Say NO! to Boxed Food!

I could probably sit here a preach until I were blue in the face taking consideration of the fact that America is too large. That in return this is creating an off-spin generation of people who are healthy and think they are over weight. There is not a reason to sit there and eat celery everyday for lunch, seriously! Lets look at what we [America] are eating. PROCESSED FOODS! There I said it, and yes it is a GIGANTIC issue. Not going to lie, I grew up on the fast-food/boxed/canned everything diet. This is the reason oddities, strange cancers and diseases are popping up.( I am not even going to continue with that argument, I lack in the creditability field)

Anyways, the point of my rant is to say take the time to make your own food. You are not too busy if you are able to read this. Plus side of things.:
1. You know what you are consuming. Not what is that? No longer will 'On lips and on the hips' apply.
2. Budget Friendly.
3. It is a social event, food brings everyone together.

Lets take a stand for a better you.

Tex-Mex with Cajun Mayo

This evenings dinner was quite explosive. The pre mixed Cajun seasonings is a bit salty. Instead try mixing these together so you don't get the same result: 2 parts black pepper, 1 part cayenne pepper, 1 part cumin, 1 part nutmeg and a dash of salt. ( Thank you BarnKitty from allrecipes.com for that suggestion)

Tex-Mex Burger w./ Cajun Mayo 

Serves 4

1/2 Cup of Mayo

1 teaspoon Cajun Seasonings

1 1/3 Lbs Ground Beef or Sirlion

1 Jalapeno, Seeded

1 clove Garlic, Minced

1 Tablespoon Cajun seasonings

1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

4 Slices of Pepper Jack Cheese, Slices of Tomato, 4 Lettuce leaves & 4 Buns.

1. Preheat your Grill to Medium.
2. Mix first two ingredients together and place in fridge.
3. 
4. Now mix everything but your Cheese, Buns, Lettuce and Tomato.
5. Form into 4 balls and then press to make patties. No, not Craby Patties. These will be Happy Patties.
6. Grill and top with remaining items plus your flavored Mayo.  

Orginal Recipe

Put a Little Irish in your Belly

Have you ever wondered what the term Corn means, as in Corned Beef and Cabbage? Fun Fact of the day it refers to the curing process with Salt.

Corn beef and Cabbage (In a Crock Pot).

4 Serving, Ready in 10 Hours

4 Lbs. Corned Beef

5 Carrots, Peeled

5 Potatoes, Peeled and halved

4 Cups of Water

6 oz of a Dark Beer

1/2 Head of Cabbage, Chopped

1. Place Carrots and Potatoes on the bottom of the pot. 
2. Add Water
3. Place Meat over Veggies.
4. Pour Beer over Meat.
5. Place seasoning packet on top of the meat.
6. Cook for 10-11 hours on low.
7. Place Cabbage around Corned Beef and cook for another additional 30 to 60 minutes. Depending on your Slow Cooker.

Complete Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for Sam.

I think i am going to start calling my blog Comfort Food Central. lol* The recipes and their ingredients are merely suggestions. You do not have to use what I use.

 

Chicken Noodle Soup for Sam.

6 Servings

1 pound Chicken parts ie: wings, legs, and thighs.

Just enough Water to Cover the Chicken. Approx 4-6 Cups

3 stalks Celery, including some leaves (Chopped at 1", or smaller)

2 Large Carrots, Chopped

1 Onion, Chopped

2 Tablespoons minced Garlic

3 Springs Parsley, or ½ teaspoon dried

1/8 teaspoon dried Mint

Pinch of Dried Dill Weed

1 Small Can Chicken Broth (Optional)

1/2 teaspoon Chicken Bullion, or 2 or 3 cubes

1. Combine Water and Chicken and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer. Skim the skin or scum as it rises to the surface.
2. In a frying pan sauté Onions and Garlic. When the scum no longer surfaces you may add remaining ingredients.
3. When Chicken is fully cooked it will fall away when attempting to puncturing it with a fork. Remove Chicken from pot and remove bones and toss into garbage. Put Chicken back into pot.

*You can precook noodles or cook them in your soup, it is your choice of preference.*

Homemade Noodles

4 servings

1 Cup Flour

¼ teaspoon Salt

1 Egg

1/8 cup of Water

1 ½ teaspoon Oil

1. Combine Flour and Salt. Add Egg, Water, and Oil. Mix well.
2. Gather Dough into a ball on a lightly flour surface and knead for 5 to 10 minutes, until smooth. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.
3. Divide dough into 4 equal parts. On lightly floured area roll one-fourth of dough at a time into rectangle and cut into desired shapes.
4. Arrange in a single layer on lightly floured surface and allow to stand for 30 minutes. 

*If you want to make the noodles for the soup above, I would personally start the water and chicken and start at the noodles*

My First Attempt with Asian Food. Next Stop Hong Kong!

