This recipe was so easy and inexpensive.  Around this household we tend to have breakfast for dinner, so that was the case today.  The kid's helped me with this one.  It's called Sausage biscuit frittata.  Ingredients needed: 8 oz. bulk sausage, red bell pepper (optional, we did not use it), fresh basil (we used Italian seasoning), 4 oz. cream cheese, 6 eggs, 1 pkg, refrigerated grand-size biscuits, 1 cup shredded provolone cheese (we used mozzarella cheese) I really try to follow the directions but my family is so picky I have to change it up sometimes.

Cook sausage on HIGH in Microwave for 3 min.- take out and break up - add bell pepper and basil finish cooking another 3 min. Drain sausage.  If you don't like to microwave your food just cook it on the stove top.

Separate biscuts horizontally in half to form 16 biscuits, arrange biscuits on the bottom of your pan (or oven safe dish) roll out to form your crust.  You might need a little flour to help with the sticking, or just just your fingers to flatten out biscuits.

In a microwave bowl, add cream cheese and microwave until soft, about 20-60 sec., add eggs and whisk until well blended.

Sprinkle half of your cheese over the biscuits, add your sausage and spread evenly, add your egg mixture, then more cheese (I told you we are a huge cheese family, no wonder I can't loose weight).  Then bake for about 20 min. or until biscuits are brown and eggs are done.  serve immediately

Until next week, what's for dinner in your family?

So today I'm finally back with a new idea for dinner.  Today was special because it was Zach's birthday and he got to pick what's for dinner. So he choose a Briskett on the Grill, I then brought it inside to cook in the oven; with total cooking time of 6-8 hrs.  I know that is a long time, but it's well worth it.  We also cut up some potatoes and carrots to layer on top.  I added those about 1 hr. before we had to eat.  The good thing about cooking a Briskett is that it's in the oven in the morning and done by dinner. 

For Zach's cake I did something kinda fancy that I learned at a cake decorating class.  I made a box cake in my springform pan.  Once it was done, I put it in the freezer to freeze it (it makes it easier to work with).  I then made a butter cream frosting: 1 stick of real butter, 4 oz. of cream cheese, 2 tbspn of heavy whipping cream, 4 tbspn of shortening, 1 tsp of vanilla, and 4 cups of powered sugar.  You mix up all the ingredients except the powered sugar with an electric mixer.  I saw it done using a kitchenaid mixer, but I do not have one so I just used an electric mixer.  You mix it for a long time, maybe 5-10 min. making sure that it's really creamy.  Then you slowly add the powered sugar.  I forgot to take a picture, sorry. 

I then took the cake out of the freezer and cut it horizontally into three sections.  You then make a simple syrup: 1/2 cp sugar and 1/4 cp water, microwave until sugar is totally dissolved.  Then add some flavored Liqueur about 2 tsp., I did coffee flavor since that is what Zach likes.  You then spread the simple syrup on the first layer, then spread some blackberry jam on that layer with a layer of frosting (it might turn purple, but no one will see it) put on your next layer of cake, spread the simple syrup on it and the jam and a layer of frosting, then put on your top layer.  After your top layer is on finish using the simple syrup on the whole cake, put the cake back in the freezer for about 10 min.

While the cake is freezing you'll make some ganache.  In a saucepan on the stove add one cup of heavy whipping cream, once it starts to boil turn off the stove and add one whole bag of chocolate chips.  Let it sit for about 10 min.  While that sits pull out your cake and frost it with the remaining frosting.  I learned all kinds of neat tricks to make it smooth, but I'm not sure if I can explain it correctly, and of course I did not get any pictures. 

Now take the chocolate from the stove, stir it up and that is your ganache.  You then pour the gananche on top of the cake for a smooth finish.  Now, if you have a cooling rack you can put the cake on that and then pour the chocolate on it, that way it will drip off, otherwise your platter will be all messy.  I did get a picture of the finished product, see below. Those are deer antlers out of white chocolate on the top, well, my rendition of them.  Kenan also made an apple pie.

