Sorta-Salsa!

Since the goal of this website is to create at home what you would normally go out to dinner to get, I thought I'd start with a favorite that I typically go out to get. Since Nancy started with a dessert that she gets at Chili's, I thought I would do this appetizer that I usually get at Chili's. You need plenty of time for chopping the fresh vegetables, but it's TOTALLY worth it. This stuff is delicious. Once you start eating you won't be able to stop.

14-18 Roma or Calamati tomatoes chopped

a small (8-10)bundel of greeen onions chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

combine chopped vegetables in a large bowl

Add a can of corn (drained)

and a can of black beans (drained and rinsed)

Prepare Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing Mix as directed.

Pour over the top of the salsa mix

Mix well and chill before serving

Shepperd's Pie French Canadian Version

This is "Pate Chinois"... It is a typical meal for all french Canadians "Quebecois" like me!! You probably know it as Shepperd's Pie!!
Trust me this is the BEST one...:) I've convinced every one that has tried it so far!!

Ingredients:
1.5 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef (96/4) browned and drained season to taste (I use Montreal Steak Seasoning)
2 cans of Sweet Cream Corn
Your favorite Recipe of Mashed Potatoes (see mine on the next post)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 F degrees

In a 9X13 pan layer the Ground beef, Corn and Potatoes.

Cook for 30 minutes!




If you don't have cream corn you can substitute with Blended Whole can corn BUT make sure to drain it!!


Layers


Final Product! Serve With Ketchup (enough so your potatoes are Pink !!) BUT don't forget to add it to the calorie count!!

Husband and Kids review: This is one of their Favorites!! But really what Kid won't eat anything covered in Ketchup???

Calorie count:
8 portions - without Mash Potatoes 184 calories
(This is if you want to add your own recipe of Mash Potatoes)
- With Mash Potatoes 384 calories

Bon Appetit!

Mashed Potatoes

I know Mashed Potatoes is an easy recipe!! BUT I just have to add it for the "shepperd's pie" recipe!!

Ingredients:
10 large potatoes
4 Tbsp salted butter ( 1/2 Stick)
1 cup of Milk (I used 1%)
Garlic Salt to taste




Directions

Cut Potatoes into small cubes, put in pot, cover with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until fork goes through potatoes easily.

Drain water, pour potatoes in large mixing bowl.

Add Butter, Milk and Garlic Salt

Mash with Mixer


This is the Final Result

Husband's review: My hubby is a Meat and Potatoes kind of guy so... 5 stars
Kids review: My soon to be 3 year old Licked the mixing bowl clean after I was done...

Calorie count: for the entire recipe is 1600 calories. It makes 12 Portions so 133 calories per serving
( I need to measure the size of the portion... If anybody gets to it before I do... Leave a comment!)

Bon Appetit!

Molten Chocolate Cake

This Cake is the reason I go to Chili's, it is my sister-in-laws favorite and since It was her Birthday I decided to give it a shot! My Neighbor had the recipe and the porcelain bowls (which I will be buying soon!!) Thanks Di!!

Ingredients:

4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate

1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)

1 cup powdered sugar

2 eggs (I used Large)

2 egg yolks(large also

6 Tbsp. flour

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter four 3/4-cup soufflé dishes. Place on baking sheet.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until butter is melted. Stir with wire whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and egg yolks with wire whisk. Stir in flour. Divide in 4 portions.

Bake 13 to 14 min. (I baked mine 15 minutes and they probably could have bake a total of 17min) Sides should be firm but centers soft. Let stand 1 min. Carefully run small knife around cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert plates. Serve immediately.

My little Helper, it was a VERY easy recipe and somewhat kid friendly!


I doubled the recipe and this is what it looked like right out of the oven.


Final product!! The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup thawed Cool whipped topping, but I used a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream instead. Add any toppings you'd like to that!....



1/2 of one is not enough but a whole one is to much, I couldn't finish mine, it is very rich!

Husband's review: He ate 2 and 1/2 that night............................................... .......thumbs up
Kids review: They had brownies and Ice cream and were happy with it (since I only had 8 dish)

Calorie count:...... 290 calories (NOT including Ice cream) Not bad for this yummy dessert!

Bon Appetit!

Introduction

Well I've been thinking about it for a while now, making a cooking blog...
My goal is to eat in more and out less!
So here it is, this blog is a way for me to categorize my recipes by taste buds, calories, and truly just for fun!!
Hope you get something out of it too!!!