Blog Feed: Off The Menu

Lasagna With Home Made Turkey Meat Sauce

Published on 2012-03-02 18:49:03

Pin It When it comes to Italian food, lasagna definitely tops my list. What's not to love? Gooey cheese sandwiched between layers of pasta noodles, all smothered in delicious sauce. I made this recipe a tad healthier by using ground turkey instead of ground beef. Read on for how to recreate this classic meal, homemade sauce and all! Meat sauce ingredients: 1 1/2 pound of ground turkey 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon paprika sprinkle of red pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds 1 teas [..] > read more

The Houstonian Pizza Sandwich: A Tasty Sandwich Invention

Published on 2012-02-19 23:09:51

Pin It An extraordinary sandwich this was. If it had a family, its cousin would be the delicious Italian sub I made the other day. That is because while I was making the Italian sub, I was so inspired by it, that I decided to try something different using some of the same ingredients. However, while this does have some of the same ingredients as the Italian sub, you'd be amazed how different it tastes. Amazing would also be a good word for how it tastes. What do I call this amazing sandwich? I [..] > read more

The Secret To Making The Best Homemade Turkey Burgers

Published on 2012-02-19 23:08:01

Pin It Turkey Burgers are one of those things, at least for me, that I'm kind of iffy about eating. I'm not really sure if I like them or not because I'm a burger guy after all. Being a burger guy translates to, "Where's the beef?" to borrow a famous ad slogan from the 80's. Turkey burgers just aren't beef, they taste like something else entirely, which isn't bad if you know how to make them taste good. That's just exactly what this post will teach you, and maybe every once in awhile you'll sa [..] > read more

Comfort Food: Battered Chicken Tenders and French Fries

Published on 2012-02-19 23:05:56

Pin It Sometimes you just gotta have it at the end of a hard week: warm, delicious, made with love, comfort food. These stick-to-your-ribs chicken tenders are battered, seasoned with Italian bread crumbs, Cajun seasoning, and cayenne pepper, then fried to palate-pleasing perfection. Ingredients: 1 bag of frozen chicken tenderloins 1 cup of flour 2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs 2 eggs beaten 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if you prefer spicier add 1/2 teaspoon) 1/4 teaspoon Cajun season [..] > read more

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Published on 2012-02-19 23:01:52

Pin It If sour cream sauce isn't your favorite topping for chicken enchiladas, then this recipe is for you! This dish includes white corn tortillas stuffed with seasoned chicken and cheese, then topped with a homemade enchilada sauce and more cheese, then they are baked until ooey-gooey perfection. ****** This delicious enchilada sauce can be made spicy or mild, and its not as difficult as you would think it would be. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Ingredients to enchilada sauce: [..] > read more

Budget-Friendly Meals: Peanut Chicken

Published on 2012-02-19 22:58:14

Pin It Looking for an inexpensive meal that can be whipped up in a pinch? Well here's a tasty (easy-on-the-wallet) solution: chicken in a delicious peanut sauce over rice. Ingredients: 3-4 chicken breasts 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger sprinkle of nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon jarred garlic 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter (I like the crunchy because it has little chunks of peanuts in it, I think it adds something extra. However, creamy would work just fine too.) 2 tablespoons soy [..] > read more

Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Published on 2012-02-19 22:55:17

Pin It What a simply wonderful breakfast or snack, banana bread makes. This banana bread has a twist; it has crunchy peanut butter in it. So don't throw out those squishy bananas, make a treat that the whole family will love! Ingredients: 2 cups flour 2 tablespoons sugar 4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 2 cups milk 2 tablespoons oil 4 bananas (make sure that they are nice and mushy) 1/4 cup peanut butter (I like to use crunchy) Steps: Preheat the oven to 350 degree [..] > read more

Game Day: Boneless Buffalo Wings With Buffalo Sauce

Published on 2012-02-19 22:52:13

Pin It Nothing goes better with watching a great game on t.v. quite like some nice and spicy buffalo wings. These fantastic wings are battered with seasoned flour, then fried until they are golden and crispy, then covered in a homemade spicy buffalo sauce. Ingredients: 3 chicken breasts 1 1/4 cup flour 2 1/2 teaspoons salt 3/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you like your wings) 1/2 teaspoon jarred garlic 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon [..] > read more

Greek Pizza: An Explosion of Tastes

Published on 2012-02-09 20:18:45

This rich and decadent pizza is a beautiful symphony of delicious flavors. This extra crispy pizza crust is topped with feta cheese, spinach, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, and marinated chicken. Your taste-buds are in for a wonderful surprise! The pizza crust in this recipe is different from the crust included in my Pizza Night recipe. My previous dough recipe is a great quick dough recipe that can be ready to bake in as little as 40 minutes. The recipe below is thinner a [..] > read more

