Meatloaf, tomato zucchini casserole, and mashed taters

Cravings. They can be such a downfall. However, when it's comfort food, it satisfies those cravings. In my case, it makes up for a little homesickness. I can go to my parents whenever I like, however, I rarely get to eat dinner there and tonight I pulled from two things that my mother cooked well and didn't mind eating as a child.

Of course, it wouldn't be my kitchen if I didn't change the recipe and add flavor. I was raised on bland. I hate bland and I hate heavy seasoning. So, the trick is to split the difference. I think that I got it tonight. I am proud of myself as I made probably my best meatloaf to date and my tomato zucchini casserole turned out almost like a vegetable lasagna. Yummy!!

I am going to do my best to pass on my recipes from the evening, but as a typical PA Dutch cook, my measurements are not precise. It's a spoonful of this and a drop of that. Hopefully the few pictures I have will help put things into perspective for you and I'll guesstimate as best I can. I hope you attempt the recipes and I would love to have some feedback.

Moist Meatloaf (my attempt at a somewhat lowfat, low calorie loaf)

2 pounds of 90/10 or 80/20 ground beef...the fat cooks out if you put it in the proper baking dish so fat content isn't as big a deal
2 egg whites
2 slices of multigrain bread pulsed into bread crumbs (I used Arnold's Health Nut)
1 1/2 T yellow mustard
2 T ketchup
1T Worchestershire sauce
dash or two of salt
couple dashes of ground black pepper
1/2 to 3/4 cup diced yellow onion
1T chopped garlic (I used a small spoonful from a jar)
1 teas celery seed

topping amounts to another 1/3 cup ketchup, 1 1/2 T yellow mustard, and 2 1/2 T brown sugar (packed)

Basically mix all your wet ingredients together minus the egg. I mixed my meat and the eggs together first to make sure the egg was dispersed all around the meat. This helps because the egg is your glue to hold the loaf together. Then I added the seasonings and wet ingredients and onions. Finally I added the bread crumbs. Mix thoroughly to try and even out ingredients as much as possible.

For the baking dish I took a 9x13 baking dish and lined it with aluminum foil so that when the loaf was done I could move it out of the fat and then let the remaining fat congeal on the aluminum foil for easy cleanup.

Finally I mixed the topping ingredients (ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar) together and put them down the middle of the loaf on the top so that as it cooked it could spread on it's own. It was a good decision because that's exactly what it did.

I baked the loaf uncovered in a 350 degree oven for one hour and it came out moist and super tasty.

Next were the side dishes. I'll start with the tomato zucchini casserole.

1 large or 2 small zucchini, peeled and sliced thin
1 1/2 large tomatoes, any variety will be good; no need to peel
1 cup or more (as you desire) grated parmesan cheese
1/4 quarter cup shredded cheese that includes cheddar...would not advise swiss cheese
1T dried oregano
1T dried basil
1 teas dried parsley
dash or two of ground black pepper
dash of salt

Topping to casserole is one slice of multigrain bread pulsed into bread crumbs, a little more parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup diced yellow onion (diced very small).

My mother's recipe that I was raised with was just layers of sliced zucchini, tomato, grated Parmesan cheese, and ground black pepper. I first buttered a Pyrex loaf dish. Baked on cheese can be such a pain to clean out and most dishwashers struggle to get it clean in one wash, so greasing your dish is a must. First I sliced the zucchini (after pealing it) and then sliced the tomatoes. Then I put together a separate dish with the cheeses and seasonings. I would not advise using more than a quarter cup of the shredded cheese. It will make the casserole too greasy.

Then you start with a layer of zucchini, sprinkle on your cheese and seasoning mixture, then a layer of tomatoes, and a layer of cheese and seasoning. Keep layering until you are near the top of your dish. Leave room for the water to cook out of the vegetables and for a topping. Your last layer should be zucchini.

Finally, dice your onion and mix it with the pulsed bread crumbs and cheese. Cover the whole thing with aluminum foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. I kept it in with my meatloaf the whole time.

