Manhattan Meatballs

This is SO good and very easy. I am not a big fan of meatballs...the idea itself of eating a ball of meat is not appetizing me. But these sure where yummy! The original recipe came from justamomha.com(http://www.justamomha.com/pantry-gourmet/2009/07/manhattan-meatballs/ for pictures). Using what I had in my pantry I made a few changes. Another great thing about this meal is all the ingredients are in a typical pantry. woot woot.

Manhattan Meatballs
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 c. onion, chopped (I actually didn't have this so I used some onion salt)
2 c. soft bread crumbs
2 eggs
2 Tbs fresh parsley (I didn't have any fresh or dried so I used dill...couldn't taste it though)
2 tsp salt (I used seasoning salt-for fun)
10 oz apricot preserves (I have apricot jam, and I felt awful using my precious home made jam so I probably didn't use enough. Now that I know it is so yummy and worth it)
1/2 c. BBQ sauce


In a large bowl combine beef, crumbs, onion, eggs, parsley, and salt. Form into balls and place on a greased baking sheet (the balls were a lot drier than I have ever used before. I don't know if it was the bread crumbs or what. I was worried but it turned out perfect). Combine preserves and BBQ sauce in separate bowl. Brown the meatballs in the oven at 350 degrees (this doesn’t take too long, 5-10 minutes, just keep an eye on them). Place the browned meatballs in a casserole dish and cover with the sauce mix. Put back in the oven and cook for another 40 minutes or until cooked through. Serve meatballs with sauce over rice.

3 golf size meatballs is about 4 weight watcher points (by my calculations. I made 30 meatballs with this recipe if you use 1 lbs of meat you will probably get less) this doesn't include rice.

I think I will make these for the Superbowl in a crockpot...

bbq zucchini

Dave was kind enough to make this for me the other night. I can't wait to have it again. The best part is that it is super easy and totally guilt free.

Zucchini
Olive Oil
seasoning (we used garlic and herbs)

cut zucchini into spears (about 4) drizzle with oil to lightly coat and then put on some seasons. Cook on BBQ and then eat...but not too fast or it will burn your mouth!

Buca Pizza Angelo: Brookie Style!

I decided that I really liked the Pizza Angelo at Buca Di Beppo and thought that I could reproduce it at home for cheap. It may not be perfect, but it's really good and easy. But don't take my word for it...

Ingredients:

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cubed and cooked

2 Boxes Jiffy Pizza Crust Mix

1 Jar Ragu Alfredo Sauce

1 Can Whole Corn, drained

2-8 oz. bags Italian Cheese

Lays Potato Chips

*Mushrooms (totally optional, sick!) 

Prepare crust as instructed on box. Spread in a greased cookie sheet. (18 x 13)Pre-bake for 3 minutes. In medium bowl, combine chicken, alfredo, and corn; stir together. Spread mixture onto pre-baked crust. Sprinkle cheese ("Italian" cheese is a bag mixture of Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan, Romano, Fontina, and Asiago and cheeses.) over mixture. Sprinkle a few potato chips over pizza. Bake at 425 for 18 minutes or until golden on top. Enjoy!

If you do like mushrooms, add as many as you desire to the alfredo mixture prior to spreading it onto the crust. 

Pretty kid-friendly... Ethan said, "Yum... this is deee-liscious!". Those who know my son know that he only says this about Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Just a snack

Banana Sandwiches
A while ago I made banana, peanut butter sandwiches. Madie seemed to like them ok.
all you do is cut the banana in circles, take a slice of banana put a scoop of peanut butter on it and top it off with another slice of banana.

Easy Chicken pot pie

I found this in one of my Kraft food mag. and just love it. it is supper easy and cheep!

Prep: 10 min Total 40 min

2 Tbsp. Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 lb. Boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups frozen mixed veg.
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup shredded cheese (i use whatever i have)
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 egg, lightly beaten

preheat oven to 400. heat dressing in large skillet. add chicken; cook and stir 5 min or until cooked through. stir in veg.. soup, and cheese. spoon into greased 9-inch baking dish.

unfold pastry sheet, place over chicken mixture. fold under edges of pastry, press onto top of baking dish to seal. brush pastry with egg. cut several slits in top crust to permit steam to escape.

place dish on baking sheet. bake 30 min. or until deep golden brown. let stand 5 min. before serving

Taco Pie

This is a good one. Since it only requires a few tortillas it is great for those dinners when you have a bit of this and that and not a lot of time.