Project Food Challenge: Kraut Burgers

Published on 2012-02-03 21:38:26

Kraut (cabbage) burgers bring me back to my childhood. My mother used to make them all of the time. Well, she'd make them every once in a while, but when she did make them, she'd make a ton of them, then she would put lots in the freezer. We'd just pop them in the oven whenever we wanted to have cabbage burgers for dinner. These delicious packets are quite time consuming, so that it why my mother would make a lot of them at one time. Ingredients for the dough: 4 T warm water 2 packages or [..] > read more

Turkey Tacos: Healthy But Satisfying

Published on 2012-02-03 21:19:35

Turkey tacos are a favorite go to meal in this house, and they always satisfy, no matter how many times we have it. Seriously, I make these every week, and they are always so yummy! These tacos are delicious, and as an added bonus, they are healthier for you too. My secret is that I use ground turkey in place of ground beef. I have been making slight adjustments to my seasoning technique since my college days, and I have finally reached perfection. Also to make it healthier, (and better for [..] > read more

Reader Suggested Dish: Gumbo

Published on 2012-01-24 21:05:53

A couple of weeks ago, I asked the facebook crowd for some suggestions as what they would like to see me make. Well, I only got one response, and it was from Ami. She suggested that I make something "cajun and in a crock pot" so I have done just that. I made a spicy crock pot gumbo loaded with Andouille sausage, chicken, and shrimp. Let me tell you, it was tasty, satisfying, and a meal made just for you Ami. So thank you, for your wonderful suggestion. If you have a dish that you would lik [..] > read more

The Perfect Winter Meal: Hearty And Savory Beef Stew

Published on 2012-01-17 14:14:38

I love my slow cooker. I mean, who wouldn't? Have your meal all prepared, throw it all in the slow cooker, turn it on, and walk away. This slow cooker recipe is a wonderful, hearty meal with not much in the way of preparation; 30 minutes at the most. The end result will warm you from the inside out! Ingredients: 3 pounds of cubed stew meat 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon parsley 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup baby carrots 3 large potatoes [..] > read more

Project Food Challenge: Egg Rolls

Published on 2012-01-15 23:26:41

Egg rolls that aren't made from fresh ingredients (e.g. frozen egg rolls) taste that way: not fresh and manufactured. I've never been a huge fan of egg rolls , and the reason is that I never really had one that was that fresh or made correctly. This past weekend I tried my hand at making these fried rolls of goodness, and I must say, they were delicious. They have been something that has always been on my culinary 'to-do' list for quite some time now. I've always been somewhat intimidated by [..] > read more

Project Food Challenge: Shrimp Pad Thai

Published on 2012-01-13 22:27:03

I made this meal at the request of Chef Matt, he simply loves pad thai, and he wanted to see if I was able to replicate one of his favorites at home. To my surprise, I got two thumbs up! I was shocked that I was able to do as well as I did on my very first attempt at this noodly dish. Previous to making this dish, I had never been crazy about pad thai; I just wasn't giving it enough of a chance. I loved every single bite! The wonderful pallet of flavors in the sauce, the crisp carrots, t [..] > read more

Breaded Italian Steak

Published on 2011-12-28 17:01:23

Nothing is more of a comfort meal than meat and potatoes, served it with warm garlic bread and you're all set for a cozy night in. A great compliment to this wonderful Italian steak dish is homemade tomato sauce to dip your steak and bread into. The sauce recipe that I used was the same sauce that can be found in my 3 Recipes in 1- Meat Sauce Lasagna . I did not put any meat into my sauce, however, you could if you wanted. I also cut the sauce recipe in half. Ingredients for breaded Italia [..] > read more

Project Food Challenge: New York Style Pizza

Published on 2011-12-17 11:23:23

I know that there's nothing quite like a pizza in New York, but this hot and bubbly version of a New York style pizza that is topped with homemade sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choice (I'm a fan of just pepperoni) is sure to satisfy your taste buds. This pizza takes quite a bit more effort than my quick and easy pizza night recipe, but the extra effort is well worth it! On a side note, because this pizza is a real challenge and takes a bit more effort than regular pizza like I said above [..] > read more

"I'm Bringing The Rolls" Dinner Rolls

Published on 2011-11-29 16:34:19

"Is there anything better than butter? Think it over, any time you taste something that's delicious beyond imagining and you say 'what's in this?' the answer is always going to be butter. The day there is a meteorite rushing toward Earth and we have thirty days to live, I am going to spend it eating butter. Here is my final word on the subject, you can never have too much butter."- Julie Powell, Julie & Julia You guessed it, there is butter--lots of butter--in these rolls, and I must say, they [..] > read more

