I’m not sure what made me think of this old-fashioned recipe…I’d call it comfort food. I don’t think I grew up on it, but it was always around at someone’s house. I remember making this way back when I was a young Mom. I always called it Ground Beef Noodle Bake. I suspect it has roots in the German Kugel but became “casseroled up” in the U.S., much the way our “American Goulash” did.
Ground Beef Noodle Bake
Do y’all know Nathalie Dupree? She’s like the queen of Southern cooking; the Southern Julia Child. So when a friend (the same friend who introduced me to Panera’s Steak & White Cheddar Panini and many other meals & recipes over the years – she has great taste!) mentioned that Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf was a family favorite, I couldn’t wait to try it. It’s actually been on my must make list for a while and I gotta say it’s just the perfect thing to make on a cold winter weekend.
Nathalie Duprees Meatloaf
I really have been in fun food mode, especially with Halloween coming up and fall here. See, in the summer most of us Minnesotans are out doing whatever we can to take advantage of the weather, but when fall comes we like to tuck in and party at home. Or at least I do! And especially if I have Juicy Lucyfer Sliders.
Juicy Lucyfer Sliders – this is just so you can see the inside but never ever cut your juicy lucy!
I have finally found a burger that I just want to eat all the time. And I’m not normally a big burger person! These French Onion Soup Burgers are everything a burger should be!
French Onion Soup Burgers
They’re juicy and super flavorful and can I just say Caramelized Onions and melty Provolone or Gruyure and an Onion Bun just to drive those flavors home? Do I even need to say anything else?
Ok, guys, here it is, after the post on the Instant Pot Brown Rice to go in the Greek Brown Rice Salad & then the Greek Brown Rice Salad, to enjoy with the Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers, and now, finally, the Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers are here! Yeah, baby. It’s like the house that Jack built! Luckily, it’s worth it and all the components of this meal are pretty quick and easy.
Spicy Beef & Feta Skewers with Greek Brown Rice Salad (made with Instant Pot Brown Rice)
I thought I might have made a new invention when I made my Unstuffed Egg Roll Skillet Dinner not too long ago. See, I was going to make Egg Rolls, but for some reason, I was just ravenous.
Unstuffed Egg Roll Skillet Dinner
By now we’ve all heard of Beer Can Chicken, haven’t we? Now we have Beer Can Burgers! Yes, yes, yes, please! Yes to a burger wrapped in bacon and filled with awesome deliciousness. Including cheese. Ya gotta have cheese in these! These are going to be perfect for Fourth of July or Father’s Day or anytime you want a burger extravaganza!
Beer Can Burgers- this one is Jalapeno and Pepperjack Cheese
I have a thing for Cabbage Rolls and try to make a pan of them every year. This year, though, I decided to “roll” all those flavors into Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup, instead. No worries if you don’t have an Instant Pot because the stove-top instructions are here, too.
Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup
Here’s a recipe that I made awhile back when I was at the folk’s but didn’t post before. Now that it’s December, I thought this Italian Stuffed Meatloaf would be a perfect “something” different for a winter weekend meal!
Italian Cheese Stuffed Meatloaaf
Some of you might remember I made a one pan Porcupine Skillet Dinner a few weeks ago. It was surprisingly good. It inspired me to see if I could do the same thing with a Mexican style meal. And so my Easy Taco Skillet Dinner was born.
Easy Taco Skillet Dinner
Ok, I love to cook. “Obs” as some of my young friends would say. Or I wouldn’t have a food blog. But sometimes you want something so easy you can practically toss it together with your eyes closed. Something simple and fast and easy like a one skillet dinner. And maybe something comforting, just a little nostalgic? That’s where this Porcupine Skillet Dinner comes in.
Skillet Porcupine Dinner
I grew up in the Midwest in the 60’s eating various and assorted “loose-meat” sandwiches, mainly Maid-Rite Sandwiches or as they are sometimes called Tavern Burgers. I never heard the word Sloppy Joe until I was an adult and moved away, and then no-one seemed to know what a Maid-Rite was!
This is the old family, Church Cookbook recipe for the Maid-Rite made with Campbell’s Chicken Gumbo Soup.
Ok, so do you ever fall in love with a dish at first sight? I did, and these Thai Beef Rolls called to me from the moment I first saw them until I had them on my plate. Heck, there are a couple still in the fridge and they just won’t be quiet! Shush now, I already ate too many of you!!
Grilled Thai Beef Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce
Meatloaf is a huge favorite with my folks. And with just about everyone, I think, once fall hits. But who has time to wait for a meatloaf to bake when there’s a zillion things going on?
Mexican Meatloaf – flavorful but not too hot – but that sauce is another matter! It’s spicy, tangy deliciousness!
