I am a foodie. I LOVE food. I love to feed people. I love the smells and the spices and the looks my dogs get when I am in the kitchen creating something magnificent. I don’t care what anyone says, a good meal can fix anything. I remember cooking with my mom for Thanksgiving – the turkey, the gravy, the pork leg (I’m Puerto Rican, that’s our turkey) The sweet, the salty, the atmosphere of people getting together to enjoy the same thing – there is something magical about that. Now you can have it too!
Here are a few of my rock star recipes that keep people hungry for more as well as a little story behind it. The menu is a mix of dinners, desserts for the college kids, and whatever my picky-eater of a husband actually enjoyed.
Dinner
Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
So being Puerto Rican, I never knew what a casserole was until I met my husband. He sent me a youtube link and asked in an ever so sweet and shy voice, “would you make this for me?” My heart melted at this request, but looking at the recipe (cheesy broccoli with Velveta cheese topped with Ritz crackers), I was horrified! So while this is not a real casserole, it is a heck of a lot better than the one he gave me and is one of our all time favorite weekday dinner. Pairing it with a nice side salad or garlic bread is the best route to go!
The trick for this recipe to be done under twenty minutes is to cook the pasta you are cooking the meat. Beth’s recipe is so simple and allows room for variation. I also substitute the sausage for ground beef sometimes, just because I don’t always like sausage – you have to be in the mood for it.
Chicken Tenders
This is always our favorite on a Friday or Saturday night. I am always down for some Popeye’s Chicken Tenders because O-M-G they are crunchy and salty bites of heaven! But, they are not the best when it comes to your wallet. Seriously, for some reason they are pretty expensive, if you get the meal. If you’re like me, you already have most of the ingredients at home (and if you’re hardcore like me, you have a deep fryer). Now you can have fresh chicken tenders any time you want. Pair it with a nice salad to be healthy, cheddar broccoli noodles (pictured), or your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
For your convenience, you can download this recipe. Click the link below to access the pdf file.
Dessert
Cosmic Brownie Sundae
This is super simple and is always a classic at the Simplot house. Literally just take whatever is your favorite ice cream, cut up a cosmic brownie into 6 – 8 pieces, top it with whipped cream and enjoy! It’s college kid wallet friendly and out of this world! We normally have this while we’re watching a movie.
Mini Nilla Waffers Cherry Cheesecakes
While this is not my recipe, it is one I have to share. Imitation is the best form of flattery, after all (that and I learn best from videos). Check out Cooking and Crafting’s video below to find out how to make this super easy cheesecake recipe. If you’re feeling really crazy, use different fruit toppings.
Kassandra Simplot 