Boston Market Copycat MeatLoaf Recipe

3/4 cup ketchup

2 1/2 TBS BBQ sauce 2 TBS sugar

3/4 tsp onion powder 3/4 tsp garlic powder

2 1/2 lbs ground beef

2/3 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 cup italian bread crumbs

1, Preheat the oven to 400 F
2. In a large bowl, stir together the ketchup, bbq sauce and the sugar; set aside 1/4 cup of the mixture.
3. With your hands, mix in the remaining ingredients in sauce mixture.
4. Form the mixture into a loaf and placed into a greased 9 by 5 inch loaf pan. (If you don't have a loaf pan, that's ok - I use a rectangular pan and that works fine)
5. Bake, COVERED, for 35-40 mins.
6. Uncover and drain the fat from the pan, then slice the meat loaf while still in the pan.
7. Drizzle the reserved tomato sauce mixture evenly over the meat loaf.
8. Bake, UNCOVERED, for an additional 30 mins or until cooked thoroughly.

Orange Glazed Meatballs

1 lb Ground Beef
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 egg
2 TBS oil
4 TBS Orange Marmalade
4 TBS Soy Sauce
2 TBS White Vinegar
2 Oranges or clementines
splash of orange juice

1. Prepare Meatballs and cook: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the garlic, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, bread crumbs, and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Thoroughly combine and form into golf-ball-sized meatballs. Heat a large drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs to the pan. Cook, rotating to brown all sides, for 5-7 minutes, or until cooked to desired doneness. (can also cook in oven) Remove from the pan and set aside.
2.  Make the glaze: Wipe out any burned bits from the pan. Returning it to medium-high heat, add the vinegar, orange jam, remaining soy sauce, and a splash of orange juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Return the meatballs to the pan. Reduce until the sauce is thick and syrupy. Roll the meatballs to coat them in the glaze.

We like to serve with white rice and broccoli!  And with the 2 oranges remove skin and divide into segments and serve with it!.  The kids LOVE this!!!  

Easy Waffle Recipe

First off, I LOVE my waffle maker!  It is made by GE and makes 4 square waffles at once.  With a family of 5 this was a must for me.  This recipe makes 12 and feeds us plus a few leftover.  I always flash freeze the leftover ones and then place in a freezer bag.  Then they can get popped in the toaster for a quick breakfast, snack or breakfast sand which base :-)

This recipe came with my waffle maker and is awesome just as is.  Now sometimes I like to add blueberries, or diced apples and cinnamon or a dash of vanilla.  But 95% of the time I use this basic recipe.

2 Cups flour
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS Baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 Cups milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

First mix dry ingredients in a large bowl, then add milk, oil, and eggs and whisk until just blended.  For my waffle maker I use 1/3 cup measuring cup to pour into each waffle square and it is perfect.

These are WAY better than any frozen store bought waffles, without any preservatives and so easy to whip up a batch.

If you want to stock your freezer you can make a few batches at once.  To flash freeze lay them flat on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Stick in the freezer until hardened.  (about an hour or 2) then transfer to a gallon size freezer bag.  I think I can fit 8 in each... maybe a few more.  I do also reuse my freezer bags if no meat was in them

Homemade Breadcrumbs

Ever since I started baking homemade breads I found myself with a chunky end piece that didn't get eaten... then I would be baking another loaf an toss that few day old section in the trash.  Well as thrifty as I like to be.... that bothered me!  Sometimes I would toss into a freezer bag to feed the fish in the lake with... but especially in the winter months they would pile up.

I thought of doing croutons... but I wasn't sure how long they would keep and if I would use those up before going stale.  I still will be trying some homemade croutons in the near future but I decided to eliminate the need to purchase breadcrumbs and make my own using the day old sections.

I still will stash the end pieces in the freezer until I have enough to make a batch.  Then:

1. I cut bread into cubes
2. Set in oven on 200 degrees
3. Bake about an hour or until the bread crumbles in your hand
4. crumble all the bread, or crush using a rolling pin... or pulse in a food processor (you get the idea)
5. Store in an airtight container at room temp just like you would store bought breadcrumbs :)

Simple as that! Now you can also add seasonings but I just keep mine plain, then depending on what I am making I will add appropriate seasonings at that time

Homemade Breadcrumbs

Simply cube your old bread

Bake on 200 degrees about an hour, then crumble

Cake Batter Waffle Sundaes!

How amazing do these look!  Let me tell you how amazingly EASY these were... and how very, very excited my kids were to get to make their own!

Cake Batter Waffle Sundae

All you need is any boxed cake mix.  Prepared as instructed on the box.  We used a Chocolate Cake Mix.  The best part about this is that they are ready very quickly!  No waiting on the oven to preheat...no waiting for the cakes or cupcakes to bake, cool, etc.  And as a bonus this is something easy for kids to make themselves, with a little supervision of course :)

Preheat your waffle iron... pour batter (mine uses about 1/3 cup per waffle section)... Close and cook.... My waffle iron has a green light when finished... probably about 4 minutes or so...

