Easy to make Home made fries

These are so easy to make, and taste delicious. They're better than frozen fries, or deep fried and better for you. I made them for two, if you are making them for more just guess at the amount of potatoes! I'd say 2 potatoes per person. I found these on myfridgefood.com, which is an awesome website! You make an account, then choose which foods are in your fridge and it comes up with recipes that you can make! It's amazing. You can also add your own recipes to the website. Try it out!

Ingredients:

5 medium size potatoes
1 1/2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Wash potatoes, then cut thick slices. Place slices in bowel and drizzle melted butter on top. Toss to coats potatoes. Transfer to a baking pan. Bake, uncovered at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Turn every ten minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

These would taste great with Nan Smith's Perfect Pork Chops and some mixed veggies! Yummy!

Best Brownies

My work is having a St Patrick's Day pot luck today at lunch! I made brownies for the event (and put green sprinkles on the to give them a St Patty's day flare). Thought I'd share the recipe! They make delicious brownies!!


Brownie Batter

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa

2 eggs

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/8 tsp salt

Directions:
Melt butter in saucepan and mix in cocoa. Remove from heat. Beat eggs. Add all dry ingredients. DON'T STIR. Pour butter mixture over this and mix. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 mins (or until the edges begin to show signs of pulling away from the side of the pan).


Icing
Ingredients:
1 and 1/3 cups icing sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
3 tbsp butter
1 and 1/2 tbsp water

Directions:

Beat all four ingredients together. Spread over cooled brownies and cut into squares.

They are so yummy! And easy for anyone to make. Don't have an 8x8 pan? Go to the dollar store and buy a tin pan, works like a charm!

Homemade Pancakes

Just in time for Pancake Tuesday! I thought I'd share my mom's recipe for pancakes. Since I grew up eating homemade pancakes, I can't stand a mix from the box. Try these out tonight!

Ingredients:

2 cups of flour

3 tsps baking powder

2 tbsp sugar

1 3/4 cups milk 

1 egg

2 tbsp oil

Directions:

Mix wet ingredients. Mix dry ingredients. Combine. Measure one cup and grill on frying pan. When bubbles appear flip.

If you decide to add chocolate chips or blueberries add 1/2 cup.

I'll share photos of my pancakes later tonight.

Enjoy!!

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

I'm not the most experienced cook or baker, but this year I've decided to try my best at attempting to make meals other than KD and Mr. Noodles. So far, I've been pretty proud of myself.

I haven't tackled much baking, but my sister's friend Nicole sent me a recipe for muffins that sounded delicious! I had to try them out. I even went out and bought a muffin pan! The muffins are so great. I really think everyone should try them out! Here's the recipe!  

 

Ingredients:

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1 cup butter 
1 cup sugar 
2 eggs 
1 tsp vanilla 
1/2 cup buttermilk (can use milk with 1/2 tsp vinager) 
2 mashed ripe bananas 
1 cup oatmeal 
1 tsp salt 
1 1/2 tsp soda 
2 cup all purpose flour 
1 cup chocolate chips (I use 1/2 milk & 1/2 semi-sweet)

 

Directions:

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In mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar.
Add eggs and vanilla, and mix well.
Add milk and bananas and blend together.
Add oatmeal, salt, soda, and flour until well blended
stir in chips
grease 24 med size muffin cups and fill 2/3 way full
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Let cool for at least 15 min before serving

Find more great recipes at Group Recipes. Thanks to Nicole for sending me this recipe!

Nan Smith's Perfect Pork Chops

My Dad's parents, Nan and Pop, live in Newfoundland are both great cooks. Together they work in the kitchen really well, not only do they make great pork chops, but they make the BEST turkey dinner you'll find.

On top of the hill behind
my grandparents house in Holyrood

Nan and Pop live in Holyrood, NL. Nan grew up in the small fishing town of Gaskiers, in St Mary's Bay. Pop loves to tell people he grew up in Victoria, BC and when they ask if he's from the west coast he says, "No, Victoria B.C - Behind Carbonier!". Pop always says he and Nan are real Newfoundlander's because they were Newfoundlander's before they were Canadians! Both can remember when Newfoundland officially became a part of Canada.

If you haven't had the chance to visit Newfoundland, you really have to, pictures don't do it justice. It is one of the most beautiful places with the friendliest people in the world! I am slightly biased because half of my family lives in Newfoundland, but trust me, Newfoundlander's are like no others. They're the best.

My brother, sister and I all have our favorite dinners that Nan makes. I love turkey, my brother loves a roast and my sister loves pork chops! Today I am going to share with you how to make Nan's pork chops!

