A Grandma's spin on crafts, games, recipes & lifestyle

Category: Pappy on the Penarve

Grilled Hamburger Bowls

What a fun way to serve up hamburgers that closely resembles a shepherd’s pie!  This recipe is great whether you are doing family night or if you are trying to wow your dinner guests!  It is truly one that is simple but looks elaborate!  Have you made any yet?  No?  Then let’s dive into the details of grilled hamburger bowls!

It’s very easy to get caught up in making the biggest and best grilled hamburger bowl, so you must remember that once it is created and grilled…you must eat it!  Keep that in mind!  My suggestion here is to go a bit smaller in diameter if you are doing individual bowls OR create a big monster that can be split between two people!

Creating the Grilled Hamburger Bowl ~

Season your hamburger liberally with your choice of spices.  One of our favorites is Montreal Steak Seasoning.  We use this on SO many dishes!   Another fantastic option is Blues Hog Bold & Beefy!


Section off the amount of hamburger you wish and roll into a ball.  Select a bowl and press it down into the ball of meat.    As you can see from the picture, I used more of a “cereal” bowl.  I will use a bowl with a flatter bottom the next time!  Regardless, you will most likely need to firm up the shape of the hamburger bowl with your hands for final stage.

This is how it should look when you are done shaping ~

Cut a piece of foil about the length of a cookie sheet.  Turn it length-wise and do a tri-fold so that you have one long strip that will fit completely around the outside of the bowl.  This will help the bowl hold its shape while cooking as well as balance the heat while cooking.  (It is also a great idea to have a piece of foil underneath to help with transition to/from the grill later!

Get Those Mushrooms Simmering ~

Rinse a package of sliced mushrooms.  Place in skillet on low heat.  For extra flavor, pour a can of french onion soup (undiluted) over the top.  We absolutely love cooking our mushrooms this way and use them as a side dish or as a topper for many meals.  If you want less onion, pour about 1/4 cup of water over the mushrooms and season with more Montreal Steak Seasoning.  Cook until softened.  While these are simmering, you can get started on the next step.

Prepare The Mashed Potatoes ~

Clean  red potatoes and cut into small chunks.  Place in boiling water and cook until softened.  Blend softened potatoes with a half stick of butter, milk, and salt and pepper to taste.  When using red potatoes, I leave the skins on.  If using white or Russet potatoes, I would peel them.  This obviously is according to your preference.

While the potatoes are boiling, you can start with the next step.

Let’s Get These Hamburger Bowls Stuffed ~

We are ready to fill these babies with all the goods!  Start out by filling the bottom with a handful of shredded cheese of your choice.  We used Cheddar Jack, but, of course, the sky is the limit here!

Next, add in your assorted veggies.  I cut fresh broccoli florets in small pieces.  Throw those over the cheese.  Top with sliced onions and the cooked mushrooms once done.  You can add any veggies you prefer.  Some great options are:

  • zucchini/squash slices
  • peas
  • carrot bites
  • green beans
  • white navy beans
  • peppers
  • turnips

Top With Fancy Mashed Potatoes ~

Once the potatoes are cooked and mashed, it is time to add them over the veggie mixture.  I love any opportunity to use my Easy Accent Decorator from Pampered Chef!  (I’ve included a link here to my favorite consultant, Rose Berg, in case you need a great gal!)  This baby is good for so much more than just icing…like this fun recipe, deviled eggs, etc!  It comes with 6 fun tips!

Easy Accent Decorator

Load your decorator up with potatoes and start adding some potato swirled fun to the top of your burger bowl.

Not only is this so satisfying to create but it is so much fun to serve up looking all fancy!  Now, I know not everyone has a decorating tool, so you can either create your own by snipping off a small tip from a zip lock baggie or you can just dollop potatoes on with a spoon!  Once again, I am all about options!

Let’s Grill! ~

Grill on medium indirect heat for 45 minutes or bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until meat is cooked through.

These are seriously so darn good…add this to your recipe list….it will be sure to quickly become a family favorite!

