Shepherd's Skillet

I am going to post this recipe because I thought it was really simple and pretty tasty.  Two of my children, who shall remain nameless wouldn't really touch it, but  that's their loss.

Shepherd's Skillet
2 tsp. oilve oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 lb. extra-lean ground beef
1 cup oats
3 TBS. ketchup
1 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup beef broth
1 TBS. cornstarch
2 1/2 cups mashed potatoes
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup low-fat Cheddar cheese, shredded

In a skillet (oven proof), heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion, garlic, and beef and cook till beef is browned and crumbled.  Drain beef and blot with paper towels (this step will lower the fat grams).  Add oats and stir well to incorporate.

Add ketchup, spices, beef broth, and cornstarch; stir well and allow to simmer on low to thicken slightly.  Heat mashed potatoes and set aside.  Add sour cream to beef mixture and mix again.  Remove skillet from heat and spoon potatoes as evenly as possible over the entire skillet.  Top with Chedder cheese and place skillet under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly. 

**I made a slight variation to this recipe (okay I messed it up).  I forgot to add the sour cream in the meat, so we just added our own when we ate it.  It was really good and Layne thought the adding your own sour cream was better than having it mixed in.   Part of why it was such a quick meal to throw together is because I always have browned hamburger in my freezer and I had already made mashed potatoes the night before and had leftovers.

Will I Make it Again?  Yes!  Especially when we have leftover mashed potatoes.

Baked Tomato Basil Fish

I am not much of a fish eater...so if I have to eat fish, it's either tuna or Salmon.  This dish was very quick, simple and tasty.  I am liking FORCING myself to try new recipes because I've probably had fish 4 or5 times in the past 6 months whereas before we had fish....well, NEVER. 

Will I Make It Again?  Yes.

Garlic Lime Chicken

I think this may be the only recipe my ENTIRE family liked!  It was very tasty.
If anyone is interested, I'll post the recipe...I'm too lazy tonight to type it out.

Will I Make It Again?  Yes.

Garlic Lime Chicken
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. thyme
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 TBS. butter
2 TBS. olive oil
4 TBS. lime juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
    
     On a dinner plate, mix together first seven ingredients.  Sprinkle mixture on both sides of chicken breasts.

In a skillet heat butter and olive oil together over medium-high heat.  Saute' chicken until golden brown about 5 minutes on each side.  Remove chicken and add lime juice and chicken broth to the pan, whisking up the browned bits off the bottom of the pan.  Keep cooking until sauce has reduced slightly.  Add chicken back to the pan to thoroughly coat and serve. 

Serve with garlic mashed potatoes (make mashed potatoes; add garlic powder to taste).

Apple Turkey Burgers

I was pretty hesitant to try this recipe, but these burgers were actually pretty good.  Even my boys ate them which is saying something. 

Will I Make Them Again?  Yes.

Beef Fajitas

This was a really yummy recipe.  I've never  made beef fajitas before and now I know what kind of cut of beef to use for my Greek Gyros I tried a long time ago, but couldn't get the meat right.

Will I Make it Again?  Yes.

Crock Pot Jambalaya

I was really excited to make this one since Layne LOVES jambalaya.  I threw everything in the crock pot and smelled it's yumminess all day.  However, it was a pretty bland dish and I don't think jambalaya is supposed to be bland.  I'm going to take the blame on this one...the recipe calls for "cajun seasoning".  I found something that says it's good for jambalaya, but maybe I needed a different spice?  I don't know.

Will I Make This Again?  Yes, but I need to get just the right amount of spiciness.

Cheeseburger Casserole

I'm a little behind in posting the recipes I've tried the last week or so.  This recipe for Cheeseburger Casserole should have been good.  It didn't have anything weird in it and I was rather excited to try it since it was so quick to throw together.  However, after a few bites, my husband and I just looked at each other.  I said, "This recipe tastes really EARTHY." 
"Yes," he agreed, "it tastes like DIRT."  I have NO idea why this recipe turned out so badly, but it did.  Layne insists that we try it again because it should taste okay.....hamburger, onion, tomatoes, noodles, cheese.....how would those together taste like dirt?  I don't know, but in a few months I will give it another try.