Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna

1-1/2 pounds ground beef

1/2 cup green pepper, diced

1/2 cup onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon cumin
chili powder (or a blend of cayenne, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder) -this is to taste depending on how spicy you like it

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can black beans made into refried beans or a can of refried beans

1 cup salsa (as hot as you want it)

1 can enchilada sauce

1-2 Tablespoons of cornstarch (omit if you not making your own refried beans)

9 corn tortillas

6 ounces Chihuahua cheese or Mexican Blend cheese, shredded

To garnish:

Sour Cream

Chopped Tomatoes

Guacamole

In large skillet cook beef, green peppers, onions, and seasonings until beef is no longer pink. Drain as needed.

Make your refried beans (see link above on how I make mine.) Add them, your drained black beans, salsa, and enchilada sauce to the meat. Stir to combine. 

My refried beans were not as thick as what comes out of the can so I put a 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in the middle of the mixture, stirred well and heated it up.  It was still not thick enough to my liking so I used another tablespoon of cornstarch. Then it was good enough for me.


Spread a little bit on the bottom of a 2 quart baking dish.

Add 3 tortillas here, tearing to cover.

Add about 1/3 of the meat mixture next.

Then 1/3 of the cheese.

3 more tortillas.

More meat.

Cheese.

The last tortillas.

Spread the last of the meat being sure to cover the tortilla completely.

End with cheese.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly.

Let rest for 5 minutes or so then cut into lasagna to serve.  Garnish with guacamole or chopped avocado, tomatoes, and sour cream.

Breakfast Pizza

Breakfast Pizza

1-1/2 Tablespoons milk
1-1/2 Tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
4 ounces Velveeta (or 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese)


Any cooked meat of your choice (I used 1/2 lb pork and bacon sausage and 4 or 5 slices of bacon on this one, ham works well too)


8 eggs
1/4 cup milk


pkg low fat crescent rolls ,grilled pizza dough* or quick pizza dough*
shredded Mexican blend cheese




Cook your meats that need cooked and chop up your bacon or ham. Set aside.

Make a cheese sauce.  Add butter to saucepan and melt, stir in flour.  Cook for a little bit to remove raw flour taste.  Slowly pour in milk a little at a time.  Whisking to keep the lumps away. When it is thickened add Velveeta in hunks and stir until melted.  It may seem a little thin but it will thicken some as it cools.

Scramble your eggs.  Beat eggs and milk in large bowl. Pour into nonstick pan and cook until done.  I use a whisk to stir them as it keeps the eggs fluffy and smaller chunks.

Press crescent rolls onto a 12" pizza pan.  You could use an 11"x15" pan but you might need more eggs/meat. (*See below for grilled pizza dough instructions)

Poke holes into bottom with a fork. This will help keep it from puffing up too much.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes or until golden brown.  It is not fully cooked but that is ok.  It will cook a little longer after you add the topping and put back in the oven. Don't mind the gaps, the cheese will fill those in.

Pour on most of the cheese sauce and spread to edges.

Sprinkle on the eggs.  I use my hands it's easier to get it even.

Then the meat. This is a good place for the sausage or ham. (See next for bacon) I drizzled a little more cheese sauce on here.

Then cheese, then bacon.  I like bacon on top so it gets crispy.

Bake for another 8 minutes or so until it's all melted and the edges aren't too brown. Cut and serve. This pizza you have to eat with a fork since it's gooey and the crust isn't one solid piece.

Change it up any way you like.  You could add veggies (pre-cooked), change up the meats (or omit) or change up your cheese!

*Top frozen pre-grilled pizza dough or fresh quick pizza dough with cheese sauce and other toppings.  Bake in 450* oven for 9-10 minutes.  YUM!

Cheesecake Shooters

Cheesecake Shooters

12 ounces low fat cream cheese
2 Tablespoons sour cream or 1 Tablespoon milk
2 eggs
5 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla


1/2 cup graham crackers (use GF crackers if you like)
dab of butter
frozen sliced strawberries or other fruit
whipped topping


In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, and sugar until blended well. Pour into large saucepan and cook over medium heat for 8 or so minutes or until thickened.  Be sure to stir to keep from burning.  Add vanilla toward the end so it doesn't cook out.  The cheesecake should be thick enough to stick to a spoon when you hold it up. Place in a container and put in the fridge for several hours. 