Happy Grilling~

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

 

French Onion Smothered Chicken

Nothing says “cozy meal” more than a warm baked dish of chicken covered in caramelized onions and ooey gooey cheese….lots of ooey gooey cheese.  This French Onion Smothered Chicken recipe pairs well with a dollop of buttery mashed potatoes.  Yum!  Read on for this amazing family recipe that even the kids can’t get enough of!

Caramelized onions are such a wonderful addition to so many meals.  In fact, I have posted other recipes on my blog in the past.  Recipes such as Grilled Caramelized Onion, Apple and Canadian Bacon Flatbread, (which can be prepared on grill or stove top) and Caramelized Onions and Provolone Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts, are both delicious recipes!  If you haven’t worked with caramelized onions much, you will be amazed at the aroma that consumes your house when making this fantastic recipe.

Steps for French Onion Smothered Chicken ~

Preheat oven to 350°.

Wash your chicken breasts and pat to dry.  Brown chicken breasts in olive oil (or oil of your choice).  If your chicken breasts are large, cut through them lengthwise to make thinner cutlets.  Season both sides of chicken liberally with salt, pepper and McCormick’s Montreal Chicken Seasoning.

We prefer crispy edges, so I brown chicken longer to achieve this bit of crunchiness.  The amount of time needed to brown your chicken will, therefore, depend upon the amount of crispiness you or your guests prefer.  I have found that many people like a bit of crunchy around the edges.

While Chicken is Browning ~

One of the best smells when cooking is that of caramelized onions.  Yum!  If I close my eyes, I can bring that smell to my mind any time…they are just that amazing!  I mentioned this earlier, but seriously….it is the best!

You will need to slice 4 medium onions.  This can be done to the thickness you prefer.  Melt butter in a separate skillet from the chicken.    Place sliced onions in butter and cook until browned and soft, stirring occasionally.  This will take 10-15 minutes.  They will have a rich dark brown color when finished.

Spray your baking dish with cooking spray.  Place browned chicken in bottom of the dish.  Sprinkle one packet of Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Recipe Soup & Dip Mix all over browned chicken.  **I always keep a couple of Lipton Onion Soup and Dip Mixes on hand….it literally comes in handy for so many recipes.

Once Onions are Caramelized ~

Once the sliced onions are cooked through, add beef broth and balsamic vinegar.  Cook this mixture on medium until it is slightly thickened.  This gives you that wonderful caramelized onion taste.

Remove the caramelized onion mixture from heat and gently pour over the chicken.  **I added some extra beef broth to ensure there would be ample “onion gravy” to pour over the mashed potatoes as well.  In my opinion, there is never enough gravy!

Completely cover with shredded mozarella cheese and bake for about 30 minutes or until cheese has a nice browned texture.  **You can mix shredded parmesan cheese in to for a slightly different flavor.  Honestly, so many different cheeses could be substituted here, but we do love melted mozzarella!

Serve warm over a dollop of buttery mashed potatoes.  I love to make homemade mashed potatoes, but if you are in a pinch for time, you can’t go wrong with Bob Evans Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes.  Have you tried these yet?  Wow!  They are delcious and so very much like homemade!

Other Side Dish Options ~

As stated earlier, the french onion smothered chicken pairs very well with mashed potatoes.  However, there are many other sides that would complement this yummy dish as well.

Garlic Butter Rice by Hinz Cooking is a delicious option.  This is a simple side dish that is loaded with flavor and only uses several ingredients.  Another easy, yet flavorful side dish option is garlic parmesan roasted broccoli  by Easy Family Recipes.  This is a another wonderful dish with only a few ingredients.  An extra bonus with this recipe is that it is low carb and gluten free!  A third side dish idea is creamy garlic parmesan orzo by The Carefree Kitchen.  I have become a HUGE fan of orzo…have you cooked with it?  These are just a few delicious side ideas, however, the beauty of this meal is that so many sides would pair nicely with it!

This savory dish is most definitely going to become a family favorite.  Even if someone doesn’t like onions, this will many times still appeal to them.  A caramelized onion is such a different flavor from a raw or slightly cooked onion.  Enoy!

