Thursday, February 26, 2009

Cheesy Ham and Potatoes

I love freezer meals, they are great to have for those busy weeks when making dinner doesn't seem possible. Spending an entire day in the kitchen cooking and preparing these meals is a little overwhelming to me so I do it while I'm cooking dinner - I make two batches and put one in the freezer. This is one of the freezer meals that we like!

Cheesy Ham and Potatoes

1- 2 pound bag frozen shredded hashbrowns
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cans cream of celery soup
1- 8 ounce cream cheese
1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 1/2 cups cubed ham
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Soften cream cheese and cream together with soup. Stir in onions, ham, Jack cheese, and pepper. Break apart hash browns. Gently stir into cheese mixture. Place in gallon freezer bag. Label and freeze.
To serve: Thaw. Place in greased baking dish. Bake covered for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Waffles with Berry and Caramel syrup


First, make your waffles...any way you want. We personally like Bisquick...it's easy. Most people get it wrong...if you don't want a soggy waffle, follow my instructions...and that's an order!

Next, top your waffle in the below mentioned order:


  • butter (real, not margarine)
  • whipping cream
  • berry syrup
  • caramel syrup

You will be in heaven and you might groan a little bit...it's that good.


Berry syrup:

Frozen berries, however many you need

Put berries in a saucepan and put a generous amount of sugar on them. Heat on med-high until sugar is incorporated. Cover and let it reduce for awhile on low heat. Mash with a potatoe masher and cool. Yum


Caramel syrup:

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cube butter

1 tbsp. flour

1 cup whipping cream

Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 tsp. vanilla and cool. Yum!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Caramel Apple Pork Chops













  • 4 (3/4 inch) thick pork chops
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced
  • 3 tablespoons pecans (optional)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Place a medium dish in the oven to warm.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush chops lightly with oil and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, or until done. Transfer to the warm dish, and keep warm in the preheated oven.
  3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt and pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet, and stir in brown sugar mixture and apples. Cover and cook until apples are just tender. Remove apples with a slotted spoon and arrange on top of chops. Keep warm in the preheated oven.
  4. Continue cooking sauce uncovered in skillet, until thickened slightly. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle with pecans.