Night 85

Recipe 228
Chicken in Puttanesca Sauce over Creamy Polenta
Matt rating ****


Ingredients used:

Chicken stock
Whole milk
S&P
EVOO
Chicken tenders
Garlic cloves
Flat anchovy fillets
Red pepper flakes
Oil-cured black olives
Capers
Crushed tomatoes
Flat-leaf parsley
Quick-cooking polenta
Unsalted butter
Parmigiano-Reggiano

Mmmmmmmmm....this was so yummy.  The polenta was the star of this dish and went so well with the puttanesca sauce.  I am a huge fan of creamy polenta with lots of cheese stirred in.  Matt enjoyed it, however Judah, our 18 month old daughter, took one bite and almost started dry-heaving.  I think that there were just too many new flavors in this dish to try to introduce her to, so she ended up eating a lunchable for dinner, lol!

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Mandy

Night 84

Recipe 252
Croque Monsieur with Greens
Matt rating *****


Ingredients used:

Unsalted butter
Flour
Whole milk
Dijon mustard
Freshly grated nutmeg
S&P
Sandwich bread
Sliced ham
Gruyere cheese
White wine vinegar
Apricot jam
Tarragon leaves
EVOO
Mixed baby greens

I made this delicious meal after a hike in the mountains on a crisp fall day.  I was disappointed with how they looked when they came out of the pan, but looks were definitely deceiving in this case!  The sandwiches had a delicious surprise of a creamy sauce on the inside with the ham, and a cheese crust on the outside.  The salad and dressing were a nice contrast to the heaviness of the sandwiches.  My sister and her kids were here and they all raved about how good the sandwiches were.  Matt took one bite out of the sandwich and yelled out "FIVE!" for the rating.  I am making a spinach bisque in the crock pot today (not a Rachael Ray recipe), and I just may have to make these sandwiches again to go along with the creamy soup.  It's a perfectly chilly and rainy fall day for comfort food.

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Mandy

Night 83

Recipe 277
Chorizo-Tomato Stew on Garlic Croutons with Zesty Parsley Sprinkle
Matt rating ****


Ingredients used:

EVOO
Chorizo
Garlic cloves
Yellow onion
Celery
Carrot
Red potatoes
Fresh thyme
S&P
Canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes
Chicken stock
Crusty country-style bread
Flat-leaf parsley
Lemon zest
Orange zest

I love fall for the simple fact that I can make soup to warm up my bones instead of giving in and firing up the furnace.  I was really tempted this morning to turn on the heat for the first time this season, but decided against it at just the thought of making soup later in the day.  Matt gave this four stars just based on the fact that it was soup (stew) - he has never been a fan of soup - period.  So four stars coming from him on this recipe is considered a five in my book!  What's great about this dish is that it is considered a "master recipe", which has a little twist to make it differently at a later date.  Can't wait!

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Mandy

Night 82

Recipe 107
Turkey Club Super Mashers
Matt rating ****1/2


Ingredients used:

Bacon
Potatoes
Coarse salt
Turkey breast cutlets (I used tenderloin)
Coarse black pepper
Poultry seasoning
EVOO
Unsalted butter
Flour
Chicken stock
Thyme
Sour cream
Milk
Fresh spinach (the recipe called for watercress, but the store didn't carry it)
Canned fire-roasted tomatoes
Scallions

I served this meal for company and everyone seemed to like it.  The turkey was delicious and not dry at all, and the potatoes were fabulous with the bacon, spinach, and tomatoes added to them.  Our friends brought over a yummy salad to go alongside and a sinful chocolate cake as dessert.  Needless to say, I was delightfully satisfied when dinner was over.  Even one of the kids that came over who doesn't usually eat meat asked for thirds on the turkey!  Good stuff Maynard!

