Pizza Pockets

These are definitely not a fancy treat, but they are quick and easy and perfect for helping toddler hands to put together.

You will need:

• 2 packages (8 oz each) crescent rolls
• 1/2 c pizza sauce
• 8 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut into two shorter halves
• 2 T unsalted butter
• 1/2 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t oregano

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Unroll the crescents.
3. Spread a spoonful of pizza sauce on the wide end of the crescent.
4. Place one half piece of cheese on each spoonful of sauce.
5. Wrap the dough around the sauce and cheese.
6. Place each dough bundle, seam side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Put the butter in a small, microwave-safe bowl.
8. Melt by heating in the microwave, roughly 30 seconds.
9. Mix in the garlic powder and oregano.
10. Brush the seasoned butter on top of the dough bundles.
11. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until puffed up and golden.
12. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at least 5 minutes before serving with extra dipping pizza sauce.

Fudgy Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Simply put: these are amazing. You could eat them at room temperature, but I highly recommend chilling them first. This makes them extra fudgy and, in my humble opinion, perfect. They taste just like peanut butter cups.

You will need:

• 16 T salted butter, divided (6 T at room temperature)
• 1 1/2 c sugar
• 2 t vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 t instant espresso powder
• 2/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 c flour
• 1/2 c bittersweet chocolate chips
• 2 T unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 c creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 c powdered sugar

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 baking pan with nonstick foil and lightly grease with nonstick spray.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 12 tablespoons of the salted butter over medium heat.
3. Whisk in the sugar, vanilla and espresso.
4. Whisk in the cocoa powder.
5. Remove the pan from the heat.
6. Gradually whisk in the eggs until well combined.
7. Stir in the flour until just combined.
8. Stir in the chocolate chips.
9. Pour and spread the batter into the prepared pan.
10. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until starting to set and slightly firm in the middle.
11. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Using a stand or hand mixer, cream together the remaining 4 tablespoons of salted butter, the 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, the peanut butter, and the powdered sugar until a smooth frosting forms.
13. Spread on top of the cooled brownies.

Meatballs and Gravy

Our boys love meatballs, and I really like stroganoff dishes. This recipe combines the best of both worlds. It is great with your favorite noodles, whether that is an egg noodle or  long noodle like linguine.

You will need:

• 2 T olive oil
• 1 sweet onion, finely diced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1/2 c Panko breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 t ground allspice
• 1/4 t ground nutmeg
• 1/4 t Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 t pepper
• 1/4 t salt
• 4 T salted butter
• 1/4 c flour
• 4 c unsalted beef stock
• 2 cubes beef bouillon
• 1 c light sour cream

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a large edged baking sheet with nonstick foil.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, warm two tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat.
3. Saute the onion until starting to caramelize, 5-8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the onion with the beef, pork, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, allspice, nutmeg, Worcestershire, pepper, and salt.
5. Roll into two dozen meatballs and place on the baking sheet.
6. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
7. Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium low heat in the skillet used to cook the onions.
8. Whisk in the flour and allow to cook for 2 minutes.
9. Whisk in the stock until smooth. Bring to a simmer.
10. Add the beef bouillon cubes and sour cream. Whisk into the sauce.
11. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken until velvety and the consistency of a soft pudding, about 5-10 minutes.
12. Season, as needed, with salt and pepper.
13. Stir in the meatballs and serve on top of noodles.

Chicken Queso Pockets

Who doesn’t like a flaky crust filled with savory chicken and cheesy yumminess? This is especially great if you need to pack a picnic meal for lunch or dinner, because you won’t need any silverware. They are great warm and equally delicious at room temperature. You could shape them in smaller pieces if you wanted more of a snack-size than a meal-size.

You will need:

• 2 T olive oil
• 1/2 lb chicken breast
• 1 t cumin
• 1 t chili powder
• 1/2 t pepper
• 1/4 t salt
• 4 oz reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 can (4.5 oz) diced green chiles
• 1 small bunch scallions, chopped
• 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 package refrigerated pie crust, both circles of dough (if you want extra lusciousness, try it with two sheets of puff pastry)

Then you will…

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat.
3. Saute the chicken, sprinkled with the cumin and pepper and salt, until cooked through to 165 degrees (about 4-5 minutes per side).
4. Remove from the pan and shred.
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with the chiles, scallions, and cheese.
6. Mix in the shredded chicken.
7. Cut both pie crusts into 8ths.
8. Place 1/4th of the filling onto eight of the dough pieces.
9. Top with the remaining eight dough pieces after stretching them slightly.
10. Use a fork to seal around the edges.
11. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
12. Optional: gently sprinkle the tops with a little salt and pepper.
13. Bake 15-18 minutes, until the dough is cooked through and golden.
14. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving (the wait is tough, but they will hold up better and be tastier).