kielbasa w/ red potatoes one skillet meal

Tonight's dinner, was feel good food...not good for you food by any means. But I figured since I was cooking kielbasa I shouldn't feel bad about using a little bacon grease! This was on the table in 30 minutes. Everyone enjoyed. My kids liked having ketchup on theirs.

Ingredients:

1 pound Kielbasa (sliced)
2-3 large red potatoes diced
1-2 tbl of bacon grease OR canola OR whatever you want;)
1/2 large red pepper, chopped
1 small red onion chopped really small (I use my food processor)

simply heat the oil and add potatoes.. cook them until they are brown and crisp. Next add your onions.. and then your red peppers. A little salt and pepper to taste and then throw in your Kielbasa  cook until Kielbasa is heated through.

Tonight we had fresh cucumbers from the garden with a little Italian dressing, big glass of Milk... dinner done!

A Note From The Author

I would like to welcome all of the new readers and followers of this blog. Chucklesgrill is a great place for Moms and Dad's that are new to cooking. As I am not terribly new at it, I like to think of myself as still a beginner in the kitchen. Now that my children are out of that toddler stage..dinner time is a lot more fun. Aaron (my husband) and I look forward now to sitting down at the table for a good healthy FAMILY meal. And that's just what this blog is about.. what WE have for dinner!

Sometimes it is easy to fall into a cooking rut. Where you just end up making the same old thing night and after night. What I have done or am trying to do anyways is give you a user friendly free place to come and look around for ideas. Just like you all I fall into the rut too. And I find myself searching website after website looking for something that is budget, kid friendly, and doesn't take rocket science or 500 hours to get to the table. I like meals that are family tested! With this being said I am asking kindly for you to send me your recipes so that I can make them and then get them up on the blog to share with everyone!

It doesn't matter if its similar to something that is on the blog already. There are so many variations and different ways for things to be done!!! When it comes to cooking the possibilities are endless!

I have set a goal to have 4,000 page views here by then of August, and I can't do it without all of you!


As always if you care to have a guest spot on  chucklesgrill, or if you want to come over and do a live on location video (lol) just let me know!

here is the contact information!

hardwick.carolyn@zoho.com
facebook-
Carolyn Hughes-Hardwick

Thank you all for your continued support of the blog. Please feel free to invite you friends and family over to take a visit. I encourage all of you to join up as a follower, or at the bottom of the front page you can choose to follow by email, and you will be notified when new postings are up. Another way is on facebook- you can "like" the blog.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/chucklesgrill28blogspotcom/212383812106896#!/pages/chucklesgrill28blogspotcom/212383812106896?sk=wall

spaghetti pizza



Thanks again to Sherry, for submitting this and winning the 3rd contest!

“I made this last night and my 1 year old LOVED it!!! I was planning on sharing a piece with her and she ended up eating the whole thing! Even my husband loved it. The recipe calls for regular pepperoni but I use turkey pepperoni and no one knew the difference!! I believe next time I will add more toppings like yummy mushrooms! You can go crazy with the toppings as long as it stays healthy!
I did get this recipe from Weight Watchers so in case anyone wants to know it is 8 points per serving! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!”

Ingredients

2 sprays olive oil cooking spray
12 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta- spaghetti
2 lrg egg white
1 lrg egg
2/3 cup fat-free milk
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 cup basil fresh, chopped
9 oz shredded part skim mozzarella divided
32 ox bottled spaghetti sauce
2 oz pepperoni finely julienned (about 1/2 cup)


· Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat a 9- X 13-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.

· Break spaghetti into 2-inch pieces and cook, al dente, according to directions; drain and cool.

· Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat egg whites and egg until frothy. Stir in milk, garlic powder, salt, oregano, basil and 1/3 of mozzarella; add cooked spaghetti and stir until thoroughly combined. Spread spaghetti mixture evenly in bottom of baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes; remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF.

· Spread spaghetti sauce over pasta; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Scatter pepperoni evenly over cheese layer. Return to oven and bake until heated through and cheese is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, garnish with basil and then cut into 10 servings. Yields 1 slice per serving.

