Sloppy Joe Pizza Pockets ***

(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ Rachael Ray)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1/2 onion, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 cup pizza sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 pound frozen pizza dough or bread dough, thawed
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)

In a large, heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the bell pepper, onion and a pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the turkey and cook over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, until cooked through and crumbly, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the pizza sauce and Worcestershire sauce, season to taste with salt and pepper and let cool completely.
Preheat the oven to 400°. Lightly grease a baking sheet with olive oil. Divide the dough into quarters and, working with 1 piece at a time, roll out and stretch into an 8-inch round. Place the rounds on the baking sheet, with about a third of each round hanging over the edges of the pan. Mound a packed cup of the turkey mixture onto each round, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top each with the cheese and then fold the dough over the filling; crimp the edges together to seal. Cut a small vent in the top of each pocket for ventilation.
Bake until puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

Garlic Smashed Crockpot Potatoes ***

(OP?)

3 lbs small red potatoes
5 minced garlic cloves
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ cup water
½ cup cream cheese with onions and chives
¼ to ½ cup milk

Halve or quarter potatoes to make even sizes. Place potatoes in a 4-6 quart slow cooker. