Make Ahead Meal

Browning the Italian sausage and ground beef is the most time consuming task with this meal.  Assembly above is the easy part.

  

We all have our favorite one pan meals we can oven bake once Fall has arrived.  One of mine is a lasagna. It's hearty and warms the soul. Because lasagna takes time to make, I like to make 2-3 at a time using disposable pans. Once assembled, I cover liberally with aluminum foil and freeze. When ready to make a pan, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Bake time is listed below.

This dish is easy to make and assemble. After you have browned and drained your ground beef and sausage, preheat the oven to 375. Place a layer of meat and marinara sauce (store bought or homemade) in the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish. Cover with a layer of dry lasagnas noodles. Spread a layer of ricotta cheese then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Cover with another layer of sauce and repeat ending with meat and sauce on top.  Bake for 45 minutes or until the dish is heated through.  Take it out of the oven when ready and let it sit for a couple of minutes before serving.  

Best served with a fresh loaf of Italian bread! 

Breakfast You Make & Freeze for Busy Mornings

  Now that Thanksgiving is over and the rush is on to decorate and shop while we continue to run households and work, I find this more helpful than any other time of the year. With a little time and planning, you can still have a hot homemade breakfast as you walk out the door.  Who doesn't like hot waffles or pancakes in the winter to warm and fill you up.  

All you need to do is find an hour or two over the weekend, make your pancakes and/or waffles, cool them and carefully place in food storage bags evenly.  When they are completely cooled, put them in the freezer.  Another helpful tip I offer is oven baking your bacon at 375 for 40 minutes or until done, drain, cool and freeze in ziplock bags.  Just reheat for a minute in microwave when ready to use it alone or in recipes. Big time saver!

Simply take them out of the freezer bag, pop in the toaster or your toaster oven to heat, and you're on your way.  I make these waffles for our Christmas brunch. I'll always make more than we need to freeze, heat and eat.  They are just as delicious as the day you made them.  

These are gingerbread and pumpkin waffles.  Use your favorite batter to make these morning delights!

You can add chocolate chips, blueberries or sprinkles to the batter before you make your pancakes.  Don't forget the maple syrup!

Bon Appetit🍴

Farmers Market to Your Table

Farmers Market Delights

 Support your local farmer's and benefit from healthy, wholesome produce and beautiful flowers for your home. Our local Farmer's Market just opened for the season and I made my way through pesto stands, freshly made apple cider donuts with your choice of powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar, and picked up fresh and locally grown tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, flowers and more.  Did I mention the smoothies and hot brewed coffees?  You can find everything you need for a tasty harvest breakfast at Farmers Markets. Fresh eggs, syrups and potatoes for hash browns plus all the vegetables you need for tasty omelets. If you haven't visited your local Farmers Markets, you don't know what you are missing.  

 Here is a very simple recipe to make homemade tomato sauce for your family and friends using those fresh tomatoes from your market or your own garden. This recipe will make a quart of sauce...modify for your needs....

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred ready to use chopped garlic I can keep in the fridge)
20 medium ripe plum tomatoes, washed, cored and cut into quarters
 Fresh basil (you can use dried)
Small bag of tomato paste (I am a huge fan of Amore Tomato Paste in a tube that you can reseal after you have used the portion you need)
1 tablespoon sugar, teaspoon salt & pepper, chopped onion (optional).

Use a Dutch oven or large pot, cover bottom with olive oil and add chopped garlic and onion.  Brown on low-medium heat until fragrant.  I use my freshly washed hands, take each tomato and squeeze into the pot until all tomatoes are in pot.  Add tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper and sugar and stir occasionally while cooking over low heat for 60-90 minutes.  After the tomatoes have cooked down, I pour into my blender or food processor and blend into smooth sauce for 30-45 seconds.  Use immediately on pasta of your choice or freeze the sauce for use at a later date. Will refrigerate for 3 days.  It's a great way to support the farmers in your area and feed your family a healthy meal.

If you are planning a get together this week,  you can make this sauce ahead of time.  All you need to do is heat it up and add to the pasta of your choice.

Support your local small businesses today!

           

What's in your Picnic Basket?

Here are a few of my "favorite" and easy ideas for planning your picnic this weekend.  