Ingredients:

Pork Chops (6)
Onion (1)
Mushrooms (to taste - 6ish)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)



Directions:

Chop up and fry onion and mushrooms, add pork chops after a few minutes. Brown pork chops, add salt and pepper.

Once pork chops are browned evenly on both sides, place in pan with sides add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover with tinfoil and bake on 375 for 1 hour. If using "fast-fry" pork chops 45 to 50 minutes will suffice.

I can guarantee you will love these pork chops. I don't like onions and mushrooms, but you need to have them with these pork chops, together they make them taste delicious! Usually we have mashed potatoes and corn with it. Tonight Scott and I had mashed potatoes (with cheese, bacon bits and a little sour cream mixed in), mixed veggies (corn, peas, beans and carrots) and ceaser salad! It was great.

I invite you all to try out this recipe, let me know what you think!

Turkey Apple Burgers

When I first read the recipe for turkey apple burgers I thought they sounded yummy, but my boyfriend who is a big double cheeseburger lover thought they were going to be gross. He did try them and loved them! As did I. They were delicious. I've sent the recipe to a handful of people to try out. This recipe is quick and easy to make and can be made in the winter or summer. Definitely try them out!

Ingredients:

Lean ground turkey                                     1 lb.
Large egg, fork-beaten                                1
Finely crushed soda crackers                       1 cup
Finely chopped onion                                   2 tbsp.
Small garlic clove, crushed                           1
Red apple, with peel, finely diced                 1
Chopped fresh parsley                                 1 tbsp.
Salt                                                              3/4 tsp.
Pepper                                                         1/2 tsp.

Directions:

Combine all 9 ingredients together in a large bowl. Form into 6 to 8 patties. Broil 4 inches from heat, 10 minutes per side, or grill over medium heat on BBQ.

 Try them out and let me know what you think! 

Roasted Pepper Sauce

If you want a new pasta sauce to try out, this one is awesome! I totally recommend it, I made it for the first time a week ago and it was really great! I am going to try it with some other colour peppers as well. Since I'm a student I think it will be whichever pepper is on sale. After having the sauce I don't think I would use green peppers because it is nor as sweet, however the original  recipe recommends all coloured peppers.


Ingredients:
Large red peppers                                       5
Chopped fresh sweet basil                           2/3 cup

Hard margarine                                            1 tsp.
Garlic cloves, crushed                                  2
Green onions, sliced thinly                            6

All-purpose flour                                          1 1/2 tbsp.
Skim evaporated milk                                   13 1/2 oz. or 385 mL
Dried oregano                                              1/2 tsp.
Dried thyme                                                 1/2 tsp.
Salt                                                              1 1/2 tsp.
Ground pepper                                             1/2 tsp.

Place peppers on baking sheet with sides. Broil 3 inches from heat for 30 minutes, turning several times until skin is blackened. Remove from oven and cover with foil. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Peel off skin and discard seeds, reserve juice.

Put peeled pepper, reserved juice and basil into blender. Process until very finely chopped.

Melt margarine in a non-stick skillet. Saute garlic and green onion until onion is soft.

Combine flour and evaporated milk in a small cup. Stir until smooth. Add oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Add to garlic mixture, along with pepper puree. Heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce is boiling and thickened. Serve immediately. Makes 4 1/2 cups of sauce, enough for 4 servings.

1 serving: 155 calories, 11 g protein, 1.6g total fat, 1 162 mg sodium, 4g dietary fibre. 

The first time I made it I halved the recipe and it made 3 servings. It was delicious and I recommend it to everyone! Serve over whole wheat pasta.

Yummy Spaghetti and Meat-sauce

Something I think is important is a good spaghetti recipe. Who does like spaghetti? I mean I can understand why some people are sick of it, after growing up and having spaghetti every Wednesday night. But once you get past that spaghetti is a quick and easy meal. You can make it the day of, or ahead of time and freeze the sauce! I've done both with the following recipe and it works out great! :) Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 can beef broth
3 cups tomato sauce
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow or orange pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper (or to taste)

1 package of dry spaghetti, cooked and drained

Preperation:
1. Brown the beef with onion and garlic in a medium skillet over medium heat.
2. Drain excess fat.
3. Add beef broth. Simmer.
4. Add the next eight ingredients (switch to a deep pot).
5. Mix well.
6. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Serve over hot spaghetti with garlic bread.
** Optional - If someone doesn't like chunks in their sauce, blend the tomato and peppers to make a paste.