Potato Kielbasa Skillet

This is one of my favorite dishes.  It is my recipe as I have altered it significantly from the original recipe in Taste of Home.  To see the orginal you can find it at Taste of Home.

2 lb red potatoes, cubed
6 tbsp water
1 1/2 lb smoked kielbasa cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 tsp onion powder
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tbsp dark brown sugar
2 tbsp balsamic and 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey dijon mustard
1 tsp dried italian seasoning
1/2 tsp red and black pepper
2-3 C spinach
4 bacon stips ,cooked and crumbled

Place potatoes and water in a microwave safe dish.  Cover and microwave on high for 5-6 minutes or until tender; drain. In a large skillet, sautee kielbasa and onion powder for 6-8 minutes.  Add potatoes; sautee 8-15 minutes longer or until kielbasa and potatoes are lightly browned.
Combine the brown sugar, vinegars, mustard, thyme and pepper; stir into skillet.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.  Add spinach (as much or as little as you want) and bacon.  Cook and stir until spinach is wilted.

Classic Mandarin Orange Salad

I love this salad except I don't always use the cheese.  It tastes fine without it or I use less cheese. 

1 5 oz baby spinach and raddicchio or other salad variety
1 15 oz can dole mandarin orange, drained
1/2 C carrots, sliced
1/3 C pecan halves, toasted
1/2 C prepared light raspberry vinaigrette
1/4 C crumpbled blue or feta chesse

Combine spinach, mandarin oranges, carrots, and pecans in large serving bowl.  Pour dressing over salad; toss to evenly coat. Top with chesse.
 Cook's Note (from book) Slice carrot with vegetable peeler in short lengthwise strips, if desired, or cut crosswise into thin slices.

Back in the Box Cooking: Dole Food Company

Angels and Insects

 This book is actually two novellas called morpheo eugena and conjugal angel. I really liked some of the descriptive narration of this book in the first novella. I did like the story but felt that is could have been reduced to about five pages.  It is very long with information that isn't necessary.  I got very bored and barely finished it.  Both stories are set in england and deals with alot of poetry.  The first novel is about a young man who traveled into different parts of the world and on his way back to England when his boat shipwrecks.  He studies bugs and insects (mostly butterflies) and stays with a family.  The father is a clergyman who has three grown daughters and several younger children. The young man fancies one of the daughters and has an interesting courtship with her and a spin in the ending. A sidepart of the story is the father who is trying to write a book and about God's Love for humanity by comparison through bees, ants and butterflies.  It is very interesting points of view if the narration didn't get so dull. 
As a result of not being overly impressed with the first novella I did not read the second one.  This certainly a book I do not recommend unless you like long philosphical narrations. 

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

This is very yummy.  Got it from the Back of the Box Cookbook.  A new favorite for our family.
I divided it into 12 pieces instead of 8.

1 1/4 C sugar divided into 3/4 C and 1/2 C
1 C all purpose flour
1/2 C hershey's cocoa,  divided into half
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 C milk
1/3 C melted butter or margerine
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 C light brown sugar, packed
1 1/4 C hot water

Preheat oven to 350. Combine 3/4 C of the sugar, flour, 1/4 C of the cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, butter and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour batter into ungreased 9 inch square baking pan. Stir together remaining 1/2 C sugar, brown sugar, and remaining 1/4 C cocoa; sprinkle mixture evenly over batter. Pour hot water over top; do not stir. Bake 35-40 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from oven; let stand 15 minutes.  Serve in dessert spooning sauce from bottom of pan over top.

The Winds of Marble Arch

I haven't been doing any book reviews lately so I am trying to make a better effort to do so.  This is a collection of short stories by the author Connie Willis.  They are very interesting stories and all are different from one another.  There are two stories in here that are set in WWII in England.  The first story is one of the longest and can get a bit dry so do not judge the book on it.  The second story is much better and far more entertaining.  The Soul Selects Her Own Society, and the last two stories are very boring and can be skipped. The stories Jack and Inn are my favorite.  Check this one out and have a nice cup of tea while reading; enjoy.

Italian Sausage Meatballs

These are very good meatballs.  Only way i make spaghetti now. I halved  the recipe since this is enough meatballs for us.  I use the leftover meatballs to make meatball subs.

1 lb italian sausage (casing removed)
1/2  tbsp italian seasoning
1/2  tbsp minced garlic
3/4 C italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
1/6 C red wine or water

Put all ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  Mix together throughly.  Using the palm of your hand roll into a ball shape about one inch (although mine are more likely 2 inches).  Grease a baking dish.  Place meatballs in dish and bake at 325 for 20-30 minutes or until done. (You don't need to cover).

Chicken and Rice Bake

This is from Campbells website; its not one of my favorite dishes.  It will not WOW your family but if you are tired or just don't feel like cooking then this is the recipe for you.  It literally takes about five minutes to get together and then you just pop it in the oven.  Easy cleanup too.

1 can (10 3/4 oz) Campbell's condensed cream of mushroom soup (you can use cream of chicken too)
1 can of water
1 C of rice
seasoned salt and pepper
3-4 boneless chicken breasts

Mix soup, water and rice in a 2 quart shallow dish.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; place on top of rice mixture.  Cover
Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until done.

Best Ever Meatloaf

Seriously best ever meatloaf you have ever tasted.

1 egg beaten
2/3 C milk
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce (1-2 tbsp)
3/4 C oatmeal
2 tbsp Mccormick garlic and herb seasoning
2 tsp seasoning salt
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 tsp black and red pepper
1 1/2 lb grouond beef
TOPPING:
1/4 C ketchup
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp dijon honey mustard
1 tsp nutmeg

In a large bowl combine the first eight ingredients.  Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.  Pat meat mixture into a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.  Bake, uncovered at 350 for 30-60 minutes.  Combine last four ingredients; spread over top of loaf.  Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until meat is no longer pink.  Let stand 10 minutes.