Tasteful Tuesday

Okay, so I didn't totally forget about you today! Just a little slow getting things posted. I figured I needed to get my Christmas shopping done this morning as it is getting a little too close to crunch time for me. I am pretty much done except for a few items I can't find anywhere! I guess that is what I get for not buying them when I saw them and thought "I should buy these for the kids" and then walking away. Anyway, I know this is a crazy time for everyone and so I thought I would share a great meal that can be quick and easy. I usually make my own meatballs but you can used the prepackaged ones for an even quicker meal. Pair this up with a green salad and you have one tasty dinner, without going to subway to get it!

Meatball Subs

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup oats

1 egg

2-3 Tablespoons dried onions

(or 1/4 cup chopped onion)

salt and pepper

1 package good hoagie rolls

1 jar marinara sauce

Sliced mozarella or provolone cheese

Mix the ground beef with oats, onions, egg, salt and pepper. Roll into meatballs and place in 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 for 15-20 min. Warm the marinara sauce and add meatballs. Split rolls and put cheese on one side, place on baking sheet. Spoon 3-4 meatballs on the other side along with a little sauce. Set your oven to broil and place baking sheet in oven until cheese is melted. *For the kids sandwhiches, I usually cut the meatballs in half. That way they don't pop out as much.

Tasteful Tuesday...and a Give Away!

Today I am sharing one of those 3 ingredient, put it in the oven and dinner is ready recipes. Gotta love those kinds. I got the recipe from one of my family cookbooks and it is a staple at our house. Sorry the picture is not the best. I am also doing my first ever GIVE AWAY! In a few weeks I am teaching a truffle making class at church. I am going to teach how to make a real ganache filling as well as a quick, cheater version. I cannot decide what flavor of each to make, which is where the give away comes in. You get to vote for which flavor I will be making. The prize, which will be randomly drawn from a hat, is a box of four truffles (2 of each kind). If you would like to particpate, please vote for 1 ganache filling flavor, and 1 cheater version flavor (choices are below the picture). Please leave me a way to contact you. Just to be clear, the winner will also be my shipping guinea pig. I have several orders for christmas chocolates and I have never actually shipped them before. So the winner will be obligated to let me know how the truffles arrive (whether they are still in place and how they taste).

Ganache fillings:

Mint, Raspberry, English Toffee

Cheaters:

Oreo, Choc. Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter

Vote now! Voting ends Sunday, November 8 at 12 midnight EST

Apricot Chicken

Enough boneless, skinless chicken to fill up a 9X13 (I usually just put mine in frozen)

1 (8oz) bottle French dressing *

1 (10 oz) jar apricot jam

1 pkg dry onion soup mix

Place your chicken in pan. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over chicken, turning to coat. Bake, uncovered at 325 for 1 1/2 hrs. Turn twice during cooking. Serve over rice. Very YUM!

*To make your own dressing (which is what I usually do) follow this recipe.

1 cup oil (last time I used less and it worked just as well...maybe 3/4 c)

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3/4 cup ketchup

black pepper

1/2 cup vinegar