Teriyaki Meatball Sub

I really like this recipe a lot.  I love that it's not the normal meatball sub.  You also can make the meatballs to go along with some noodles or rice or as an appetizer.

TERIYAKI MEATBALL SUB
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
*1 tablespoon cornstarch
*1 tablespoon cold water
*1/2 cup brown sugar
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
*1/2 cup soy sauce
*1/4 cup cider vinegar
*1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
*1/4 pound ground pork
*2 eggs
*2 garlic cloves, minced
*1/2 yellow onion, chopped small
*1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
*1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*4-6 sturdy sub buns (I like to make my own)
*8-12 slices provolone cheese

Directions:
~In a small saucepan love low heat, whisk cornstarch, cold water, brown sugar, 2 minced garlic cloves, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
~Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until it thickens.
~Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
~Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or spray pan with a cooking spray.
~In a large bowl, gently stir ground beef, ground pork, eggs, remaining garlic, onion, panko crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
~Form into 2 - 2 1/2 inch meatballs (I use a 1/8 cup to measure them).
~Place meatballs on a cookie sheet.
~Bake for 20-25 minutes or until meatballs are cooked.
~Remove from oven.
~Genlty place meatballs into teriyaki sauce and gently coat.
~Toast insides of sub buns, either in a frying pan or in oven (optional)
~Place meatballs on sub bun.
~Place two slices of provolone cheese over meatballs.
~Place subs back into oven long enough to melt the cheese.
~Remove from oven and drizzle a little more teriyaki sauce over sandwich.

Variations:
`add shredded lettuce and tomato to sub once it's removed from the oven.
`add cooked riced to bottom of sub, before placing meatballs and cheese on it.
`sprinkle chopped green onions over top of melted cheese.
`sprinkle sesame seeds over meatballs.

Honey Mustard Sauce

I love this.  It's good for Chicken Strips,  Soft Pretzels and Ham Sandwiches.  The bonus is that it is very quick to make.

HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE

(makes 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients:
*1 cup mayonnaise
*1/4 - 1/2 cup honey
*1 tablespoons dijon mustard
*1/4 cup prepared mustard
*1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

Directions:
~Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
~Cover and let sit for 1/2 hour before using (optional, but I think it tastes better)

Cranberry-Macadamia-White Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm not a big fan of white chocolate, but I do enjoy this cookie.  The dried cranberries take it over the top.





CRANBERRY-MACADAMIA-WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
(makes 4 dozen)

Ingredients:
*1 cup butter, softened
*1 cup granulated sugar
*1 cup brown sugar
*2 large eggs
*2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
*3 cups all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon baking soda
*3 teaspoons hot water
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
*3/4 cup macadamia nuts
*1 (5 ounce) bag dried cranberries

Directions:
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy.
~Beat in eggs one at a time.
~Stir in vanilla extract.
~Dissolve baking soda into hot water.
~Pour into sugar mixture.
~In a medium bowl, sift flour and salt.
~Mix into sugar mixture.
~Stir in white chocolate chips, macadamia nuts and dried cranberries.
~Drop by spoonfuls onto a uncreased cookie sheet.
~Bake for 10 minutes.
~Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.
~Remove from cookie sheet and continue cooling on wire rack.

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

This is much easier to make than the normal twice baked potatoes.  I normally only put the onions at one end, because my husband does not like onions.

TWICE BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
 (serves 6-8)

Ingredients:
*4 pounds russet or Idaho potatoes
*5 cloves garlic, minced
*1/4 cup butter
*1 cup sour cream
*1/2 cup whole milk (or heavy cream)
*2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
*1 (16 ounce) package bacon, cooked and crumbled
*1 tablespoon salt
*1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
*1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped (optional)

Directions:
~Wash the potatoes with water.
~I like to peel half of each potato, but you don't have to.
~Cut into cubes.
~Add potatoes and garlic to a large pot.
~Cover with water.
~Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes, or until fork tender.
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Drain potatoes.
~Add butter, sour cream and milk.  Mash to desired consistency.
~Season with salt & pepper.
~Stir in 1/2 of the  bacon and 1 cup cheese.
~Pour into a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
~Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon.
~Bake for 25 minutes.
~Remove from oven and sprinkle with green onions.

Tater Tot Casserole

I've made this recipe with homemade cream of celery soup and homemade tater tots .  I'm just giving you the quick and easy version of this recipe.



