Brown Sugar Pork Chops!

So, I was looking for something quick and easy to make, and not unlike Old Mother Hubbard, my cupboards were bare. I had some pork chops in the fridge that I really needed to use up. I was short on time, desire, and energy to cook. So, this was the result... which, to my surprise... was DELICIOUS!

Brown Sugar Pork Chops
4-6 pork chops
brown sugar
1/2 C. soy sauce, approximately

Melt a 1-2 Tbsp. coconut oil,  or some other oil, in the bottom of a skillet, over medium heat. Using a large table spoon, spoon one spoonful of brown sugar onto each pork chop. Pat or pack the brown sugar onto the pork chop. Place brown sugar side down into heated skillet, repeat with remaining pork chops. Put the same amount of brown sugar onto the top of pork chops. Take soy sauce and "squirt" or pour over pork chops, just enough to dampen the brown sugar on each chop. Cook for approximately 3-5 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked part way through. Flip pork chops and cook on opposite side, until done. I let mine simmer, on low for a bit, to let the sauce simmer and reduce a little.

Delicious Hot Pineapple Casserole

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! 

I first made this recipe a few years ago. It is SOOO good. I think it would be amazing at Easter, with ham! It is really easy to whip up and delicious!

Have a great day! 

Enjoy!

Hot Pineapple Casserole

2 (20 ounce) cans crushed pineapple, drained
6 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

1 C. white sugar

2 C. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 sleeve buttery round crackers (such as Ritz®), crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Drain the pineapple.Combine the flour and sugar in a large bowl.  Add the Cheddar cheese and crushed pineapple to the flour mixture. Once combined, pour the mixture into a 1 1/2- 2 quart (sprayed) casserole dish. Mix the cracker crumbs and butter in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the pineapple mixture. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Baked Frito Chili Pie

I love Frito Chili Pie... I really do. It is so simple, yet so yummy. When I saw this recipe floating around, I knew I had to give it a try. I had to change it up a little bit, one, because I wasn't paying attention, and two because I was running really low on shredded cheese. Anyway, this came out really well!! 

Enjoy!

Baked Frito Chili Pie

1 lb. ground beef

1 can (16 oz) chili beans (do not drain)
1 can (14-16 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes (drained)
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
3-1/2 C. corn chips (Fritos)
1-1/4 C. fat free sour cream

Cook ground beef until meat is browned; drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (I wasn't paying attention and I did not drain mine...), taco seasoning mix. and 1/4 c. of cheese. Sprinkle 1 C. corn chips in bottom of baking dish. Cover with chili. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Spread sour cream over chili. Top with remaining corn chips and cheese. Bake 4-5 minutes longer. I used Velveeta on top of mine, I was running low on shredded cheese.Original Recipe: Myfamilymealplan

Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies!

I was craving something sweet this morning... but wanted to try to stay gluten free. I was not so good yesterday about following the whole gluten free thing. Well, I stumbled upon this recipe and decided to give it a try. I had tried a flour free, gluten free peanut butter cookie recipe before, but they did not turn out very good. I am VERY happy with this recipe! They turned out so good. Very sweet, but VERY good!

Enjoy!

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
1 C. creamy peanut butter
1 C. granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda

extra sugar, optional

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream all ingredients in a mixer. Roll into one inch balls, roll in extra sugar, and flatten with the bottom of a glass jar or cup. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes and cool on cookie sheet until completely cool.

Original recipe: RumblyTumbly

Queso Taco Pasta Bake

I saw this recipe floating around Pinterest. I decided to give it a try tonight. I did motif it some, to meet my needs, but it was VERY good!! 

Queso Taco Pasta Bake

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter

1/4 C. all purpose flour (gf)
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1-1/2 C. almond milk (recipe called for chicken broth)
1-1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C. prepared mild salsa
1 C. finely chopped onions
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1- 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes, mild
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. lime juice
3/4 lb. small pasta of your choice (gf)
2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Place butter into a medium pan over medium heat. Stir to melt. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper for about 30 seconds until bubbly. Slowly whisk in milk or broth until smooth. Increase heat to high while whisking until thickened, approximately 3-5 minutes. Stir in cheese and salsa, turn off heat and set aside. Brown ground beef, when almost done browning, add salt and pepper, onions and garlic. Drain, if needed. Then, add tomatoes, cumin, and lime juice, stir to combine. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Transfer beef, noodles and queso to casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve warm.

