april 29

109. Salsa Chicken

This was so easy and super yummy. It had a little kick to it, but you can make it as spicy or mild as you want.

*6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken breast
*1-2 cups salsa
*2tsp res pepper flakes
*2 tsp cumin
*3 TBSP lime juice

Put chicken in crock pot and cover with salsa
Cook on high for 3-4 hours
In the last 15 minutes mix in the spices and lime juice
Serve hot.

april 28

108. 30-minute spaghetti and meatballs

This was easy to make. Other than the sauce jumping out of the pat and staining the shirt I was wearing, it was a breeze. Yes, I own an apron or 2 but never think to use them.
Elise ate it and other than the fact that it had chunks of tomatoes in it, she was happy. Eli just looked me when I put it down in front of him. if he could roll his eyes he would have!

*salt and pepper
*1 1/2 lbs of sweet or spicy Italian Sausage
*1 tsp olive oil
*1 medium yellow onion, diced small
*2 cans (28 onces) whole peeled tomatoes
*1 lb spaghetti

Set a large pot of water to boil
Remove sausage from casings and roll into 24 balls
In a dutch oven, over medium high heat, add sausage
Brown on all sides, about 5 minutes
Using a slotted spoon remove the sausage and set aside
Add onion and cook until soft about 5 minutes
Add tomatoes, breaking apart as you put them in, season with salt and pepper
Bring sauce to boil and cook for 5 minutes
Add pasta to cook
Meanwhile add meatballs to sauce and simmer for about 7 minutes
Drain pasta and mix

April 23

106. Old Fashioned Pancakes

These were really yummy. I normally must say that we just crack open the box of pancake mix and beat in the eggs. This was very easy and good. Elise claimed that they looked crazy, but to be fair...crazy is her favorite word. She told our neighbor that he had crazy eyes! So I dont know I would call her a fair judge. Eli, Dave and myself really liked them.


*1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
*3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
*1 teaspoon salt
*1 tablespoon white sugar
*1 1/4 cups milk
*1 egg
*3 tablespoons butter, melted


In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat.
Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake.
Brown on both sides and serve hot.

107. Cinnamon Bread

*1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
*2 tablespoons margarine, softened
*3 1/4 cups bread flour
*1/4 cup white sugar
*1 1/2 teaspoons salt
*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*3 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
*3/4 cup raisins


Place ingredients in order suggested by your manufacturer.
Select the sweet bread and light crust settings.
Add raisins when indicated by your manufacturer.

This is cooking at the moment and smells good. The minute I hit the start button my kids want bread...when its done they want no part of it.
Sorry that last week was so bad. we had a huge childrens clothing sale and it was a kiler of a week. Now I am back and read to cook.

april 19

105. Chicken Florentine Casserole

This was easy to make and the adults liked it. Elise was not having any part of it. She did not even like the bacon. I mean who will not eat bacon?


*4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
*1/4 cup butter
*3 teaspoons minced garlic
*1 tablespoon lemon juice
*1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
*1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
*1/2 cup half-and-half
*1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
*2 (13.5 ounce) cans spinach, drained
*4 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
*2/3 cup bacon bits
*2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350
Place the chicken breast halves on a baking sheet; bake 20 to 30 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove from heat, and set aside.
Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Stirring constantly, mix in the garlic, lemon juice, cream of mushroom soup, Italian seasoning, half-and-half, and Parmesan cheese.
Arrange the spinach over the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking dish.
Cover the spinach with the mushrooms.
Pour half the mixture from the saucepan over the mushrooms.
Arrange chicken breasts in the dish, and cover with the remaining sauce mixture.
Sprinkle with bacon bits, and top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes in the 400 oven, until bubbly and lightly browned.

april 17

104. Roast Beef

this was really yummy. We had some friend over for dinner and they all claimed to like it.

