Meatball Sub Casserole

I'm a sucker for a good casserole. And this is one of the best ones I have had in a long time! The whole family LOVED it!

You can go with homemade MEATBALLS and MARINARA, (like I did).   Or go with your favorite store brand of each. (Rao's marinara is incredible!) It really is up to you and how much time you have. Whenever I make spaghetti and meatballs, I double my recipe and freeze half. Comes in SO handy for dishes like this!

Kale Soup

Some of my best dishes have been created from my flops.

 My recipe for Kale Soup started out as me trying to make a Portuguese dish of kale and sausage. I was supposed to use cannellini beans but didn't have any. So I used potatoes in their place. It looked way too bulky, and, to be honest, unappetizing. So I added some broth, a splash of cream, and decided we'd be having soup that night instead. Thus, my Kale Soup was born. 

Something you should know about me...I ADORE soup! Soups of all kinds!  I have more than two handfuls of soup recipes! And have been patiently waiting for the cooler months to arrive so that I can start building my repertoire.

I couldn't think of a better dish to start off with! Kale Soup is incredibly delicious! Savory and HEARTY! Pretty much all you need to go with it is some crusty bread. Maybe garnish your bowl with some bacon crumbles and Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas (With Salsa Verde)

The love is in the details, right? This dish is filled with both! I don't make enchiladas all that often. But when I do, I go all out! I start by boiling a chicken in a large stock pot with some onion and jalapeños. While my chicken is cooking away, I make my own Salsa Verde. I have always thought that the key to a good enchilada lies mostly in the sauce. 

It's not just the sauce, though. It's the tender chicken. The lightly fried shells. The freshly grated cheese. It's the love. And as I said before, this is a dish that is FULL of LOVE. Enjoy!

Salsa Verde (Green Sauce)

Enchiladas are what I consider to be a "seasonal" dish. They require some effort, time, and the heating of the oven. So pretty much, I only make them in the cooler months. And in my opinion, the only way to make them correctly, is to make your own sauce. 

It's not that I am completely opposed to jarred or canned sauces. Some of them are quite good! But for me, there is a certain satisfaction I get from making my own. Try it just one time and you will know what I mean. 

I really only use this sauce for enchiladas. But it would also be excellent with Carnitas, bean and cheese burritos, or even quesadillas!

Twice Baked Potatoes (Supreme)

Okay...these are probably one of the best side dishes ever! But I'm not going to lead you down some path of "oh, you'll have these whipped up in no time!"  They do take some effort. I'm sitting here snacking on one right now as I write this post. And I can tell you, they are well worth it! 

I usually serve them with steaks off the grill, in lieu of the standard baked potato. It's a nice way to spoil your family (and friends) at dinner time. They look so pretty! And taste divine!

Jade Red Chicken

Jade Red Chicken is an "East meets West" kind of dish. Asian style chicken, tossed in a completely Westernized glaze. When I first read the list of ingredients I knew I was just going to have to trust that it would be delicious. Seriously...tomato sauce AND powdered sugar? Yep! Just let the sauce cook down as the recipe states, toss your chicken in the glaze, and indulge. So good!

Vegetable Fried Rice

This dish is simple to make and can be completely tailored to your liking. Not a fan of asparagus and red bell pepper? No worries! Make it with broccoli florets and mushrooms instead. Or maybe you'd like it with some fresh peas and diced carrots? Awesome!

I make a GIANT batch of this at the start of each week for my family. And always with a varying cast of ingredients. It's nice to open the fridge and find this happy bowl of rice and veggies just waiting to greet you. 

Queso Fundido

This dish is a fun one! Perfect for game day, or if you happen to be in the mood for a huge bowl of melted cheese. It's incredibly easy to make and is absolutely delicious!

Living 30 miles away from the border of Mexico, it's very easy for me to find Mexican melting cheeses. If you can't find them in your area, simply substitute with a combination of jack and cheddar. You could even use mozzarella and cheddar if you like.

Chicken & Broccoli Potpie

Fall is just around the corner. And with the cooler temps, comes the inevitable cravings for "comfort food." This dish right here fits that title to a T! Rich, savory, and COMPLETELY worth the calorie splurge!

I especially like the ease of using the puff pastry. It makes a non-baker, (like me), feel super swanky! It also cuts down on the baking time of going with a traditional pie crust. I can have this potpie whipped up and on the table in an hour. Love that! And your family will LOVE YOU for making it!

Congratulations to Tracey McCallum Householder! You are the winner of the Lilla Rose giveaway! I will be emailing you shortly with all of the details.

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Barbecue Beef Sandwiches (Slow Cooker)

Sometimes it's nice to take a break from all the pots and pans and let your slow cooker (crock pot) do the work. This dish is a family favorite and so easy to prepare!

 Not in the mood for a sandwich? Try the shredded beef on top of your baked potato instead. So stinkin' delicious!

Shown here garnished with pickles, along with some pickled carrots and peppers.

Cheesy Zucchini Rice

I'm always looking for new ways to serve zucchini. It's one of my favorite vegetables! (Even though, technically,  it's a fruit.) I could care less about the formality, really. I have always thought of it as a vegetable, so I have always prepared it as one.

Anyway, back to my first thought here...I am always looking for new ways to dish up zucchini. I found this recipe on Buns In My Oven, who found it on Pink Parsley.  I have done cheesy rice dishes before, but have never tossed any zucchini in there. (Had to try this!)

Let me just say, if you love zucchini, this dish is a winner! Maybe even if you don't love zucchini, but are mildly fond of it, you will still find this dish to be pretty tasty. I say this only because our youngest, who isn't a fan of anything green, ate his entire serving, and asked for seconds. That's a winner in my book! Enjoy!

Cheesy Ravioli Bake

When I first saw this recipe I was a bit confused. Bechamel AND marinara in the same dish? It's not that they aren't both delicious! It was more the thought of two worlds colliding that had me curious. (I usually keep my reds and my whites separate.) BUT...The two come together in this casserole, and create a truly decadent dish that my entire family loves!

If you have a favorite jarred marinara sauce, (I suggest Rao's),  this is the dish for you! If you have your own homemade sauce, canned or frozen, (like me), this is the dish for you! If you like cheese ravioli, this is the dish for you! If you prefer a meat or sausage ravioli, this is the dish for you!

You get the point! This casserole can be completely tailored to your liking. I make it using my own recipe for Marinara, with cheese ravioli. I've also made it with chicken ravioli. Both are amazing!

Chicken Bombs

These little guys are fun to bring to any barbecue! We've been grilling them up for years now, but really didn't know what to call them. The kids started calling them "Chicken Bombs" and the name sorta stuck. Oh, I suppose I could call them " Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts Stuffed With Cheddar, Cream Cheese, And Jalapeños." But why go to all that trouble and formality? IT'S BARBECUE FOOD! And they REALLY are little bombs of deliciousness! Don't judge...just enjoy!

My husband really got a kick out of me trying to make them look dignified here! (They are the very definition of  obnoxious grill food!) One more strip of bacon and they'd be downright obscene!

SO, if it's naughty food you're in the mood for, Chicken Bombs definitely deliver! I really like them with fresh jalapeños. If that's too much spice for you, try them with a few strips of green bell pepper instead. Or maybe some canned whole green chiles. You will still have all the flavor of these bad boys, but without the heat.