Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Cooking : Breakfast Pita Pockets

Ingredients
2 slices bacon
2 links pork sausage
2 slices Canadian-style bacon
3 eggs, beaten
1 pita bread, cut in half

Directions
Place bacon, sausage, and Canadian-style bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat. Fry until evenly brown; drain. Crumble bacon, and chop sausage.
Mix eggs into the skillet, and scramble with the bacon and sausage until no longer runny.
Place pita bread in a microwave, and heat on High about 30 seconds, until warm. Spoon the egg mixture into the pita bread halves, and serve warm.

Cooking : All-in-One Casserole

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into small cubes
2 (8 ounce) packages sliced fresh mushrooms
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch garlic powder, or to taste
3 zucchinis, cubed
2 sweet potatoes, cut into cubes
2 large red potatoes, cut into cubes
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil

Directions
Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the chicken and mushrooms until the chicken breasts in the hot oil until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and remove from heat. Stir in the zucchini, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup of olive oil; transfer to the prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, until potatoes are tender and easily pierced with a fork about 1 hour.

Cooking : Applesauce Cake II

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped almonds
2 egg whites
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch pan.
Beat flour, white sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, applesauce, water, shortening, 2 eggs, raisins, and 1/2 cup chopped almonds with a mixer on low, scraping the bowl constantly, 30 seconds. Beat on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 3 minutes. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 60-65 minutes.
To Make Frosting: Just before cake is removed from the oven, beat egg whites until foamy. Beat brown sugar and lemon juice gradually into egg whites until stiff. Carefully spread over HOT cake. Sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) until brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Cooking : Big John's BBQ Ribs and Dry Spice Rub

Ingredients
1 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons seasoning salt
2 pounds rib roast
4 cups canned tomato sauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water

Directions
In a small bowl or jar, mix together chile powder, dried minced garlic, onion powder, cumin, salt and seasoning salt.
Place rib roast on a medium baking sheet. Rub vigorously with 1/2 the chile powder mixture. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
In a medium saucepan, mix together 1/2 the chile powder mixture, tomato sauce, brown sugar, tomato, Worcestershire sauce, dried onion flakes, soy sauce and water. Cook 3 to 5 hours, stirring occasionally, over low heat.
Prepare an outdoor grill for indirect heat. Lightly oil grate.
Cook ribs covered on the prepared grill 3 to 5 hours, or to desired doneness. Brush with the sauce mixture from the medium saucepan during the last minutes of cooking. Serve with remaining sauce mixture.

Cooking : Bacon 'N' Veggie Pasta

Ingredients
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
2 cups broccoli florets
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
4 bacon strips, diced
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
16 ounces uncooked medium shell pasta
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until broccoli and carrots are tender.
In a skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. In the drippings, saute the mushrooms, green pepper, onion and garlic until tender; add to tomato mixture and heat through. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and place in a serving bowl; top with vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with bacon and Parmesan cheese.