Oven Baked Chili Dogs

Terrible picture, but it's the only one I got in my excitement to enjoy these!

• 8 hot dogs
• 8 hot dog rolls
• 1 can of chili (no beans!)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• Cheddar Cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Hot Dog Relish
• Black Pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line inside of hot dog buns with mayonnaise and sweet relish.  I know the mayo sounds gross, but it will keep your buns from getting dry while you bake the hot dogs.
3. Sprinkle some pepper on top of each one.
4. Add a line of mustard down each roll.. 
5. Add your the hot dogs, and place into a 13x9 pan (they should fit perfectly!)
6. Top hot dogs with chili, cheese, and diced onion. 
7. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.

My review:  These tasted amazing!  We were both skeptical about having to wait 45 minutes for hot dogs for dinner, but they were really yummy.  I think they would be a great thing to make if you are having a lot of people over, even possibly for the super bowl.  Even though I don't like relish or mustard on hot dogs, I loved the flavor of these.  Try them!!

Crispy Creamy Southwest Chicken Burrito

Makes 6-8 Burritos
Adapted from the Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps recipe on Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 onion, diced
1/4 red pepper, diced
1/4 green pepper, diced
1 cup rice, cooked
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
2 cups cheddar cheese (Mexican would probably be good too!)
Burrito Size Tortillas
Sour Cream


Instructions
Mix the rice with the lime juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic salt, and onion powder in a large bowl.
Add all remaining ingredients except the sour cream and cheese.
Turn your panini press on medium high - high and spray with cooking spray.  If you dont have a panini press, use a skillet.
On each tortilla, spread about a tablespoon of sour cream, and cover with cheese.
Fill with the chicken mixture, and wrap up tightly.
Put on the panini press, or in the skillet flap side down first.  If on a skillet, press down with a spatula (and turn once golden brown).
Repeat with each burrito.

My review:  These were delicious and we have put it on our "rotation list" as one of our favorites.  I made the filling one night, and we had these at least 3 different nights, without getting tired of them!  They are delicious and creamy and crispy and wonderful.  Also a plus, they are HEALTHY!

Saucy Burgers!

10 cooked burgers (grilled or pan cooked, either way)
1 cup ketchup
2 cups water
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
4 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients together and stir them, until boiling.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Add burgers.  (At this point, you can put them in the crock pot with the sauce, if you like, and leave on low for up to 6 hours).

My review:  These are delicious.  I seriously love them.  Yum!  This recipe is easily halved or doubled, or even more!  Delicious. 

Gyro Wraps

1/2 pound ground turkey
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
red onion, diced
tomato, diced
romaine lettuce, shredded
cucumber, diced
1/4 cup feta cheese
2 burrito size tortillas
Sour Cream

In a skillet, brown the garlic and ground turkey on medium heat until no longer pink.
Stir in the oregano and salt.
Spread sour cream on tortilla.
Top with lettuce, ground turkey mixture, onion, tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese.
Wrap up and eat!!!


My review:  This was delicious, and a great, lighter version of a gyro.  Lots of yummy veggies went into it, and the ground turkey has a great flavor.  If you like gyros, you will love this!

Amazing Chicken Fajitas! (and a great marinade too!)

 

adapted from recipe over at My Kitchen Cafe

Marinade:

1/4 cup lime juice

1/2 cup water

3 tbsp oil (olive or vegetable)

2 tsp minced garlic (about 2 large cloves)

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp liquid smoke (this is found near the steak sauce and worcestershire sauce)

salt and pepper

Fajitas:

3 large chicken breasts (about 1-1.5 pounds)

1 yellow or red onion, cut in thin strips

1 red pepper, cut in thin strips

1/2 pound (8 oz) mushrooms, thickly sliced

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp water

1 tsp lime juice

salt and pepper

Mix all marinade ingredients together in a ziploc bag and shake.  Add chicken breasts and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, overnight if possible.

Discard the marinade and grill or broil the chicken until cooked through.  Under the broiler, it takes about 6 minutes on each side.

In a large skillet, heat some olive oil over medium heat.

Add onion, mushrooms, and pepper, stirring and cooking until crisp tender (about 3 minutes).

Add soy sauce, water, lime juice, salt, and pepper.  Cook for another few minutes and stir frequently.

Slice chicken on the diagonal and toss in with the veggies.

Serve on tortillas, topped with your favorite toppings, like cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.  

My review:  I LOVED THIS.  I plan to use this marinade for me than just fajitas, but I think this will become a favorite recipe.  It would also be good for quesadillas or chicken taco salad.  You have to try this!!

Crab Melt

6 oz can Crab Meat, drained
1/2 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 small onion, diced
2 tbsp Light Mayonnaise
2 tbsp Melted Butter or Margarine
1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 dash Garlic Salt
Pepper to taste
4 English Muffins (try the 100 calorie ones -- they are delicious!)



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Split the English Muffins.
Mix the crab meat, cheese, celery, onion, mayonnaise, butter, and garlic salt together in a small bowl.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of mixture onto each muffin.
Bake for 20 minutes, then place under the broiler for 3 minutes.

