Week of May 20, 2012

Sun - BBQ Pork Sandwiches with Sweet Potato Fries
Mon - Lasagna
Tue - Ham Pie
Wed - Chicken Strips with homemade fries
Thur - 3 Cheese Mac n' Cheese
Fri - Beef Enchiladas, Chicken Enchiladas
Sat - BBQ Burgers

BBQ Pork Sandwiches with Sweet Potato Fries
Slow cooked, dry rubbed Pork on a low charcoal grill all day. Then pulled, sauced and put on buns with crunchy cabbage slaw with bell pepper slivers, shredded carrot, cilantro, and onion, dressed only with the juice from 1 lime. Sweet potato fries frozen bag deep fry according to package directions. 

Recipe for Alton's pulled pork. We don't have a smoker, though, so its going on the charcoal grill. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pulled-pork-recipe/index.html 

Lasagna

1 1/2 - 2 boxes (about 16 pieces) of packaged or fresh lasagna noodles, cooked el dente

16 oz ricotta cheese

1 egg, beaten

1 cup of three Italian cheese blend (Romano, parmesan, mozzarella)

2 tsp each salt and pepper

4 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella or cheddar/mozzarella mix, or Italian mix)

2 jars/cans of favorite marinara/spaghetti sauce

1 lb italian sausage, browned and crumbled

Mix ricotta, egg, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of italian blend cheese in a mixing bowl. In a 9x13 pan, spread a lite layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan. Next, put a layer of noodles - about 4 noodles slightly overlapping. Scoop small spoonfuls of ricotta mixture on noodles (no need to spread, it will melt). Top with sauce, sausage, and cheese. Repeat two more times. Last, add another layer of noodles, sauce and shredded cheese.

Bake at 350, covered with foil, in the oven until warm - about 40 minutes. If desired, take foil off for the last 10 minutes to brown cheese.

Ham Pie

Crust use Pillsbury ready made crust according to package direction

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

8 tbsp butter

8 tbsp Crisco shortening

1 tsp white vinegar

2 tbsp - 1/4 cup water

To make crust: using a fork or a pastry blender, mix butter, shortening, salt, and flour together until it looks like small beads. Add vinegar and 2 tbsp water and mix until dough forms. If it is too dry to mix add water, a tbsp at a time until it comes together. Roll into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 20 minutes (can be refrigerated for up to 3 days). After resting, roll out into 2 circles for your pie.

Filling

2 cup diced ham

1 can condensed cream mushroom soup

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

4 pats of butter

1 can whole corn

To assemble pie: Put 1 circle of crust in the bottom of the pan. Add 1/2 the ham to the bottom, then 1/2 the cheese and 1/2 of the corn. Spread 1/2 the soup on top. Repeat 1 more time. Put the butter on, then the top crust on. Make sure to slit a few hole on top for venting. Brush with egg wash. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until crust is golden brown.

Chicken Strips and fries: 

Twice Baked Home Style Fries: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/double-fried-french-fries-recipe/index.html

Chicken Strip

1-2 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into strips

soak the chicken in 2 cup milk mixed with 2 tsb vinegar (or 2 cups butter milk) 4 hours to overnight

Breading

1 tsp Seasoning Salt (such as Johnny's)

1 tsp Paprika

1/2 tsp sugar

1 1/2 cup AP Flour

Deep Fat Fryer or large, sturdy skillet 3/4 full of veggie oil

Heat oil to 365F. Have a draining/cooling rack ready (or a sheet pan with paper towels)

Dump breading ingredients into large freezer size ziploc bag. Wipe of some of the excess milk, put in chicken strips a few at a time in the bag. Shake to coat. Fry until no longer pink in middle - about 6-10 minutes or until the reach an internal temp of 170F. Let drain for a minute of two before eating

Three Cheese Mac'n Cheese

Ingredients

1/2 lb elbow macaroni

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

3 cups milk

6 oz sharp cheddar, shredded + 2 oz for topping

6 oz smoked mozzarella cheese, shredded

4 oz Gouda Cheese

2 oz cream cheese

1 lb bacon, cooked crispy, diced

salt

Fresh ground black pepper

Topping (optional):

3 tbsp butter

1 cup bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Boil the pasta to al dente. The water, like all pasta water, should be salted before hand until it tastes like salt water.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and keep it moving for about two - five minutes until it smells nutty, do not burn. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, simmer, stirring constantly, until it starts to bubble. Turn down heat to medium. Stir in the cheese a little at a time, wait until the previous cheese is melted to add the next handful of cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold the macaroni and crispy bacon (reserving handful for topping)  into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and bacon.

OPTIONAL: Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Mixican Dinner for Company:

Chicken Enchiladas

2 cups fully cooked diced or shredded chicken, salted

12-16 corn tortillas (taco size)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 large can (around 7 oz) of diced green chilies 

1 tsp cumin

1/4 tsb chyenne chilli powder or Chipotle Chili Rub

1 cup of sour cream

Shredded cheese

Mix soup, chili's, sour cream in a bowl, and set aside. Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until flexible.

Spray a 9x13 rectangular baking pan with oil. To assemble the enchiladas, place tortilla in the pan, fill with a spoonful of chicken, cream mixture, and a sprinkling of cheese. Roll the tortilla up with the open side down. Repeat until pan is full. I usually do 12 total - 8 down lengthwise, an two sets of two on the side of the pan. Spread the rest of the cream mix over the top. Sprinkle with cheese.

Heat in 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes until hot.

 Beef Enchiladas http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/beef-enchilada-stack/8d8341bd-b399-4225-bd85-325078d16d77

Snacks: chips and dips, jalapeno poppers; Dinner: Rosirita Re-fried beans, Mexican Boxed Rice prepared according to package, Enchiladas; Dessert Flan or Doce Del Leche apple tort.

Grilled Burgers: Bobby's Perfect Burgers http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/perfect-burger-recipe/index.html