Recipe #5: Classic Spaghetti & Meatsauce

Who doesn't love this scrumptious Italian staple? I just picture a cute little Italian family with Robert DeNiro at the head of the table, " Heyyah Uncle Louie, pass the MeatSwass will ya?!" 

LOL! I'm Hispanic and we do the same thing!  So, let's take a look at my version of this signature dish that has a tiny bit of spice, a tiny bit of smokiness, and a tiny bit of sweetness!  Not to mention, it's rich, chunky, texture!  The Perfect Meat Sauce!

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 Tbsp of White Sugar

1 Package of Ground Chuck or Beef

24 oz Can of Crushed Tomatoes

6 oz Can of Tomato Paste

1 Shallot

1 Tbsp White Wine

1/2 Roll of Wheat Ritz Crackers

2 1/2 Tbsp of Minced Garlic

1 Package of Spaghetti Pasta

2 Tbsp of Smoked Paprika

1 Tbsp of Salt

1 Tbsp of Garlic Powder

1/2 Tbsp of Black Pepper

1/2 Tbsp of Onion Powder

1/2 Tbsp of Cayenne Pepper

1/2 Tbsp of Dried Oregano

1/2 Tbsp of Dried Thyme

1/2 Tbsp of Adobo

1 Tsp of Basil

A Drizzle of Olive Oil (not pictured)

Parmesan Cheese for Topping (not pictured)

Directions:

Cook Pasta according to directions until "al dente."

In a seperate pan, saute minced garlic and chopped up shallot in a drizzle of olive oil.  "Carapelli" has a great flavor and is not on the expensive side.

Next, add your shallots and garlic to a food processor along with the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.

Add your meat to the already oiled pan and add the crushed crackers, and wine.

Once meat is browned, add the sauce from your food processor and lower the stove to a low simmer.

In a separate bowl, mix all seasonings together and stir into your sauce.

Last, but not least, add your hint of sweetness.  Add your sugar to taste, depending on how sweet you would like it.  I added about 2 1/2 Tablespoons because I like a sweet and savory sauce.  Top with Shredded Parmesan and enjoy!

Recipe #4: Reese's Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Oatmeal?! Chocolate?! Peanut Butter?! These tasty treats are sooo yummy yummy in my tummy!  Perfect for a rainy day or any lazy day really...(which is about every day for me, shh! Don't tell my boss!) 😆 anyway, bottom line is these bars are delicious, simple to make, and I found everything I needed for them right in my pantry!  If you love to bake, like me, I'm sure you will too lol.

You simply mix all of the ingredients together, press them into a greased pan (I used wax paper), bake, freeze, and Voila! 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of Soy Milk

1 Egg

1/4 cup of Butter (melted)

2 Tbsp of Sugar

2 Tbsp of Brown Sugar

A dash of Salt

1 Tsp Baking Powder

3/4 cup of Quick Oats

2 Bags of Instant Flavored Oatmeal

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

6 oz of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

1/2 cup of Reese's Peanut Butter Spread

Directions:  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and use a wooden spoon or spatula to make sure they all blend together to form one delicious, gooey batter/paste-like substance...lick spoon...

NEXT! Press into a greased pan (or line a pan with wax paper if you like shortcuts like me!)  Bake for 25 minutes.  Cut into small squares with pizza cutter and freeze for about 10 minutes!  Enjoy!!!

Recipe #3: Beef & Cornbread Comfort Casserole

When I was about ten years old I was obsessed with Mary-Kate & Ashley movies.  Well, I remember watching It Takes Two and having my mouth water when the rich twin bit into that delicious messy sloppy joe at the camp!  Can you believe, I never tasted a sloppy joe until a few years ago?! Yeah, we don't have those in Latino homes.  Jajaja.  Anyway, I've never been too fond of the Original Shepard's Pie Recipe so I decided to create my own, incorporating the Sloppy Joe and a bunch of other delicious ingredients!  This Shepard's Pie Rendition is like melt-in-your-mouth comfort food to me and I would love nothing more than to share it with you today!  

