Crockpot Mexican Lasagna

I always say these recipes are "delicious", "great", etc.

I'm going to change it up....

This one was mediocre.  There was nothing wrong with it, but there was nothing special either.  It was a very traditional combination of ingredients.  I've started to think that all store bot Mexican seasonings taste the same, so I made my own this time.  But that didn't really help either.  It was still pretty basic.

In good news, it made a lot of leftovers, again.  I think we're going to roll the leftovers up and have burritos tomorrow.

Crockpot Mexican Lasagna

No bake peanut butter cookies

The easiest, quickest cookies I've made in awhile.  Took about 5 minutes.  I quartered the recipe because it was just for the two of us and really we just wanted a little taste of dessert.  It made 4 cookies (and that was after a spoonful or two of "dough").  Chilled in the fridge was a great addition.  And of course, I added some chocolate chips too because really, why not?  I put them in at the same time I put in the oatmeal (I used instant, which was fine) and they partially melted.  Delicious!

No bake peanut butter cookies

2 cups sugar 
1/4 cup butter 
1/2 cup milk 
1 cup peanut butter 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
3 cups rolled oats (old fashioned) 

Combine all except oats and vanilla. Bring to a boil for a few minutes. Add oats and vanilla. Stir til combined and drop by spoon onto wax paper

Pasta with Butternut Squash, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach

I returned to my pasta-loving roots tonight with this dish.  However, this is a relatively healthy take without heavy cream or a ton of cheese.  The butternut squash still gives it a creamy texture and I used whole wheat pasta.  I couldn't find spicy chicken sausage, so I used spicy pork sausage instead.  The sage taste didn't come out quite strong enough with the recommended amount so I put in a bit more.  All told, good dish.  Lots of leftovers.

Pasta with Butternut Squash, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach

New way to cook brocoli

I add a veggie to whatever we are eating most nights...I seem to have a rotating schedule of what veggie it up next.  (Speaking of, I need some more vegetable choices to prolong the normal rotation).  Anyways, brocoli is a frequent flier.  Generally I steam it.  But, I came accross a easy suggestion to try broccoli in the oven and really liked it.  Good flavor, nice way to change it up.  I would suggest leaving the pieces on the medium side.  I tend to like the smallest pieces for steaming but they burned a little bit in the oven.

best broccoli...olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, 425 for about 20 minutes....then top with parmesan cheese and lemon juice

Chicken Cordon Bleu Rolls

This was a good, simple cordon bleu recipe.  I liked the crumbled corn flake topping -- the crunch was a nice addition.  I also made the cordon bleu sauce.  I didn't think it was all that necessary but decided to give it a try.  It was a bit thick so I cut it with fat free milk (that's what we add on hand).  We didn't use much but the sauce ended up being pretty good on the chicken.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll

Crockpot Pulled Pork

This dish is amazing for a couple of reasons.  First of all, I went to the butcher shop and ordered 4lb boneless pork shoulder.  Me.  Secondly, i took this huge slab of meat home and did something with it.  This was unheard of until a year ago.  I would have never even considered cooking something with that much meat in it.

Anyways, this was pretty easy as far as pork goes.  Season it and stick it in the crockpot for a bunch of hours.  The worst part was taking the layer of fat off at the end.  I cooked it on low for about 10 hours and it came out great.  Moist, tender, easy to pull apart.  I liked it with the vinegar topping and added a little BBQ sauce too.  Served it as a sandwich.

Reviews from the house were very positive.

Crockpot Pulled Pork

Apple pie oatmeal

Put my new crockpot to good use for breakfast yesterday morning.  I'm not a big oatmeal person but Oakley eats it a lot and I can handle it once in awhile ...especially with all these apples in it.  This recipe was easy.  I put it in right when we woke up, cooked on high for 2 hours and was ready just after that.  Added a little brown sugar.  The house smelled delicious while this was cooking too!

