Roast Potatoes

Perfect Side for the perfect meatloaf. This recipe came from Cook's Illustrated. I love how detailed their recipes are. No way you can mess these up!

Roast Potatoes

2 pounds red potatoes, scrubbed clean, dried, halved and halved again

3 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Toss potatoes and olive oil in medium bowl to coat; season generously with salt and pepper and toss again to blend.

2. Place potatoes flesh side down, in a single layer, on shallow roasting pan; cover tightly with foil and cook about 20 minutes. Remove foil; roast until side of potato touching pan is crusty golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Remove pan from oven and carefully turn potatoes over using metal spatula. (Press spatula against metal as it slides under potatoes to protect crusts.) Return pan to oven and roast until side of potato now touching pan is crusty golden brown and skins have raisin-like wrinkles, 5-10 minutes more. Remove from oven, transfer potatoes to serving dish (again, using metal spatula and extra care not to rip crusts), and serve warm.

Meatloaf - Comfort Food at It's Best!

This meatloaf recipe came from my sister-in-law. It is the ultimate comfort food. We have a neighborhood restaurant that serves meatloaf on Monday nights.. Lupies.. it is soo yummy. This meatloaf actually tastes as good!

Meatloaf

1 1/2 pound ground sirloin

1/2 pound sausage (Neeses)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce

dash Tabasco

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs, approx. 2 slices

1 can diced tomatoes ( basil, garlic & oregano), drained - save juice

Mix together meat, onion, egg, seasonings and bread crumbs.

Add tomatoes and mix.

Form into thick loaf and put into baking dish.

Pour juice over loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for an hour.

Spinach-Black Bean Lasagna

This is a wonderful vegetarian lasagna! Not being a vegetarian I always struggle with preparing meals to take to someone who is. This has become my favorite. Hearty because of the black beans and a nice alternative to a basic lasagna.

Spinach-Black Bean Lasagna

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 15oz container ricotta cheese

1 10oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1/2 tsp. salt

4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese with peppers

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 (2 pound 13oz) jar pasta sauce ( I use Ragu because that is the one i have found to come in that exact size)

1/2 tsp cumin

9 precooked lasagna noodles

Stir together first 5 ingredients and 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese; set aside

Mash beans with potato masher or fork in a large bowl; stir in pasta sauce and cumin. Spread one-third of bean mixturee on bottom of a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking dish.

Layer with 3 noodles, half of spinach mixture, and 1 cup cheese; repeat layers. Spread with one-third bean mixture; top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining bean mixture.

Bake, covered, at 350 for 1 hour; uncover and top with cheese. Bake 5 more minutes or until cheese melts.

Source: Southern Living

Red Velvet Cake Balls

This seems to be my go to treat for teachers on Valentine's Day! I hope they enjoy them as much as I do!

Red Velvet Cake Balls

1 box red velvet cake mix ( cook as directed for 13 x 9 cake)

1 16oz can cream cheese frosting

1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)

wax paper

Cook and cool cake completely. Crumble cake into large bowl.

Mix thoroughly with frosting.

Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet.

Stick in freezer to chill.

Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on the package.

Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm.

Source: Bakerella

Gooey Butter Bars

Every year on my father's birthday I bake up a batch of these babies. They are his absolute favorite! Give them a try!

Gooey Butter Bars

1 box yellow butter cake mix

1 stick butter

1 egg

*Mix above ingredients and pat in 13x9 slightly greased pan.

1 (8oz) cream cheese

1 box 10x sugar

2 eggs

*Mix ingredients and pour over crust in pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely and cut into squares.