Pour Cake batter in heated waffle iron.  (Mine takes about 1/3 cup per waffle section)

Once they are done, carefully transfer to a plate.  Add a scoop of ice cream, whipped cream, well... whatever your heart desires!  We happened to have some maraschino cherries and mini chocolate chips... and of course some chocolate syrup!  Imagine them with some crushed Oreo's, or some peanut butter, vanilla cake mix with colorful sprinkles and strawberries!  Oh the possibilities get me excited!  These will also be great in the summertime when it is so hot I don't dare turn my oven on!

Here is my oldest... All 3 of my kid were pretty excited about these!

I think the one box mix made about 16-18 waffles!  I really lost count cause we were eating our sundaes up :)    I flash froze the remaining waffles, once frozen, transferred them to a freezer bag.  I think there are around 10 waffles left... These will be great to have a quick and yummy dessert after dinner, or a special afternoon snack for the kids (& me :)

Cheesy BBQ Chicken with Bacon

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
Oil (olive, canola, or vegetable)  OR cook in bacon grease*
BBQ sauce
Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
bacon (cooked crisp) about 6-8 pieces
green onions (optional)

There are several ways you can cook and assemble this yummy dish!  My kids absolutely LOVE when I make this!  Here is how I do it.

Decide how you are cooking your bacon.  You can cheat an use real bacon pieces that you can buy.  or cook in the microwave.  I like to cook my bacon in an iron skillet... Then use that grease to brown my chicken.  I know, I know... I am in the south and well bacon grease is not wasted down here LOL!

So cook your bacon or heat a few TBS of oil in an iron skillet.  Set bacon to the side...

Pound chicken thin...  (Again this is a preference, but I find it cooks quicker & makes my chicken go farther for my family of 5... and I won't lie I get to take my frustrations out while pounding away :)  To avoid any mess I like to lay a piece of plastic cling wrap on the counter, then put a couple pieces of the chicken... and another piece of plastic wrap on top... then proceed with the pounding!)

Brown each side of the chicken breasts.  Transfer the chicken to a baking dish or cookie sheet....  brush a little bbq on the top of each breast and bake on 350 about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  Depending on the thickness of your chicken will determine how long it needs as well.

Once cooked through flip each piece over... add BBQ to that size along with bacon.  You can a couple on each piece or break the bacon to fit... It usually just depends on how much I have on hand HAHA!  Top each piece with shredded cheddar and return to oven on broil.... just to melt cheese and lightly brown...

I like green onions on top, my kids don't.  do what you like :)

Great served with buttered noodles or rice and a veggie!

Amazing Yeast Rolls, bread machine

1 cup warm water
2 1/4 tsp yeast
4 TBS sugar
2 TBS Melted margarine or butter
3 Cups Bread Flour
1 tsp Salt
1/4 Cup dry powdered milk

Place ingrdients in bread machine... set to dough cycle... once complete turn to lightly floured surface...  pat dough into a rectangle shape... with a pastry cutter cut in half then cut each section into 6 squares... giving you 12 total...  you may round them slightly while moving to a cookie sheet... space them evenly apart to fill your cookie sheet. cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled...  45-60 minutes.

bake on 350° about 12-15 minutes or until browned

Depending what I am serving these with sometimes I will drizzle with honey before baking... or add 2 tsp garlic powder or minced garlic to the dough cycle.  or you can brush with butter after they come out... these are divine!

Soft Pretzels

makes 8 large pretzels

1 Cup Warm Water
1/4 Cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
1 egg
2 TBS softened margarine or butter
3 1/4 Cups all purpose flour

put ingredients in bread machine on dough cycle.  Once finished turn out to a floured surface.  Divide dough in half... then cut each half into 4 sections.   Roll into 8 long ropes.  then shape as pretzels or cut for nuggets...  place on a greased cookie sheet, cover with damp towel, let rise in a warm spot until doubled... about 30 minutes.

preheat oven to 400°

once they have risen boil some water in a shallow pot... at boil add some baking soda...  i didn't measure... somewhere around 1/4 cup though...  cook about a minute on each side and remove each pretzel with a slotted spatula back to the cookie sheets.  Bake about 15 minutes until browned.

if you like you can add course salt before baking...  or my kids like these brushed with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar...  do that after baking :)

Sweet Honey French Bread

1 Cup water
1 TBS honey
1 TBS olive oil
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp sugar
3 Cups bread flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Put in bread machine in order listed...  when it gets to the bake cycle you can also drizzle on more honey if you'd like... and I think you will like :)

Strawberry Stuffed Cupcakes

After a visit to Paul's Pastries this past weekend, and having only a bite of my friend's cupcake....  They lingered on in my mind...  I just knew I would have to come up with something comparable... a basic white cupcake filled with jelly... but th e icing.... ooooh the icing... i was whipped creamy, lighter than air... not too sweet, pure goodness...

