Loaded Mashed Potato Cakes

Modified from http://centslessdeals.com/2013/05/loaded-mashed-potato-balls-with-bacon-bits-recipe.html/

Ingredients

• 2 cups cold mashed potatoes
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 4 oz block cheddar cheese, cubed (I had shredded on hand, so I used that instead)
• 1/8 cup sour cream
• 1/2 lb bacon cooked, crumbled (probably used more like 3/4 lb)

Instructions

1. Mix mashed potatoes, sour cream, shredded cheese, and about half of the bacon crumbles.
2. Shape mashed potatoes into 12 patties
3. Dip them into the eggs, then dredge in the remaining bacon bits.
4. Place onto cookie sheet or baking dish. (I lined a cookie sheet with foil and sprayed with PAM spray)
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15- 20 min, flipping about halfway through to crisp up both sides.

Homemade Bread!

Found a basic recipe here: http://www.food.com/recipe/yeast-free-bread-67405

Last night, I made the bread exactly according to recipe. It turned out pretty tasty, but kind of crumbly and a bit bland. Today’s project has been coming up with variations.

• Variation One: reduce baking powder to 3 teaspoons; replace liquid with a beaten egg and milk to make the total amount of 1 1/2 cups; use melted butter as the fat; add 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese; brush dough with olive oil before baking *verdict: YUM*

Honey-Butter Pork Loin

modified from http://mommahenskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/09/honey-butter-pork-tenderloin.html

4 tbs butter

2 tbs honey

chopped garlic (about 3 cloves? I didn’t measure exactly)

1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed

3/4 cup water

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat butter and honey over medium heat in a large skillet until melted. Brown each side of the pork for 5 minutes in the honey butter.  Lower heat if honey begins to burn.

Place pork in a baking dish and stick it in the oven. Roast for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through. While pork is roasting, add water to the honey/butter/garlic mixture in the skillet and stir over medium heat.  Simmer for about 5 minutes, until sauce is reduced slightly.  Slice pork on the diagonal and drizzle sauce over top to serve.

 

Meatatarian-Approved Chili

Mr Meatatarian disapproves of my usual chili recipe, which is intended to mimic Wendy’s chili (it has peppers and onions and celery in it…the horror of vegetables!!)

This is what we’ve come up with for a yummy chili that we’ll both eat. I mix it up a little every time I make it, so these measurements are approximate based on what I tossed in the Crock Pot today.

1 small can of tomato sauce

3 cans of kidney beans (light red/dark red/whatever…or use cooked dried beans)

1 can of mild chili beans

1 can of Great Northern or white canellini beans

1 pound lean ground beef, cooked through

2-3 Tablespoons chili powder

1/4-1/2 Tablespoon salt

 

Partially drain all the cans of beans.

Throw everything in the Crock Pot and cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4-5 (I say the longer the better, get everything nice and hot and bubbly)

Serve with saltines/corn chips/cheese/sour cream/whatever you like!