English Muffin Pizza

Hi everyone!!  I don't know about you but I'm glad that Spring is only 24 days away!!  The sun is out here today too, but it's still cold.

I think I mention that hubby has a part-time job, got bored being retired, and his hours are so that he works at night.  So I'm on my own for that meal and I tell you what, it's hard to cook for one!  So I've been on the look out for recipes that I can down size to make for myself, a person can eat only so many sandwiches for dinner before you get tired of it!

I found this recipe over on Plain Chicken for these English Muffin Pizzas and had a light bulb moment!  I could easily make this for myself and make it many different ways too.  So I gathered all the necessary ingredients and had a yummy meal!

This would be great for afternoon snacks for the kids after school or even a family meal.

 I used Pepperidge English Muffins for mine and was pleased with their taste and texture.  I also used Classico Traditional pizza sauce, oh my this is really good sauce too!  I would definitely buy this again.  Then I got mozzarella cheese, shredded, pepperoni and went to town making my pizza. One night I fried up one link of Italian sausage for my meat topping, yum!

Now you spread on as much sauce as you want on the cut side of the English muffin (split in half), then add your meat/toppings, you could add some small diced vegetables, if you wanted, then sprinkle on your cheese.  Bake in a preheat 400 degree oven (I used my toaster oven to bake mine).   YUMM-O!!

English Muffin Pizza

English Muffins, split
pizza sauce
mozzarella cheese, shredded
pizza toppings, the sky is the limit
garlic powder, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place the English muffin halves, cut side up, onto a baking sheet.  Spoon some of the pizza sauce onto each half.  Top with mozzarella cheese and your pizza toppings.  Sprinkle with garlic powder.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and browned on the edges.

Hope you give this a try, they are good!   Mary

Swiss Loaf

Here is another oldie but goodie recipe. My brother shared this recipe with me along time ago. I really like it and it makes wonderful sandwiches with the leftovers, but my family insist that anytime I make meat loaf it has to be my Grandmother's recipe or they won't eat it, sniff..sniff..I like variety. Anyhoo, here is the recipe.

Swiss Meat Loaf

2 pounds hamburger, I always use lean
1- 8 oz. package Swiss cheese, diced or shredded
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 cup onions, diced
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoon salt, you probably could use less, remember old recipe
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 cup bread crumbs

Mix all of the ingredients together, shape into a loaf and place into a cake pan. If you wanted you could place a rack in your cake pan and than put the loaf on top of the rack to let the drippings fall of the loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour and 30 minutes. Serve 4 to 6.

Sorry no pictures again, but worth sharing with all of you!  Mary

Crock-Pot Beef Stew

Today I want to share with you a crock-pot recipe that I found in a church cookbook.  Aren't those where we find the best recipes in the first place?!  The title of this recipe is Stayabed Stew, as you can bake this in a 275 degree oven for 8 hours if you don't have a crock-pot.  I really like my crock-pot and like findings new recipes to use in it too.  My family really likes this and I usually serve biscuits with it too, but this last time I made Green Chili Cheddar Loaves in my Pampered Chef Brownie pans.  I'll share that recipe later.

I didn't take step by step pictures because you just put everything in the crock-pot except the peas, you add those just before serving.  Oh and the first picture is missing the onions.

Crock-Pot Beef Stew

2 pounds beef stew meat, cubed (I just buy already cubed stew meat)
1 14.5 ounce can peas, drained
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 large potatoes, cubed, peeled or unpeeled
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 10.75 ounce can condensed tomato soup
1 bay leaf

Spray crock-pot liner with PAM.  Mix all of the above in the crock-pot except for the peas.  Cook on LOW for about 8 hours.  Right before serving, add peas and give it a good stir.  Serve.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

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Broccoli Soup

Today it has turned alittle bit cool, so I thought I would share a soup recipe with you. I like to serve it with a crusty bread and of course, some real butter!  Sorry no picture.

Broccoli Soup

2- 10 oz. packages frozen broccoli
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups half & half
1- 10 1/2 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1/2 teaspoon oregano (I use more like 1/8 teaspoon)
salt and pepper, to taste

Cook broccoli according to package directions in a pot large enough to hold all of the ingredients above; drain. Add the rest of the ingredients and heat thoroughly. Serve. Serves 4 to 6.

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