Rocky's Kitchen

Nuevo Chipotle Beef in Butternut Squash Boats

2010-05-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

The other day(about two months ago) I was watching Food Network's Cook off Challenge when a recipe caught my eye and I thought--I should try to make that. It looked so delicious and different from anything I usually cook. So I finally got around to getting the ingredients for it and may I say it's my favorite thing I have ever cooked without knowing what it would taste like at all beforehand. Recipe by Christine Riccitelli.

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs stew beef
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. chili pepper
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 medium butternut squash, cut into quarters and remove seeds
1 1/2 cups water

Optional (but highly recommended)
1 med. tomato (chopped)
1 small avocado (cut into cubes)
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves

Directions
1.. The directions called for this mixture to be cooked in the oven in a stockpot for 1 hr 45 min t0 2 hours and 15 min @ 325 degrees, however I cooked it on the stove top for 2 hours on medium heat while covered. Combine beef, water, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar, chili pepper, cumin, salt, & pepper and cook until tender.
2. While meat is cooking put squash cut side down in a 13x9 pan with the water at the bottom. Cook in oven @ 325 degrees for at least an hour until the squash is fork tender. Halfway through I flipped the squash.
3. Place squash on plate and put beef picture on top and garnish with cilantro, tomato, & avocados.

Martha's Tortilla Pie

2010-05-16T02:19:00.001-07:00

Okay--so this dish looks a little creepy, but it is really yummy. Me & A both thought it did need a little more heat to it so next time we will be adding 1 tsp of cayenne to it. I got this recipe from Martha Stewart. Try it--it's so good!

Ingredients
4 flour tortillas (10-inch)
1 tablespoon olive oil , plus more for pan
1 med. onion , chopped
1 1/2 tsps. ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
Salt & Pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 pound ground beef sirloin
3 garlic cloves , minced
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels
3 packed cups loose baby spinach (about 5 ounces) , torn into pieces
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 9 inch springform pan

Directions
1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Trim tortillas to the size of the springform pan by placing the bottom of the pan over the tortillas and cutting the edges of tortillas off. Oil the pan and set aside.
2. Put oil in pan til warm--add onion, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cook until onion is tender.
4. Stir in tomato paste--raise temp to high and add beef and garlic--cook until meat is brown
5. Add corn and spinach. Keep stirring until spinach is wilted.
6. Put tortilla in the the bottom of the pan. Spread a 1 1/2 cups of beef mixture and 1/2 cup of cheese.
7. Repeat for two more layers.
8.On last tortilla put the remaining of the mixture and another 1/2 cup of cheese.
9. Bake tortilla pie for 15-20 minutes--then enjoy!

New Feature

2009-12-04T01:47:00.001-08:00

I know everyone is on a budget right now so I decided to start posting on my recipes the cost of each creation every time I make it. To navigate quickly just click on the price range you are looking for on the right side under "What are you looking for?" I will start adding the cost under each recipe. So far I have added the cost to Brunswick Stew and Texas Style Cornbread.

Texas Style Cornbread

2009-12-03T12:33:00.001-08:00

Image Courtesy of Catherine Martin

Special Note: The way I make it, the consistency of the cornbread looks slightly different, but I couldn't pass up on this picture with the Texas theme going on.

My mom sent me this recipe saying she didn't really like it. So I made it with little hopes of it being good. Oh was she wrong. It's delicious. We can't get enough of it at our house! It's the perfect mixture of hot and sweet and it is very filling. I am making it for my fifth time tonight. Yummy!!! The original recipe was Reba Mcentire's Mexican Cornbread. Her recipe calls for no cayenne, different cheese, and less peppers.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1/3 cup onion (although I LOVE onions so I make this a heaping to sneak some more in there)

1/4 tsp cayenne

9 oz can Fritos Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Dip

1 (8.5 oz) package of cornbread mix (I use Sylvia's Restaurant Mix)

1 (8oz) can of whole kernel corn, drained

1 Tbsp butter, melted

2 Tbsp green pepper

2 Tbsp red pepper

2 Tbsp yellow pepper

Directions

1. Brown meat, then drain

2. Add onions and cayenne and cook until tender

3. Take off stove and add cheese dip

4. Put meat mixture at the bottom of a casserole dish

5. Now make cornbread mixture as directed on the back of the package

6. Add corn, butter, and peppers to mixture

7. Spoon over meat mixture.

8. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown

Cost

12/09 = $10.28 (I already had eggs and milk that were needed for cornbread...also already had cayenne)

Delicious and Simple Tomato Soup

2009-11-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe originally from my old boss, Liz. Her recipe called for a lot more proportions of whipping cream, water, and half and half and my largest pot wasn't quite big enough so I had to change the proportions and ingredients a little. This is a DELICIOUS and yummy soup. We can't get enough of it!

