Stuffed Zucchini

This one is not as easy as the last! I say that and its not that its hard, its just got alot of steps and is time consuming.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour

8-10 zucchini
2 tbsp. oil
1 onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. hamburger
1 can tomato sauce
3 eggs, well beaten
1/2 lb. shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
1 c. bread crumbs
1/4 lb. grated Jack cheese

 

See! I told you there is alot to it, but it is SO worth it in the end!

 

Here is what you do:

 

Boil zucchini about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. After cool, split in half and scoop out center, reserving center. In skillet, saute oil, onion, garlic and hamburger until meat is brown.
Then add squash centers, tomato sauce, eggs, cheese, salt, thyme, and oregano. Stir and simmer 5 to 7 minutes. Then add bread crumbs.
Arrange squash on foil covered cookie sheets. Sprinkle Jack cheese over each squash, then fill with stuffing mix and sprinkle with more Jack cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

A few tips:
1. Start your water boiling first. While you are waiting for it to boil cut up onions and garlic, grate the cheese, beat the eggs, measure out all the ingredients, etc.
2. Grate your our cheese! Remember cheaper and melts better!
3. Something I didn't do this time but will do next time,make sure you rotate the zucchini while boiling. I will also make sure the centers are mixed up better!

Mexican Chicken

I am telling you guys! This one is so easy! Even if you think you can't boil water you can cook this one!

Prep Time: 15 mintues at the MOST!
Cook Time: 1 hour

All you need is:
Boneless. skinless chicken breast
Salsa
Monterey Jack (or Pepper Jack) Cheese
Salt
Pepper

First preheat oven to 350. Second, wash off your chicken! Salt and Pepper your chicken and place in a Pyrex casserole dish. Cover chicken with salsa and cover the dish with aluminum foil. Cook chicken for 25 minutes covered and 25 minutes uncovered. After the 50 minutes, cover chicken with the shredded cheese cook another 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted to your liking.
Done!
Here are a few tips:
1. Grate your own cheese. Its cheaper and it melts better!
2. Don't fill up the casserole dish with salsa. The juice from the chicken will cause it to overflow and will make a HUGE mess.
3. I prefer the Pepper Jack cheese. It's a little spicy but has more taste than the Monterey Jack.
I like to serve chips, queso, and yellow rice with mine. It is also good with white rice.

New Blog

I am starting this new blog for a number of reasons.
1. I really have a new found love for cooking! I have always enjoyed baking, but Neal has always been the cook.
2. I've been posting pictures of my recipes and have had many people wanting them. I wanted an easier way to post them and thought a blog would be easiest.
3. It will also make finding all my recipes easier for me. I find the majority of my recipes online and save them to the favorites on my computer. But if I'm visiting Mom or if my computer crashes they would all be gone. This gives me a way to keep up with them and I don't have to print them all out. Green too!
4. As I said before, Neal is the cook! I love to find new recipes that he hasn't cooked so I don't have to live up to his cooking! Not that he has ever said anything! I just know he is the better cook so I want to do my part to help out and impress him with what I have learned!

So here's to helping my friends and myself!