Taco Filled Peppers

I can't believe I have never thought of making these before. I make stuffed peppers Italian style pretty often. I make Mexican food once a week... why didn't I think of combining the two? Either way, I will definitely make this dish again. It was pretty easy and I really broke down the directions for you gusy. I did add my own little takes, like sauteing onion and garlic in olive oil. To me, it wouldn't be right making a Mexican dish without using these ingredients. Hope you enjoy this one!


Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (my addition)
1-2 tsp garlic (my addition)
1 lb ground beef (I used ground turkey)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 - 8oz can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
1 cup salsa
4 medium green peppers, cut lengthwise & remove seeds & stems.
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream



Procedure:

• In large skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat.
• In a large saucepan, boil water.
• Throw a piece of onion in the olive oil. If it sizzles, you know the oil is hot enough. Add onions. Cook until onions start to turn translucent (clear).
• Add garlic and ground beef & brown. 
• Drain mixture using a strainer.
• Add meat mixture back into the large skillet. 
• Add taco seasoning, kidney beans, and salsa. Heat between 3-5 minutes.
• Once water is boiling, add green peppers for 3 minutes.
• Place peppers in a 9x13 baking dish. I used a 9x9 since I only made 2 peppers.
• Spoon about 1/2 cup of meat mixture into each pepper half. 
• Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. 
• Take out of oven, uncover and place cheese on top of peppers.
• Put back in oven for 5 minutes to melt cheese. 
• When done, garnish with tomatoes, sour cream, and any other topping you choose

Chicken Fettuccini Marinara

The original recipe calls for turkey breasts, but I had chicken so I used that instead. This is a great pasta dish! I'm used to making my own pasta sauces, rarely do I ever use jar sauce. This is a different take on the sauces I usually make so I enjoyed that a lot.  I especially liked the addition of hot sauce.  If you have it, use sriracha sauce... makes it sooooo good. I didn't even add garlic, believe it or not! Oh, and I used basil fettuccini noodles that I got at Target. They were amazing.

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken breasts
1 to 2 tsp olive oil
8 oz  fresh mushrooms sliced
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/2 cup diced onions
8 oz fettuccini
1 - 14 oz can Italian style tomatoes
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp dried basil
4 to 6 drops hot pepper sauce (I used sriracha sauce)

Procedure:

• Cook fettuccini per package directions.
• Cook chicken breasts until lightly browned and remove from pan.
• Heat olive oil in pan and then add onions, mushrooms, black pepper and thyme.
• Cook & stir 2 to 3 minutes until onion is tender and starts to caramelize.
• Stir in fettuccini.
• In blender, place remaining ingredients: tomatoes, cornstarch, lemon juice, dried basil, and hot sauce.
• Blend away until tomatoes are chopped. 
• Pour into a small pot and heat on medium until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add chicken and sauce to fettuccini.

Note:
Dolores White, my grandma, remarked this dish as very good.

Fiesta Chicken

I learned something today in my cooking adventure, that just because it looks wrong or gross prior to cooking doesn't mean that it won't turn it correct or good! Seriously, I put the dish in the oven and thought, "What is my plan B because this soooo isn't going to turn out good at all! How about pizza? Mike could maybe pick it up on his way home if I call it in now..." I didn't order the pizza, figured I would take my chances. And it turns out, it looks and tastes pretty good when done. Mike loved it! I would make this again but a healthy version. Thankfully I only choose one or two dishes per week to try and eat moderate portions otherwise this blog would be terrible for me!

I do want to apologize my for picture taking abilities.... I can cook and bake, I am NOT a photographer nor do I have awesome lighting in my house! The non light situation totally distorts the color of the photos. So when I tell you the dishes look better in person, they totally do, I'm not lying about it!

Ingredients:

1 cup cheese crackers, crush * I chopped it up in my food processor.
2 tbs taco seasoning
8 chicken breasts
4 chopped green onions
1 cups whipping cream
4 oz grated cheddar cheese
4 oz grated monteray jack cheese
1 can green chilis - drained and chopped
1/2 tsp instant chicken granulars (bullion)

Procedure:

• Mix crackers and taco seasoning in a bowl.

• Place half of the mix in a 9x9 pan.

• Place chicken in the pan on top of the mix and coat chicken. Use the remaining mix.

• Mix all other ingredients in a bowl and pour over chicken. 

• Bake @ 350 degrees for 40 - 45 min.

Italian Three Bean Salad

I think the Three Bean Salad gets no love in the salad department! It's always potato & macaroni salad, which is a bummer to people who don't like mayo or miracle whip (I like neither!). I told Mike this may be my favorite thing thus far I have made besides oatmeal pancakes, and he was shocked. He worked at a deli when he was younger so they always had it, making this dish was no big deal to him. Mike did note that the addition of green peppers provided a nice added texture.

Ingredients:

1 can green beans (drained)
1 can wax beans (drained)
1 can kidney beans (drained)
1 red onion diced
1 green pepper diced
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Procedure:

Combine beans, onion and green pepper.
Mix oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper.
Pour over beans.
Marinate for at least 1/2 hr.

Note: Must mix liquid ingredients well or oil will separate.

Italian Beef (Uncle Bud's)

Who doesn't like beef sandwiches! The Au Jus juice is fantastic. I think the best part to the juice is the chili flakes. It gives the juice a little kick. Per Mike, you have to go with Boars Head roast beef, so that's what we used! I think it was the first cooking tip he has ever gave me! ha ha. I've included a picture of the Herb-Ox beef bouillon package so know what you're looking for in the store. Enjoy! Yum yum!


Au Jus:

6 cups water
7 packages Herb-Ox beef bouillon
1 tbs oregano
1 tbs garlic salt
1 tsp crushed chili flakes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 - 2 lbs Roast Beef

Sliced Rolls

Yummy Extras:
Provolone or Mozzarella cheese
Giardiniera
Red sauce

Procedure:

• Put all ingredients in a large saucepan. Simmer for about 1/2 hour. Don't boil!

• Add sliced beef for a minute or two. You don't want to overcook the beef. 

• Mix & match the above extras on a sliced roll.