The first time I made these Swedish Meatballs, my entire family declared them a favorite. They were immediately requested for a birthday dinner six months in the future and I was reminded multiple times, lest I forget. Six years later, these are still some of the best meatballs I have ever tasted. Swedish Meatballs I am so glad that I found these Copycat Ikea Swedish Meatballs over on my friend Sue’s website so many years ago....
Stuffed Bell Peppers These Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers are one of my husband’s favorite meals. I’ve been making them for at least 8-10 years now and I double this recipe almost every time I make them. The meat mixture freezes perfectly on its own and the stuffed peppers freeze well too. I often freeze the cooked peppers individually for quick and easy lunches. To make the recipe even easier, you can also use cooked rice leftover from a...
Slow-Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup is full of seasoned beef, rice, bell peppers and plenty of rich flavors. This first time I made this soup, I suspected it was going to be a hit with my family and I was right. I created this soup on a cold winter night when I was craving a hearty and warming soup and Sean was craving stuffed peppers. Spicy Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers are one of Sean’s favorite meals and for a good reason. The combination of...
Mexican Pasta? Sure, why not? I love Mexican food and Italian food always makes me happy. Combining them makes for a fun twist on some old favorites and turned into a great new recipe the kids really liked. My favorite thing about this pasta the first time I made it was that it somehow managed to please all my kids with their opposing tastes. It made me laugh when my anti-spice pasta lover adored this meal and my anti-pasta spice lover adored...
Sweet and slightly spicy Mongolian Beef with Noodles tastes better than a restaurant meal and you can make it in a fraction of the time required to pick up take-out! This Mongolian Beef was a huge hit with my whole family. I saw the recipe over on my friend Kristen’s blog, Iowa Girl Eats, and immediately put the ingredients on my grocery list. Well, technically, I bought the cabbage and pulled the flank steak out of the...
Ground beef seasoned generously with Mexican spices is tossed with black beans and corn to create what we consider the best taco meat recipe – it is perfect for tacos, salads, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. This taco meat is also my saving grace every year as we get back in the routine of school and other activities. This is likely to be our lunch and/or our dinner at least once a week. There are so many ways to serve it that my...
Spicy Five Bean Chili Steak Chili is a family favorite all winter long. Start it in the morning and let it simmer on its own all day. Does anything smell better in the fall than a spicy pot of chili simmering on the stove? Last year, my friend Shannon brought a huge pot of chili to an event and it was absolutely perfect. I’ve been making chili for years and mine was never bad, but it was also never amazing. I pestered her for the recipe and...
Tender pieces of flank steak are simmered in their own juices creating a rich and super flavorful broth to create the Carne en su Jugo recipe (a.k.a. Meat in its Juices) that my family loves so much. Right at the end of the cooking time, pinto beans are stirred into the pot and then this deliciousness is scooped into bowls and topped with bacon, onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. Here we are almost to Valentine’s Day, also known as my 22nd...
Ground beef, black beans, and corn are cooked with Mexican spices and then tucked inside fresh bell peppers to create a cheesy, flavorful filling for these Spicy Mexican Stuffed Peppers. It is a well-established fact that my husband and my oldest son love stuffed bell peppers. They would happily eat Spicy Italian Stuffed Peppers every week if I made them that often. Anytime bell peppers go on sale, I jump at the chance to make...
Tender buttery Garlic Steak Bites are crisp on the edges and juicy inside with just a few minutes of cooking time. I’ve been hooked on cooking steak bites for a few years now. I can never resist sneaking a bite (or three) straight from the pan once they’re ready! Garlic Steak Bites Plenty of fresh garlic and butter add flavor galore to this simple recipe for steak bites. If you haven’t yet tried steak bites, put them on your meal plan...
