BLT Pizza

Quick, Simple & Delicious...BLT Pizza is a favorite in my house & it could not be easier to make!

What You Will Need: Bacon, Pizza Dough, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, Salt & Pepper.

Crisp the bacon & cook your pizza crust till done. 

Spread on a thin layer of the mayo, season with pepper.

Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes & give a sprinkle of salt. 

Add your crispy bacon, slice & serve!!

From the first time I made this, its the only way we eat BLT's in my house!

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Enjoy & Always Cook with Love!

Meatless Mexican Pizza

In honor of Cinco De Mayo lets throw a Mexican twist on pizza!

This recipe is Meatless, but feel free to add any form of protein you would like.

What you will need: Pizza dough (store bought or homemade), can of refried beans, can of black beans, can of green chilies, chili power, cumin, cilantro, corn meal, red onions, bell pepper, shredded cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper.

Preheat your oven (425 degree's for the store bought dough). 

Start by sautéing your red onions & bell peppers with oil, salt, pepper, chili powder & cumin. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

Add the can of green chilies and a handful of chopped cilantro. Stir in half the can of black beans. Cook for 2-3 minutes, remove from heat & reserve. 

Sprinkle your baking sheet with corn meal. 

**This step is optional, I prefer the corn meal for added texture to the crust.

Roll and form your dough.

Bake the dough half way, about 10 minutes. Bring it out and smooth the refried beans over the top. Make sure you season with salt and pepper. 

Spread the onion & black bean mixture over the top.

Top with your shredded cheese and finish in the oven for another 10 minutes. Garnish the pizza with torn cilantro & if desired a squeeze of fresh lime juice!

Slice & Serve! 

Toppings such as sour cream, salsa or sliced avocado's are great additions. 

Enjoy & Always Cook with Love!

Meatball Subs

Whats not to like about a Meatball Sub?? Hot, meaty, saucy, cheesy & filling!

With just a couple ingredients, you can have this family pleasing meal on the table any night of the week!

What you will need: Ground beef, tomato sauce, bell pepper, red onion, garlic, basil, green onion, italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, mozzarella cheese, egg & a couple buns!

Start Chopping!! Dice up the onion, pepper, garlic, green onion & basil. Sprinkle in your italian seasoning. Add your egg & parmesan cheese. 

Add your panko, combine & chill for at least 30 minutes. 

Roll into desired size and drop into simmering tomato sauce. 

**When you poach the meatballs in the sauce, you can thin out the sauce a little with some chicken stock.

Simmer the meatballs in the sauce for 30-40 minutes. 

Cut open your bread & toast to desired crunchiness...

When I toast any bread, I always add a drizzle of olive oil & a sprinkle of S&P.

Place a couple thick slices of Mozzarella cheese on the bottom bun of your warm toast.

Top with pipping hot meatballs & a good spoonful or two of the sauce. Sprinkle with a little extra parmesan cheese & dive into this messy but delicious sammie!!

Enjoy & Always Cook with Love!

Baked Jalapeño Poppers!

One of my favorite appetizers has got to be Jalapeño Poppers! 

Hot, crunchy, oozy goodness!!! 

I have come up with a way to enjoy them at home without using a deep fryer & if they are not deep fried, you can have more guilt free.....right?? RIGHT!!

What you will need: Jalapeño peppers, bacon, cream cheese, shredded cheese, green onions, salt, pepper & panko breadcrumbs. 

Preheat your oven to 400 & get a pot of water simmering on your stovetop. 

First start by cutting off the stem, slice in half and remove the seeds & membrane. 

**For the safety of your skin, feel free to wear gloves while doing this. Always wash your hands after handling hot peppers & for the love of god, don't touch your eyes!! 

Once the peppers are all cut and cleaned, place them into a pot of simmering water for 3-5 minutes. This helps draw out most of the heat in the peppers. 

Drain on a plate with paper towels and set aside.

While the peppers cool, start rendering several pieces of bacon. I used peppered bacon but any bacon you have is fine. 

Once your bacon is rendered, drained and set aside, start on the cheese filling.

Add cream cheese, shredded cheese, green onion, crispy bacon, salt, pepper and mix till combined.

Stuff each pepper with your desired amount of filling. 

**Any leftover filling is great as a dip with your favorite crackers!**

Dip the peppers upside down into Panko breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to coat all of the cheese mixture. Place on a baking sheet.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Serve pipping hot as an appetizer or as a side dish for any meal. They were a tasty addition along side my Citrus Chicken Taco's.

Have leftover Poppers at the end of the meal?? Finely chop up these little bad boys for an amazing filling for a Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese the next day!! 

Enjoy & Always Cook with Love!

Spice Up Your Taco Tuesday

Hello again! It sure has been awhile since my last post. After the holiday season, starting a new job & finding out that I'm pregnant, Im ready to get back to my kitchen for some fun!!

Who doesn't love Taco Tuesday?!? It has become the standard Tuesday night special at almost every restaurant/bar. They are great due to their simplicity...meat, cheese, shell, some toppings & you have a fiesta for your taste buds. 

Lets shake up the old beef & cheese standby and bring in some bright citrus flavors!

Citrus Grilled Chicken Taco's with Red Cabbage Slaw. 

What you will need: Boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut thin), 1 orange, 1 lime, cilantro, green onion, chili powder, cumin, salt/pepper & olive oil. You will also need some red cabbage & sweet onion. 

Start first by getting the zest from both fruits. You will also want the juice from the lime and half of the orange.

Add in your spices; chili powder, cumin, salt & pepper

Add cilantro & green onions

Drizzle with some olive oil and toss to coat.

Cover & chill for at least 30 mins. 

Grill the chicken over high heat (keeping the flipping to a minimum). Once its fully cooked, remove from the heat and cover, allowing the chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes. 

While the chicken rest, slice up your roasted bell pepper. **For an extra kick of heat, add a roasted jalapeño. 

Slice or shred the chicken and toss it with the pepper. Set aside & keep warm while you make the cabbage topping.

Thinly slice the cabbage & onion

Throw in some torn cilantro, a squeeze on lime over top, a dash of salt & give it a toss.

For the tortillas, I personally prefer charring my shells over the flame of my stove or Ill throw them on the grill for the same effect. If you don't have access to an open flame, warm them in the microwave.

To serve, I spread a little sour cream on the shell, added the meat and topped with the cabbage! Feel free to add any additional toppings that you desire..cheese, salsa, gauc, etc...Fold & Devour!!

Enjoy & Always Cook with Love!