Valentine Breakfast

Here are some ideas for a great Valentine Breakfast

Thanks For Writing

Thanks to everyone that emailed me. I am happy to see we are on the same wave length.

You wanted to know if I was going to do any shower, Mother’s Day and Easter menus and decorating ideas.
The resounding reply is YES.

I am working on the projects now.

Saving Money

We all love to entertain but it can become very costly. I am looking  and testing recipes and ideas, that can hold the cost down. When the post is easy on the pocket book I will mark it with a $

BBQ Pork Sliders

Get out your crock pot, put the pork on in the morning and you have a great snack for your football games.

1. 3 to 4 lb pork shoulder or butt
   
2. 2 Tbl oil
   
3. 2 cloves of garlic
   
4. Salt and pepper to taste
   
5. Bottle of your favorite bbq sauce
   
6. Pint of cole slaw
   
7. Pkg of small dinner rolls
   
8. Slices of dill pickle (option)

Turn crock pot on high and add oil to crock pot.  Brown meat and add cloves of garlic.  Pour bbq sauce over shoulder. Cover pot, turn crock pot to low and cook for  about6 to 8 hours or roast the pork  at 350 degrees for 3 hours, uncovered, until the skin is crispy-brown. Shred meat
Serve on small dinner rolls topped with slaw and pickle. Have addition bbq sauce on the side for those who prefer wetter sandwiches.

Football Field Cake

Have a sheet cake pan? Here are a few websites that can make a field Q&E for the party.

This is a cake from cakecentral

Valentine’s Menu Q&E Way

Shrimp Cocktail
Steak Pizzaiola with Sauce*
Side of Pasta
Green Salad with Italian Dressing
Crusty Garlic Italian bread
Strawberry Cream Pie* recipe tomorrow)

* recipe
Ingredients:
2 8 ounce steaks (T-bone is best)

• 4 Tbs olive oil
  
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  
• 1 28 oz can tomatoes, chopped
  
• 1 Tbs Italian seasoning
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
  
• bunch of parsley

For a spicier topping, add crushed red pepper with the garlic.

Directions:

1. Heat 2 Tbs of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat adding garlic. Cook garlic till light brown, watch careful so garlic does not burn.
2. While sauce is cooking, boil 1 pound of fine linguini.
   
3. Rough chop parsley
   
4. Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper. Return to a medium heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Turn off heat under pot.
   
5. In a large skillet, heat 1 Tsp of olive oil over medium-high heat.
   
6. Add  steaks and turn the heat to high.

Cook the steaks for 1-2 minutes on each side. Lower the heat to medium, spoon some of the tomato sauce over the steak, cover the pan, and cook for 5-8 minutes Uncover pan at the end of the cooking time and reduce the sauce. Serve the remaining sauce over the linguini. Place each steak on dinner plate and top with sauce and sprinkle with grated mozzarella and chopped parsley.  Uncover pan at the end of the cooking time and reduce the sauce. Serve the remaining sauce over the linguini. Note: When cooking the tomatoes adding mushrooms  would make a nice addition to the sauce.

  Set your valentine table with these glasses on sale.

Easy Sweets

If you are in the mood for a little fun, try these superbowl pretzels.

photo from veryculinary.com

What Would You Like To Know?

We’ve covered Christmas, Super Bowl and I am working on Valentine’s Day. What would you like me to tackle next? Do you have any problems with entertaining?  Please leave a comment or email at sandylegg@gmail.com

Mexican Chocolate Puppy Chow

Mexican Chocolate Puppy Chow try the recipe for a twist on the old cereal mix.  This one has zing.

Coming Soon

Q&E Valentine menu    for your sweetie and ideas for sweets for the day.

Chili the Q&E Texas Way

Finalize your game plan with your favorite chili recipe. Add a few pepper flakes for fire and 1/4 cup of smooth peanut butter to  add a new twist. I didn’t make a mistake, trust me add the peanut butter. Don’t have a favorite recipe? Here is a quick one to get you out of the kitchen fast but don’t forget the peanut butter. It will combine with the tomato sauce and give it a new smooth great taste.

The day before the big game, while the chili cooks, crank out a box of cornbread. Add a jalapeno pepper finely chopped  and a cup of grated cheddar cheese  to the mix. Every one will love  it. Offer your guests a bottle of hot sauce, small bowls of chopped onions and more grated cheddar cheese to add to the chili. Serve with cornbread.

Pecan Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

• 6 (3-ounces each) packages cream cheese, room temperature
  
• 8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  
• 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
  
• Finely chopped pecans or finely chopped parsley

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, Cheddar cheese,  Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and garlic. Beat with an electric mixer until well blended. Refrigerate until firm then shape into a ball. Roll cheese ball in chopped pecans or chopped parsley until well coated. Wrap in plastic and let meld in refrigerator for at least 24 hours. Take out of refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving. Serve cheese ball with assorted  crackers.

