Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich

Philly Cheese Steak

 

 

     If you have ever been to Philadelphia, you know there is no such thing better than a true Philly Style Cheese Steak Sandwich. You can get them about anywhere these days, however the original was created and can still be found in the great city of Philly. There is some argument between whether it should have mayo, provolone, or, manufactured Cheez Whiz topping. I chose what I think to be the best option and that is of the processed Cheez Whiz product. Please enjoy my version of the classic; Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.

 

Ingredients:

 

• 1 Ribeye steak cut into small slices
• 1/2 white onion sliced
• 1/2 cup diced mushrooms
• Cheez Whiz spread
• Mayo
• Butter
• Good hoagie buns

 

1. Slice the ribeye and sit aside.

 

2. In medium skillet over medium high heat melt some butter and saute sliced onions and diced

mushrooms until translucent and tender.

 

3. In same skillet brown sliced ribeye steak until nice and tender.

 

4. I took my hoagie buns and toasted them then spread the cheez whiz product and added mayo.

 

5. Top with the steak/mushroom/onion mixture.

 

This sandwich is a favorite of everyone. Simple, quick, and full of flavor.

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Serves: 2

 



Cozy Chicken Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

 

 

     What is more American, or should I say more home-cooked American, than good old fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup? We all have that favorite one. Whether it is simply the one you buy in the can at your local grocery store, or whether you were lucky enough to have a mother who made it from scratch. It really is one of the easiest things to prepare. Just throw all ingredients in a stock pot of water or broth, turn on heat, and viola, you have chicken noodle soup. Mine is simple, delicious, and thanks to a good friend of mine, has a special something in it that you wouldn't think of adding to chicken soup. Lemon juice adds a special spark and flavor inhancer that you wouldn't expect to find in a hearty soup. I even used homemade noodles which make everything better. Chicken Noodle Soup.

 

Ingredients:

 

• 2 large boneless chicken breasts
• 2 32 oz boxes of chicken stock
• 32 oz water
• 1/2 white onion diced
• 2 celery stalks with leaves diced
• 1 cup diced carrot
• Pinch of rosemary
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• Noodles of choice
• Salt/pepper

1. In a large stock pot or soup pot pour in the chicken stock and water. Add diced onion, diced celery, carrots, Rosemary, and chicken breasts. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 25 minutes.

2. Salt and pepper to taste. Add in lemon juice and stir in noodles. Let cook until noodles are tender and serve.

     See how simple this is. Two steps and that is all. A delicious and hearty soup that will warm up any cold winter or fall night for you and your family. Since I used fresh pasta I had to add an additional step and cook the noodles in a separate pot due to all the starch from the flour.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
Serves: 5+

Muffuletta

 


Muffuletta

     It is that time of year again. When the good ole Christians celebrate by partying it up to no ends right before giving up everything sinful in hopes of being accepted into the pearly gates of heaven. (Haha). As a good Catholic myself, (wink, wink, wink), I too, even though I rarely go to church with exception of Easter and Christmas, give up something for the Lent season. This post is more than about the traditions of the Christian church and its families, and more about a certain delicious dish that is traditional in the heart of America's celebrated Christian tradition of Mardi Gras.

     Mardi Gras as we all know is celebrated the weekend prior to and leading up to the beginning of the Lent Season. Celebrated as part of the Catholic Carnival tradition in many countries, here in the USA it is prominent in New Orleans, Louisiana. The term "Mardi Gras" actual means in French, Fat Tuesday. The traditional day prior to Ash Wednesday when you consume fatty foods, drink, and all else before fasting until the day of the risen king Jesus. In New Orleans and popular item considered one of the true NOLA dishes along with other French, Cajun, Creole inspired dishes is the Muffuletta.

     The Muffuletta however has no origins in French, Cajun, or Creole cultures, but with Sicilian culture. Sicilian immigrants that came to the USA and planted in the New Orleans area brought with them a traditional bread called, you guessed it, Muffuletta. A round sesame crusted bread similar to Focaccia. Once they began stuffing the bread with different meats and cheeses and a marinated olive combination, the sandwich was born and continued to be called after the bread on which it is served, Muffuletta.

