Crock Pot Corned Beef!! and a Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone!

I really like Reuben sandwiches so today was my first try with a crockpot version so we could have delicious Reuben Sandwiches for dinner and it was made so easily with the spices because there was a packet of seasoning mix inside.  I couldn't have made it any better even if I tried.

A good day for this because the wind is blowing, rain is coming down and I'm having a very lazy day so it worked out perfectly!

  Mom never made a beef brisket and neither did my mother- in- law so I'm breaking the pattern and we are having corned beef tonight. The only time I have eaten corned beef was when I ordered it at a restaurant. This particular roast had the seasoning packet with it so it was a breeze to put all in the crockpot and add the seasoning packet.

 Sure was super easy and it helped that the brisket was only 2 lbs.  I don't think we could eat it every day.  Just sayin.  Of course the package said to add carrots, potatoes and onions to the bottom of the crockpot, place the roast on top and add enough water to cover the roast. I then added the seasoning package.

I did add everything to the pot but I didn't have potatoes but that was ok since my intention was to make a luscious corned beef on marbled rye sandwich. Enjoy!



The house smells so good!

3/15/18

2 lb. beef brisket roast
seasoning packet that came with the roast
Carrots
onions
potatoes optional
sauerkraut
swiss cheese
Russian dressing
Marbled rye bread

If you want to make Reuben Sandwiches and don't want to make this recipe you can go to the deli and buy some there. I  wanted to try it in my crockpot  so I did  buy a corned beef roast that had a seasonings packet; cover roast with water and set to low or high depending on your time frame.

  I used high because I hoped we could have it for dinner tonight and it did work out perfectly. Tender and tasty for sure. It was ready to eat in 5 hours at a high setting on my crockpot.

Adjust recipe time to your needs. If you are going to be out all day set it on low for about 8 to 10  hours depending on size.

After the roast has rested for a few minutes, with a large serrated knife cut into thin slices. 

I toasted the bread and added the beef, cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing.  Yum!  You can microwave the sandwich for about 10 seconds before you add the sauerkraut to melt the cheese slightly.

11/13/15

3/17/16

Strawberry cream cheese Breakfast Bars

Some days all it takes is a little imagination and if you have  basic ingredients you can make something really delicious..

We are leaving for home next week after spending some time in warm weather.  I am so grateful because Pittsburgh and surrounding areas have been pounded by snow and frigid temperatures and it was wonderful for my body and soul after suffering the loss of my only sibling, my brother.

In an effort to use every bit of perishable items in my refrigerator and freezer today I used my creativity to make  really great breakfast bars.

 It didn't take much to make these breakfast bars and quite honestly it was one of the better breakfast bars I've made without much thought.

 I didn't have any type cookie or cracker crumbs to make a crust so I used corn muffin mix to serve as my base.  Corn muffins have a different texture so if you don't care for them feel free to use crushed graham crackers or cookie crumbs as a base still using melted or softened butter to hold them together so they can be easily mixed to spread in pan.

I like corn muffins so I did have a package of (Betty Crocker) corn muffin mix so I decided it would be the base for these bars.  I had light cream cheese, eggs, soft butter and sugar as well as sliced strawberries I had previously frozen and defrosted overnight thinking I'd make a shortcake for tonight's dessert but it was early a.m. and I was hungry so this is the cake that transpired.  Enjoy!

3/16/16

Base:
1 cup corn muffin mix(Betty Crocker)
4 T butter(soft butter)
2 T sugar

Mix above and spread in 8x8 pan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Bake above for 5 minutes

Note:  You can use a whole corn muffin package if you want a thicker base.  Just make sure you can easily spread it into pan.  Add a bit of water if it is too thick. You may have to bake the bottom for 10 minutes if you are using whole package.

 Remove from oven slightly cool.

Turn oven down to 350 degrees

Topping

1 cup fresh strawberries.

I had fresh/frozen and I thawed and drained, no sugar added)
8oz softened cream cheese (1/3) less fat
2eggs
4 heaping tablespoons sugar
1tsp. Vanilla

Beat cream cheese ,eggs, sugar and vanilla until blended.  Fold in strawberries.  Pour onto par- baked cornbread.  Place in oven and bake approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until top is golden and center is set.

Note:  Mine baked quickly because I only used 1 cup of cornbread mix.

3/27/14

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Veggie pie

A very good friend of mine shared this recipe of hers with me yesterday.  I had asked for some suggestions on what to make with a head of broccoli and cauliflower that I had bought and didn't feel like doing the usual which was either seasoning with broccoli with garlic and olive oil or breading the cauliflower.

She told me for their women's card club lunches this veggie pie had been served and everyone loved it. 

 I used sliced onions, steamed broccoli and cauliflower to it but she said mushrooms go well in it too.  Since I'm not fond of mushrooms I did not add them. 

A great side dish, main dish and it's meatless.


2 cups broccoli and cauliflower florets steamed
1 large onion thinly sliced and sautéed in olive oil
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I used cheddar and american cheese to mine). Reserve about 1/4 cup for top of pie
1 refrigerated pie crust baked according to directions for one crust pie
4 sweet potatoes mashed with butter and milk
Pinch salt

8/14/18 original

Note: I only had 2 sweet potatoes so mine is not as high as I would have liked it to be.  You choose the amount of potatoes you or your family would enjoy.

Directions:

Bake crust according to directions and allow to cool.
Steam broccoli and cauliflower and set aside
In a medium skillet sauteed onions in olive oil..set aside
Wash potatoes, prick with fork in several places and Microwave until cooked.  After potatoes are cooked remove skins and place in a bowl with 2 T butter and enough milk to hold potatoes together.  Mash with hand or electric mixer or until smooth.

When crust has cooled layer vegetables, onions and cheese until pie it almost filled.  Top with mashed sweet potatoes, reserved cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes and serve. It's delicious!!!



Enjoy!

Chopped Wedge salad dip

This is a great appetizer for a party or cookout. Easy to make and really delicious. Getting right to the point with this recipe today.  Yummy! Enjoy!

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
 1 c. sour cream
 1 package Ranch Dressing Mix
 1½ c. chopped romaine lettuce
 ½ c. chopped tomatoes seeded
 ½ c. chopped crispy cooked bacon
 2-4 oz. crumbled blue cheese( I used crumbled feta)
(according to taste)
 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives


1. Combine cream cheese, sour cream,
and Ranch Dip mix and mix until


1. Spread into the bottom of a 9-
inch pie plate or other similarly
sized pan.

1. Top with lettuce,
tomatoes, bacon, blue
cheese, and chives.

8/8/17

From my kitchen to yours,

Hello!

Hi:

I’m M.j. and welcome to my blog.

It’s been very quiet here and I’m curious where everyone has gone?

Lots of recipes and a genuine love of baking and cooking are shared here.

If you aren’t able to comment here stop over to my Facebook group where you can join fun loving baking and cooking foodies.

The group is called We Like to Bake and Cook Group.  Stop on by and say Hi!

Below are a few examples of what’s baking and cooking in our group.

Thank you.