Category: Pantry Raid

Cheeseburger Quesadilla

Burgers, Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, Leftovers/ Freezer Meals, Pantry Raid, Thrifty Meals

Hey guys! Happy Sunday! Why does the weekend always have to go by so fast? For lunch today, I made these for the girls. They both have been sick this weekend, so I let them watch TV and have an indoor picnic. I made double hamburgers so I could have leftovers this week, so I used 2 to get this cheesy party started! SO EASY!!!

I just chopped up 2 leftover burgers and added them to a nonstick pan and heated them up for about 5 minutes. 

I added 2 small flour tortillas to a sprayed nonstick pan. I added one more slice of cheese on each tortilla. The girls love classic American cheese on their burgers, but add what you like. Then I topped it with my crumbled cheesy beef. You could do this with turkey burgers, veggie burgers, leftover meatloaf…

Once the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crispy, turn over with a spatula and cut in half! Serve with sour cream, guac, or my “special sauce” Ketchup and mayo with a bit of relish. A spoonful of meat was leftover and went straight in to Brutus’ food bowl 😉

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Squash and Peppers

Chicken, One pot meal, Pantry Raid, Thrifty Meals

Happy weekend! Man, this past week was rough! It was the first week of school here in Georgia, and it was super exhausting. But we made it (with a bunch of naps and early bedtimes)! I made this easy dish on Thursday night when the girls were at cheer practice. I had defrosted the chicken, but wasn’t sure how I was going to make it and didn’t want to go the the store. I saw a random squash and a couple of mild hatch chili peppers in the crisper, so I decided to incorporate them somehow. I also spied a large jar of tomatoes in the pantry, so I came up with this recipe. Clean plates all around, so I know it was a winner!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon canola oil
4 Skin on Bone in Chicken Thighs
1 squash, sliced
1 small mild hatch peppers
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (14.5-ounce) can peeled whole (mashed) or diced tomatoes

Directions

Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Season your chicken with the paprika and a bit of salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 6 minutes or so until crispy. Remove from pan.
Turn down heat to medium/medium low. Add your veggies to pan; sauté 6 minutes or until tender.
Add the tomato paste to the veggies and combine well.
Add the canned tomatoes and stir all the veggies together.
Return chicken to pan and continue to cook until chicken is cooked through, about 25 more minutes.

I served with couscous and side of corn. I normally would also add a fresh hot baguette as well, but I didn’t have one this time.

Summer Poppy Seed Salad 

Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, Pantry Raid, Salads, Thrifty Meals, Vegetarian

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! We decided to change it up and make something besides burgers and hot dogs this year. Instead I made two big pans of lasagna. I have made many different kinds of lasagna before on the blog, but these were pretty basic like this. I made one with ricotta and mozzarella and one with just mozzarella. They both turned out really great!

This afternoon, I was scouring out the scene in my fridge and pantry to see what I could make for dinner. Plenty of leftover lasagna, so that is the main course! But I did spy a bunch of veggies that looked like they were on their last leg, so I decided to make this beautiful summer salad. I found this poppy seed dressing a while back at Fresh Market, and it is my new favorite. img_8456

So I took half a head of ice burg lettuce, 1 small head of purple cabbage, one cucumber (peeled and chopped), 1 small tomato, 1 yellow squash (thinly cut on a mandolin), and a handful of sliced black olives

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I mixed it with about half the bottle of dressing until all the veggies were coated. I also added a touch of salt and pepper.  It tastes super yummy and fresh, and the squash also gives it a nice crunch! I am going to let it hang out in the fridge for a bit, and add some fresh avocado on top! These are my favorite kind of recipes; ones that you make up on the fly and use up leftovers before they go bad!

*****I spy some bananas that turn in to bread soon. I also found some blueberries, so I might come up with a new concoction! See ya real soon!

What can I do with this?

Girls' Night Out/In, Misc. stuff, Pantry Raid

I had leftover mozzarella sticks, and I needed to use them before they went bad. I don’t like food waste. I recently almost cried when my green olives had mold growing on them. I did cry when the last of my cherries were all rotten. When the last 2 of my English muffins had mold, I thought that maybe it was the mold that was out to get me. Don’t even get me started on that rotten tomato. So when I remembered about these guys, I was determined to use them before salmonella took over my fridge.

Introducing the cheese stick quesadilla. It tastes like you think, and you are welcome. You could either dip it in left over pizza sauce or sour cream. I tried both and they pass the test.

All 3 judges gave it a perfect 10. In all 3 judges, I mean it is a girl night and I could never pass this off on my husband without meat.

Spaghetti with Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes

Pantry Raid, Pasta, Vegetarian

Evening all! So I made this dish for dinner tonight (just me) along with some smoked sausage, peas, and Alfredo pasta for the rest of the family. It was enough to feed four, so I have leftovers for myself and 2 coworkers.  I also ate some sausage. It was super yummy! img_6011

Spaghetti with Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes

Ingredients

1/2 pound spaghetti (or whatever pasta you have)
1 container of mushrooms, sliced
1 container of cherry tomatoes
1 bunch of asparagus, cut in small pieces- snap the bigger ends off and disregard
1 clove garlic, smashed
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons of olive oil
salt and pepper- add just more than you think
2 tablespoons heavy cream
However much Parmesan you want

Directions

Cook your pasta (or use leftovers)
In a skillet heated with 1 tablespoon butter and olive oil, cook down all your seasoned veggies for a good 15 minutes. In the last 5 minutes cover you skillet to burst your tomatoes. Add in your pasta with the rest of the butter and oil. Mix well. Add in your cream and cheese. Combine well. Vegetarian’s delight! Make vegan by disregarding the butter and cream. Add sausage, chicken, or shrimp for a protein packed meaty meal. The possibilities are endless!