***(NOT TO MENTION IT IS BUDGET FRIENDLY!)

Ingredients:

                              1 Portion of Boxed Mashed Potatoes  (not pictured)                 (or homemade-more power to you!)

1/2 Cup  Heavy Cream (not pictured)

2 Tbsp Butter (not pictured)

1  Lb Ground Beef (any kind)

1/2 Can of Whole Kernel Corn

1 Egg

1 Bag of Sloppy Joe Seasoning

1 Tsp Vegetable Oil (not pictured)

1 1/2 Rolls of Ritz Whole Wheat Crackers

3 Cups  Shredded Cheese (any kind)

6 oz. Can Tomato Paste

***Any kind of Corn Bread Mix

Directions:

-Make mashed potatoes according to Box (I like to use Betty Crocker's Mashed Potatoes and use Heavy Cream instead of regular Milk for Creamier results ;))

-Spread Mashed Potatoes in an oven-safe pan of your choice

-Brown Meat with oil until cooked and add corn, tomato paste, sloppy joe mix, a beaten egg, and 1/4 cup of water

-NOW, it's gonna sound weird...but Add 1 1/2 rolls of Ritz Crackers crushed with your hands into this mix!! (Do Not crush with food processor, Crush with Hands, the consistency will blend perfectly with meat Trust Me.)

-Add this blend to your potatoes...

-Add cheese...

-Prepare Cornbread mix according to directions...Add prepared Cornbread Batter...

               -BAKE for 35 minutes at 375 Degrees or until Cornbread is done...and VOILA!

DEEliciousness!

**PS this dish can be made with Taco Seasoning and Sofrito instead of Sloppy Joe Mix and Tomato Paste too!

Recipe #2: Layered Tex-Mex Party Dip

So, my friends and I are going to be partying on a boat this weekend and I was grocery shopping for some snacks.  I wanted chips and dip, until I decided, why not make my own?!  This dip is infused with flavor, thickness, and spice...perfect for the occasion!

Ingredients:

1/2 Can Whole Kernel Sweet Corn

2 Tbsp Salsa (any kind) 

1 Tbsp Hot sauce (any kind)

1 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Shredded Cheese (any kind)

1 Can Refried Beans (any kind)

1 Tbsp Butter (not pictured)

1/4 Cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs (not pictured)

1 Tsp Vegetable Oil (not pictured)

*A dash of Mexican Chili Powder (not pictured)

Directions:

-Saute Refried Beans with the vegetable oil on medium heat

-Add the Salsa and Corn and continue stirring until beans are steaming hot and coated with oil and other ingredients

-Transfer Bean Dip into a microwave-safe container (whatever container you are serving this in-I chose tupperware because I'm taking mine To-Go!)

-Add Cheese and melt in microwave for 30 seconds

-Next, add the hot sauce...yum.

-Now, add the butter separated into little pieces (this allows it to stick to the breadcrumbs and melt easier & faster!)

-Then, pour the seasoned bread crumbs in...

-Microwave this for about a minute or until the bread crumbs are fully coated with butter...(you can also stick it in the oven but that wouldn't work very well for my tupperware!)

-Top with Sour Cream and a sprinkle of Mexican Chili Powder for a Spicy Finish!

Turned out Sooo Delicious! 

 And this snack dip is perfect for 

an "On-the-Go" Boat, Beach, or Roadtrip!

Recipe #1: Homemade Cashew Teriyaki Sauce Wrap

I LOVE Sauce.  I do not enjoy Plain foods whatsoever.  I love things with flavor and so does my boyfriend.  This is a huge benefit for me because it allows me to be creative with the blends of flavors that I come up with and at times if I don't feel like going grocery shopping (which is almost always) I will just use whatever ingredients I have lying around my kitchen. 