1 lb. beef
can on beans
can of corn
tomato product (Paste/diced/sauce all work well)
season to taste (taco seasoning is great)
Be creative and add what you have and like-I am trying enchilada sauce next time.

brown beef, add in everything else. It should make thick stew.

about 2 cups shredded cheese
3-4 tortillas

In a cake pan about the same size as your tortillas put a tortilla done first. Spread about 1 cup of stew mixture sprinkle some cheese. continue to layer tortilla, stew and cheese until you reach the top. Making sure that there is enough cheese to cover the top.

Bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted on top. Let sit a few minutes. Cut like a pie. Serve with sour cream and salsa if you want and have.

Camper Stew

2 cans of Baked Beans (we like Bushes Baked beans, the bigger can)
1 small bag of frozen corn or a can of corn.
1 pkg of hotdogs sliced up

Put it all in one pot. Heat it up. Eat it up

You don't have to follow the same amounts I have listed. If you don't like corn, don't add it. If you don't want as many beans, use less cans if you want more...add more. This is one of those yummy and super easy dinners that you can't mess up.

Three Cheese Tortellini Soup

(It tastes better than what this picture depicts)


1 Package Buitoni Three Cheese Tortellini 9 Oz
Can of marinara
1¾-cup water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 package
16 oz mixed Italian vegetables (I can only find these at Smith’s)


Cook three cheese tortellini according to package, and then drain.

In a separate bowl combine:

Marinara, water, bouillon. Bring to a boil add veggies and return to boil. Reduce to low, cover, cook for 10-12 minutes (until veggies are tender). Stir in drained pasta and cook until it is heated through.

A Fabulous Find

My sister told me about this blog, it's got 365 crock pot recipes. I guess that the woman made a goal to cook with her crock pot every day for one year, and she did it. I chose 4 really yummy sounding recipes from it, and can't wait to try them.

Plus: There are a TON of Gluten Free recipes, Melissa!!!

Check it Out:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com

We'll Call This One...

I think we'll call it the "Maggie-fell-asleep-had-a-meeting-and-didn't-know-what-to-make-for-dinner" meal. I totally need to go grocery shopping and was trying to make do with what I had in the house.

3-4 pototaes washed and sliced into chips

Spray cookie sheet or casserole dish with cooking spray and back at 475 for about 20 min, or until done

While potatoes are cooking:

2-4 chicken breasts (I used chicken tenderloins)

baby carrots sliced up

onion- however much you like

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

Grated cheese- again, however much you like

sour cream

milk, so that it wasn't too thick

So, I cooked up the chicken breasts in some olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper, onion and carrots. I mixed the soup, cheese, sour cream and milk. Once the chicken was browned I added the sauce. Just cook it until it's heated through and serve over potatoes. I suppose you could eat it on mashed potatoes, or eve rice or noodles.

So there it is, and it was actually tasty. I was pleasantly surprised.

its weird but it might work

So today at lunch I had a salad (applause please) I wanted something crunchy but had no nuts or croutons and I didn't want to take the time to make croutons. So I mixed some plain chex cereal with some melted butter, garlic, and oregano and put that in my salad. I will admit it looked so weird. But it was so yummy. Try it.

Homemade Peanut Buttercups

I know this isn't a supper, but I figured it is always nice to have something after supper too.

1 bag of Hershey Kisses

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup powder sugar

1 TBS butter/margarine, softened

1 bag of choc chips (or a 2nd bag of kisses)

small baking cups

Line a muffin tin with the small baking cups. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth. Using a small pastry brush coat the inside of paper cups. Refrigerator for 20 minutes and repeat (I wish now I had repeated this a few times to make the wrapper thicker, stronger and yummier) Make sure there are no thin spots. Refrigerate over night or until firm.

Peel the paper from the chocolate cups.

Beat peanut butter, powder sugar and butter together with electric mixer until smooth. Spoon into chocolate cups and top with a kiss. cover. store in refrigerator until ready to eat.

Cream Cheese Chilli Dip

This one's for you Amanda!

2 cans of chilli (your favorite)

2 packages cream cheese

Let cream cheese soften, cut into cubes to help melt faster. Heat chilli, add cream cheese, stir until there aren't any clumps of cream cheese. I think you can do this in the crock-pot. My guess is that it wouldn't take very long to heat up, just on low. It's delicious!!! Jake loves it!

Tortilla Casserole

Okay ladies, get your crockpots out! I really enjoyed this one, and it was totally simple. And I promise, it's tastier than it looks here.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cooking time: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hours

4-6 white tortillas (you could probably use corn)

1 lb ground beef

1 envelope dry taco seasoning

16 oz. can refried beans

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (divided)

3-4 tblspoons sour cream

1. Spray inside of cooker with coooking spray. Tear about 3/4 of tortilla into pieces and line sides and bottom of cooker.

