Mexican Meatloaf

This is REALLY good. I got the recipe out of a cooking magazine, and I was skeptical but meatloaf is a cheap meal and I was looking for an alternative. Even Jeremiah, who isn't a huge meatloaf fan, said it was a keeper!!!

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
3 shallots, minced (don't substitute onions!)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 lb. ground beef (80% to 85% lean)
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas, finely chopped
3/4 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
1/2 cup purchased salsa
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground oregano (I used Italian blend because I didn't have oregano)
1 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook bell pepper, shallots, and garlic in oil in medium skillet over medium heat 6 minutes or until tender. Cool.

2. Gently combine bell pepper mixture and all remaining ingredients except 1/4 cup cheese in a large bowl. Place in 8x4-inch loaf pan; bake 55 to 60 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese during last 5 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

The recipe suggests topping with sour cream and additional salsa, but we didn't add anything. I just added about 1/2 cup cheese on top during the last 5 minutes, not just 1/4 cup. Even the kids wolfed it down and Hayden asked for more.

Quick Meal Ideas

So, I've had this idea for awhile and wanted to see if it would work. There are days when I just need a 10-minute meal (no 30 minutes, sorry Rach). It's those days when you use a package of something for dinner. Or something close. And I know we wouldn't post those as our favorite dinners, but when we're in a bind, maybe they'd help? So, if you have some great ideas, post them under the comments for 30-second meals!! (I'm so funny.)

Here are some of mine:

• Zataran's (is that the name?) dirty rice or jamabalya rice mixes. You just need to add sausage or sausage links. Celeste introduced me. Bryan suggested adding an additional 1/2 cup of not-instant-rice and 1 cup of water so it's not so spicy and goes further. Also, 1 lb of meat is a lot for those packets.

• BBQ

• BLT

• Chili Dogs

• Grilled Cheese

• Potato Bar

• Spaghetti--jar of spaghetti sauce added to beef fried with onion.
  

Gooey Coconut Chex Mix

My sister-in-law (I get alot of recipes from my sisters-in-law!) made this at our last reunion and I couldn't get enough of it!! I was really sad when it was gone and it didn't last very long! It is so so so good and works great for parties!! She didn't use honey grahams, just 12 cups of Chex but, either way, it is delicious!!

Gooey Coconut Chex Mix

1 cup butter
1 cup karo syrup
1 cup sugar
6 cup rice chex
6 cup honey grahams
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup coconut

PREPARATION:

Stir butter, light karo syrup, and sugar in a pan and bring to a boil for 3-4 minutes.Pour over the top of all the mix. Mix well.Spread mix on wax paper and let sit for 1 hour or longer.

Big Soft Sugar Cookies

YUM!! This is my sister-in-law's recipe and, I must say, they are so delicious! They are more of a dessert than a cookie because they are so big and soft! Soooo....here you go!

1 2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
cream together and add:
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs
1 c. milk
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3 Tbls. (yes, Tbls.) baking powder
6 c. flour

Mix well. Don't roll out too thin, about 3/4 in. Bake at 350 for about 9 min. They should almost be undercooked when you take them out.

Cream Cheese Frosting

6 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. butter
cream together and add:
1 tsp. vanilla
16 oz. powdered sugar

Spread on cookies after they are cooled and share with your neighbors!!

Roasted Garlic

Preheat the oven to 400°F

Peel away the outer layers of the garlic bulb skin, leaving the skins of the individual cloves intact. Using a knife, cut off 1/4 to a 1/2 inch of the top of cloves, exposing the individual cloves of garlic.

Place the garlic head in a piece of aluminum foil slightly larger than you garlic bulb. Drizzle about 2 teaspoons Olive oil over the garlic and massage into the garlic with your fingers.

Bring the aluminium foil around the garlic bulb and twist the top enclosing the whole garlic bulb. I have heard of people placing the garlic in a pan instead of the aluminum foil but it smells your house up like garlic. Using aluminum foil makes your house smell like garlic but not too much! You can also salt and pepper you garlic after drizzling the olive oil on but I don't like to.

Cook at 400 for 35-40 minutes. Let cool before handling the garlic. You can even roast the garlic the night before and just place it on the counter until you are ready to use it.