 

Happy cooking~

Mimi

Chipotle Cheesesteak Sandwich

The addition of the new griddle grill has been VERY fun so far!  Brad is having so much fun creating…and we are having so much fun indulging!  Our family loves cheesesteak sandwiches so of course he got to work on this new family favorite.   I hated to have him cook on Father’s Day, but it’s what he loves.  His chipotle cheesesteak sandwich has been added to the growing list of family favorites!

Ingredients for Sandwich ~

  • Beef shaved steak
  • Onion
  • Bell pepper
  • Provolone cheese
  • McCormick’s steak seasoning
  • Sub buns

Pretty simple ingredients for such an awesome sandwich.   I sometimes feel if it is that delicious, it has to be difficult to make…right?  (Kind of like rice krispie treats🤣)   These of course can be done on in indoor griddle as well, but I’m telling you, you HAVE to consider getting an outdoor griddle grill.  They are simply so much fun!

Prepping for the Chipotle Cheesesteak Sandwich ~

The amounts of the ingredients are obviously going to depend on the number of people you are serving.  We were cooking for 8 for this occasion.  I bought the beef shaved steak at Kroger in the packaged meat section.  Sometimes I can find it at the meat counter of other groceries and get the exact amount I want.  However, it is often hard to find (at least where we live).  You can also sometimes find it frozen.

(Four of these packages were used for our party of 8.)

We used red, green and yellow bell peppers.  You can certainly use just green, but we prefer the beauty of all the colors.  Five bell peppers were sliced and placed in a bowl for cooking time.  Slice 1-2 onions depending on the size and the flavoring you wish.  There is a package of sliced peppers and onions in the frozen section that you can use as well to save on prep time.  It is usually called the 3 Pepper Blend (depending on brand).

Griddle Time ~

The steak was liberally seasoned with McCormick’s Steak Seasoning.  For those of you who have been following me for a while, you already know Brad is what we would consider a “heavy seasoner.”  Believe me, it always tastes amazing!  After placing the meat on the grill, he chopped it while grilling.  His preferred method was cooking the meat in one sandwich proportion at a time.  It was then smothered with peppers and onions and topped with provolone cheese.

The buns were placed on the grill right before serving to give them a crispness.  You can choose to skip this step if you prefer, but I would highly recommend it crispy.  It keeps the bread from getting soggy and just tastes better!  There are many types of sub buns in the bread aisle at the grocery store, but we prefer the ones found in the deli.

The above pictue is Italian Beef (which will be coming soon!).  I have included this picture for you to see the bun.  As you can tell, we love these buns for so many different recipes….too bad they aren’t Keto-friendly!  Oh well, they are too good to pass up!

Chipotle Mayo Recipe ~

You guys, this sauce is a must to top off these delicious sandwiches.  I made a large bowl of this sauce and poured half of it into a squeezy bottle for easy application.  I was going to use the remaining for refills when needed, however, it ended up being a “dip” for chips and veggies.  Everyone loved it that much!

You can of course scale the sizing down if you do not wish to make as much.  I would go ahead and make more if I were you though.  Seriously, the kids all wanted a small bowl of it to take home with them for lunches the next day.

  • 2 cups Hellman’s Mayonnaise
  • 1 can of Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
  • 2 tsp. Adobo All Purpose Seasoning

Place all of these ingredients in a small blender and blend until thoroughly mixed.  I have discussed it before, but I LOVE our personal Ninja for blending sauces.  Check out the Ninja Personal Blender…it’s good for sauces as well as smoothies!

Those Squirt Bottles I mentioned ~

I use squirt bottles for so many things in the kitchen, so I love to have several.  They can be used for baking or for cooking reasons.  Squirt bottle set is a MUST in my book for many cooking needs!

This is a set I am getting ready to purchase as I love the labels.  I have a simpler set that I started out with and I tape on labels.  For instance, on Lauren’s birthday, she wanted a hot dog bar.  We made several fun sauces so each one needed to be labeled.

