Main Dishes | Mixes, Ingredients, Recipes

How to Make Pigs in a Blanket with Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough

December 3rd, 2020Dennis Weaver | Alice Wach0 Comments

These crescent roll pigs are the meal you can make when you don’t have any time. The dough is already made for you, so you can have hot pigs on the table in less than fifteen minutes. Crescent Roll Pigs in a Blanket: A Fun, Tasty Meal Crescent rolls are buttery, flakey, and melt in your mouth. We love them wrapped around little cocktail sausages, and your family will love them too. They’re not much work. You don’t have to mix the dough or let it rise. Just pull the crescent dough and sausages out of the fridge, wrap the …

Merri Ann’s Crockpot Potatoes

November 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

This crockpot mashed potato recipe is the recipe that Merri Ann used for holiday dinner mashed potatoes. It’s a combination of several recipes that she found online with her own simple seasoning.All you do is throw the ingredients into the crockpot and walk away. You’ll have creamy crockpot mashed potatoes with minimal effort. Crockpot Mashed Potatoes: A One-Pot Meal Most recipes called for Yukon Gold potatoes but we used russets. She used seven pounds of potatoes which maxed out a large crockpot. The recipe below is scaled back to five pounds of potatoes. We mashed them right in the crockpot. …

Three Ways to Make a Meal Out of Your Leftover Mashed Potatoes

November 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

‘Tis the season for mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving and the holidays bring in the beloved mashed potatoes with all those family gatherings, but that also means lots of leftovers. So, what do you do with all your leftover mashed potatoes? Make a quick meal out of them. After all, most of the work is already done. Meal #1: Leftover Mashed Potato Salad and Grilled Cheese It doesn’t have to be a grilled cheese sandwich. Any sandwich will do. Mashed potato salads are super quick and easy, not much more than stirring in mayonnaise and condiments. So, a sandwich and a mashed …

The Starch and the Sauce

September 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Most sauces use starch as a thickening agent to thicken and reduce viscosity. The most common starches are cornstarch and wheat starch, usually in the form of flour. How does this thickening process between starch and sauce work? Understanding the Sauce Before the Starch Sauces come in an infinite variety of flavors and types. The basic dessert sauce is a mixture of a liquid, a sweetener, a fat, and a starch. Dinner sauces are similarly constructed without the sweetener. The sweetener can be sugar, brown sugar, honey, or more. The fat gives a pleasing “mouth feel” to the sauce, usually …

How to Make Stuffed Pork Chops (with Recipes)

July 10th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Stuffed pork chops are one of those foods that are easy to make for the family on a busy day and impressive enough that you can present them to company. Stuffed pork chops are one of the most versatile main dish foods that we know. Both sweet and savory fillings go well with pork chops so you can stuff them with an endless array of choices. They work in both the summer and winter. Since you can grill them as well as fry or bake them, you can cook them on the patio when the weather is nice. How to …

How to Bake Bread Machine Mixes in Your Oven

June 29th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

You don’t have to own a bread machine to enjoy the variety of bread machine mixes. And you don’t have to make blocky, square loaves with holes in the bottom. You can make wonderful rolls, traditional sandwich loaves, and artisan loaves with or without the aid of a bread machine. In this article, we will tell you how to convert any bread machine mix into great breads by hand or with your stand-type mixer and in the oven. Prepare the Bread Machine Mix: Heat the butter until it is almost melted. (If your mix calls for butter, it will be …

Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops

June 11th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Cheese, bacon, and pork are a great combination, and there’s nothing better than stuffing it all together in a juicy pork chop. These cheese and bacon stuffed pork chops are delicious and are sure to impress the tastebuds, picky eaters, and dinner guests. Who can say no to crispy bacon mixed with creamy melted cheese anyway? We’ll tell you just how to make them. Quick Notes From the Test Kitchen This stuffed pork chop recipe calls for a mild cheese, but suit your preferences. Be sure and close up the opening with toothpicks to keep the cheese from melting out …

Chicken and New Potatoes Skillet Meal

June 5th, 2020rrf0 Comments

It’s hard to go wrong with chicken, new potatoes, and sour cream. This recipe mixes the three in a stovetop skillet meal that is easy and almost foolproof. It’s our favorite. It only has a few ingredients and you don’t have to slave over a five-course meal. Best of all, your family will love this dinner. Chicken and New Potatoes Skillet Meal Recipe Ingredients Chicken thighs or drumsticks salt and pepper to taste new (baby red) potatoes—as many as you choose to fill out the pan 4-6 green onions 1 1/2 cups sour cream 1/2 to 3/4 cup water 1 …

Learn How to Bake Bread on Your Grill

June 2nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Choose a FREE Bread Mix! Add it to cart and use code “Z123” at checkout. Baking your bread on the grill can provide a nice respite from the midday heat, and you don’t have to add the extra heat into your kitchen while it’s baking. Enjoy the fresh air and fresh-baked bread at the cabin, on the patio, or the next family reunion as your neighbors turn their noses upwind to get a swift of the aroma of fresh-baked bread wafting over the fence. Believe it or not, you can bake your bread on the grill, and we’ll tell you …

Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

May 26th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

This garlic chicken stir fry is made with roasted garlic and fresh ginger for a great Asian flavor. It’s quick, tasty, and healthy. Just cook the chicken and then stir fry it together with the remaining ingredients. You’ll have a scrumptious, easy dinner in no time. Ingredients 3 cloves roasted garlic 1-inch piece ginger 5 green onions 1/2 small head Napa cabbage 2 large, boneless chicken breasts 1/2 of an 8-ounce package of sliced mushrooms 1/8 teaspoon coarse black pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 to 3 tablespoons of soy sauce 1/4 cup roasted peanuts steamed rice or cooked spaghetti Directions …