Pasta Milano

Okay, I just got this recipe and it is amazing!!! I made it for a family in the ward and they thought I brought them restaurant food for dinner..no joke! It made enough for 2 families of four, so invite someone over for dinner and enjoy!

4 chicken breasts
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper

Wash and dry chicken breasts; mix garlic powder, salt, and pepper and sprinkle on chicken.

Grill chicken on stove top in a skillet or outside on the grill until it is done all the way through; set aside.

16 oz. bow tie pasta
4 Tbs. butter (I only used 2 Tbs.)
1 1\2 cups sun-dried tomatoes (buy the can with them already sliced)
1 lb. mushrooms, sliced large

Place pasta in salted boiling water and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile saute the mushrooms and tomatoes in butter until soft.

2 quarts heavy cream (I used 1\2 Half & Half. I thought the amount was a typo, but it's not!)
1 head garlic, roasted (I roasted a few hours before starting dinner and let cool)
1\2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 cup Parmesan cheese

Place heavy cream, roasted garlic, pepper, salt, and Parmesan cheese in food processor and puree. I did not think my food processor could hold two quarts of liquid so I put a little liquid and the garlic in to puree, I then added all ingredients in a large saucepan. I used shredded Parmesan cheese, if you are using a block I would break up and place in the food processor with garlic and sauce. Roasted garlic will easily come out if you turn the head upside down and squeeze the garlic out. Place cream mixture in a saucepan and bring to a boil; turn down heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until sauce has thickened. It took about 25 minutes for my sauce to thicken. Mix in mushrooms and tomatoes and add to the cooked pasta. Slice the grilled chicken and place on top of the pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!!!

Peanut Butter Pie

So I have been married to Bryan long enough to know that he will love anything that includes peanut butter and chocolate. And I also know that any Pearson who calls themself a Pearson loves the same combo. Heck! Any American who calls themself American should love this yum-o treat (and you can make it low-fat!). And, if it couldn't get any better, the recipe makes TWO pies, so you can bring one to your potluck or whatever and keep one for yourself and no one would be the wiser!!!

1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup reduced fat creamy peanut butter (you can use regular fat creamy, but don't use chunky!)
1 (8 oz) block reduced fat or regular cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz) can fat-free or regular sweetened condensed milk
12 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed (fat free, reduced fat, or regular)
2 premade Oreo pie crusts (see - this is so easy! The pie crust is PREMADE!)
Chocolate syrup or fudge - you all know which one I prefer

Combine powdered sugar, peanut butter, and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until creamy and smooth. Add milk; beat until combined. Fold in whipped topping. Divide mixture evenly between two pie crusts; chill 8 hours or until set. You can refrigerate it or freeze it - we by far prefered it frozen. Drizzle with syrup or fudge topping - and maybe some crushed up Reese's PB Cups!!!

Banana Bread Pancakes

So last night Jeremiah decided he wasn't hungry for dinner, so I jumped on the chance to make pancakes (he's anti-breakfast foods for dinner). I didn't want plain pancakes, and we had some bananas that were getting really ripe, so I threw some ingredients together and made pancakes that included banana bread ingredients. Enjoy!

3 cups plain pancake mix (I used the generic brand)
2-2 1/4 cups water
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2-3 ripe bananas, mashed but with some chunks
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Butter or margarine
Walnuts, maple syrup for topping

Mix pancake mix and water together, adding water slowly to desired thickness (I like mine thick and didn't use exactly 2 1/4 cups). Whisk in brown sugar, bananas, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Melt 1/2 Tbsp in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Pour about 1/4 cup of pancake mixture into skillet, turning when the pancakes are bubbly on top and golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes. Cook for another minute on the other side. Repeat with butter and make more pancakes. The butter keeps the pancakes from sticking and gives them a nice golden crust on the outside. Top with homemade syrup (recipe follows) and chopped walnuts.

Homemade Maple Syrup

4 cups sugar
2 cups water
1 tsp Mapeline or maple extract

Boil water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add maple extract. Remove from heat. Do not overcook or it will crystalize. I store my syrup in an empty store-bought syrup bottle.