Beef Minestrone Soup-One Pot Recipe

For my birthday my mother got me a bunch of mini cookbooks.  One of them was full of one-pot recipes, so of course I had to find one and completely jack with the ingredients.  Here is the result of that fun, it turned out quite delicious. :)

Ingredients:
1 lb Hamburger
Seasoning (Basil, Oregano, Alpine Touch, Crushed Red Pepper)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 Carrot (Peeled & Sliced)
1 Zucchini (Peeled & Sliced)
2 Celery Ribs (Chopped)
10-12 Grape Tomatoes (Diced) *substitute a can of diced tomatoes if needed
3 Large Tomatoes (Crushed) *substitute can of crushed tomatoes if needed
5 Mushrooms (Chopped)
1/2 Can of Black Olives (Sliced)
2 1/2 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
2 Cups Bowtie Pasta
Shredded Cheese to taste

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a pot and cook on medium.  Once browned add the oil, garlic, carrot, zucchini and celery.  Cook for about 4 minutes.  Add in remaining ingredients except for the cheese and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes until pasta is al dente.  Stir occasionally and serve when done.  Stir in the cheese and top with basil and enjoy!

Brown the hamburger in the bottom of the pot

Add the oil, garlic, carrots, zucchini and celery

Add in the remaining ingredients and mix together

Mix in the shredded cheese and enjoy!

Cheese-Stuffed Italian Meatloaf

It had been awhile since I had made some delicious Italian Meatloaf, and cheese makes almost anything better, so here is the delicious recipe. 

Ingredients:
3 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups Breadcrumbs (Tightly Packed)
Seasoning (Alpine Touch, Garlic Salt, Mediterranean Oregano, Mediterranean Basil, a couple of dashes of red pepper flakes, a pinch of roasted garlic)
1 lb Ground Beef
1/2 lb Ground Italian Sausage
1 Cup Three Cheese Cheddar (grated)
1/2 Cup Mexican Shredded Mix (grated)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the eggs, bread crumbs and seasoning.  Mix thoroughly.  Crumple the meat over the mixture and mix all together.   Press half of the meat mixture into a loaf pan.  Sprinkle 3/4 of the cheese over the top of the meat.  Pat the remaining meat mixture on top of the cheese.
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes.  Meat thermometer should read about 160 degrees.  Turn off the oven.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and let sit in the warm oven for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese.  Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.  Serve & Enjoy!

Combine the breadcrumbs, eggs and spices

Mix in the sausage & hamburger

Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the pan

Top with 3/4 of the cheese

Finish off with the remaining meat mixture

Cook for 50-55 minutes

Turn off oven and top with remaining cheese

Remove after 5 minutes and enjoy!

Steak Nachos

Steak nachos are easy to make, they are delicious, and they are always a favorite of mine.  I don't make them nearly enough!  I definitely recommend them to anyone who like nachos or steak, or cheese, or totrtilla chips.....  If you are of the vegetarian persuasion, you can enjoy some delicious steak nachos without the steak for an almost as enjoyable experience. 

Ingredients:
 1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 package stew meat (pre cut steak)

Seasoning (Alpine Touch, Cumin, Garlic Powder, Crushed Red Pepper)
Tortilla Chips
Shredded Cheese
Salsa
Sour Cream
Green Onions (chopped)
Avocado (Peeled & chopped)
Tomatoes (Diced)
Cilantro (Diced)

Directions:
Pour the oil into a skillet and add in the steak and seasonings.  Cook until desired done-ness I like medium for my nachos, as medium rare can tend to make the chips a little soggy.  Arrange some tortilla chips on a plate, add the shredded cheese and then steak and more cheese and green onions.  Microwave until cheese is melted (I usually start with 35 seconds and go up from there).   Add the remaining ingredients.  Feel free to add or subtract any of your own toppings.  Serve & Enjoy!