2. Brown ground beef in a non-stick skillet. Drain, return to skillet and add taco seasoning.

3. Layer refried beans, hamburger, 1 cup cheese and sour cream if you wish (I didn't add sour cream, and it was still good), over tortilla pieces.

4. Place remaining tortilla pieces on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

5. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours.

Sloppy Joes

This is one of my favorites! No picture it looked very un-yummy . I got the base of the recipe from The Essential Mormon Cookbook, but I think I have made enough changes to call it my own.

1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or so)
salt to task
1 onion (1/2 chopped, 1/2 sliced)
3/4 c ketchup
2 BIG T tomato paste
2 T vinegar
2 T Worcestershire sauce
2 T packed brown sugar (be careful here not to add too much)
1 can of black beans (drain)
toasted hamburger buns (toasted really makes a big difference)

After browning and draining the meat add the onion and salt and cook until tender. I like onion that is why I slice and chop, but if you want it all small then chop it all. Add ketchup, tomato paste, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and stir until mixed-taste and add more of anything depending on preference. Stir in the beans and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Toast your buns and put the meat on them and eat it up!

-to be honest I really don't measure anything, I do it to taste. I am guess on the measurements so if you want to add more or less go for it.

Chicken Soup Monterey

We LOVE this soup! Yes, that includes the little guy. He actually asked for 2nds! WOW! I know. It is so easy and again something Jared helped me with.

2 cans chicken broth (I use bullion and water)

2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 celery stalk, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1/8 pound deli smoked chicken breast, diced *
1/2 c snipped fresh parsley**
1/2 t dried marjoram leaves
1/2 t black pepper
2/3 reduced-fat Monterey Jack Cheese***
1 t mesquite smoke flavoring****

Combine EVERYTHING in the pot, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until tender. About 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in the cheese and smoke flavoring.
YES THAT IS REALLY IT!

*I use chicken breast with mesquite seasoning and I BBQ instead(one less pan to clean) **parsley looks so pretty but really isn't a must.
***Moneterey Jack can be pricey...tonight we used a blend of Jack and cheddar. Although it didn't thicken as well it tasted just as good.
****Instead of buying the liquid smoke flavoring I use the same mesquite seasoning I used on chicken. Be careful it can get spicy and little ones might not like it.

-Tonight I didn't have celery so I put in more carrots. That is the joy of this recipe...well and most soups. There is a lot of room to improvise.
-Tonight I also tried sweet potatoes instead of regualr and that was so good! Makes it something a little different. and really colorful.
-It is also really easy to double and freeze or just add extra veggies so there is left overs.

What do you think?

Yeah, CutestBlockontheBlock is up and running. I hope you all enjoy the design. If you have any tips or good meal sites, you can add them on the sidebar, or email me and I'll do it!

Chicken Rolls

Chicken Roll-Ups
(Thanks to my little Sister)

2-3 chicken breasts
½ cream cheese-softened
1 pkg Crescent rolls
¼ c Margarine –melted
Crushed Ritz


Cook Chicken and then dice. The smaller the better I think, but can be larger chucks if you want to save time. Combine chicken and cream cheese, mix well. Roll out rolls, works best if not too cold. Drop a heaping spoonful of chicken on large part of roll. Roll up the edges of the rolls to form a ball of chicken. Dip into margarine and then Ritz. Place on a greased pan. Cook at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

Spaghetti Carbonara: Pasta with Bacon and Eggs

I really like this one when I want pasta, but not red sauce. It's super easy, and enjoyed by all!

1/4 lb pancetta ( I use ham or bacon, whichever I have on hand)
1 lb spaghetti
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tablesp. evoo
2 large eggs, beaten with a splash of milk and a couple tablespoons of boiling pasta water
1/2 grated parmesan cheese
chopped parsley
ground black pepper to taste
(I usually add a little salt for taste, because it is a little bland)

Cook pancetta (or bacon) in small pan over medium-high heat. Drop pasta into boiling water, let cook about 5 minutes before starting the sauce. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve a few tablespoons of water for egg mixture.

Heat garlic and olive oil in skillet or frying pan over very low heat. Dump pasta into a colander, give it a quick rinse. Turn the heat up from low to medium. Toss the pasta in with the garlic and evoo, and coat evenly. Add pancetta pieces. Pour egg mixture evenly over pasta. Toss fast and firmly. Turn heat off. Add cheese, parsley and a generous amount of pepper (and salt if you like). Serve it hot with extra parm and black pepper.