Melt butter and mix with graham crackers. Spoon some into bottom of glass. (I used new candle votive holders I found at the store.  I think they were about 4 oz.  I like them because unlike shot glasses they have a flat bottom and are able to get the spoon down to get all the goodies.) If you like you can reserve some to sprinkle on top. Top with cheesecake filling.  If it's handier for you put it in a disposable bag and pipe it in or a small cookie scoop. Next is the fruit, then whipped cream.  Sprinkle with the reserved graham crackers. Enjoy!


P.S.  I have not tried this yet with Truvia sweetner but I am sure it would be pretty good.

Chili Mac and Cheese

Ditch HH boxes and skip the preservatives and ingredients you can't pronounce!

Chili Mac and Cheese

8 ounces pasta (you can use macaroni or here I used GLUTEN FREE penne)

2 pounds ground beef

1 to 2 Tablespoons oil 

3/4 cup diced onion

3/4 cup diced green pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2 to 2 Tablespoons chili powder

1/2 Tablespoon cumin

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes

3/4 cup water (or pasta water if you can remember to keep it)

8 ounces Mexican blend cheese, shredded

Cornbread Dressing

Cornbread Dressing

6 cups corn bread, cubed and staled (I use 2 boxes Jiffy mix baked in an 8"x8" dish)
4 cups Challah bread, cubed and staled
3 cups chicken broth 
2 cups milk (I use 2%)


1/2 stick butter
1 to 1-1/2 cups celery, diced
1 to 1-1/2 cups cup onion, diced
1 Tablespoon dried sage (use can use fresh you need 2-3 T)
(all of these flavors are to taste - use more or less as you like)


3 beaten eggs


To stale the breads...spread bread onto a jelly roll pan and bake at 200 degrees for one hour.  Shut off oven and let sit in oven for another hour.  They should be like dried croutons, ready to soak up liquid.

Combine broth and milk in large bowl and add bread.  Stir gently to be sure every piece is covered.  I let my sit in this while I saute the vegetables.

Saute celery and onions in butter until soft.  Add sage and cook for another minute.

Add eggs and celery mixture to bread mixture. I put the eggs to the side of the hot veggies so they don't scramble.  Stir gently to mix.

Pour into 3 quart baking dish.

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes or until lightly browned. Shouldn't be jiggly. (My dear husband cooked this one and it's more brown than when I do it.) It was still delicious!

I had an idea for leftover dressing.  I sliced it and lightly brown it in a little butter in a non stick pan.  It crisps up the outside and leave the inside cream.  I served it with grilled chicken, green, beans, and a little chicken gravy I had.  YUM!!

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Challah Bread

Challah Bread

1-1/2 pound recipe for use in a bread machine

3/4 cup 110* water

1 egg

3 Tablespoons butter, cubed

1-1/4 teaspoons salt

3 cups bread flour (I have not attempted with all purpose)

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 egg yolk

1 Tablespoon water

Add water, egg, butter, salt, flour, sugar and yeast to bread machine.  Select dough cycle.  Let it start its cycle and if it's dry add a little water and if its sticky add a little flour. When the dough is done remove from machine to a surface that has little flour on it.  This bread can be made a couple ways.  You can either make two braids, one to sit on top of the other or just one as I have done here.  Both are pretty. 

If doing two braids: Divide dough into two pieces. One about 1/3 of the dough and the other 2/3 of the dough.  Divide each of those into 10" and 12" ropes respectively. Braid and and then lay the smaller braid on top of the other braid. 

I do one braid.  I am going to cut it up anyway or just eat it so I don't care if it's all fancy. Divide dough into 3 equal pieces and roll out the diagonal length of the greased jelly roll pan.

Braid. To make it easier, pinch the starting end so it doesn't flop around.  I braid under, twisting my hand to the outside so mine looks like this.  Your braid will most likely look different since most people braid inward. Pinch the last end together and tuck under a little to make it look nicer if you want.

