Stuffed Green Peppers

A great and mildly healthy snack.

The Good: Makes a tasty appetizer or goes fairly as a meal.

The Bad: Takes a bit of time and can be somewhat tricky to cook everything just right.

The Ugly: If we timed it out right, we would have made this recipe from our own grown peppers...

Suggestions Before Starting: 

Basically, we like to have everything as ready as can be before starting anything. That means dicing the tomatoes, cutting the peppers, etc so it's all ready to go. 

Mozzarella Chicken

Succulent and Flavorful

The Good: Easy to prepare, absolutely juicy and fairly cheap.

The Bad: The recipe takes a bit of time to cook up.

The Ugly: I always make a huge mess when breading foods!

Suggestions Before Starting: 
As always, leave items like butter and eggs out for a bit before starting the recipe so it is easier to work with and so it will blend better.  I usually set them out when I start thinking about making dinner (30-40 minutes early).  Please don't forget you set it out and let it spoil after a change of plans!
If you do not have dried bread crumbs, feel free to crush crackers (saltines, cheese Its, butter crackers.. you pick!) and add your favorite spices.  I like to use oregano, basil... and whatever else inspires me that day.
Don't forget to get wax paper if you do not have any!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pull-Apart Bread

The Loaf

The Good: Makes the perfect New Years' Eve party appetizer (or any party for that matter)
The Bad: It probably won't be the healthiest in your party-snack lineup
The Ugly: Not good for people with allergies to deliciousness!

Suggestions Before Starting:
Although this particular recipe calls for a round sourdough loaf and bacon bits, don't panic if you can't find or don't have either. It is really quite flexible. We substituted the sourdough loaf with a round Italian loaf, and bacon bits with actual pan-fried bacon. Feel free to substitute the cheddar cheese with any kind you like as well!

Oreo Truffles

Chocolate... need I say more?

The Good:  If you are a chocolate lover, these are for you!
The Bad: These are almost too chocolaty.
The Ugly: NOT INTENDED FOR DIABETICS!

Suggestions before starting:
Use quality chocolate!  Cheaper chocolate is not good for dipping.
I wanted mint chocolate but it was not available so we added a bit of mint extract while melting the chocolate.
In order to evenly melt the chocolate it is common to use a double boiler.  Dave and I do not have a double boiler yet so we created our own... more ghettofied version by using 1 pot on the bottom with water and 1 on top with the chocolate.

Heavenly Angel Food Cake with a Wicked Twist

Light and fluffy, fruity and oooo so tasty!

 

The Good:  You have to like scrumptious desserts to like this.

The Bad: I think it gradually flattened... we had to make it 2 days early.

The Ugly: Be very quiet! Loud noises will drop any cake!

 

Suggestions before starting:

My mother always told me to separate the yolk from the white by cracking the egg in 1/2 and gently passing it back and forth between the two halves.

Do not forget to continue onto the second step while it says wait 30 minutes.

If you do not have a sifter you can use a very small holed screen/strainer.

Mango, Peach, Strawberry Smoothies

 Healthy, smooth and fruity...

The Good:  This is definitely one of our healthiest recipes thus far.
The Bad: It turned out very frothy with our "smoothie" setting.
The Ugly:  The mango turned out a little bit... stringy.

Suggestions before starting:
Peel all fruit and remove pits before starting.
You can substitute the ice cream for yogurt.  I needed an excuse to get Dave to buy ice cream so we used that instead :)
We used Skim milk but you can use any type that you would like.
You can use canned or fresh fruit.  We used fresh strawberries and mangoes but canned peaches.

Family Favorite-Nachos

Tasty and simple to make, nachos you will love to make!

The Good:  These are absolutely delicious and easy to make.  Great for parties and for children who like to help in the kitchen!

The Bad: Its really hard to stop eating these so we always make massive amounts.

The Ugly:  These are terrible for dieters.

Suggestions before starting:

Please do not get frazzled because I do not give amounts to anything with this recipe.  This is another recipe where you do it how you like.

Any tortilla chips work but we like to use scoops because they are so much easier to eat.

I do not typically like olives but I do like green olives on these.

Chili powder is best fresh.  Make sure you get the spice not the mix.

Do not be afraid to add plenty of spice.  It is hard to overdo it. 

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!

Tiramisu

Delicate, with a hint of chocolaty coffee, Tiramisu is an incredible Italian dessert.

The Good:  Although this is traditionally an Italian dish, it goes well after any meal.  Its refreshing and easy to make.

The Bad:  Sometimes it can be hard to find Mascarpone cheese and lady fingers.

The Ugly: This unfortunately is not a dish that you can eat immediately after preparing.  It has a long cooling period, including a one hour cooling period after step one.

Suggestions before starting:

The recipe calls for a 7x11 pan.  We used a 9 x 13 and it was still delicious.

If you are unable to find lady fingers I have found recipes that use vanilla wafers.  Please remember this will change the consistency because lady fingers are very delicate, whereas, vanilla wafers are heavier.

Lemon Cookies

If only all things in life were as simple and delicious, I present to you Easy Lemon Cookies

The Good: Cheap, delicious and did I mention easy?  This is a great recipe if you have children that want to help in the kitchen.
The Bad: If you like just a subtle hint of lemon, this is not the recipe for you.
The Ugly: I once saw a 6'7 guy fight with a 5'5 girl over the last cookie. She won...