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Mandy

Night 81

Recipe 114
Thai Shrimp with Basil
Matt rating ****


Ingredients used:


Vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds shrimp
Salt and course black pepper
Fresh ginger
Garlic
Red pepper flakes
Red bell pepper
Scallions
Tamari
Honey
Basil
Iceberg lettuce


I know you are stunned that I made two seafood dishes in one week, considering Matt's aversion to seafood, but in between this meal and the meal I blogged of before, we went away over the weekend.  We had SO much heavy, greasy, bad-for-you food that we both just wanted something light.  Shrimp is one of the seafood-type foods that Matt doesn't mind, although he will always pick steak or fettuccine over shrimp every time.  This had quite a kick to it, considering the only real spice in it was a little bit of red pepper flakes.  This recipe can also be used on chicken or pork and will be just as fabulous, I'm sure!


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Mandy

Night 80

Recipe 181
Scallop Burgers
Matt rating ***


Ingredients used:


Sea scallops
Shallot
Flat leaf parsley
Navel orange zest
Chives
Old Bay Seasoning
Coarse S&P
EVOO
Crusty rolls
Romaine lettuce


This was one of those meals that came together in a flash, thanks to the work of a handy dandy food processor.  Three minutes on each side in the pan and they were done!  I absolutely loved these because it was definitely different, but Matt was not a fan.  I don't think he even ate half of his!  I would have eaten the rest of his for him, but didn't want to look like a pig.  


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Mandy

Night 79

Recipe 95

Island Bird: Pineapple-Rum Chicken

Matt rating ****1/2

*Sorry, forgot to take a pic for this one!!!*

Ingredients used:

Rice

Pineapple

Vegetable oil

Yellow onion

Garlic

Coarse salt

Red pepper flakes

Spiced rum

Chicken stock

Chicken breast halves

Coarse black pepper

Flat-leaf parsley

Cilantro

So I quickly redeemed myself by making this meal after such a sub-par meal a couple of nights before. We had company over and they all seemed to enjoy it. I have always had an aversion to mixing meat and fruit (i.e. pork chops and apple sauce, pineapple on pizza, etc.) but since I am always giving Matt a hard time about trying things he thinks he doesn't like, I had to give this a try. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this turned out! And boy, it went a long way! This meal fed 7 people (and a toddler) with some food left over, and that was with only 2 1/2 pounds of meat. I both love and hate proving myself wrong...

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Mandy

Night 78

Recipe 47

Couple-of-Minute Steaks and Potato Ragout

Matt rating ***

Ingredients used:

Cube steaks

Worcestershire sauce

Black pepper

EVOO

Baking potatoes

Coarse salt

Thyme

Rosemary

Yellow onion

Garlic

Dry white whit

Chicken stock

Cherry tomatoes

Flat-leaf parsley

Butter

You would think that with Matt being a midwestern guy that steak and potatoes would receive a higher rating, wouldn't you? I can't say I blame him on this one though. While I thought the potatoes were pretty tasty, the "cube" steak was what I call peasant steak...it seems to be just glorified hamburger. In all fairness, I don't think there is much you can do to make cube steak better, except to use it in salisbury steak - and even then, it's still glorified hamburger meat with a sauce to disguise it! The best part about this meal is that I had everything on hand, including the herbs and tomatoes that I have growing in my garden, except for that dreaded cube steak...so, it was very budget friendly! Definitely NOT a keeper.

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Mandy

Night 77

Recipe 182

Chicken with White and Wild Rice Soup

Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

White and wild rice blend

EVOO

Yellow onion

Garlic

Carrots

Celery

Bay leaf

Thyme

S&P

Chicken stock

Chicken tenders

Flat-leaf parsley

Dill

Lemon

Hot sauce

So after Matt brought back the frozen breaded chicken tenders (ya know, the chicken-nugget type frozen thing?) and told me that there was no such thing as chicken tenders, he went back to the store to bring me back regular boneless-skinless chicken breasts instead. He brought back a package of chicken tenderloins and told me that was all they had...ummm...okay? I had to explain to him that chicken "tenders" was just short for chicken tenderloins, hahaha! So after a false start, I was able to get dinner on the table in a flash. Matt and I both loved it - Judah, on the other hand, put it in her mouth and spit it right back out. Everybody's a critic, right?