If I had a white or yellow box cake mix.... well, I'm not going to lie... I would have used that... but I did not... I came up with  this recipe Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

so, take the easy route with a box... or try my amazing recipe... either way your friends and family will love you... Promise :)

Bake cupcakes, and cool

You will need the following for the filling and icing... (for 24 cupcakes)

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2/3 cup sugar

strawberry extract

plus strawberry jam or preserves for filling

With a paring knife core a small circle in the top of each cupcake... remove the cone add a teaspoon of jam, cut off the "point" portion of your cupcake cone.. then place the cupcake piece back on top.

You can make this ahead and store at this point if needed...

For the Whipped Cream Icing.... with whisk or mixer beat cream until soft peaks begin to form.... then add sugar and either extract or jam, or puree... (this is best done the day of serving, and must be stored in the fridge or it will collapse on ya)

now... it has been years since i have worked with heavy cream... and let me tell you.... I whipped it a little too much.... and it began to seperate... I thought oh no... what did I do wrong here?  let me mix some more.... well low and behold I had done whipped my cream into butter!

batch # 2 then followed... this time I was sure to not over beat... keep it cold and pop it in the fridge a while to make sure it did not collapse on me....

pipe the icing onto your cupcakes.... for a pretty effect use a 1M tip and garnish with a strawberry or 1/2 of one....

I was short on my icing due to the butter incident so I whipped up a strawberry buttercream for my remaining 12 cupcakes...  Wilton has an easy buttercream recipe here that I have used for years... for 12 cupcakes you only need 1/2 the recipe... and I substituted the vanilla extract for strawberry extract which also gives you the pink color :)

Sugar Cookie Cupcake Recipe

The name says it all! While experimenting with a basic white cake recipe I came up with this.... now these have all kinds of possibilities and I may never buy another white cake mix again! I absolutely LOVE sugar cookies.... and this tastes almost like eating one :-) I am using these for the base of a strawberry stuffed cupcake... more to come on that.... here is the recipe.

2 sticks margarine (room temp or softened)
2 cups sugar... (yes... I know... they are divine though)
4 eggs
3 cups flour
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp baking powder
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°

Cream margarine and sugar... then add eggs 1 at a time. Beat very well until smooth and creamy... I did 4-5 minutes in my kitchen aid mixer... add flour, and baking powder... mix on low until blended... then switch to medium for a few minutes... add milk and vanilla... and beat well until your batter is fluffy.... scoop 1/3 cup of batter into each cupcake liner... bake about 20 minutes until slightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean.

Cinnamon Rolls OMG!

1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water (warmed together)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 stick margarine

Ooey Gooey Topping
3 ounces cream cheese softened... (*do not use fat free of any sort... trust me... it will be a yucky chunky mess... why they even sell it is beyond me :-)
1/4 cup margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt


Place all ingredients in bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer. Select DOUGH cycle press Start. My dough cycle takes about 1 1/2 hours... I usually stop it at 30 minutes though... of course you can also knead by hand... or I have also used my kitchen aid mixer with dough hook... either way you will want to make them... if doing by hand proof your yeast first (warm milk, water, add white sugar and yeas... let sit 5 minutes or so til foamy)

In separate bowl soften margarine.. then add cinnamon and brown sugar. Mix well with a rubber spatula...

Now to the good part... if you want to make dough ahead or find you need to stop you can pop your dough in the fridge at this point... cover in bowl with saran wrap sprayed with nonstick spray.

Next turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and roll into a 16x24 rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/brown sugar mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in lightly greased 9x13 pan. Cover and let rise until almost doubled (depending on temp 30 min 1 hour). Have patience.... these are well worth it! At this point you can also flash freeze for baking later... I am experimenting with this so will update...

Preheat oven to 400°F

Bake rolls for 20-30 minutes. Time may vary based on your baking dish used. I have only baked in a deep dish and it requires close to 30 minutes... just watch them when they start to brown on top pull them out... if you baking dish is more shallow the baking time will be less than 30 :-)

Optional Topping.....
Mix softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on rolls hot out out the oven. If you have picky children like I do you can just cover 1/2 with the topping.... all the better for MY HALF... enjoy

Beef Stroganoff

1 lb Ground Beef (or sliced steak can be used) (browned, drained)
8 oz Sour Cream
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cube beef bullion
1/4 Cup water
(salt, pepper, garlic , onion powder to taste)

serve over 1 lb egg noodles


Brown ground beef.... drain... Add sour cream, cream of mushroom, & seasonings... mix & heat to a low boil... mix bullion with water then add and stir.... Serve over cooked noodles :)

Sourcream Apple Pecan Pie

Sour Cream Apple Pecan Pie

favorite pie crust... I cheated :) place in pie dish then chill

Mix:
1 cup sourcream
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon juice

Peel core and slice 4-6 apples.... slice thin... then mix with the sourcream mixture.

