Roasted New Potatoes

 Wash potatoes well removing all dirt.

 Throw all ingredients in a bowl to coat.

 Single layer in a 9x13 pan.

Should be golden when through with baking.

1 1/2 lb golden or red new potatoes
1/4 c olive oil
3 cloves garlic
handful of rosemary, fresh
1/2 c parmesan cheese

Rinse and half new potatoes.  Throw them in a bowl.  Drizzle oil over them and add the garlic and rosemary.  Toss all of this together so everything gets well coated.  Put these into a 9x13 pan and sprinkle 1/4 c parmesan cheese over the top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.  Every 10 minutes stir and recoat.  On the third time stirring (10 minutes baking time remaining) add the other 1/4 c parmesan cheese over the top and finish baking.  Serve immediately.  They cool quickly.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

An incredibly different sandwich, but OH SO GOOD!  This reminds me of the MIDWEST where my true roots are! :) 

2-3 lb beef roast (sirloin, top roast)
1 - 10 oz jar Pepperocinis (the WHOLE jar, juice and all)
2 beef boullion cubes
1 t garlic powder/salt
1 T Italian Seasoning (if you don't have Italian seasoning, use what you've got, oregano, basil, etc)
salt & pepper
1 pkg hoagie buns (sub type)

In your crockpot, cut your roast into smaller chunks.  Cover the roast with water, just to the top of the roast.  Cook on low for at least 5 hours.  I did mine overnight from midnight to 8AM.  Remove the chunks onto a plate and shred (the longer it cooks, the easier it is to shred) until all is shredded.  Pour the water out of the crockpot completely.  Add shredded beef back into the crockpot and add seasonings & peppers along with about 3-4 c beef broth (made from the beef boullion cubes listed above).  Let stew another 2 or so hours.  Drain as you put it onto your bread (we toast ours).

Lemon Snowflake Cookies

I seriously can't remember where I first tasted these yummy cookies, but they are AMAZING!  Soft, chewy, light and lemony!  If you like anything lemon (even lemonade), you'll want to try this recipe!  AND, they are SO SIMPLE!

1 box Lemon Cake Mix
1/3 c canola oil
1 t lemon extract
2 eggs
1/3 c powdered sugar

In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil, extract and eggs and mix together until everything is blended well. (NOTE: DO NOT ADD THE INGREDIENT AMOUNTS FROM CAKE MIX BOX, ADD THE ABOVE.)  Make small balls and dip each one into powdered sugar before putting on the pan.  Bake at 375 for 6-9 minutes.  They bake up QUICKLY, so be sure to watch closely starting at 6 minutes.  You want the bottoms to be light brown and the tops will crack apart, but not brown.

Honey Granola

So, many are "health conscious" at the beginning of the year always!  Thought I'd post my granola recipe that isn't too terrible.  Better choice than a donut! :)

This is all the ingredients mixed raw BEFORE the honey butter mixture.

 Honey butter mixture blending.

This is when the granola is coated with the Honey Butter mixture BEFORE it is baked. 

Completely baked and cooling.  You can see the color difference.

1 - 18 oz container old fashioned oats (6 c)
8 oz sliced almonds
1 c brown sugar (I prefer DARK brown sugar)
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 sticks butter
1/2 c honey

In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients except butter and honey.  In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. When the butter is completely melted, stir in honey. Stir continuouslly until the butter and honey blend together and are no longer separated.  Pour over oat mixture and toss until everything is well coated. Spread granola onto a parchment lined baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Stir right in the middle at 15 minutes.  Watch it closely as at the end it darkens quickly! The sugar will begin to caramelize. Cool completely on pan. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziploc bags.

My FAVORITE way to eat granola is over sliced fresh bananas and vanilla yogurt!  Mmm, mmm!

CHICKEN DEAL!!!!!!!

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Au Gratin Potatoes

Heart attack waiting to happen, but the most delicious Au Gratin potatoes you will ever eat.  I have to be honest, this is a more recent favorite because growing up, I must've had a bad experience with the boxed kind and couldn't bring myself to eating them again!  NOT ANYMORE!  A dear friend of mine served these at a St Patricks'/birthday celebration and they've been a favorite ever since!  These are so amazing!  The key is cooking them long enough! 

6-8 RED potatoes, sliced thinly
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (key ingredient!)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 stick butter
salt
3 c Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 c ham, ground

Peel and slice red potatoes. Cut the butter into thin slices and place randomly in and out of the potatoes.  Salt them well.  Cover the potatoes then with the liquids, cream and chicken broth and bake COVERED at 425 for 35 minutes.  Top with shredded cheddar cheese and ground ham and bake UNCOVERED for an additional 25 minutes. 

These go nice served with any beef or chicken meal.