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Mandy

Night 76

Recipe 36

BLT Pasta Bake: Bacon, Leeks, and Tomatoes

Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt

Elbow macaroni

EVOO

Bacon

Leeks

Coarse black pepper

Unsalted butter

Flour

Cayenne pepper

Paprika

Milk

Chicken stock

Gruyere cheese

Dijon mustard

Cherry tomatoes (from my garden!)

Plain bread crumbs

I figured that for my last night with Matt before I leave town for a week that I would make him something cheesy that he would no doubt enjoy. As always, cheese never fails with my husband! I would consider this recipe another take on grown-up macaroni and cheese. This made A LOT, so I was able to put some into a casserole dish to freeze for a later date. There was also plenty left over to get Matt through a couple of lunches while I'm gone. With only 7 hours left until I need to get up to catch my flight, I'd better post this and hit the sack!

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Mandy

Night 75

Recipe 138

Spinach and Artichoke Calzones

Matt rating **1/2 (I would give it ***1/2)

Ingredients used:

S&P

Walnut pieces

Artichoke hearts

Garlic

Lemon zest

Flat-leaf parsley

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Grated nutmeg

Ricotta cheese

Frozen chopped spinach

Pizza dough

Flour

Shredded Italian cheese

I was blown away with how easy it was to make calzones! I will definitely make them again, but maybe next time make them with a meat and cheese filling to suit Matt's tastes. He wasn't too much into all the spinach, but I thought it was pretty tasty. The only thing I would have done differently for this specific recipe is to add some marinara sauce for dipping. Otherwise, I thought it was pretty decent!

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Mandy

Night 74

Recipe 51

Big, Thick, Hearty Thighs Spanish Style

Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

EVOO

Chicken thighs

S&P

Yellow onion

Garlic

Thyme

Chorizo

Dry white wine

Chicken stock

Red potatoes

Roasted red peppers

Frozen peas

Flat-leaf parsley

Crusty bread

This was a spin off of a master recipe that I cooked back in December that received the same rating from Matt. I used bone-in chicken thighs that I got from my food co-op, so I cooked them for a little bit longer than called for. The addition of chorizo and roasted red peppers made it into a totally different tasting dish, and even Judah liked it! The crusty bread was great for sopping up all the yummy juice.

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Mandy

Night 73

Recipe 304

Zucchini and Bow Ties

Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt

Bow-tie pasta

EVOO

Garlic cloves

Zucchini

Coarse black pepper

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Fresh basil

Changes to recipe:

Penne pasta instead of bow-tie

Garlic salt instead of garlic cloves (how was I out of garlic cloves?!?!?)

Added one yellow squash

Added fresh cherry tomatoes from my garden

This was a perfect summertime recipe with fresh veggies from my food co-op pickup yesterday as well as fresh basil and cherry tomatoes from my garden. Matt gave this a great rating, in spite of the fact that it didn't have any meat in it. It is great cold as well, as we found out after putting it on ice and taking it to a music festival at Deer Valley today. Smacky!

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Mandy

Night 72

Recipe 113

Ginger-Soy Chicken on Shredded Lettuce

Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Vegetable oil

Chicken breast cutlets

S&P

Fresh ginger

Garlic cloves

Red pepper flakes

Scallions

Tamari

Honey

I added/changed:

Added white rice

Changed out iceberg lettuce for a salad with asian dressing

This is considered MYOTO (Make Your Own Take-Out). It was really easy to make and was really good for at-home Chinese food! Made extra to take to a friend who was suffering from a back injury and his roommate, plus more for another family. I hope they like it as much as we did!