*3-4 lb roast beef
*5 red or yellow bell peppers, cut into 1 inch slices
*1 onion cut into wedges
*yellow potatoes cut into 1 inch pieces
*salt and pepper
*1-2 TBSP olive oil
*3 tsp crushed garlic
*1 tsp thyme

Pre Heat oven to 400
Place the bell pepper slices, onion and potatoes on a cooking sheet.
Toss with the olive oil, salt and pepper
Push over to the side and place the roast on the sheet
Cut 12 slits into the meat and put the garlic in.
Then cover with salt, pepper and thyme
Cook for 50 minutes or until 150.

april 15

103. Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Happy Tax Day!! I hope everyone is having a good day. I cant tell you how this tasted but right now it smells great. I will update with how it tasted.
Since we have soccer tonight and its Eli's first game it means crock pot night.

*4 pounds chuck roast
*salt and pepper to taste
*1 packet dry onion soup mix
*1 cup water
*3 carrots, chopped
*1 onion, chopped
*3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
*1 stalk celery, chopped

Take the chuck roast and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Brown on all sides in a large skillet over high heat.
Place in the slow cooker and add the soup mix, water, carrots, onion, potatoes and celery.
Cover and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours.

april 14

102. Incredible Italian Meatloaf

None of us really loved this. It was just ok. I have a much better meatloaf recipe and Dave told me that he misses it, so I am going to have to make it soon for him. He always asks me for it for his birthday!

*1 pound mild Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
*1 pound ground turkey
*2 eggs, beaten
*1 1/2 cups rolled oats
*1/2 cup chopped onion
*1/2 cup milk
*1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
*1 teaspoon Italian-style seasoning
*1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*2 cups spaghetti sauce
*5 dashes hot pepper sauce
*1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
*1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring (now I did not use this. I dont even know what it is.)

Preheat oven to 350
In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, sausage, eggs, oats, onion and milk.
Season with 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt.
Mix well and form into a loaf.
Place into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a separate small bowl, mix together the spaghetti sauce, hot sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke.
Smooth over the entire meatloaf.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

april 12

101. Chicken, Edamame, and noodle Stir-Fry

This was super good. We both loved it. Dave got home too late to eat with the kids. So they enjoyed a corn dog and we had a great dinner. Elise enjoyed some of the noodles and loved them. These noodles were so good.

*8 onces udon noodles
*2 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
*1 TBSP cornstarch
*2 TBSP vegetables oil
*1 small red onion, thinly sliced
*2 cloves garlic minced
*1/2 head napa cabbage, thinly shredded
*2 cups frozen shelled edamame
*2 TBSP rice-wine vinegar
*2 TBSP soy sauce

Bring pot of water to a boil, add salt
Cook noodles according to package
Drain and rinse with cold water and drain again.
While noodles are cooking, toss chicken with cornstarch; season with salt and pepper
In a large skillet heat oil and add the chicken.
Cook until chicken is done about 4 minutes
Transfer to a plate
Add remaining oil to skillet, cook onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes
Add cabbage and cook until tender 4 minutes
Add edamame, vinegar, soy sauce, chicken and noodles; season with salt and pepper
Cook until warm about 5 minutes

Udon noodles are in the Asian isle of the grocery store. If you can not find them then use Linguine and break in half.

April 11

98. Peanut Crusted Chicken Breast

this was really good. We all really liked it. Dave added some honey on top of his.

*1 TBSP olive oil
*3/4 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
*3 slices white bread, torn into small pieces
*Salt and pepper
*2 large eggs
*4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
*1 1/2 lb asparagus, trimmed
*1 TBSP butter
*2 tsp lemon zest

Preheat oven 475
In a food processor, pulse peanuts and bread until coarsely ground
Transfer to a shallow bowl; whisk in oil, 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper
In a large bowl lightly beat eggs, season with salt and pepper
Add chicken and turn to coat
Dredge chicken in peanut mixture to coat complete
Transfer to baking pan
Bake until crust is browned and chicken is just cooked through (10-15 minutes)
Meanwhile bring water to boil with generous amount of salt
Cook the asparagus for 4 minutes
Transfer to bowl and mix in butter, salt and zest
(I left out the butter. I did not think that it needed it.)