Ingredients:

• 1 round Sicilian Sesame loaf or Focaccia
• 4 oz mortadella or bologna
• 4 oz salami
• 4 oz ham
• 8 oz provolone
• 8 oz mozzarella
• 1 10 oz jar Artisan Blend Olives

1. Take artisan blend olives, (I used a store bought jar of mixed olives with peppers and garlic in oil), and chop up in food process. *** (Do not forget to check and remove pits within the olives)

2. Cut the loaf of bread into half and gut out the center. Reserve for something at a later date.

3. Start to layer mortadella, then salami, then ham, then provolone, the mozzarella. Repeat.

4. On top layer of bread spread the olive mixture and then flip and top off the loaf.

5. Place in 250 degree oven for about 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and the bread has gotten even crunchier on outside.

     I couldn't find sesame loaf so I substituted focaccia bread. Oh and please remember to pit the olives. I have to admit, that I went ahead and chopped them whole in my food processor and kept wondering why it was sputtering. Later to find out when I took my first bite, there were still pits in there. LOL. Lesson learned.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4-5

Fresh Herb Ricotta, Bacon, Spinach Pizza

Herb Ricotta, Bacon, Spinach Pizza

 

     Was craving pizza again. It has been quite a while since I last posted and created a pizza. I used my same old simple recipe for the dough and decided to create a great herb mixture with some good bacon and spinach. Enjoy! Herb Ricotta, Bacon, and Spinach Pizza.

Ingredients:

• Dough: (see recipe here http://recipesiliveby.blogspot.com/2013/03/Pizza-Dough.html)
• Ricotta
• Garlic
• Thyme
• Bacon
• Spinach

1. Make dough according to recipe above or you can purchase your own.

2. Preheat oven to it's highest level and place pizza stone in bottom and let heat up for about an hour.

3. Spread dough out on flowered cornmeal surface.

4. Spread ricotta over the top and sprinkle with some diced garlic and fresh thyme.

5. Cook a handful of bacon and chop up and place on top of ricotta mixture.

6. Take a handful of diced baby spinach and sprinkle on top of bacon and ricotta.

7. Bake for roughly 10 minutes or until crust is browned and pizza is complete.

     Quick, easy, and full of flavor, this pizza will definitely become one of my go to pizza recipes.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Serves: 2

Blue Cheese Burgers

Blue Cheese Burger

     I was craving a good burger this evening and decided to create this fantastic blue cheese burger. It was simple. The beef patty, the blue cheese, the greens, and a simple salad dressing topping. Please enjoy my take on a Blue Cheese Burger.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb ground beef
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Mixed greens
• Green Goddess salad dressing
• Burger buns
• Salt/Pepper

1. Take the ground beef, salt and pepper, and press into burger patties.

2. Grill on the top of the stove or on a grill.

3. Top with some blue cheese crumbles and cover to melt

4. Lightly grill the buns.

5. Top the buns with the burger, some greens, and drizzle a bit of salad dressing on top.

This burger was so easy and simply delicious. Enjoy!

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Serves: 2-4

Bachelor's Pierogi

Bachelor's Pierogi

     Such an easy and delicious weeknight meal for the single guy who doesn't feel like cooking anything big. Just use store bought pierogi and add a little ingredients from the fridge and viola! a simple and delicious way to treat yourself tonight. Anyone can make these. They are full of flavor, delicious, and filling. Bachelor's Pierogi

Ingredients:

• 1 box store bought potato onion pierogi
• 4 strips bacon
• 1/2 white onion diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper diced
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbs butter

1. In a large skillet brown bacon, remove, and chop up.

2. Dice up the onion and pepper. In same skillet melt 1tbs butter and saute until tender and remove.

3. In another tbs of butter brown pierogi on both sides.

4. Toss back in the chopped bacon, peppers, and onions.

5. Pour in the heavy cream, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes or until pierogi are tender.


     That is it. Quick, easy, and simple and full of flavor. Enjoy!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 2-3

Cacciatore

Cacciatore

 

 

   What is Cacciatore you may be asking yourself? Well it is a traditional Italian dish that has been made in my household since I can remember. The name "Cacciatore" translates into "hunter's style". A dish of braised meat in a sauce created from different herbs and fresh vegetables. This is one truly Italian dish that has made its way to America. My family has always made it the same way and it is one that I haven't adjusted what so ever from my mother's recipe or my grandparents. A little bit of interesting information is that my grandfather also used to use rabbit or even squirrel in this dish. Of course any meat that you hunt could be considered Cacciatore; however this is typically our version with chicken. Cacciatore.