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Mandy

Recipe 71

Recipe 197

About-15-Minute Soup with Spinach, Artichokes, and Tortellini

Matt rating ***

Ingredients used:

EVOO

White mushrooms

Onion

S&P

Artichoke hearts

Chicken stock

Refrigerated tortellini

Fresh spinach

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Crusty bread

This recipe was "souper" easy and yummy, pun intended! Yes, it was 95 degrees outside today, but I needed an easy recipe because I had a swim class to get to with my daughter. Matt is not a big soup fan, so I highly doubt we will ever see a 5 star rating out of a soup. I would have given this one about 4 out of 5. The good thing about Matt not being a soup fan? I get more leftovers!

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Mandy

Night 70

Recipe 48

Sausage and Spinach Pastry Squares with Cherry Tomato-Arugula Salad

Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

EVOO

Sweet Italian sausage

Yellow onion

Fresh sage

S&P

Puff pastry

Dijon mustard

Frozen chopped spinach

Lemon

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Cherry tomatoes

Red wine vinegar

Shallot

Flat-leaf parsley

Arugula

Matt and I both LOVED this dinner. Thankfully we ended up taking half of it to some friends, otherwise we would have eaten it all and been miserably full! Matt called it a hot pocket - I would upgrade that title to a grown up hot pocket. It was definitely smacky!

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Mandy

Night 69

Recipe 176

Chicken in a Fresh Tomato and Eggplant Sauce with Spaghetti

Matt rating ***1/2

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt

Spaghetti

EVOO

Eggplant

Chicken tenders

Yellow onion

Garlic cloves

Coarse black pepper

Red pepper flakes

Cherry tomatoes

Flat-leaf parsley

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Crusty bread

Sorry, forgot to take a pic for this one! Due to the tomatoes and eggplant, this wasn't a favorite of Matt's. I thought it was pretty good, and I would consider it a pretty healthy dish as well. I used the whole wheat spaghetti which added another level of healthiness in my book!

Night 68

Recipe 4

Mac-n-Cheddar with Broccoli

Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

S&P

Elbow macaroni

Broccoli florets

EVOO

Unsalted butter

Onion

Flour

Paprika

Whole milk

Chicken stock

Yellow cheddar

Dijon mustard

I doubled this recipe as I was delivering a meal to someone who just had surgery. I ended up with enough for us, them, leftovers for lunch tomorrow, and a whole additional pan that I put in the freezer for a later date! I added a salad and some garlic rolls to round out the meal. Very satisfying!

Mandy

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Night 67

Recipe 297

Chicken No. 14,756 - Chicken in "Lighter" Mustard and Lemon Sauce

Matt rating ****

Ingredients used:

Chicken breasts

Thyme leaves

Lemon

S&P

EVOO

Chicken stock

Dijon mustard

Plain yogurt

Flat-leaf parsley

Couscous

I also made this dish for company and got a lot of "oohs" and "ahhs" as I was dishing it up - man I wish I would have taken a picture because it was a good looking chicken! The dijon mustard and lemon were the standout flavors, but not too bold in my opinion. Another keeper for sure!

Mandy

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Night 66

Recipe 192

Ricotta Pasta with Grape Tomatoes, Peas, and Basil

Matt rating ***1/2

Ingredients used:

Penne pasta

Ricotta cheese

Unsalted butter

Parmigiano-Reggiano

EVOO

Onion

Frozen green peas

Flat-leaf parsley

Coarse black pepper

Basil leaves

Grape tomatoes

I made this for company and it turned out okay...definitely not one that I will repeat as a main dish though, but as a side perhaps, like I did the night after! No picture as we got too busy with company, but it looked pretty anyway.

Mandy

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Night 65

Recipe 188

Involtini all'Enotec'Antica with Gnocchi

Matt rating **** (***** for me!)

