My Girl, Paila: Baked Pasta Florentine

So I wasn't sure on how well we would like this dish.
But it was surpisenly really good. The only thing I thought it could use was more cheese. But that's me. It is deffently something I will have to make again. Samantha even ate it and she is my picky eater. She picked out the onion's though. But she still ate it. I just realized, I didnt add enough meat and to much pasta sauce, oh well it was still good.


1 (10oz) package frozen chopped spinach
1 tbsp plus 1/2 cup veg. oil, divided
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 med. onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (15oz) jar pasta sauce with mushrooms
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6oz) can tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
1 (8oz) package seashell macaroni, uncooked
1 cup shredded sharp cheese
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 eggs, well beaten

Cook the spinach according to the package directions; drain, reserving the liquid and adding enough water to measure 1 cup; set aside.
In a large pot heat the 1 tbsp oil over meduim heat. Brown the ground beef, onion, and garlic in the oil, stirring well to crumble the beef. Drain off the fat.
Stir in the spinach liquid, pasta sauce, tomato sauce. tomato paste, salt and pepper into the peat mixture. Simmer for 10 minutes, then cover and set aside.
Cook the macaroni according to the package directions; drain and return to the pot. Add the spinach, cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs and the 1/2 cup oil; stir gently to mix well. Spread the mixture evenly in a lighly greased 13x9 baking dish. Top with the meat sauce.
Bake at 350 degree's for 30 minutes.

My Girl, paula- Mini Mummies

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween. I decided to make these on the day of Halloween. The only one who didn't eat them was Samantha, but that is only because she doesn't like hot dogs. They turned out so cute. Will defiantly be making again next year.

1 package hot dogs, cut in 2

1 package prepared pie crust

Preheat the oven to 350 degree's

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. unwrap pie dough and cut into 1/8" strips. wrap strips around the hot dog halves in a mummy like pattern. Pinch the ends together on the bottom side of the hot dogs. Place on the baking sheet and bake bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes

Crispy Skinned Chicken A'lorange

I got this recipe off of food network, Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian. I was wanting to try a new chicken dish. This has to be the easiest dish ever. Both my husband and I loved it. The kids were in a picky mode. The only thing I did different was that I couldn't find bone-in, skin-on chicken breast so I used thighs with the bone and skin on.

Salt

Pepper

3 skin-on, bone-in chichen breast halves

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

4 tbsp honey

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Salt and pepper the chicken. Heat the oil in a large, oven safe, saute pan over medium-high heat and sear the chicken, skin side only, until brown and beginning to get crispy, about 5 minutes

Meanwhile, make the orange glaze. In a small saucepan, heat the orange juice concentrate, honey and salt and pepper, to taste, over medium heat, and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Trun the chicken over and brush each piece with the glaze. Transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until and bake until the chicken is done, half way through baking brush on more glaze, about 15 minutes total.

Butter Cookies

Well today I decied to make cookies. Since Halloween is coming up thought I would make some Halloween cut out cookies. Samantha sure did have fun decoration them with me. I was going to make the Paula Deen sugar cookies, but my mom remined me about this recipe. This recipe came from my great grandma (my mom's grandma) So I made this one. The only thing I did different was I added 1 cup of finely chopped walnuts.

3 cups flour
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar, add in the egg, milk and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients, gradually. If desired, chill dough for a hour. Roll out on a floured surface, half at a time to a 1/8" thickness. Cut into shapes. Place on to a ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with plain or colored sugar. Bake at 400 degree's for 5-8 minutes



some cookies Sam made

some cookies I did

Austin eating a cookies his sister decorated for him

Sam decorating a cookie

Sam helping me out

My Girl Paula, Southern Fried Chicken

I have to admit it. This was my FIRST time mkaing fried chicken. I was worried that i was going to under cook it. But it came out perfect. My husband loved it. Even the kids ate it. It is deffently something i am going to make again. I used peanut oil for frying.