I also have special squirt bottles for cookie decorating.   Who knew there were so many types of squirt bottles out there, right?  These have metal tips for more intricate designs, which we use a lot when decorating cookies.   Squirt bottles for cookie decorating…makes precise decorating so much easier!

It seems crazy to write so much about sqeezy bottles, but I truly find SO many uses for them!  Do you use them in your kitchen?

Back to those YUMMY Chipotle Cheesesteak Sandwiches ~

The chipotle mayo recipe does not have to be used.  The sandwiches are delicious on their own.  Maybe you have a favorite condiment you love to use on sandwiches?  Many places slather plain mayo on the bread, which is good as well.  Also, you may be saying, “I just don’t like spicy!”  I promise you, this recipe is not spicy….it is just really flavorful!

I would love to hear any variations you may have cooked up!  Let me know in the comments below!

Happy grilling –

Mimi

 

 

Outdoor Griddle Fun for Father’s Day

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!!!  Run, do not walk, to get Dad an outdoor griddle for this Father’s Day.  Maybe you are saying, “Mimi, I am not a procrastinator!  I already have Father’s Day covered!”  That’s ok, keep this idea in mind for the next time you need a great gift idea.  However, our family is definitely going to have some outdoor griddle fun for Father’s Day this year!

My son brought this perfect idea up about a month ago.  I casually mentioned it to my amazing chef of a husband.  I have to admit, at first he totally pooed pooed the idea.  Being the loving family that we are, however, we knew not to listen to him.  However, the joke was on us because exactly one week before Father’s Day, my loving husband decides he is going to go buy himself an outdoor griddle grill!  What?!?!

It’s Not Father’s Day YET! ~

Yes, you are correct!  He went ahead and bought it himself!  At first we were all frustrated, but seeing how happy he is made the frustration fade quickly.  The man is happiest with a grill and a beer!  Besides, we decided there are now a slew of accessories he will now need for this new type of grill.  So….many…..gift…..ideas!

Click here for a MUST HAVE set of accessories for the griddle!

Cast Iron Grill Press is another necessity!

Hard Lid Cover is a DEFINITE must if you purchase one without a lid attached!

All in all, I was personally glad that he went ahead and picked out the one that he wanted.  He purchased his at Cabella’s, however, you can find them at most home improvement stores and, of course, on Amazon.  As you can see above, it really didn’t ruin the gift idea for the kids as there are so many accessories available for the MANY different types of meals you can cook on this awesome grill!

Things to Consider When Purchasing ~

There are many features you will need to consider when deciding on which outdoor griddle you want:

  • Number of burners (Brad wanted 4)
  • Attached lid or not
  • Sturdiness of the whole unit
  • Drain hole in upper left front corner (for easy access to remove the grease)
  • Sturdy shelving on both sides

Pinterest Anyone??? ~

You can be sure that I will have a new Pinterest Board set up by the end of the day today.  There are so many fun ideas just waiting to be created on this grill!  The first night we did smashburgers (as you can see from the pics).  Wow!  Those were AMAZING!

Tonight we are doing breakfast for dinner.  We are huge lovers of the Waffle House (very low cal, I know! 😉).  Now Brad can recreate all of our favorites right here at home!

Do you follow me on Pinterest yet????  Mimi~A Great Name for Grandma Pinterest Ideas can be found here!  I am on Pinterest daily looking for new ideas from grandparenting to cooking to gardening and more!  Do you have a Pinterest account?  Drop your name in the comments below….I would love to follow you as well!

How Is This Grill Different?~

There are a lot of accessories available for the traditional gas and charcoal grills that allow you to do pretty much the same thing.  Believe me when I say, we own most of those accessories!  For instance, there is a griddle top that you can place on your  gas or charcoal grill.  If you do not do a lot of grilling, this is perfect!

Griddle top for Gas and Charcoal Grills

We bought him one of these a few years ago, and we have gotten great use out of it.  It was an earlier Father’s Day gift along with this fun breakfast set.  One of the things I love most about cooking breakfast outdoors is the clean up is SO much easier!

Check out the fun griddle breakfast set here!!!

