"Not so Sloppy" Joe's

As I sit here feasting on my work lunch (PB Sandwich, Carrots, String Cheese), I can't help but think about the leftovers from last night that are sitting in my fridge, just waiting for me to get home (is it 5:00 yet?). If you are looking for something that's delicious, can feed multiple people, and is WICKED easy to make, look no further! I kept seeing the Pillsbury ads for their Grands biscuits featuring this recipe, and I finally caved. Here are the ingredients you will need:

- 1 can of Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 can Manwich Sauce
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or whichever cheese you desire)

Start out by cooking the ground beef until it's completely brown, then add in the Manwich sauce and let simmer for a few minutes.

Then, on a baking sheet, spread out each individual biscuit to a thin circle. Fill one half of each circle with the Manwich mixture, and sprinkle the desired amount of cheese on top.

Once filled, fold over the remaining dough and seal the mixture inside. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees, or until the biscuits are golden brown. Take out of the oven and cool for a few minutes, and then enjoy! I served mine with some green beans and also paired it with a Smuttynose Old Brown Dog.

Leftovers - A crucial part of Cooking for One!

One of my Facebook friends recently commented on one of my posts about whether or not I take my leftovers to work for lunch the next day, and I realized that this is something that I should definitely post about! Leftovers are a huge part of someone who is living on their own and only cooking for one. It probably seems weird sometimes when I post about these giant meals that I make for myself, but not to worry, the food very rarely goes to waste! Most of the time when I am planning out my dinners for the week, I purposely choose meals that will last me at least 2-3 nights. That way, I save time by not having to cook every single night, and I also save a bunch of money! I typically don't have enough food to be able to bring some in to work for lunch (I usually just brown bag it, got to love good old PB sandwiches!), but it depends on what I make. If I make something really big like Lasagna or Risotto then I will definitely bring it into work and make everyone jealous when I heat it up in the kitchen. Now, about that Risotto that I mentioned....

Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops

Recently I've been realizing that I have become really good at cooking a few select dishes, but haven't cooked anything different in the past few months. So I searched on the all powerful Twitter and found this great recipe for Pork Chops: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/parmesan-crusted-pork-chops-recipe.html?soc=whatscookingsocial_20140607_25477716.

Start out by seasoning the raw chops with the salt and pepper. The recipe says to "graciously" season them, but I would stay on the conservative side as I definitely used too much pepper. Next, cover each chop in the Parmesan cheese until it is fully coated. Then, dip into the egg and bread crumbs until it is fully coated again. Keep in mind that the order is important!

Once all of the chops have been seasoned/coated, heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook each side for a few minutes until the crust is golden brown (as you can see in the photo below of the final product, I cooked mine a little too long). The cooking time is probably dependent upon the thickness of the pork. In my case, I used thin cuts so I tried to cook them for a shorter period of time than what the recipe called for.

Feel free to serve with whatever sides you want! I chose rice pilaf and some pickles, but there are many other options that would work well! Great recipe for the summer.

Simple Caesar Salad

If you are like me and you are living on a tight budget, it is sometimes hard to eat delicious food! Sure, it's easy to grab some Ramen noodles or Kraft macaroni and cheese off of the shelf and save a few dollars. BUT, if you think about what you already have in your kitchen, then you may only need a few other ingredients to make something delicious. I knew I had some grilled chicken in the fridge, and some croutons in the cupboard, so I decided to make a nice salad. All I had to pick up from the grocery store was some Spring Mix, Cherry Tomatoes (and any other veggies you want to add), and some dressing. Boom, done. A delicious yet simple and cheap dinner! I enjoyed mine with a refreshing summer shandy.

Building a Taco - What's Your Style?

Let's be honest, if everyone in their early to mid twenty's could live off of tacos, they would. The ingredients are cheap, they are really easy to cook, and if you prefer not to eat meat, you can make a veggie version! This past Tuesday I was considering reaching into the cupboard and having a simple Ramen Noodle dinner, when I realized I wanted something much more delicious, and since it was Tuesday it had to be tacos. As I was eating my delicious meal, I had a thought. What is the best way to build a taco? It all starts with the choice of shell. I used to be a soft shell guy, but lately I've been on a bit of a hard shell kick (you just can't beat that crunch!). I also used to be a beef on the bottom kind of guy, but soon started to realize that when you do that, things can get pretty messy pretty fast. Recently, a friend showed me the "spread the sour cream on the tortilla or shell first" technique, and my life hasn't been the same since. It's genius! You are literally layering the flavors by doing this, and you also don't have to worry about putting a giant messy glob of sour cream on top at the end. Now, last night I made an amazing discovery. After the sour cream, PUT SOME SHREDDED LETTUCE ON TOP. This creates a nice bed for your ground beef to lay on. The final touches are the salsa of your choice and of course, shredded cheese. That, my friends, is how this guy builds a taco. What's your style?

Rosemary Chicken w/Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

Alright ladies and gentlemen, if you are looking to impress our significant other with a romantic dinner, this just might be it! Yes, I'm still single, so I ate it all myself, but it was still delicious! For a list of ingredients/measurements, please see the recipe I used here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/rosemary-chicken/. It was pretty simple (although I added the mashed potatoes and green beans on the side). To start, get your potatoes boiling and boil them for about 20-25 minutes, or until soft enough to mash. While they are boiling, prep your chicken by adding the oil, salt, cajun seasoning and chopped rosemary to the pan with your chicken and create essentially a dry rub:

Add your chopped onions to the top, and stick in the oven at 375. While the chicken is baking (for about 30 minutes or until cooked all the way through), start making your mashed potatoes. Start by mashing with a potato masher and adding about 1/4 stick of butter and some salt + pepper for the taste. Then, add a splash of milk and whip using an electric mixer:

 Whip until the potatoes reach a smooth consistency. At this point, you should also get the green beans boiling (they only take about 5-6 minutes once the water is boiling). Plate the potatoes and green beans (presentation is everything), and take the chicken out of the oven. Serve with your favorite beverage, and enjoy!