Bacon and Potato Pizza

One of the things I like about going on vacation is eating out and trying new foods.  While we were in Myrtle Beach for spring break, we found a pizza restaurant named Mellow Mushroom.  I coaxed my daughter and husband into trying the "Hot Potato Pie."  Hey, how can you go wrong with crust, potatoes, bacon, and sour cream?  We loved it!

When I got home, at some point, I thought, "Hey I can do that!  Basically it's just crust, potatoes, bacon, and sour cream!"  I tried it a few weeks ago and we all loved it again.  So I made it again last night and took a picture.

It's not exactly like the one at Mellow Mushroom, but still really good!  Of course I used all the best short cuts to make it and rolling out the dough in a perfect shape makes no sense when you're hungry!

I used a package of pizza crust mix and followed the directions to make it.

On top of that I put a sour cream and cream cheese mixture - probably about a cup of sour cream and 2 ounces of cream cheese.

Next I added about 3 slices of diced, microwaved bacon and a microwaved, diced potato.

Finally, I sprinkled on shredded colby and monteray jack cheeses and baked the pizza according to the crust mix directions.

I made two of these last night.  I refrigerated 5 slices.  They were gone before I woke up this morning.  That's how it works around our house if something is really good!

Rad Ramens

I tried a new recipe today. It basically spells out how lazy I've been so far this summer. I found this Ramen noodle recipe on http://www.mattfischer.com/ramen/ - The Official Ramen Homepage. While my sister and brother-in-law may not agree with the title of this recipe, (my brother-in-law burnt down their kitchen cooking Ramen noodles) these were pretty good! In fact, they're all gone and I want some more!

Rad Ramens
Submitted By: Chef Will
Submitted From: Oregon

Ingredients:

2 packs ramen
1 Tbsp. cold butter
1 1/2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tsp. brown sugar
Optional: Sauteed garlic

This works with the following flavors: beef, oriental, shrimp and in a pinch, pork; although you may find that you need no seasoning at all. Boil your ramens until al dente, drain. Keep the pot, and return to heat. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, the packet, and a touch of water. This small amount will quickly begin to simmer. Remove from heat, swirl in cold butter. You will have a velvetty emulsion sauce if done right. The al dente noodles will still be hot in the colander/strainer. Add them back to the pot and toss. This is delicious. If you’ve more on hand, sauteed garlic works well (just before adding soy sauce), or slightly browned onions or shallots. If you prefer your ramen soupy, prepare sauce in different pan and add to finished soup. I’ve cooked this for many friends, and all love it.

Pudding Cookies

Yesterday, I tried out a recipe for Pudding Cookies. They are so easy and pretty yummy! They almost have an addictive quality to them. I was looking for a fairly easy recipe to use for the cookie exchange at church tomorrow. I found the recipe in a cookbook that the Medina Library puts out each Christmas. Yesterday, I tried it with a vanilla pudding mix. Today I made three more batches with orange creme, lemon, and chocolate pudding mixes. I honestly can't classify the recipe as a fairly easy recipe - or even a very easy recipe. I must classify it as an EXTREMELY easy recipe. And I'm not sure if I can say that they are from scratch either. Here's the recipe and I'll let you decide.

Submitted to Medina County Library Holiday Cookbook - Volume 13 by Dianna Wertz

Pudding Cookies

3/4 cup Bisquick
1 package instant pudding
1 egg
1/4 cup oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ingredients until dough forms a ball. Shape into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten to 2 inches around. Bake 8-10 minutes.

I think with the Bisquick and the instant pudding, I can't really count it as "from scratch." Anyway they are easy. I made them even easier by using my Pampered Chef one-inch scoop to put them on the cookie trays. I dipped the orange ones into colored sugar, the lemon ones into Christmas sprinkles, and stirred chocolate and peanut butter chips into the chocolate ones. The recipe says that it makes 24, but I only got about 18-20 from the orange and lemon ones. The chocolate with the chips did make 24.

My cookies are now packaged and ready to take to church tomorrow. The extras will soon be devoured by Moo and my hubby! I've eaten about five already and need to call it quits!