TATER TOT CASSEROLE:
(serves 6)

Ingredients:
*2 pounds ground beef
*1 large yellow onion, chopped
*3 garlic cloves, minced
*1 small carrot, slice thin and chopped
*1 red bell pepper, chopped small
*2-3 celery stalks, slice small
*2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of celery soup (or cream of chicken)
*1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1 (16 ounce) bag of frozen tarter tots
*2 cups sharp cheese, shredded

Directions:
~Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
~In a large frying pan, cook ground beef,  garlic, onion, carrot, celery and red bell pepper.
~Cook until beef is browned.
~Remove any excess grease.
~Stir soup and Worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper into the hamburger.
~Spoon beef mixture into 9X13 inch baking dish.
~Arrange tater tots over the top of the casserole mixture.
~Sprinkle cheese over top of potatoes.
~Bake for 25 minutes or until potatoes are done.

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Chicken-Pasta Fajita

A good comfort food. Quick and easy to make;

CHICKEN-PASTA FAJITA
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
*3 tablespoons olive oil
*1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
*1 (1.25 ounce) package fajita seasoning mix
*2 medium yellow onions, diced
*1 green bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
*1 red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
*4 garlic cloves, minced
*2 1/2 cups chicken stock
*1/2 cup heavy cream
*1 pint container of cherry/roma tomatoes, cut in half
*1 teaspoon salt
*1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
*2 cups penne pasta
*fresh grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:
~In a zip-lock bag, season chicken with half of taco seasoning.
~Allow to marinate for 1/2 hour.
~In another zip-lock, mix the remaining taco seasoning into the onions, red pepper and green peppers.
~Allow to marinate for 1/2 hour.
~Heat olive oil, in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
~Once oil is hot, add chicken.
~Cook until chicken is no longer pink, flipping half way through.
~Remove chicken and set aside.
~Place the veggies into the hot pan.
~Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are blackened slightly.
~Turn heat to low.
~Add garlic and stir until mixed well.
~Remove veggies from skillet.
~Bring mixture back up to high.
~Add tomatoes, cream, uncooked pasta, salt & pepper to hot skillet.
~Bring mixture to a boil and then cover.
~Reduce heat to medium-low.
~Cook for 15-18 minutes or until  pasta is tender.
~Add chicken and veggies to skillet.
~Stir and cook just until heated through.
~Plate, and top with parmesan cheese if desired.

Avocado-Cucumber-Tomato Salad

This is good anytime of the year, but I especially like it when the cucumber & tomatoes are in season.   It goes great with any meal.

AVACADO-CUCUMBER-TOMATO SALAD
(serves 4-6)

Ingredients:
*2  cucumbers, deseeded and sliced.
*1 1/2 cups cherry or Roma tomatoes, sliced (I use fresh tomatoes, diced when in season)
*3 ripe avocados, peeled and sliced.
*1/2 red onion, sliced
*1/4 cup fresh cilantro or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried cilantro
*1 teaspoon lemon zest
*lemon juice, squeezed from two lemons
*1 garlic clove, minced
*1/4 teaspoon salt
*1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:
~Mix all veggies into one bowl.
~In a small bowl, whisk cilantro, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil together.
~Toss dressing mixture into veggies.
~Serve immediately.

Philly Steak and Cheese Sloppy Joes

I may never eat another normal sloppy joe again.  Ok, yes I will, but I'll like this one better.  This is so easy and quick to make and tastes delicious.  

PHILLY STEAK AND CHEESE SLOPPY JOES
(serves 6)

Ingredients:
*1 pound lean ground beef (or ground turkey or ground chicken)
*1 medium yellow onion, chopped
*1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
*1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
*2 garlic cloves, minced
*1 tablespoon cornstarch
*1 cup beef broth (chicken or turkey stock if using ground turkey or chicken)
*1/4 cup steak sauce
*2 teaspoons Montreal Steak Seasoning
*1/4 teaspoon salt
*1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
*6 slices Provolone cheese
*6 hamburger buns (I often make my own)

Directions:
~Cook ground beef, onions, green pepper, red pepper and garlic in a large skillet until beef is no longer pink.
~In a small bowl, whisk beef broth, steak sauce, steak seasoning, salt, pepper and corn starch together.
~Stir into hamburger mixture.
~Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
~While hamburger mixture is simmering, toast hamburger buns.
~Scoop hamburger mixture onto the bottom half of toasted bun.
~Place a slice of cheese over mixture on place top bun over cheese (I like to toast my hamburger buns in the oven.  I turn the oven off.  Once I put the cheese on the sloppy joes, I place the sandwich back into the warm oven until the cheese melts).