Summer Left Over Idea

Over Memorial Day weekend, my Mom and Dad, and Sister and Brother-in-Law all visited.  When you get my family together, one thing is going to be certain--GOOD FOOD.  This weekend was not a let down!  Once, they went home, though, I was left with a fridge full of leftovers.  And, lets face it, you can only eat reheated steak so many times.  One day for lunch, I decided to see what I could do to use a last tiny piece of steak, asparagus, and grilled corn on the cob.  I got my skillet hot and started slicing and chopping up the leftovers.  I added a Roma tomato, some olive oil, and a few spices and....ta-da....this is what I ended up with.  A DE-LICIOUS stir-fryish lunch!!!

Ooey-Gooey Chocolate Butter Cookies

I've been in search of a unique yet delicious cookie recipe.  With Google and a little improvisation and changes of my own...this is it!  And they are every bit as delicious as their name makes them sound. 

 

 The ingredients are super simple and probably things you have on hand.  They're probably the easiest cookies I've ever made!  (Aside from "slice and bake".) 

1 chocolate cake mix (I used Devil's Food)

1 8 oz. pkg of cream cheese

1 stick butter

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla

powdered sugar

1. First, cream together butter and cream cheese.  

2. Then mix in egg and vanilla. 

3. Mix in cake mix.

The recipe then said to refrigerate the dough for 2 hours.  However, I didn't have 2 hours, so instead popped the dough in the freezer for about 30-40 minutes.  It worked perfectly...so whatever you have time for will be fine.  

Then you take your chilled dough and roll into balls.  Roll the balls in powdered sugar.  Place on lightly sprayed cookie sheet.

Bake 10-13 minutes at 350.  Don't over bake or they'll be too cakey and not ooey-gooey.

Once cookies are completely cooled dust with more powdered sugar. 

The only hard part about this recipe is trying not to eat them all at once!!!!

Zax Sauce!

 A Tale of Culinary Discovery...

Once upon a time, in the quaint village called Keller, a fair maiden took her sister, who was visiting from a far away kingdom, to a local establishment.  While dining on chicken tenders, a sauce was discovered that beat any sauce the sister had ever tasted.  Every time the sister went to Keller she requested this scrumptious sauce. Sometimes, though, when back at home, the sister craved this sauce.  Sadly, she could not find it's equal in her kingdom.  "I shall try to make this sauce!  I will not rest until I discover its secret!"  She exclaimed.  Luckily, her kingdom was equipped with high speed internet.  In no time, the secret recipe was duplicated.  Both sisters lived happily ever after.  That is until they tasted these darling "mini cakes" from a baker who has mastered the art of Sprinkles. 

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Mix and refrigerate.  Allow a few hours for the flavors to mingle before serving. 

Bacon Blue Cheese Swiss Burger

Are you ready for the creamiest burger ever?  Yes, that's right.  I said creamy burger.  If you like blue cheese, you'll love this burger! 

 

1. First season 1 lb of hamburger meat with sea salt, Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning, and Montreal Steak seasoning. I never measure...I just sprinkle what I think is enough. 

2. In a small bowl, mix 2 oz. cream cheese (softened) and 2 oz. crumbled blue cheese.  Then stir in some onion flakes (about 1/2 teaspoon) and 1 teaspoon of dried parsley.

3. With the spiced up hamburger meat, make 6 thin patties. 

4. On top of three of the patties evenly spread 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture. 

5. Then take the other three patties and lay them on top of the patties topped with cream cheese mixture.  Then, press the edges together sealing in the cheese.  

6. At this point, you can grill the burgers or fry them in a skillet. 

7. Top with swiss cheese and bacon.

Spaghetti Squash: Officially the Weirdest Food Ever!

No recipe this time...just the strange tale of a yellow gourd turned pasta...

My mom gave me this spaghetti squash and I knew I needed to just bite the bullet and cook it, even though I had no clue how to turn this large gourd into a tasty pasta...

First of all, it took me a LONG time to even cut it in half.  But, I was persistant...

Gross looking, I know...  According to Google (seriously, what did we do before Google?!), you have to scoop out the seeds...just like a pumpkin.

Done.  Now place the squash, cut side down, on a cookie sheet sprayed with Pam. Bake for about 45 minutes on 350.

Here's the weird part.  Once it's finished baking, you just take a fork and lightly shred the sides of the squash....and voila...spaghetti...or something that resembles spaghetti.

Weird, I know...

I decided to keep with the "healthy" theme of the night and make my sauce with ground turkey.  Honestly, by the time I spiced it up, you couldn't tell the difference...in the sauce that is.  The noodles were different.  Not bad.  Just different. 

Okay, I wasn't completely healthy...

 

 

I made yummy Parmesan  garlic bread.  

YUM!

Delicious Enchiladas!

I made Pioneer Woman's enchiladas tonight for dinner. They were easy and wonderful--or as she describes them: "Simple & Perfect."  Obviously...we devoured them before I could snap any pictures. Here's a link to the recipe on her website:

Simple. Perfect. Enchiladas.

Honestly, her recipe isn't much different from what you already do...however, her few changes make them delish.  Try them!  Soon!

An Agglomeration of Food Photos

After a week in Houston with my family, there were just too many delicious dishes to post recipes for each one.  So, here's a few photos of the gourmet meals we enjoyed...

smoking the turkey...yeah, it says ideal. if only this picture was scratch-and-sniff.

dad, carving the bird.  he has a secret recipe for cajun-smokin' a turkey. mm-mmm good!

the wine that accompanied the meal...yeah, is says '96!

aged to perfection...notice the crumbled cork...tasted like silk!

less was definitely more this year!  we decided to just do a few delectable dishes, instead of all the "fillers."

menu: cajun-smoked bird and pig, dressing (not stuffing)*, not your mama's mac and cheese (maybe sarah will be nice enough to post the recipe on her blog later), and cranberries (don't forget the wine!)...oh yeah, and giblet gravy for the men who like that nasty stuff!

*secret family recipe!! don't even bother asking for that recipe! :)

breakfast of champions=coffee and irish cream

day after christmas meal...no leftovers for us! try ribs and pork chops!

not just any ribs...dad's special "can't keep 'em on the bones" ribs!

the 27th made sarah 25! happy birthday, sis!

a cookie cake and a steak dinner?

happy, happy birthday, sarah!

I know I missed a lot of delicious meals (and wines) that we devoured!  But, you get the idea!