 

Ingredients:

 

• 2-3 pieces of chicken on bone (you can use boneless skinless breasts)
• 1 12oz can tomato sauce
• 1/2 green bell pepper
• 1/2 white onion
• 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 tbs basil
• 1 tbs parsley
• Salt/pepper

 

1. In a large saute' pan drizzle some olive oil. Salt and pepper the chicken and brown on all sides. Remove

 

2. In same pan saute' chopped pepper, onion, and mushrooms.

 

3. Pour in the white wine and simmer until reduced.

 

4. Pour in the tomato sauce.

 

5. Stir in the basil and parsley and return chicken to pan. Bring to simmer, cover, and cook for about 15-20 minutes.

 

     This is still one of my favorite meals. Anytime it is my birthday I always request this dish from my mother if not a homemade pasta. We always served it over rice or risotto; however it would be just as good over pasta.

 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

 

 

 

 

 







Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

     Who doesn't like a good bowl of warming soup? Well this soup is so easy that it only takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. Just use a store bought rotisserie chicken, a quick bag of 90 second microwave long grain wild rice, and some quick chopped up vegetables and viola, an easy and delicious soup that everyone will love. Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup.

Ingredients:

• 1 breast from store bought Rotisserie Chicken
• 1/2 white onion
• 1 cup diced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1 32 oz Chicken stock
• 1 32 oz water
• 8.8 oz Ready Rice microwave 90 second wild rice
• 1 tbs thyme
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

1. After the rotisserie chicken has cooled down pull off some chicken into chunks and sit aside.

2. Cook the microwave rice bag as directed.

3. In a large Dutch Oven over medium high heat drizzle a bit of olive.

4. Dice up the onion, mushrooms, celery, and carrots and toss in and saute until translucent.

5. Pour in the chicken stock and water.

6. Stir in the chicken, thyme, and heavy cream.

7. Bring to a simmer and let cook for about 20 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 4-6

Cream Cheese Pepper Jam Puffs

Cream Cheese Pepper Jam Puffs

 

 

     Since it is still the holiday season I thought I would post another simple and fantastic appetizer recipe for those parties we all have to host or go to. This idea came to me from another dish that I have found at many office parties. You know the one, someone brings a block of cream cheese, spreads some pepper jam on top, and serves it with some crackers spread around it. So easy and one of the best things I like to eat at a party. I thought why not switch it up a bit and turn it into an easy and bite size appetizer that everyone can enjoy. Cream Cheese Pepper Jam Puffs.

 

Ingredients:

 

• 1 pack frozen puff pastry sheets
• 1 pack cream cheese
• 1 jar pepper jam

 

1. Cut puff pastry sheets into 2 inc squares.

 

2. In a mini muffin pan spray some cooking spray and press in each square of puff pastry.

 

3. Take a spoon and drop a dollop of cream cheese into each puff pastry cup.

 

4. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until pastry has browned around edges.

 

5. Remove, let cool, and drop a dollop of pepper jam on top of each bite.

 

     These are so quick, easy, and will definitely be a favorite at your next holiday party.

 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 5-10 +

 



 

Pollock Over Spicy Red Pepper Sauce

Red Pepper Sauce

     Not much to say about this dish. I was craving fish and wanted an interesting sauce to accompany it. So here goes; My Pollock over spicy red pepper sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2 fillets of Pollock
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch cumin
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 1/4 cup water
• olive oil

1. In a large skillet over high heat drizzle some olive oil and saute diced red bell pepper and green onion until soft.

2. Add in garlic and saute until fragrant.

3. Remove from heat and place in a blender. Add pinch of cayenne, cumin, lime juice and water and
pulse until smooth.

4. Pour mixture back into skillet.

5. Salt and pepper your Pollock fillets. Place in skillet and cover and simmer in pepper sauce for about 8-10 minutes or until flaky and done.

      Delicious, spicy, flavorful, and very healthy. This fish dish was fantastic and the sauce would go good with any type of fish.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2