Green Beans and Butter Beans

This dish is absolutely one of my favorites!  Probably because it is a dish that my Dad and I came up with and have making for many years, but it has definitely become one of my go to dishes.  It is healthy, quick and inexpensive to make and makes for great leftovers (I think I like it better as leftovers than I do right after it is made).

Here is the recipe:

1 Tbsp olive oil

2-3 cloves minced garlic

1 medium onion chopped

1 jar julienned sun-dried tomatoes

2 small bags of frozen cut green beans

2 cans butter beans, with juices

4 – 6 oz. crumbled bacon

Saute the garlic, onion and sun-dried tomatoes in a medium size pot until tender.  Add the green beans and cook until thawed.  Then add the butter beans with the juice, bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer.  Add the crumbled bacon right before serving.

Hope you enjoy this one as much as I always have!

Stuffed,

Brittany

Butternut Squash Risotto

I thought this recipe that I found in Cooking Light was great, but I will definitely make some tweaks when I make it again.  Andy did not particularly care for the chunks of butternut squash, but that was probably my favorite part.  I think to make it creamier it needed some cheese added in, maybe a Parmesan or a fontina.   Also, I think some onion might be a great addition.  Overall though it was a great fall dish!

Here is the recipe:

3 cups (1/2-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash, divided
3 1/2 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
2 cups uncooked Arborio rice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
5 ounces applewood-smoked bacon, cooked and crumbled

My additions:

¼ - ½ grated Parmesan cheese
½ - 1 cup chopped onion

Combine 2 cups squash and 2 1/2 cups water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat; let stand 5 minutes. Place mixture in a food processor. Process until smooth. Return mixture to pan. Stir in broth; bring to a simmer. Reserve 1/4 cup squash mixture. Keep pan warm over low heat. Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add rice; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  (If adding onion, cook onion in 2 Tbsp of olive oil until tender then add rice).  Stir in remaining 1 cup squash, 2 1/2 cups squash mixture, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook 2 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Add remaining squash mixture, 1 cup at a time, stirring until each cup is absorbed before adding the next (about 20 minutes). (If adding cheese, stir in right at the end before serving.  Remove from heat; stir in reserved 1/4 cup squash mixture. Top with parsley and bacon.

Stephanie's Pasta Salad

I am so mad that I forgot to take a picture of this, but I am sure I will make it again very soon as it is staple at any game watching event we host at our house.  I actually got this recipe from my good friend Stephanie and it is amazing!

Here is the recipe:

1 box of fusilli pasta

a handful of torn spinach

1/2 cup of Cardini's Aged Parmesan Ranch dressing

1/2 cup of Cardini's Italian Salad dressing

6 oz. crumbled feta cheese

a handful of toasted pine nuts

Make the pasta according to instructions.  Drain when finished cooking.  Mix with half of the dressing and place in fridge to cool off.  Once cool, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

It makes for great leftovers if you somehow manage to save some!  Enjoy!

Stuffed, 

Brittany

Fish Tacos

We make these every time we go out to our friends ranch.  We catch a few fish and then make tacos for the afternoon before heading home.  It is simple and full of flavor.

Here is the recipe:

1 Old El Paso Taco Starter Kit
2 - 3 pounds of white fish
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced in rings
2 jalapenos, sliced
1 pineapple, cut into chunks
1 bunch of cilantro
1 tomato, chopped
1/2 stick of butter or olive oil
2 - 3 Tbsp minced garlic
Slap ya Mama (or any other Cajun seasoning)
shredded cheese
1 foil casserole pan
corn tortillas (if you prefer them over hard shells)

Combine the fish, pepper, onion, jalapeno, pineapple, half a stick of butter and some cilantro in the foil pan.  Follow the instructions of the taco starter kit combining the taco seasoning, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, garlic and water over the ingredients.  Cover with foil and cook on the grill for 30 - 45 minutes.  Remove from grill and top with cilantro, cheese and tomatoes.

Hope you enjoy these as much as we always do!

Stuffed,

Brittany

Spinach and Feta Breakfast Casserole

Absolutely one of my favorite breakfast casseroles!  It is a refreshing break from the typical hash browns, sausage and cheese, although those are great too!  This one has become a holiday favorite at our house to share with family or a perfect Sunday morning breakfast.

Here's the recipe: (Must allow time for casserole to be in the refrigerator overnight before baking)

1 (5.5 oz) box caesar croutons
1/4 cup butter
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 onion, chopped
2 (10oz.) package chopped spinach (thawed and squeezed dry)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup crumbled feta
10 large eggs
2 c half and half
3/4 tsp Greek seasoning ( I use more)

Lightly grease a 13 x 9" baking dish.  Sprinkle croutons over bottom.  In a medium skilled melt butter and saute garlic and onions 5 minutes.  Add spinach and cook 2 minutes.  Spread evenly over croutons . Sprinkle mozzarella and feta over spinach.  In medium bowl, lightly beat eggs.  Add half and half, whisk to combine.  Pour over casserole and sprinkle with Greek seasoning.  Cover and chill 8 hours.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and puffed.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Hope you love this one as much as we do!

Stuffed,

Brittany

Tim Love's Dove Tacos

I got this recipe from a friend several years ago, but if you have enough patience you can find it online still.    If you do not like dove, I bet these would taste great with chicken or any other meat of your choice.  What I like about these tacos is how fresh they are.   What stinks is that we usually only get to make these once or twice a year depending on how much dove the husband brings home from his hunting trips.

Here's the recipe:

16 cleaned dove breasts
1/4 cup chopped raw bacon
1 cup Ranchero sauce
1/2  red onion diced
1 avocado
2 whole fresh limes
1 bunch of cilantro
8 fresh white corn tortillas
1 cup Oxacan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup pico de gallo

In a hot sauce pad add 1T oil and bacon.  Season the dove with salt and pepper and sear quickly.  It does not take long to cook the small breasts.  Add 1/2 cup ranchero sauce and stir.  This whole process should take approx. five minutes.  Turn off heat.  On a flat grill or iron skillet place the tortillas 10 seconds on each side on the grill.  Slice the dove breasts and return to the sauce.  Spoon sliced dove on to the tortillas and serve immediately with sliced avocado, limes, chopped onions, cheese and remainder of ranchero sauce on the side.

Hope you enjoy these tacos as much as we do!

Stuffed,

Brittany

Hot Crab Dip

So this recipe was emailed to me at work from the Maryland Crab Company or something.  I have never bought anything from them so I do not know how I got on their email address, but I don't mind because this recipe is a keeper.  It is a great dip for a party, easy to make and tastes delicious!  My favorite way to serve it is with those little slices of bread that are more like giant croutons.

I forgot to take a picture, but here is the recipe!

1/2 lb crabmeat
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/2 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
pinch of garlic salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard

In a large bowl mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, mustard and garlic until smooth.  Add enough milk to make mixture creamy.  Stir in 2 Tbsp of cheese and fold crabmeat into mixture.  Pour mixture into a large 1 quart casserole dish.  Top with remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees until mixture is brown and bubbly on top, about 30 minutes.   Serve with crackers.

Enjoy!

Stuffed,

Brittany