Those of you who know me know I’m kind of a sucker for Mexican food. Or Southwestern. Or Tex-Mex. When I saw these old school Tex-Mex type enchiladas pop up in an email from the New York Times, I was all over it. Enchiladas con Carne from El Real Tex-Mex in Houston.
Enchiladas con Carne from El Real Tex Mex in Houston
Unless you grew up around Mexican food, chances are your first introduction to it was probably the ground beef taco. And maybe you make them for your family – they’re fast, easy & everyone seems to love them from kids to kids at heart. I make a few different kinds of ground beef tacos, but these are our fave.
Our Family’s Favorite Tacos
Classic Quaker Oats Meatloaf really is an old-school classic meatloaf. Just plain cookin’ & hardly anything to the making it of it at all. It’s one of those recipes that really makes you appreciate the taste of FOOD.
Quaker Oats Classic Meatloaf
These pretty little meatballs with a bit of a Korean kick & a sweet/spicy glaze are just fun, fun, fun. They’d also be great for game day or an appetizer at any party – but can I just mention Super Bowl?! It’s coming right up and you’ll want these. Even if you don’t know you do, yet, you’re gonna want them!
Spicy Korean Meatballs
I think cooks must be divided into two camps when it comes to Lasagna. Those that toss it together with no problem (and yeah, I’m jealous of them) and those that think, “Yeah, it’s great, but it’s a production and the mess!” That’s me. Love Lasagne – hate making it. Raise your hand if you’re with me, here!
Skillet Lasagna
I know I’ve said it before. I don’t really “get” casseroles! Cook a bunch of good food, mix it together and recook it! But even I get how nice it is to pull a pan of hot, bubbly, and cheesy deliciousness out of the oven, plop it on the table and call “Dinner!” And when “Dinner” was this Sloppy Joe Casserole, everyone would come running, especially my son!
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Sloppy Joes. I don’t know if I ever used a recipe for the basic Sloppy Joe before. They always seemed to come from standing in front of the fridge and rummaging through the cupboards as the clock struck five and I was wondering what to make for dinner! And ground beef seemed an easy answer. In goes a touch of mustard, ketchup, a little brown sugar. But you know what’s so much better? Essential Sloppy Joes!
Essential Sloppy Joe
Can a person have too many pasta recipes? Possibly, especially if you’re on a budget. It’s almost too easy to turn to pasta dishes, so when I do make one, I try to make it the best! You’ll love this warm and comforting dish loaded with fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage and for a healthier twist, ground chicken or turkey. Use ground beef if you’d rather, though.
Cheesy Pasta Bake – The Best! With Italian Sausage, Fresh Mozzarella and Wine!
When I mentioned I wanted to make Stuffed Peppers for dinner, my Stepmom reached into the cupboard and pulled out her book – she had three or four recipes, but we settled on this one, on a small handwritten card. I called these “Old World” because of the allspice and raisins, a flavor combo familiar to me from passed down recipes on the German side.
“Old World” Stuffed Bell Peppers
Goulash is an old American standby dish from pantry ingredients. Wikipedia notes Goulash celebrated its 100th birthday last year, being published in cookbooks as early as 1914. Simple, tasty, cheap and filling, Goulash is familiar to generations of Americans. Talk about comfort food!
Classic American Goulash sometimes called Macaroni Beef or Chili Mac.
First of all, a disclaimer. This spectacular salad, the Taphouse Salad with Roasted Tomatoes Mushroom Smashburger, was stolen – or at least the idea of it was. This is my version of a Taphouse Salad, inspired by The Bourbon, Beer & Burger Pub in Sioux Falls, Taphouse 41. If you’re in Sioux Falls, you need to get yourself there.
Taphouse Salad with Roasted Tomatoes, Mushrooms and a Smashburger
There’s something about a Smashburger. They have this crusty, griddled outside and they’re tender & juicy, inside. If you love Smashburger, you’re going to love these Copycat Smashburgers Home Style. Copycat Smashburgers are so easy and quick to make at home, you’re gonna want them all the time. There’s just a few tricks, but I gotcha covered!
Copycat Smashburger Home Style
Awhile back I posted a bit of a cheater’s recipe for the Black Pelican’s Citrus Rosemary Brined Chicken. I saw it on Diner’s Drive Ins and Dives and just had to recreate it. When I made it, I simplified things just a bit; I used a boneless breast and served it with the Vegetable Saute. It was fantastic.
Demi-Glace
Here in the States, we have a dirty little secret. You won’t often hear it spoken of, but It seems like all of America is in love with meatloaf – even vegetarians and vegans find ways to duplicate this homey dish, and I’m seeing meatloaf making its appearance on pub & restaurant menus.
Steakhouse Meatloaf
