Crockpot Philly Cheesesteaks

The time has come…. I’ve officially scheduled to take part one of boards.  Now the pressure is on people! June 20th is the lucky day and  as I enter boards hell I will be needing many many more meals like this one. Quick and easy (that’s what she said).

I love the way this recipe turned out.  It was so simple to throw together in the crockpot and the flavors were delicious.  Life has been so so busy (as usual) and I loved coming home to a meal that had cooked itself all day.

Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

  • 1 1/2 pounds beef round steak
  • 1 medium green pepper, sliced thin
  • 1 medium onion, sliced thin
  • 14 ounces of vegetable, beef, or chicken broth
  • 1 envelope italian dressing mix
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 6 slices provolone cheese
  • Hoagie buns or a large loaf of french bread

Instructions: 

1.  Place beef in crockpot.  Add green pepper, onions, italian dressing, and broth.

2 .  Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

3.  Remove beef from crockpot and shred.  Add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and mix well.

4. Spoon meet mixture on to bread and top with a slice of provolone cheese.  Place in oven on 375 for a few minutes until cheese is melted.

5.  Top with any condiments you usually like on your philly cheesesteaks and enjoy!

Recipe modified from: Group Recipes

Jalapeño Popper Chicken

Who ever came up with the idea of Pinterest is a genius.  Seriously brilliant. I love pinning my life away… my future home, recipes, things to plan, ways to organize… on and on and on it goes.  This recipe came from Pinterest and it turned out so yummy!

Don’t be intimated by the idea of making a pocket in the chicken breast to stuff it with.  It’s really not so tricky! 🙂

Enjoy!

Recipe modified from: Prevention Rd

Ingredients: 

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup part-skim shredded Cheddar or Colby cheese
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 4 jalapenos, chopped and seeds removed (keep them if you dare, for more spice!)
  • 1  1/2 cup Panko bread crumb
  • 2 tsp taco seasoning
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and lightly grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add jalapenos and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Mix together cream cheese, shredded cheese, and jalapeno peppers.

3. Use a knife to make a pocket in each chicken breast. Stuff pockets with jalapeño-cheese mixture.

4. Mix Panko bread crumbs and taco seasoning in bowl. Whisk egg in a separate bowl. Dip chicken into egg and then into bread crumbs. Repeat with all chicken breasts and place in baking dish.

5. Bake for 30 minutes.

Roasted Garlic and Chickpea Salad with Feta and Herbs

I love that we are officially in spring (I’m probably jinxing us).  Sunshine and a bright blue sky just seems to make everything better, right?

One day I was lucky enough to make it home early and wanted something light and delicious for lunch.  I remembered reading about a feta chickpea salad in an old Bon Appetit Magazine.  So I used what I had in the pantry and fridge and came up with a light chickpea salad filled with flavor.

Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

  • 1 can of chickpeas (15 oz each), rinsed and well drained
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 fresh minced garlic cloves
  • 1/4  teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Herbs I chose: 1 tablespoon chopped mint , 1 tablespoon chopped basil, 1 tablespoon oregano
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3/4  feta cheese, crumbled
  • lemon wedges
Instructions: 
1.  Pre heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix together rinsed chickpeas, oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Mix well so that everything is coated with olive oil. Place in to baking dish and bake for 15-18 minutes or until chickpeas are hot and beginning to crisp. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
3.  While in oven, chop fresh herbs and toss in feta.
4.  Once cooled, add feta-herb mixture to baked chickpeas.  Stir everything together and top with some freshly squeezed lemon.

Green Bean Casserole

Happy Easter!!

I’m Orthodox, so we actually celebrate Easter this coming weekend on April 15th.  But this year, we get to celebrate it two times!! Some awesome friends of ours (thanks Jess and Ryan!) invited us over for a little Easter dinner this past Sunday.  It was quite the feast: mac and cheese, cheesy potatoes, ham, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, rolls…the food was endless and delicious!

