Friday, April 22, 2011

Baked Eggplant Parm

I found this recipe while cleaning up my cooking magazines. This was an advertisement for Newman's Pasta Sauce. I used my favorite spicy sauce from Trader Joes. Brian loved this dish. It was really easy to make and a much healthier version because you bake the eggplant, not fry it.

1/4 cup milk (I used fat free)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups panko
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1 large eggplant cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices(I left the peel on)
cooking spray
olive oil
1 24 oz jar of pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozarella cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Whisk milk and eggs in a bowl.

Combine panko and next five ingredients in a shallow dish. Dip eggplant slices into egg mixture then dip in panko. Arrange slices on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 10-15 on each side. Drizzle with olive oil if getting too dry.

Decrease temperature to 375. Spoon pasta sauce in a 11 x 7 baking dish. Layer half eggplant slices over sauce top with more sauce and cheese. Layer more eggplant, sauce and cheese. Baked for 20 minutes.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Chili

This was a very easy meal that you can make ahead. Highly recommend it!

Serving 2 (double for left overs or more people)

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 small chopped onion
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
4 oz tomato sauce
1 can kidney beans
pepper to taste
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp (or to taste) cayenne
1/4 tsp garlic powder

In a cast iron pot or large pot, brown the beef. Combine all indgredients and let simmer for 1 hr on the stove.
Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Rachel Ray's Super Sloppy Joes

I'm back! Took a little time off due to pregnancy. Those hormones made me not want to cook a thing. I tried this recipe out on my dinner party girls and they really liked it. Easy meal to make. I found it a tad bit sweet, so next time will cut back on the sugar and add some red pepper flakes for heat.

Super Sloppy Joes
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 super sloppy sandwiches
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 1 1/4 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend, such as McCormick brand Montreal Seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 crusty rolls, split, toasted, and lightly buttered

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted, buttered bun bottoms and cover with bun tops.