Archive for the ‘Recipes & Meal Planning’ Category
Make Your Burger Special: Spread it on!
I love a good hamburger and am always looking for new toppings or recipes to try (or just an excuse to make them for dinner). I get bored with the same old mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup on my burger, so I decided to try a couple different spreads to give each hamburger more personality and flavor.
You may have noticed an increase in the number of recipes, articles, and blogs that are talking about pimento cheese. This retro product is being reinvented all over the country, and I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. I picked up some Mrs. Kinser’s Pimento Cheese Spread with Pepper Jack and spread it on my hamburger patty for an extra kick. The result was a delicious, gooey topping that added just the right amount of flavor, without being too spicy. I deemed this burger, the “Throwback”, because it highlights a product that gained popularity in the 1920′s, and is currently resurfacing on menus and store shelves across the country.
For more of a gourmet hamburger, I went with Stonemill Kitchens Artichoke Parmesan Dip. I paired this product with a turkey burger, because the rich artichoke Parmesan dip was a nice compliment to the lean turkey meat. Make sure the patty is piping hot before spreading on the dip to ensure that the Parmesan cheese will melt. I topped this burger with some fresh arugula and caramelized onions and the result was a gourmet-inspired turkey burger that is now one of my go-to dishes!
Whether you’re making hamburgers for your family or serving them for guests, these easy additions will bring your burger to the next level! Not only can you mix up the spreads, but try different toppings as well. Things like bacon, sauteed mushrooms, salad greens, caramelized onions, and roasted red pepper are “gourmet” touches that any home cook can master. Enjoy!
For more information about these products, check out their websites:
View the 0 comment(s) on "Make Your Burger Special: Spread it on!" and leave your own comment.
Posted by Lacey
Easy Breakfast Recipe: Hashbrown Egg Bake
I really love a good breakfast on the weekends, but don’t want to spend my entire morning in the kitchen. This recipe combines some of my favorite breakfast ingredients together in one simple dish, and can be ready in 20 minutes or less. Another factor that really draws me to a recipe is the freedom to substitute or add ingredients that I have on hand. With just over five ingredients, this recipe is one that any home cook can master! I made this for my husband last Sunday and served it with a fruit salad that he threw together. It was a great meal that we fixed together and enjoyed while watching a football game. This recipe serves two people comfortably, but feel free to double it or triple it as needed!
Ingredients
- 1/2 package Reser’s Refrigerated Hash Browns (approx. 3 cups)
- 1/4 sweet, white onion
- 1/2 bell pepper, any color
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 Tbs. butter
- Salsa-for garnish
Steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Using a cast iron skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Dice the onion and the bell pepper into medium-sized pieces and transfer to skillet. Sauté until vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent.
2. Add the potatoes, and fry until browned and crisp. Crack the eggs on top of the cooked potato and vegetable mixture and top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for ten minutes or until the egg whites are set.
3. Using a metal spatula, divide into servings and garnish with your favorite salsa. Be sure that everyone gets at least one egg.
Tips:
- Feel free to add ingredients to this recipe. Chorizo, mushrooms, or bacon pieces would be a welcome addition!
- Don’t be shy with the garnishes; green onion, sour cream, hot sauce, and more cheese are other great options.
- Be sure to use a cast iron skillet for this meal, so that you can transfer it from the stove to the oven with ease.
View the 0 comment(s) on "Easy Breakfast Recipe: Hashbrown Egg Bake" and leave your own comment.
Posted by Lacey
Breakfast for Dinner: Southwestern Breakfast Casserole
Who says breakfast food has to wait until the morning? When my husband or I get a craving for eggs and sausage, dinner is a perfect time to whip up our favorite traditionally “breakfast” dishes. Another one of my favorite breakfast ingredients is potatoes, because they are so versatile and there are many varieties. However, when I want to cut down on my preparation time, I often substitute one of Reser’s potato side dishes. This recipe does just that; rather than taking the time to peel, grate, and cook my own potatoes into hash browns, I’m substituting Reser’s Baked Hash Brown Casserole. Not only does it cut-down my prep, but it enhances this simple dish.
This recipe that I’m going to share with you comes from one of Reser’s Research and Development Culinary Chefs: Dylan Ambrose. It features a minimal quantity of ingredients but packs in just the right amount of Southwestern flavor.
To start, put these ingredients on your shopping list:
Ingredients
1- Package Reser’s Hash Brown Casserole, broken up into small pieces.
1- 7 oz. can of diced green chiles, drained
1- 10 oz. package of cured chorizo sausage, casing removed, pan fried and excess fat drained off.
