Meatballs!!!

My hubby loves meatballs! I could take them or leave them and don't make them often but when I do, I do a lot at one time. These are perfect to freeze so you have them for a quick meal later on, I froze mine raw but they are great frozen after baked thru then you can pop one or two into the microwave for the kids at lunch time.

Meatballs.
2 lb of Ground Beef or Turkey (Worcester sauce to make it more beefy when using turkey)
2 Eggs
1/4 c Parmesan
1/2-3/4 cup breadcrumbs (Start with 1/2 c.)
Spices- whatever you like!
2 jars spaghetti sauce




Put meat into the bowl and add everything. Mix well until it holds together. Use the extra 1/4 c breadcrumbs if it isn't holding together well. Just like my meatloaf!



Roll into 2 inch balls and refrigerate covered over night. I put mine on wax paper lined pan and cover with wax paper before wrapping in plastic wrap.

In the morning about 6-8 hours before you want to eat get out the crock pot and set on low. Add just enough spaghetti sauce to cover bottom. Then place in the meatballs. Cover with remaining spaghetti sauce. add 1/2 can/jar water just to thin it a bit. Cook on Low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve with Pasta of your choice. Real yummy with garlic bread and a simple salad!

That night I only made half of the meatballs and froze the other half so I only used one can of sauce. Was another big hit and hubby stopped asking for a while :)

Quicky Chicken and Pasta

Here is another of my quick and easy recipes that is all things I keep in the house most times. I buy my chicken breasts bulk when they are .99-1.49 per pound (no more than that) then I bake up a big batch, dice, and freeze for later. Makes for quick meals when you didn't remember to thaw something. (I think we have all been there at one time or another)


   

Quicky Chicken and Pasta

This recipe is extremely adaptable. For mine I took 1 cup diced cooked chicken, 1 1/2 cooked bow tie pasta, 1 cup peas and carrots. 2 TBSP butter and herbs.

    Brown the butter with herbs. This is totally up to you what and how much. I personally love my onion, garlic, pepper, and parsley.

Add the chicken and veggies until coated with the butter and herbs and warmed thru. 

Add the cooked pasta and stir until coated completely. (Pasta water can be added if its too tight) 

Then serve. I add Parmesan to mine! This made enough for  my little guy and I with enough left for another person! 

To adapt- Use your favorite herbs and spices. Choose the meat you have on hand. Use whatever pasta you want! Double Triple just have fun with it!

Quick and Easy Pork and Rice

I love easy quick meals that fill you up without breaking the bank. This pork I got super cheap on sale (bought bulk and portioned it myself) Was .99 a pound!!!  Most of these Items you will find in my home all the time.  This meal was made one of those days where I was hungry it was day before grocery day and I was running low on everything. 

              My guy was ready to help Mommy

Quick and Easy Pork and Rice

1 lb Pork Cubed
Seasonings of your choice. ( I use garlic and onion powder, parsley, and pepper)
Can of Creamy Mushroom Soup
Brown Rice - About 3 cups prepared (I used white as we had chinese night before)
Shredded Cheese- 2 cups
Baking pan lined with Foil- I use a brownie pan as it seems to be the best size for me.

Season the pork and brown until cooked thru.

 .Serve with a side of veggies or mix in veggies before baking.
Serves 6 

 

We call him "QC" (quality control) Keeps him happy and quiet when I'm cooking and we sing and dance, I tell him step by step what I'm doing as well! Its lots of fun!!

 In separate bowl mix the rice and seasonings with the soup and 1 cup shredded cheese.

 

Add browned and drained pork to the mix.

 

Place into baking pan and top with remaining cheese.

 

  Cook for 20 min at 350 or until warmed thru and cheese is bubbly.

  Serve with a side of veggies or mix in veggies before baking.
Serves 6

Shepard's Pie!

I love love love Shepard's Pie and its super easy too! Its super quick to make and tasty!

What you will need:
  1lb of beef or turkey (have you noticed I prefer turkey yet?)
  1 bag of frozen veggies (be creative use what YOU like)
  Mashed potatoes (this is where I use up any leftover's or make enough for two servings, Hubby is diabetic so we watch the amount of carbs in our foods most of the time) I think I used about 1 cup as that is what I had in the fridge from the Meatloaf Cupcakes
1 spoon flour ( I really don't measure it!)

Heat Oven to 350 (yes this is the temp I use on almost everything)

Brown one pound of your choice of ground meat, add whatever your favorite spice mixture is! (I'll add my spice recipe in another post)

  Add your bag of veggies, I used peas and carrots since that is my toddlers favorite mix.

