Santa Claus what?

Have you ever heard of a Santa Claus Melon??
I hadn't before. I saw this little guy in the produce dept. the other day, and figured, with a name like that, I've just got to try it out.
aaahhh! Now I get it. It's snow-white interior (ok, maybe not snow white) is the reason for the name.

Ok, but how does it taste?

It's pretty good. It has a very subtle cantaloupe flavor with a hint of melon. Not quite the same flavor as a honeydew.

Chicken Tacos

This recipe came from my ex-brother in law. (My sisters first husband). It's a yummy way to make chicken tacos, if not a little fattening because they're fried in oil. But, it's an occasional splurge.

About a pound of cooked shredded chicken (I usually boil it)
1/2 onion diced
1 medium tomato diced
1/4 c. mayonnaise
pepper to taste
seasoning salt to taste
garlic powder to taste
1 package of corn tortillas (I usually just buy the 36 count pack and see how many tacos I can get out of the mixture)
1-2 cups vegetable oil

Mix together all ingredients except tortillas and oil.
Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium high heat until it's very hot. Prepare taco's by scooping about 1/4 cup of the mixture into each tortilla, fold in half, and using tongs set a taco in the oil. Hold it straight up until it holds it's shape, then fry each side in the oil as well, to your desired crispness. Drain on paper towel, salt if desired.

Hawaiian Dessert

There was a Mother/Daughter event at our church a week or so ago. We were to take a Hawaiian themed dessert. After looking around the web, and asking for advice, this is what I ended up taking. I thought it was yummy. Hope you do too...
I found the recipe at cooks.com

1 (18 1/4 oz) yellow cake mix

1 (5 1/2 oz) instant vanilla pudding

1 c. cold milk

1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese softened

1 8 oz. frozen whipped topping thawed

1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple well drained ( I reserved the juice for the cake mix)

1/2 c. pecans chopped

1/2 c. flaked coconut

1/2 c. maraschino cherries, chopped and drained (I don't care for them, so I omitted this one)

Prepare cake mix according to package directions (I used the pineapple juice for the water called for, and made up the difference with water). Pour into greased 10x15 inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes. Cool in pan.

Blend pudding mix and milk. beat cream cheese into pudding until smooth. Fold in whipped topping by hand (I used the mixer, for me it makes it smoother). Spread mixture on cooled cake. Spread pineapple on top. Then sprinkle with nuts, cherries (if desired) and coconut. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into squares.

Tucson Meat Pie

It's getting kind of hot to make this, because you bake it in the oven. But it's one of our favorites.

1T oil or margarine 1/2 t. cumin
1/2 med. onion 1 c. corn
2 cloves garlic minced 2 T. diced green chilies
1 lb. lean ground beef 1/2 t. salt
8 oz. tomato sauce 1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 t. chili powder 1 c. cheese shredded

Heat oil in large skillet. Saute' onion until soft. Stir in garlic. Add meat. Cook until barely pink. Stir in tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, corn, chilies, salt & pepper. stir and cook gently 5 minutes. Fill partially baked shell (recipe below). Bake at 375* 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese, cook 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Cornmeal pastry shell
3/4 c. flour
1/4 c. cornmeal
1/3c. butter

Place flour in bowl. Remove 2 1/2 T. flour and mix with 2 T. water, set aside. Add cornmeal to flour in bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in flour paste. Mix until dough forms. Roll out to fit pie pan, prick with fork. bake at 425* for 5 minutes.

Great with a side salad.

semi home-made spaghetti sauce

I made spaghetti for dinner tonight. The sauce came out even better than usual. So I thought I'd post what I did.

1 lb. ground beef browned
1 med. onion chopped
1/2 red bell pepper diced
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I used Kroger brand, garlic and parmesan I think)
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes Italian style
2 T sugar
small palm full Italian seasoning
1/4 t. basil
1/4 t. oregano
1/4 t. chili powder (more if you like it spicy)

I threw it all in the slow cooker, gave it a stir and let it go for 6 hours.
Boil some pasta and mix it all up.

Panzanella

This recipe is from Food Network, the Barefoot Contessa.
It is sooooo good! The croutons are to die for!! I usually buy a loaf of pre-sliced french bread from the bakery deptartment, and that works really well. I think the crustier the bread, the better.

Panzanella
Copyright 2001, Barefoot Contessa Parties!, All Rights Reserved
Show:
Barefoot Contessa
Episode:
Beach Volleyball Picnic

3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 red onion, cut in 1/2 and thinly sliced
20 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons capers, drained

For the vinaigrette: 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed.
For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.
In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

Dump Cake

OK, I know it doesn't sound terrific. But dump cake is pretty good, it's called that because you just dump the ingredients in the pan and then bake it.

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1 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice, undrained

1 21 oz. can cherry pie filling

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine cut into thin slices

Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease a 13x9 pan

Dump pineapple with juice into pan. Spread evenly. Dump in pie filling. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over cherry layer. sprinkle pecans over cake mix. Dot with butter.

