Deep Dish Pizza

Sorry it has been a while since I posted. I have been on the road for the last couple of weeks and now I am back for a while. This deep dish pizza is really easy and yummy. The recipe is courtesy of Southern Plate. Enjoy!

Deep Dish Pizza

1 lb ground beef

1lb Italian sausage

1 med onion, chopped

1 C flour

15 ounce jar pizza sauce (or pasta sauce)

1/2 C Parmesan

8 ounce mozzarella

1/2 tsp salt

dash black pepper

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 T oil

1/2 tsp garlic salt

2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning

Preheat oven to 350. Brown hamburger, sausage, onion, and or any other veggies you like on your pizza (mushrooms, bell pepper). Drain well. Add Italian Seasonin. Add pizza or pasta sauce. Stir well.

Grease a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray.

Sprinkle mozzarella over bottom of it.

Spread meat mixture over the cheese.

In mixing bowl, add eggs, milk, flour, oil, and salt.

Pour over meat in pan. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over batter.

Bake 30 minutes.

Barefoot Contessa Tomato, Mozzarella and Pesto Panini

As you can tell, I love Barefoot Contessa. This panini is easy to make and it can be made with a panini press or with just a frying pan. Enjoy!

Tomato, Mozzarella, and Pesto Panini

2 large ripe beefsteak tomatoes
1 (16-ounce) ball fresh mozzarella
12 slices bakery white bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick
about 1 cup prepared pesto
kosher salt
unsalted butter, at room temperature

1) Preheat a panini grill machine.

2) Core the tomatoes and slice the tomatoes and mozzarella 1/4-inch thick.

3) Place the bread slices on a work surface. Spread each slice evenly with pesto.

4) Place a layer of mozzarella (about 2 slices) on half of the bread and cover with a layer of tomato. (If the tomatoes are large, it will only be one slice.)

5) Sprinkle the tomato with salt. Place the remaining slices of bread, pesto side down, on top.

6) Spread the top and bottom of each sandwich with softened butter.
Grill the sandwiches in batches on the panini grill for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mozzarella starts to ooze.

7) Cut each sandwich in half, and serve warm.

Photo courtesy of No Lemon Juice

Viva Las Vegas

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Las Vegas and ate at a wonderful steak house. If you want an incredible meal go to Craft Steak at the MGM Grand. It honestly was one of the best meals we have had in a long time. We enjoyed the family style tasting meal. We started with a deconstructed ceasar salad and lobster bisque. We then moved onto Kobe beef steaks and scallops with a side of creamed spinach and fried jerusalem artichokes. Finished up the meal with three fabulous desserts.

Peach Streusel Coffee Cake

I have made this coffee cake a couple of times and it is wonderful. Peaches are back in the grocery store, so thought it would be a good excuse to make again for my Dad's birthday brunch. For this recipe I used peaches and apricots. Recipe is courtesy of Annie's Eats. Enjoy!

Peach Streusel Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

For the streusel:

¾ cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces



For the cake:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 egg

4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

½ cup milk

1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. almond extract

2-3 firm, ripe peaches, 1 lb. total, peeled and sliced (you can use non-peeled apricots as well)


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9-inch round springform pan.

To make the streusel, in a bowl, stir together the flour, brown and granulated sugars and cinnamon. Add the butter and, using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut or rub in the butter until coarse crumbs form. Set aside.

To make the cake, in a bowl, stir together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed or a wire whisk, beat the egg, melted butter, milk, vanilla and almond extract until creamy, about 1 minute. Add to the flour mixture and beat just until evenly moistened. There should be no lumps or dry spots. Do not overmix.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Arrange the peach slices in concentric circles from the pan sides to the center. Gently press the slices into the batter. Sprinkle evenly with the streusel.

Bake until the topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 20 minutes. Remove the sides of the springform pan. Serve the cake warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.

Keftethedes - Greek Meatballs

So, I am Greek and love cooking yummy Greek dishes. These meatballs are wonderful and can be made with turkey, pork or beef. They have cinnamon in them which make a delightful addition to the overall flavor of the meatballs.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 lbs Ground Beef (pork or turkey)
1 medium onion fine chopped
1 large potato grated
2 eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350
2) Mix all ingredients in bowl
3) Form into meatballs a little bit over a golf ball in size
4) Roll parchment paper onto a baking sheet
5) Place meatballs on baking sheet
6) Bake for 15 to 20 minutes on 350 degrees
7) Turn oven to broil (450) and broil meatballs for 5 minutes

Barefoot Contessa Guacamole

I am a huge fan of anything you can dip. If I could live on appetizers alone I would. I am heading to a friend's house tonight and am going to make this yummy guacamole recipe from Barefoot Contessa. I will take some good pictures tonight after the masterpiece is complete and upload. Enjoy!!!

