Chili Dog Casserole

This is another recipe from Pinterest.  I made it the other night and it was delish!  If you like chili dogs, then you'll like this recipe and it's easy to make.

Chili Dog Casserole

2 (15 oz) cans chili with beans (I used one can Hormel Hot & Spicy and one can regular Hormel)
1 (16 oz) package beef frankfurters (I used angus beef Ball Park)
10 (8 inch) flour tortillas (the fajita sized ones)
1 (8 oz) package Cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Spread 1 can of chili and beans in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Roll up franks inside tortillas and place in baking dish, seam side down, on top of chili and beans. Top with remaining can of chili and beans, and sprinkle with cheese.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes.

Pepperoni Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

So I came across this recipe on Pinterest.  If you click through, it was featured on "Skip to my Lou."  It's a combination of two foods that I like - pepperoni pizza and spaghetti.  It's also easy to make.

 

Pepperoni Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

 

12 oz uncooked spaghetti

1/2 tsp salt

1 (1.2 lb) hamburger

2 ounces pepperoni, sliced in half

1 (26 oz) jar pasta sauce

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 (8oz) packaged shredded Italian three- cheese blend

 

Instructions

Cook spaghetti with 1/2 tsp salt in water according to package directions (cook to al dente). Drain and place noodles in a lightly greased 9X13 pan. Set aside.

Cook hamburger in a large skillet until cooked through, drain and set meat aside. Wipe skillet out with a paper towel. Add pepperoni slices to pan and cook over medium-high heat stirring occasionally, until slightly crisp (about 4-5 minutes).

Cover the spaghetti noodles with hamburger then pour pasta sauce over the top. Sprinkle half of the pepperoni slices evenly over the pasta sauce. Top with Parmesan and Italian cheeses. Arrange remaining pepperoni slices evenly on top of the cheese.

Lightly spray one side of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover the dish with sprayed side down. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the cheese is completely melted and starting to brown.

 

 

The original recipe used whole wheat pasta, turkey burger and turkey pepperoni, but I used what I had in my fridge and in my pantry.  The only time you'll find turkey in my fridge is during the holidays or maybe after a trip to the deli.  I also will use more pepperoni the next time I make this, but it didn't stop me from digging into it.  It's another keeper.

Southwestern Burgers & Mud Pies

Last night for dinner, we had the most amazing burgers; the burgers were better than I have had in a long, long time.  Interestingly, it wasn't anything that I added to the hamburger.  It was the sauce - oh my, it was sooo good!  The recipe was cut out of a Spring 2006 "Cooking for Two" magazine.

Southwestern Burger Sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbs. spicy brown mustard
1 tbs. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Prepare your burgers as you normally would; add cheese if desired.  Spread the Southwestern Burger Sauce on the two sides of your bun, and start eating.  Believe me, you won't need any other toppings.

For dessert, I made mud pies for two - so easy and so yummy!  The recipe is from "Taste of Home" magazine.

Mud Pies for Two

1/3 cup Nutella
2 individual graham cracker tart shells
1 cup of coffee ice cream
whipped cream

Divide the Nutella and ice cream between the two tart shells.  Add whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup (if you want to).

These were so cool and creamy after the Southwestern burgers.

Easy to prepare on a weeknight!

Crumb Coated Ranch Chicken

I found this recipe in "Taste of Home - 5 ingredient recipes" magazine.

Crumb Coated Ranch Chicken

2/3 cup ranch dressing
2 cups coarsely crushed corn flakes
1 tbs. italian seasoning
1 tsp. garlic powder
4 boneless chicken breasts

Pour the ranch dressing into a bowl.

In another bowl, combine corn flake crumbs*, italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Dip the chicken in dressing, then coat with crumb mixture.

Place in a greased baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 170 degrees.

*I didn't have any corn flakes, so I used italian bread crumbs instead.  I still added the italian seasoning and garlic powder.

The chicken was very flavorful.  This is a recipe that can easily be halved for two people.

ENJOY!

So Here Comes Another Year

It's January 1st and a lot of folks are making New Year's resolutions.

So here are a few things I'd like to do this year, or at least in the next five years:

I want to drink more tea.  I love the simple taste of hot Lipton tea, but I'd like to experience the flavor and aroma of other teas.

I want to drink less diet soda.

Along with some friends from church, I want to train to walk (they're running) a half marathon.  Why?  can't explain it - it's on my bucket list.

I want to cook more and try new recipes.

Oh yeah, I want to fix up my dollhouse from my childhood.

I want to create more, craft more, and read more.  I discovered zentangles and art journals and I'd love to document this whole next year in a journal.

If I could make one resolution or one really big goal for this year it's this - I want to be a cross shaped person.  I want people to look at me and say, she is a true reflection of Jesus.  Oh, this is so hard, so daunting, but oh, so possible.