Egg & Potato Hash

Found this on Pinterest...we modify the meat, potatoes, etc., but I like the spice combo.

1/2 lb ham steak, chopped (we use bacon, Italian sausage, etc.)
1 apple, chopped
1 sweet potato, chopped (we mix this up with sweet, red or both)
1/2 onion, diced
garlic (I usually add a little minced garlic)
4 eggs, scrambled
oil

spices
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Chop and microwave potatoes for 3-4 minutes. Cook bacon/ham/meat in skilled while those are microwaving. Remove bacon. Drain grease leaving enough to cook potatoes in. Add potatoes, onion, and spices. Cook until potatoes are almost done. Add apples and cook a few more minutes.  Move all veggies to the side and scramble the egg in the other half of the pan. Mix together, and add meat back in. And serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

B made these and they were the best we've ever made (he's ever made?)

from here

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups all-purprose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp hot water
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts (didn't use)

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together the butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls.

Bake about 10 minutes.

Ground Beef Asian Noodle Stir Fry

From here

2 7oz packages of refrigerated udon noodles, seasoning packed discarded

1 tbsp olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced

12 oz broccoli florets

1 green onion, thinly sliced

Sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar, packed

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp freshly grated ginger

Sriracha, optional

Whisk sauce ingridents and set aside.

Cook udon noodles according to package directions, drain well.

Heat olive oil. Add ground beef and onion until beef has browned. Stir in bell peppers and cook until tender. Stir in noddles and sauce until combined, 2-3 minutes.

Slow Cooker Sausage, Spinach and White Bean Soup

From here

1 tbsp olive oil

1 12 oz package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced

3 cloves garlic

1 onion, diced

3 carrots peeled

2 stalks celery

2 cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 tsp oregano

2 bay leaves

4 cups chicken broth

salt, pepper

3 cups baby spinach

Heat olive oil and brown sausage.

Place everything in the slow cooker on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4. Stir in spinach at the end until it's wilted.

Serve immediately.

Beef Stuffed Butternut Squash

From here 

This was so good. A little time intensive, but worth it.

1 butternut squash, cut in half and seeded
1 lb ground beef
6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 carrots sliced (I used 4 and didn't use the mushrooms the original called for)
1 large sweet onion
1 stalk celery (I didn't have so I used a pepper, but celery would be good too)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
Oil
Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Salt & pepper squash and roast 40-45 minutes.

Heat oil on skillet and add half of the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery/pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add ground beef, sprinkle with cinnamon to taste and cook until meat is browned.

Once squash is cooked, scrape out a hole and add to scraped squash to beef mix. Pour beef mix into holes and bake for 10 more minutes. While baking, caramelize remainder of onion.

Serve topped with crumbled bacon and carmelized onions.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

from here

These are the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever made….I think…

2 1/4 cups all-purporse flour (add 1/4 to 1/2 for fluffier cookie)
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter at room temp (used earth balance)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large eggs, room temp
2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Mix dry ingredients.

3. Cream butter and sugars. Add vanilla and eggs one at a time.

3. add dry ingredients to wet.

4. mix in chocolate chips.

Optional refrigerate dough (I didn't) for 30 mins - 1 hour.

Bake 9-12 minutes.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

I think this is my favorite muffin base. Modified from here.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup almond milk

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 pint fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400. Grease 12 muffin cups or line with liners.

Whisk vegetable oil, egg, milk, and applesauce together in a separate bowl until smooth.

Add dry ingredients to wet ones and mix until moistened. Lightly stir in the blueberries. Spoon into muffin cups.

Bake until tops are golden about 18-20 minutes.