Chicken and Ravioli Carbonara 30 minute meal

If you are looking for a fast and delicious one skillet meal, this is it. Add a salad or a green vegetable and dinner is served. If you do not have bacon on hand, or do not feel like frying bacon try using real bacon bits. You can find them in the salad dressing isle at your grocery store. The house smelled like an Italian restaurant! This is rich and filling, a true feel good meal. I really liked that you cook your chicken in Italian dressing verses cooking oil. The chicken broth and half/half make a wonderful sauce. Please give this a try, I am pretty sure you will enjoy it as much as my family does!

 

Ingredients

2	tablespoons Italian dressing
1	lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips
3/4	cup chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1	package (9 oz) refrigerated cheese-filled ravioli
1/2	cup half-and-half
4	slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
	Shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired
	Chopped fresh parsley, if desired

1. In 10-inch skillet, heat dressing over high heat. Cook chicken in dressing 2 to 4 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown.
2.  Add broth and ravioli to skillet. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered about 4 minutes or until ravioli are tender and almost all broth has evaporated.
3. Stir in half-and-half; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 3 to 5 minutes or until sauce is hot and desired consistency (cook longer for a thicker sauce). Sprinkle with bacon, cheese and parsley.

Original Link:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chicken-and-ravioli-carbonara/1c608246-e552-48d8-87eb-e755a06f8d87?sr=2&st=7#/?term=30+minute&pi=3&mr=20

cheeseburger pie, a must try!~

This is one of those recipes you stumble across and say "hmmmm...this could be interesting". I made this for dinner 7-17-2011 and it was fantastic! The kids loved it, and so did my husband and I. We had crinkle cut fries and a small side salad with it. It was so tasty...really! We put ketchup, mustard, and a pickle on top. I liked mine with the lettuce tomato and onion from my salad, i didn't need salad dressing! We will have this again, it's a KEEPER!

It calls for "shredded" American cheese...well I have never heard of that, so I just took American cheese slices and melted them in. I did not add the extra cheese on top, I didn't think it needed it..but you make this how you want to!


1 can crescent rolls
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup finely chopped onion, OR 1 teaspoon onion powder
1/3 cup chopped dill pickle slices
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups shredded American cheese, divided


Preheat oven to 375°.

Unroll crescent rolls and press into the bottom and up the sides of an 8 inch pie pan.

Cook ground beef in a skillet until browned. Drain well.

Stir in onion, chopped pickle, ketchup and mustard.

Sprinkle with flour and add pickle juice and milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

Remove from heat and add 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Pour into the prepared crust and bake for 15 minutes, or until edges of crust are golden brown.

Remove from oven and top with remaining cup of cheese. Let stand until cheese melts.

Garnish with extra ketchup, mustard and pickle slices.

below is the original link!
http://family.go.com/food/pkg-family-approved-recipes/recipe-633078-cheeseburger-pie-t/

Pancakes

So, have you made your own pancakes yet??!! This is such a simple recipe, and its fun to add different things to it. This morning I added blueberries. In the past we have had bananas, and chocolate chips! Pancakes are a great addition if your having a 'breakfast" dinner. Double this recipe and freeze..your kids will thank you, mine do!

see recipe below:

I have just recently started making home made pancakes. In the past I would spend way to much on the frozen already made. This recipe is so simple and it has truly amazing results. I have to make a double or triple batch because my children tear them up. Another great thing about these are that they freeze well, so I never worry about making too many. It's so nice to have them on hand.


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.

Easy calzone rolls

These babies are GOOD!! This is a keeper, and something I know my family will ask for again. It was such a nice switch up from doing a pizza on a Friday night! The only thing I did different was use one loaf of bread instead of two. I didn't want my calzone to be too "bready" lol if that's even a word!! Also, if you haven't made your own home made pizza dough, and do not have the desire to, this frozen bread dough works great for that too!

In one of the rolls, I added black olives. If you read the comments on the original link, A woman says that she adds Italian dressing to hers. I also read someone likes roast beef, provolone, and hot peppers with ranch. I think both sound wonderful and I certainly am game for trying those out as well!

Price wise this is a deal! So my plan of cheap but good food is working out!

2 loafs frozen bread dough, thawed
1/2 pound sliced ham
1/2 pound sliced hard salami
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup jarred marinara sauce

Roll each loaf of dough into a rectangle about 8 inches by 12 inches.

Layer ham and salami down the center of each rolled loaf lengthwise.

Top meats with 1 cup shredded mozzarella for each roll.

Fold short ends of each loaf in about 1/2 inch and seal. Roll from the long sides and pinch well to seal the entire loaf. You should have 2 long rolls.

