French Bread Pizza

I know this recipe already sounds SOOOO bland, but I liked it because I already had a lot of the ingredients and I needed a quick and cheap lunch. It actually turned out so good! I loosely followed a recipe from here, and I say loosely because I have poor "recipe copying" skills evidently. Its totally worth it, and totally amazing, you should totally try it!

1. First and FAVORITE step: heat 3 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of olive oil in medium pan. Add in 4 cloves of chopped garlic, then toss in red pepper flakes (as much to your liking, I used about 1 teaspoon), a nice dash of salt, and about ½ teaspoon of dried oregano. Let that cook about 2 mins until garlic is tender but not brown. (Its going to be really hard removing this from heat and stopping the aromatics going on in your kitchen and blossoming through your house but you will have to do it soon, so I want to prepare you ahead of time! I did it, and so can you.)

2.  Add to butter mixture ¼ cup of parsley and ¼ cup of basil once the garlic is cooked. (This is where the original said parsley OR basil and I wrote down both...but the more, the merrier, I say, because it tasted fabulous nonetheless!) Then remove from heat. (You'll turn it back on later I promise, it'll smell good again!)

3. Next cut your french bread in half, lengthwise. (The original recipe said to use a cookie sheet to compress your bread, I don't really know what it did for the bread, but you think it'd be fun, go for it!) Start preheating oven to 425°f.

4. Next, using half of the butter herb mixture, spread it evenly on the bread.  As weird as it is to say, I don't think Ive said this before regarding food, but this recipe is so darned pretty. All the herbs and garlic, with the bursts of color from the peppers. Its so nice to look at, on top of it being the best smell!
    Then turn the heat back on and add to the remaining butter mixture 1 can of crushed tomatoes or be cheap like me and buy diced tomatoes and run them through a blender for a sec. Let that simmer on low for about 15 minutes.

5.  Place the loaves on a cookie sheet then add a little mozzarella to the bread and pop in the oven for about 8 mins just to toast.

6. All nice and toasty! Now time for sauce...

7. Spread half of the sauce onto the bread. Its starting to look like pizza now!

8. Then sprinkle on generous amounts of mozzarella. I got one of the bags of mozzarella that is about the same size as a bag with string cheese and it was perfect, sorry I didn't check how many oz but the original recipe suggests 8oz. Bake at 425°f for 10 minutes

9.  After about 10 minutes it was all melted but I turned on broil and let it sit in there for another 1:30seconds just to brown on the top a bit. Now its done!

On the other half loaf I added chopped up sausage links I had, a much cheaper alternative to pepperoni but add WHATEVER you'd like! Pizza is so great like that! Hurry to step 10...

10. As soon as the pizza comes out of the oven add on top 1/2 cup Parmesan (I used a mix of shredded and  grated) and ¼ cup of both parsley and basil. Get it while its hot!


Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ cup parsley (split in half, ¼ cups), ½ cup basil (split in half, ¼ cups), salt, 1 loaf of french bread, can of crushed or diced tomatoes, 8 oz or medium bag of mozzarella, 2 oz or ½ cup Parmesan 



If you liked this take on this Italian favorite try my others:

Tiramisu
Lasagna
Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Noddle Soup

Originally this was supposed to be chicken and rice, but after inspecting my cupboard the box of rice I knew I had turned up empty. Ain't that the way things go? So, luckily, I was able to finish off 2 almost empty boxes of noodles instead. Now making my pantry SUPER empty. Can you tell I'm putting off shopping day? There is little in life I dread more than taking 2 kids to the supermarket when they are already tired, hungry and getting their 2nd wind for the day. Noooo thanks. So because I have little to eat in the house I was struggling for lunch ideas. Fortunately it was a pretty cold morning today and I could whip out some fall/winter recipes, woot woot. The chicken I pulled out frozen from the freezer, the celery I had growing in the yard, and the sweet potatoes were the last veggie left in the drawer, which luckily is all you really need!

