Gyro Inspired Skillet Meal

I like Gyros and I like lamb except, tonight, I only had ground lamb and a few other random ingredients so... I made this up. Fairly tasty!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground lamb
1/2 large onion (chopped)
2 medium potatoes  (chopped small)
1 clove chopped or crushed garlic

• 1 tablespoon dried marjoram
• 1 tablespoon dried ground rosemary
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 T olive oil (I used Rosemary infused olive oil)

Directions:

In a skillet over medium high heat, heat up oil and start browning potatoes. Add garlic and onion. 

Once everything starts cooking add all the spices. Once potatoes and onion starts to brown add ground lamb and cook thoroughly.

 

Serve and enjoy!

Now, you can make a Tzatziki sauce to serve over this but I did not have the ingredients to make it tonight. Here are the directions for that:

• Ingredients:
• 6 ounces plain yogurt
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely chopped
• Pinch kosher salt
• 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
• 5 to 6 mint leaves, finely minced

Directions:

Place the yogurt in a tea towel, gather up the edges, suspend over a bowl, and drain for 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Place the chopped cucumber in a tea towel and squeeze to remove the liquid; discard liquid. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the drained yogurt, cucumber, salt, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and mint. Serve as a sauce for meal. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

Spicy Asian Basil Chicken (Beef or Turkey)

I've made this recipe a few times and it's really my take on Ka Pow chicken with ingredients I usually have in my kitchen. It actually does taste like a very mild version of Ka Pow. You can make this recipe with any meat - chicken, beef or even ground turkey.

Ingredients:

1 lb meat of choice (chicken, beef or turkey)
1 clove fresh garlic
2 jalapeños
1/2 large onion
2-3 T basil
1 T ground black pepper
2 T olive oil
2-3 T Mirin
2 T soy sauce

Directions:

In deep sauté pan heat olive oil and add chopped onion, garlic and chipped jalapeño pepper. When onion starts to brown, add Mirin, soy sauce, basil and pepper then add your meat. Cook over medium heat until meat is cooked through. Sometimes I do add more oil, Mirin or soy sauce if pan gets too dry.

Serve over rice.

It really is that easy and tastes good. You can adjust heat by adding more peppers or leaving seeds in the jalapeños (I usually remove mine)

You can also add other veggies if you wish. Sometimes I add some chopped cherry tomato. I also sometimes add some sesame seeds over the top for a little crunch.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

After a bit of a long hiatus (and a new baby!).... we're back!

Ingredients:

olive oil (I used rosemary infused olive oil)
1/2 cup ranch (I use Hidden Valley Fat Free)
3 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T Rosemary
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 lb chicken cut into pieces
veggies of your choice

Directions:

In a pan over medium high heat, heat up chicken in the olive oil (I didn't measure, used a good amount) with rosemary, salt and black pepper.

While chicken is cooking (make sure to stir occasionally) cut up veggies. You can use whatever you like. Tonight I used green beans and tomatoes as that's what I got from the Farmer's Market this week. Once chicken is half cooked, add ranch, Worcestershire, lemon juice and vinegar. Add veggies.

Cook on medium heat until chicken is cooked through and veggies are hot. Stir occasionally. You can serve over rice or eat as it. I did think this was a strange mix of ingredients but tasted very good! Enjoy!

Crock Pot Lasagna

Now, I will say, usually I make my own sauce (recipe to come in the near future) but this is an excellent quick recipe that is delicious!

Ingredients

1 pound (16 ounces) ground beef
1/2 cup diced white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 (24 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce - I used Barilla Tomato and Basil
1/2 cup water
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 whole egg
3 tsp Italian Seasoning
6 uncooked lasagna noodles

Directions

In a large skillet brown beef and onion. Add garlic and cook for one minute. Drain.

Add spaghetti sauce and water and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 Tablespoons Parmesan, egg and spices.

Pour 1 cup of spaghetti meat sauce into a 4 to 6 quart sized slow cooker. Place half of the noodles
and half of the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce. Cover with 2 cups meat sauce. Top with remaining noodles (If the noodles don't fit exactly break them to fit) and cheese mixture and meat sauce.

Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or until noodles are soft. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella and
remaining parmesan. ReCover with the lid to melt the cheese and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Do not overcook and don't try to speed up the process by cooking it on high.

*Works best with a 4 to 6 quart size slow cooker.

Nutella Rice Krispie Treats

Love Nutella? Love Rice Krispie Treats? Well then you're in the right place and these are to die for!

INGREDIENTS

6 cups Rice Krispy Cereal

1 (10.5 oz) bag mini marshmallows

1/4 cup butter

1 heaping cup Nutella

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Measure out Rice Krispies cereal into a large bowl and set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and marshmallows together until smooth.
3. Once marshmallows and butter have melted together add Nutella and stir until well combined.
4. Pour marshmallow mixture over the cereal. Stir to coat evenly. Press into a greased pan.
5. Stick in the fridge and let it set up. Once they have set, cut into them and eat up!

Super Easy Steak Fajitas

One thing I love is fajitas and they are so easy to make. My favorite is steak.
You will need:

thin cut skillet steak (I usually get thin cut round eye)
cilantro
salt
pepper
onion
bell pepper
flour tortillas
fillings of your choosing such as cheese, lettuce, salsa, cholula hot sauce, guacamole, etc.

The steak is going to cook super fast on the stove top. Before you start cut your onion and pepper into strips. Heat your skillet over medium heat with a small amount of oil. Season your steaks with cilantro, salt and pepper. The steaks will cook in about 2 minutes per side. Take your steaks off the heat and cut into thin strips. Now saute your cut onions and peppers for your fajitas, do so now IN the pan you just cooked the steaks in - utilize all that flavor :)

Now you just need to build your fajitas and enjoy!

Pulled Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Tonight I am making a favorite in my house. Not only a favorite to eat but a favorite to make because you will not believe how simple it is! All you need is 4 ingredients*:

1 lb chicken breast

1 packet dry ranch dressing (I like Hidden Valley)

franks red hot sauce (or your favorite buffalo sauce)

rolls or buns

*You can also add Creamy Ranch Dressing, celery seed and chopped veggies of your choice if you desire.

You'll be cooking this all day in a crock pot. Put the frozen chicken in the crock pot and cover with the ranch packet. 

Then just cover the bottom of the crock pot with the hot sauce. Do not fully cover the chicken, you only need to make sure there is enough liquid in there so nothing burns.

Now set your crock pot on low and cook for 5-6 hours. At that time, take the chicken and shred it with a fork - it should shred easily. 

Add some creamy ranch dressing and a tablespoon of celery seed to your mixture if you desire (this will make everything a bit less spicy) and mix. If you want to add chopped veggies (I added onions and orange bell peppers above) you will do this now. Cook an additional hour on low.

Once chicken mixture is ready, serve on rolls and enjoy!