halushki, the best comfort food ever!

Growing up in a Slovak and German family, we ate a lot of halushki. It is basically at every family party. I happen to love it, and so does my husband. If you have never tried it, give it a shot! It is unbelievably easy to make! And if this is a dish your family makes, learn how for yourself so you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to have it!

You’ll need:

2 heads of cabbage

1 bag of egg noodles

2 sticks of margarine or butter

(yeah, that’s seriously it)

Shred the cabbage into small pieces. Make sure to remove the hard yucky hearts. The won’t cook down as well. In a LARGE pan, melt one stick of butter and start adding the cabbage. I fry my cabbage on medium-high. This takes a long time. It’s a lot of cabbage, just keep stirring it around and it will cook down. About half way through, I add another stick of butter. Salt and pepper the cabbage often. You want it to cook down to a greenish brown color and it to be totally soft.

In the meantime, bowl a large pot of water. Add the egg noodles and cook them as directed. When the noodles are soft, drain. Add the cabbage to the large pot and put the noodles back in. Salt and pepper as needed, sometimes I add more butter if it seems like everything isn’t as coated as I’d like. Mix it well and enjoy! BEST.COMFORT.FOOD.EVER.

 andddd the chopping begins!

 half way there..

 it's starting to cook down...

 cabbage and noodles are going at the same time

 yummmmmm

Crepes... and if you're Slovak, Palacinkas :)

Crepes

(aka Palacinkas, to my Slovak family!)

These seem intimidating to make… they are usually something you order when you go out to a nice place. HOWEVER, they are really the most basic, simple, tasty treats to make. They can be stuffed with sweet or savory fillings as a breakfast, lunch, side dish, main dish, or dessert!

The batter:

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups milk

2 cups of flour

Place the flour in large mixing bowl, pour in the eggs and milk and whisk slowly. It should be a very thin, smooth batter.

Heat a large skillet to medium with a pad of butter to coat the pan. Ladle in (I use one ladle filled to the top) a scoop of the batter and quickly swirl it (using your wrist and the handle of the pan) around the entire pan to make a large, even coat. Each side only needs to cook for a minute or so. Look for the edges to start to brown, then flip. Stack the cakes on a warm plate and get your favorite fillings ready!

The batter

swirled evenly in the pan

flipped once

 plated and ready to be stuffed with peanut butter, nutella, and bananas!

 rolled up and topped with a little more nutella, peanut butter, and a pinch of salt and sugar! 

Enjoy, Mr. Smith!

try these for the next football game!!!

Loaded Mushrooms

This is a great hot appetizer… if you like loaded potato skins, you will love these! Quick, easy, and delicious! Try them for a football game this weekend!!!!

You’ll need:

1 pkg small mushrooms (20-30)

8 slices bacon, crumbled

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2-3 green onions diced (I use the green and white parts)

Remove all stems and wipe each cap with a wet paper towel to clean. Place in a shallow dish. Combine all other ingredients and season with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and paprika. Stuff each mushroom. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and enjoy!

last nights dinner: taco remix

Tacos... with a twist

Tacos are one of our favorite meals. I think Aaron asks for them every week when I plan my grocery store list! I get tired of the same old thing, so last night I changed it up a little. Chicken tacos with black beans, corn, onions and peppers. Kind of like fajitas, but not. I guess this is what happens when chicken fajitas and tacos get married :) They were a huge hit... in fact, there were no left overs for my lunch!

4 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced very thin

1 onion, sliced

1 pepper, diced

1 pkg frozen corn

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 pkg taco seasoning

taco shells of your choice: we use hard and soft

other toppings we use: sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, cheese wiz, taco sauce, and corn chips (we go all out for taco night)

Grill the chicken and let it rest. Slice very thin after 4-5 minutes. In a large saute pan, on medium heat, combine the frozen corn, onions, peppers and black beans. Keep stirring these around until they begin to soften. Then, add the chicken. Sprinkle with taco seasoning mix and add a little water (1/3 cup). Once all the veggies are cooked and the seasoning has had a chance to be soaked up (5-10 min) begin building you taco!

Try fajitas with soft shells, sour cream and taco sauce!

or.... nachos! build a base with chips and top with the chicken mixture, cheese, salsa and sour cream!

