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Monday, April 23, 2012

Side Idea - Garlic Smashed Potatoes

This is a great way to use the garlic butter sauce you get from some pizza chains. I saw my MIL do this years ago, and now I always save my sauce to put in mashed potatoes. If you cook about 3 lbs. of potatoes and use 1 container of sauce you will get a slight garlic flavor. If you want a strong garlic flavor then use 2. Or you could just stir it in to taste. I like to change up my mashed potatoes sometimes and try different things like adding cream cheese, or sour cream, so I don't always follow a recipe, but this is how I made the potatoes in my picture.

Garlic Smashed Potatoes
3lbs. cooked red potatoes (skins on)
1/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup half and half
1 garlic butter cup (more if desired)
3/4 cup cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

1. Smash cooked red potatoes with potato masher. Add butter pieces, half and half, and garlic butter cup. Mash with potato masher until combined.
2. Sprinkle on cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Mix to combine.

These taste great paired with my mini meatloaves!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Creamy Ham and Broccoli Bake

This is another dish that I made this week with my leftover Easter ham. It's a version of this Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake. We loved it! My kids even ate the broccoli because I told them that it was in cheesy sauce. I'll definitely be making this again. It was especially great because I used brown sugar glazed ham leftovers. :)

Creamy Ham and Broccoli Bake
2 (15 oz) jars Alfredo sauce (Bertoli is the best)
1 jar of milk (15oz)
1 jar of water, plus 1 cup water (23oz)
2 cups chopped ham
3 cups of fresh broccoli florets, steamed until just tender
2 tsps salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 lb. uncooked Rotini pasta
Parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray large baking dish or 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2. In large bowl mix both jars of alfredo. Add jar of milk, jar of water plus additional 1 cup water. (Shake the fluids in jar to get all of sauce left behind.) Stir well.
3. Add ham, broccoli, salt, and pepper; stir. Last, add the pasta. Stir well. Pour mixture into baking dish. Spread out and level the top so pasta sticking up won't be burned while cooking. (I press it down with a slotted pancake turner to bring the liquid to the top.)
4. Leave uncovered, place in oven. Cook for 1 hour or until pasta is soft and it is bubbling hot.
5. Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes.(Sauce will be really runny if you don't do this.) Top with Parmesan cheese if desired.



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Meal Idea - Leftover Ham and Pineapple Pizza

This is an easy way to use some of your leftover Easter ham. Today I bought an uncooked cheese pizza from Walmart, and a 20oz can of pineapple tidbits. I topped the pizza with the pineapple and about 1 1/2 cups of leftover ham pieces. I don't usually buy the Walmart pizzas, but we really liked it. You could also try it with a Papa Murphy's cheese pizza or any other uncooked pizza.




Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce

I have a mild obsession with Chick-fil-A sauce. I love Chick-fil-A! When I go, I usually just get their Chick-fil-A sandwich, but a few months ago, a friend introduced me to fries with Chick-fil-A sauce. YUM! Since then, I have been hording the sauce. I've even asked friends to pick some up for me if I knew they were going there. Well, I ran out last week and decided to look for a recipe. It's the easiest recipe in the world and tastes just like it!

Homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce
food.com
1/2 cup Ken's Steakhouse Honey Mustard Dressing (must use this brand)
1 tsp BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Ray's)

Mix well and enjoy!!