Ingredients

1 large tub (4 lb) of marinara sauce (I used the 4 lb 2 oz Traditional Ragu Sauce)

1 quart whipping cream

1 quart half and half

1 can tomato paste

1 small can of pumpkin (15 oz)

2 cups milk

1 cup water

6 chicken bouillon cubes

Couple of shakes of Paprika and Garlic Powder to taste

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients together in a large pot

2. Heat just below a simmer to let the soup thicken up until warm, stirring often

3. Serve with parsley or basil on top as a garnish (optional), I've also heard putting this in a bread bowl is delicious!

Banana Boats / Camping Banana Splits

2009-10-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

Apparently I have had these before, according to my mother, but as I can't remember tasting this fabulous creation. The picture does not do it justice because after making this the first day of our three day camping trip we had it everyday following. So delicious and easy!

Ingredients

1 banana per person

Bag of Chocolate Chips

Bag of Mini Marshmallows

Aluminum Foil

Directions

1. Place a banana in the middle of a square piece of aluminum foil

2. Cut down the middle of the banana peel to open up the banana

3. Take two 1/2 inch pieces out of the banana and cut the banana down the middle

4. Stuff your banana with a handful of marshmallows and chocolate chips

5. Wrap foil around the banana

6. Place over coals for 10 minutes or until chocolate and marshmallows have melted

7. Unwrap and enjoy

If you would like to make these at home, place the wrapped bananas in the oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Beef Stroganoff

2009-10-10T20:22:00.001-07:00

This recipe is my FAVORITE thing my mom cooks. I could eat it everyday if it wasn't so unhealthy for you....mmm so delicious!

Ingredients

1 Pkg Cubed Stew Beef

1 onion, diced

1 Large Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 Large Tub of Sour Cream

2 to 3 squirts of ketchup

4 T of Worcestershire Sauce

1 package fresh mushrooms, chopped

Salt & Pepper

1 Pkg of Egg Noodles

Directions

1. In a large pot brown stew beef

2. Add diced onion and let it cook with meat approx. 5 minutes.

3. Add cream of mushroom, sour cream, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and mushrooms

4. Heat through and salt and pepper to taste.

5. The longer you let the sauce cook the better it will taste and make the meat tender. I wouldn't cook it under 40 minutes.

6. In another pot boil noodles right before you are ready to serve

7. Drain noodles and serve!

Pasta Salad Extravaganza

2009-09-23T19:19:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

1 box of rotini pasta (16 oz)

2 cups baby spinach

1 1/2 Cups Newman's Family Recipe Italian Dressing

1 whole chicken cooked (I buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store), skin removed and peel chicken into strips

1 bunch of green onions, chopped

1 pint grape tomatoes, each cut lengthwise in half

1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into small cubes

1 can/jar artichoke hearts, drain and rinse under water

Directions

1. Cook pasta and set aside to let cool

2. In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together.

3. AND serve (However, it takes better if you let it sit overnight in the fridge).

Yields Approx. 6 Servings

Leg of Lamb Marinade

2009-09-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

5 Pounds Leg of Lamb

1/4 Cup Honey

2 Tablespoons Spicy Dijon Mustard

2 Tablespoons Freshly Chopped Rosemary

1 Lemon (1 Teaspoon lemon zest & lemon juice)

3 Garlic Cloves, minced

1 Teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

1/4 Cup Cooking Wine

Directions

1. In a food processor or blender combine honey, mustard, rosemary, lemon zest, juice from one lemon, minced garlic, salt, pepper, & wine.

2. Cover and rub marinade on lamb and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.

3. Put lamb in a roasting pan and cook lamb at 450 degrees for 20 minutes to sear it.

4. Roast lamb an additional 55 to 60 minutes at 400 degrees. Lamb will be medium rare.

Serving Suggestions

Potatoes or Garlic Bread and a vegetable like collard greens

Marshmallow Walnut Brownies

2009-08-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

Brownies

1 Cup Butter

1/3 Cup Cocoa

2 Cups Sugar

4 Eggs

1 3/4 Cup Flour

2 Teaspoons Vanilla

1 1/2 Cup Walnuts, Chopped

1 Cup Miniature Marshmallows

Fudge-Chocolate Frosting

1/3 Cup Butter

3 Tablespoons Cocoa

3 Tablespoons Milk

1 3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

Pinch of Salt

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1-3 Tablespoons Milk

Directions

Brownies

1. Melt butter in saucepan.

2. Remove from heat and add cocoa and sugar. Mix well.

3. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.

