Russian Sauerkraut

This is what Spencer and I made on "Food from around the World Night" over Christmas vacation. The recipe is coming out about 6 months late but better late than never. I don't have a steadfast recipe but just throw things into the pot at whim. Here's some rough ideas to get started.

1 lb. browned ground beef

2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes (we like the variety with jalapenos)

1 onion (diced)

1-2 14.5 oz cans of sauerkraut

1/2 c. green pepper (chopped)

salt and pepper to taste

cooked rice, chow mien noodles, and sour cream optional

First prepare the hamburger. Then add all ingredients to a large pot and cook on the stove until the vegetables are to your liking. This dish is more flavorful if you make it the day prior to enjoying it. When I was growing up we'd eat this concoction with chow mien noodles and a dab of sour cream on top. This is very delicious. A healthier and just as wonderful option is to eat this with rice.

Blueberry-Lemon Bread with Lemon Glave

This is a delicious summer treat! The lemon is so heavenly.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. butter

2 c. flour

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 T. finely grated lemon zest (quite honestly I seem to never have lemons but I'm sure this would add a lot)

1/2 c. and 2 T. of lemon juice

3/4 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

1/4 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

salt

2 large eggs

1 1/2 c. blueberries (6 0z.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9x5" loaf pan and then dust with flour. Combine 1/2 c. sugar and 1/2 c. lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow sugar to dissolve, stirring occasionally. Then take off heat and work on the bread.

Combine remaining ingredients then carefully fold in the blueberries. Bake for 55 minutes. Brush top of loaf with the lemon glaze. After 15 minutes remove loaf from pan and brush remaining glaze over the rest of the loaf. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

ENJOY!

Grilled Chicken Pesto Salad

This was so super delish!  You will need

Mixed greens and baby spinach
Pesto sauce (I bought the jar at Costco, but I have a delicious recipe coming soon!)
Goat cheese
Fresh, shredded parmesan cheese
Grilled Chicken
Vinaigrette or other dressing, optional

Make a bed of mixed greens on a dish.  Spread pesto sauce on grilled chicken, cut in strips and lay on greens.  Crumble goat cheese over top and finish with a sprinkle of parmesan.  We loved it so much we didn't even use dressing.  Enjoy!

Toasted pine nuts would be a delicious addition as well!

Meg's Birthday Cupcakes

Meg wanted cupcakes instead of a cake this birthday, so this is what I came up with.  These don't look especially fancy, but MAN were they delicious!!

I started with a funfetti flavored cake mix.  You could use any kind.  Chocolate would be divine.  The trick with a box mix is to follow the directions.  If it says 'beat 2 min', don't short change it.  I love the ones with the pudding in the mix, too.

Then, I made a batch of whipped topping frosting and put it into an icing bag with a large frosting tip.  I used my fingers to push the tip deep into each cupcake, and filled it up!  You can tell when it's full because it expands and then starts coming out the top. 

It leaves a mound on top, which is good because you'll need it for the second frosting.

Using my big 2D star tip, I piped The Best Buttercreme Frosting  in a swirl, working from the outside in.

We finished it off with a little colored sugar.  These were delish!!!