Dump in pie crust.... bake on 400 for 30 minutes.... then kick the oven down to 350... bake 20 minutes longer....

Meanwhile mix:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 sugar
6 Tbs melted butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans chopped

Crumble the topping on the pie and bake another 20 minutes... allow to cool... serve warm... delish :)

Easy (& YUMMY) Pancakes

1 1/2 C flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp Salt
2 TBS Sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
4 TBS butter, melted

Mix dry ingredients, then add wet and whisk together... cook on a griddle turning only once when bubbles appear.  I like to make several batches up in Mason Jars of the dry ingredients so you can just dump, add the wet and make quicker! 

My FAVORITE cornbread

I like it sweet... (You can decrease the sugar if you don't)

1 C cornmeal
1 C flour
3/4 C sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 C milk
1 egg
1/4 C veg oil

Mix all together... pour in a greased iron skillet and bake on 425 about 20-25 minutes until golden brown :)

Reese's Layered Pie

Oreo Crust

1st Layer... Melted Reese's cups...(I didn't measure, you can't go wrong though)

2nd Layer: (Mix together then layer on the 1st layer)
1/2 C Peanut butter
4 oz cream cream (softened)
1/4 C sugar
1/3 tub of cool whip (Large container)

3rd Layer (again mix these together and then layer)
package of chocolate pudding mix
1/3 tub of cool whip

4th layer
1/3 tub cool whip (this should be the remaining if you did it right :)

drizzle the top with melted chocolate for a pretty effect or garnish with reese's cups :)

refrigerate about 4 hours or overnight before serving

a cup, a cup, a cup Cobbler :)

This is a basic recipe you can use for most any fruit, fresh, frozen or canned.... Our favorite is blueberry & blackberry... The kids call this "pie"...

preheat oven to 350...

I don't measure but probably use around 2 cups of fruit... put it in a baking dish of your choice... I have a great dish that is smaller than a 13x9 that I love for this...

1 cup flour (if you use self rising great... if not add 2 tsp baking powder)
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 stick butter

melt butter, mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over fruit....

Bake til browned and batter is cooked... about 30 minutes, give or take...

Serve warm, serve with ice cream...

Mommas Seafood Gumbo

Mommas Seafood Gumbo (recipe from Belinda Seal)

boil 3 qts water, and add:
1 bell pepper chopped
1 onion chopped
1 pack green onions chopped
2 bay leaves
1 cap crab boil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp parsley
salt pepper and red pepper to taste

while cooking on med heat make roux:

Make roux:
1 cup plain flour
1 cup oil

In big Microwave bowl, put flour and oil mixture together. cook for 2 minutes, stir, Cook for 1 minute, stir. Cook for 30 seconds, until thickening and browning. Don't burn it. Add roux to boiling mixture. Let cook for 45 minutes on medium heat stirring occasionally. Add seafood. I use shrimp & crab claw meat. Let cook for about 30 minutes & turn off heat. As gumbo cools, skim off oil that is sitting on top. (it will be close to the cup that you put in the roux... This takes the bitter taste out). Taste and add salt as needed. (This will also cut down on any bitterness) make sure you put LOVE in it too!

Eat over cooked rice and enjoy

Focaccia bread

Homemade Focaccia Bread

1/2 very warm water
1/2 tsp sugar
2 packages active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp salt
3 Tbs olive oil
1 cup water

(***UPDATE***  Now that I have my bread machine I make the dough in it for the first rise)

herbs, spices, onions, tomatoes, black olives... etc.... whatever you like for the top :) I make this different every time... a little overboard in the pic! HA

In a glass measuring cup... stir warm water and sugar, then stir in yeast and let it proof... (wait about 5 minutes to be activated... it should foam on top)

In a large bowl combine flour and salt.... Stir in yeast mixture, 2 TBS olive oil & 1 cup water.

Cover with greased plastic wrap... set in warm draft free spot to double...

while the dough is rising, heat the remaining olive oil in a saucepan and add your onions and herbs... cook about 5 minutes to caramelize.

Turn your dough (which will be very soft) onto a heavily floured board or counter top.... Use a lot of flour on your hands... knead just enough to work with it... Get it to a greased stone or pan... arrange into a rectangle.... You can let it rise more if you have the time... Otherwise you can bake at this point :)

Create dimples in your dough with your fingertips every few inches.... drizzle with your olive oil, onions herbs, tomatoes or whatever else you choose to bake into it :)

Bake on preheated 425 F oven for about 30 minutes or until slightly brown on top and bottom... serve warm... Cut into large squares... YUMMY