Red Cat Menu Board for Upcoming Week

Just so you know I haven't completely flipped my lid yet, I do know that says "Little GREEN DOG" Menu."  Just thought I'd be silly this week and do something different.  Wonder how long it will take Mel to notice the difference? 

My New Cookbook

I finally got a Gordan Ramsay cookbook.  I can't wait to start using it!! 

Company Veggie Casserole

I made this for dinner yesterday.  The pictures are not that great, but it was really good.  For some reason, the onion taste was super strong (maybe I'll use less next time), but I still really liked it.  Mel thought it was "pretty good" as well.  I give it a 9, and will most likely make it again.  I doubled the crust topping amount & used onion instead of celery soup (next time I'll use celery), and omitted the "Benefiber."  All else was the same.

Green Chile and Cheese Stuffed Bread

I made this yesterday for Mel.  he loves spicy foods and I hoped he'd like this recipe.  It's from an old magazine.  I don't know how well it shows in the photo, but it's from "Spring 1998."  It was from when "The Idaho Press-Tribune" used to host cooking school demonstrations and give out these free cookbooks.  I wasn't even into cooking then as much as I am now, but  I always loved those shows.  Wonder if they still host those?  Anyway...  I tried this bread but it was too spicy for me, but I thought the flavor was pretty good.  Mel said it was a "10!"  I show the recipe again in the last pic just to show that I made a lot of notes on it.  It was supposed to be for a bread machine, but I don't have one of those, so I wrote down hand made instructions and changed the quantities of the chilies from 4 -7 ounces and the type of cheese to pepper jack (Mel's idea) and the amount  from 1 1/2 to 2 cups, and Mel doesn't like olives, so I used a fresh tomato instead.  (would have used 2-3 tomatoes, but only one was good).   

Julie's Vegeteable Vegetarian Beef and Bean Stew

I know, it's a long recipe title!  I made this yesterday for our dinner.  I think I've posted a similar version to this before.  It's always a little different each time since I don't use an actual recipe.  Mel and I really like this.  He said it was "perfect."  I forgot to include the can of diced tomatoes in the ingredients, but I used a large can with the garlic, basil, and oregano. I'm sure I'll make this again and again!! 

Mexican Lasagna

I made this last night for our dinner from the Costco cookbook my sister got me.  It saw this recipe when I was looking for the empanda recipe & I knew Mel would like it since Mexican food is his favorite. That cookbook has a ton more recipes I want to try. Sorry for so  many photos, but I made 2 versions, one w/ meat for Mel (yellow plate) & a veggie meat one for me (blue plate).  I wanted to show the two skillets going to show how much they look alike.  Mine has a little more veggies because I only had a little bit of veggie meat.  I added the beans and corn to recipe (it didn't call for it) to make it a little more interesting.  We both really loved it.  Mel & I both gave it a 10.  So easy too.  I will make it again - probably often.

Dump Cake

I made this yesterday morning while Mel was still sleeping so he's have a nice treat to wake up to.  My mom got this super easy recipe from a friend.  It only has 3 ingredients: 1) Canned fruit pie filling (I used 2 kinds because I had apple & blueberry left over from the empanadas - so the pan is 1/2 and 1/2), (2) Any flavor cake mix (I used white - my favorite), & (3) 1-2 Sticks of butter.  Just dump the fruit on the bottom, dump the cake mix on top of that, then cube the butter and place on top to fill the pan.  So easy and so very yummy.  Mel & I love this - we both give it a 10 - and I will make it again.

Upside-down Pizza

I made this on Monday from the little cookbook my mom got me.  It has a lot of recipes I want to try.  You're supposed to use "Benefiber" in all the recipes, but I'm not using it.  I made 2 versions, one w/ meat for Mel (blue plate) & a veggie meat one for me (yellow plate).  We both really liked it.  Mel gives it a 10, and I give it a 9.  So easy too.  I will make it again.  But I didn't buy enough buttermilk mix for the topping, so next time I'll have to make a better top crust!!

Menu Board for This Week

I don't know if I'll get this all done, but this is the plan for the week.  I'll be happy to get back to cooking for my dear husband!! 

Empanadas

Although the soup (previous post) was not a big hit with Mel, he loved these, and even said the crust was "perfect" and "flaky".  He would even rate these a "10" and said they are "wonderful."  I filled these with pumpkin, blueberry, and apple/caramel.  The blueberry was both our favorites.  I would also give them a 10 and will make them again (possibly even again this week since I have fruit left over)!  The recipe calls for pre-made crust, but, as usual, I prefer to make my own.

African Peanut Soup

I haven't done much cooking / baking lately because Mel and I have been super busy and going out to eat a lot.  But I did manage to squeeze in the time to make these and the empanadas (next blog post) last week.  I have made both before and posted recipes last year (both around December).  Mel was not too crazy about this soup so I added hamburger to his (the pic in the pumpkin bowl - mine w/o meat is in the leaf bowl), then he liked it a little better, but still was not one of his favorites (but he was sweet and liked the creativity & appreciated all the work that went into it).  I think it's really good and unique, an 8 1/2 - 9. P.S.  I ALWAYS want Mel to be honest with me on everything I make so I don't waste my time and ingredients cooking it twice.  He will NEVER hurt my feelings when he doesn't like something I make!  Marriage is 100% about being honest with one another & that even includes cooking!!!