Etsy

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Left Overs




For my friends on Facebook you might have read that last night I made homemade Baked Potato Soup, Ruben Sandwiches, and Monte Cristo sandwiches. Everything was delicious but as usual I made lots extra so tonight we had leftovers. I will share the recipes - when I say left over sandwiches I mean leftover "fixings" for them...so here goes. Oh and if you do not have a panini maker - you should buy one- I bought mine for around $45.00 and it has been worth it:)

Baked Potato Soup
5 med sized potatoes (bake these in the morning before making the soup)
1 onion diced
1 stick of butter
2 quarts of milk
1 small package of real bacon bits (I use these because they do not have the grease that cooking bacon would)
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 clove of garlic minced
2/3 c flour

peel potatoes and cut into chunks

melt butter and add onions - cook until tender
add milk reserving 2 cups
keep on low to keep milk from scorching
whisk flour into 2 cups of milk and stir into milk and onion mixture
stir to keep it from getting lumpy
add potatoes and bacon
cook until it starts to thicken
stir in sour cream (this will make it thick and creamy)

top with anything you would like

Sandwiches
Ruben
sauerkraut
sliced corned beef
thousand island dressing
swiss cheese
good think bread of your choice (I use the crusty ones from the bakery section)

Butter one side of bread-put on grill- top with corned beef, cheese sauerkraut, thousand island, the place the other piece of bread on top with buttered side on top
grill until browned

Monte Cristo
turkey
sourdough bread
raspberry jelly
provolone cheese
chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

Mix raspberry jelly/jam and 1 tablespoon of chipotle sauce (do not put pepper in mixture) you may want less if you do not like spicy
spread on one side of buttered sourdough bread then top with turkey and cheese
top with buttered bread and grill until browned
sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with left over raspberry chipotle sauce

this is a family favorite at my house- if you do not have a panini grill you can use a regular frying pan - like you would do grilled cheese

Gourmet Pizza




What a week! Last week I had planned three meals that would be delish and fairly quick, purchased all ingredients and was very proud of myself. One night we were going to have Fish sandwiches with sweet potato fries, next night an amazing hotdog supper, and finally gourmet pizza's. The last of which is mine and my husbands favorite of the three. I know I know you are thinking what is so special about fish sandwiches and hotdogs...well nothing if you just take some fish patties out of the bag or boil some hotdogs (yuck and double yuck) oh no you have to batter and deep fry your own fish and make homemade tarter sauce. For the hotdogs you need to try the Hebrew Nationals (I know they are more expensive but they are good dogs). I make a delicious homemade chili for the dogs. I will share that recipe later... after all this is about the pizza's.


All was going great, we had the fish sandwiches and the hotdog supper and then BAM! out of no where Shade gets sick and I mean really sick. He gets RSV a really bad respiratory virus. He is admitted to the hospital. Needless to say we spent the next four nights in agony. Not only were we worried out of our minds about our little one....we were eating hospital food. With every bite I took, I thought about those pizza makings at home just waiting to be put together in a devine way...Oh Oh Oh


Well everything started looking up after the 4th day and we were home. Shade still needed lots of care and had breathing treatments throughout the day but he is much much much better. I finally got to make my pizza's. (I have included a photo and the recipe for you).


These pizza's are great and many of the ingredients can be kept on hand to make in a hurry. I know you might be thinking...my kids won't eat that - but mine do and really do like them-let me know what you think :)


Pizza # 1 (don't have a name for it) (photo is of unbaked pizza)


you can make your own crust (pretty easy) for time saving I just purchased two of the pre-made crusts




  • spread pesto on crust


  • top with a thin layer of mozzarella cheese


  • top with fresh baby spinach leaves


  • top with slices of Roma tomatoes


  • sprinkle feta cheese on top (as much as you like) can use goat cheese instead


  • crush two cloves of garlic and sprinkle over pizza


  • top with a bit more mozzarella cheese


  • slightly dust with oregano




Bake at 350 until cheese melts


This pizza is great the next day cold - travels well for lunch




Pizza # 2 BBQ chicken Pizza


(nothing to special about this but the taste)






  • Pizza crust of your choice


  • use chicken breasts (for 1 pizza I used two large ones)


  • I baked mine and shredded them ( this is one thing that can be done in advance and stored in the freezer until you are ready to use)


  • mix chicken with about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of bbq sauce I use KC masterpiece honey bbq


  • spread a layer of bbq sauce on crust


  • top with layer of cheese


  • sprinkle with chicken


  • top with pineapple tidbits


  • top with more cheese (the more on top the better for this pizza)



Bake at 350 until cheese is melted (in photograph the pizza is not burnt - it is the color of the sauce)




Again this is a pizza that is great cold and travels well



These are easy easy pizza's to make-I came up with the recipes after eating these types of pizza's out- the great part is that you can make these far cheaper than you can buy them in a restaurant. I promise!!!!




Introduction


Hi my name is Pauletta H. Clark. I live in the beautiful, beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. I am a teacher, wife, and mom to three wonderful children. Erika is 18 and has Down Syndrome (but before you feel sorry for me ...don't she is an amazing child and will tell you that too) Aaron who is 15 (AG kid) who has the biggest heart ever, and Shade age 4 (our comedian). I am also working on my doctorate in education in the field of Teacher Leader.


The reason I have started this blog (like I need one more thing to do) is because of my love of cooking for my family and friends. I love nothing more than to please folks with my food and ideas. So with that said, I thought I would start this blog to let people know how to cook delicious meals at home for their families. Eating out gets old and there is nothing better than sitting around the dinner table with your family sharing a meal and winding down for the day.


My goal is to give you recipes, time saving tips, picnic, camping and hiking ideas. I also grow a garden but am new at this. We can learn together. I have grown one for three years, but last year was the first bigger one that produced enough food to can. This was so much fun. I plan to do more this year.


So what you will see is my day to day life with kids at home, food, gardening, canning, recipes, fun finds, ideas, or just shared thoughts.


Thank you so much for beginning this journey with me, let's see where it takes us.