Perfect for any football game watching you have on tap on Sunday.

Ingredients
4 ripe Haas avocados
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
8 dashes Tabasco sauce (I always do a couple more dashes)
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 large garlic clove, minced (I LOVE garlic so I add a little bit more)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 medium tomato, seeded and finely chopped

Directions
Halve and pit the avocados, then scoop the flesh into a bowl. Add the lemon juice, Tabasco, onion, garlic and salt and pepper; toss with a wooden spoon.
Using a sharp knife, slice through the avocados in the bowl until they are finely diced. Add the tomatoes and toss to combine. Adjust the seasonings as needed.


Serve With
Baked tortilla chips or toasted pita triangles.

What To Cook?

So, I have hit a mid-week cooking slump. Not enough time to cook a huge meal, but just enough time to cook something delicous. But, I am looking for that inspiration. Any ideas of your go-to favorites to cook mid-week? Thanks in advance for your inspiration and will be cooking up a storm this weekend, so stay tuned or some good recipes.

Pastichio - A Beach Foodie Greek Family Favorite

This recipe is wonderful and great for cold weather. Make and freeze for dinners in the future. Makes about 8-12 servings. (photo courtesy of Istoria's Tales of Whimsical and Insane, Recipe courtesy of Cooks.com)

1 1/4 lbs Egg or Ziti noodles
1 lb. ground beef
1 med. onion
1/2 stick butter
1/3 c. flour
1/2 sm. can tomato paste
3 c. milk
3 eggs
1 c. grated cheese
1 tbsp. cinnamon
Salt & pepper to taste

Meat: Brown ground beef and onion in saucepan until fat evaporates. Add tomato paste with a few ounces of water. Add salt, pepper and cinnamon. Cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Boil noodles and set aside.

Sauce: Mix 1/2 stick butter (melted) and flour with egg beater until thick (30 seconds). Add slowly milk until it boils (5 minutes). Stir frequently.

On side, beat eggs in a bowl. Let milk boil slowly, stirring constantly until a little thick, then pour 1 cup of the milk into the eggs and beat to mix without lumping. Then return to pot and stir constantly over medium heat. Avoid boiling (about 1-2 minutes). Then add grated cheese and stir. Take 1 1/2 or 2 quarts casserole dish greased. Spread 1/2 noodles and cover with 1/3 sauce. Then 1 layer of meat and cover with 1/3 of sauce. Last layer is rest of noodles with rest of sauce on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Banana Crumb Loaf with Chocolate Chips

Made these fabulous muffins last month. Last week I tweaked the recipe and made it into a loaf which we LOVED. This recipe is courtesy of Annie's Eats (http://annieseats.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/banana-crumb-muffins) and All Recipes.

This is perfect for breakfast or a tasty treat.

Banana Crumb Muffins
Ingredients:
For the muffins:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup of chocolate chips

For the topping:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly grease the loaf pan.


In a large bowl, mix together 1 ½ cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg, cinnamon and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan.


In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over loaf.


Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

Barefoot Contessa's Turkey Meatloaf

This is one of my favorites and perfect for a nice Saturday night or Sunday comfort food meal. I usually make extra and we have leftovers for a few days. Photo courtesy of Food Network. Still getting my photography in check.


Barefoot Contessa's Turkey Meatloaf
2¼ hours 25 min prep

SERVES 8 -10

Ingredients
3 cups chopped
2 tablespoons
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
5 lbs ground turkey
1 1/2 cups plain breadcrumbs
3 large eggs beaten
3/4 cup ketchup

Directions
1) Preheat oven to 325F.

2) Saute onions in olive oil until translucent, about 15 minutes.

3) Add salt, pepper, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock and tomato paste and mix well.

4) Allow to cool to room temperature.

5) Combine ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg and onion mixture in a large bowl.

6) Mix wll and shape into a rectangular loaf on an ungreased sheet pan.

7) Spread the ketchup evenly on top.

8) Bake for 1 1/2 hours until the internal temperature is 160F and the meatloaf is cooked through.