Apple Pie Oatmeal

White Chicken Chili

We're getting married next October and recently registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond for a handful of kitchen items.  I'm excited for all of them (new pots and pans, silverware, the works) but perhaps what I was most excited for was a crockpot.  I'm not really sure why.  We never used one much as I was growing up.  But as I've started cooking more I've come across so many great crockpot recipes I wanted to try.

An early Christmas present came in the mail yesterday....my mom did a little registry shopping and she picked right...a crockpot!

Today was the perfect day to try it out.  I was studying for finals all day and going to be around to monitor my first recipe. 

I started off with this white chicken chili.  Just as easy as a crockpot was supposed to be.  Tossed all the ingredients in.  8 hours later we had a great chili.  It was pretty easy as far as recipes go.  Maybe a little heavy on the taco seasoning.  I feel like it could have used some more original spices.  Something spicy too.  I put in two small jars of green chiles as the recipe suggested - but i'd add something more next time.

In any case, I love the crockpot.  Can't wait to try something else soon!

White Chicken Chili

Hamburger Stroganoff

This was one of my absolute favorite dishes as a kid.  We got to pick what we wanted my mom to make for dinner on our birthdays and I'm pretty sure I always picked this (or tacos).  Delicious, simple, good comfort food.  Pair it with a vegetable and you can't go wrong.

Here's the recipe I follow:


1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. butter
2 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. dairy sour cream
2 c. hot cooked noodles
8 oz. mushroom pieces (optional - but highly recommended)

In large skillet, brown ground beef. Drain off most of fat.
Stir in onions and butter and continue browning until
onion is tender. Stir in flour, garlic salt, pepper, and
mushrooms. Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat. Stir in soup. Simmer uncovered 10
minutes. Stir in sour cream. Heat through. Serve over
noodles. Serves 6.

Sweet and Spicy Salmon Kabobs

It's been a busy past week with school, clinical and work.  Unfortunately in my exhaustion, I reverted back to my single days of simple pasta for dinner a couple (2? 3?) nights in a row. (It's easy, quick, and I <3 carbs!)  Poor Oakley finally said, "It was a good run, but I think we need to lay off the carbs."  Fine, sigh.....

I had some time this afternoon and finally tried to get back to cooking some new and delicious (and maybe even healthier) things.  I think this was a pretty good start!

Now, it says kabobs.  Unfortunately, we had no kabob sticks....and neither did the grocery store.  (I live  in NYC...how does the grocery store not carry kabob sticks!)  Anyways, I just put in in the broiler on foil covered pan and then served it over rice.  It worked fine.  The taste is a little different, definitely spicy and sweet.  But we liked it.  And it was healthy!

I didn't love the texture of  the cherry tomatoes after 6 minutes in the broiler.  Kinda soft and squishy.  I might substitue those for something else next time.

Sweet and Spicy Salmon Kabobs

Oatmeal Banana Muffins

These muffins were billed by the original blogger as "93 calorie, no flour breakfast".  Now, I'm not sure if they are 93 calories or not....but they are good and seem relatively healthy.   I did use real sugar though because I hate the fake stuff.  Simple to make...most of the ingredients are commonly found things probably already in your kitchen.

She recommended using real slow cooking oats, but I didn't have those on hand and didn't feel like buying them.  So I used the regular 'ol Quaker Oats.  Seems good to me.  Everything else I did as the recipe said.  Baked for about 20 minutes and came out perfectly.  Would be good with blueberries too!

Oatmeal Banana Muffins

Brussel Sprout Mac and Cheese

I believe I've already talked about my love of brussel sprouts.  Not sure if I've mentioned my love of mac and cheese.  The short version....grew up on the stuff, can't get enough.  It's still my comfort food of choice (specifically the Velveeta kind....with hot dogs in it on a particularly rough day).  However, this is a more "adult" version.  And perhaps a bit healthier too.

The ingredients go surprisingly well together.   It does take a little while to make, though it's not complicated by any means.  Added some extra bread crumbs, the crispiness was perfect.  And lots of leftovers as well!

Brussel Sprout Mac and Cheese