The possibilities are endless :)

Stuffed Pepper Soup

My Mother-in-law’s Stuffed Pepper Soup

This soup is absolutely amazing in the fall and winter! It is perfect with a loaf of crusty bread! Dominica made this soup for me when Aaron and I started dating and I LOVED it! I make it often, and have tweaked it a little. Every time I make it I think of my wonderful mother-in-law! Perfect for someone who loves stuffed peppers, this soup has the same great taste but less work!

1 large can crushed tomatoes (I use the ones flavored with garlic or basil)

2 cartons beef broth

1 lb ground chicken or turkey

2 green peppers, diced

1 large onion, diced

1 cup brown rice

3 tablespoons minced garlic

Oregano

In a large skillet, brown the chicken or turkey. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Add the minced garlic. Next, add the diced onion and peppers. Once the meat is browned, set aside. In a large stock pot, add tomatoes, beef broth, and rice. Bring this to a low boil so the rice can cook slowly. Add the meat and garlic mixture, stir. Cover so the rice can steam and let it slowly cook for at least 45 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Check the thickness of the soup. Add more broth, garlic, and oregano to taste for your family’s liking. I add crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder or chili powder for an extra kick.

Instead of Sloppy Joes, try these...

Crockpot Whiskey Chicken Sandwiches

This is great for anyone who likes pulled pork or sloppy joes. The ingredients are ones you probably already have in your fridge and pantry. Just throw it all in the crock pot and enjoy!

2 tablespoons grape jelly

2 cups bbq sauce

½ cup honey

2 tablespoons minced garlic

½ cup ketchup

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 large onion, diced or finely sliced

Whiskey (beer or apple juice works fine as well)

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Place the chicken in your crock pot insert (sprayed with non-stick spray) Combine all ingredients EXCEPT THE WHISKEY in a large bowl. Whisk them together.

Pour the mixture over the chicken. It will probably be a little thick and lumpy, but if you stick your finger in it, it’s great! Now, pour whiskey (or juice, or beer) over the mixture until the liquid is almost completely covering the chicken.

Set the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. Once the meat is falling apart, shred the chicken with two forks. Serve on rolls with baked potatoes or french fries!

Aaron's Favorite Lasagna

Lasagna Florentine

Oven ready lasagna noodles

1 16 oz pkg ricotta cheese

1 egg

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

2 cups mozzarella cheese

1 pkg frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 pint of sliced mushrooms

1 lb ground turkey or chicken

6 tablespoons minced garlic

Dried basil, garlic powder, and oregano

1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

1 jar of your favorite alfredo sauce

Spray a 13x9” pan with non-stick spray and pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Begin by browning the ground turkey. While that cooks, mix together all of the cheese (ricotta, mozzarella, and cream cheese) Add the egg and the spinach. Mix in 3 tablespoons of garlic. Set aside

Toss the mushrooms in the meat as it finishes browning for a little extra flavor. Season the meat with 3 tablespoons garlic and a heavy hand of basil and oregano. Add both jars of sauce and mix together until it’s a pinkish color (leave a touch of sauce for the bottom of your pan, either white or red… doesn’t matter).

Begin constructing the lasagna. Pour a little sauce in the bottom of your dish and lay 4 lasagna noodles lengthwise down the pan. Top with the cheese mixture and then the meat. Repeat the layers (noodles, cheese mix, meat mix) until you reach the top of the pan. Top with more meat sauce and some grated cheese (parm, mozzarella, whatever is left over)

Cover the pan with foil and bake for 45 minutes -1 hour.

Let it stand a few minutes before you start to slice it up! Enjoy!

Cheesy Taco Pie

4-5 flour tortillas

1 lb ground turkey

1 package taco seasoning

1 jar salsa

1 jar cheese wiz

2 cups shredded cheese (taco mix)

Lettuce, tomato, and sour cream to garnish

Spray a 9 inch pie plate with non-stick spray.

Brown the ground turkey and add the seasoning as directed. Begin by placing a tortilla in the bottom of the pie plate. Top with a smear of cheese wiz, followed by turkey mixture, shredded cheese, and salsa. Repeat these layers. Top with one more tortilla.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until all the cheese has melted. Top with more cheese, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and slice it up like a pie :) It’s great topped with Fritos, too!