Ingredients used:

Ground sirloin

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Flat-leaf parsley

Basil leaves

Garlic

Egg

Italian-style breadcrumbs

S&P

EVOO

Unsalted butter

Flour

Dry red wine

Beef stock

Tomato sauce

Radicchio leaves

Gnocchi

I am not sure how this title is translated, but these were meatballs stuffed in radicchio leaves and covered in a delicious sauce. I added a bed of polenta for the stuffed leaves alongside of the gnocchi and it was a delicious and rich dish that melted in my mouth...it's making my mouth water now just writing about it! Definitely a favorite of mine now!

Mandy

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Night 64

Recipe 15

Super Tuscan Burgers and Potato Salad with Capers and Celery

Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Idaho potatoes

Coarse salt

Ground pork

Ground veal

Italian red wine

Yellow onion

Sage leaves

Garlic

Coarse black pepper

EVOO

Cremini mushrooms

Crusty rolls

Italian sheep's milk cheese

Arugula leaves

Capers

Celery ribs

Red onion

Lemon

Red wine vinegar

Had it not been for the mushrooms, I'm pretty sure Matt would have given this one five stars. Yummy in my tummy!

Mandy

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Night 63

Recipe 11

Italian Sub Stoup and Garlic Toast Floaters

Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

EVOO

Italian sausage

Pepperoni

Ham steak

Green bell pepper

Yellow onion

Canned diced tomatoes

S&P

Chicken stock

Gemelli pasta (or other shaped pasta)

Garlic

Crusty bread

Red pepper flakes

Dried oregano

Parmigiano-Reggiano

Arugula

This soup was absolutely delicious, but more suited for a crisp fall day rather than an early summer day. Matt loved the garlic toast floaters of course! I will have to keep this recipe on file for a Friday night in the fall so I can snack on it all weekend!

Mandy

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Night 62

Recipe 340
Gnocchi with Sausage and Swiss Chard
Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

S&P
Potato gnocchi
EVOO
Italian sausage
Red onion
Garlic cloves
Red pepper flakes
Swiss chard
White wine
Chicken stock
Parmigiano-Reggiano

OH MY GOODNESS!!! If you like Zuppa Toscana from the Olive Garden, you would LOVE this recipe. I'm not sure if it should have turned out to be a bit of a soup, but it was absolutely delicious on a cold and rainy spring day. If you don't know what gnocchi is, it's just a small bite-sized dumpling made out of potato. This is definitely a keeper recipe that I will use when the leaves start falling. Matt would have given it the highest rating if it didn't have the Swiss chard in it...as noted in a previous recipe, he isn't much of a fan, but said that besides that it was a really good dinner.

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Mandy

Night 61

Recipe 40
Mostly Green Curry Chicken over Coconut Jasmine Rice
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Chicken stock
Coconut milk
Jasmine rice
Vegetable oil
Chicken breast halves
S&P
Green bell pepper
Yellow onion
Garlic cloves
Jalapeno pepper
Ginger
Broccoli florets
Lime
Cilantro
Scallions
Flat-leaf parsley
Frozen peas
Hot sauce

I haven't attempted a curry dish in quite awhile, and never a green curry. This had a different taste than I am used to for curry, and I was once again surprised at Matt's rating on it. It was really tasty with a nice kick, although I think I would have used Sirachi hot sauce next time instead of Tabasco. As usual, it was good enough to have the next day for lunch! Anything to save a dime these days :).

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Mandy

Night 60

Recipe 49
Pasta with Swiss Chard, Bacon, and Lemony Ricotta Cheese
Matt rating ****

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt
Corkscrew shaped pasta
Freshly ground black pepper
EVOO
Bacon
Garlic cloves
Yellow onion
Red pepper flakes
Swiss chard
Chicken stock
Ricotta cheese
Lemon
Parmigiano-Reggiano

I loved this hearty pasta dish and had it for lunch the two following days after I made it for dinner! Matt realized that he isn't much of a fan of Swiss chard, so it wasn't his favorite. The Ricotta cheese set this over the edge though. It just melted into the hot pasta and in my mouth. Delicious, and as usual, very simple to make!

