Meat Loaf Leftovers...

If you are cooking for one it is always hard to figure out what to do with all the extra food. I feel that leftovers give me the opportunity to skip cooking the next day for lunch or dinner... whenever I choose to eat the food!

For meat loaf- my favorite is to throw some of that meat, potatoes and gravy all on toasted bread and make a yummy sandwich! You wont be disappointed. Make your food stretch! It will save on your food bill and your time!

MMM... meatloaf!

Tonights dinner... yummy meatloaf. This is a dish my mother never made for my brother and I while we were growing up, but one I have learned to love once I moved out of the house! No fault of her own, she ate it too much as a kid, so I guess I understand!

Any how... this is easy...

Grocery Store:


-McCormick's meat loaf seasoning packet (usually found in pasta aisle, next to taco seasonings)
-(a few red potatoes- see end of recipe)...
-oh (and you could grab a McCormick gravy packet too... that makes it three times as good!)

And the rest of the recipe is on the back of the packet, so just make sure your fridge is stocked with the essentials:

2 eggs

1/2 Cup of Milk

1/4 Cup of dry bread crumbs

ketchup- for dipping if you prefer ( I like the gravy better)

and also grab 2lbs of ground beef

Recipe: 

Preheat oven 375 (bake for 1 hour )

Grab a mixing bowl and throw all the ingredients in it, except the ketchup. But if you do accidentally throw the ketchup in, dont sweat it, I have made that mistake before and it turned out great!

Any ways, mix it up, then toss it in a loaf pan. (If you don't have a loaf pan you can just use a baking sheet- just shape it as a loaf once its smack down on the sheet). 

And Bake!!! 

I love my meat loaf, but its not the same without mashed potatoes! 

I grab a couple of those small red potatoes in the produce department and boil them in a pot when I get home. Once you can stick a fork through them easily they are done (about 25 minutes or so). Then I mash them up, skin on and all... and add whatever I feel like.. a few pinches of salt, a scoop or two or sour cream, a dash of milk, some butter... really you can put anything in them to make it taste the way you like. 

And if your mother taught you well, you can add a green of some sort to this dish... its up to you!

Enjoy!!!!

Pasta!!

Vodka Pasta

Always a great go-to meal... easy, warm, and tasty!!!


Now there are two ways to do this-

1. Buy the pasta- cook it, and dump the vodka sauce all over it.       --- OR---
2. Add some shallots, parmesan cheese, and pancetta, then your pasta and sauce- thats even better!

Grocery List:
Rigatoni pasta
1 Jar of Classico Vodka Sauce (Classico is just a personal favorite)
Shallot
1 bag of shredded parmesan cheese
Pancetta (my grocery store sells it pre packaged with the salami meat)

Recipe:


      In a large pan drizzle a little olive oil, heat up on medium. Add chopped Pancetta and diced shallots. Cook till done. (pancetta will look like cooked bacon when done). Add the jar of pasta sauce, stir all together. Add about 1/2 cup of the shredded parmesan cheese. Stir till cheese is melted, then set sauce aside.
      Meanwhile in a separate pot boil pasta according to box. When pasta is done, drain and add to the pan with your sauce. Stir together.
Plate your dish and add some more grated parmesan on top for some extra gooey cheesy-ness! THEN EAT!!!!

Just getting started...

     This will be a place for easy-ish recipes, a place to gather some ideas, a place to try something new, or a reminder of something yummy our mom made while growing up. I will add my regular favorite meals as well as some that I just like to try, because lets face it- the Food Network is constantly on the tv at my house! Hope this helps brother... get cookin!