Roast Chicken with Apple Cornbread Dressing

May 26th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

More than the fruits and vegetables of the harvest, the fall season is a season of leftovers. What better way to use leftover cornbread than in an apple cornbread stuffing to pair with roast chicken? The apple and nuts really spice up the familiar flavors of stuffing, making your dinner of leftovers unforgettable. Skillet Cornbread Recipe (with walnuts) Ingredients 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1/2 cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 cup chopped walnuts 4 large eggs Directions Mix the cornmeal with …

Provolone Steak with Sweet Potato Hash Browns Recipe

May 25th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Sweet potato hash browns make the more common breakfast side pale in comparison. They’re crisp, tender, and melt in your mouth. They’re also more nutritious. Pair them with this provolone steak, and you have a delicious meal. You can put this nutritious meal together in about thirty minutes on the patio or in the kitchen: cook the steaks, cook the hash browns, and toss a salad together. Serve with sautéed mushrooms if desired. If you like steaks, you’ll like this. Sweet Potato Hashbrown Recipe Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 1 large onion, diced 3 medium sweet potatoes 1 teaspoon crushed marjoram, …

Pork Chops with Sweet and Sour Onions and Skillet Red Potatoes

May 22nd, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

The sweet and sour onions with this recipe really liven up an everyday pork chop meal. You get the rich, savory taste from the caramelized onions with just a hint of tang in the background from the vinegar. If you make the sweet and sour onions the night before, you can put this meal together in a hurry. For the Pork Chops Ingredients 6 pork chops with excess fat removed oil as needed salt and pepper to taste 1 cup beef stock 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch salt and pepper to taste Directions Trim any excess fat from the pork chops. Put …

How to Form a Bread Loaf

May 18th, 2020Dennis Weaver | Alice Wach0 Comments

We’ve already discussed how to mix bread dough, remembering to allow enough time for your yeast to work its magic and getting your dough just right. Now it’s time to go over how to form a bread loaf. In this article, we will discuss how to form the perfect bread loaf by hand, whether it’s free-standing or going into a bread pan. Basics of Forming a Bread Loaf Forming a bread loaf doesn’t have to be as hard as we often make it out to be. In fact, it’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it, and you’ll …

How to Bake Twice-Baked Potatoes

May 14th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Twice baked potatoes are a great way to use up leftover baked potatoes, but they also make a delicious side for a nice dinner. You can make them partially ahead of time with only the final bake left, you can stuff them with your favorite goodies, and they’re so much more exciting than your basic baked potato. Tips for Success for Your Twice Baked Potatoes To make twice baked potatoes, you remove the potato from the potato skin to leave room for adding extra goodies. When you scoop the potatoes from the skins, leave a little flesh next to the …

Fresh Tomatoes and Cheese Baked French Toast

May 14th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

This baked French toast is a type of cheesy baked custard that works as a main dish for brunch, lunch, or dinner. It also works well as an overnight French toast because you can let the bread slices and egg mixture sit in the fridge overnight, so all you have to do in the morning is bake it and top it. This is a great dish for tomato lovers. Choosing the Bread for Your Baked French Toast The rule for French toast has always been to use a thicker bread, and that’s even more true for baked French toast. The …

How to Make Kaiser Rolls

May 11th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Blog Home Prepared Pantry Store Shopping Cart How to Make Kaiser Rolls These Kaiser rolls will “roll” you away. A Kaiser Roll is merely a lean roll, specially shaped, and baked in a steamy oven to make it crusty. Choose a recipe or mix for a lean bread dough—or leave the butter or oil out of the recipe. Make per the directions for rolls including letting the dough rise the first time. So impressive! These rolls will easily look like they cam from a professional bakery. They’re sure to impress the whole family. So easy! No one has to know …

Selecting and Baking Your Holiday Ham

May 10th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Ham is a staple for most holiday dinner tables’ so it’s important to get it right. Use this guide to help select and prepare only the best holiday ham. Learn how to identify the type of ham your family will love and is easiest for you to bake and prepare. Your holiday dinner will surely be a success. This guide is organized in a question-and-answer format for easy reference. What Makes a Quality Holiday Ham? As you may know, a ham is the back leg of a hog that has been cured, changing the texture and flavor of the meat. …

How to Make an Easy Dinner with Pigs-in-a-Blanket using Bread Dough

February 13th, 2020Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Pigs in a Blanket with cheese in the center

Save up to 60% off on the bread mixes for your pigs in a blanket. I grew up with pigs in a blanket. Loved them. My mother wrapped biscuit dough around sausages or hot dogs. They were quick and easy and her kids were excited about them. She could add a salad and maybe some chips and had an easy meal. A blanket wrapped around a hot dog—or better, a brat—sure beats a store-bought bun. A narrow strip of cheddar down the center of the dog makes them even better.

A Guy’s Blueprint for Valentine’s Day

February 7th, 2018Dennis Weaver0 Comments

Valentine’s Day is just days away. Are you ready to wow your sweetheart? We have dinner in restaurants often. That’s nice, but we do it often enough that it doesn’t have the impact that Merri Ann deserves for Valentine’s Day. When we were first married, those first few years before we were inundated with crying babies and a thousand other things, I made dinner on special occasions—I mean white linens and roses and the best steaks I could buy. (Merri Ann loves a good steak). It’s not a lot of work, it just takes planning. I don’t even know where …