You will need:

3 lbs boneless chicken breast, trimmed
1 1/2 cups rice (I used Uncle Ben’s)
1 can Cream of Celery soup
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
2 1/4 – 2/1/2 cups water
1 pkg. Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix
1 tsp. desired seasonings (I use a spicy basil/garlic mix from a place in New York)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix soups, rice, water and seasonings together.
Pour into a large buttered glass casserole dish or pan.
Lay chicken pieces on top of the rice and sprinkle with Lipton’s Onion Soup.
Cover with aluminum foil and seal.
Bake 2 hours and do not peek.
This dish never fails.

Enjoy,

Dad

I have been ridiculously absent lately.
I dearly apologize.
My main blog has been calling and I am very sorry.
Can you ever forgive me?
Maybe after making this you will . . .

You will need:

A crockpot!
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
4lb. rump roast
2 tsp. salt (*1 1/2 Kosher)
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2tsp, ground thyme, rosemary (one or the other is fine)
3/4 cup red wine (or marsala, I prefer the latter)
3 tbls. flour
1/8 cup water, 1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce or A-1)

Do this:

Chop the onion and garlic, put in the pot and place the roast on top.
We good?
Season with salt, pepper, rosemary & thyme
Pour in the wine (take a sip, if you’d like)
Cover and cook on the High setting for about 5 hours, or until tender
Remove roast to a serving plate and wrap in aluminum foil.
Measure 2 cups of cooking liquid into a saucepan.
Stir together the flour and water and stir it into the cooking liquid.
Bring to a boil, stirring, reduce the heat and simmer for @10 minutes.
Slice the pot roast and serve with gravy.
Be sure to make some MASHED!
Go New Orleans!

Dad

I made this the other night on a whim and it was very tasty.
And easy!

You will need:

2-3 lbs boneless chicken breast
1 pkg Good Seasons Basil Vinaigrette (prepared)
1 bag  Stacy’s Pita Chips
(put in a processor and finely crumbled)

Marinate the chix for as long as possible in the Good Seasons dressing.
Dredge in the crushed Pita chips.
Place in a glass baking dish (sprayed with PAM)
and bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
Remove and toss 1/2 cup of the cheese of your choice on top and
broil until browned.
Serve to smiling, hungry guests.
(serves 6)

This is a recipe that needs no intro.
Want a side dish that goes with meat, fish and poultry?
Look no further.

Noodle my Noodles

8oz egg noodles, cooked
2 tbls. butter
2/3 cup cream
1/4 cup grated parmesan (or Romano)
fresh cracked pepper and Kosher salt
1 tbls. Good Seasons Italian dry salad mix

Cook pasta and drain.
Stir in butter to coat.
Add cream, parmesan and dressing mix to taste.

Now and then, I butter a casserole dish, add the noodles and sprinkle with more parmesan. (ritz crackers work too)
Broil until a light brown.
Great as a side dish, almost as good as a meal.

~Dad

Maureen has been on my ass to post this sucker ever since I put up
Pamela’s Baked Bay Potato recipe last week.
FYI- I tend to make this a bit differently everytime
but for some reason it always comes out the same way.
I’ll never figure that one out.
Just know that this behemoth of a loaf is usually gone in two days.
I know, that’s just wrong.
Hot or cold, this stuff is just ridiculously tasty.
Make sure you have some crusty Italian bread for sandwiches the next day.

You will need:

1 lb – decent ground beef
2 lbs. – fresh ground pork (the fresher, the better)
1 (+) cup of bread crumbs (may need to add more depending on the consistency)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (plus 1/2 cup more for a bit later!)
3 – eggs
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tbls. decent Italian salad dressing
1 healthy splash of Worcestershire sauce (steak sauce)
3/4 cup of Pastene crushed tomatoes (any quality tomato will do) (+ 1/2 cup for later)
2 tbls. Italian Seasoning (combo of  dried basil, dried oregano, dried garlic & dried parsley)
4 cloves, fresh garlic, minced
2 tsp. salt
1, maybe 2, tsp. fresh cracked pepper ( I always go for two)
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella (save for recipe instructions)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (@205 Celsius)

Mix all ingredients, except for the Mozzarella cheese, in a bigass bowl.
Don’t mix for too long,  just combine the ingredients.
Take a sip of vino or beer and get out the biggest glass baking dish that you have.
(It has to be sizeable)
Place half of the meat mixture in the dish and pat down until it’s even.
Spread half of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Take a sip of vino or beer.
Add the other half of the meat mixture and press down lightly
so the surface is flat and all the cheese is covered.
Spread the other 1/2 cup or so of crushed tomatoes on the top of said meatloaf
and sprinkle with the 1/2 cup of Parmesan/Romano cheese.
I usually sprinkle a bit of Italian seasoning on the top of that.
Place in pre-heated oven and bake, uncovered  for @ 1 hour. (be sure to check that it doesn’t burn!)
The loaf should be bubbling in the middle and all around.
Remove from oven and cover with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Place in oven for 5 minutes to melt cheese.
Turn on broiler and broil until cheese is browned and bubbly.
Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing.
Serve with mashed potatoes or THIS.
A simple tossed salad dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
will round out the meal.
Pour more vino or beer and enjoy.
Here’s lookin’ at you kid . . .

~Dad

Doesn’t get much simpler than this.
I’m making these tonight with my Italian Meatloaf
You will need:

Potatoes (Russett’s or Idaho’s do nicely)
Bay Leaves
Butter
Salt & fresh cracked black pepper
Aluminum foil

Slice spuds lengthwise.
Place one bay leaf, a pat of butter and sprinkle with salt & pepper
Wrap each spud with foil and bake @425 for 45 minutes or until done.
That was easy. 

~Dad

This is a very simple recipe.
So simple, in fact,  it was given the above name.

You will need:

*Boneless Chicken Breast
*Ken’s Italian Salad Dressing
*Trader Joe’s Corn Flakes (they work the best)
*Spices (oregano, basil, red pepper flake . . . )
*Salt & fresh ground pepper

Marinate chicken for at least 4 hours in the fridge.
Crush Corn Flakes and add spices.
Roll chicken in flakes and place in a non-stick baking pan.
Bake at 375 for 45-60 minutes.
Goes great with mashed sweet potatoes & fresh steamed green beans.

~Dad