The Pioneer Woman's Salisbury Steak

This was one of those recipes that Brad and Eli really liked, but I just didn't. I'm posting it because they did like it so much even though there's a chance I may never make it again because I really didn't. Make it and then let me know what you thought!  The Pioneer Woman served hers with mashed potatoes and peas. I served mine with mashed potatoes and green beans because peas are from the devil!

The Pioneer Woman's Salisbury Steak
Meat Mixture:
1 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 cube beef bouillon
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
salt and pepper
Gravy:
1 whole onion, thinly sliced
2 cups beef broth
4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon Kitchen Bouquet (optional)
2-3 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with water or beef broth to make a paste about as thick as school glue

Combine all the ingredients for the meat mixture and knead until all combined. Form into 4-6 patties. Fry in a large skillet with evoo and butter on both sides until no longer pink in the middle. Remove from heat and pour off grease. Keep warm. Melt a little more butter in some evoo and add the onions. Cook and stir until golden brown and soft. Add the beef broth, Worcestershire, ketchup, and Kitchen Bouquet (if using). Stir to reduce and bring to a simmer. Pour cornstarch mixture into the skillet in a slow stream while whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Stir until thickened. Taste to adjust seasoning. I added a little salt. Move the "steaks" back to the gravy. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Adapted from THE PIONEER WOMAN 

Family Rating:
Brad: ****
Jordan: **
Eli: *****
Phoebe: ***
Overall Family Rating: 14/20

Crockpot Hawaiian Meatballs

This dinner was a life-saver. Really. I stuck it in the crockpot and ended up not eating it because I had a migraine and spent the evening in bed. I used my crockpot timer, which is just a timer on the outlet like you might use for Christmas lights, so it would come on at the right time. 

Crockpot Hawaiian Meatballs
32 oz. package frozen meatballs
15 oz. can unsweetened pineapple chunks, drained and juice put aside
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2/3 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Place frozen meatballs in the crockpot. Place bell pepper and pineapples on top. In a bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and pour over the top. Cook on low 3-4 hours. Stir before serving over rice to make sure all the goopy mess at the bottom is combined and the sauce is thick.

Recipe from SIX SISTER'S STUFF

Family Rating:
Brad: ***
Jordan: N/A
Eli: ****
Phoebe: ***** (Three helpings!)
Overall Family Rating: 12/15

Chicken And Broccoli Casserole

This is a throw-back recipe that came from my mom's friend, Janet Dillard, a hundred years ago. Brad didn't really like it because he doesn't like casseroles, but the rest of us like it a lot. It makes a bunch so proceed with caution.

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
1 box frozen, chopped broccoli (thawed and drained)
2-3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup Pepperidge Farm seasoned bread crumbs (You can find these with the stuffing at Wal-Mart.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine broccoli, chicken, soups, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and 3/4 cup cheese in a large bowl. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Stir together remaining cheese and bread crumbs (I always add more cheese), and sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Family Rating:
Brad: ** (I told you he doesn't like casseroles.)
Jordan: ***
Eli: *****
Phoebe: *****  (She ate three helpings both nights we ate this!)
Overall Family Rating: 15/20

Baked Asian Chicken Wings

Sometimes we have an appetizer night where I only serve things that are usually appetizers...like these baked wings. They were super good! 

Baked Asian Chicken Wings
2½ pounds chicken wingettes
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon Chinese 5-Spice or other Asian spice blend (See Kelly's Notes)
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
¼ cup blackberry jam

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Rinse wingettes and pat dry. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with vegetable oil and spice blend until well coated. Position wings on baking racks in a single layer ensuring that wings aren't touching. Bake, rotating pan half-way through, until fully cooked, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove wings from oven and transfer to a large bowl. Whisk together hoisin and blackberry jam in a small saucepot over medium-low heat until warm. Drizzle wings with sauce, tossing until well coated. Serve immediately.

Family Rating:
Brad: ****
Jordan: *****
Eli: *****
Phoebe: *****

Overall Family Rating: 19/20

Asian Flank Steak Skewers

I made another flank steak skewer, but I think I like this one a little better. I grilled it inside on my grill pan and served it with veggie fried rice (both can be found HERE). Be sure to use reduced sodium soy sauce because I didn't and mine were a little salty. The kids called these "meat popsicles". 

Asian Flank Steak Skewers
1 1/2 lb. skirt steak
1 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon fresh ginger
1 teaspoon sesame oil
juice of 1 lime

Slice meat thinly against the grain. Place in a ziplock bag. Combine the rest of the ingredients and marinate overnight. Thread onto skewers (if using wooden ones, be sure to soak them for 30 minutes beforehand). Grill over medium heat about 5 minutes per side until done.

Adapted from SKINNY TASTE

Family Rating:
Brad: ***
Jordan: ***
Eli: *****
Phoebe: *****
Overall Family Rating: 16/20

Cheesy Stuffed Shells

This recipe makes a H-U-G-E batch! My kids loved them the first and second night, but then I think they got tired of them because they both changed their rating to 3 stars on the third night. I'm not sure how they'd do freezing, but it might be something to look into because it made so much. 

Cheesy Stuffed Shells
12 oz. jumbo pasta shells
32 oz. whole milk ricotta
1-1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese
1 egg
lots of fresh basil
salt and pepper
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I used Ragu Roasted Garlic)
1/2 lb. ground Italian sausage
1/2 cup red wine
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
sugar, salt, and crushed red pepper
2 cups grated mozzarella

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta shells for half the cooking time. Drain. Heat some evoo over medium heat and brown onion and Italian sausage in a large skillet. Deglaze the pan with the red wine and then pour in spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, and seasonings. Simmer while preparing the shells. In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, half the parmesan, basil, egg, and salt and pepper. Pour half the sauce into a large baking pan (I used a 9x13). Fill each shell and place seam side down in the sauce. You'll have to really squish them in there to fit. Pour the rest of the sauce over the shells and top with grated mozzarella. Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes or so until all the cheese on top is melted.

Adapted from THE PIONEER WOMAN

Family Rating:
Brad: ****
Jordan: ****
Eli: ****
Phoebe: *****
Overall Family Rating: 17/20

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Ok, I know it's been a while since I posted here, but summer isn't when I find new recipes. Especially not this summer. I am going to play a little catch-up, though, because there were a few that needed to be posted. Like this one. I love any recipe with the words "Philly Cheesesteak" in them and this was no exception! And it's fast! 

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup steak sauce
1 cup beef broth
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 (8oz.) package sliced mushrooms
sliced provolone cheese
salt & pepper to taste
rolls or bun

In large skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat. Add onions, peppers, and mushrooms, and cook until soft. Stir in steak sauce and beef broth. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Split the rolls and toast briefly in the oven. Place meat mixture and a slice of provolone cheese over one half and toast until cheese is melted.

Adapted from SIX SISTER'S STUFF

Family Rating:
Brad: ***
Jordan: ****
Eli: ****
Phoebe: ***** (She loved these and ate two whole ones at dinner!)
Overall Family Rating: 16/20