Cover and let rise until almost double in size.  I usually wait about 25 minutes.  Brush with egg yolk mixed with the water. This will make it glossy and brown when it bakes. 

Bake at 375* for 25 to 30 minutes covering with foil after 15 minutes to prevent too much browning. 


I can never wait until it's cool to eat so use a serrated knife to cut and slather in butter. 

**If I am not eating it plain I use this Challah bread for my cornbread dressing.

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy

Please see new posting here:

http://www.inthekitchenwithjenny.com/2014/09/chicken-fried-steak-and-gravy.html

Thank you!!

Banana "Ice Cream"

Banana Ice Cream

2- 3 bananas, chunked and frozen for at least 2 hrs
1-2 Tablespoons natural peanut butter

Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Whiskey BBQ Sauce

Low and slow in the oven is the way to start these ribs off right.  Slather on your own homemade sauce to complete them on the grill for the finishing touch.

Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Whiskey BBQ Sauce

1 slab of baby back pork ribs
salt and pepper

Sauce...makes about 1-1/2 cups
2 Tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup shredded onion
1-1/2 cups water
6 ounce can tomato paste
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2-1/2 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1-1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 Tablespoon molasses
2-3 teaspoons Jim Beam Whiskey
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red cayenne pepper

Vegetable Marinara Sauce

Vegetable Marinara Sauce

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup each onions, zucchini, yellow squash (shredded)
2 - 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes (not seasoned)
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Salted Nut Roll Bars

Salted Nut Roll Bars

1 box yellow cake mix
2/3 cup butter
1 egg
1 bag mini marshmallows
1/4 cup butter
12 ounce package peanut butter chips
2/3 cup white corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla
16 ounce jar lightly salted peanuts

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

Gluten Free Apple Crisp

6 granny smith apples, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 pkts TRUVIA (or 2-1/4 tsp)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


1/2 cup PURE maple syrup
1/2 cup pecans (or more as you like)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups gluten-free old fashioned oats
1/2 c cold butter


1/2 - 3/4 cup craisins

 Mix  together maple syrup, cinnamon, pecans and oats in medium bowl.

Cut in butter (you may have to use your hands...just break it up the best you can.) Put in fridge until apples are ready.

Add apples, water, cinnamon, and Truvia to large sauce pan with lid and cook for 10-15 minutes until nearly soft.

Looks delish enough to eat like this!  Don't go to far or you'll have chunky applesauce. Stir in vanilla.

Spread into bottom of 9x13" baking dish.

Sprinkle optional craisins here.

Top with oatmeal mixture (you made need to 'recrumble' a little.)

Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Careful your oatmeal doesn't get too brown.  If you find yours does I would suggest covering with foil for 1/2 of the time.

Serve right away with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.  This crisp does not stay crispy overnight.  My family still loves it the next day anyway.  I plan to experiment with the flax seed powder after much luck with a granola and see if that helps.

Raspberry Bites

Raspberry Bites

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
6 oz fresh raspberries
1/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon almond extract.


DIRECTIONS




Heat oven to 400°F.  On lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry with rolling pin into 12-inch square. Cut square into 6 rows by 6 rows to make 36 squares. On ungreased cookie sheet, place squares 1/2 inch apart.  Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.  If you need to make the puff pastry squares a day or two ahead of time. Store at room temperature, lightly covered.
 
Reserve 36 of the smallest raspberries. In small bowl, mash remaining raspberries with fork. In medium bowl, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar (reserving 2 teaspoons of the powdered sugar) and the almond extract with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold mashed raspberries into whipped cream. 
 
Split each puff pastry square into 2 layers. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of the whipped cream mixture on bottom layers; replace tops. Top each square with tiny dollop whipped cream mixture.  Top with raspberry. Squares can be refrigerated up to 2 hours at this point. Any longer and they will start to get mushy.  Just before serving, place reserved powdered sugar in small fine-mesh strainer, and sift over tops of squares.
 
So cute and so yummy! I am sure you could do this with other fruits.