Original recipe: PickyPalate

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Potato Casserole

The weather here has been very rainy and cold. The temperatures have finally dropped off and our highs have only been in the 50s the last few days. I am loving the fall weather, but wish I could stay at home, snuggled up with my cat and a good book. I was really craving comfort food. Comfort food, to me, is usually something warm, and with lots of melted cheese. Oh! Add some potatoes in there too! So, as I was browsing around Pinterest looking for some ideas, I came across a recipe that I knew I had everything to make. I took this recipe and adapted it some, to fit my comfort food craving, and voila! 

Enjoy!

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Potato Casserole

3 C. potatoes, boiled and cut into cubes, approx. 1 lb.
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour (I used gluten free flour)
2 C. milk (I used almond milk)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese, diced
1/2 C. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb. skinless smoked sausage
1/8 tsp. smoked paprika

Preheat oven to 350*. Cut skinless smoked sausage in half, lengthwise, and then slice into 1/2 inch "half moon" cuts. Cook in a frying pan for about 15 minutes, until slightly brown. While the sausage is browning up, put the cooked & diced potatoes in 2 quart casserole. Add the cooked sausage. Mix all remaining ingredients (except shredded cheddar cheese & paprika), with a whisk, in a saucepan over medium heat until warm, melted, and smooth. Stir constantly. Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes and meat, stir to combine. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese on top, and then sprinkle paprika evenly over the top.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

*You can substitute: 1/2 lb. hot dogs, sliced into 1/2-inch slices OR 1/2 lb. ham diced into 1/2-inch dices OR 12 oz. can of Spam diced into 1/2-inch dices, instead of the smoked sausage.

Original recipe: Jolean's Cheese Potato and Smoked Sausage Casserole

Baked Chili Cheese Dogs... YUM!

I had been thinking that chili dogs sounded good. But, when I went to make them, I thought I wanted to go about it a little bit differently than usual. So, this was the result. These were quick to put together and very good!

Baked Chili Cheese Dogs
8 gf or regular hot dog buns
8 hot dogs
1 can chili or one batch of homemade chili
shredded cheese
diced onion (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Put one hotdog per bun, place in pan. Top each hotdog with chili, shredded cheese, and onion (optional). Cover with foil, and bake for 40-45 minutes minutes.

Quick Meatballs

Every time that we have spaghetti for supper, my oldest ALWAYS asks for meatballs. I rarely make them, because, well, I am lazy. Just browning the hamburger is way easier. So, tonight when I decided to make spaghetti, I thought I would surprise her with meatballs. When looking for a recipe, I wanted something quick and easy to make. 

Quick Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 - 3/4 C. bread crumbs (I used gf)
1 egg lightly beaten
garlic powder
black pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all ingredients together. I threw all of the ingredients together in my KitchenAide mixer, I don't like touching raw meat. Once mixed well, form into meatballs, approximately the size of golfballs. Bake for 20-30, or until done.

Brown Sugar Pork Chops

Well, it is only Tuesday, am I worn out. I keep asking if it is Friday yet and everyone keeps telling me, "no." :(  I think they are all just trying to torture me. I have also been in a real rut here lately in the cooking department. I have fallen off the meal planning wagon, and I can tell. I am struggling to find something to make from day to day. Blah... So, tonight was simple brown sugar pork chops. They were easy and very simple. I think that the next time I make them, I will double the brown sugar mixture.

Simple Brown Sugar Pork Chops

4-6 pork chops
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
minced/chopped garlic

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, and minced garlic. Place pork chops in pan, coat with brown sugar mixture. Bake for 20 minutes or until done.

Gluten Free Quick and Easy Banana Bread

With the cooler weather, I have been craving banana bread. I love the flavors, the smells... Mmmmm... In my quest for a GOOD gluten free banana bread recipe, I also wanted something super easy. Well, this recipe could not be any easier, I don't think. 

Gluten Free Banana Bread
1 box gluten free yellow or white cake mix
3 eggs
4 ripe bananas 
1/2-1 C. mini chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 C. chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two loaf pans with nonstick spray. Mix first three ingredients together. Fold in chocolate chips, if using. Pour half of the batter into each prepared loaf pan. Top each pan of batter with half of the chopped pecan, if using. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or util toothpick poked in middle comes out clean.

*If you are not wanting gluten free, you can simply use a regular cake mix.

Hamburger Potato Casserole

Our temperatures have finally dropped some and nice during the day and we are having cool evenings. The weather has been perfect! Only downfall... the pollen levels are so high. So, I am not feeling so hot, to put it nicely. This achy body did not want to get up and make anything for supper, but the littles seem to get hungry and need to be fed.

