Julie's Cheesy Hash Brown & Gravy Casserole

Tonight I made one of those dishes that was a spur-of-the-moment-off-the-top-of-my-head dish.  (Not pictured is a pound of hamburger.)  I was just going to make spaghetti w/ hamburger and bacon (crumbled in like Mel loves), but I saw the yummy hash brown rounds thawing in the fridge.  I was originally just going to cook them this weekend as a side dish.  I asked Mel if spaghetti sounded better, or a hash brown casserole with gravy.  Guess which one he chose!!  I layered it with hash browns on the bottom, then hamburger (cooked in the spices you see), then 2 kinds of cheese, then country gravy.  I then repeated and added a little more of the dehydrated onion.  The 2nd layer had peppered gravy since there was not enough country gravy for the whole pan.  Anyway, we both loved it, Mel gave it a 12 out of 10, and I give it a 9!  Mel added Sriracha to his & I added salsa to mine.  I still have some potatoes left and Mel wants me to make this again in a few days (Tomorrow I'm making a roast - basic stuff, I won't blog about it. But do your hubby a favor, don't add carrots to a crock pot roast, instead use potatoes and onions.  Unless he likes mushy carrots, I am sure he'll love it this way much better! ) 

Italian Chicken Bundles

I made this dish for our dinner tonight.  Considering that I started a new job today and was pretty tired, this was not too much work.  I did, however, skip the step where you're supposed to flatten the chicken with a frying pan.  I just stretched it with my hands and it was less of  a roll-up (like it was supposed to be) and more baked chicken with a yummy topping.  I changed a few other things as well.  First of all, I got this recipe from a box of a cheap version of corn flakes, and you were supposed to crush them in a food processor.  Instead I chose crispy rice cereal (it would be good with bread crumbs too).  I used garden veggie cream cheese mixed with the regular (I didn't take a pic of it), and I changed the spices a bit, but kept it pretty close.  Oh, yeah, I also did not have sun-dried tomatoes, so I just used 1/2 a can of diced tomatoes (instead of  2 TBS), and I used a cup of cheese instead of a few TBS.  We both absolutely loved this dish.  We both said it was a lot better than expected and want it again and again!  This is a HUGE 10!  

Julie's Dilly Philly

Want something simple and yummy to make for lunch or dinner?  I made these Philly Cheese Steaks for our lunch today.  I sautéed onion & red pepper in olive oil, red wine vinegar, and butter, then added sea salt, lemon pepper grinder, and dill.  I brushed the hoagie rolls with butter & mayo, then added roast beef, Swiss cheese, and mustard.  I topped with the veggies, closed up the rolls, then baked in the oven until cheese was melted. Yum!  These get a big 10 from both of us!

If you are as regular reader of my blog, you may be confused.  Yes, I have been a vegetarian for seven years.  They say your taste buds change every seven years.  So, weirdly enough, two months ago I started craving meat after not wanting it for a long time.  And, no, I am not pregnant and having weird cravings, but being 43 years old and nearing menopause age may have something to do with my sudden change in cravings.  I now eat meat 2-3 times a week.  It is easier as well as less expensive to eat meat, but it does still bother me to eat an animal.  When I can afford it, I am sure I will go back to being vegetarian again.  In the mean time, it is more convenient  than fixing two separate meals for my husband and me.  I start a new job tomorrow with more hours than my old one, so fixing less food will make it easier when I get home from work.  On the upside, at least I now get to try all the dishes I create, and not just the meatless ones!  P.S.  I did not try the salmon I blogged about a few posts ago because I have never bee a fan of seafood.