Straight Cut Side Toss - aka - Lazy Gal's Slaw

This would fall under the "it's not brain surgery category" in any good cookbook!

Now this has to be the EASIEST recipe that I have...and have ever made... Especially now that I don't have to grate the broccoli, carrots, and radishes... just go to your local market and buy a bag of broccoli "slaw" mix. Open package, pour about one cup of Tuscan Italian dressing and toss the mix in the dressing! Let it marinate for about 30 to 45 minutes! Voila just like that.... you have what I like to call the "Lazy gal's Slaw"

Now the family version I have of this recipe is tedious in the sense that you must finely chop all three of your veggies and it also calls for oil and vinegar with lime juice - I just prefer Italian dressing.... Mainly cause it's quick, easy and just plain ole' yummy!

Bake'n Fried Taters

Now this is a tasty side dish and you can make it with probably the ingredients you already have in your pantry/kitchen.

Nobody - can I reiterate that - NOBODY fries taters like my mawmaw does! Hands down she has the best fried taters this side and the other side of the Mason Dixon line. And I am going to share with you the very simple secret to getting your fried taters "just right" and don't you dare scoff at the secret because it will change everything you know and love about fried taters....

Wash and peel 15 small to medium sized potatoes... Now mawmaw likes to use a regular knife and she always complained that I peeled away half the potato with a knife so I like to use a potato peeler in her honor - "Look Maw - I only shaved the peel this time"

The players of this dish
12-15 medium or small potatoes
2 tblsps Greek Seasoning
2 tblsps California Style Garlic Salt
2 tblsps White Pepper (bc I don't use black pepper - it's your choice however)
2 tblsps Dried Parsley
Olive Oil (only) for frying
Bacon Bits (REAL is the brand - comes in a bag)
12-14 slices of real cheddar cheese (as this is gonna be a double decker)
1/2 cup of Parmesan

Dice the potatoes into small chunks - not too thin though... like pictured below!!

Now for the BIG OLE SECRET!!! Cover the potatoes in water - that's right you heard me WATER!!

Cover them with a dish towel and set them off to the side for 45 minutes to an hour and a half - remember the longer they rest in the water - the better fry you will get on them - this is old time chemistry folks - the water removes the starch from the potato! You will see when you drain them an hour or so later - the water will be white and thick!

Now's a good time to walk away - and do something like I don't know - watch American Idol, Glee or I don't know give your child a bath - pack their lunch - feed your dog - do a load of laundry, study for your CPA test - whatever you like to do with free time - I chose to watch Top Gear with the hubby!

Now cover the bottom of your frying pan with Olive Oil (I would strongly suggest sticking with Olive Oil here) I believe it's the best for frying - your "participate" will not soak up the oil and be greasy - this is key with frying potatoes.

I do half of the potatoes with 1 tblsp of each of the above "players" - as I fry my potatoes in two batches.. it's key that each potato piece receives frying pan face time and they aren't all bunched up together! Once the potatoes are tender - dump the first load into a casserole dish like so.....

Cover with half of your bag of bacon bits, half of your cheddar cheese slices and use all of your half cup of parmesan for your middle layer here.

Go back and do all of the above steps over again...

At this point you will have two layers of what's already yummy goodness...

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes... I then like to broil the cheese for about 3 minutes

This is as good - NO BETTER - than it looks! And although it tastes so good that it makes you want to slap "yo momma" - I wouldn't suggest trying that! Although Boss Hogg probably would slap Lulu over it!!

And here you have two layers of yummy deliciousness. I like to use a little Ranch dressing for dipping but it's good to me just the way it is. Now this dish is not fat free and yes it does have calories - but I am told that if you eat it on Sunday - the calories don't count! Seriously though this is a very filling side dish and it's great to make ahead and bake the day you want to eat it. It's not however so heavy that it leaves you feeling sick or riddled with guilt! So go ahead - have that second helping - make my mawmaw proud!

"Cheap Steak Done Well"

In these times you sometimes have to learn how to make a not so good cut of steak - a great cut of steak!
Here is my trick for doing just that!

Team Players
2 cuts of steak (I chose top sirloin - just to drive home my point)
Olive oil for frying
1 small onion (diced up)
1/2 cup of soy sauce
California Style Garlic Salt
White Pepper
Greek Seasoning
Dried Parsley

Start by pre-heating your oven to 200 degrees - yes you are going to fry these bad boys in a skillet and transfer them to your oven for a smidge!

