BELT

I’ve been on this diet and lost 16 pounds already and I don’t feel hungry and don’t crave anything, but I DREAM about food! How weird is that?!?! I’ve been dreaming of food my Mom used to cook and one of my favorites follows. Now, this is not low cal, not low fat, and probably not politically correct unless you use free range hen eggs, but it melts in your mouth if you like farm cookin’. And it is the stuff that dreams are made of!

BELT (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, & Tomato sandwich)
Ingredients:
1 farm fresh egg (really! this does make a difference)
2 strips bacon
1 slice home grown tomato (if they are as big as my Dad's, otherwise you may need 2)
2 leafs lettuce
1 Tbs Best Foods Mayo
2 slices of homemade whole wheat bread

Fry bacon till crispy. Fry egg (break yolk and cook “over hard”). Spread mayo on bread and assemble in this order: Bread, egg, bacon, lettuce, tomato, bread. This order is important… why? Because that’s how Mom did it, that’s why!

Now, if you want a mouth watering farmer lunch that will melt in your mouth and flat out fill you up, here is a variation: Make sure you use home made whole wheat bread and cut THREE slices ½ inch thick. Toast bread and (instead of mayo) butter, WHILE HOT, with REAL butter (middle slice gets butter on both sides). Assemble in this order: Bread, egg, bacon, bread, tomato, lettuce, bread. Oh, heck, I’m getting hungry.

Final variation if you are feeling really adventurous (this is how I do it when I’m camping). Butter both sides of the bread and toast on a hot griddle, then assemble. You will need to eat with a knife and fork.

So, probably no one will try this because it would likely kill them… but I’m going off to bed to dream of this and homemade boysenberry pie for dessert because that’s how we ate back on the ranch!

Besides, I’m not hungry. I’m not, I’m not, I’m not!

Jer

Summer Chicken Salad

Ok - I know it's not summer, but this is my favorite chicken salad....

4-5 Chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
3 cups diced celery
2 ½ cups grapes cut in half
12 ounce package sliced almonds
2 ½ oz. Sliced water chestnuts

10 oz. Small pasta cooked and drained
1 ¼ cup ranch dressing
½ cup mayo
3 Tbsp. Milk
1 1/3 tsp. Beau Monde seasoning (made by Spice Islands)
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper

Combine 2nd half of ingredients (from pasta to pepper) and refrigerate. Cook chicken and dice. Combine all of the ingredients together and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving. Serve on rolls, croissants or eat plain.

Oh-So-Easy French Dip

This is my favorite meal (HANDS DOWN) to both prepare and consume, not to mention watch as my children gobble it down like they're never going to get another meal as long as they live.

French Dip

1-2 lbs deli-fresh sliced Roast Beef (depending on the # you're feeding)

3-5 Beef Boullion cubes

1-2 cans Beef Broth

1/3 or less can of Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. Seasoned Salt

1 tsp. Worchestershire Sauce

6-12 SOFT French rolls (Francisco brand is great)

6-12 sliced Swiss (or other favorite) cheese

Put first 7 ingredients into a crockpot on LOW setting. Let simmer for 2-4 hours.

Toast or Broil French Rolls, place a couple slices of Roast Beef, and then add a slice of cheese. Close sandwich and the cheese will melt.

Use the remaining juice from the crockpot for au jus, for dipping.

Dip, savor, repeat.

NOTE: I usually just throw in whatever spices I can find. You can add whatever else you think would be good.

BBQ Ham Sandwiches

I got this from another blog recipe site and it looked good and easy!


2 pounds sliced deli ham
1 C. Water
1 C. Ketchup
1/4 C. Brown Sugar
1/4 C. Worcestershire Sauce
2 Tbs. White Vinegar
2 tsp. Mustard
A few shakes of salt & pepper to taste
Hamburger Buns~~I used Kaiser Rolls
Split & toasted.
Directions
Grease crock-pot and place Ham inside. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Wisk together until well combined. Pour over ham and mix well. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through. Stirring occasionally to keep ham moist. Serve on toasted buns.

Meat and Cheese Stromboli

Prep time: < 5 minutes (no kidding!)
Cook time: 20-25 minutes
Great with a salad
Serves 4-5




1 tube refrigerated French loaf dough (It is with the crescent roll dough, biscuits etc in the grocery store. You can also use crescent roll dough, just mash the seams together.)
2 C shredded cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, jack or any combination)
1/4 lb thinly sliced deli meat (ham or turkey)
1 T melted butter
1 T grated Parmesan

Unroll dough and pat into a 14"*12" rectangle. Sprinkle cheese over the dough to w/in 1/2" of edges. Top with a single layer of ham. Roll up tightly from a short side; pinch seam to seal. Place seam down on a baking sheet. Brush top w/ butter and sprinkle w/ Parmesan. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.