Here's the celery I got from the garden. I used the whole bunch because the stalks are still a little thin.

Oh yes, I had half an onion in the fridge as well, so I threw that in. So I cut up the celery and even used some of the leaves, then cut up the sweet potatoes and onion. I threw in some garlic too, about 2 cloves.

Next, I took some cooked some chicken and shredded it with forks. I used two breasts that were boiled in water for about 20mins. Throw this into a big pot with the veggies and rice or pasta and cover with water. Then I threw in 3 chicken bouillon cubes and added 1 tsp of red pepper flakes. You can add herbs like bay leaf and thyme, but these are also on my shopping list so I had none. I let this simmer for about 1 hr.

Here it is! I made some fresh bread to go along with it. It was a nice homemade surprise for Matt when he got home from lunch :)

Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts, 2 cups pasta or 1 cup rice, 1 sweet potato, 1 celery bunch, 3 chicken boullion cubes, 2 cloves garlic, water, herbs (optional), red pepper flakes (optional)



Other soups you may enjoy:
Corn Chowder
Marseille Bouillabaisse
Chicken Noodle Soup (Other variation) 

Macaroni Salad

Evidently my dad is SUUPPPPER picky when it comes to macaroni salad. So when my mom and I were going over the Father's Day menu she made sure I was making it with the right ingredients only!!


1. You need a whole box of macaroni salad noodles ( I was a little thrown these macaroni noodles looked nothing like the ones that come in the Mac N Cheese box) boiling as directed and set aside.

2. Add into the macaroni, 2 celery stalks chopped up, and 1 10oz (1 ¼cups) sweet relish. (The sweet relish was the first requested ingredient!) And mix!

3. Next mix in the wet ingredients. 16 oz. (2 cups) miracle whip, 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, ¼ cup sugar. I put in a little salt and pepper too! Refrigerate and serve! (Miracle Whip was the second key ingredient!)

4. Ta-da! This was the next day so it wasn't as creamy, but still very good!! My dad LOVED it!

♥ Here is the celery in the garden! Don't mind the grass growing in with the veggies, just a little mishap while "fertilizing"! Heh! ♥

Cumin-Crusted Salmon

Coming back to the states has particularly tough just trying to find time for EVERYTHING. Even blogging has been on the back burner lately. There was a time when I was so excited to cook anything that was new and blog-able.So this recipe was requested from my husband, a recipe I made quite a long time ago when I was just starting experiment with flavors and recipes. He really liked it and while it seems kinda fancy, its pretty easy (only because its entirely fool-proof Ive found out!).

1. Mix in a small bowl the spices to rub on the salmon. You will need 1 ½ tablespoons of cumin, 2 teaspoons paprika, S & P, if you want it spicy add in some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper!

 

2. Pat the spices onto salmon fillets. Place in a pan with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and cook for 5-6 mins then flip and cook other side. While that's cooking continue to step 3...

3. For the salad dressing mix in a small bowl 3-4 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons of reserved mandarin orange juice (I didn't know what reserved meant so I just juiced the kind of orange I had on hand), 1 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, then a dash of S&P, cumin, and paprika.

4. For the salad I used spinach lettuce, kidney beans (the recipe calls for black, but I love kidney beans on salads!), orange slices, and a sprinkle of sunflower seeds. You can really creative here or just add in regular salad faves like carrots, cucumber, blue cheese, etc! Then place your salmon on top and devour this delicious hearty salad!

♥ This salad took me forever to find the original recipe because I just printed a bunch online and of course having a little one it got spilled on, drooled on, lost, or thrown out in the chaos! But now I have it here to remember! Check out the actual recipe here for ingredient list! ♥

Corn Chowder

Mmm! My mom and I used to love finding any excuse to drive down to Mimi's Cafe for a bowl of this soup! Sometimes we would just order it to go and save it for later! Once my mom found out its actually a pretty recipe, I wanted to finally try it for myself!

