Stromboli

It is nice to have something quick and easy already made in the fridge for the kids to eat. I have been on a roll making Stromboli.  It is pretty easy to make and is great straight out of the fridge, heated in the microwave or toaster oven, or even in a picnic or lunch box. It is a great treat by the pool or at the beach too.

You can add just pepperoni and mozzarella. Or you can load it up with salami, sopressata and ham. This recipe makes two hearty Stromboli.  Enough to enjoy for a few days, if your family is like mine. 

You can serve the Stromboli plain or with your favorite marinara sauce.

Stromboli

flour for dusting
Olivie Oil
1 Pizza dough, divided in half
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 pound sliced pepperoni
( I use turkey pepperoni)
4 cups shredded mozzarella
1 egg, lightly beaten
kosher salt
2 cups Marinara ( optional)



Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare two baking sheets with a small coating of olive oil, some cooking spray, a silpat or parchment.
On a floured surface, gently roll/stretch out the dough halves into large rectangles. (9x13).  Sprinkle both rectangles with the garlic and the Italian seasoning leaving a border of about 1 inch, evenly lay out the pepperoni and mozzarella over the rectangles.  
Using a pastry brush , brush the 1 inch border with the beaten egg.  Start to roll up the dough , like a jelly roll. Repeat with other stromboli.  Place each loaf on a prepared baking sheet. 
Brush the tops of the stromboli l;ightly with some olive oil. Sprinkle with a bit of Kosher salt. Cut a few slits on top of each loaf for steam to vent.  Bake for about 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with Marinara sauce.

Italian Sausage and Potato Soup

Making soup and watching the snow fall are probably the only things that I like about this cold season. I am more a spring/summer girl.  But if I have to be in the cold, a nice hearty soup is what I am dreaming about.  This soup is quick and easy, it has a few steps, but I seemed to do a good job of cleaning up my mess along the way and the soup was perfect for a cold and dreary day.  

The original recipe that I found calls for a plain sausage and added hot pepper flakes. You could do that or just do as I did and use a hot Italian sausage.  If you don't like the heat then you could use mild.  I like to experiment and/or use what i have, no need for a special trip to the store.  

1 lb Italian sausage (I use Hot)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 onion, diced
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 lbs red potatoes, diced
1 tsp Italian seasonings
2 cups milk
3 oz cream cheese
3 TBSP flour
2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp kosher salt
3 cups baby spinach

Remove the sausage from casings and crumble it into a large dutch oven.  Begin cooking the sausage, braking it up as it cooks, over medium heat.  Add the smoked paprika, onion and garlic.  Saute until the sausage is fully cooked. Drain if necessary. Add the chicken stock and Italian seasoning. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once it is boiling add the potatoes,cover, and reduce to a simmer.  Cook until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes depending on size.  
While the potatoes are cooking, place the milk, cream cheese, flour and salt in a blender. Blend until smooth. Heat the butter in a medium size saucepan . When the butter is melted, add the milk mixture and whisk over medium heat until thick.  When potatoes are tender, add the thickened milk mixture and the spinach.  
Serve with salt and pepper to taste or grated Parmesan cheese.

Spicy Roast Beef

My family are carnivores! We love meat! I love this recipe for a nice fall day. Make it the day before and it is even more spicy!   I got he recipe from the Pioneer Woman, but I tweaked it a little to make it my own. I kind of eyeballed some of the ingredients, so you can do the same. Just remember that this is SPICY! You can use any kind of peppers and tomatoes that you have on hand. Adjust the peppers to your "heat", this is very spicy.  You could also omit the peppers and only use the broth and tomatoes to make a nice kid-friendly beef.
This makes enough for a crowd or for leftovers.  You can cut the recipe in half easily, also.

2    3 pound chuck roast each
Salt and pepper
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP canola oil
4 cups beef broth
3-4 TBSP fresh chopped rosemary
1 jar pepperoncinis , with juice
1 jar cherry peppers, drained ( hot or mild)
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

Hearty rolls, toasted
Sliced deli cheese ( provolone, mozzarella, Munster)

Preheat oven to 300.
Season the roasts with salt and pepper. Heat the butter and oil in a large heavy Dutch oven.  Brown each roast until paper bag brown, rest them on a plate.
Pour the beef broth in the pot, stirring up any browned bits from the pot.  Add the rosemary, both peppers, and the tomatoes. Stir all of this until combined. Add the roasts back to the pot and place the lid on. Place the pot in the oven for about 4-41/2 hours, until the meat is fork tender.
Remove the roasts from the pot and shred with 2 forks. Return the meat to the pot, and keep warm on the stove while serving.  Serve on toasted rolls and top with sliced cheese.