4th of July: Red, White, & Blue Belgian Waffles

Published on 2011-07-04 12:24:23

Happy 4th of July readers! We just started a 4th of July tradition that you may want to incorporate into your family. You'll probably want to after you try out these delectable raspberry (for the red), white (for the batter), and last but not least b > read more

Published on 2011-06-29 23:35:28

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French-Canadian Tourtière (Meat Pie)

Published on 2011-05-05 16:23:08

Who doesn't love pie? I know I do, apple pie, strawberry rhubarb pie, cherry pie, pizza pie... I could go on and on. After my latest homemade meal, I have one more pie to add to my list: Tourtière (aka meat pie.) This dis > read more

The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich

Published on 2011-04-22 13:54:27

I just love breakfast. A huge breakfast on the weekend mornings is always nice, I'll even take the ever popular brinner (breakfast for dinner) every once in a while. This breakfast sandwich is sure to please your morning-time (or anytime) > read more

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki: A No Hassle Meal

Published on 2011-04-11 17:20:29

I just love our slow cooker. Having a great meal that is completely cooked by the end of the day is so wonderful! Also, if you haven't yet bought a slow cooker we highly recommend it because it never gets old finding new and > read more

Quick & Easy-To-Do Italian Style Chicken Tacos

Published on 2011-03-13 20:17:31

All of us have been in one of those moments where we end up in the kitchen going over everything that we have in the pantry and trying to figure out how we're going to put a meal together. This is exactly how this post came to be. The result? Nothing > read more

Cold Days Call For Chili

Published on 2010-12-20 13:36:58

Sadly, the groundhog saw his shadow on February second, leaving us with six more weeks of winter. Fortunately, you can warm yourself up with this hot, delicious, slow cooker chili. Ingredients: 1 pound ground turkey (you can use ground b > read more

Inspiration For Breakfast Part 2: 5 Alarm Sausage, Hashbrown & Cheddar Cheese Omelete

Published on 2010-10-29 03:11:14

Awhile back when this blog was fairly new, we did a post entitled Inspiration For Breakfast for which that post included an omelet. We are going back to that and again our inspiration for breakfast is another omelet, only this time bigger and be > read more

A Unique Creation: Margherita Pizza

Published on 2010-10-16 10:04:11

Off The Menu is very proud to present to you, our very finest culinary creation to date! The pizza pictured above is not any ordinary pizza, it's a very sastifying to the tenth degree Marghertia Pizza. Some of you may have adventured to try a Margher > read more

Awesomely Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Published on 2010-10-15 23:12:43

Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, satisfying, and did I say peanut butter.... It's hard to find someone that doesn't love peanut butter and what better way to enjoy it than in a simple cookie. That's why I've always loved making them and now I w > read more

Rainbow Cake: As Much Fun To Make As It Is To Eat!

Published on 2010-10-15 23:04:53

This is such a fun and simple cake! Every time I make this cake, everyone just loves how colorful and delicious it is. People will keep asking you your secret, little do they know that it is so easy.Ingredients: 1 box (1 box will ma > read more

Sopapilla Time

Published on 2010-10-15 23:04:33

So maybe you want sopapillas for dessert, hey it happens especially after you eat some great Mexican food. Maybe, your at home and you just finished up that meal so what do you do? Ok, I got a solution for you but I hope you have at least a small fry > read more

'C' is for cookie--Big and Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Published on 2010-10-15 23:04:00

These chocolate chunk cookies look are simply too tempting to pass up. Filled with delicious chocolate chunks (not a chip to be found, just big 'ol chunks of heavenly chocolate) and chopped pecans, these cookies are sure to satisfy that after d > read more

Carrot Cake : A Sweet Way To Eat Your Veggies

Published on 2010-10-15 23:03:41

Maybe it's not the best way to eat your vegetables, but it's certainly the most delicious! This cake is great to take to gatherings, because it is not difficult to make, and it is sure to please. It's especially a great cake to make at Easter. > read more

A Summer-Time Favorite--Peach Cobbler

Published on 2010-10-15 23:01:59

What goes better with a great backyard barbecue than a fantastic dessert? This super easy peach cobbler is a winner! Served with vanilla ice cream, this recipe is sure to be a hit. I cut this recipe down to serve two, however I will make this > read more

Empanadas: A Latin American Delight

Published on 2010-10-15 22:40:39

This weeks post will be an Off The Menu first: Chef Matt vs. Chef Megs! Megs has made empanadas her way, while Matt has changed his slightly. Note that the fillings in both versions are made with the same recipe. Now before we get to the > read more