Homemade Home fries

I am a huge hash brown, breakfast potato fan!  If I could, I would have them at every meal, whether it be for breakfast or not. 

I make these for the family often when we do breakfast for dinner.  Which is exactly what we did the other day!  Try these soon!  They're super easy to make! 

Ingredients:

- 4 or 5 potatoes, washed and cubed w/skins on
- Olive oil
-Seasoned Salt/Dried Parsley/Pepper

Directions:

1.  Preheat your oven to 400 degrees while you dice your potatoes and place them into a large bowl.

2.  Toss in your seasoning.  It looks like a lot of seasoning here, but there's a lot of potatoes and potatoes NEED seasoned!  Go by your preference here.  I think I used a good tablespoon of both pepper and parsley and about 2 or 3 tablespoons of the seasoned salt.

3.  Now pour in your oil.  You only need enough to coat the potatoes lightly, do not drown them.  If you add too much oil, the potatoes won't get as crispy.  Now stir your potatoes well and get all the seasoning and oil incorporated into the potatoes. 

4.  Toss the potatoes onto a sheet tray.  You do not need to spray the tray due to the oil on the potatoes.  Bake your potatoes for 30 minutes.  Take them out, test one to check for done-ness.  Using a spatula, stir up the potatoes and place back into the oven and set the oven on broil for a few minutes.  Cook until desired crispness. 

Here's the final product.....

I served our home fries next to a turkey and cheese omelet.  They were crispy, flavorful, and simple to make!  The only thing is the prep time...taking the time to dice up the potatoes.  But, in the end, it's definitely worth it!  Give this simple side dish a try soon!  Enjoy!

Coconut Macaroons

My daughter recently developed an obsession with coconut.  I don't blame her.  I myself adore it.  She tried macaroons at a restaurant recently which began the constant asking if I could make some coconut macaroons for her. 

I was finally beat down enough and did it! ;-)  I am not sorry I did!  These were very delicious and very easy.  And, I got a rave review.....they were BETTER than the ones at the restaurant! ;-)

Ingredients:

- 1 14oz bag of sweetened shredded coconut
- 3 Egg Whites
- 1/4 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
- Parchment paper

Directions:

1.  Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. 

2.  In a large bowl, toss in your egg whites, sugar, salt, and vanilla and whisk together VIGOROUSLY until the mixture is glossy and bubbly.  It doesn't take too long to get there!

3.  Add your coconut and fold together with a plastic spatula until all the coconut is combined.  Using a small ice cream scoop, or a teaspoon, place the coconut onto your baking sheets and pat together if needed.  NOTE:  They should be small!  I made the mistake of making a couple of them a bit larger, and although they still tasted good, they did fall apart!

4.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, remove, and allow the macaroons to cool completely.  Store them in a airtight container for up to 5 days.

Here's the final product....

They almost taste like the insides of a Mounds bar!  I served mine for dessert with cold milk.  Both girls ate them up and my husband and I did too!  Enjoy!  

Homemade Waffles

I bought my waffle maker about a year ago now and I don't know how I got through breakfast without it! 

When I first brought it home, my husband was skeptical.  He believed it was another kitchen appliance I would use once or twice and be done with it.  Not that I have that problem or anything....*cough, cough*.

But, he was WRONG!  The first time I made waffles, not only were they a huge hit in the house, my husband actually ate crow and decided that this waffle maker was a fantastic idea and "honey, when are you going to make waffles again?" 

This recipe is a basic waffle recipe but,  you can certainly add things, like blueberries, chocolate chips, strawberries, nuts, etc.  Try this out today and you will never have to purchase frozen waffles(these freeze very well!) again!

Ingredients:

- 2 cups Flour
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 4 tsp. Baking Powder
- 3 tablespoons Sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 1/2 cups Milk, warmed
- 1/3 cup Butter, melted
- 1 tsp. Vanilla

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, add in your flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar and whisk together.  Make a well in the middle of the bowl so it's ready for when you add your wed ingredients.

2.  In a separate bowl, add your milk and your butter.  Nuke it in the microwave until the butter has melted and the milk is a touch warm, but not hot.  Do not scald the milk!

3.  In the same bowl as the milk and butter, add in your vanilla and then your eggs.  If you feel you got the mixture a bit too warm, temper the eggs.  Usually though, you should be fine.  I've made this numerous times and have never had scrambled eggs! ;-)  Beat this together until the eggs and vanilla are well combined.

4.  Now combine the wet and dry ingredients and whisk together until you have the entire mixture well combined.  Heat your waffle maker and add your mixture 2 cups at a time.  Be careful not to over fill your maker as it will overflow onto your counter top.  This may or may not have happened to me.  Based on your waffle maker, you will know they're done when the light comes on indicating such.  You can also decide how dark or light you want your waffles.  This is based on preference obviously!

Here's the final product....

I served ours for dinner that night with some sausage and fruit salad.  Everyone was happy and plates were cleaned!  Also, I apologize for the lack of photos...dinner was rushed!  Enjoy!

