Potato and Leek Frittata

Potato and Leek Frittata

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small leek
• 1 small potato
• sea salt
• black pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
2. Cut dark green and end off the leek, halve it lengthwise, then slice the two halves thinly
3. Cut the potato into cubes - about 1/4 inch each side (I do not peel the potato)
4. Heat the oil in a non-stick, ovenproof skillet over medium heat
5. Add leek and potato to the oil
6. Add salt and pepper to taste
7. Cook about 5 minutes
8. Whisk eggs in a bowl
9. Add eggs and cheese to the skillet and combine all ingredients completely
10. Cook about 2 minutes - just enough to set the eggs
11. Transfer skillet to oven and cook about 10 minutes - top should be set and golden
12. Serve

Makes 2 servings

Polenta and Sausage

Ingredients:

• 2 tsps. olive oil
• 1/2 white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 pound casing-less turkey sausage (regular or Italian - I use regular for breakfast, but Italian for dinner)
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• sea salt
• black pepper
• 18 oz. Polenta (we used to call it corn meal mush), sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
• 1/2 cup chicken broth

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. In a large electric skillet, heat the oil.
3. Add onion to oil and cook on medium 5 minutes.
4. Add sausage and cook about 8 minutes - breaking it up as it cooks
5. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds
6. In a 2 quart baking dish, layer Polenta (on end - not flat) and spoonfuls of the sausage mixture
7. Pour broth over the top
8. Bake for 25 minutes

Serves 4

Fish Sticks

Fish Sticks -- Make your own

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs
• 3/4 lb. tilapia or any white fish - cut into strips 1" by 3"
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup canola oil
• sea salt
• black pepper

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, 2 tsp. sea salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper. Add fish, making sure all portions of the fish are coated.
2. In another bowl, combine the cornmeal and flour. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. I use an electric skillet for even heating. 
4. Piece by piece, remove fish strips from the egg mixture and dredge in the meal mixture making sure each piece is covered completely and transfer each piece to the skillet. Cook on each side until golden brown - about 6 minutes each side. When done, place on paper towels to drain excess oil.

This made us 4 servings, and reheated well in the oven the next day.

Warm Turkey Salad Casserole

Warm Turkey Salad Casserole

Ingredients:

• 3 cups turkey breast, cubed
• 1 cup celery, cubed
• 1 small Vidalia or yellow onion, cubed
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• -----------
• 1 cup potato chips
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients except chips and cheese in a large Ziploc bag making sure they are mixed well.
3. Pour mixture into a 9 x 13 greased baking dish.
4. Mix chips and cheese in a small Ziploc bag. I crush the chips in their bag. It's easier that way and less messy. 
5. Pour the mixture evenly over the turkey ingredients.
6. Cook for 30 minutes. 
7. Serve alone or over rice or egg noodles.

Tex Mex Chuck Roast

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lb. chuck roast
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 can Mexican corn
• 1 can Rotel or Hatch diced tomatoes and chilies
• chili pepper

Directions:

1. Are you ready for this? Put roast and ingredients into a crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours. Do not drain the cans - just pour them in. That's it. So easy and not very spicy at all.

Easy Breakfast in the oven

Okay, I confess that I really don't know what to call this, but I did it and it worked. I didn't want an omelet for some reason and I didn't want to go to the trouble of a frittata, so I combined the recipes I had at hand for each. Next time, I plan to use some veggies like spinach or something else. You can use whatever ingredients you choose. Here is what I did for Nita and me:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 lb. ground beef, browned
• 1/3 white onion, chopped thick
• 4 eggs
• shredded cheese (4 cheese Mexican, 5 cheese Italian, cheddar or whatever you choose)
• 1 tbsp. fresh chopped chives
• sea salt
• black pepper
• cumin
• garlic - chopped or powder

Directions:

1. brown the ground beef and onion together and keep warm
2. heat oven to 400 degrees
3. whisk all other ingredients together (seasonings to your own taste) until totally combined
4. coat cast iron skillet with PAM or butter or your other choice making sure the sides are coated to prevent sticking
5. whisk ground beef and onion in with the egg mixture
6. pour all into the skillet and cover with cheese
7. place in oven and cook 20 minutes

Quick Mac and Cheese

Originally from Simply Recipes.com with changes:

Ingredients:

• 1 qt. water
• 1/2 tbsp. salt
• 1 cup macaroni - your choice of type
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp. corn starch
• 1 tbsp. flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp. lemon juice
• black pepper

Directions:

1. Mix corn starch and cheese so that all cheese is coated
2. Warm milk - don't let it simmer
3. Heat water, add salt. Add macaroni following instructions on the package. Drain.
4. Melt butter in a sauce pan, whisk in the flour. 
5. Add milk slowing while whisking to avoid clumping. 
6. Slowly add the cheese continuing to whisk the mixture. 
7. Stir in the lemon juice. 
8. Add the macaroni and sprinkle some black pepper to your taste.

Serves 2.