1. Chop up 6 tablespoons worth of onion and ¾ cups worth of celery.

2. 1/4 cup of butter, place this in a large pot and use to sautee the onions and celery for about 5mins.

3. Chop and measure out 2 cups potatoes.

4. Add to the celery and onions; the potatoes, 3 cups frozen corn kernels, and 2 ½ cups hot water.

5. Add to that 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt and a dash of pepper (it calls for white pepper, but ive never been able to find it here!)...Its important the water covers everything, if need be, add some more. Cover and let cook about 30mins (until potatoes are done).

6. Whisk together 3 tablespoons flour with 1 cup half and half. Add to pot. Once the potatoes are done add in the rest of the half and half.

7. Allow everything to simmer for about 15mins (says the recipe, but it took me about 45mins. I actually had to drop by a freinds and leave the hubs in charge of checking on it!). It will eventually turn into a creamy, "chowdery" thickness!

♥ I actually have no picture of the final result because like I said I wasnt here, and the next day the leftovers were gone before noon! SO GOOD! Ill update this once I make this again...which will be soon! ♥

Shrimp Scampi

After I called my mom to wish her Happy Birthday, I asked her what she had for dinner. She said "Shrimp Scampi". I had no idea what that was, to be honest. So when lunch time came around today and there was nothing in the house, I thought hmm, well what about Shrimp Scampi? And that is what I made!

1. Chop up 1 med. onion and saute in a pan with 2 Tbs olive oil. Cook about

2mins.

2. While that is cooking in a pot starting boiling water for your pasta noodles.

3. Chop up 3 cloves of garlic and add to onions, cooking about 1min.

4. Add in about 20 shrimps let cook 1-2mins.

5. Add in 10oz Angel Hair Pasta (I only had thing spaghetti noodles, still yummy!)

6. Measure out salt & pepper, 1/2 cup white wine, 1 stick butter (or margarine), you can also add in about 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper for an extra kick!

7. Add to shrimp and onion mixture. Let this simmer until all ingredients are well blended.

8. Place a plentiful amount of pasta and smother with shrimp and buttery sauce!

♥ Since we are onion haters I cooked my onions until all gross oniony flavor was long gone! ♥

Noodle Casserole

This recipe was so perfect for an afternoon at home! You can half or 1/3 the recipe down if youre eating alone or just two people. It was originally an recipe for one, but I tripled everything to feed my husband, son and myself...of course, saving the leftovers for when the baby got up!

1. First you'll want to cook the noodles. I used a small bag of shell noodles which was about 1 1/3 cups.

2. Add noodles to boiling water and cook until almost done. Around 8mins.

3. Drain the water from the noodles and set aside.

4. In the same pot, because by now you should know I hate doing dishes (hehe), melt 3T of butter

5.  Stir in 1 tablespoon flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, pinch of pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 1/2 cups milk. Whisk until its creamy.

6. Measure out 1 cup of cheddar cheese.

7. Add to pot 1 teaspoon mustard, 1/8 teaspoon of worschestershire sauce and hot sauce. Toss the cheese in as well. Once well blended incorporate cooked noodles as well.

8. Place in a baking dish and sprinkle the top with bread crumbs and more shredded cheese! Cook about 15mins. until cheese has melted.

♥ Enjoy!♥

Momma's Cauliflower Salad Recipe

Just like the way my Mom makes it! A summer time classic!

 

 

1. Wash and cut a head of cauliflower into big chunks. Break the big chunks (or cut them!) to separate each tiny floret.

2. (By far, best smelling step!) Cook the bacon!

3. Cube the cheese, then cut in half, for little rectangles.

4. Add cauliflower, bacon, and cheese.

 

5. Add one cup mayonaise.

6. Half a cup of sugar. (add more if you like it sweeter!)

7. Mix it! (Ok. You dont have to use your hands...but its just so much funer than way!)

8. Chill in fridge and serve!

♥ Variation: My mom adds bell pepper to her recipe, but since I was a kid I picked them out. And now I can just omit them from my version ♥