Pretend Salsa

This is what I make when I am craving salsa. It is not true salsa, but it is SO easy and it hits the spot for me. It makes a lot so be ready, but don't worry, you can eat it all!

1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can yellow corn
1 can white corn
1/3 cup red onion
1 Tbs. basil
8 roma tomatoes chopped in chunks
1 medium bottle Italian dressing

Drain and rinse all the canned items, then add the remaining ingredients. Mix well.
You can eat it right away, but I like to chill it for a while first. So good. I have some in my fridge right now!

Simple Pan Fried Pork Chops

These are amazing. I am not a huge fan of Pork Chops, but I could eat these things all night. Another gift from the Pioneer Woman. They remind me of Chicken Fried Steak. The flour makes a nice golden crust. Don't be alarmed if they get a little dark. They are suppose to. I might make these again tonight, they are that good!!

• 7 pieces Or 8 Pieces Breakfast Chops (very Thin Bone-in Pork Chops)
• 1 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper To Taste
• ½ cups Canola Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• Extra Salt And Pepper, To Taste

Preparation Instructions

Rinse pork chops. Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops.

Combine all dry ingredients. Dredge each side of the pork chops in the flour mixture, then set aside on a plate.

Heat canola oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add butter. When butter is melted and butter/oil mixture is hot, cook 3 pork chops at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on the first side; 1 to 2 minutes on the other side. (Make sure no pink juices remain.) Remove to a plate and repeat with remaining porch chops.

** I don't like pork chops with bones in, so I bought boneless pork chops and they were just as good. Buy what you like, either way they will be good!!

Fluffy French Toast

Zach HATES French Toast. I always fight with him to eat it when I make it. Last night was a busy soccer night and I thought I would try this quick and easy recipe for it. I made eggs to go with it and was planning on having Zach just eat those, but when he came in he said it smelled so good he had to try them. He LOVED them. We put homemade jelly on them and they turned out a lot like jelly filled donuts. YUMMY!!! Try these out.

• 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 whole Eggs
• 1-¾ teaspoon Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• ⅛ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• ½ teaspoons Maple Flavoring (Optional, See Note Below)
• 10 slices Bread, Your Choice

Note: if you do not use the maple flavoring, add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brush on just enough vegetable oil to coat the entire skillet. Whisk together all the dry ingredients, and in a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients. Combine the wet and dry ingredients; stir until just combined. Pour the batter into an 8×8 square baking dish and dip single pieces of bread into the batter, flipping to coat both sides. Place immediately on the hot skillet. Flip when browned and brown the other side.

Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This is an AMAZING recipe I got from a good friend. She is living in Korea right now so I feel safe to add it. She can't beat me from Korea!!! Very easy but looks and tastes like you have been working on it for hours. You really have to try this one!!

3-4 red bell peppers
1 quart heavy whipping cream
1 quart spaghetti sauce
handful Basil (sprinkle on top)
Crushed red pepper ½ tsp. , just a pinch if using it for kids
Angel hair pasta
Hot Links

Broil the red bell peppers; turn them until they are completely dark and broiled. Place in a plastic bag for the peppers to be steamed.
Once steamed, peel peppers; take out the seeds and put peppers in a blender with the heavy whipping cream. Blend.
Put spaghetti sauce in a sauce pan with heavy whipping cream and pepper mixture. Cook on medium until thickened and well blended. Add basil and crushed red pepper. Mix well.
Cook noodles.
Slice links and warm in a frying pan.
Serve sauce with links over spaghetti.

It is even better the next day. It can be cut in half if needed.

Chicken Bow-Tie Pasta Salad

This is a good one for summer. It is also good for you!! Even better.

2 c. bow-tie pasta
2 c. fresh broccoli florets
1 pkg. grilled chicken breast strips
1 c. halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 light zesty Italian reduced fat dressing
1/2 c. Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese Crumbles
1/4 c. sliced ripe olives
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese

Cook Pasta as directed on package. With 2 minutes left add broccoli. Drain
Toss chicken, tomatoes, dressing, cheese crumbles and olives in large bowl. Add pasta mixture; mix lightly.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately or chill for several hours.

Cheese and Ham Spirals

This is an easy "fancy" recipe. I made it for a lunch with friends and it makes you look like you really know how to cook, but little do they know it is SO easy.

1 egg
1 Tbl. water
1 sheet frozen puff pastry
1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
8 slices shaved ham (sandwich meat)

Preheat oven to 400. Beat egg and water until blended, set aside. Unfold pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll out and cut in half lengthwise. Brush both halves lightly with some of the egg mixture.

Sprinkle 3 Tbls. of the cheese and pepper evenly over one of the pastry pieces; cover with ham slices. Place remaining pastry piece, egg-side down. Roll gently with rolling pin to seal. Brush with additional egg mixture.

Roll up tightly to form a 14 inch log. Cut crosswise into 24 pieces. Place on baking sheet. Brush with remaining egg mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake for 12-14 min. or until browned.

Montery Chicken

Whenever I go to a restaurant I order my food and I always end up picking it apart to find out if I can make it at home. This one is from Chili's. I changed it so it is more "family style". It can be made with a lot of variety. These are some ideas on how to make it and you can make as much or little as you need.
Here is how I make mine:

Chicken breasts
BBQ sauce
Mushrooms
Green Onions
Bacon
Cheese
Tomatoes

I usually make 4 chicken breasts for my family. I boil them and cut them into chunks. I put them in the bottom of my casserole dish.
I add about 1 cup of BBQ sauce all over chicken
I cook my bacon (we love bacon so I use about 5 or 6 strips) I cook it so it will crumble very easily.
Layer that on the chicken.
Chop the mushrooms (about 1/2 cup) and saute them until tender.
Chop about 1/2 cup green onions and tomatoes. Layer on the chicken.
Next I add a lot of cheese (we LOVE cheese) You can add as much as you like.

Bake at 350 until cheese is melted.

I serve mine with cheesy mashed potatoes and green beans.