Finally came the easiest dish. I bought a bag of Ore Ida russet potatoes. The nice frozen ones that you steam in the bag in the microwave for 10 minutes. In the meantime I put 1/2 cup of sour cream in a mixing bowl with 2 Tablespoons of lowfat milk, 3 T of dried chives, and 2 T butter. I dumped the hot potatoes in and mixed with my hand mixer until it was smooth. Phenomenal! Even my five year old who refuses to eat mashed potatoes liked them and ate her whole serving.

Final result!! I apologize. I wish my pictures were rotated and will edit that at a later time.

For dessert I took a box of Duncan Hines Decadent Peanut Butter brownies and instead of adding the typical oil and egg I substituted one egg white, 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce and 1 T of water to the mix. It's what Duncan Hines considers their "lowfat" version of the brownies. I have done this before with other cakes and it just changes the consistency of the brownies to make them more cake like. Just a suggestion if you are looking to make things more low fat. Unsweetened applesauce is awesome.

Ch ch ch changes...

So life has ladled me with quite a few changes over the last year. In the midst of all this I haven't forgotten about my blog, I just haven't had the gumption to update it. I have a full SD card of pictures of recipes I have made and have been both successful and failed at, with the thought in mind of sharing. However, I still haven't made it that far.

I was, at one point, criticized for using so much sarcasm. I guess when it's read in text or on paper, words can be taken in many different directions, depending on how the mind filters them. Sarcasm is served as a way to hide behind insecurities and that's quite alright with me. I am who I am and am not going to make excuses for myself. I'm only human. So, I look at it this way, if you don't like it, then don't read it. I'm not here for your approval.

With that being said. I'm thinking I need to take a change in direction of how I blog. I've been scouring other blogs and although mine is basic, it's also kind of wordy at times for what I'm trying to accomplish. So, consider it a work in progress, perpetually forever.

Tomorrow I'm planning to have a little gathering (very little) of friends and the theme is going to be Pillsbury. I have two recipes in mind that use Pillsbury's crescent rolls and one that uses the biscuits. The ideas came from recipes that I saw on Pinterest so they aren't original, but I will be reviewing them and maybe can use this blog as a forum to make them better (if possible).

Til then....

I'm back!!!

It is August...of 2012. Wow time flies. My last post was in December and I feel like I owe it to myself and anyone who has followed me to explain where I have been. This blog was designed to be an aide to the cookbook that someday will be published. It's not just a desire, but a legitimate goal and I complete everything I set out to do. I spent the last four years as a single parent and worked full time, all while completing my BA in Psychology, MS in Psychology, and working hours upon hours of overtime to make ends meet. This blog and cookbook

Let's talk about life changes.  In the past eight months I have moved, worked a LOT of hours, cut some excessive baggage from my life, had some pretty significant health concerns, and started a new relationship with someone I have known most my life. Time for a cookbook or blog in there? Not so much.

I know I mentioned in a previous post that when I am feeling down I do not cook or create. This past week I have gotten back into the swing of things and have had desire to start creating again. That's a sign for me that I have gotten back on track. I made a pot of my homemade chicken soup and it came out well. And I didn't manage to burn myself with splashed fatty broth. That's a story for another day, complete with pictures. I also managed to put together my very first tomato sauce, from scratch.. It pulls my brain in a different direction and I lost my focus from the daily stressors in life. When I'm in the kitchen my focus is making the food as well as I can.


I'm hoping this particular blog entry is the start of something regular again. So, enjoy! Please follow and comment at will.

Slacker

I realized today how much my emotions and current mood affect my cooking. It obviously has affected my blogging too since I haven't cooked enough lately to have anything worth blogging about. Speaking of which, I promised a Thanksgiving blog and you'll get it at some point.

I am not an emotional eater. When I'm down in the dumps or exhausted, I tend not to eat. That translates to a lack of cooking and cooking only for the sake of my daughter. Hence why I tend to keep around cans of Chef Boyardee and a few decent frozen meals. I also buy from Schwans who are incredible company.