Do We Still Love Our Traditional Grills? ~

The answer is definitely YES!  As stated earlier, Brad is happiest with a grill and a beer!  He has a deck, “The Penarve,” dedicated to all of his grills.  It got so crazy that we had to give it a name (thanks Kelly W 😉 for coming up with the winning name!)  My personal dream is that some day Brad will open a restaurant.  The tough choice is what name should he give to his restaurant?

  • Pappy’s
  • The Penarve

Cast your vote in the comments…I would love to hear your opinion!  Maybe you have a different name idea…let me know!

For now, he will keep doing his magic on the Penarve at the Latinovich homestead!  Stay tuned for some great cooking ideas because you KNOW he will be creating those wonderful meals and I will be sharing them!

Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful fathers!  Enjoy!

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guys! I Made a Cookbook…And You Can Too!

You heard me….little ole me made a cookbook!  I am so excited!!!   What’s even better is that it was so fun and easy to do with FamilyCookbookProject.com.  My mind is now racing with so many great ideas for gift giving, fund raisers, church or family projects, or even for the neighborhood.   I am just super pumped about this new fun project!  Guys!  I made a cookbook…and you can too!

This cookbook is a compilation of recipes I have blogged about.  As a bonus, there are a few extra recipes that have yet to be added to my blog.   You will be able to save it to your computer and print out recipes as needed…or you can print the whole book.

The Family Cookbook Project ~

In a nutshell, this is a software program that lets you bring your recipes to life in a shareable form through print or save online.  I have been truly amazed at just how easy it was to put this together.  Now we have a keepsake of the beginning of our recipe blogging journey.  I have no doubt that there will be much more time spent on creating a much more indepth Pappy on the Penarve Cookbook – Version 2!

What about you?  Have you considered putting a cookbook together with all of your family favorites?  Are there treasured recipes that have been passed down through the generations?  Maybe there have been some church potlucks that everyone brings copies to share of the recipe they made.  Wouldn’t it be so much easier to hop online and let each of those people type in their famous recipes?  That’s right…you can set this up so that each person can be considered a “contributor.”

How It Works ~

  1. Create an account.
  2. Give your cookbook a title (that can be changed anytime throughout the process)
  3. Invite friends and family to contribute – optional!  You can also create the recipes by yourself.
  4. Follow along with the simple layout to enter your recipes…you can even copy and paste or import if you have them saved somewhere else on your computer.
  5. Select your cover, dividers and layouts to your personal preference.
  6. The table of contents, recipe index and list of contributors (optional) is automatically created for you.
  7. Order your cookbook.  They have a calculator to make the final setup and purchase process so easy.
  8. You can go back and add recipes to your online version at any point.

 

 

 

 

*Sample of Family Cookbook Project final copy

 

 

 

 

Have You Ever Misplaced a Special Recipe? ~

Isn’t this the worst?!?!  Ugh!  If only I had a nickel for every time I went frantically searching for that special recipe!  Another problem I encounter quite often…does your recipe card look like it’s been to h*ll and back?  Stains and tears all over it.  I always say you can tell those are the most loved!  Wouldn’t it be so much easier to have them in a nice little cookbook (luckily you can choose to have any pages/covers you want laminated!)

Maybe you are not as scatter brained as I am and your recipes are already nicely organized.  (Oh, how I try to be that person!)  This is still such a timeless treasure to create and gift to others!

Better yet, maybe you have some very special recipes you won’t share because they become even more special when you bring them to the party!  I have a VERY loved sister-in-law that does just this!  We give her grief over it all the time.  I’m thinking this would be such a great idea to make and have back for gifts when the right time comes along!  (You know who you are sweet See the source image…you know I love ya!)

Recipes from Sites Online ~

This is another way that many of us save recipes.  Pinterest is obviously a favorite go to.  However, have you saved a recipe and gone back to it later and it was GONE?  Yes….GONE!  This has happened to me on a few occasions.  What I have learned in my blogging journey is that Pinterest drives so many different blogs.  If a person is paying for their blog site and then quits blogging….guess what happens?  The blog goes down as do many of the sites it is linked to.