6- large eggs, lightly beaten
1- cup of shredded cheddar cheese
6- green onions thinly sliced and half reserved to garnish
For Garnish:
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Green onion tops
Method
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Combine the hash brown casserole, green chiles, chorizo, eggs, and half of the green onions in a large bowl until fully mixed.
- Pour ingredients into a greased glass baking dish.
- Top with the shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick is entered into the casserole and comes out clean.
- Cut into slices and garnish with sliced green onions, salsa, and a small dollop of sour cream.
This dish serves up to four adults and should be consumed hot out of the oven.
Posted by Lacey
Add Mexican Flair To Dinner This Week With Tortilla Pie!
Who says pie has to be sweet? After trying this recipe, you will have a new outlook on this typically “dessert-only” item. One of my favorite cuisines is Mexican, and whenever I can incorporate ingredients that are Latin-Inspired, I jump at the chance. This simple recipe calls for a few staple ingredients, but allows for you to substitute or add ingredients based on what you have in your pantry and fridge. A versatile recipe is very important to me when I’m cooking, because who wants to make a special trip to the store for one or two items? This recipe allows for creativity and wiggle room, because no two home cooks have the exact same ingredients at home.
The following recipe includes the ingredients that I use for this dish, but feel free to make this recipe your own based on the tastes of your family.
Tortilla Pie
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves 3-4
Ingredients
-1 pack Reser’s Baja Cafe Flour Tortillas-10″
-1 cup salsa, such as Reser’s Baja Cafe Medium Original Salsa
-3 tablespoons olive oil
-1lb. ground beef
-1 medium onion, chopped
-1 jalapeño, chopped, seeds and ribs removed
-2 tablespoons tomato paste
-3 garlic cloves, minced
-2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 can yellow corn, drained
-1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Optional items, for garnish:
-Sour cream
-Cilantro leaves
-Avocado slices
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Using either a tart pan, or a 9″ springform pan, turn the removable bottom upside down and brush both the bottom and inside of the pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Step 2: In a large non-stick pan, heat oil over medium. Add onion, jalapeño, cumin, and garlic. Cook until the onion and jalapeño have softened, approximately 3-5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and salsa, raise heat to medium-high, and add the ground beef. Cook, making sure to break up the meat with a spoon until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Stir in corn and black beans until well-incorporated.
Step 3: Place a tortilla in the oiled pan, and spread evenly with 1 1/2 cups of the beef mixture. Top with 1/2 cup shredded cheese, and top with another tortilla. Continue layering until the filling is gone, approximately two more layers. Top with last tortilla, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake pie for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.
Step 4: Using a wide spatula, lift pie from bottom of pan and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into wedges and serve!
Serving Suggestion:
Garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream, cilantro leaves, and avocado slices. Enjoy!
Posted by Lacey
About This Blog
Hi, I'm Lacey Werner. I write Fun Times Made Easy, a blog that helps people enjoy delicious food with friends and family without spending long, laborious hours in the kitchen.
Archive
Recent Posts
Make Your Burger Special: Spread it on!
I love a good hamburger and am always looking for new toppings or recipes to try (or just an excuse to make them for dinner). I get bored with the same old mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup on my burger, so I decided to try a couple different spreads to give each hamburger more personality and [...]
Easy Breakfast Recipe: Hashbrown Egg Bake
I really love a good breakfast on the weekends, but don’t want to spend my entire morning in the kitchen. This recipe combines some of my favorite breakfast ingredients together in one simple dish, and can be ready in 20 minutes or less. Another factor that really draws me to a recipe is the freedom [...]
“What’s for Dinner” Contest: Final Week!
Wow, school starts next week for most kids! Back-to-school means back-to-a-structured routine and kids walking in the door asking, “What’s for dinner?” We’d like to make the “What’s for dinner?” dilemma a little easier. It’s the final week of our “What’s for Dinner” back-to-school giveaway. Vote in our “What’s for Dinner” poll and be automatically [...]
![Three_Cheese_Rigatoni_Side[2]](http://funtimesmadeeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Three_Cheese_Rigatoni_Side2.jpg "Three_Cheese_Rigatoni_Side[2]")
It’s Week 2 of the “What’s for Dinner” Contest!
It’s week 2 of our “What’s for Dinner” back-to-school giveaway. There’s still time for you to win a Dinner Prize Pack filled with Reser’s Main St. Bistro Baked Dinners and Sides. The average American family spends less than 30 minutes making dinner. Reser’s can cut that time to only 7 minutes. Just pop one of [...]