What the cake looked like after all of had a piece, and talk about a rich cake, OH MY!!!!

I've decided to add a new topic to my blog, "What's for dinner".  I figured since I've learned how to cook over these last four years while being a Pampered Chef consultant, I should just share with you all the food I practice.  This recipe is one of my families favorite and is super easy. 

You'll need: 2 refrigerated pizza doughs, Italian Sausage links, pepperoni, 1 clove of garlic,1 jar pizza sauce, 1 small onion, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, & olive oil

Cook 4-5 Italian sausage links with 1 small onion and your garlic clove

Mix with 1 jar of pizza sauce

Grate some cheese (don't use pre-shredded it has cellulose in it and it's gross)

Get some pre-made pizza dough in the fridge section and lay it out on your stone or sheet pan and then put down two rows of cheese and scoop your sausage mixture on top of that in two columns

Add some more cheese on top (WE LOVE CHEESE), I also added some pepperoni

Then add another pizza dough on top and cut some slots in it so it can breath, brush some olive oil on top so it will brown and put some fresh parmesan on top (yes, more cheese)

Cook in the oven at 400 for about 20 min. or until top is nice and brown

Cut and serve, Yummy!!!!!!!

If you like them you can add olives and peppers, or make a breakfast calzaone with eggs, sausage, bacon, onions, and peppers.  Until next week, happy eating!

This entry is a little late, but better late then not at all.  While I worked with the boys doing their pirate lapbook, Eli (12) was incharge of making lunch each day.  This was a great home economic class for her, she had to find a recipe and follow it to a "T".  She did a fantastic job!  The great thing is that we actually had all he ingredients.  She chose to make "homemade pizzas", this is our families favorite.  Here's all you need:

Homemade Pizza dough: (she found it in the "Better Homes and Garden" recipe book)

2 3/4 to 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour - not self rising (we used that the second time, big difference)

1 package active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

2 tblspns cooking oil

1. In a large mixing bow combine 1 1/4 cups of the flour, all the yeast, and 1/4 teaspoon salt;  add warm water and oil.  Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl.  (this should be really runny) Beat on high speed 3 min.  Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can.

2.  Turn dough out onto a lightly loured surface.  Knead (thanks grammy for teaching her this, I had no clue), in enough remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic.  Divide dough in half.  Cover; let rest for 10 min.  Make your pizza.

We rolled ours out on our favorite cooking stone (from pampered chef) and used tomato sauce with some Italian seasoning, then added our toppings.  It was so much fun!!!

Isn't that so easy!!!

I wanted to share with my fellow bloggers some fun recipes that our family have come to love.  The concept of power cooking is simple, get it all done in less time.  Make several meals at once and have more time for your family.  I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!  (just a side thought, if anyone knows how to line up these pictures could you let me know, I can't figure it out)

Power Cooking!!! - New recipe ideas
Preparing multiple meals at once saves time, money and energy. "Power Cooking" combines the tasks of planning meals, buying groceries, and slicing & dicing with FUN tools while assembling healthy meals for your freezer. Bring your family back to the dinner table with ease.

After Power Cooking, you will save money by reaching into your freezer for your family's meal rather than reaching for the telephone for take-out. Eating out is expensive. It costs a family of four at a full-service restaurant at least $50 for one meal, cocktails excluded! Imagine the savings and quality, family time at YOUR dinner table!

The Pampered Chef mission is bringing families back to the dinner table at home to reconnect and share ideas, with one of the best family traditions of all: a healthy, home-cooked meal. My objective is to help you get in and out of the kitchen as quickly as possible on busy weeknights so that you may rejoin your family. Eliminate the time-consuming, daily chore of cooking and cleaning the kitchen. The "Chef" of the family deserves fun, high-quality cooking tools to make meal preparation enjoyable and timely.

Cooking can be FUN with the right tools!