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Mandy

Night 59

Recipe 185
Salad Capricciosa
Matt rating **** (I think)

Ingredients used:

Romaine lettuce hearts
Artichoke hearts
Marinated mushrooms
Red onion
Bocconcini
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh basil
Flat-leaf parsely
Frozen peas
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Pesto
EVOO
S&P
Prosciutto di Parma

So I made this recipe about a month ago when we went over to a friend's house for dinner. Yes, it has taken me this long to get to posting it! Because we were in a rush to get out the door, we didn't get a chance to take a picture. Just picture salad with shaved prosciutto on top! It was pretty yummy, for a salad I guess!

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Mandy

Night 58

Recipe 259
Barbeque Burger Deluxe
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Ground beef
Garlic cloves
Red onion
Liquid smoke
Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce
Tomato paste
Brown sugar
Grill seasoning
EVOO
Cheddar cheese
Hamburger buns
Lettuce
Tomatoes

We grilled burgers and brats for a small family get together for Judah's first birthday. I looked through my cookbook for a simple burger recipe and this one was the winner. I had pretty much every ingredient listed already stocked in my fridge and pantry. Everyone loved the burgers and they were much more filling than I thought they would be! I had to stretch the meat out a little bit and thought the burgers looked a little puny, but once you add on the toppings and the bun, it is a nice sized burger! HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO OUR MIRACLE BABY FROM THE LORD!!!

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Mandy

Night 57

Recipe 358
Fresh Tomato and Basil Chicken over Super Creamy Polenta
Matt rating ****

Ingredients used:

Chicken stock
EVOO
Chicken breast halves
S&P
Red pepper flakes
Red onion
Garlic cloves
Polenta
Mascarpone cheese
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Grape tomatoes
Basil leaves

WOW!!! This is one of my favorite meals...definitely a comfort meal for a cold night! The pan sauce was so easy with the chicken stock and tomatoes, and the polenta was very rich and creamy. I ate way more than I should have, but thankfully my sister is here and cleaned up all the dishes so I can just relax with the top button of my pants undone (sorry, TMI, but you know you all do it!).

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Mandy

Night 56

Recipe 355
Spinach and Spicy Ham Pasta Bake
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt
Cavatappi pasta
EVOO
Unsalted butter
Onion
Coarse black pepper
Flour
Milk
Capocollo (I used a spicy sausage instead)
Chopped spinach
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Freshly grated nutmeg
Cayenne pepper
Fresh mozzarella
Italian-style bread crumbs

Wow...this calls for four servings, but I fed six hearty appetites with food left over! Everybody raved about it and ate all the leftovers today, so I would call it a very successful meal. Good stuff, maynard!

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Mandy

Night 55

Recipe 365
Hamburger and Onion Stuffed Bread
My rating ****

Ingredients used:

Baguette
EVOO
Ground beef
S&P
Yellow onion
Worcestershire sauce
Spicy brown mustard
Gouda cheese
Chives

This was super easy to make while waiting for my sister and her boys to get here from Montana. Matt was at work so didn't get a chance to sample it, and I forgot to take a pic. It turned out pretty tasty!

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Mandy

Night 54

Recipe 350
Crispy Horseradish-Battered Fried Fish with Watercress-Cucumber Tartar Sauce
Matt rating ****

Ingredients used:

Vegetable oil
Complete pancake mix
Prepared horseradish
Cod
S&P
Mayo
Sweet pickle relish
Half-sour pickle
Onions
Dill
Lemon
Watercress
English cucumber
Hot pepper sauce

Matt continues to surprise me when I make a meal that contains ingredients on his "dislike" list. Fish of any sort is definitely on that list! He ate his entire portion and gave it a good rating. I unfortunately, made this meal when I thought I was getting over being sick but about half way through it had to put it down. Fish while sick is not a good idea, but I had to make it before it went bad! At least Matt enjoyed it and it didn't go to waste!