Chicken Wings the Q&E Way

Got to have my wings for the Super Bowl, wouldn’t be the same without them.

Ingredients

Chicken drumettes (about 4 lbs.)
1/2 Cup pure maple syrup
1/2 Cup ketchup
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce (optional)

Directions

Put drumettes in pressure cooker and cook on high for 7 minutes, let cool. In medium bowl combine syrup, ketchup, and hot pepper sauce. Pour over cooked drummettes and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to put on the bar-b-que. Grill until heated through, brushing with leftover marinate as needed.  Don't forget the blue cheese dressing!  Serve with wet naps.

Debri Sandwiches

Debri Sandwiches

1 Beef Chuck Roast  2 to 3 lbs.

2 Garlic Cloves thinly sliced

Kosher Salt & Black Pepper to taste

Garlic powder

Vegetable oil for browning roast.

1 onion diced

1 stalk of celery diced

2 Cups beef stock

2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce  or one tsp Worcestershire powder

1 Tbsp hot sauce  more if you like it hot

Season the Roast very liberally on all sides with the salt & black pepper and garlic powder. In either a slow cooker or pressure cooker, heat the oil and carefully add the roast, brown  on all sides.  Add the onions and celery,  add the stock. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook in crock pot on low covered for 3-4 hours or until the meat falls apart. In the pressure cooker add two cups liquid and cook for  50 minutes.

For the Debris Gravy:

Slice the meat into very thin slices, let the meat fall apart.  Add all of the bits and chunks to you cooking liquid after skimming off the fat from the surface, keep the sliced meat warm. Cook gravy until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For the Po’ Boy Sandwich:

Shredded Lettuce

Mayonnaise

Roast Beef (see above)

Debris Gravy

French Bread

Slice bread lengthwise and dress the bread with mayonnaise, add shredded lettuce. Pile on the roast beef and drizzle the debris gravy over meat. Put top of bread back on, serve with plenty of napkins.

The best debri sandwich I have ever had was at Mother's in New Orleans.

Super Bowl Cupcakes

Let's get some sweets going along with the sugar nuts (previous post). How about some cupcakes? not just your usual cupcakes. Yes this is Q&E, we are going to use a box mix but then we are going to take it to new heights.

Chili Powder Chocolate Cup Cakes

Start with a box of chocolate cake mix, follow the directions on the package and to this we are going to add 1/4 cup cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons ancho chili powder and 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, plus two additional tablespoons of water more then the mix calls for.  If you have mini cupcake pans use these to make bite size cup cakes and bake for approximately ten minutes, otherwise bake according to package directions.

Spicy Chocolate Ganache Frosting

1-1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped  do not use unsweetened chocolate)

Heat cream  over medium heat until cream bubbles around saucepan edge. Meanwhile put chopped chocolate and pepper powders in a medium sized bowl, pour heated cream over the chocolate. Stir until smooth. Let mixture cool, stir occasionally, it should be spreadable within an hour or two. 

If you want a different icing you could frost with a cream cheese frosting either way you now have a dessert with a kick.


Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes

Start with a box of yellow cake mix  add 1 1/3 cups water, 1/3 cup vegetable oil. 1/3 cup smooth peanut butter any brand, and three eggs. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  Let cool.  When cupcakes have cooled take a melon baller or small spoon and take out a little of the middle of the cupcake.  Fill hole with grape jelly or your favorite jelly. Filling the cupcakes is best done the day they will be eaten.  Frost with canned sour cream or vanilla frosting.

 

Super Bowl The Q&E Way Sweets

Sugared Pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Grease one baking sheet.

Ingredients

• i egg white
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups pecan halves

Preparation:

Beat egg white until foamy; slowly beat in the brown sugar mixed with flour and cinnamon.  Add salt and vanilla flavoring, then fold in pecans. Spread the nuts out on a greased baking pan and bake at 250° for about 45 minutes stirring half way through. 

Pizza Cups

Pizza Cups

Divide  cream cheese in prebaked won ton cups*. Spread pizza sauce over cream cheese and layer remaining ingredients in the order listed.  

• 1 package cream cheese, softened (8oz)
• 1 jar (14oz) pizza sauce1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 can (6oz) sliced black olives
• 2 ounces sliced pepperoni

*Bake won ton wrappers in muffin cups at 350°F for 5 to 7 min. or until lightly browned. Fill with pizza mixture and bake 6 to 8 min. or until filling is heated through.

Spicy Lemon Garlic Shrimp

Want a great hot Q&E recipe for the super bowl.  This is the one, if you just don't want to dive in, I don't know what will. Easy prep and a great hot dish with out the bother be sure to get crusty bread to soak up the juices.  This is one of my staples in my kitchen.