Add the oil, steak and seasoning tot he skillet

Cook according to desired rate

Prepare your toppings

Add your ingredients best served warm

Microwave until cheese is melted

Add remaining toppings and enjoy

Superbowl Chili & Pizza Bicuits

I was lucky enough to have a lot of family in town for Super Bowl Sunday which gave me the opportunity to cook.  I made some slow Cooker Super Bowl Chili and some Pizza Biscuits!  Here are both of the recipes in case you would like to try making some on your own!  Enjoy, it turned out delicious!

Slow Cooker Super Bowl Chili

Ingredients:

2 lb Ground Hamburger
Seasoning (Garlic Powder, Mediterranean Spiced Sea Salt, Crushed Red Pepper, Basil, Thyme)
1 12oz can Tomato Paste
2 14.5 oz cans Diced Basil Oregano Tomatoes
1 15 oz can Black Beans
1 15 oz can Great Northern Beans

1 Zucchini (peeled & chopped)
5 Radishes (diced)
3 Celery Stalks (chopped)
3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley (Chopped)
1 Cup Chicken Stock
Shredded Cheese to top

Directions:
Put the ground hamburger into the slow cooker and turn the heat up to high.  Generously season the meat. Add the tomato paste and then fill the can of paste with water and add to the slow cooker.  Add both cans of diced tomatoes and both kinds of beans. Stir to mix.  Add the vegetables and stir to mix thoroughly.  Top with the chicken stock and make sure that everything is stirred to mix.  Cook on high for about 3 hours.  Be sure to stir periodically.  Turn the slow cooker down to low and continue to cook for another hour or two.  If you have more time you can keep on low or warm for several hours until you are ready to eat.  Serve and top with shredded cheese and a dash of basil.  Enjoy! 

Add the hamburger to the slow cooker and season the meat

The beans and tomatoes I used

Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and beans to the slow cooker

Add the veggies & parsley

Add the chicken stock and stir

Serve with cheese sprinkled over top and a dash of basil

 Pizza Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 Cannister of Refrigerated Biscuits
3-4 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Pizza Sauce
Basil

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Lay the biscuits out on an ungreased cookie sheet just like you would for making biscuits normally.  Cut the cheese sticks into 3 or 4 pieces and press them down into the middle of the biscuits.  Spoon pizza sauce over top of the cheese.  Just enough to cover, but not so much that it is dripping onto the pan.  Add a dash of basil to the top.  Bake in the oven for about 8-11 minutes until the biscuits have risen and the cheese is melted.  Allow 5 minutes to cool, serve and enjoy!  You may serve with extra sauce if you want to dip them.

All the ingredients you will need

Place the biscuits on the cookie sheet

Press the cheese into the middle of the biscuits

Spoon pizza sauce on top of the cheese

Cook and enjoy :)

Beef Stroganoff and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

This is a delicious recipe that adds a new flair to an old standard.  Hope you like it :)

Beef Stroganoff
 Ingredients:
1 package Stew Meat

3 oz butter
8 oz egg noodles
2 tsp Alpine Touch
2 tsp Mediterranean Oregano
2  Mediterranean Basil
1 Zucchini (peeled & diced)
1 Summer Squash (peeled & diced)
8 oz package Cream Cheese
2 tsp Orange Emulsion
1 Cup Sour Cream
1/8 Cup Orange Juice 
1/2 Cup Cream
1 tsp Parsley

Directions:
Melt 2 oz of butter in heavy bottom skillet.  Add stew meat, seasoning,and brown the meat, this should take about 6-8 minutes total.  While stew meat is being browned boil water in a separate pan for the noodles.  Add noodles and boil until al dente.  Drain and set aside the noodles once complete.  Once browned remove the steak from the pan (I store in the microwave to keep warm).  Don’t clean out the pan to ensure maximum flavor.  Add the final 1 oz of butter to the pan and add the diced veggies.  Cook until softened about 2-3 minutes.  Once softened add the cream cheese and the orange emulsion, simmer for about 5 minutes.  Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for about minute or two to mix.  Add the steak back into the sauce and stir until thoroughly mixed and warmed.  Serve by pouring sauce over the noodles when ready to eat.  Enjoy!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes 