These can also be prepared and frozen before baking.  Do not top with shredded cheese and freeze, separating layers with wax paper or parchment paper.  Bake for 30 minutes.
 

My review:  This was absolutely scrumptious.  I had something like this in a restaurant once and decided to try my hand at making my own.  I think it would make a good appetizer for parties, too, if you would cut in quarters.  I made this full recipe, and froze the rest to use for quick dinners later.

Pizza Wraps

2 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2 tbsp pizza sauce
10 sliced pepperonis (turkey pepperoni is great!)
6 mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup shredded mozzerella
Grated Parmesan cheese
Dried oregano, if desired
Garlic Powder, if desired
Any other pizza toppings desired (onions, peppers, ham, bacon, sausage)

Spread the tomato sauce on each tortilla.  Top with half of the remaining ingredients, seasoning and adding Parmesan cheese as desired.
Fold in sides and roll.  Use a panini press, George Forman, or GT Xpress to heat.  This will take about 8 minutes.  You can also use a skillet, spraying it with PAM, and turning the wraps halfway through heating time.

My review:  This is a variation on a recipe for the GT Xpress.  I wanted to add some veggies, and you know how I love mushrooms!!  This is a nice quick meal, and a healthier version of a hot pocket.  I like to make these on nights when I am running off to class and need something on the go.  They are also good warmed up the next day.  You can add in any of your favorite pizza toppings!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Wraps

This recipe makes 2-3 wraps.

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, chopped in bite size pieces or strips
4 tbsp dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
6 slices of thin sliced cooked deli ham
2 slices mozzerella cheese
2 slices swiss cheese
2-3 Burrito size tortillas

In a small skillet sprayed with cooking spray, cook your chicken until cooked through.
Once it is cooked, spoon the dijon mustard over the chicken, and reduce to low heat.  Stir to mix the chicken up with the mustard.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Careful with the salt, the ham will add a salty taste to the wrap.
In a separate pan, heat up the ham.  You won't need to spray the pan with anything, just throw the ham on medium heat to let it get warm.  Once it's warmed up, remove the ham.
Place one burrito in the pan.  Place desired amount of ham (I prefer 3 slices, since it's thin-sliced) on the bottom.  Then, spoon 1/3-1/2 of the chicken over top.  If you like dijon mustard a lot,  you can add some more at this step.  It's up to you!  Top with one slice of each cheese, and wrap up.  Flip it over, so that the folded size is now on the heat.  This will melt your cheese.  Repeat with the 2nd (and possibly the 3rd) wrap.



My review:  This is a quick, easy sandwich I like to whip up for myself on weekends.  I always have chicken breasts in my freezer, so this is a go-to for me.  I love all the flavors mixed together.  You can also do this on a bun, if you prefer.   Leave the chicken breasts whole when cooking, add the dijon mustard, and top with ham and cheese on a kaiser roll.

Lazy Barbecue Beef Sandwiches

These are quick yummy sandwiches to make. If you want, you can double or triple the recipe and once it's cooked, throw it into a crock pot and take to a pot luck.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (26 oz.)Condensed Tomato Soup
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 lb. thinly sliced deli roast beef
12 of your favoritest rolls, i prefer Martin's Potato Rolls




Heat oil in saucepot. Add onion and cook until tender.

Add soup, water, sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire. Heat to a boil. Cook over low heat for 5 min. Add beef and heat through. Serve on rolls.


My review: This is so easy. and Delicious. Good for cookouts and pot lucks or just for those nights when you need something easy.

Philly Cheese Steak Wraps

This recipe makes two wraps. Adjust to feed your crowd.

4 Sandwich Steaks (SteakUmms)
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
8 Mushrooms, sliced (or use a can)
1 slice mozzerella cheese
1 slice swiss cheese
Tabasco Sauce
Lawry's Season Salt
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
2 burrito size tortillas
Tomatoes, diced
Shredded Lettuce
Mayo or Pizza Sauce


Melt the butter (or heat the olive oil) in a small sauté pan on medium heat. Throw in your pepper, onion, and mushrooms. (or whatever combination you decided on...) Shake in some Lawry Season Salt. Not too much, this recipe can tend to be salty on its own. Also throw in a few shakes of Tabasco. (also optional)
In a separate, lightly greased pan on medium heat, break up your sandwich steaks, which ideally are still frozen, making them easier to just tear up.
Once your steaks are cooked and your veggies are sautéed, combine the two into one of the pans. I recommend that veggies' pan, if your steak will fit, because the steak can be greasy, and this is a good way to get rid of some of that. Mix it all together. Then split into two piles, one for each wrap. Top each pile with half a slice of each cheese. Throw on a lid to melt the cheese.
While your cheese is melting, heat an ungreased skillet on medium heat and throw in your tortillas. Heat for 15 seconds on each side.
Fill each wrap with its guts, adding the mayo or pizza sauce if you like.
Then, top with some lettuce and tomato, wrap that sucker up, and enjoy!


My review: This was a creation I made yesterday for dinner, because I was hungry for cheesesteaks and had everything but rolls. Which is convenient, cuz I don't like the roll part of cheesesteaks. This was yummy and definitely something I will be cooking up again!