Favorite Salisbury Steak

This one of my new favorites. It's easy, tasty and my kids (and husband) love it!

For the Patties
1 lb extra lean ground beef
1/2 cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 egg white
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teasp. worchestshire sauce
1/4 teasp. salt
1/4 teasp. pepper

For the Gravy
1 cup beef broth
1 tablesp. cornstarch
1/4 teasp. dried thyme leaves
1 2.5 oz can sliced mushrooms (I use fresh, and just kind of guess at how many I want)

In bowl, combine ingredients for patties, mix gently. Shape into 6 oval patties, about 3/4 inch thick.

Spray large non-stick skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat until hot. Add patties, cook 3 minutes on each side or untl browned. Remove patties from skillet; drain, if necessary. (If you use fresh mushrooms, sautee them at this point, and then remove from skillet as well.

In small bowl mix together broth, cornstarch and thyme, blend well. Add to empty skillet, cook over low heat until mixture boils and thickens, stir constantly. Stir in mushrooms; add patties. Cover; simmer about 15 mins or until patties are no longer pink.

I serve this one with mashed potatoes. I like it because I can prepare the patties early in the day, and refridgerate until I'm ready to cook them! Enjoy

Easy Biscuit Pizza

No doubt about it this is a healthy pizza but it was easy, yummy and my two year old ate it all up without any trouble. Nice thing was it was guilt free, in fact I felt better for eating it.
Sauce**
2 T Olive Oil
1 onion
2 cans chopped tomatoes, drained
1 t tomato paste
1 T thyme

Toppings
2 red, yellow, or green bell pepper sliced (we chopped ours-easier to eat)
1 zucchini sliced
5 cups spinach leaves (I didn't measure)
Ham (I used ham already cubed from the store-less work)
mozzarella (recipe called for 9 oz sliced-I don't have sliced so I guessed)

Heat half the oil in a large skillet and cook the onion until soft and barely brown, add tomatoes, paste, and thyme season with pepper (lets be honest it needs some salt). Let simmer until it is thick with little liquid. remove from the skillet and let cool

Heat the remain oil in the skillet and cook bell peppers and zucchini (again I added a little salt)until just beginning to brown. Let cool in skillet.

Put spinach in colander and pour boiling water over leaves to wilt. let cool then squeeze all the liquid out. Mince. ( I didn't mince...)

Crust*
1 3/4 c whole wheat flour
1 3/4 c white flour ( I only had white so I doubled the white flour and didn't use wheat)
1 t brown sugar
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 1/2 c buttermilk (I didn't have this so I used regular milk with 1 or 2 teaspoons of vinegar)

Combine all dry ingredients then add the milk and mix well to form a dough. Knead briefly. Divide into 6 pieces for individual pizzas (I made three little ones on one tray and one BIG pizza on another. I had a little bit of dough left over and my son made his own with no help. He was so proud.)

Roll the flat on a prepared baking sheet (use non-stick spray) Spread first with tomato sauce, then top with spinach, bell peppers, zucchini, ham, and cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes. My big pizza took just as long as my three little ones.

*we felt that the dough was missing taste...my two year didn't care. Next time I am going to try adding herbs to the crust for extra flavor.
**I thought adding garlic in the tomato sauce would be yummy

I know it looks like a lot of work and time, but it honestly didn't take long...45 minutes to an hour. It was fun since my little man was able to help so much.

Texas Tacos
hamburger
1 can of diced tomatoes
package of chili mix

toppings:
lettus
sour cream
salsa
olives
and cheesy Dorito chips
(or a spicy flavor of Dorito chips)

Cook hamburger-drain
add can of tomatoes (or however much you want)
add about 1/4 of the chilli mix (or more for taste)
stir it all together
put over chips (break up chips on your plate for easier pieces to fit into your mouth)-thanks maggie:)
add toppings and enjoy!!
-amanda

German Pancakes

Can also be served with powder sugar instead of the syrup, but the syrup is best

1 c. milk
6 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
1 c. flour
1/2 cube butter

Put milk, eggs, flour and salt in a blender and blend on highest speed. Melt the butter in a 9x13 inch pan at 400. When the butter is melted, pour batter into the pan and bake for 20 min. Serve immediately with the following syrup

Syrup (I half this syrup recipe for us)

3/4 c. butter milk (or add 2/4 c. milk with 1 tsp. vinegar added)
2 c. sugar
1 cube butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla

Put milk, sugar, and butter in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and add vanilla. Just before serving, add baking soda and stir well (it makes it cool and foamy:)