So the past two weeks put me through a bit of an emotional up and down. It's pretty private to discuss on here but let's just say that I thought I had an opportunity for a good thing, but my good sense and ability to read between the lines made it clear that it will never be a good thing. When I was "up" last week I cooked a bunch utilizing leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. I made a turkey pie that consisted of 2 cups of chopped turkey, a cup of thawed peas, a half cup of diced celery, a half cup of diced onion, and half a can of chopped mushroom pieces. To this mixture of goodies I added some salt, black pepper, garlic powder, sage, thyme, and rosemary. I shredded an 8 oz block of swiss cheese and mixed one cup of that in with the meat, veggies, and spices. I put the combo in the bottom of a 10 inch pie dish. Then I mixed together 1 1/2 cup milk, three eggs, and 3/4 cup pancake mix (which I had used the buttermilk type, but I used regular). I poured this concoction over the turkey and veggies. I then put a light layer of French fried onions on the top and the remaining shredded Swiss cheese over the onions. I baked the pie for about an hour. If you make it, I would recommend checking it at 45 minutes. Stick a knife in and if it comes out clean it is done. Mine was kind of overdone due to me not paying attention so I didn't get a pic of it. It tasted good, but I think that it was actually in the oven for about an hour and fifteen and it was rather dark on top. Still tasted yummy though.

I also made some turkey enchiladas. I took corn tortillas and put shredded turkey, sliced mushrooms (out of a can), some shredded colby jack and muenster cheeses, and a sauce made up of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chopped poblano peppers. I layered the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with some of the sauce, then the tortillas, and then covered them with the sauce. I covered the mixture with quite a bit more shredded muenster and colby jack. I sprinkled some chopped green onions over the top. I then baked it in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes. Delicious!!  This same night I also made 5 more sweet potato pies for friends and a chocolate banana cake that turned out so moist and delicious.

Then came the downer of my week and I just opted to not cook for the last two days. I had an okay day yesterday and felt today that I should probably make something decent for my daughter so I took thinly sliced chicken breasts and soaked them in a stick of butter (4 breasts to 1/2 cup or one stick of butter). In another pan I threw together plain bread crumbs, garlic powder, ground thyme, parsley, onion powder, dried basil, a little salt, black pepper, celery seed, and red pepper flakes (only two shakes). The measurements with the spices is tailored to one's own taste. My hand is light on the salt and heavy on the thyme, peppers, and celery seed. I baked these breasts in a baking dish that was coated with a light layer of olive oil. I baked it for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. I made some alfredo noodles (out of a package) and white corn to go with it. Turned out well and I judge that by my daughter's willingness to gobble it up.

I'm about to make some of Schwan's funnel cake fries and watch a good movie. Feeling accomplished. I'm also thinking ahead to this coming week and the chili I will attempt along with the dozens of cookies I will be baking next Friday. Guess I should start scoping out recipes to see what sounds good for this year.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year was probably the best Thanksgiving I've had in the last couple years. I did not take overtime at work and made an effort to put together the best holiday meal I think I've ever done. I planned my menu in advance and tried to mix in new with tradition.

This year was super special for many reasons. The first was my daughter. She is three and a half going on thirteen and insistent on helping mommy all the time now. I'm definitely not complaining and this year I gave her the opportunity to do the basting on our turkey. She has been burned before on a burner so she was quite aware of being steady and careful around the hot oven. She watched me diligently as I showed her what to do and she followed suit perfectly.

She means more to me than anything else in this world and it excites me to be passing on my love of cooking to her. She has genuine interest and the other night as I was making goulash using elbow macaroni, she recognized me boiling the noodles and asked me if she could help with the macaroni and cheese. Even though that's not what I was making it made me realize that she is retaining and has processed quite a bit of what I've showed her with my cooking. She did a lot of stirring for me today and did four hours worth of basting. She was super inquisitive when I was putting together my turkey rub/marinade and when I explained the purpose of it, she actually seemed to understand. When Gammy and Papa showed up for dinner, she woke from her nap and the first thing she told them was how she "wasted the turkey." Yes, you read that right. It was cute.