Bake, seam side down on a greased baking sheet in a 375 degree F oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Cut each roll into 8 slices and serve with marinara for dipping.
below is the link:
http://family.go.com/food/pkg-family-approved-recipes/recipe-642631-easy-calzone-rolls-t/

crunchy chicken fingers

I made these for dinner, 7-14-2011 and instead of using an egg I used....mayo!! what I noticed was that the chicken was more tender..but the cornflakes didn't stick as well..so... I probably will not be doing that again! The nice thing about this chicken recipe is that its fast and easy and...cheap! My children love the honey and sweetness in these chicken fingers. Served this with a mixed vegetable and honey mustard dipping sauce.

kid friendly rating 5 stars...with the right dipping sauce!!

These chicken fingers are bland, but extremely crunchy. Watch your cooking time, I had to add another oh...5 minutes or more to mine tonight. Definitely needed a sauce, good thing I picked up a bottle of honey mustard! Served this with corn and a small salad. All in all a good easy meal!! I will be making these again!

Ingredients

12 ounces  skinless, boneless chicken-breast halves

1   egg, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon  honey

1 teaspoon  yellow mustard

1 cup  packaged cornflake crumbs or 2 cups cornflakes, finely crushed

1/4 teaspoon  salt

  Dash ground black pepper

  Ketchup (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut chicken into 3/4-inch strips. In a shallow dish, combine the egg, honey, and mustard. In another shallow dish stir together cornflake crumbs, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken strips into the egg mixture; roll them in crumb mixture to coat evenly.

2. Arrange chicken strips on a baking sheet. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve with ketchup, if desired.

Below is the Link:

http://www.recipe.com/crunchy-chicken-fingers-1/

Almost lasagna

Tonight's dinner, well cost effective for sure! And it feeds a crowd, there is 1/2 a pan leftover and that's with people having 2nds and packing some for Aaron's lunch tomorrow. Now..taste..well its bland. And I added basil, garlic, and oregano. I think next time I make this I am going to add a can of Italian seasoned diced tomatoes and really spice it up with the seasonings! Don't get me wrong, it was good, and I think because it was bland the kids enjoyed more! For sides I made a simple salad and garlic bread.

Please check out the link for the original- they tell you that you can do this with chicken , turkey, tofu...etc... also they suggest putting a vegetable in it.

So if anything I think this gives a great spring board to start this and then ADD to it whatever you want!

1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked
1 pound Ground beef
1 jar Pasta Sauce, (26 ounces)
 Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 pound Ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
garlic, basil, and oregano
salt and pepper

Brown meat and drain well.

While meat is cooking, stir together eggs, ricotta and salt, pepper, basil, garlic and oregano (to taste)

Mix cooked meat, macaroni and sauce Add ricotta mixture and blend well.

Coat a 9-by-13 baking pan with cooking spray or olive oil and spread half of macaroni mixture evenly over the bottom. Top with a cup of mozzarella and a healthy sprinkle of grated Parmesan. Add the remaining macaroni mixture  and top with another cup of mozzarella and another sprinkle of Parmesan.

Cover with foil.

Heat your oven to 350 degrees F and bake the casserole for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes until the cheese on top is lightly browned and bubbly.

original recipe link:

http://family.go.com/food/pkg-family-approved-recipes/recipe-786707-almost-lasagna-t/

corned beef and cabbage

click on this picture to make it larger!

Tonight I used a head of white cabbage and margarine instead of butter. Oh was it great. I served it with a loaf of white bread and green beans. The Bread was a hit! my family ate the entire loaf, if you do not have a bread machine but want fresh bread, check out your freezer section at your local store. The Kids loved having margarine and honey on there warm bread. I apologize i did not take a picture of tonight's meal plated. I only have the one of it in the pot.

Corned beef and cabbage- simple to make

To make this you will need 1 can of corned beef, and your choice of cabbage (white or red). In a deep pot crumble and brown corned beef  while beef is browning chop your cabbage depending on the size of the head- i usually end up using the whole thing  (cabbage cooks down really well). Add your chopped cabbage to beef, and then add oh about 2Tbs of butter (or margerine) salt and pepper to taste- cover and simmer until the cabbage is nice and soft. this takes about 20 minutes, stirring every few min

Hey Campers..... this works for you folks very well!