Recent Recipes

I have made two main dish recipe's, baked potatoes, and lemonade recently that were a big hit with Curt and I. The first was Italian Beef made in a crock pot and then roasted chicken. These are both super easy and delicious! I don't have pictures of what I made because I forgot and the first time I make a recipe it doesn't always look the best because adjustments need to be made. 

Italian Beef

This is pretty much what mine looked like minus all the peppers.

 I took multiple recipes and combined them. I didn't want it to be super complicated plus I wanted to throw it in a crock pot and be done. Also a bunch of different recipes called for different amounts of Italian dressing. I tried 2 this time but plan on trying 3 next time (probably in the next 2 weeks so I'll let you know). I was worried that 3 would be overpowering but it wasn't that strong at all.

Servings: makes about 7 sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds beef roast, sirloin tip or rump roast
• 12 ounces (jar) pepperoncini peppers (drained)
• 2-3 envelopes dry Italian salad dressing
• 10 ounce can condensed beef broth

Instructions:

1. Put the roast, beef broth, and Italian dressing packets into the crock pot.I also added a few peppers (2-3) because I know that the longer ingredients cook together the more the flavors combine. If you want it to be juicy and messy add more broth. I should have added more for us but now I know for next time! 
2. With about 1 to 1 1/2 hours left I added the jar of pepperoncini peppers. Actually I'll give credit to Curt for adding the peppers. I wanted it to be done cooking when I got home so that we could eat by 6. He did a great job! :) I recommend draining the peppers unless you want it super spicy. I'm not a big fan of spicy foods and just the peppers was plenty for me. After it was done cooking I kept about 4 to leave in with the leftover meat but I threw the rest away. Curt and I don't like to eat the peppers but like the taste that it adds.
3. Put on some french buns (just what type of bread we preferred) and your done! I also really like to eat Italian beef with plain potato chips so I enjoyed this meal for its simplicity.

 Roasted Chicken

I tried this chicken just last night and it happens to be AMAZING. Curt tried it before me and said it was really good. I thought he was talking about the baked potato because that's one of our favorite ways to eat a potato. I'll explain my secret to those as well as the secret to my lemonade after this recipe. Anyway this is delicious. The chicken was moist and the skin was crispy. To see where I got this recipe click here.

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 pounds skin-on, bone-in chicken quarters
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 lemon, halved
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. 
2. Rinse the chicken and pat dry. 
3. Season with salt and pepper, then place skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet. 
4. Squeeze 1/2 lemon over the chicken and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
5. Roast 40 minutes.

Baked Potatoes

Do you want delicious, perfect baked potatoes every time? I have now mastered them (at least I like to think so).

Ingredients: 

• Potatoes
• Olive Oil
• Salt

 Instructions:

1. Wash the potatoes
2. Use a fork to poke holes in them
3. Cover them with olive oil
4. Sprinkle salt on top ( I like to use sea salt.)
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour

The outside is crispy and salty and the inside is soft and delicious! I always thought you had to wrap potatoes in aluminum foil because my mom did but this isn't the case.

Homemade Lemonade

Now for the lemonade....Curt and I drink this so fast it's kind of ridiculous.

Ingredients:

• 3 lemons
• water
• 1 1/4 cups of sugar

Instructions:

1. Fill your pitcher with 1.75 quarts of water. My cheap plastic pitcher has lines on the side so this is super easy for me. Honestly, all this means is to not fill your 2 quart pitcher completely with water.
2. Roll your three lemons on the counter. If you have no idea what I mean just lay the lemon down, use your hand and roll them lemon back and forth on the counter. This just helps you get more juice. 
3. Juice all three lemons and add the lemon juice to your water.
4. Add the sugar and stir.

I like to let this sit in the fridge overnight. For some reason I think it tastes better the next day.

I don't know if you noticed a theme in this post but everything on here is SIMPLE and EASY. I prefer my food to be this way. I get home at 5:40 so if it takes too long we are starving by the time we get to eat. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as us!