Chili Style Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ya'll know that I just love my carbs. I am a pasta and bread girl. Any way to re-do spaghetti is a winner in my book. This is a re-vamped Southern Living recipe. Need I say more?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 Tbsp grated onion
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
12oz cooked spaghetti
1 Tbsp Chili powder
2 tsp olive oil
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
1 14oz can beef broth
1 6oz can tomato paste
1 4oz can chopped green chiles
1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

Cheddar cheese, sour cream and such to top.

1. Combine first 4 ingredients until blended. Shape 1 1/2 inch meatballs. On a lightly greased broiler pan, arrange meatballs. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
2. Prepare pasta according to package instructions.
3. Cook chili powder and olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in tomatoes and the next 3 ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. cover. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then add beans and cook for 3 more minutes.
4.Serve over spaghetti with meatballs. use whatever topping you like. Enjoy. :)

Cajun Burgers

Love these bold flavored burgers. They have just enough kick for our family. If you didn't know- julia loves spicy food...so needless to say she loves these burgers. :)

Ingredients:

3/4 lb ground chuck
1/4 lb pork sausage
3/4 cup frozen onion and pepper mix (tricolor peppers--Kroger carries this)
1 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper

Combine everything and pat into 4 burgers. Grill and enjoy!!

Beef and Broccoli

If you didn't already know i have a love affair with chinese food, seriously. I love it and I could get take out for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. No joke, ask Tom. :) There for a while this obsession was getting pretty pricey so I made an effort to learn to cook it myself. While it isn't exactly the same, it is pretty darn close.

this recipe was adapted from one that I found on www.allrecipes.com

ingredients:
1 lb flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced
1 lb broccoli florets, frozen is fine
2 tbsp oil, whatever you usually use
2 cloves garlic, pressed

marinade-
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp rice wine, much cheaper at the asian market on Hull street. :)
1/2 tsp corn starch
1/8 tsp black pepper

Sauce-
2 tbsp oyster sauce, trust me. :)
1 tsp rice wine
1 tsp soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth

1. Mix the marinade ingredients, then marinate the beef after slicing. Let stand for about 15 minutes.

2. Make sauce.

3. Blanch broccoli for about 2 minutes, then drain thoroughly.

4. Heat a wok to high heat, add cooking oil. Add beef and spread over the surface to make a single layer. Let it fry for 1 minute, then flip. Add the garlic to the wok and fry for another minute. Pour in sauce and broccoli and bring to a boil. Pour cornstarch and cook, stirring constantly until the sauce boils and thickens.

5. EAT and enojoy the heafty amount of sodium that you are devouring. :) :) :)