Once everything is mixed and the veggies start to thaw spray a 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray, add flour to the mix and stir well. 
 Place mixture into pan and spread potatoes on top.

It should look like this. You can add more potatoes if you wish.
I bake mine for about 15 minutes just until the potatoes are hot and the veggies get a little more soft.

This was another big hit with my toddler and I loved it too. Hubby didn't get to try it this time but he loves it any other time.
           Normally I would have added some Worcestershire sauce but I was out today.

Serves 4 generously.  Total cost of this meal was $3.00!!!

Mashed Sweet Potatoes!

So my little guy Jared LOVES Sweet Potatoes. From a very very early time that was his go to veggie.  When I started making picture recipes for my youngest brother I knew this had to be sent to him. He doesn't know how great they can taste! So I wanted to introduce them to him by showing him how easy they can be to prepare.

               Mashed Sweet Potatoes:

     Peel and Dice into 1 1/2 inch cubes: Be careful as these and rutabaga are very hard and difficult to get the first few cuts thru.






  

 Add to water and bring to boil: Make sure water covers all of the potatoes.

Boil for 10 min or until fork tender
Strain and add to bowl
Add 1 stick butter or Margarine (8tbsp)

Mash : This is the tool I use but if you like yours smooth by all means use and electric beater.

Add salt to taste



   This batch served about 8.


Note for everyone. This is how I make my potatoes, rutabaga, and sweet potatoes. We love our mashes to have lumps but this will also work if they are whipped.

This makes great "frosting" for my Meatloaf Cupcakes!

Meatloaf Perz Style!

I love meatloaf! I used to ask for it for my birthday every single year. Finally I learned how to make it and surpassed what I had grown up with.  My recipe is extremely simple, everything is simple things you should be able to get at any grocery store, and its moist!
    I started making my recipes with pictures for my youngest brother who lives in another state and missed my cooking. This is one of the many that I have sent him so far. I hope you enjoy it!

                  Sianna's Meatloaf









2 lb of Ground Beef or Turkey (Worcester sauce to make it more beefy when using turkey)
2 Eggs
1/4 c Parmesan
1/2-3/4 cup breadcrumbs (Start with 1/2 c.)
Spices- whatever you like!
Ketchup

Put meat into the bowl and add everything but the ketchup on top. Mix well until it holds together. Use the extra 1/4 c breadcrumbs if it isn't holding together well.

Divide into 6 equal portions and form into small loafs. 

Spread Ketchup on top.

Bake at 350 for 30 min or cooked all the way thru.





Let sit in oven with temp off for 5 min.

            This recipe will serve 12 people depending on how generous you are with your meatloafs.
  Personally I don't like a large loaf but if you were to do this as one loaf I suggest you forgo the loaf pan and free form the shape. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. 

 My plate when all was said and done. I had two portions of meat that night, steamed green beans tossed in a few herbs and light butter, and mashed sweet potatoes!

                                          My little guys plate! He loved the supper :)

Side note for my thrifty shoppers looking for a easy and cheap meal. I find my turkey for anywhere from .99-1.49 a pound and do NOT buy it for more than that. This recipe in total for 12 people cost around $10.00. That is less than a dollar per person! Plus you will have the staples for next time and all it will cost you is the meat. Normally I make my own breadcrumbs but my wonderful husband did some shopping for me and I asked for bread to make crumbs and got a container of crumbs :)

Cupcakes for Dinner!!!

Yes that's right I said cupcakes for dinner! Do you have a super picky eater, or how about one who hates veggies, better yet do you have that special birthday dinner coming up and you want something super cute?

    One night while I was trying to decide what to make for supper it hit me! I have seen pictures and always said that I had to make them so why not now. Meatloaf Cupcakes!


    My recipe starts with a basic one pound meatloaf recipe. (Here is my recipe!)

     You will also need a cupcake pan (6cups) I had a texas size cupcake pan on hand so mine are bigger in the posted pictures.
      Separate the meat into 6 sections.
     Spray cupcake pan with non stick spray
     Put the meat mixture into each of the cups
     Top with ketchup if you want to

        
     Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked (mine took a few minutes more)

     Take out cool for a few minutes. Set on paper towels to soak up a little grease.

              Meanwhile make up a batch of your favorite mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rutabaga... What ever you prefer! ( I am thinking next time I make these I might just make a mash of potatoes and puree peas for green "frosting".
                  I made both reg potatoes and sweet potatoes for the batch pictured!
     Take your potatoes and scoop, pipe, or spoon it on top to make the "frosting".

       *Optional* Add small cut up veggies as the "sprinkles". I used peas and carrots!

                 

  My little Guy LOVED his Cupcake.