In addition, usually my parents come, eat, and leave. Today they came, we watched a movie (Red), ate, and then watched part of another movie. That was nice because we only ever see each other in passing as I am either dropping off or picking up my daughter on a daily basis before or after I go to work. My father also helped me set up my big Christmas tree. As I type this I am sitting in a living room lit only by the light of a candle, the tv, and two Christmas trees...one is a little one for my daughter, and our big one. I feel cozy, satisfied, and loved.

Third, I made a bunch of sweet potato pies for those in my life who have been extra special to me over the last couple months. I gave one to my second shift co-workers who I work all my overtime with. I passed one on to a wonderful woman who has helped me with watching my daughter at random times where I am hard pressed for a baby sitter. I gave the last one to a man who has slowly become a special part of my life. He met my parents tonight and that was a little worrisome for me since it was not planned. Things went well and I feel a sense of relief. Where he and I will be next Thanksgiving is beyond me at this point and in fate's hands. I am just going to ride the wave, take my time, and enjoy what has been given to me. The feedback from everyone regarding these pies has just confirmed for me that I am doing something right.

This year I can give thanks for so many things that it makes my heart feel full. Loving and supportive parents, great friends and awesome co-workers, a job that allows me to help others in need, a nice roof over my head, a special man, and the greatest daughter I could ever imagine. Whoever the higher power is who is holding my cards....thanks!

Beenie Weenies...my style

Well....tonight was tough. Both my daughter and I are fighting a week long illness with lots of meds and not feeling much better. I didn't feel like driving anywhere or ordering, so scraping together something easy in my kitchen was the only option. However, that was a bigger feat than I had anticipated. I had done my weekly cleanout of the fridge the other day so we had no leftovers. So...I resorted to scanning the cabinets and taking inventory of the few valuable ingredients I had left in the fridge. The result...my thrown together version of beenie weenies. It turned out surprisingly well. Here's how it went:

1 large can of baked beans...I had a store brand and it wasn't anything fancy
to this I added...2 sliced hotdogs
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 diced yellow onion
1 Tablespoon prepared mustard (I love mustard in lots of things and use it often!)
1 Tablespoon ketchup
1/2 teaspoon prepared minced garlic
3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (I almost always have cooked bacon in my fridge...never know when you can use it for flavoring...awesome to have on hand.)

I cooked this combo together until it was boiling and then turned it down and let it simmer for 20 minutes on low so the flavors could blend and the onions could soften. Delicious...for beenie weenies that is.

Comfort food...stuffing

Generally I make stuffing with my roasts and I stuff the birds and then put the extra stuffing in a casserole dish. Since it's just my daughter and I, I have been buying the little fryer chickens, which usually amount to four or five pounds.

So I start with whatever vegetable I feel like adding. Usually it's celery, onion, and mushrooms. Quite a few people in my life do not like mushrooms so I will leave them out when cooking for others. But for myself, I love mushrooms and will add them to anything I can. So last night when putting together my stuffing, I diced a medium yellow onion, a package of button mushrooms, and a four sticks of celery.

I added a stick of butter (1/2 cup). Olive oil works well as an alternative.  To the mixture of veggies I added a teaspoon of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1 Tablespoon parsley. 

I cooked this mixture until the onions were clear and the celery was soft. 

Now what I made last night was more than enough for stuffing so I took only half of this skillet and put it into a mixing bowl for the stuffing. The other half I refrigerated to use later in breakfast omelets.

Next for the stuffing I put together what I call my "stuffing marinade." I take two eggs and beat them, then add two cups of either chicken stock or vegetable stock. To that I add 1 teaspoon salt, a dash of ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon parsley, and 1 teaspoon ground sage. I mixed that together and added it to the sauteed veggies in the mixing bowl. Then I added a cup of milk. 

From there the bread needs to be added. You can buy already prepared bread "crumbs" for stuffing from the grocery store, but regular bread works just as well. To sop up this mixture it took about 20 pieces of white bread...which amounts to almost a whole loaf. 

Put the stuffing mixture into a greased casserole dish. Mine fit into an 8x8 Pyrex dish. 

Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for an hour covered and then 15 minutes uncovered.