99. Brown-Sugar Sweet Potato Wedges

Now we all love sweet potatoes and this was really really good. It was a toss up which Sweet Potatoes were better. These were just super yummy and I cant wait to make them again.

*6 small sweet potatoes, scrubbed
*1 TBSP butter
*1/4 cup walnuts chopped
*1/4 cup, plus 2 TBSP brown sugar
*2 TBSP cider vinegar
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/4 tsp pepper
*1/4 tsp allspice

Heat gas grill to medium high
Pierce sweet potatoes with fork
Place in microwave and cook for 10 minutes, or until partially cooked , but still firm (Do not over cook them)
When they are cook enough to handle cut each lengthwise into quarters
Meanwhile in a small skillet melt butter over medium heat
Add walnuts, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper and vinegar
Remove from heat
Brush cut side of the potatoes with sugar
Grill potatoes, cut side down for 5 minutes (Leave grill open)
Grill second side for 5 minutes
Turn potatoes skin down for 5 minutes, brush the potatoes with the sugar
transfer potatoes to a bowl and mix with the remaining sugar and walnuts

YUMMY!!!

100. Cheese Stuffed Flank Steak

100!! I cant believe I have made to 100. Its been fun but I still have so many more to do. This was really good. It was not a huge hit with the kids.

*2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese
*1 TBSP parsley
*1 TBSP olive oil
*2 cloves garlic, chopped
**1/2 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
*1/4 tsp pepper
*1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
*1 (1 1/2 lb) flank steak
*1/2 lb sliced provolone cheese, sliced
*1 jar roasted red bell peppers

In a small bowl mix, parmesan cheese, parsley, olive oil, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, pepper and red pepper flakes to form a paste
Lay steak flat, if its not a large steak you can cut it, not all the way through, and open like a book. (the steak we had was big enough to just roll.)
Rub steak with paste
Arrange provolone over surface, leaving 1 inch around the border
Top with Roasted peppers
Roll up steak to enclose filing
Tie steak with twine, I did not have twine, so I put tooth picks in to hold it close
Wrap steak in plastic wrap
Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight
Heat oven to 425
Remove plastic wrap
Let Meat stand at room temp while oven is heating, but no more than 30 minutes
Place steak on broiler pan
Roast steak at 425 for 25 minutes
Turn on broiler
Broil steak for 15 minutes or until steak reaches 150
Remove twin and cut crosswise

So stay tuned for the next 100!!! (that sounds better than 265...right?)

96. Spicy Asian Wings

This was really good. I did not think that it was that spicy. Eli thought that it was spicy and was not thrilled about todays meal. Elise ate it and even asked me for more food, which almost never happens. Normally its the fight and threats with her.
This recipe said to grill them, however I cooked them in the crockpot and I thought that it turned out really good.

*1/2 cup soy sauce
*1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
*2 TBSP honey
*2 TBSP olive oil
*4 cloves minced garlic
*2 TBSP ginger
*1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
*1/2 tsp black pepper
*4 lb chicken wings, tips removed

Now, here is what the the recipes said to do....
Whisk together everything and add chicken, turning to coat
Marinate, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours
Heat Grill on high
Grill for 12-16 minutes (180 degrees)

I doubled everything but the chicken and I put it the crock pot after I let it marinate.
I cooked it on low for 5 hours.
YUMMY

97. Sesame Broccoli

Now Elise ate all this and seemed to really like it. I thought that it was ok but nothing that shattered my world. Eli did not like the seeds and did not like the bell pepper and did not care for the broccoli, so not a hit for him!