4. Add flour, vanilla, & walnuts

5. Pour into greased 9 inch square baking pan.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

7. Turn the oven off and put marshmallows on top of the brownies.

8. Return brownies to oven until marshmallows are barely melting.

9. Drizzle Fudge-Chocolate Frosting on top

Fudge-Chocolate Frosting

1. Melt butter in saucepan. Remove from heat.

2. Add cocoa and milk. Beat until smooth.

3. Add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla. Mix well.

4. Add 1-3 tablespoons of milk and keep beating until smooth and barely runny.

Recipe from Worldwide Ward Cookbook

Red Velvet Cake

2009-02-17T17:44:00.001-08:00

Picture Courtesy of Catherine Martin

Ingredients
1/2 Cup of Shortening
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 or 2 (1 oz.) Bottle of Red Food Coloring
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 Cups of Sifted Cake Flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 tsps. Cocoa
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Tbsp. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
Cream Cheese Frosting (see below)
Garnish: Chopped Pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8oz) package of Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 Cup Margarine or Butter, softened
1 (16 oz) Package Powdered Sugar, sifted
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

-Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended; add vanilla, beating until blended.

Directions
1.Beat shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
2. Stir in food coloring and vanilla, blending well.
3. Combine flour, salt, and cocoa; set aside.
4. Combine buttermilk, vinegar, and soda in a 4-cup liquid measuring cup (mixture will bubble).
5. Add flour mixture to shortening mixture, alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at a low speed until blending after each addition. Beat at a medium speed 2 minutes pour batter into 3 greased and floured 8-inch round cakepans.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool in pans or wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
7. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers of cake. Garnish with chopped pecans if desired.

Yield: 1 3 layer cake

Huey's Potato Soup

2008-10-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 small onion, minced

1/2 stick of celery, diced

1 stick butter

2 cup water or chicken broth

2 1/2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

2 cup half & half

Directions

1. Saute onion & celery in butter until tender.

2. Add water or broth & potatoes.

3. Boil until potatoes are done.

4. Blend.

5. Add enough half and half to make soup desired consistency

6. Heat through.

*Garnish with crumbled bacon, chopped green onions, and grated cheddar cheese.

**Also delicious with Club crackers.

Dracula Cookies

2008-10-06T18:55:00.001-07:00

Ingredients
6 hazelnut truffles
5 ounces white candy coating, chopped
1 green or red Fruit Roll-Up
6 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
1 can (6.4 oz) black decorating icing
6 slivered almonds, cut in half

Directions
1. Place truffles on a waxed paper-lined pan. Freeze for 10 minutes or until chilled. Meanwhile, in a small bowl melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip truffles in coating to cover completely; return to pan. Refrigerate until hardened.
2. Cut Fruit-Roll-Up into 2.5 x 1.5 inch strips. Reheat candy coating if necessary. Dip truffles in candy coating again; immediately place one on each cookie. Wrap a fruit strip around base of truffle for cape. Let stand until set.
3. Using decorating icing and a round tip, pipe hair, eyes, and mouth on each. Be creative! Insert almonds as fangs.

Recipe from Taste of Home

Corny Sloppy Joe Pizzas

2008-10-06T18:39:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

1 can Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits (or and other biscuits you prefer to flatten)

1 lb lean ground beef

1 can of sloppy joe sandwich sauce (15.5 oz)

1 can whole kernel sweet corn, drained

8 slices of american cheese

8 small pieces(1x 1/2 inch each) green bell peppers

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Separate dough into 8 biscuits. Place on ungreased large cookie sheet; press each biscuit to form 4 1/2 inch round. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

2.Meanwhile in 12-inch nonstick skillet cook beef over medium heat 8-10 minutes. Occasionally stirring, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in sloppy joe sauce and corn. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 3 to 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally, until hot.

3. Cut cheese into circles. With knife cut jack-o-lantern faces (let the kids do it)

4. Remove biscuits from the oven. Spoon beef mixture evenly onto biscuit rounds. Arrange cheese pieces over beef mixture. Place bell pepper piece on top of each to look like stem.

5. Return to oven 3-5 minutes to melt cheese on.

Recipe by Pillsbury

Halloweenie Mummies

2008-10-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

Ingredients
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated flaky dough sheet
44 cocktail-size smoked link sausages (1 lb pkg)
Mustard

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line two 15x10x1 inch pan with cooking parchment paper
2.On work surface, roll dough sheet out to 14x11 inch rectangle. Cut vertically to make two 11x7 inch rectangles. Cut crosswise into total of 44 (7 x 1/2 inch) strips.
3. Pat sausages dry with paper towels.
4. Wrap 1 strip of dough around each sausage to look like a mummy: press firmly to each end to secure.
5.Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart for even browning
6. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Put eyes on mummies with mustard.