While the internet is a truly amazing way to create and store information, it is never a foolproof option.  It may be old school, but it is always a good idea to have those favorite recipes stored in a printed book!

Dedication Page ~

Below is the picture and dedication words I chose for Pappy on the Penarve.  It’s been so much fun deciding how I wanted to display everything from the pictures to the wording…

Welcome to Pappy on the Penarve! The love of family is our number one priority. We have discovered that good food keeps family members coming back for more. Thus we are lucky to have lots of family gatherings!

This is our first edition of a compilation of recipes we have shared on Mimiblog.org (plus a few bonus extras!). Our hope is that you and your family and friends will enjoy these wonderful recipes as much as us.

The main focus is on Pappy’s amazing grilling with a few appetizers, appetizers/sides and desserts to compliment the savory dishes that come off of Pappy’s magical grill!

Enjoy!

We dedicate this first edition to Lauren, Karleigh and Eli…our amazing children and all who are a part of their world!

*********

To see the above picture and dedication in book layout is a dream come true for me!  As stated earlier, you get to create the cover and dividers, choose from multiple recipe layouts, add your own dedication and introduction…the list goes on and on!

Drumroll Please ~

So without further adieu, I bring you the final version of Pappy on the Penarve.  Click on the link below to view or to download and print a free copy yourself.  I will be making a laminated binder version for our family.  If you are interested in purchasing one, email me at mamashellatino@gmail.com and I will give you the details.

See the finished version of Pappy on the Penarve Cookbook here!!! Check it out!

Guys!  I Made a Cookbook…AND YOU CAN TOO!

Are you excited about getting started on your own personal cookbook?  I haven’t seen an easier way to create such a special family treasure!  Get started on your personal cookbook right here!

Happy Cooking!

Mimi (Shelly)

Hobo Foil Packet Dinners

If you grew up camping like I did, then you are no stranger to hobo foil packet dinners.  The thing I don’t understand though is why they were only considered a camping food back then.  Not only are these dinners simple and delicious, they can be cooked over the open fire, on the grill or in the oven!  How’s that for versatility?

Over the years, we have tried numerous types of packets.  In fact, one of our favorite family meals now is to lay out a variety of ingredients and let everyone make their own.  This ensures that everyone…even the pickiest of eaters…is happy with their own individual meal.  Once they are done eating, wrap that foil up and toss in the trash.

Recap…individual dinners made to each person’s taste, simple to cook various ways and easy to clean up…what are you waiting for?  (*Read on for the special ingredient we use!)

Ingredients ~

Basically, the sky is the limit for the ingredients.  However, I am going to list some ingredients that we have used.

  • hamburger – pattied up or crumbled
  • kielbasa – diced
  • shrimp
  • chicken – chunked
  • shaved beef
  • onions
  • potatoes – quartered
  • carrots
  • asparagus
  • peas
  • mushrooms
  • zucchini
  • squash
  • bell peppers – all colors
  • anaheim peppers
  • jalapenos
  • thick cut green beans
  • corn
  • capers
  • cheese – we use shredded and, of course, different varieties

As stated earlier, one thing that makes the hobo foil packet dinners so much fun is to offer several ingredients.  Choose from the list above or add some of your own favorites.  Put each of the ingredients in small bowls for everyone to choose from.  (*Still looking for that special ingredient?)

*Notice in this one, we used the shaved beef…delicious!

Assembling the Foil Packets ~

Do yourself a favor and invest in heavy duty foil.  This makes the cooking process go much smoother.  If you do not have heavy duty foil, then you will want to double up.  When doubling up, I prefer to cut two pieces of foil the same size and criss cross them (in the shape of a cross) before adding my ingredients.  This allows all sides of the packet to be closed up securely.

Spray the cut foil pieces with non-stick cooking spray before assembling.  NOW….are you ready for that special ingredient I alluded to earlier???  Condensed soup is the ticket to a fantastic hobo foil packet dinner.  The difference you will see with this addition is incredible!  We have used several varieties in our dinners.

