I have been married to a wonderful Christian man since 1976. The Lord has blessed us with two daughters and two sons. I consider each day the Lord gives me on the earth yet another chance to serve Him.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Cheeseburger Casserole

If you want to make this recipe a little more healthy, substitute the heavy cream with milk.  You can also skip the swiss and american cheese and just use the shredded cheese on top.  This recipe is great for making and then freezing before you bake it.  I divide it, and cook half and freeze the other half for another day.   Sorry, I forgot to take a picture with the lettuce on top.






CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
(serves 8)

Ingredients:
*1 pound bacon, chopped
*1 tablespoon olive oil
*2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
*1 medium yellow onion, chopped small
*2 garlic cloves, minced
*2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
*1 1/2 teaspoons salt
*1 teaspoon pepper
*2 tablespoons butter
*3 tablespoons all purpose flour
*2 cups whole milk
*2 cups heavy cream
*1 tablespoon yellow mustard
*1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
*1 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon pepper
*2 pounds frozen cheese ravioli, thawed
*1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
*1 tomato, seeded and chopped
*8 slices American Cheese
*1 (8 ounce) bag cheddar and Monterey jack cheese blend
*1 small onion, sliced very thin
*1 head iceberg lettuce, finely shredded or buy shredded lettuce
*desired condiments (chopped pickles, ketchup, mustard, mayo) (optional)

Directions:
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~In a large frying pan, cook bacon until crispy, stirring often.
~Remove from pan and place on paper towel line plate.
~Add olive oil to bacon grease.
~Add ground beef, onions, salt and pepper to pan.
~Cook until ground beef or ground turkey is almost won, breaking up beef as it cooks.
~Add in minced garlic and cook until ground beed is done.
~Remove beef/turkey with a slotted spoon into a bowl and set aside.
~Add butter to frying pan (don't drain the grease).
~Whisk in flour, stirring for 1 minute.
~Slowly whisk in milk.
~Once the sauce starts to thicken add heavy cream.
~Cook until sauce thickens up (it will just be a little thick)
~Stir in mustard and hot sauce and a dash of salt and pepper.
~Remove from heat.
~Layer the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan with a thin layer of the white sauce.
~Place 1/2 of ravioli on over the sauce.
~Sprinkle Swiss cheese over the ravioli.
~Spread half of the beef over the ravioli.
~Place half of the chopped tomatoes over the beef.
~Pour half of the white sauce over next.
~Add the remaining ravioli.
~Layer the American cheese over the ravioli.
~Spread the remaining beef over the American cheese.
~Add the remaining tomatoes.
~Spread the rest of the white sauce over casserole.
~Sprinkle chopped bacon over top.
~Sprinkle cheese blend on top.
~Bake for 35-40 minutes or until edges are bubbly and cheese begins to brown.
~In a large bowl, mix lettuce and sliced onion.
~Plate casserole and  place lettuce on top of each serving.
~Add desired condiments.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Brine Roasted Turkey

If you have never brined your turkey, you should give it a try.  It will make the most moist turkey that you have ever tasted.  Even if you just brine it in salt water it will do the trick.  Just always remember to rinse it off before roasting it.  You can also just brine it in water with kosher salt.




BRINE ROASTED TURKEY
(serves 10-12)

Ingredients:
*1 (12-16 pound) turkey (fresh or a thawed frozen turkey)
*1 cup kosher salt
*1 quart apple cider or apple juice
*2 or 3 allspice berries
*2 cinnamon sticks
*1 apple, sliced
*1 orange, pealed & sliced
*1 small onion, sliced
*2 carrots, sliced into large chunks
*2 celery stalks
*1 clove garlic, sliced in half
*1 tablespoon italian seasoning
*4 springs rosemary (or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary)
*4 sage leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried sage)
*1 teaspoon black pepper
*3-4 gallons ice water
*1 quart turkey stock or chicken stock

Directions:
~In a large pot, heat up apple cider/juice, kosher salt, allspice berries, cinnamon sticks, apple, orange, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, italian seasoning, rosemary, sage & pepper until it comes to a boil.
~Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
~Remove from refrigerator and add ice water into a 5 gallon clean bucket (only used for brining).
~Remove the inners from turkey.
~Place turkey breast side down into brine (throw away brine).
~Cover and refrigerate or place in a cool area for 12-48 hours, making sure you keep the brine cold (add ice if necessary).
~Remove turkey from brine and rise inside and out very well (do not skip this step or your turkey will be salty).
~Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
~Place turkey back side down into roaster, and pat dry with a paper towel.
~If you are going to stuff the turkey, this is when you do.
~Sprinkle a little pepper & salt over turkey.
~Pour turkey stock into the bottom of the roasting pan.
~Cover pan with lid or aluminum foil.
~Place turkey into oven and roast for 4 hours (if it's stuffed 4 1/2 hours).
~Remove lid and roast for another hour, basting it every 15 minutes.
~Check for doneness with a meat themometer .  Internal temperature should be 165 degrees.
~Remove from oven and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.







Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Banana-Orange-Cranberry Bread

Just another way for you to use up those old bananas.   It's so good.   It's good with or without the glaze, but the glaze gives it just a little more hint of orange.




BANANA-ORANGE-CRANBERRY BREAD
 (makes 1 loaf)

Bread Ingredients:
*1/3 cup vegetable oil
*1/2 cup granulated sugar
*juice from 1 - 2 oranges (1/4 cup)
*2 large eggs
*1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
*zest from 1 orange
*3 very ripe bananas, mashed
*1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon baking soda
*1 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*1 1/2 cups dried cranberries (Craisins)

Glaze  Ingredients:
*1 cup powered sugar
*1 1/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
*zest from 1 orange

Bread Directions:
~Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
~Grease a 9 x 5 inch bread pan with cooking spray.
~In a large mixing bowl, whisk sugar, orange juice, eggs, vanilla and orange zest together until smooth.
~Whisk in mashed bananas and mix well.
~Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon into egg mixture.
~Stir until just combined (Do not over mix.  There should be small lumps)
~Pour into prepared pan.
~Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
~Remove from oven, and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before removing it from the pan.
~Place bread on a cooling rack.

Glaze Directions:
~Sift powered sugar into a small bowl.
~Add orange zest and orange juice.
~Mix until smooth.
~Drizzle  over top of bread once it's removed from the pan (the bread will still be warm/hot)