Now, I'm not going to pretend that I am some sort of chef who went to culinary school and knows how to make everything from scratch.  That is for Holidays and when I have some time and PATIENCE on my hands!  But really, in this day and age, with our busy lives, and with all of the resources that we have available to us at the grocery store, I will say that I am not ashamed to "whip things up" once in a while.  And by "whip things up" I mean putting ingredients together to make a delicious meal rather than 'cooking' everything from scratch.  So, tonight is one of those nights where I was craving something specific ("Asian food") and challenged myself to use only what I already have!

Ingredients:

For Chicken-

2 Tbsp                 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Bag     Tyson's Cubed Chicken Breast

1 Tbsp                                              Flour

1/4 Tsp                                  Salt (not pictured)

1/2 Tsp                  Black Pepper (not pictured)

   1/2 Tsp  Onion Powder or Adobo(not pictured) 

 1 Tbsp Seasoned Bread Crumbs (not pictured)

For Sauce-

1 cup          cashews (processed/crushed)

1 Tbsp                  Minced Garlic (not pictured)

1 Tbsp                                       Soy Sauce

1 Tbsp  Jugo Maggi (Any Balsami Glaze sauce will work)

1 Tsp                 Habanero Sauce (not pictured)

1/2 Tbsp                  Brown Sugar (of any kind)

For Rice-

1 cup                                     rice (of any kind) 

1 Tbsp                                            Butter

1 cup                                               water

                     1 cup                           coconut water/milk                                                   (I prefer using milk but I didn't have any this time)

*1        flour tortilla or any kind of wrap

Directions:

-Set stove to medium-high heat

-Add Olive Oil, Flour, Bread Crumbs, Chicken, & Seasonings

-Saute for 4 minutes or until chicken is coated and almost fully cooked

-In a separate pan roast cashew with a little olive oil until light brown and put in food processor

-Add garlic, soy sauce, and balsamic glaze to chicken and stir

-Add brown sugar, habanero and leave cashew for last

-Add cashew and any veggies you have lying around that would work (sprouts, water chestnuts, broccoli, peppers, green onions, asparagus...any of these would go well with this dish...I added red peppers and sugar snap peas)

-For rice-Boil water, coconut water, and butter

-Throw in rice and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquids are absorbed

-Combine with chicken, veggies, and throw into a wrap or eat by itself! So yummy, sweet, spicy, sticky, juicy, and flavorful!

Grace's Kitchen Endeavors

Yay! I am starting a blog about my kitchen endeavors!  Now, when people ask me for my recipes or how I decorate my baked treats, I can refer them here!

FIRST...A LITTLE ABOUT ME....

I am 26 years old.

I have a degree in Communication & Media with a concentration in Musical Theatre and my passions include, singing, acting, Zumba, traveling, and food!

I have a boyfriend named Tony.

Together we love to eat, have fun, travel, and watch Walking DEAD!

BUT we also have A LOT OF responsibilites!

I am a Server, Marketing Assistant, and my favorite, a Character Actress (which means I get to dress up as different Princesses and Characters and sing to kids at their birthday parties or events! It's So much fun!)

AND I HAVE TWO THREE-YEAR OLD PITBULLS

AND A STEPDAUGHTER WHO I LOVE AND SOMETIMES HELPS ME IN THE KITCHEN TOO!...LIKE ON THESE GUYS' BIRTHDAYS!

I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING HOW DOES SHE DO IT?!

BUT IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL YOU HAVE TO MAKE TIME FOR THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY AND NOURISH YOUR SPIRIT...

 SO I STILL MAKE TIME TO HIT UP THE GYM...

...RARELY...

AND DO DIY PROJECTS!

...LIKE ONCE IN A BLUE MOON...

AND GO TO CHURCH!

SOMETIMES...

AND SPEND TIME WITH LOVED ONES

MOST OF THE TIME...

AND COOK & BAKE!!!...

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

ALL OF THE TIME!