Carne Asada Marinade

This is a great, fresh marinade for carne asada, or even to be used for pork or chicken.  It's citrusy and light and it takes no time to prepare. 

Ingredients:

- Juice of 2 large oranges
- Juice of 4 limes (keep the shells of at least one lime for the marinade)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 jalapeno peppers, sliced w/seeds for spice (or you can de-seed if you don't enjoy spice)
- 6 teaspoons of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tsp. each of:  Parsley, Oregano, Red Pepper Flakes, Onion powder, garlic powder, cumin,  pepper, and salt.
- Thin sliced steak for carne asada

Directions:

1.  Slice up your steak and place in a large storage bag.

2.  Juice all your citrus, add your onion, peppers, garlic, honey, and all your seasonings.  Stir well and pour over your steak.

3.  Allow the meat to marinate for AT LEAST 1 hour, but no longer than 4 hours.

4.  Cook and serve!  This is what is looked like when I placed it into the pan.  I didn't grill the meat because it's winter time here and too cold.  I also kept the veggies from the marinade and cooked it and ate it in the tacos.  You can do what you wish.

This was pretty good served in flour tortillas and with some salsa and sour cream.  Try it out and see what you think!  Enjoy! 

Chocolate Peanut Clusters

I made this recipe yesterday and wow!  It was so simple and delicious and I loved that I could make it in my slow cooker!

I had planned on doing this recipe around Xmas time, but since the surgery and everything, that didn't happen.  No bother because ANYTIME is a good time for these easy candies!  Try them out today!

Ingredients:

- 2lbs Dry Roasted Salted Peanuts
- 1 4oz bar of German Sweet Chocolate
- 1 1/2 pkgs of Almond Bark (40oz)
- 2 Cups Chocolate Chips
- Mini cupcake liners

Directions:

1.  Toss the peanuts into your slow cooker, evening them out on the bottom.

2.  Break up your German chocolate bar and place over the peanuts.

3.  Now pour the chocolate chips over the German bar and nuts.

4.  Add your Almond bark.  I broke mine up to melt it easier and so it fit better into my slow cooker.

5.  Once everything is added, DO NOT STIR IT!  Place your slow cooker on WARM and let the chocolate melt for 3 hours.  I checked it every once in a while just so nothing burned.  After the time is up, using a WOODEN SPOON stir up your chocolate and peanuts.

6.  Line a tray with your mini cupcake liners and fill each liner with a good amount of the melted chocolate/peanut mixture.  Allow the chocolate candies to set well before enjoying.

Here's the final product....

This made just over 100 pieces of candy.  Note I had to use Halloween cupcake liners, lol, because that is what I had on hand!  These were so delicious I can't say enough!  I gifted some out to family and kept the rest.  My girls ever requested one in their lunches!  Try these out soon, and you will not be disappointed!  

Dad's Tuna Bumsteads

Growing up, my dad made Tuna Bumsteads all the time.  It was a nice variety away from your typical tuna salad and I always enjoyed the crispy bun and the gooey cheese.  Plus, they're quick and easy to make and very cheap as well.  Try them out today!

Ingredients:

- 3 to 4 cans of Tuna, drained (this will easily give you 8 sandwiches)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups mayo (depending on how you enjoy your tuna salad)
- 1 1/2 cup relish (or more if you like)**
- Sliced American cheese, such as Kraft singles
- Burger buns
- Salt and Pepper to taste

**Just a note on the relish:  When doing these again, I will probably use sweet relish as the dill, though delicious, just didn't give it the "kick" I was looking for.  However, again, this is totally based on taste.**

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, add in your drained tuna and your chopped onion.

2.  Toss in your relish and mix well.  Add more relish if you feel you need to do so.

3.  Add your mayo and salt/pepper.  Mix well and taste.  Add more of any ingredient to meet your taste.

4.  Heat your oven to 350 degrees and line your baking sheet with your burger buns.  Add heaping spoonfuls to your buns, top with cheese, place your top bun on top and bake until the bun is crispy and the cheese is beginning to melt.

Here's the final product....

I served ours with potato chips and leftover chili from the day before.  Delicious and it brought back happy childhood memories!  What more could you ask for?  Enjoy!

Italian Chicken Sandwiches

These Italian chicken sandwiches are perfect for a busy day!  You can quickly get everything into the slow cooker and go about your business.  Then come home and load up your sub roll! 

Try this one out soon!

Ingredients:

- 3 or 4 chicken breasts (I used frozen)
- 1 bag frozen onions, green peppers, red pepper mix (or you can use fresh...either is fine!)
- Garlic to taste
- Italian seasoning to taste
- 1 jar (26oz) Pasta sauce (I used half of the larger one pictured)
- Sub rolls and provolone cheese if desired *not pictured*

Directions:

1.  Place your chicken breasts into your slow cooker and cover with the veggies.

2.  Toss in your garlic and your seasoning and top with your sauce.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

Here's the final product....

I served ours on wheat sub rolls topped with some provolone cheese and a side of potato chips.  It was a perfect, hearty, and quick weekday meal!  Enjoy!