Recipe by Pillsbury

Chocolate Pecan Toffee

2008-09-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

Picture Courtesy of Catherine Martin

Ingredients
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Butter
1/4 Cup Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 (6 oz) package (1 cup) Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Directions
1. Butter pan
2. Combine Sugar, Butter, Water, and Salt in a 4 qt sauce pan.
3. Cook over medium heat, stir in vanilla
4. Pour mixture onto prepared pan spread to desired thickness.
5. Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot candy.
6. Let stand for 5 minutes
7. Spread melted chocolate evenly over candy
8. Sprinkle with pecans

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies

2008-09-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Picture Courtesy of Catherine Martin

Recipe by Jane Roe

Ingredients

2 cups Sugar

1/2 cup Cocoa

1/2 cup Milk

1 stick of Butter

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

2 1/2 cup Oatmeal

1 tsp Vanilla

Directions

1. Put Sugar, Cocoa, Milk, and Butter in pot. Bring to boil and boil for 3 minutes stirring frequently.

2. Add Peanut Butter, Vanilla, & Oatmeal (slowly or it will glob up)

3. Spoon on Sal pat and let cool

4. Enjoy!

Crawfish Etoufee' for Cheaters

2008-09-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

My mom sent me this recipe from the website allthingsouthern.com . No more than two days later I purchased a book from Barnes and Noble filled with southern recipes and advice. The first page I turned to just happened to be this exact recipe. I took it as a sign and made it. And me oh my! It's excellent! I added celery to the recipe by the suggestion of my mom. It may look scary, but if you like cajun food you will love this dish.

Ingredients
1 stick of butter
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 celery stalk
1 chopped onion
2 lbs of crawfish tail meat (found in UTAH @ Wal Mart. If I can find it here you can find it anywhere)
3 cans of cream of celery soup
1 can of rotel tomatoes
salt and pepper
Toney Chacheres' Seafood Seasoning

Directions
1. Saute' onion, bell pepper, and celery with butter.
2. Rinse crawfish tail meet thoroughly and drain.
3. Combine remaining ingredients in stock pot.
4. Season well and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes.
5. Serve over rice

Tuna Salad Sandwich

2008-09-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is another dish that you really need to make into your own and just do it by your taste. It serves 2-3, but the more you double the recipe the more it will serve. :)

Ingredients
Sandwich Bread
2 cans of tuna
3 spoonful heapings of Miracle Whip or Salad Dressing
1 spoonful of Sweet Relish
1/2 to 1 stalk of celery
Squirt of Mustard
Salt and Pepper

Directions
1. Drain water out of cans of tuna. Add to mixing bowl.
2. Add miracle whip, relish, diced celery, and mustard. Mix well.
3. Salt and pepper to taste
4. Toast bread and spread tuna salad on.

Hot Potato Salad

2008-09-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

There are many variations of this recipe in my family by varying tastes and proportions of certain ingredients. This is definetly a dish that you need to do by taste and make it how you want it.

Ingredients
Bag of Red Potatoes
Miracle Whip
Splash of Milk
3-4 Eggs
Spoonful of Bacon Bits
1 white onion

Directions
1. In a large pot place peeled potatoes in boiling water and cook them for approx. 30 minutes (until they are soft enough to mash). Drain water out.
2. While cooking potatoes boil your eggs.
3. Mash potatoes, put a splash of milk in, add enough miracle whip that it makes potatoes thick and creamy. Salt & Pepper Potatoes
4. Add cut up eggs, a spoonful of bacon bits, and depending on how much onions you like chopped up onions.
5. Serve hot!

Brunswick Stew

2008-08-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

This is one my absolute favorite dishes growing up. My mother developed this recipe from trial and error over the years. It started off from a recipe commonly used in the south to throw in the "kill of the day"...usually squirrel, if you can believe it or not, when my grandmother used to cook it. Anyway-this is our adaption of Brunswick Stew.'

Ingredients
1 Whole Chicken (you can buy a precooked Rotisserie Chicken—I find this to be same price as the uncooked ones. So why not?)
2 Large Cans of Tomato Sauce
1 box or bag of cut Okra
1 bag of frozen baby lima beans (1lb)
1 bag of frozen chopped onions (1lb)
1 bag of frozen corn (1lb) [shoepeg white corn seems to work the best]
2 cans of Cream of Corn

Directions
1. De-bone and de-skin chicken and separate into small pieces. Place in approx. 4-8 cups of salted water. (The stringier the chicken the better)
2. Add tomato sauce, okra, lima beans, and onions
3. Simmer for 30-60 minutes
4. Add frozen bag of corn and cream of corn. Corn can scorch on the bottom of the pan so stir frequently. Put pepper in stew until you can see specks all throughout stew.
5. Cook for at least 10 minutes. However the longer you cook it the better it tastes. It cooks better if you leave it cooking all day on low. AND it's even better the second day. . Make sure you reheat it on low or else the corn will burn.

Cost

12/09 = $18.23