~ "Power Cooking" Recipes ~

---Make-Ahead Ground Beef---

3 medium onions
3 lb 90% lean ground beef or 93% lean ground turkey
3 garlic cloves, pressed

1. Chop onions using Food Chopper.

2. Place onions, beef and garlic pressed with Garlic Press into (12-in.) Skillet. Cook over medium-high heat 15-18 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, breaking into crumbles using Mix 'N Chop.

3. Divide beef mixture into three portions.

---Easy Beef Stroganoff---

1. Prepare and freeze

To one portion of Make-Ahead Ground Beef, add:

8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 can (10¾ oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
¼ cup water
1 tsp ground paprika
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp coarsely ground black pepper

Combine in large resealable plastic bag. Freeze for up to three months.

2. Defrost: Microwave packet on DEFROST (30% power) 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into (10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. (If cooking immediately, combine ingredients in
(10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat.)

3. Finish and serve! 
Stir 8 oz sour cream into beef mixture. Cook 1 lb egg noodles; drain. Toss with ¼ cup
snipped fresh parsley and 2 tbsp melted butter. Spoon stroganoff over noodles and sprinkle with
additional paprika and parsley, if desired.

---Saucy Beef Chili---

1. Prepare and freeze

To one portion of Make-Ahead Ground Beef, add:

1 can (16 oz) chili beans in sauce, undrained
1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1½ cups water
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 pkt (1.48 oz) chili seasoning mix

Combine in large resealable plastic bag. Freeze for up to three months.

2. Defrost - Microwave packet on DEFROST (30% power) 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into (10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. (If cooking immediately, combine ingredients in
(10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat.)

3. Finish and serve! 
Spoon chili into bowls. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions or sour cream, if desired.


---Zesty Beef Tacos---

1. Prepare and freeze

To one portion of Make-Ahead Ground Beef, add:

1 cup chunky salsa
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
¾ cup water
1 pkt (1 oz) taco seasoning mix

Combine in large resealable plastic bag. Freeze for up to three months.

2. Defrost - Microwave packet on DEFROST (30% power) 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into (10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. (If cooking immediately, combine ingredients in
(10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat.)

3. Finish and serve!
Arrange 12 taco shells on serving platter. Fill with beef mixture, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup shredded lettuce and 2 seeded and diced plum tomatoes. Garnish with snipped fresh cilantro and serve
with lime wedges, if desired.


Variation: Zesty Beef Taco Salad: Omit taco shells and increase lettuce to 12 cups. Prepare beef mixture as directed in Steps 1-2. Arrange lettuce on serving platter. Top with beef mixture, cheese, tomatoes and cilantro, if desired.

---Italian Beef Hoagies---

1. Prepare and freeze

To one portion of Make-Ahead Ground Beef, add:

1 each green and red bell pepper, sliced
¼ cup water
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 pkt (1 oz) onion soup mix
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning Mix

Combine in large resealable plastic bag. Freeze for upto three months.

2. Defrost
Microwave packet on DEFROST (30% power) 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into (10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. (If cooking immediately, combine ingredients in (10-in. Skillet) and bring to a simmer over medium heat.)

3. Finish and serve!
Sprinkle 1 cup (4 oz) shredded Provolone
cheese over beef mixture. Cover with lid and simmer 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Spoon into 6 warm hoagie rolls.

---Barbecue Beef Sloppy Joes---

1. Prepare and freeze

To one portion of Make-Ahead Ground Beef, add:

1 cup ketchup
2 tbsp Smoky Barbecue Rub
2 tsp cider vinegar

Combine in large resealable plastic bag. Freeze for up to three months.

2. Defrost
Microwave packet on DEFROST (30% power) 8-10 minutes or until softened. Pour into (10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat. (If cooking immediately, combine ingredients in (10-in.) Skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat.)

3. Finish and serve!
Divide beef mixture among 6 hamburger buns. Top with coleslaw, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce or sliced green onions, if desired.