Ingredients:
3 Large Russet Potatoes (Peeled and chopped)
1 Cup Cream
2 Oz Butter (unsalted)
Seasoning (Basil, Alpine Touch)
2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
2 Radishes (Minced)
3/5 Cup Shredded Cheese 

Directions:
Put into the potatoes into a pan and almost cover with water.  Boil until potatoes begin to soften (you should be able to mash them easily with a cooking spoon).  Empty any excess water.  Turn the heat to Low.  Add the milk and butter.  If you do not want lumps in your potatoes now would be the best time to use the whisk to eliminate any lumps in the potatoes.  Add the remaining ingredients mix and turn to Simmer until the cheese is thoroughly melted.  The potatoes should now be ready to eat.  You can add a dash of Basil on top when served to taste.  

Brown the seasoned meat

Brown the meat and boil the potatoes

Saute' the veggies and boil the potatoes

Add the sour cream and orange emulsion while finishing boiling the potatoes

Add the sour cream, OJ and cream

Add the final seasoning to the sauce and finish boiling the noodles while adding butter and cream to the potatoes

Finish simmering the sauce and add remaining ingredients to the potatoes

Serve & Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes!

These were so amazing last time that I had to make them again, although I changed a few things up :)  Amazing as ever!

 Ingredients:

1 lb ground hamburger

2 Tbsp Butter

3 Carrots (Peeled & Minced)

3 Garlic cloves (minced)

4 Mushrooms (minced)

2 Celery Stalks (Minced)

1 Tbsp Vinegar

1/2 Tbsp Crushed Red Pepper

1/2 Tbsp Thyme

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar Bourbon Grill Mate (or another great steak seasoning) 

1 tsp Fresh Basil (chopped)

1 tsp Fresh Oregano (chopped)

3 Tbsp Brown Sugar

3 Tbsp Tomato Paste

1/2 Cup Ketchup

1/2 Cup BBQ sauce (Carolina Honey for a sweeter version)

Directions:

Brown the hamburger.  Drain and set aside.

In a separate pan add the Butter, minced carrots and garlic and saute' for 2-3 minutes.  Add the minced celery and cook for another minute.  Add the Vinegar and seasoning and cook for another minute or two to thoroughly season the veggies.  Add all remaining ingredients and thoroughly mix.  Add the hamburger to the mixture and simmer for about 15 minutes.  Sauce will be ready to serve.  Serve on your favorite bun, roll or bread for the best eating experience. 

Brown the hamburger

Saute' the Carrots, Garlic & Mushrooms

Add the celery and continue sauteing

Add the vinegar and seasoning

Add the remaining ingredients

Add the hamburger to the sauce

Mix thoroughly

Serve and enjoy :)

Steak Nachos

If you have been to my house for dinner enough times, you are bound to end up trying my signature steak nachos.  There is nothing complicated to it, but they are the most delicious of all the nachos that I make.  Something about steak and cheese and anything else that is just plain awesomeness!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 lb Stewing Steak
Seasoning (Montreal Steak Grill Mates and Cumin)
Chips (I used Hint of Lime)
Salsa
Sour Cream
Tomatoes (Chopped)
Green Onions (Chopped)
Black Olives (Sliced)
Avocado (Sliced)

Directions:
Add the oil to a skillet, and then add the steak and seasoning.  Cook on medium heat for about 7 minutes until cooked to desired temperature.  While cooking, prepare the other ingredients that need to be sliced or chopped (Tomatoes, Green Onions, Black Olives, and Avocado).  Arrange the amount of chips you want on a plate and add the cheese, steak and green onions.  Microwave for about 35 seconds or until cheese is melted.  Add the salsa, sour cream and remaining toppings.  Serve & Enjoy!   

Add the oil, steak & seasoning to the skillet

Prepare the toppings

Cook the steak to the desired temperature

Add chips, cheese, steak & green onions to the plate

Melt the cheese in the microwave

Add remaining toppings and enjoy