TIP!
Making this the day before, you can refrigerate and then skim the fat off the top before reheating.

French Onion Soup

I have always loved French Onion Soup. I love the onions. I love the broth.  I love the gooey cheese. I love the crusty bread. And I love how it is so damn hot, that you have to slurp it to really get the experience. ( my girls HATE this part)



1 stick of unsalted butter
6 large onions (i used 3 Vidalia, 3 yellow) thinly sliced
1 cup Dry White Wine
4 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
4 cups beef broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
Worcestershire sauce ( a few dashes, to taste)
Crusty bread (6 slices)
Gruyere cheese, grated
(or your favorite Swiss)

Preheat oven to 400.
Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, covered for 20 minutes.
After the 20 minutes, place the pot with the lid slightly ajar into the oven and cook for an hour or so. Stirring once so the onions do not burn.
Remove pot from oven and return to stove top.  Add the wine and stir, getting all of the burned little bits off of the pot. Turn the heat to medium high. Cook for a few minutes, allowing the wine to reduce.  Add both of the broths, the garlic, and a few dashes of Worcestershire. I used about 10.  Lower the heat to low and simmer for 30-45 minutes.
 Set the oven to broil.
Butter your slices of bread and toast under the broiler for a few minutes. 
Ladle your soup into 6 oven safe bowls or ramekins. Place the bowls on a baking sheet for easy handling  Top each with a slice of toasted bread and a generous handful of grated cheese.
Broil until the cheese is bubbly and golden in color. 
Serve immediately.


Recipe adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Roasted Chicken

This is a simple little lunch post.  Ever since my son started wresting this fall this is all he wanted for lunch.  He came home one day and said that Coach said not to eat store bought sliced lunch eat because of all of the additives they have in them.  Coach said to eat healthy, salad, tuna, peanut butter, real meat (not processed). And my son took this very serious. My son is also very lean and lanky with only 3% body fat. But I went along with it.  And I absolutely love it! My daughter only wants roasted chicken too. Although the other daughter eats Nutella sandwiches every single school day. She hates how meat and cheese get when they sit in a lunch bag.
This chicken is also great for anafterschool snack in a quesadilla. Just heat up a few tortillas, add some grated cheese with the chicken and your good to go. 

I change the seasoning sometimes, but they really always ask for just salt and pepper. I add some variety by using different breads, rolls, and wraps. Also by adding cucumber, arugula, spinach and lettuce.

He also insisted on no mayo or mustard anymore. I sometimes spread a little butter or cheese spread on the bread. And different cheeses. She likes American and he likes Cooper Sharp. 

Drizzle of olive oil
Salt and pepper
Chicken breasts ( boneless, and skinless)

Preheat oven to 425. Cover a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. Place chicken on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25-30 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken . Let cool and store in a container in the fridge. Slice it thinly to use on sandwiches or quesadillas.

Grilled Cheese with Spinach and Bacon

Sometimes we just need a little comfort food. Grilled cheese makes everything feel better. I love adding a little bit of veggies to almost anything. Having my kids love something with veggies better than plain just makes me happy. 

This recipe is based on one from Giada. Her recipe calls for pancetta, which I do love and have made it this way, but I do not always have it on hand.  She uses Monterey Jack and cheddar. I think that any combination will work.  

I like to make the cheese spread and have it available for the kids to make sandwiches whenever. And I make the whole pound of bacon and leave it in the fridge to add also. 

1 pound bacon, cooked 

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cups grated mozzarella cheese 

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp canola oil

2 cups baby spinach, chopped

Hearty bread (oat nut, whole wheat, sourdough)

In a food processor, or blendtec, combine the butter, cheeses, salt and canola oil. Blend until smooth, adding extra oil if needed. Add the spinach until just combined. ( you could mix by hand also). Spread cheese mixture on a slice of bread, top with a few slices of bacon and another piece of bread. Place in a preheated panini press