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Mandy

Night 53

Recipe 94
Sliced Grilled Steak on Blue Cheese Biscuits with Watercress, Sour Cream, and Sliced Tomatoes
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Garlic
Grill seasoning
Worcestershire sauce
S&P
EVOO
Flank steak
Buttermilk biscuit mix
Blue cheese crumbles
Tomato
Watercress
Sour cream

Once again, my brother insisted on steak for dinner. So again, I fancied it up for him and made it into a biscuit. I must say that the star of this meal was the blue cheese biscuit. They were so delicious and were a great accompaniment to the steak. A nice tang to go along with the steak.

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Mandy

Night 52

Recipe 119
Boneless Rib-Eye Steaks with Killa' Chimichurri and Mushrooms with Smoky Chipotle and Wilted Spinach
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Rib-eye steaks
EVOO
Grill seasoning
Fresh oregano
Fresh sage
Fresh thyme
Flat-leaf parsley
Garlic
Red onion
Lemon
Spinach leaves
Chipotle in adobo
Shiitake and cremini mushrooms
S&P
Crusty bread
Worcestershire sauce

There seems to be a trend here...anytime I make steak, Matt gives it the highest rating possible. I have to admit that these steaks and the mushroom/spinach side were amazing! My brother was staying with us and insisted on steak (which he bought) so I decided to fancy it up for him. He loved it and the spicy side dish!

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Night 51

Recipe 267
Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breasts with a Cheddar-Mustard Sauce
Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Plastic food storage bags
Chicken breasts
Salted pretzels
Thyme
Freshly ground black pepper
Eggs
Vegetable oil
Unsalted butter
Flour
Milk
Extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
Spicy brown mustard
Coarse salt
Flat-leaf parsley
Sour dill pickle
Lemon

Not only did Matt and I like this yummy chicken, but Judah did too! I started out giving her a couple of tiny bites off my plate and after she started grabbing at the plate quickly decided to cut some up and let her feed herself. She and I also enjoyed it as leftovers for lunch the day after with some good old Mac 'n Cheese. The sauce was really good and surprisingly the pickles added a great texture and complimentary flavor. Yum-O!

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Mandy

Night 50

Recipe 174
Chili Dog Bacon Cheeseburgers and Fiery Fries
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Bacon
Crispy-style frozen French fries
Ground beef
Hot dogs
Chili powder
Grill seasoning
Worcestershire sauce
Hot sauce
Ketchup
Vegetable oil
Cheddar cheese
Unsalted butter
Garlic cloves
Chives
Coarse salt
Hamburger buns

Well, this didn't exactly turn out to be burgers...more like Sloppy Joe's but without the sloppy sauce. The patties literally fell apart when I tried to flip them. I think there was a little bit too much liquid in the mix. There was so much flavor in the meat, but the Fiery French fries were YUMMY! Once again, this was a very simple meal to make, but packed full of deliciousness. I think I will definitely use the butter/garlic/hot sauce/chive mixture to cover my fries in in the future!

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Mandy

Night 49

Recipe 329
Ham and Spinach Hash with Fried Eggs
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

EVOO
Unsalted butter
Red potatoes
S&P
Thyme
Red pepper flakes
Red onion
Ham steak
Eggs
Spinach leaves
Basil
Parmigiano-Reggiano

On Matt's request, I added pancakes to this meal, because what is breakfast for dinner without pancakes? I made him rate the meal just on the hash and eggs, and he obviously loved it! The potatoes turned out crispy - just the way I like them! I will probably have to go running tomorrow morning to work some of the calories off from dinner tonight, but it was well worth it!

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Mandy

Night 48

Recipe 242
Tomato-Basil Pasta Nests
Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt
Angel hair pasta
EVOO
Garlic cloves
Yellow onion
Crushed tomatoes
Coarse black pepper
Basil leaves
Pesto sauce
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Crusty bread

This was definitely one of the easier meals to prepare - it took all of about 15 minutes! I must admit that I was not a fan of pesto awhile back, but it has become an acquired taste and now I love it! I think that I actually would have used more than the recipe called for just to be able to taste it a little better. I added a simple salad of red leaf lettuce drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a dash of salt and pepper. The baguette I picked up at the store yesterday was great for mopping up the sauce from the pasta. Good stuff Maynard!

