A couple weeks ago I found a pizza crust recipe from Kraft. It made 4 crusts and I froze 3 to use later. Yesterday I thawed one out to make pizza again.
1 pizza crust [recipe here: http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/perfect-parmesan-pizza-dough-122040.aspx ]
tomato sauce (I bought some pizza sauce in a squeeze bottle, but spaghetti sauce works too).
Shredded cheese (I'm using mozzarella this time but used marble Cheddar the last time)
Flatten crust into a greased pan.
Cover with sauce, cheese & veggies (if you like).
Bake 450 for 18 minutes.
TIPS: I didn't have a circle pizza pan so I used a small baking sheet. I served it with crunchy veggies, garlic dipping sauce (from PC) and some extra pizza sauce for dipping.
RESULTS: The kido ate a slice including the cheese which is impressive for her.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Beef Tacos
Yesterday I went with beef tacos which are usually a hit here.
Ground beef (I used lean)
Taco seasoning
Veggies - Red pepper, Salad mix, cucumber
Salsa
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Taco Shells (hard & soft)
Fry beef (no need to add oil) then drain off the fat.
Mix about a 1/4 cup of water with taco seasoning and pour onto beef.
Simmer (at least 5 minutes - I usually just simmer until everything else is ready.
Put beef & toppings on table and let everyone make their own.
TIPS: Every once and a while I buy a taco kit (use about 1/2 the seasoning pack and keep the rest for next time), its often a bit cheaper to buy the kit vs. the shells & seasoning separate. I also usually make double the beef I need and freeze 1/2 the seasoned cooked beef for another taco dinner.
RESULTS: The connoisseur gobbled down her dinner with no complaints.
Ground beef (I used lean)
Taco seasoning
Veggies - Red pepper, Salad mix, cucumber
Salsa
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Taco Shells (hard & soft)
Fry beef (no need to add oil) then drain off the fat.
Mix about a 1/4 cup of water with taco seasoning and pour onto beef.
Simmer (at least 5 minutes - I usually just simmer until everything else is ready.
Put beef & toppings on table and let everyone make their own.
TIPS: Every once and a while I buy a taco kit (use about 1/2 the seasoning pack and keep the rest for next time), its often a bit cheaper to buy the kit vs. the shells & seasoning separate. I also usually make double the beef I need and freeze 1/2 the seasoned cooked beef for another taco dinner.
RESULTS: The connoisseur gobbled down her dinner with no complaints.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
And I declare BBQ season- Beef Skewers
Beef & Vegi Skewers
This is a pretty simple one. I love BBQ season. It really lends itself to quick & easy meals.
Cubed beef ( I used a marinating cut but if you have less time use a grilling one)
Orange & Yellow Peppers
White Mushrooms
Balsamic dressing (I used the Kraft balsamic vinaigrette, Italian would work too)
Thread veggies & beef alternating on skewers.
Place in container and poor dressing on top & Saran wrap. Then place in the fridge until ready to BBQ.
Should leave in the fridge marinating for at least 15 minutes.
TIPS: Check if your wooden skewers will fit in the container you will be marinating in before you put the food on them and cut down if necessary. Other veggies that work well: zucchini - green or yellow, red pepper.
RESULTS: The little connoisseur looked at dinner and in usual good form called it yucky. After threatening no treats if she didn't try dinner she ended up clearing off her plate. Its a winner.
This is a pretty simple one. I love BBQ season. It really lends itself to quick & easy meals.
Cubed beef ( I used a marinating cut but if you have less time use a grilling one)
Orange & Yellow Peppers
White Mushrooms
Balsamic dressing (I used the Kraft balsamic vinaigrette, Italian would work too)
Thread veggies & beef alternating on skewers.
Place in container and poor dressing on top & Saran wrap. Then place in the fridge until ready to BBQ.
Should leave in the fridge marinating for at least 15 minutes.
TIPS: Check if your wooden skewers will fit in the container you will be marinating in before you put the food on them and cut down if necessary. Other veggies that work well: zucchini - green or yellow, red pepper.
RESULTS: The little connoisseur looked at dinner and in usual good form called it yucky. After threatening no treats if she didn't try dinner she ended up clearing off her plate. Its a winner.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Meatball Monday
So I'm 2 for 2.
Today I made meatballs (more or less from the Second Helpings Cookbook)
This is one of those easy to make but needs time to cook recipes.