Bake 50 minutes or until top is lightly browned. (I usually bake it a bit longer than the 50 minutes)

Serve warm or at room temp. Makes 12-16 servings.

Fudgesicles

I found this recipe in my moms recipe box. I've yet to try it. I have a big ol' can of chocolate pudding mix (food storage size). I'd imagine that would make a lot of fudgesicles!

1 pk instant chocolate pudding
2 1/2 c. milk
1/4 c. sugar

Combine all ingredients in blender, blend well.
Pour into containers and freeze.

Mom's No-bake Cookies

When I think of peanut butter cookies, these are what I think of. My brother James loved these cookies.

Mix well and bring to boil:
2 c. sugar 2 T. butter
2 t. cocoa 1/2 c. milk

Add:
1/4 t. salt 1/2 t. vanilla
3/4 c. peanut butter

Mix well and add:
2 c. quick oatmeal

Mix well and drop by teaspoon full onto waxed paper.
Cool.

Chinese Cabbage Salad

This recipe came from my sister's mother in law. It is a great take on coleslaw. I love it. I haven't actually made it myself yet. I'm not sure what "accent" is-probably on the seasoning aisle? What do you think?

1/2 head cabbage diced
4 green onions sliced

Dressing (make day before)
1/2 c. oil 1T Mrs. Dash
4 packs Sweet & Low 4 T White Vinegar
1 t. salt 1/2 pk Oriental Top Ramen seasoning
1 t accent

At last minute add:
1/2 c. toasted slivered almonds
2 T sesame seeds
1 pkg crumbled Top Ramen noodles

"That's what a hamburger's all about!"-In-n-out ad jingle

O.K. My favorite burger joint in the whole wide world is... drum roll please.... In-N-Out, by far, without a doubt. I think the creator of the in-n-out burger was divinely inspired.
I could eat an in-n-out burger every single day I think. Pure heaven, pure bliss. And oh yeah, their fries and shakes are awesome too. My mouth is watering right now, just thinkin' about it.
Lately, I've been to most of the other burger joints, but I just can't get a good burger. I've been so disappointed lately. Maybe that's a good thing. If I can't get it from In-n-out, I'll just have to prepare something healthy at home. Save money, eat better.

Fried Hot dogs, Corn and Potatoes

This is something that Jon ate growing up. I don't know where his mom got the recipe, but I really like it alot. Simple ingredients too.

1 pkg hot dogs sliced (I prefer beef franks)
1 onion diced
4-6 potatoes halved and sliced
1 can whole kernal corn
oil
salt & pepper to taste

Heat enough oil in skillet to barely coat bottom of pan. Add potatoes, salt and pepper, and fry several minutes. Add onions and fry until potatoes begin to be tender. Add hot dogs, continue to cook until heated through, adding corn the last couple minutes to heat through. Serve immediatley. Tastes great by itself or with a little cheddar cheese sprinkled on top.

Super easy, super yummy Cream Cheese pie

I make this every Thanksgiving. It's so much easier than the one I grew up with-my mom makes an awesome cream cheese pie, which I have a recipe for, but it's baked and takes much more time. This one is also terrific for the cool summer months. It's cool and refreshing, and again requires no baking-so no heating up the house.

1 graham cracker crust
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1 tub whip cream, thawed
1/3 c. sugar
-blend the softened cream cheese with the sugar. Fold in whip cream and mix well. (I just use the blender on this mixture too, to try and get rid of all the lumps). Spread into pie crust.
Refrigerate for a couple hours. Enjoy.
Tastes great with any fruit on top as well.

whats for supper?

Well, nothing was cooking tonight. I have to work on Sunday's from 2-6 (hate it), so when I got home it was time to get the boys out of their highchair's (here's how I found them) and ready for bed. Usually Jon gets supper together on Saturdays and Sundays. But sometimes he doesn't get the chance to worry about it. Today was one of those times. So, about eight o'clock, Ashley goes "What's for dinner?" I'm like, "Dinner? It's bed time!"

We ended up making sandwiches. I still haven't eaten a proper meal. Of course, I've been nibbling on Oreo cookies and Doritos. Healthy huh'?

I really need to hit the grocery store, the only thing in my freezer is ice cream, frozen waffles, and chicken. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll be able to present my kids with a healthy meal.

O.K. so I thought I'd create a place to post my favorite recipe's, food interests, yada yada yada. Please feel free to leave your favorites here too.
So, here's a quick dessert suggestion that I really like a lot. It's inspired by dessert we had once at Applebee's.

Brownies
Vanilla Ice Cream
Hot Fudge Sauce
Chopped nuts (optional)

Heat 1 brownie in the microwave 10- 20 seconds until warm. Top with vanilla ice cream. Heat hot fudge till it's, well, hot. Spoon over ice cream, top with nuts and enjoy.