A difference choice for Breakfast - or any time

I just love breakfast for dinner - I don't know if it is the comfort food or just simply I love all the flavors. 

As I was going through my recipe file - I came across this recipe.  I am not sure how long I've had it - but guessing from the card, I've had it since the '80s.  Yes - I am that old...lol.  Well any ways, I thought it sounded very yummy - so I gave it a try. 

I was very happy with the results and I hope you will be too!

French Toast Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

1 - loaf of Italian Bread - sliced

1 - 8 oz. pkg. Ham Slices

1 - 8 oz. pkg. Mozzarella Cheese slices

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg (I prefer to grate fresh)

salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup butter
1 cup maple syrup

Fold ham and cheese slices to fit on 6 bread slices; top with remaining bread.

In pie plate with fork, beat milk, eggs, nutmeg, salt and pepper until well mixed.  Dip sandwiches into egg mixture, one at a time, until well coated on both sides.

In skillet over medium-low heat, in hot butter, cook sandwiches until golden brown on both sides, about 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat maple syrup (I used the microwave, or you can heat on low heat on the stove top).

Serve sandwiches with syrup.

  

Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Enjoy!

Theresa

Not my Mother's Meatloaf

As I was growing up, we had meatloaf every Tuesday night for dinner.  You see Tuesday night was my mom's bowling night and meatloaf was something she could prepare during the day so that all we had to clean up was the pan the meatloaf was cooked in and our dinner dishes.  I was to do the dishes on Tuesday night and I would moan and pout each week.  I look back and wonder what in the world was I so upset about - we even had a dish washer....lol.  Oh well, those days are long past - I did not eat meatloaf for some time as a young adult - I must have been tired of it.  But after while I came back to this food of my past.  The trouble is I could not find a good recipe that I liked - they were either too dry or the loaf fell apart when I lifted it from the pan.  But now I must say I have found a wonderful recipe - it was moist, firm while having a wonderful taste.  I hope you enjoy it as much as Bill and I have.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. ground pork
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs
1 pkg onion soup mix
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
salt & pepper to taste

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Mix thoroughly together the meats, milk, eggs, soup mix, ginger, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. (I found this easy to do with my hands - just remember to remove your rings - you don't want to have to be picking meatloaf out of your diamond - lol).   Shape into a loaf and place it in a lightly greased 5x9 pan. Mix together the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.  Top meatloaf with the brown sugar, then the ketchup mixture. 

Place in 350 degree oven and back 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until your meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

Oldie but Goodie

I was going through my recipe files and came across some old favorites that I am planning on share with you over the next few posts.  I know, everyone seems to have a version of this cake in their files - this is the one I like the best.

Our church has a dinner club where you are invited over to a church member's home and meet different members of the church.   and then the next month - you are with a whole new group of people.  The host makes the main dish and then the guests are asked to bring something for the meal. We've hosted a few of the dinners and it is so much fun to get to know the people you are in church with.  I am Catholic and there are so many families who attend the other Masses then the one we normally attend - so there are plenty of new friends to make.  This fall we were asked to bring a dessert to one of the dinners - and I remembered this cake - it was a big hit!

Dump Cake
1 can cherry pie filling
1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 cup shredded coconut
1 can chunk pineapple - drained
1 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped nuts - I prefer pecans for this recipe - but you can use what you like

Spread the pie filling in the bottom of a greased 13x9x2 inch pan.  Arrange pineapple chunks over cherries and then sprinkle the dry cake mix over the fruit.  Pour the melted butter over the cake mix - try to be even as you pour to insure you have the butter over the whole cake.  Top with the coconut and nuts.

Bake 1 hour in a 350 degree oven.

I like to serve with a scoop of ice cream.

Easy to make (one dish - yea!) and everyone will love it!

Enjoy!
Theresa

A Better Option

One of the things that many find surprising - sometimes it is just as easy to put together a rice dish from scratch as it is from a mix - and it is so much better - both in taste and nutrition.

This is one of my favorite sides - it goes with just about anything from chicken to pork chops.  I recently made it for a family dinner serving it with a turkey breast - and I have to say - everyone was very happy with the flavors and I had very little left over.

Calico Rice
1 cup medium grain rice
1/2 cup of shredded carrots - or at least finely chopped.
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 tablespoon snipped parsley (I use the dried parsley from Penzeys Spices)
2 tablespoon finely chopped onion
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon instant chicken bouillon granules (instead of the bouillon - I found I like to use a tablespoon of chicken soup base from Penzeys Spices)

In a 10x6x2 inch baking dish or 1 1/2 quart casserole combine rice, carrots, celery, parsley and onion.  In saucepan heat chicken broth, butter, bouillon (or soup base) to boiling.  Pour over rice mixture.  Cover bake in 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes or till rice is tender; stir after 20 minutes.  Makes 6 servings.

Fast and Easy Breakfast

Looking for something easy to put together - but sure to impress.  This is one of my favorite coffee cakes.

Graham Streusel Cake

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup chopped nuts
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick butter - softened
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
Vanilla Glaze (see below)

Grease and flour 13x9x2" pan.  Mix crumbs, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter; reserve.  Blend cake mix, water, oil and eggs until moist.  Beat 3 minutes.  Pour 1/2 of batter into pan; sprinkle 1/2 crumb mixture.  Pour remaining batter.  Top with remaining crumbs.  Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.  Cool.  Drizzle cake with glaze.

Vanilla Glaze
mix 1 cup powder sugar with 1 to 2 tablespoons water (begin with one tablespoon mix then check for consistency before adding additional water) and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until desired consistency.