On a Whim:)

I love pasta casseroles. They make life so easy. The catch is the more of them you make, the more creative you have to be! Tonight, I wanted a bacon cheeseburger, but I didn't have buns. So I decided to make a bacon cheeseburger casserole. As I've touched on earlier, pasta is my weakness, so any excuse to combine ingredients with pasta, I'm gonna jump on it! It turned out delicious, so I hope you enjoy! Recipe follows!!
1lb corkscrew pasta
Boil noodles. Allow to sit in water after done for 4 extra minutes to swell.
1lb lean ground beef
4 slices thick cut bacon, stripped
1 shallot, chopped
2tbsp pepper
1tbsp salt
1can Progresso French Onion Soup (18.5 oz)
1/3c flour
3/4c water
1/2c milk
Fry bacon over medium heat. Add lean ground beef, chopped shallot, salt, and pepper. Brown. Stir in milk. Stir in french onion soup. Wisk flour and water briskly. Add to soup/meat mixture. Cook over medium heat for 7 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat. Stir into pasta.
8oz colby or mild cheddar, cubed
8oz mozzarella, cubed
1c milk
2 eggs, whipped
Add cubed cheeses to pasta mixture. Pour milk and eggs into pasta, stirring til all pasta is covered with milk and egg mixture.
2tbsp olive oil
1can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
Cover casserole dish with oil then layer with tomatoes. Add pasta and meat mixture to casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins.
4oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Add shredded cheddar to casserole 30 mins into, and cook for 15 additional minutes. Enjoy!!

Salade du Jour!

Do you know what is so special about salads? No two salads are the same! No, that is not one of my lame jokes I like to tell, but I truly believe in the diversity of salads! More times than not my salads start with a green base: bibb, butter, romaine lettuces, and spinach is a favorite, also. There are the times, though, when I skip the greens altogether! The joy of salad-making is that there are so many different combinations. I love all veggies, so I am almost always certain to include any sort of mushroom (crimini, oyster, portobello, shittake, and white), and onion (leeks, white, red are my faves). Tomatoes are a favorite of mine also, but size, in this case, matters. I use grape tomatoes for a 'chunky' salad; it is a whole fruit, which is easier to pick up when the other components are just as big. Roma tomatoes go wonderfully with a dark leaf salad; the sweet flavor compliments the fullness of a romaine or spinach or even a kale-bedded salad. Of course, sund-dried tomato boosts any salad flavor (Try a spicy sun-dried tomato with a cream-based dressing!) I create salads out of so many things, but I try to vary my combinations. I love boiled eggs, cucumbers, cheeses (all kinds), meats, pasta, fruits (dried and fresh), nuts, and dressings. Over time, I have chosen certain combinations and stuck with those, but ultimately every bite of every salad you make can be different!! What are your favorite salads to make?

Peach, Please!

So, I decided to try my hand at dessert. I normally skip making this course and go right for store-bought (I'm a little intimidated by baking- working on it!). But in the interest of not wasting food, I had a plan. I had two ripe peaches that only had a couple days left before they became too soft. I also recalled a recipe on the side of a flour bag for an easy blueberry cobbler. So I just chopped up the peaches and boiled them with a cup of brown sugar and a tsp of cinnamon. Meanwhile, I followed the recipe for the batter: 1 stick of melted butter, 1 c self-rising flour, 3/4 c sugar, 3/4 c milk. Mix last 3 ingredients well and pour over melted butter in pan. Add the fruit/juice mixture to the top of the batter, bake @ 350 for 40 mins or until golden brown! Voilà!! Fruity, buttery deliciousness!! Try it, and enjoy! As you know, my blog is a work-in-progress, so I have yet to learn how to upload pics! They are coming soon!

A few of our favorite things:)

What is your favorite meal to make? What is your favorite meal to eat? My favorite meal to make would probably involve macaroni and cheese. I know that is typically a side item, but I usually get inspired by that food first, and then plan my meal around it! My favorite meal to eat, however is spaghetti. Yep, just plain old spaghetti and meat sauce! Love it. Oh wait, there is a small pattern, I heart pasta!! How bout you?

Hey y'all! I'm Shana, and I love to cook! I just wanted to start a line of communication for folks who thoroughly enjoy cooking and eating. Hence my new blog! We will discuss anything food: how you prepare your dishes, hints on cooking food, what makes good food taste good, etc. My goal is to share with you everyday meals that regular, middle-class folks can enjoy without breaking the pockets. I used to eat out all of the time, whether it was fine dining or a neighborhood joint. But when I discovered how easy and enjoyable it was to cook at home, I changed all that. I can be as creative or simple as I want to be, and I have really enjoyed it! Through this blog I will share recipes, pictures, and new ideas. My hope is that other bloggers will, too! So, when you make a great-tasting home-cooked meal, please share it with us! Thanks! -Shanabanana:)