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Mandy

Night 47

Recipe 153
Southwest Pasta Bake
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Coarse salt
Penne (I used whole wheat)
Vegetable oil
Boneless skinless chicken breast
Ground cumin
Ground coriander
Chili powder
Black pepper
Yellow onion
Garlic cloves
Jalepeno
Unsalted butter
Flour
Milk
Sharp yellow Cheddar
Cilantro
Flat-leaf parsley

This was definitely a keeper recipe and one that I may use for a meal exchange group that I am a part of. Very tasty and super filling! I snuck whole wheat pasta into this dish figuring that all the cheese and seasoning would hide it from Matt - he didn't even notice! I guess I'm getting practice for hiding good stuff into meals for when Judah is old enough to have an opinion ;-) There are plenty of leftovers for lunch tomorrow and I will freeze the rest for another night when I don't feel like cooking.

No meals are planned for the next two nights...maybe Thursday? Stay tuned...

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Mandy

Night 46

Recipe 100
Gravy-Smothered Cajun-Style Meatloaf Patties with Maple Pecan-Glazed String Beans
Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Ground beef
Ground pork
Plain bread crumbs
Milk
Egg
S&P
Worcestershire sauce
Freshly grated nutmeg
Tomato paste
Green bell pepper
Garlic clove
Scallions
Vegetable oil
Pecan halves
Chicken stock
Green beans
Unsalted butter
Maple syrup
Onion
Red pepper flakes
Flour
Heavy cream
Flat-leaf parsley

Okay so I know this seems like a lot of ingredients for one recipe, but the majority of them we all have on hand. Matt LOVED the green beans - and as you know by now if you've been reading this blog, he is not big on green anything! My favorite part of the meal was the gravy. The meatloaf patties would have been a little too plain without it, which surprised me considering how much "stuff" went into them.

I will soon be headed back into my kitchen to make tonight's meal - Southwestern Pasta Bake. If I have enough time tonight I will post then, if not, come back tomorrow.

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Mandy

Night 45

Recipe 104
Garlic and Herb Chicken with Romesco Sauce on Spicy Greens
Matt rating ****1/2

Ingredients used:

Garlic cloves
EVOO
Flat-leaf parsley
S&P
Thyme
Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Sliced almonds
Sandwich bread
Roasted red peppers
Red wine vinegar
Plum tomato
Arugula

I must say that I LOVE my food processor! It makes recipes like this super easy to make. This took a grand total of about 20 minutes from start to finish, with easy cleanup! The Romesco sauce that goes over the top of the chicken is really yummy with a nice kick from the garlic. I have so much of it leftover that now I have to figure out what to use it for because it's too good to let go to waste!

Stay tuned tomorrow night for Gravy-Smothered Cajun-Style Meatloaf Patties! I'm really attempting to get back into the groove of cooking - it's hard to get back on the wagon after the holidays though!

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Mandy

Night 44

Recipe 24
Salsa Stoup and Double-Decker Baked Quesadillas
Matt rating *****

Ingredients used:

Vegetable oil
Jalepeno peppers
Green bell pepper
Onion
Celery
Garlic cloves
S&P
Stewed tomatoes
Crushed tomatoes
Chicken stock
Cilantro
Flour tortillas
Cheddar
Scallions
Pepper Jack
Sour cream

Once again, I was pretty surprised that Matt gave this such a high rating considering all the tomatoes used. There have been other recipes that have called for the quesadillas though and I think that those make up for the tomatoes because he absolutely loves all the cheese! This spicy meal fills you up without filling you out! Good stuff, Maynard!!!

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Mandy