We typically eat a traditional Egyptian meal on Easter, so I had to ask Jess what their traditional Easter meal was.  When she told me that it’s tradition to eat ham on Easter the first thing that popped in my head to bring was a Green Bean Casserole (second to dessert, of course!).   I have no idea why I choose green bean casserole, before Sunday I had never eaten green bean casserole, let alone made one! But after much research and a combination of a couple of recipes I seem to have come up with a pretty yummy dish!

Ingredients: 

  • 1 tablespoon margarine
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, diced
  • 1/2 cup freshly chopped mushrooms
  • 2 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 8 cups cooked green beans
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/3 cups French fried onion
  • 3/4 cup crushed butter crackers
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar shredded cheese

Instructions: 

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Add margarine to pan on medium heat.  Sauté mushrooms, garlic and onion in pan until onions are a golden yellow colored.

3.  In 2 quart casserole dish mix together sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and onion, cooked green beans, cream of mushroom, salt, pepper, milk, 1/2 cup of french fried onions, 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheese.

4.  In pan, add 1/2 tablespoon margarine, crushed crackers, and remaining french fried onions – until golden brown.

5. Top casserole with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and cracker-fried onion mix.

5.  Bake in oven for 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.

 

Of course I couldn’t help but bake some Easter cupcakes to take along as well: funfetti cupcakes with a chocolate buttercream icing! Delicious. 🙂 Recipes to come.

After dinner, we went outside and played a little bocce ball.  That was my first time playing… I have to admit, I wasn’t very good at it.  But that’s ok – I kept saying “We’re all winners,” to make myself feel better.  All in all, it was a great evening!

Husband and I

 

Greek Orzo

Holy moly!! This quarter of classes is going to be rough one.  It’ll pass and I know that we will all do great and get through it (let’s do it Wolfpack!!).  We’re one step closer to entering the clinic and working on humans, rather than Henry.  That being said, making delicious new dinners has not been happening.  I’m on the hunt for quick new and delicious recipes.  This was right up my alley! We definitely enjoyed this recipe and I think it would be extra good with some shredded chicken.

Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
  • 2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano
  • 1 (8 ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/2 pound orzo pasta
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Instrucitons: 

1. Stir together olive oil, lemon juice, olives, tomatoes, oregano, and feta cheese in a large bowl.

2. On medium-high heat in pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, red pepper, red onion and garlic.  Cook for 5-6 minutes until garlic is golden colored.  Add to bowl from previous step.

3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and toss the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

Nutella Peanut Butter Puppy Chow

I was craving something sweet (I guess I’m always craving something sweet…) so I decided to whip up this chocolatey peanut buttery sugar covered deliciousness.  That’s exactly how it turned out too.  So delicious, yet so simple to make.

Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 1/2 cup Nutella
  • 1/2 cup creamy Peanut Butter
  • 1 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 13 cups (more or less) or one 12oz box Chex cereal
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions: 

1. In a pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and chocolate chips, stirring constantly.

2. When all is melted and smooth, remove from heat and stir in the Nutella and Peanut Butter

3. Slowly pour the chocolate Nutella mixture over cereal in a large mixing bowl. Wash your hands and use them to stir everything together until fairly evenly coated.

4. Wash those hands again and add the cereal to a gallon sized ziploc bag.

5. Pour in the powdered sugar and shake, starting with 1/2 cup at a time. You want to make sure everything’s coated, but not too sweet!

Eggplant Rolls

Hello friends!

I’m sorry it’s been awhile since I last posted.  Things have been a little hectic around here. We had a rough final exams week last week, thank God that’s over.  I’m pretty sure I loose at least 5 years off my life during each finals week because of stress alone. This week I’ve been on spring break and it has been wonderful.  I went to Chicago for a few day, I love Chicago.  My mom had a work conference there so I met her there and snuck in some much needed quality mommy time.  ❤

Now, on to more important things – like Eggplant Rolls. Yummy! I served these next to some pasta, green beans, and a salad and they turned out delicious.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Medium Eggplants
  • ¼ cup Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 cups Skim ricotta cheese
  • 1 whole Egg, beaten
  • 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ½ cups grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • ¼ cups Basil
  • 2 cups Italian Seasoning
  • 2 cups of your favorite Pasta Sauce

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Cut off stem of each eggplant and slice lengthwise into 6 slices. Put the slices on backing sheets, brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper.  Roast eggplant for 8 – 10 minutes per side, remove from the oven, making sure they are tender.  Cover with foil and allow to steam for another 10 minutes.

