Jalapeno (Not on a Stick)

Tonight dinner could not have been more simple.  I realized after a long day, I did not have all the ingredients to make another recipe and was too tired to try harder.  So, I made up a "new" recipe.  The resulting Stuffed Jalapenos were my take on a friend's recipe.  I didn't call her to get the recipe, I just guessed.  I thought they were great, the only problem was the last one was SPICY!!  Here's the recipe:

Stuffed Jalapenos (Jalapenos Rellenos)

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. bulk sausage. 
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut in half width wise (if desired)
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
7 to 8 jalapenos, split in half and seeded

Procedure:
1.  Brown sausage in a skillet until no longer pink. Get the bacon going in another skillet.  Cook until lightly crisp (not fully cooked).  Drain sausage and bacon on paper towels.  Let cool slightly.
2. Preheat broiler.  Mix cream cheese, cheddar cheese and garlic.  Add cooled sausage and combine.  Stuff the cream cheese mixture into the jalapeno halves using a teaspoon.  I over-stuffed them, so you might be able to do more jalapenos for this recipe based on the size of the jalapenos.  Wrap the bacon strips around the stuffed jalapenos and secure with a toothpick
3.  Place the jalapenos under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes.  Keep your eye on them so they don't get too brown. 

These are great for appetizers!  Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday: Week of June 7-13, 2010

Menu Plan Monday is here again and finds us with a busy week! We are going to Disneyland later today so I have it a little bit easier on the cooking front. 

Monday: Lunch: Hot Dogs and fruit
Dinner at z'Tejas (I got a coupon for my birthday - free meal for me!)

Tuesday: junk food at Disneyland (is there a better kind?)

Wednesday: Lunch: sandwiches
Dinner: Scallops with Garlicky Tomatillo Sauce

Thursday:  Breakfast with Mom for her birthday (it's a surprise).
Lunch: Frito Chili Pie
Dinner: Penne with Asparagus, Spinach, and Bacon

Friday:  Lunch: Kesir
Dinner: In'N'Out on the way to a concert!

Saturday: Dinner: Seafood Enchiladas, Sides; Dessert: Churros

Sunday: Dinner: Stir-Fried Szechuan Steak on Rice, Zen Temple Dumplings

Wow!  I am hungry just thinking about what we are going to eat this week!

Grocery Challenge

Although I do not want this blog to turn into a deals-finding blog, I am, by nature, very frugal.  I enjoy getting a great deal on the things I would buy anyway.  So, when I found the All You Grocery Challenge was running this summer, I was so excited.  "What is this strange idea?" you ask.  Well, here are the details:

1. The challenge starts June 20th and runs for 4 weeks.
2. The purpose of the challenge is to help you stay on top of your grocery spending by allotting $25.00 per person in your household per week for food expenses. 

That's about it.  At the end of it, there may be a prize in it (I hope it's me, but I am not holding my breath!): a $1,000 gift card for groceries!  That would cover a lot of food! 

So, I will be participating and keeping updates right here on this little blog.  This will include any really great tips on savings I get (including local store deals).  Anybody up for doing the challenge with me?  Check it out here, sign up and leave me a comment saying you are in! 

Wordless Wednesday: Catching up

Calzone Casserole

Yeah, I had never heard of it either.  And to be quite honest, after eating tonight's dinner I wonder why you don't just make it into a calzone.  It has all the same ingredients as a calzone, but is just formed different.  Oh the lengths food editors will go to come up with a new recipe.

Tonight's recipe is inspired by a Cooking Light recipe called Spinach-Feta Calzone Casserole (see here), but I changed it very much so here's the adapted recipe:

Ingredients
1 pkg Pampered Chef Pizza Dough mix (or any pizza dough you have) + ingredients to make the dough
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion (thinly sliced)
2 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
salt & pepper to taste
1 large bunch fresh spinach, washed, trimmed, and roughly chopped
1 1/4 c. ricotta cheese
1 c. Italian cheese blend
1 c. cooked chicken breast
2 Tbsp. Garlic Oil
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning blend

The Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.  Prep the dough according to package directions.  Turn out onto a floured surface and roll into a 12" square.  Place the dough in an 8x8 baking pan.  Leave the excess over the edges. 
2. Heat oil in dutch oven and add onions and garlic.  Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions start to brown.  Remove from pan and place in a large bowl.  Salt and pepper the onions and keep warm.
3.  Add spinach to pan in batches, stirring often, until the spinach wilts (about 4 minutes). 
4. Add spinach, ricotta cheese, Italian cheese, and chicken to the onion mixture.  Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir well.  Pour spinach mixture into the prepared pizza dough crust.  Fold edges over the top and brush with garlic oil.  Sprinkle Italian seasoning blend over the top. 
5.  Bake in oven at 425 F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. 

This was not Drew's favorite dish, but I really enjoyed it.  The fresh spinach tasted great and the ricotta was very mild.  I would make this again for a pot-luck event.