Posted in - Meal Swap Menus

Meal Swap: Wednesday’s February 2014 Menu

Wednesday PM Feb. 2014 Menu

Choice:

Kristine- blue cheese walnut butter pork chops

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Kellie- Italian sausage Wellington

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Brittney- Mexican Lasagna

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NA/EURO:

Emily- pork loin with garlic rub

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Erin- creamy bacon mini meat loaves

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IT/MED:

Bridget- upside down fettuccine

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Jenica- lazy day lasagna

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ASIAN/IN:

Kirsten- honey ginger glazed slow roasted chicken

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Ashley B- Asian salmon

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SW/ LA:

Nicole- chorizo empanadas
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Ashley K- out for Feb

Posted in Breakfast, Side Dish

Sunday Brunch: How Did They Make That?

How Did They Make That?!

One of our family’s guilty pleasures on a road trip is Egg McMuffins and Hashbrowns.

Today I’m gonna show you how to make hashbrowns like Mickey D’s.

Copy Cat McDonalds Hashbrowns

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4 large Russet Potatoes (scrubbed clean)
Kosher Salt
freshly ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
1 large Egg (beaten)
2 tablespoons Flour
1/4 cup Canola Pure Oil
Olive Oil for coating

Prep Day: Preheat oven to 350 F. Prick potatoes with a fork on all sides. Rub potatoes with oil until lightly coated and sprinkle generously with salt. Place potatoes on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven an allow potatoes to cool. When there is no more steam coming off of the potatoes, place them in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until they are completely cooled.

(NOTE: The key to making a crispy hash brown is to draw out as much moisture as possible. That is why I baked the potatoes first.)

After the potatoes have cooled, shred them onto a sheet tray using the largest hole on your box grater. You want to shred them lengthwise, producing long strands of shredded potato rather than short. After all the potatoes are shredded, you will have about 5 heaping cups – transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Add 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, some freshly cracked black pepper, the paprika and the beaten egg. Gently mix everything using a fork. You don’t want to overwork the potatoes or turn this mixture in to a gluey paste. Next add the flour and gently mix in. Shape into patties on a clean work surface, about 1/2-inch thick. You may freeze the patties at this point to use later.

Serve Day: No need to thaw. Heat a large sauté pan (cast iron preferred) over medium heat. When the pan is hot add the canola oil. Place hash brown patties in a single layer with spacing around them. Pan fry for 1 minute per side or until golden brown then remove to a paper towel and season with kosher salt.

(NOTE: May need to cook longer if cooking from frozen.)

Serve immediately.

Love cooking from taste memory!

Posted in - Meatless, Side Dish

Side ‘n’ Saturdays: Lentil Rice Casserole

I’m not a lover of Lentils, but this recipe helped me like them a little more.

Lentil Rice Casserole

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3 cups chicken broth, or use water and 1 T. vegetable seasoning (mccormick’s brand is what I use)
3/4 cups lentils, uncooked
1/2 cup brown rice, uncooked
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Prep Day: Blend all together in a casserole dish. Bake covered, for 1 1/2 hours at 300. Cool then freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw and reheat. During the last few minutes of cooking, you may top with shredded cheese if you would like.