3.  Combine ricotta, egg, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, garlic, fresh basil, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper to taste.

4.  Spread half of the pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Evenly divide the ricotta filling over the eggplant slices and spread to cover completely. Starting with the narrower end, roll up each eggplant slice tightly.

5. Place eggplant seam side down in dish and top with remaining pasta sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of Mozzarella and ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

Buckeye Brownies with a Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting

Where to begin with these…hmm.  Well for starters,  my chocolate – peanut butter craving was beyond satisfied with this recipe!  The moist chocolateyness (I now dub this a real word) of the brownie combined with peanut butter gooeyness was perfection.  I promise you, the peanut butter filling of this brownie tasted identical to the inside of a reese’s peanut butter cup. Seriously   At one point I caught myself making a peanut butter ball and eating the next peanut butter ball, I was like a child who just couldn’t stop.

I was a little concerned about putting a peanut butter frosting on these – I thought it might be overkill. Thankfully, I was so WRONG! This frosting turned out fluffy and light – it completed the perfection of the brownie.

If you are a peanut butter and/or chocolate lover of any sorts – then try this recipe, right now. I promise they will not disappoint.  Yum.  I think I’ll go eat another one right now… make it stop!

Ingredients

For the filling:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 4 tablespoons. unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • ½ tsp. vanilla extract

For the cupcakes:

  • 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp. milk
  • 
1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 8 tablespoons, unsalted butter, at room temperature
!
  • ½ cups sugar
  • 
2 large eggs

For the frosting:

  • 1/3 cup solid vegetable shortening
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extra
  • 1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring
  • 5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 4 tablespoons milk

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24).

To make the filling:

1. Combine the powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter and vanilla extract in a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined

2. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls (at least 24) and set aside on a baking sheet.

To make the batter:

1. Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; whisk together and set aside

2. 

In a liquid measuring cup, stir together the sour cream, milk and vanilla extract

3. In a large bowl combine the butter and sugar, and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. 

Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the dry ingredients and the sour cream mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until incorporated

4. Spoon a tablespoon or two of batter into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Place a ball of the peanut butter filling in each cupcake well and top with the remaining batter so that all the cups are filled

5. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting:

1 .Cream shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add peanut butter and vanilla.

2. Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry.

3. Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Frost cooled brownie cupcakes as desired.

Modified from: The Kitchen Door 

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

Tonight’s dinner was delicious!  My friend Sarah made these and posted them on her blog a couple of months ago and they caught my eye immediately! Stuffing a meatball with mozzarella cheese is genius. They didn’t take much time at all to put together and they were full of great flavor!   I definitely recommend these for all you meatball lovers out there.  Also, using these in meatball subs would be superb!

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil (to grease the baking dish)
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup italian seasoned panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup reduced fat milk
  • 1/2 cup chopped onions
  • 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
  • 1 tablepsoon horseradish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (like tTabasco or Siracha sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 15 1-inch Mozzarella balls/cubes (or whatever cheese you wish)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 35o degrees F. and grease 9×13-inch baking dish with oil.
  2. Place beef, egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, milk, onion, garlic, horseradish, mustard, hot sauce, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic salt into a large mixing bowl, stirring until just combined.  Take 1/4 cup beef mixture and press into center with your thumb to make room for cheese cube.  Place cheese in middle then with hands enclose the cheese with the beef mixture, making sure the cheese is completely covered.  Place meatballs into prepared baking dish
  3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cooked through.
  4. Serve over top your favorite pasta or inside a warm roll for delicious meatball sandwich.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yum in my tum.  This is a great, quick go-to cookie recipe.  These had a great oatmeal to chocolate ratio! Too bad I couldn’t stop eating them!

Enjoy!

Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup butter (or margarine!), softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
  3.  Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
  4. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.