Provolone Burgers

"So juicy and flavorful you don't even need condiments!"

The Good:  If you want to be known as the grill chef this is the recipe to do it with.

The Bad: The recipe calls for a large amount of meat.  Great for parties, not so practical for couples.

The Ugly: Ground beef is not the healthiest option.

Suggestions before starting:

We used the griddle instead of a grill set to 375. I absolutely love my griddle.

The original recipe says it makes 8 burgers but we made 11 last time we made this recipe.  Make them the size you prefer but remember to pat them down tight and flat so they will cook evenly.

It says to cover while cooking, you can cover it with a ceramic bowl or any type of dish that can stand high heats.  I usually do not cover it other than when putting the cheese on.  It is supposed to help cook it more evenly and trap the heat in.

If you are unsure if the burgers are done, do not hesitate to cut one down the middle.  I like mine a little pink but I know others do not.

As you can see we added some sauteed portobello mushrooms... they're perfect for all meals!

Healthier option: try all the same spices with turkey instead of ground beef.

Family Favorite- Apple Coffee Cake

Succulent, flavorful and perfect for any time of the day or night!

The Good: This is an absolutely delicious cake that is easy to make and perfect for any occasion.

The Bad: This cake never lasts long.

The Ugly: My coworker keeps threatening me because it took so long to post this.

Suggestions before starting:

As with all recipes I make, I set out the eggs so they will be luke warm when I am ready to make the cake.

Usually 2 apples are enough for this recipe.  We always use Granny Smith apples because they are perfect for baking.  Make sure to dice them fairly small.  My parents usually use a grater for the apples but I like them larger; however, if they are too large it will not bake properly.

The recipe calls for 1 cup of walnuts... I leave these out.  I do not like walnuts but my parents always add them.

Immediately after removing from the oven I cover the cake with a clean towel to keep in the moisture.

Family Favorite-Stuffed Peppers

Spicy or mild, creamy or crunchy... these are delicious!

The Good: These are incredible easy, great as an appetizer, carry-in dish or holiday hors d'oeuvre.

The Bad: If you decide to reheat these expect them to get gradually hotter.

The Ugly: Unfortunately the peppers do not come with a spicy thermometer so it can be guess work to know if they will be spicy or not.

Suggestions before starting:

If you are someone who does not like spicy foods, feel free to use another type of pepper or taste test your peppers before using the bunch.

The first time I had this recipe it was not spicy at all but the second time it had a bit of a kick.

Adjust the cream cheese and sausage to your taste.  I love cream cheese so I added more than Dave (Wicked Chef 2) would.

All of the quantities are approximations.

Family Favorite- Meatloaf twist

It seems every family has their own version of meatloaf.

This has always been one of my favorites but this time we improvised.

The Good: Simple, tasty and cheap, it is hard to go wrong with a good meatloaf.

The Bad: Every family has their own style of meatloaf so sometimes its hard to make one you know everyone will be familiar with.

The Ugly:  If you're looking to go on a diet, do not use ground beef!  There is a lot of fat released from the meat but if you are just looking for great tasting comfort food you are in for a treat!

Suggestions before starting:

Due to the oils released from the meat I always cover my pan with foil with a very light layer of cooking spray before starting so it is easier to clean.

The recipe below has saltines, onion and spices; however, if you followed the Stuffed Pork Tenderloin and had a lot of extra stuffing leftover, you can substitute most of the ingredients with the stuffing you had leftover.  The fresh spices are incredible but you can also use dried herbs. The bread crumbs just make the meat softer.  For a harder meatloaf use the saltines.

When making this, if you think the measurements do not look how you would like them to, change it.  Add anything you want and as much or little as you like.  That's the great thing about meatloaf, it can be made however you would like.  I have seen people add celery, peppers, salsa, raisins... you name it!

To mix/combine means use your hands in this recipe.  I always sit the ingredients out early so they will be at least luke warm.  Otherwise this can be painfully cold.  Dish soap is the best cleaner to cut the grease off your hands afterward.

I always mix the seasonings together before mixing in order to make sure they are evenly spread.  If using fresh spices make sure they are minced first.  If using dried, just use more than you would if fresh.

For a healthier option: do not be afraid to try Turkey meat.  It will just be a little dryer.  When using ground chuck we tend to get 80% lean.

Smothered Green Beans- Follow up Recipe!

Flavorful and succulent, these green beans perfectly compliment the Stuffed Pork Tenderloin,

as well as uses some of the extra ingredients!

The Good:  This is a simple recipe that goes perfect as a side dish (especially with the Stuffed Pork from yesterday!)
The Bad: The recipe says you may need a little extra water, we used at least 4x's the amount!
The Ugly: Watch your water level closely. If it gets too low your onions and garlic will burn.

Suggestions before starting:
Keep a large sum of water nearby and ready to add.
To render just means to melt the fat.
If you are not sure if the beans are done... well try one.  You are the best judge for what you like!

Stuffed pork Tenderloin

Flavorful, hearty, juicy and tender... this dish is enough to make any one's mouth water.

Stuffed Pork, Smothered Green Beans & Sauteed Mushrooms

The Good: This recipe is absolutely delicious and the fresh herbs are to die for!

The Bad: There was so much stuffing left over when we followed the recipe.  Friday expect to see what we did with the extra filling.

The Ugly: Only 2 servings!  This is a lot of work for only 2 SERVINGS!

Suggestions before starting:

When making this we did not having any kitchen string so we used toothpicks instead.

This dish is extremely fragrant and will leave the smell in your clothes, purse and other items.  If this is something that bothers you, be sure to put those items in another room before starting.  Sage is a very fragrant spice when baked.

We made the green beans to go with the pork because I don't use bacon often and wanted to use it up.  Tomorrow expect to see the recipe for that and Friday watch for a recipe that uses the extra stuffing!

Thank you a million!

I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support with this blog! I am so ecstatic to see so many new followers as well as continued followers.  After an absolutely crazy weekend at work (every pun intended), I am hoping to put up some new recipes this week.  The first will probably be posted on Tuesday rather than the usual Monday.  (I just worked 3rd followed by a double 2nd, 3rd surprise so please bare with me and any spelling/grammatical errors!)  I hope everyone has an incredible week and, as always, great food to eat :)

P.S. New followers from the blog hops... I will return your follows asap, probably later tonight or early tomorrow.  Thank you for your patience.  I can't wait to see your blogs!