*1 bunch fresh broccoli, cut into pieces
*1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
*2 tsp veg. oil
*1 tsp dark sesame oil
*1 clove garlic, minced
*1 slice ginger very thin slivers
*3 TBSP teriyaki sauce
*1 tsp lemon juice
*1 TBSP sesame seeds, toasted

Steam broccoli and pepper for 5-7 minutes
In a non-stick skillet, heat veg. oil and sesame oil
Add garlic and ginger, stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds
Stir in teriyaki sauce and lemon juice
Toss vegetables in sauce to coat
Sprinkle with sesame seeds

April 8

94. Pulled Pork

This was my own things that I just threw into the crock pot. It was really good. We all liked it and other than burning my fingers while pulling the pork apart, it was easy to make.

*2-3 lb Pork Butt
*bottle of BBQ sauce
*1 can coke
*1-2 TBSP Garlic
*1-2 TBSP Cayenne Pepper
*salt and pepper

Add everything together in crock pot
Season the meat with salt and pepper and put meat into crock pot
Cook on low for 8 hours
Let meat cook and pull it apart

95. Pineapple Smoothie

this was a big hit with the kids and adults alike. Plus it was a good way to sneak in fruit.

*RIPE banana
*1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
*1 cup OJ
Mix together in the blender. You can always use Pineapple juice but I did not have any!

April 5

93. Pizza Casserole

5 years ago today my husband and I were standing in a court room to finalize our sons adoption. So we have a celebrate Eli day. I asked what he wanted for dinner and he told me that he wanted Pizza. So I found this recipe for Pizza casserole. Plus it was a good way to get them to eat from vegetables.

*1 TBSP olive oil
*1 medium onion, chopped
*2 sweet bell peppers cut into large pieces
*2 medium zucchini, cut into rounds
*2 cloves garlic, chopped
*3 cans diced tomatoes, drained
*5 fully cooked sausages, sliced
*1 tsp italian seasoning
*1 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp pepper
*1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
*2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
*1 tube refrigerated breadsticks

Heat oven to 350
Grease 9x13 baker
In large skillet heat oil over medium high heat
Add onion and bell peppers, cook for 5 minutes
Add zucchini and garlic and cook about 5 minutes until barely tender
Add tomatoes, sausage, IT seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook for 5-7 minutes
Add 2 TBSP parmesan cheese
Spoon half the mixture into baking dish
Top with one cup of mozzarella
Add remaining tomato mixture
Arrange breadsticks on top in lattice pattern
Sprinkle with remaining cheeses
Bake for 25 minutes

The kids really liked it. They really did not put up a huge fight to eat their veggies! That is always good for me to not have to yell to eat!

April 4 Back

91. Triple Smoked Pasta

I am not going to put the recipe on here because this was WAY too spicy. My husband loves spicy and he could not finish a bowl of it. My father was the same way. I took 2 bites and had to make something else for myself and the kids. If you want the recipe email me Katiejerozal@gmail.com and I will send it. It was really hot and I did not use all the spice it called for. I cut it in half and it was still too much.

92. London Broil with Potatoes and Peppers

This was our Easter dinner and it was good. It was easy to make and the kids liked it too.

*1/4 cup plus 1 tsp vegetable oil
*1 1/2 cup red potatoes, scrubbed ad cut into 3/4 inch pieces
*2 yellow or red bell peppers cut into 1/2 strips
*coarse salt and pepper
*1 1/2 lbs london broil
*1 TBSP paprika

Heat Broiler (It did not say but I used high), with rack set 4 inches from heat source
In a large skillet heat 1/4 oil over medium heat
Add potatoes and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown 15-20 minutes
Add peppers and season with salt and pepper
Continue to cook tossing occasionally until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes
Meanwhile, rub beef with oil and season with salt, pepper and paprika
Broil, turning once until meat is 130 degrees about 10 minutes
Let rest 10 minutes
Slice thin and serve with potatoes and peppers.