paprika

 Sprinkle the chops with  pepper. In a large skillet, brown the chips in oil on both sides.
add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes or until meat thermometer reaches 160.

Tuna Monte Cristo Sandwiches

YUMMY...  I used 12 grain bread for this recipe. It fit the bill on a chilly rainy day.

• 4 slices of cheddar cheese
• 4 slices of sourdough or challah bread
• 1/2 pound of deli tuna salad* I just made my own tuna salad*
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg beaten
• 2 tbs butter

Place 1 slice cheese on each of 2 bread slices. Spread tuna salad evenly over cheese. Top each one with remaining cheese and bread.
Combine milk and egg in shallow bowl. Stir until well blended.
 Dip sandwiches in egg mixture, turning to coat well.

Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over med heat. Add sandwiches, cook 4 to 5 minutes per side or until cheese melts.

Lemon-Baked Chicken with perfect potato salad and Lemon slaw

My daughter and I loved this meal. But Hubby said it was to lemoney *l*  hmm wonder why?

• 1 1/2 cups lemon juice ( about 7 large lemons)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tbs pepper
• 1 tbs thyme leaves
• 1 large onion, minced
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 9 pounds of chicken. * whole one cute into quarters, legs , thighs, breasts*

In medium-size bowl, mix first 7 ingredients, In two large roasting pans arrange chicken, skin side up. Pour lemon mixture over chicken. Bake at 375 for 1 1/2 hours or until chicken is fork tender. Basting with pan juices occasionally during baking.

yummy.. I loved it..

Perfect potato salad

• 1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
• 5 med potato, boiled in skins, peeled and cubed, * I used red so I did not peel them*
• 1 cup celery, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup green onion, chopped
• 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 cup mayo
• 2 heaping tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp pepper
• celery seed to taste

Pour dressing over potatoes and chill 2 hours, add celery, onions and eggs. Mix Mayo with mustard and fold into salad. Add Pepper and celery seed, Chill  2 hours.

Cant say it was perfect but it really tasted good.

Lemon Slaw

• 1 cup mayo
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbs rice wine vinegar
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp coarsely ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 16 oz shredded coleslaw mix

Stir together the first 9 ingredients in a large bowl until blended. Add coleslaw mix, tossing to coat, Cover and chill at least 2 hours!

Roasted Red potatos with garlic and rosemary

• 3 pounds small red potatoes ,quartered
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 3 large garlic cloves , thinly sliced
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 tbs minced fresh parsley
• 2 tbs minced fresh chives

In a large roasting pan, combine oil, pepper, garlic and rosemary, Stir in potatoes until well coated.
Roast uncovered 1 hour or until potatoes are tender, turning them 2 to 3 times.
Remove from Oven, Before serving toss with parsley, and chives.


This was VERY good. Good way to make potatoes.

Luxury Cheese Burgers

What is better on a nice warm day then a burger on a grill? Yummy

• 2 oz of stilton or any crumble Blue cheese
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1 tsp cream horseradish
• 1 tbs chopped fresh thyme
• salt and pepper

Place the ground beef, onion, celery, horseradish and thyme in a bowl. Mix thoroughly using a wooden spoon. Use your hands and round-bladed knife to form the mix into 8 patties. Divide the cheese between 4 of them and top with remaining patties. Gently press together ad mold the edges
Cook the burgers over hot coals for 5 minutes on each side. Meanwhile cut the sesame seed buns in half and briefly toast on the grill.

Scalloped Potatoes

YUMMY who doesn't love scalloped Potatoes...

• 6 small potatoes * 4 oz each) unpeeled
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup egg substitute
• 1 cup fat free sour cream
• 1/4 tsp salt.
• fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat mild cheddar cheese

Wash potatoes and place in saucepan with water. Bring to a boil, lower heat and let potatoes cook for 25 minutes. Drain and let cool. Then slice into 1/4 inch slices.
Heat oil in skillet. Add onion and saute for 5 minutes. add onion to egg substitute, sour cream, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
Lay potatoes slices in casserole dish. Spoon sour cream mixture over potatoes. Top with Cheese. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees until top is brown.

It was a very lite. I added Ham to it to make it a complete meal..* and used my eggs* If you were to make it this way it would serve 8 1/2 cup servings
and Exchanges would be
1 starch
1 lean meat

calories 130
calories from fat 19
Total Fat 2 g
saturated fat 1 g
Cholesterol 8 mg
sodium 179 mg
Total Carbohydrate 18 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Sugars 3 g
Protein 7 g

Avocado Jack Chicken and Quick Guacamole

As we all know May 5th is Cino de mayo. In keeping with the Mexican  party day I made a few things out of the Mexican part of the cookbook.

• 4 boneless skinless chicken-breast halves
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 oz Colby Jack Cheese
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 med avocado, chopped
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1 cup picante sauce

Preheat grill to medium.
Pound chicken to 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle with chili powder, salt and pepper
cut Colby cheese into 4 pieces. Wrap a piece of chicken around each piece of Cheese. Secure with a toothpick. Rub with Olive oil
Grill 6 inches from heat, turning once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of meat registers 180F about 15 minutes. Transfer to individual serving plates.
Combine avocado and Lime juice in a small bowl and toss to coat. Spoon picante sauce and avocado mixture over chicken. Serve Immediately.

It was SOOOOO good.. Tabby said it was  very good. *l*  And then I thought I would make some Guacamole to have for a snack with the  tortilla chips with lime.

• 2 large ripe Avocados pitted, peeled and chopped
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 1 plum tomato chopped ( 1/3 cup)
• 1 tbs fresh cilantro chopped
• 1/4 tsp salt
• dash of ground red pepper

In a medium bowl mix all ingredients .  
Serve with Tortilla chips

30 minute Chili Ole'

IT was a very very busy day and all of the sudden it was supper time.

• 1 cup chopped onions
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds of hamburger
• 1 28 oz can of diced tomato's
• 3/4 cup steak sauce
• 1 tbs chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 16 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 11 oz can corn, drained
• shredded cheese, sour cream

In a heavy pot over medium high heat, saute onions and garlic in oil until tender. Add beef, cook and stir until browned. Drain, stir in tomato's, streak sauce, chili powder and cumin. Heat to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Stir in beans and corn and simmer Uncovered for 10 minutes. Serve hot, garnish with cheese, sour cream.