Paula Deen House Seasoning

2 1/2 lb chicken, cut into pieces

2 cup self-rising flour

1 cup hot red pepper sauce

3 eggs

Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a deep pot. Do not fill the pot more than 1/2 full with oil.
In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs. Add enough hot sauce so the egg mixture is bright orange (about 1 cup). Season the chicken with the House Seasoning. Dip the seasoned chicken in the egg, and then coat well in the flour. Place the chicken in the preheated oil and fry the chicken in the oil until brown and crisp. Dark meat takes longer than white meat. Approximate cooking time is 13 to 14 minutes for dark meat and 8 to 10 minutes for white meat.

Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

My husband wanted meatloaf, but i wanted something new. So i tried a new meatlaof recipe. This is a Paula Deen recipe. Lets just say OMG it was so good. It tasted just like a bacon cheeseburger. The only thing i did different was I didnt have enough worcestershire so I added the diference of liquid smoke, which was about a half tablespoon. Oh and i didn't have the fried onions either, but personally I dont think it needed it.. I forgot to take pictures, so the next time I make it i will take a picture and post it.
1 pound ground chuck
10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 (8-ounce) package sharp Cheddar, grated
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup bread crumbs, toasted
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/3 cup ketchup 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 (3-ounce) can French fried onions


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the ground chuck and next 8 ingredients, mixing well.
In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mustard. Stir 1/4 cup ketchup mixture into meat mixture, reserving remaining ketchup mixture.
Press meat mixture into a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan, or shape into a loaf and place on a rack in a broiler pan. Spread remaining ketchup mixture over loaf. Bake 40 minutes. Top with French fried onions; bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink.

Baked Spaghetti

So I was getting tired of making spaghetti the same way. So one day i decided to bake it. And it has been a hit in the house since.

1 lbs. Jimmy Dean regular sausage
1 med onion, diced
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 lbs thin spaghetti noodles
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 tbsp butter
4 cups mozzerella cheese, shredded

Grease a 13x9 glass pan.
In a large pot fill half way with water and bring to a boil.
In a medium size skillet, over medium- high heat, brown sausage and onions. Drain off any grease. Once water is boiling add the noodles, I like the break them in half then put in the water. In the skillet add the spaghetti sauce and the diced tomatoes, put on low. After the pasta is done, drain, put back into the pot. Add the butter and mix in the sauce. Put into the baking dish and cover with the cheese. Bake at 400 degree's for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and turning golden brown. Serve with favorite garlic bread and salad.

My Girl Paula: Crispy Rice Candy Corn

Let's just say that both my kids said Mmmm after

their first bit. This was only me second time making rice crispy's and its just so easy. I think this will be a halloween favorite.

4 tbps butter

1 (10 oz) bag marshmallows

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

6 cups crispy rice cereal

1 cup rough chopped candy corn

Spray 13x9 glass pan and a rubber spatula with a non stick spray.

In a medium sized sauce pan over low heat, add butter to melt. Once melted add marshmallows, salt, and vanilla. Stir continuously until the marshmallows have reached a smooth consistency. Remove from heat and fold in the cereal and candy corns until completely coated.
Add the mixture to the greased baking dish and smooth out evenly. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.

Chili

Its that time of year again to start making chili. This recipe originated from my dad but i have changed it to make it my own. I hope you enjoy it.

2 pounds hamburger, i have used elk before, any meat will be good in this
1 can (15 oz) chili beans, undrained
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, drained
1 can (28 oz) petite diced tomatoes
1 can (small) tomato paste
1 can (15 oz) unsweet corn, drained
1 large onion, diced
2 jalapenos
crushed red pepper, to taste
chili powder, to taste

Put it all into the crockpot and simmer on low for 6 to 8 hours.

My Girl Paula: Squash Casserole

Let me just say this dish was AWESOME tasting. My sone Austin had 3 helpings of it.

2 cups cooked, mashed yellow squash

2 cups Ritz Crackers crumbs

1 cup evaporated milk

1 cup shredded cheese, i used cheddar

1 cup chopped onion

2 eggs, lightly beating

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

pinch of sugar

6 tbsp butter

Place the squash in a large bowl. Add the cracker crumbs, milk, cheese, and onion, and stir well. stir in the eggs, salt, pepper, sugar and butter, and pour into a greased 1-quart casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.