Southwest Sloppy Joe Pizza

( I almost forgot to get a picture )


I got this one from my Pillsbury Cookbook... it sounded kind of weird, but I had all the stuff to make, so I did... and we loved it!

1 can of refrigerated pizza dough
1 lb lean ground beef
1 medium onion (minced)
1/4 cup diced jalapeno peppers
1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp of minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp of Worcestershire Sauce
1 cup of salsa
1/2 cup of grape jelly ( I know weirdness, huh?)
2 cups of shredded mild cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray. Unroll pizza dough and push it into the pan so it fits. (If it tears then mend it together, no biggie) Bake the crust for 8 - 10 minutes.

In a skillet brown your ground beef with the onions and jalapeno.

Stir in mustard, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salsa, and jelly into beef mixture. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened.

Spread the beef mixture over the partially cooked dough and sprinkle with cheese. Throw that back in the oven for 8 more minutes until cheese is melted and crust is browned. Let stand for a few minutes before you cut into slices.

It's kind of sweet and spicy. Surprisingly delicious and easy!

Dry Rub BBQ Chicken

1 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 salt
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp of ground ginger

Mix together the ingredients above and rub on 3 to 4 breasts of chicken. Line a baking sheet with foil and bake for 45 min at 350 degrees.

3/4 cup of honey BBQ sauce
1 Tbs brown sugar
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Mix ingredients in a small sauce pan and let heat through. Serve over top of chicken.

I served this chicken with a big green salad and Risotto. I didn't get a picture of it because it disappeared way to quick. :) My 2 1/2 year old ate half of a chicken breast him self. Jesse said this one is a keeper.

Apple, Raisin, Pecan Salad

1/2 cup raw pecans
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 medium apple (I chose honey crisp.. oh so good)
1 head of crispy Romain lettuce
5 dried apricots (diced into small pieces)

Mix together all ingredients except nuts.

Toast the pecans in a dry pan, stirring frequently. Mix together 1 Tbsp of brown sugar and 1 Tbsp of water and add to the nuts. Keep stirring until liquid is gone. Pour on top of the salad.

I think Raspberry Vinaigrette would be awesome on this salad. But I made my own orange marmalade dressing.

2 Tbsp orange marmalade
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp of lemon juice
a dash of apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper

Mix together and pour over salad.

Jesse said the dressing was funky. :) I liked it, but like I said Raspberry Vinaigrette would be a safe route and yummy.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2 1/2 Cups of Flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 Cups of Sugar
1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil
3 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups of Mashed Banana's ( I use more if I have more)
1 Cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips ( once again, I use more sometimes)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and CINNAMON SUGAR (that is my secret ya'll) your loaf pans, or muffin pan. The sugar makes this sweet kind of crunchy crust. So delicious.

Stir flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl and set aside. (if you have a sifter, sift. But I just stir them together. In another bowl mash up your banana's with a fork.

In a mixing bowl mix together sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla until well blended. Add banana's and blend well. Mix in your flour mixture just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among loaf pans and/or muffin pan. Put in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. For Muffins set timer at 30 min and then check on them. To check if they are done stick a toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean, your good to go.

I am telling you, buttering and sugaring the pan makes ALL the difference!