Toasted Ham Sandwich

I can't just go out to a sub shop and grab a sandwich anytime I want to....and boy do I WANT to, but not badly enough to do it I guess.  Does that mean I'm doomed to a life of boring sandwiches from home?  Certainly not!

I stumbled upon a spiral ham at the organic market and I grabbed that baby up like I was in a timed shopping contest.  I seriously forgot to get 2 different things because I was so excited to get checked out and home. :)

Another random fact you might not know about me....I am addicted to banana peppers.  I'm kinda like the Frank's Red Hot Lady....I could put them on everything. Pizza, burgers, sandwiches, roasts, tacos, enchiladas, nachos, my fork.  :)

Well, this sandwich was so good, I was sad when I was done eating it. :)

Toasted Ham Sandwich

What's In It:
Hoagie or French Bread
Sliced Ham
Cheese*
Onions 
Cole Slaw
Banana Peppers

What To Do With It:
Slice bread lengthwise to desired size.  Slice in half horizontally. And lay open face on a baking dish.
Place meat on bread, top with onions, then cheese.
Do not put the top on the sandwich, instead, leave it open faced.  
Toast in a 375 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes or so, until the cheese is melted and the "naked" half of the bread is toasted as desired.
Top with banana peppers and cole slaw.

I served mine with some jalapeno kettle chips and some fresh veggies and it was AMAZING!

*I used Muenster

Valentine's Day Heart Cinnamon Rolls

Happy Valentine's Day!

I thought it would be fun to start everyone's day off with a heart breakfast.  So, I took my Overnight Cinnamon Roll Recipe and instead of rolling them into traditional cinnamon rolls, I rolled both long edges to the center and cut as usual.  Then when placing the rolls into the pan, I pinched the bottom into a little heart shape.

I think they look like smiling theater masks, but once they are iced they definitely look like hearts....Ze-Ra however exclaimed, "Hey, this one looks like a heart!".  haha   Just that one huh...not all of them.  oh well.  It's the thought that counts right?  :)

Here are a few pictures of the process.  :)

Ready for the Fridge:

Just out of the oven:

Iced and Ready to Go:

A little gooey goodness for ya:

Breakfast Cookies

Would like to make some fantastic cookies that you (and your kids) will love for an on the go breakfast or snack - and that have NO sugar or flour in them?!  Well then, you have come to the right place. :)

These are fantastic!  They are like bowls of oatmeal that you can eat with your hands - well, sometimes Te-Man eats his regular oatmeal with his hands, but that's a whole other story ;)

I made these with Raisins and Dried Cherries.  But you can always use chocolate chips or maybe even butterscotch chips - YUM! I might have to make a batch using chocolate chips just for the rest of the Z-Squad....can't have them suffering through life without fruit and chocolate just on my account. ;)

Breakfast Cookies
Original Recipe Here

What's In It:
3 ripe bananas
1/3 c apple sauce
2 c oats
1/4 c milk (almond or dairy)
1/2 c "mix-ins"
1 t vanilla
1 t cinnamon

What To Do With It:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
Mash bananas, then add remaining ingredients.  
Drop by scant 1/4 cup-fuls onto a lined cookie sheet.  Spread out a bit as they will not spread on their own during baking.  
Bake 15-20 minutes. 
Cool on a wire rack.

I am not sure if it is necessary, but these cookies are incredibly moist so I store them in the fridge.  I figure you can't be too safe ;)

Blackberry Custard Pie

I was always wary of rhubarb custard pie when I was a kid.  I was never quite sure if I liked it.  I would think I did and then the next bite I did not....but it was so good....no...not really.  And on and on it went.  You wanna know what I eventually started doing?  Picking out all of the rhubarb and eating it and then having just the glorious custard and crust left behind. :)

Now...as an adult, this seems rather an unacceptable behavior - but I do not wish to live a life without custard.  So - switch up the fruit and life is GRAND!

You can make this pie with Rhubarb, Blackberries, Raspberries, even Apricots.  If you do make it with Rhubarb I would suggest upping the sugar a bit (but that's your call).

Will you pick the fruit out or eat it all at once? :)

Blackberry Custard Pie

What's In It:
3 c blackberries
1/4 c sugar
3 eggs
1 c milk
2 t flour
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
9" pie crust

What To Do With It:
Combine blackberries with 1/4 c sugar and place in bottom of a 9" pie crust.
Whisk together remaining ingredients and pour over berries.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes and then 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until custard is set.

American Cheese - Challenge 2013 Recipe #5

I can not recall the last time I purchased American Cheese.  I do love it, but I'm just so leary of the weird chemicals.

Do you remember the old commercials about how Velveeta melts better than Cheddar?  That has been the story of my life for the past 8-9 years.  I LOVE buying organic cheese, the taste is unparalleled and the peace of mind is worth every penny.  But, it just doesn't melt the same way those chemical filled blocks of cheese do.

To give you an example, I tried to make some Gringo Dip from 54th Street Grill (only my favorite dip of all time) and the most horrific mishap of all time caused the cheese to literally take on the texture and taste of clams.  I actually cried....I have never attempted to make it again - I don't think I could take the disappointment. :)

Well, all of your melting worries can....wait for it.....melt away. HAHA

This cheese tastes fantastic and it melts perfectly! I am so excited to have it in my repertoire and lucky for you, this recipe is posted online!! :)

DIY Test Kitchen American Cheese

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Sometimes a girl just needs to get her Q on.  Some finger lickin', sauce to the ears, forget napkins - you need a wash cloth, BBQ.

I doctered up the sandwich with some Havarti cheese, onions, and some homemade bread and butter pickles.  I served the BBQ with some baked beans and some cole slaw.  YUM!

This made so much meat we all ate it for lunch on Sunday, then Ze-Ra and I for left overs dinner, then myself again for lunch! YUM!

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

What's In It:
2lb chicken (I used boneless, skinless, breast)
1 bottle bbq sauce
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
1/2 t mustard powder
2 T vinegar
1 t mesquite seasoning (optional)

What To Do With It:
Place all ingredients, except chicken, into the slow cooker and whisk together.  
Add chicken and turn to coat.  
Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high 3-4.  
Can serve whole or shredded.    

Hot Cocoa Mix Challenge 2013 Recipe #4

I am not one to crave a cup of Hot Cocoa.  They are always too sweet and never chocolaty enough and just frankly....well, disappointing.

This mix, however, is not disappointing at all!  It is very smooth - not gritty and it doesn't leave that weird residue on the top of your milk.  It is still a bit too sweet for my taste, but that can not be said for everyone else....they LOVE it! 

DIY Test Kitchen Hot Cocoa Mix*

*I can't find a link to the recipe and I'm not comfortable posting recipes out of the cookbook online - so I'll keep checking back periodically and I'll update this post if I can find a link.