Tomato and Basil Egg Sandwich

I just happened to have Tomato and Fresh basil on hand so I warmed them on the grill for my everyday egg sandwiches that I make on busy mornings. They turned out sooo yummy!! Hubby was very impressed

1 english muffin, crusty bread, or bagel, split and toasted
1 egg, fried
grated or sliced mozz cheese
2 large fresh basil leaves..slightly warmed/grilled
2 or 3 slices roma tomato..slightly warmed/grilled
1 slice bacon, cut in half

combine to make a breakfast sandwich!!

Easy Italian Meatball Sandwiches

My family really loves meatball sandwiches and this is super easy

frozen meatballs (I get the big bag from Costco)
1 jar spaghetti sauce
Mozzarella cheese
1 or 2 loaves fresh french bread from the super market


Put meatballs and sauce in the crockpot and let simmer 1/2 a day on low..just need to warm the meatballs.
Assembly:
slice french bread
smear sides with sauce and place 3 meatballs on each sandwich top with cheese and place in toaster oven to toast bread slightly and melt cheese
serve with salad.....yummy!

Ham slices with delicate mustard cream sauce

This dish has amazing flavor and is my prefered way to eat ham. From Julia Child's cookbook

TRANCHES DE JAMBON A LA CREME
[Sauteed Ham Slices--Fresh Cream Sauce]


For 6 people:

2 1/2 to 3 lbs. cooked ham, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 Tb butter
1 Tb oil
A 9- to 10-inch skillet
2Tb shallots or green onions
2/3 cup Madeira or port and 3 Tb cognac
A wooden spoon
-----
Trim off excess fat, cut the ham into serving pieces and dry on paper towels. Brown the slices lightly on each side in hot butter and oil and set them aside. Pour all but a tablespoon of sauteing fat out of the skillet, stir in the shallots or onions, and cook slowly for 2 minutes. pour in the wine and
cognac and, scraping up the coagulated saute juices with a wooden spoon, boil rapidly until the liquid has reduced to 3 or 4 tablespoons.
-----
2 cups whipping cream
2 Tb Dijon-type prepared mustard mixed with 1Tb tomato paste and
2 Tb whipping cream
Big pinch of pepper
-----
Add the cream to the skillet, beat in the mustard mixture, and the pepper. Simmer slowly for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cream has reduced to about 1 1/2 cups and has thickened lightly. Correct seasoning, but do not oversalt.
--
Return the ham slices to the skillet and baste them with the sauce.
(*) May be done ahead to this point.
--
Shortly before serving, bring to the simmer, cover and simmer for several minutes until the ham is reheated and tender. Arrange the ham on a hot platter or on the bed or spinach. Spoon the sauce over the ham and serve.

Buca di Beppo's Fabulous Lemon Chicken with Capers

We love this lemon Chicken at Bucca De peppo's and this recipe really does the trick at home. it is sooo yummy! found the recipe online but have made a few changes.


3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise to create 6 thin filets
pound chicken to tenderize
Salt, to taste
1 cup flour
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white wine
2 large lemons
1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup heavy cream
A small handful drained capers

Directions

Cut lemons in half and use for fresh lemon juice. Pour the juice through a fine strainer.

Begin to heat the olive oil in a 12-inch saute pan on medium-high heat. While oil is getting hot, lightly season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt. Lightly dust the chicken breasts in the flour. Shake off excess flour. Place chicken in the saute pan skin-side down.

When the chicken is golden brown, turn over and brown the other side as well. It is important to brown both sides to insure the chicken is completely cooked through. When both sides are nice and brown, add white wine and lemon juice. Continue to cook for approximately two to three minutes. The liquid should reduce approximately half.

Once the liquid is reduced, remove the chicken breasts from the pan and turn off heat. Check to make sure the chicken breasts are cooked by turning each piece of chicken over and cutting it halfway through with a knife. There should be no visible pink. If the chicken is not completely cooked through, place in a 400 degree oven for five minutes to complete cooking.

Finish the sauce by placing the softened butter and cream in the pan. Using rubber spatula, work the butter into the sauce as it melts. sometimes I sprinkle a little more flour in the sauce to thicken. Add capers. Pour sauce directly on top of chicken breasts. Garnish with lemon wedges. Makes 4-6 servings.

White Bread

I found this recipe online and the bread turned out great! nice and fluffy. It's
gonna be my new go to recipe for bread. It's someone else's family recipe so I left a little blurb about it:

Grandma VanDoren's White Bread
"What Grandma used to make! Our family's favorite. The recipe was never written down (that I know of) until she shared it with me when she was in her 90's."
...
Ingredients:
3 cups warm water
3 tablespoons active dry yeast
3 teaspoons salt

4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup white sugar
8 cups bread flour

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, salt, oil, sugar, and 4 cups flour. Mix thoroughly, and let sponge rise until doubled in size.
2. Gradually add about 4 cups flour, kneading until smooth. Place dough in a greased bowl, and turn several times to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled.
3. Punch down the dough, let it rest a few minutes. Divide dough into three equal parts. Shape into loaves, and place in three 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch greased bread pans. Let rise until almost doubled.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 45 minutes. The loaves may need to be covered for the last few minutes with foil to prevent excess browning.

Strawberry Cream Cake

Both my daughters request this cake for their birthday. It's super easy and looks like it was so much work. I took a 'from scratch' recipe and simplified it.

yellow cake mix
3 eggs, 1/4 cup oil, water (or whatever the cake mix requests)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 pound fresh strawberries
instant vanilla pudding mix (prepared) - (or store bought pudding works in a crunch)
whipped cream (cool whip)

Bake the cake as directed in 2 greased and floured 9 inch round pans, let cool, cut both cakes in 1/2. Rinse and cut strawberries in slices. add sugar and water to make a light syrup, stir to dissolve sugar. Spread 1st layer of cake with pudding and top with 1/3 of strawberries, repeat layer, top with last cake and whip cream and the rest of the strawberries. All done. whala!

Breakfast Burritos

This is something I developed - super easy and it is my kid's favorite.

8 flour tortillas - I'm very picky about the brand (guerrero)
2 TB butter
about 8-9 eggs
salt and pepper
1 cup shredded cheese (I use a mixed cheese)
4 strips bacon

cut bacon in half/lengthwise. Fry bacon up. Mix eggs with whisk in a bowl and in a separate fry pan drop butter and when melted,scramble eggs. Salt and pepper to taste. Turn off heat when eggs reach a soft scramble and sprinkle with the cheese. cover so cheese melts while warming tortillas. Warm tortillas on a flat pan surface. (1 at a time)

Assembly:
1 warmed tortilla
scoop eggs and cheese
1 (1/2) slice bacon
wrap into burrito

repeat till all burritos are made

variations:
some times I will cook potatoes alongside the bacon and add it into burritos, also you can use sausage instead of bacon. I just cook sausage first in the frying pan and then add the eggs to scramble it all together,top w/cheese...etc.