Ground beef (I used lean)
1 egg
minced garlic (I used about 1/2 tsp of the kind from a jar)
salt (dash)
pepper (omitted because I couldn't reach it
Form into balls.
Boil equal parts gingerale (I used apple juice instead) & ketchup in large sauce pan.
Drop balls into boiling sauce and reduce to a simmer. Cover & cook for 2 hours.
TIPs: Serve over rice and pour some of the excess sauce over the whole thing. Meatballs also freeze well IF you have leftovers.
RESULTS: My little connoisseur asked for and ate thirds. A huge success. She also told me she likes everything I make for dinner and what was that thing I made yesterday again (the salmon patties). I'm feeling like super mom.
Today I made meatballs (more or less from the Second Helpings Cookbook)
This is one of those easy to make but needs time to cook recipes.
Ground beef (I used lean)
1 egg
minced garlic (I used about 1/2 tsp of the kind from a jar)
salt (dash)
pepper (omitted because I couldn't reach it
Form into balls.
Boil equal parts gingerale (I used apple juice instead) & ketchup in large sauce pan.
Drop balls into boiling sauce and reduce to a simmer. Cover & cook for 2 hours.
TIPs: Serve over rice and pour some of the excess sauce over the whole thing. Meatballs also freeze well IF you have leftovers.
RESULTS: My little connoisseur asked for and ate thirds. A huge success. She also told me she likes everything I make for dinner and what was that thing I made yesterday again (the salmon patties). I'm feeling like super mom.
Salmon Patty Sunday
Yesterday for dinner I made salmon patties:
1 tin of salmon (bones & skin removed)
1 egg bread crumbs (about a tsp)
1 piece of wet bread (wet bread and squeeze out)
Mash together, form in patties and coat in cornflake crumbs.
Then fry (I used a bit of cooking spray) on each side.
Ready & on the table in 20 or so minutes
TIPS: I got smart this time and crushed the corn flakes in a freezer bag and shook the salmon patties
in it shake and bake style. I made 8 mini patties, but you could make 2 big patties. Served with ketchup, potatoes (we did sweet potato fries & crispy veggies).
RESULTS: My older daughter (4) looked at it and declared it yucky. Once she was forced to try it she declared it yummy, cleared her plate (a huge thing here) and wanted to know what it was called again so she could ask for it again.
1 tin of salmon (bones & skin removed)
1 egg bread crumbs (about a tsp)
1 piece of wet bread (wet bread and squeeze out)
Mash together, form in patties and coat in cornflake crumbs.
Then fry (I used a bit of cooking spray) on each side.
Ready & on the table in 20 or so minutes
TIPS: I got smart this time and crushed the corn flakes in a freezer bag and shook the salmon patties
in it shake and bake style. I made 8 mini patties, but you could make 2 big patties. Served with ketchup, potatoes (we did sweet potato fries & crispy veggies).
RESULTS: My older daughter (4) looked at it and declared it yucky. Once she was forced to try it she declared it yummy, cleared her plate (a huge thing here) and wanted to know what it was called again so she could ask for it again.
When's dinner ready?
Something that I often think of when I'm cooking is an episode of Rosanne where she takes one of the kid's classes (maybe Becky's class) to the grocery store and then to her house to show them how she feeds a family of 5 on the cheap. One of the students asks her when the meatloaf will be ready and she answers something along the lines of when the oldest/middle child starts complaining.
That's what cooking is like for me. I'm no master chef. Just a mom of 2 (4 year old & 6 week old) with little time and picky eaters. I read a recipe once, maybe twice and then just go with the flow.
Most things I cook falls into a few categories. Ready in 30 minutes or less (prep all the way to the table), quick to prepare but longer to cook (weekend cooking) and slow cooker cooking.
I'll post recipes but my measurements may not be exact. I hope you enjoy reading about my cooking successes and flops.
That's what cooking is like for me. I'm no master chef. Just a mom of 2 (4 year old & 6 week old) with little time and picky eaters. I read a recipe once, maybe twice and then just go with the flow.
Most things I cook falls into a few categories. Ready in 30 minutes or less (prep all the way to the table), quick to prepare but longer to cook (weekend cooking) and slow cooker cooking.
I'll post recipes but my measurements may not be exact. I hope you enjoy reading about my cooking successes and flops.
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