Why this blog??

Why this blog?? I often find myself stressing over what to make for my family for dinner. We live a busy life and some meals need time to prep, cook and let's not forget shopping for everything you need. I love cookbooks and websites, but there are so many recipe's at times it is overwhelming. The recipe's I will be posting are things I actually made. I will tell you if they are easy or more time consuming. I will also tell you if they are good. Most of these are recipe's I have made for years and continue to make because they are easy or quick and my family loves them and i know yours will too! I will also try to at least once in a whlie try a new recipe I've found on line or in a book and honestly rate it. I always encourage others to send me their favorite recipe's as well! I am a mom... not a chef. But I am a mom who enjoys cooking for her family and making a somewhat healthy meal (some days more healthy than others:) ) In each recipe I will share how I recommend serving it, any substitutions I can think of that are also good, or ways to prepare ahead of time to make the cooking part seem quicker! I am not a photographer, as you can see... most of these pictures are taken from my phone camera, so may not be the best! I love to hear from others who have made these recipes and what they have done to change the recipe... please post comments! Thank you! To "like" me on facebook, go to this link... It's What's Cookin

Monday, January 23, 2012

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Biscuits


I made these the other morning and they were gobbled up in no time! I loved the texture... they reminded me of french toast in a way... but better! We ate a few plain and then ended up dipping them in maple syrup... I know, SUPER healthy!! Well, it was better than the Dunkin Donut run my husband wanted to make that morning:)

Ingredients:
*1 roll Pillsbury Grande Biscuits (10 biscuits per roll- they usually come in a 4 pack)
*4-5 eggs- beat and add a touch of milk and pepper
*4-5 strips of extra crispy bacon- torn into little pieces
*1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or colby/jack blend)

1. Spray Pam on muffin tin. Flatten each biscuit as much as you can and place into muffin tin, folding the sides up as far as they'll go. 

2. Distribute the cheese and bacon evenly in each of the 10 muffins.

3. Pour egg mixture on top filling each no more than 3/4 of the way up.

4. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes. Check eggs with a toothpick to make sure they are cooked through. I cooked for about 15 minutes and then I turned the burner on for a minute to make sure tops were done. 

Serve hot and with syrup if you wish!! Enjoy!  Great with coffee and a side of fruit... you know, to make a well balanced meal!
flatten biscuits and place in tin, folding edges up the sides as far as they will go... Place bacon pieces and pinch of cheese in each

Add your egg mixture till they are 3/4 full (eggs, milk and seasonings)

Bake till egg is cooked through... use a tooth pick to check



Super good with syrup!

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches


These were incredible and the best part was, it was super easy to make and not a ton of ingredients! I found this recipe on Pinterest... here is the blog that the recipe came from. This will definitely be a staple in my house hold. The whole family loved it. We served these on crusty french rolls with provolone cheese along side a bowl of some of the juice ("au jus") and mash potatoes and sauteed green beans.

Ingredients:
*Aprox 3lb beef chuck roast
*16 oz beef broth (1 1/2 cans)  (I only used one can)
*1 can Campbell's condensed French Onion Soup
*6 oz red wine- (I used a pinot noir (from a $9 bottle. I drank the rest with dinner:) )
*1 tsp garlic powder
*salt and pepper, to taste
*onion- thinly sliced into rings (this wasn't in original recipe... I added it because i love the onions on my sandwich. I put a ton on mine and my husband and daughter ate theirs without the onions.)
*4-6 French Rolls
*sliced provolone cheese, optional (Optional?? This makes it!!)

1. Trim most of the fat off the roast. Season beef all over with salt and pepper. Pour the beef broth, french onion soup, wine and garlic powder into the slow cooker and place beef roast into liquid.

2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. (I just put my slow cooker on the 6 hour setting, which for my cooker it's a medium/high heat). I added the thin sliced onions to the slow cooker when there was about 2 hours left to cook.

3. Take beef out and let it rest, covered with aluminum foil, for 15 minutes. Slice beef as thin as possible (I used an electric knife). Return beef to slow cooker and cook on your lowest setting for another 20-30 minutes.

4. Lightly toast the bread and evenly distribute cheese between rolls. Divide beef onto rolls. Spoon the beef juice into bowls and serve while hot. Serve each sandwich with it's own bowl of "au jus".
Cook Roast for 6-8 hours

Remove and cover with tin foil and let rest for 15 minutes

Slice as thin as you can... I used an electric knife that helped shave it thinner than I could have with a knife


Place sliced meat back into slow cooker and turn it to the lowest setting. Cook another 20-30 minutes.


I toasted the buns in the toaster oven and then put cheese slice on both top and bottom. Place your meat (and onions if you wish) on bun. 

Serve with a bowl of au jus


Don't forget to dip each bite!!