  • Cream of Mushroom
  • Cream of Chicken
  • Cream of Celery
  • Cream of Asparagus
  • Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic
  • Cream of Chicken with Herbs
  • Cream of Onion

Obviously, we prefer to use the cream style soups.  I have heard there is also a cream of bacon and cream of shrimp.  We have never used these (I don’t believe I have ever seen them in the stores in our area), but I believe they would be fantastic as well.  Campbell’s Soup is our go to but obviously you can use the brand of your preference.  From all of the soups listed, I would have to say Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken are our top choices.

 Next Step ~

Once you have made your soup choice, slather 1 to 2 tablespoons across the bottom of the prepared foil pieces.  You are now ready to add your favorite ingredients.  Start with your favorite meat and then pile on your choice of  accompaniments.  There is no specific amounts to use, just create your masterpiece with enough room to fold it up securely.

Before closing, sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion salt, dry onion soup mix or any seasoning you prefer and another dollop of the soup.

Be sure to completely cover all food when bringing the sides of the foil up and over.  There are several methods of folding the foil, just be sure to wrap it up securely.

*Pro Tip* – Write the names on top of each packet with a sharpie to be sure of which packet belongs to who to extinguish any later arguments!

Cooking the Hobo Foil Packet Dinners ~

Our preference for cooking is on the grill or over the open fire.  I absolutely love when Brad cooks them over the open fire.    These take about an hour, depending on the size of your packets.  (Somehow, ours always end up bigger than we intended!)  You will just need to be sure the meat is cooked completely through.  Grilling will take about 30 to 40 minutes.

Brad uses a cast irong camping tripod for so many different meals.  I’ve included a link to one, but it is a great idea to check out several to meet your individual needs.  As you can see, his also as a grate that attaches to it, which he uses often.  Check out firepit tripods here…Brad uses his for so many campfire recipes!

As stated earlier though, you can also do these in the oven.  With this method, place the packets on a baking sheet (just to catch any spillage that may leak out), and bake at 350℉ for 40 to 60 minutes.  When opening the packets to check if done, be careful as the heat pours out at first opening.

Cajun Style Hobo Foil Packet Dinner ~

This one has quickly become a family favorite.  This is one of the times  we do one large family packet instead of offering choices.  Most of the time we love to make our own spice blends, but we have decided why fix it if it isn’t broken…simply follow the recipe on the back of the McCormick Jazzy Tasty Seasoning packet.  I’m telling you, it is AMAZING!

Click Here to order McCormick Jazzy Tasty Seasoning and make your own Jazzy Shrimp Boil foil packets!

As always, I am including a link to order it for simplicity.  Sometimes I struggle finding this one…maybe everyone has has figured out this little secret too!  😉

Get creative with this fun cooking idea.  We have yet to serve hobo foil packet dinners where anyone was unhappy.  In fact, most people usually call us later to get the finer details so they can make them at home for their family and friends.

Happy Cooking~

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade Sausage with Fennel

Pappy on the Penarve is at it again….this time making homemade sausage with fennel….AH…MAZING!!!!!  He has been perfecting this recipe for quite some time, and the end result is worth all of the work.  Let me tell you, there are quite a few steps to the end result…but oh is it worth it!!  That being said, it would be a great idea to purchase quite a bit of meat to work with so you can store some for later!  By doing this, it makes the time spent making this delicious sausage even more worthwhile!

In our recipe a KitchenAid mixer with the meat grinder attachment is used.  I absolutely love my KitchenAid and use it for so many different recipes.  Check out the Black Storm KitchenAid Professional Series Mixer ~ it is a FANTASTIC addition to any kitchen!

There are, of course, other great meat grinder options:

This electric meat grinder gets great reviews…check it out here!

This manual meat grinder has a suction base and gets great reviews…check it out here!

These grinders work for so much more than just making sausage.  I grew up with my mom making homemade ham salad.  We still put in requests for her secret recipe to this day!  Yes, I said secret!  And yes, that recipe will be coming soon so stay tuned!