Looking Ahead

Coming soon two weeks of recipes for a knock out Super Bowl Bash and a romantic dinner for Valentines the Quick and Easy way.

Place Cards

Place cards can aid you in placing your guests where they will be most  comfortable. You want lively conversation not a knock down drag out fight LOL.

There are many cute quick ideas for place cards on the internet, all that is needed is a quick Google search.

Super Bowl The Q&E Way

Having the gang over for Super Bowl?  Don't stress for the next two weeks I will be posting recipes and you will have a winning party. Some of the recipes can be made ahead, to give you a chance to gather with your friends and family and enjoy the game  I have included some hot last minute put together ideas as well.

How about decorating the TV room in the colors of the team you are rooting for and don't forget the pom poms.

Cheese Queso Bowl

Beer Cheese Queso

Ingredients

1 32oz package Velveeta Cheese (diced)

1 can Rotel tomatoes (drained)

1/2 cup  beer

1 cup shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

In a pan on medium low heat, melt Velveeta. Add rotel tomatoes. Stir until blended. Add beer. Stir. Add shredded cheese. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly.

Bread Bowl
Bake your favorite bread recipe in a round loaf to make a bread bowl. Hollow the center and fill it with  the Beer Cheese Queso. Place center pieces of the bread bowl cut up along side of the dip. Don't want to make a bread bowl. Then use nachos to dip with.

Kraft Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes

From Kraft recipes 16 servings, 2 triangles each

What You Need

12 OREO Cookies, crushed

2 Tbsp.  butter, melted

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened

1/4 cup  creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar

1   egg

1 square BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Make It

HEAT oven to 325ºF. Mix cookie crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom of 8-inch square pan. Set aside.
BEAT Neufchatel, peanut butter and sugar with mixer until blended. Add egg; mix just until blended. Spoon over crust. Bake 18 to 20 min. or until center is almost set; cool.
DRIZZLE chocolate over cheesecake in criss-cross pattern. Refrigerate 5 min. before cutting to serve. 

Recipe from Kraft Foods

I like to sprinkle peanut chips on the filling for crunch.

Tip Creamy Red Sauce - Quick and Easy

For a variation on your usual spaghetti sauce, try this take one jar of sauce 28 ounces and add 1 cup of heavy cream, This combination will make a blush sauce and only needs a grating of fresh romano cheese to finish it off. Quick and Easy.

Informal Dinner for Six

Chicken Parmesan Dinner

Menu

Chicken Parmesan

Pasta

Tossed Salad
Garlic Bread
Dessert - Vanilla ice cream balls rolled in coconut with shortbread cookies

Grocery List

2 0r 3 chicken breasts - see below
bread crumbs
paresan cheese
1/2 pound sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
large jar of tomato sauce

1 lb of spaghetti or shape of your choice.
bag of salad greens
salad dressing
garlic bread

Prep: 15 min; Tota; Cook Time: 20 min
Serves 4 - 6
2  (3 if six guests) large whole boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 - 1 1/2 pounds total)
2 cups dry Italian bread crumbs
1/3 up parmesan cheese grated
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Large jar of your favorite tomato sauce

Day before party - To make the cutlets: thin, with the flat side of a cleaver or a heavy skillent pound the breasts until they are approximately 1/4" thick. Cut each breast in half.

Put  the bread crumbs with 1/3 cup parmesan cheese on a flat plate.

Coat cutlets with bread crumbs (press down firmly while coating with bread crumbs).

On medium-high heat, heat  the olive oil. Sautee the breaded cutlets until they are deep golden brown on both sides. Remove to paper towel to drain.

At this point when cutlets have cooled, place in refrigerator in a covered single layer until next day.

Day of Party -  take the cutlets out  of the refrigerator about an hour before warming them. Preheat oven to 350°.  In an oven proof dish lightly cover the bottom of the dish with tomato sauce, place cutlets in a single layer and top with tomato sauce and sliced mozzarella cheese. Bake for fifteen minutes or till heated through and cheese is melted.  Prepare garlic bread according to package directions and keep warm.

Serve with pasta, tossed salad and garlic bread.
 

1lb (1 box) of cooked pasta will feed 4 people as a main course.

Cooking pasta basics

How was the holidays?

How did your holiday entertaining go? Were there bumps in the road? Was it smooth sailing? Let me know, please add a comment or email me I love every note and comment, positive, negative or neutral.  Also, I would like to hear from you as to what you would like to see here to help your entertaining.

I will be adding some easy entertaining menus, no brainers, make ahead menus and even menus to keep in your freezer and pantry.  So come and see what is in store for the new year.