If I had to say that I had a "house seasoning" - these four pictured above would comprise said seasoning... I use these four seasonings more than I use - regular salt and pepper - my pantry is NEVER without these items.. these are a perfect combo in the kitchen that consists of a real down home cook - now to get on with it already! I am a nerd what can I say! Creature of habit - when you find something that works for you - stick with it!

Cover the bottom of your pan with Olive oil and the diced onion - lay both of your steaks down right on top of the onions and olive oil... on the face up side of your steak - lightly dust with each "dry ingredient" of my "house seasoning" - white pepper (or black if you prefer), garlic salt, parsley and greek seasoning... then when ready - flip your steaks and season this seared side with the dry ingredients... this is what your steaks should now look like....

When both sides of the steak have been seared and seasoned - place them in a clean baking dish - this is an important step - POUR THE PAN JUICES over the steaks.... cover with aluminum foil and pop in the oven at 200 degrees for about 10-15 minutes depending on how hot your oven gets! When time is up - pull out and let the steaks rest (remaining covered) for approximately 7 minutes.

 Then peel back the foil and scrape off the onions!

I believe that you will be thoroughly and delightfully surprised at how easy and delicious these steaks will be. I think most of all you will be amazed at how tender and juicy the steaks now are!

This is how you make a "King's Steak on a Pauper's Budget"

For dinner I paired my

King's Steak with the Straight Cut Salad, and Amazing Bake'n Fried Taters!

Tea House Ice Cream Cake

Back about 15 years ago - "tea houses" were all the rage in the South. This is a family recipe from the tea house I waitressed at as a teen. This is a stupendously easy and delicious recipe!

Ingredient List

2 boxes of vanilla ice cream sandwiches (neopolitan ice cream sandwiches for variation or vanilla ice cream and vanilla "sandwiches" if you do not like chocolate)
1 bottle of ice cream syrup (found usually in the ice cream section) - I have used caramel in this recipe but strawberry is one of my families favorites to enjoy
1 large tub of cool whip (can use lite cool whip)
1 jar of ice cream sprinkles - flavor depends on the syrup you use (I used chocolate for the caramel syrup)
1 full cup of salted peanuts (I prefer Planters - I do the snack size bags bc they are easier to crush)

Unwrap and layer ice cream sandwiches along the bottom of the dish you are using...even if you have to cut and shape the sandwiches to fill in the holes.... cover with a full layer of syrup....

unwrap and layer once again ice cream sandwiches to evenly cover the dish....

top with whip cream....

crush the peanuts and sprinkle them across the top of the whipped cream - top with sprinkles of your choice and freeze for 2-3 hours before eating. This is almost like lasagna in the sense that the longer it "waits" the better it is... I find it's best to freeze for 6-8 hours before cutting and serving. My best advice is to make this dessert and place in the freezer prior to starting your dinner.

JUST DEELISH!!

Better than Ya' Momma's Lasagna - Stuffed Shell "Casserole"

First let me say that this is a SUPER SIZED family recipe - so if you are only cooking for 4 HALF the recipe - or do what I do - make a pan to eat tonight and put a pan in the freezer for later (although I generally take the second pan to my mom and dad). This makes a grand amount of food - but don't let that scare you - this is a recipe that will be devoured by those you are feeding and then leave them begging for more!

Ingredient List

1 Can of Mushrooms (Lrg)
Ragu - Onion and Garlic Sauce (3) Jars
1 pack of Manicotta Shells
             and/or
1 pack of "Seashell" shells
4 lbs. hamburger meat (Lean)
1 small diced onion
4 cups of mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 container of ricotta cheese (Lrg)
1 container of parmesean
1 tblsp parsley
1 tblsp garlic salt (with parsley) - made by Lawry's (called California style McCormacks)
1 tblsp italian seasoning
salt to taste
Olive oil

Cook hamburger meat thoroughly (use olive oil to fry) with the small diced onion.

Cook pasta(s) until done (usually about 14 minutes) - (use olive oil in the boiling water)

While the shells are boiling prepare the mixture in a large bowl
Mix cooked hamburger meat, all seasonings (salt to taste), half container of parmesean, entire container of ricotta, can of drained mushrooms, 2 cups of the mozzarella and 1 of the jars of sauce.

Drain the shells and when they have cooled off - begin to stuff each shell with a generous amount of the mixture you prepared.

Layer a deep long pan with each "stuffed shell" - when the pan is full sprinkle some of the mixture loosely over the top - top with half of the remaining parmesean, 1 cup of mozarella, as well as one jar of sauce. Repeat "loose mixture", cheese and sauce with second pan of stuffed shells.

Bake dish uncovered 20 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese browns. 

And this is what's always left at my house by nights end!

ENJOY!!