Back to the Homemade Sausage with Fennel ~

As stated earlier, buy the pork shoulder butt in bulk.  When we find it on sale, we go hog wild….yes, pun intended! 🤣  The savings you will notice will astound you!

What you will need ~

  • The fattest pork shoulder/butt you can find…seriously buy that fatty stuff!
  • Fennel seed – if you are like Brad (Pappy), you will want an abundance of this!
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
  • Red Wine or cooking wine (we used a nice Cab)
Step 1 ~

Cut the pork shoulder/butt into chunks for grinding and place in a disposable foil pan.

Step 2 ~

Cover the meat with foil and move to the freezer to get to a cold state.  This helps the grinding process go much smoother.  Brad kept it in the freezer for about 1 hour.

Step 3 ~

Grind the meat chunks.

Step 4 ~

Generously season the ground pork shoulder/butt.

Step 5 ~

*After completely blending, make 1 or 2 small patties.  Fry these patties for tasting.  This is an important step before moving on!  This will enable you to decide if it is seasoned to your liking.  If you are preparing meat to store for later use, you will want to be sure you are happy with the flavor.

Step 6 ~

Add additional seasoning if you prefer.  Cover ground meat and place back in freezer for about an hour.

Step 7 ~

Remove from freezer and prepare your mixer for the final prep stage of your homemade sausage with fennel.  *If you don’t have a mixer with sausage stuffer capabilities, you can make it into patties.  We actually prefer to make different types of sausages for various serving options.  When using the sausage stuffer, it is helpful to watch videos first to aid in the process.  I have provided a link from KitchenAid.com right here ~  Use this handy link from KitchenAid to view how to use the sausage stuffer attachment!

If you are making into patties, there are many options on that process.  I prefer rolling the sausage out and using a glass or biscuit cutter to be the best option for more uniform patties.  However, sometimes we just form them with our hands as we did in the picture above.  If you choose to roll out it, there are different methods, I like the method that HappyMoneySaver.com uses here ~  Happy Money Saver describes the rolling out and cutting process in detail here!

 

Freezing Homemade Sausage with Fennel ~

We love the Food Saver Vacuum Sealer for so many freezer foods.  It does such a great job protecting food from air and freezer burn.  It is also ideal for food prep.  You can double so many of your recipes and save half of them for later, making busy nights or lunch time woes a cinch!    Get your own Food Saver Vacuum Sealer here…you will love it!

Like so many kitchen gadgets, you may ask yourself, “Will I really use this?”  From experience, this is one gadget we are very happy to have and we find ourselves using it often.

We will use this sausage for breakfast and dinner ideas.  Our favorite is grilled sausage with peppers and onion served with a side of rice.  However, we will definitely be looking for new fun ideas to use this yummy sausage as well.

 

Meal prep has become widely popular for busy families and lunch preparation.  This homemade sausage with fennel is an ideal recipe for just that!  Not to mention the savings you will see.  For this recipe we bought almost 10 pounds of pork for $9.  Seriously $9!  The amount of sausage links it yields (depending on how big you choose to make each one) is phenomenal!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!  Let us know in the comments below!  Also, follow MimiBlog with the link and you can stay up to date with all the great recipes!

Have a great week!

 

Grilled Queso 😍

 

If you are looking for a delicious and cheesy queso recipe that will feed a crowd…you have found the right post!  For years we have been making queso in a crockpot (which we still love), but when you make it over the grill…all I can say is CROWD PLEASER!  Read on for directions on how to make grilled queso for your next gathering!

 

Ingredients:

  • Chorizo sausage
  • Ground beef
  • Velveeta cheese (cut in chunks)
  • Pepper Jack cheese (cut in chunks)
  • Mozzarella (shredded)
  • Jalapenos – sliced
  • Onions (chopped)
  • Rotel
  • Taco seasoning

Brown ground beef and chorizo with packet of taco seasoning.  Put in large foil pan.  Add all other ingredients.  Place on grill and close for enhanced smoke flavor.  Secret ingredient:  can of beer!  Add the beer once it starts melting~Serve warm of course with tortilla chips, tortilla bowls, flour tortillas…or anything else of your choice!

 

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