Suggestions before starting:
Whenever baking cookies and using the same cookie sheet, remember the batches after the first will not take as long b/c the pan will already be warm.
When I made the cookies I was worried about putting too much powdered sugar on them and ended up not getting the design that the original website has.

Pierogi Casserole

The delicious potato dumplings now in an easy casserole form.

The Good:  Don't worry about counting how many Pierogies you're allowed to have, just 1 can be as much as you'd like! This recipe is delicious, easy to make and freezes well.

The Bad:  Some of the measurements are ambiguous. 5 potatoes could be any amount of potato!  I would suggest using large ones.

The Ugly:  This recipe is not intended for those who are lactose intolerant.

Suggestions before starting:

When we made this dish we had too many noodles.  Because it is a casserole feel free to add or subtract any ingredient that doesn't seem like the proper amount to you.

The first time we made this recipe we split it up into 3 8x8 pans.  We had to add at least 3 potatoes to make it fit properly.

If it seems like you are making mashed potatoes... you are!  Feel free to make them how you like them best.

Peanut Butter Pie

Creamy, delicious, simple and craved by many,

this peanut butter pie is sure to be the talk of any event!

The Good: This recipe is so easy and always a big hit!
The Bad: Everyone that has tried or seen pictures of this pie has begged for me to make them one.
The Ugly: This recipe is not good for people with peanut allergies.

Suggestions before starting:
I am not a chocolate person so I prefer to not use chocolate syrup on top.  In the picture above I melted sugar in a pan to make a crunchy caramel topping.  Although it tasted great it did not look as great a couple days later.
Another option that is not as chocolaty, Dave and I sprinkled cocoa powder on top and it looked fantastic and did not have a strong chocolate flavor!

Italian Cavatini-Family Favorite

Scrumptiously easy and easily scrumptious!

The Good: Delicious, easy to make for groups, low cost and freezes well.
The Bad: Unfortunately the sauce is not homemade.
The Ugly: If you are not good at multi-tasking it may be difficult for you to cook the sausage and the mushrooms at the same time.

Suggestions before starting:
Feel free to add or subtract ingredients to this recipe.  It is also great with onions and peppers.  Just remember if sauteing all the vegetables together be sure to cut them the same size so they saute evenly.
Our family traditionally uses Prego for the sauce.  My favorite is the Mushroom Prego.
It has become increasingly hard to find Tri-Noodles.  Any noodle will work but I still like to mix at least shells and rotini (50/50).
If it is too difficult to cook the sausage at the same time as the mushrooms, precook the mushrooms before even starting the water.
To save time warm the sauce up in the microwave before putting in casserole dish.

Potato Casserole- Family Favorite

Another devine family favorite

A dish that is craved at all family gatherings and is always the first to run out

This is an 8x8, the recipe makes 9x13

The Good:  This recipe is simple, delicious and great for children wanting to help in the kitchen.  It is another recipe you can make ahead of time and freeze if needed.
The Bad: You shouldn't eat it the second it comes out of the oven... it will burn you.
The Ugly: I'm serious, let it cool down first or it will burn you!

Suggestions before starting:
My mother always leaves the butter out of the mixture but puts butter with extra corn flakes to spread on top.
Don't forget to buy cornflakes and account for the butter in the topping.
An interesting twist, make with french fried onions on top instead of the cornflakes.
My sister has used the frozen hashbrowns with peppers and veggies already in it and it was incredible!

Lattice Chicken Potpie

If you love Chicken Potpies but are intimidated by most recipes, this is the recipe for you.  Almost embarrassingly easy, delicious and cheap, this is practically a perfect recipe. 

The Good:  The 3 things I love most in a recipe: delicious, easy and cheap!
The Bad: Unfortunately it doesn't make an ever-lasting amount.
The Ugly:  Although it makes plenty for guests to join, you may quickly become asocial in fear they will eat the rest of your potpie.

Suggestions before preparing:
We simply eye-balled salt and pepper for seasoning.
If you are the type to prepare meals ahead of time, this recipe also works well frozen. Just remember to refrigerate the crescent rolls until ready to cook to make it taste fresh.

Peanut Butter Puppy Chow - Family Favorite

A dish you won't be willing to share with your dog!

As long as I can remember my mother has made this wicked recipe and allowed my sisters and I to help her in the kitchen.  This peanut butter treat is absolutely delicious and easy for the little ones to help with.

The Good:  This recipe is sinfully easy, cheap and everyone loves it!
The Bad:  This recipe can get messy but that's 1/2 the fun.
The Ugly: This recipe is not advised for people with peanut allergies.

Suggestions before starting:
The original recipe suggests using a grocery bag; however, with my severe case of germaphobia I would never consider it.  I use a 2 large Ziploc bags per recipe and split it up.  Once the recipe is finished I put it in a fresh bag or dish for appeal.
If you can't find 12 oz bags of peanut butter chips, don't fret! The closest you can come to 12 oz will be perfect.  This recipe does not need to be exact on any of the measurements.
I like to use a softer spatula/spoonula to mix the chex to keep from breaking too many.
The recipe has never specified an amount of powdered sugar... I've never used a whole bag.

The moment we've all been waiting for: The Recipe!