ThinkGeek :: Baconnaise

ThinkGeek :: Baconnaise

ThinkGeek :: Bacon Gumballs

ThinkGeek :: Bacon Gumballs

I AM THE WORST PHOTOGRAPHER

I am not a photographer, just a guy taking pictures. Usually many pictures and then picking the best one if there is one. I do not do my recipes or the food justice. I am sorry! We need a new camera, anyone have any tips on what kind or type to get?

Past Dinners... Help me help you..

Email if you would like any of these recipes.

Kayla's BDAY Strawberry CheeseCake

Sour Cream Blackberry Cobbler

Pork Verde Chili

Chad's Favorite BBQ Chicken Pasta w/ Grilled Asparagus

Herbed Chicken and Wild Mushroom Risotto 

Operation POPTART......Yes...Homemade Pop Tarts

You heard it right... I tried to make homemade poptarts. Jordan.. How'd I do? I thought they were mighty tasty. Here is my recipe but remember play with it. This recipe you can put whatever type of fillings you want. My favorite is the Brown sugar and Cinnamon PopTarts so thats what I did!

Pastry Crust
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 tsbp Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 cup unsalted Butter
2 Eggs
2 tsbp Milk

Fillings-
1st- Blueberry Preserve
2nd- Cinnamon/Brown Sugar
     some brown sugar
     cinnamon
     little flour

Mix all the dry ingredients Flour, Sugar, Salt in the KitchenAid.

Worked in butter that has been cubed. Then mix in milk and 1 egg to make into the dough.

Knead together with hand and place to be rolled out on floured counter.

Place the dough in plastic and the fridge for about a hour.

At this time pre-heat oven to 375.

Next, allow the dough to thaw.

Flour counter again and start to roll the dough out. This will be one side and create about 3. Create the top layer duplicating the first piece. 

Then add the fillings leaving about a 1/2 in on all sides for the top to be pressed over the bottom. Add the top layer and pinch around all the edges and sides. Cut each poptart to size. Take a spatula to keep the dough from sticking and messing up the shape of the poptart. Be careful because it is very easy to open back up. Take the other egg and make it into a egg wash so that it can be brushed on top of the pastries and cooked to leave a nice light-brown crispy crust. Poke holes in it, Make a design with extra crust, even make a strawberry glaze if you dare.

Cook for 11- 13 minute or until golden brown. 

~BLUEBERRY~

~CINNAMON AND BROWN SUGAR~

Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti is one of my all time favorites. I think the love of this entree originated from my cousin Nicole and Aunt Jo making it for one of the family game night we always had. I also remember making this with my mom at home which will always be some of my favorite memories. I decided to make it a bit different this time and use no meat. My wife is a vegetarian when its convenient and I decided to be convenient. I though did not succumb to meatlessness, I just decided to be caring and thoughtful...OKAY! I still love the meats.

In this recipe I eyeballed it quite a bit. So, please feel free to create a new interpretation of this recipe. Evolve it to best suite you and your family, then share it with us. I have had it with Italian Sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, all amazing! In my recipe I used a medley of black and green olives.

First of all, to be totally honest.. our local grocery store did not have Ziti, so I settled for large penne. Which is no biggie.

Ingredients-

• 10 oz Box of Ziti (or alike pasta noodles)
• 8 oz fresh or packaged mozzarella
• homemade or bottled tomato sauce (we used Prego because of time management, I suggest a homemade tomato sauce.. live alittle)
• 7 oz Ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (optional)
• 1/2 Tsbp Italian Seasoning
• pinch of Paprika

• Optional Olives, ground beef, italian sauce, chicken, etc.

Pre-heat oven to 400. Take a 9" X 13" ceramic or glass dish.  Boil pasta in salted water and olive oil.
Mix some* of the mozzarella (leaving enough to cover pasta later on), the ricotta which is about 1 3/4 cup, and the parmesan. Also, add the italian seasoning.
Coat bottom of the dish with sauce about a 1/4 cup of sauce.
Take drained pasta and add half to top the sauce.
Then take the cheeses and spread over the pasta evenly. At this point you can take the olives, sausage, or ground meat and mix it with the rest of the pasta sauce.
Distribute the rest of the pasta and then top with the rest of the tomato sauce and olives. Last of all top with the rest* of the mozzarella and a pinch of paprika.
Cook for about 24-27 mins and serve with something good.

Wednesday Dinner w/ Jordan

Coming soon.. as I find my cord for the camera haha
Baked Ziti
Homemade Pop-tarts
Blooming onion
Orange Julius