I stumbled upon this recipe awhile back, but was quite hesitant to try without having any experience trying to fry anything. Just do it! You know you want to. I received a text at work from the BF stating “This is amazing in my mouth.” LMFAO.  You do want to marinate the pork a day in advance. 

Easy as Pie, Sweet and Sour Pork with Fried Rice.

Sweet and Sour Pork

1 Pound Pork Shoulder, cut into 1” cubes or smaller

1 teaspoon Salt

¼  teaspoon Sugar

1 teaspoon Soy Sauce

1 Egg White

2 Green Onions Chopped

Mix ingredients and refrigerate for at least one hour to one day. 

1 quart Oil for frying

½ Cup Cornstarch

Heat oil on high (or 185 Deg)

Coat Pork and fry for approx 10 minutes, and then drain on paper towel. Reserve Oil.

Veggies of our choice ie. Onions, Green Pepper, and Celery, Chopped

With 1 Tablespoon of Reserved Oil fry Veggies. Drain with paper towel.

1 Cup Water

¼ teaspoon Salt

¾ Cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar

¼ Cup Ketchup

½ teaspoon Soy Sauce

1 -8oz Can Pineapple Chunks, with juice

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

¼ Cup Water

Mix the first 6 items in a med sauce pan. Bring to a boil and add Pork, Veggies and Pineapple with the juice. Return to Boil and mix in Cornstarch and ¼ Cup Water to thicken. Cook until well blended.

Sweet-and-Sour-Pork-III 

Fried Rice

1 Cup Rice , cooked and set aside.

2 Eggs, Beat, but not to death.

2-4 Tablespoons reserved Oil from Pork.

Your choice of veggies ie. Cabbage, Carrots, Peas, Bean Sprouts, Green Onions.

1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce, or more to taste.

Those are Bamboo Shoots, if you are wondering.

1. Scramble Eggs (and veggies if any) in reserved Oil.
2. Add Rice, and stir to minimize clumps.
3. Stir in Soy Sauce.  

 
Glos-Sausage-Fried-Rice

Hash Browns

Here is one thing I have not thought about making, Hash Browns.  Here is a healthy alternative to purchasing the frozen ones, and taste 10 times better.

Looking nicely with scrambled eggs.

Hash Browns for Two.

1 Medium Potato, shredded

1 Egg

Yellow Onion, approx a handful

2 Tablespoons Flour

S&P and Garlic Powder to taste

Olive Oil for frying

1.      Shred your potato and wash it in water until the water is white.

2.      Drain and mix in all of the rest of the ingredients.

3.      Heat oil on medium heat.

4.      Fry those bad boys up, don’t forget to flip them.

5.      Drain on paper towel and enjoy. =]

Mashed Potato Bowl and Oatmeal Cookies

Good Evening! Above is the Bf making the Mashed Potato Bowl. I thought it was quite cute coming from the person who can't make grilled cheese. He did a great job!; although he sure does not look too happy.

Melt in Your Mouth Oatmeal Cookies

Appox: 1 Hour; Makes One Dozen

1 Cup Flour

½ teaspoon Baking Soda

½ teaspoon Salt

¾ teaspoon ground Cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground Nutmeg

½ Cup or 1 Stick Butter, Softened

½ Cup White Sugar

½ Cup Brown Sugar

1 Egg

½ teaspoon Vanilla

1-1/2 Cups Oats.

1. Combine Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg in a bowl and mix well.
2. In another bowl cream Butter, and both Sugars together. Add the egg and vanilla.
3. Combine both bowls together. Stir in Oats, Mix well.
4. Chill for 30 minutes.
5. Preheat Oven to 375 F.
6. Grease baking sheets, and roll dough into small ping-pong sized balls. Place on baking sheet appx 1 ½" away from each other.
7. Sprinkle Sugar on top of the balls, and bake for appox 9 minutes. 

Have a wonderful lazy Sunday night, Sharky sure is. =]


 

B/Fast Pie

The appropriate time for pizza is anytime!  Who can refuse this?! Breakfast Pizza. BTW this has no affiliation with my place of employment.

Dough

2 Cups Flour

Majority of your packet of yeast

¾ teaspoon Salt

2 teaspoon Sugar

1 Tablespoon and 1 teaspoon oil

2/3 Cups of HOT water

Mix your dry ingredients together before adding the wet. Form into a ball and roll out the dough until it is a little thinner than regular pizza dough. Put your dough onto the pan.

Preheat Oven to 325F.

Melt 2 Tablespoons butter.

Brush butter onto the dough, lightly.

Beat 4 Eggs + 3Tablespoons Milk

Place them into a bowl with which ever you are putting on your pie. Add additional toppings ie. Bacon, Green Peppers. 

Mix well and spread it onto the dough. Bake for 20 Minutes.