Hamburger Potato Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
2 to 4 potatoes (depending on how thin slice) uncooked
3/4 C. diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced 
1 Tbsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. onion powder
A few pinches of pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup  (gluten free)
1 C. shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brown the meat in a skillet. Add the onions and the seasonings. While the ground beef is cooking, slice the potatoes. Spray the casserole dish, and then line the bottom with the sliced potatoes. When the meat is almost brown, add in the fresh garlic. Add in the can of cream of mushroom soup. Mix well. Put half of the soup mixture over the first layer of potato slices. Then add another layer of potatoes. Then scoop the remaining amount of the mixture on top of those potatoes. Cover the dish with foil. Bake about 45 minutes to an hour, or until potatoes are cooked through. When potatoes are fork tender, remove foil and sprinkle the cheese on top and cook again until the cheese is melted.

Original recipe: PureLifeandtheloveoffood

Baked BBQ Chicken

Tonight's supper was quick and easy. I had some chicken thighs to use up and wanted to bbq them, but it was 100+ degrees outside and I was not going to fire up the grill. I don't like to sweat to when I cook. So, here you go!

Baked BBQ Chicken
8 chicken thighs
1/2 bottle of favorite bbq sauce
1/4 c. honey
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. seasoned salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In skillet, brown chicken thighs. Place in 9x13 pan. In small bowl, mix up remaining ingredients. Spread over chicken. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until chicken is done and juices run clear.

Spaghetti Tacos... Surprisingly delicious!

So, the yahooties head back to school tomorrow! This momma is doing a happy dance!! I know, that is horrible, but, well... I am! A couple years ago, while watching one of their favorite tv shows, the girls heard about spaghetti tacos. They had asked me to make them, at that time, and I didn't ever do it. As a Back to School surprise, we have spent the evening watching their favorite show, iCarly, and having spaghetti tacos. I had 3 of them myself. Pretty yummy...

Spaghetti Tacos
1 lb. hamburger or sausage
1 large jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
8-10 oz. of spaghetti
shredded cheese
1 pkg. taco shells

Brown hamburger or sausage over medium heat in sauce pan, drain if needed. Add sauce, heat through. In another pot, cooks spaghetti until a dente, drain. Add spaghetti to spaghetti sauce, stir to combine. I warm my taco shells in a 350 degree oven for about 5-7 minutes. After warming taco shells, remove from oven. Add a scoop of spaghetti to each taco shell, top with shredded cheese.
*I used gluten free spaghetti

Oven Roasted Chicken with Veggies

Tonight's supper could be a one pan supper, if you want to just have chicken and the veggies. But, there is always the option of adding on additional side dishes, if you so wish. 

Oven Roasted Chicken with Veggies
1 4-6 lb. whole chicken
1 lb. baby carrots
1 medium to large zucchini
1 medium to large onion chunked
Coconut oil

Cavendar's Greek Seasoning

Seasoning salt

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. While oven is preheating. Put baby carrots in bottom of a 9x13 pan. Add rough chopped zucchini and onion. Sprinkle with seasoning salt and Cavendar's Greek Seasoning. Remove giblets from whole chicken. Pour 2 Tbsp. coconut oil inside chicken, and move around to coat inside of chicken. Sprinkle in 1-2 Tbsp. Cavendar's Greek Seasoning, move chicken around to coat inside. Tie legs together with string. Put chicken on top of veggies, breast side down. Coat top of chicken with coconut oil and sprinkle more Cavendar's Greek Seasoning on top. Bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes is up, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Carefully tip the chicken to drain off any juices from the cavity and turn the chicken over. Coat the top of the chicken/breast with coconut oil and sprinkle with more Cavendar's Greek Seasoning. Bake an additional 20 minutes per pound or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Let sit for 20-30 minutes before serving. You can tent it with aluminum foil during this time, if you wish.

Quick Meatloaf Cups

I thought meatloaf sounded good tonight, but I wanted something fast and my ground beef was still half frozen. Whoops! I guess that is what happens when I don't decide on this until 2 p.m. in the afternoon... And, well, supper needed to be ready around 4:30-ish. Again, whoops!

Quick Meatloaf Cups

1 lb. of ground beef or turkey (makes 12 cups)
Bread crumbs (about 1/2 C., I used gluten free)
Worcestershire sauce (about 2 Tbs.)
1 egg
1 pkt. french onion soup mix
Approx. 1/2 C. parmesan cheese (optional)

Sauce: 1/3 c. brown sugar, 1/3 c. ketchup, and 2 Tbsp. yellow mustard

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all meatloaf ingredients together, either by hand or in a Kitchen Aide mixer (that is what I do, because I do NOT like touching raw meat). Put in sprayed muffin tins. In a separate bowl, mix together sauce. After meat mixtures has been divided into tins, top with sauce. Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes, or until cooked through.

Original recipe: Temeculablogs