Make ahead slider sandwiches of any combo are easy and popular with almost everyone.  My favorite combos are ham and swiss or roast beef and provolone on small slider buns with honey mustard.  Put your sandwiches together, place on aluminum foil, and head in the oven at 300 degrees for 5-10 minutes, cool and transport.  Keep chilled until ready to eat.  I love these and make them year round.

Fruit kabobs you make that morning.  Use any fruit of your choice but I find halved strawberries, grapes, cheddar and mozzarella cheese cubed make delicious skewers.  Keep chilled until you enjoy.

Brownies!  Need I say more?:)

Grill crusty bread ahead of time, bring bruschetta topping either homemade or store bought (keep chilled), and place on the grilled bread for a tasty appetizer. Top with shredded mozzarella if desired.

Don't forget your picnic basket, cutting board, glasses, water, and wine!

I love make ahead dishes.  Cut up grilled chicken from day before and skewer with green grapes, drizzle with a little olive oil if desired and keep chilled until ready to serve.

I make these "caprese" appetizer skewers ahead of time and are so much fun to eat at an outdoor event.  Marinade grape tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese for a short time in a zip lock bag in fridge, skewer them on wooden skewers, keep chilled and enjoy. Sprinkle with dried basil if desired for extra flavor.

The "bags" toss game is perfect for all ages and easy to transport.

Bring paper bags, roll down the tops for putting your salty snacks in.  No fuss and toss away "bowls".

If you're planning on grilling on a portable grill, don't forget the condiments.

A favorite of mine for outdoor parties or picnics is the "Walking Taco".  Buy small Fritolay Frito bags to present in a basket, put chopped tomatoes, peppers, shredded cheddar, heated and stirred chili, and sour cream out for make your own walking tacos on top of the fritos.  Eat with a fork or spoon and enjoy.

Happy Picnics and enjoy the Weekend!

        

Super Simple Slow Cook Beef Stew

When the temperatures turn cooler outside, I like the aroma of dinner cooking inside.  I literally put this beef stew together in my crock pot last weekend in ten minutes and let it cook on low all day long.  I brought the ingredients up to our lake cabin with the intention of having a nice meal that didn't require time or work.

Ingredients are beef stew meat, chopped carrots, halved small potatoes, 1 onion chopped, small can Campbell's tomato soup,  32 oz. bottle tomato juice, salt and pepper.

Place the stew meat on the bottom on the slow cooker.  Place potatoes on top of meat.  Top with carrots, onion, undiluted tomato soup, tomato juice, salt and pepper to flavor to your liking, cover, cook on low 8-10 hours.  Delicious and easy.  I made a side of corn bread (I used a mix to save time).  It went really well with the beef stew and can be made the day before to save time.  This stew recipe tastes even better on the second day:)  Win win!  Happy Tuesday.

Make Ahead and Freeze Breakfast Sammies

Lake House Lyn Weekend Breakfast Sammies

My husband and I just enjoyed a great weekend at our lake house and the temperatures were below zero.  The thought of going out didn't have much appeal so I let my clever side out in the kitchen.  Here's what I came up with.  Home made egg & cheese sandwiches.  The best part is I figured out a way to make them ahead of time for our family to enjoy the next time we are all up here together.   Did I mention they are delicious?  And can be made during the week t enjoy over the weekend. 

(This will make 6 sandwiches)

6 large eggs, salt & pepper, 6 split English Muffins, 6 slices Canadian Bacon (find in prepared deli aisle), & 6 slices cheddar cheese

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and spray insides of small ramekins, then place on a baking sheet.

Add an egg to each ramekin and beat lightly with a fork.  Then season with salt and pepper.  Place the baking sheet with the ramekins into the oven and bake until the egg whites are cooked (14 minutes, but each oven is different so check).

Place one egg on the muffin bottom.  Top with a slice of canadian bacon (its already cooked when you buy it) and a slice of cheddar cheese. Top with the english muffin top to create a sandwich.  Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and place in the freezer.  

To reheat, remove the plastic wrap from each sandwich and wrap in a paper towel.  Place into the microwave for 1-2 minutes until heat through and serve immediately.

Don't you love make ahead foods?  Happy Weekend!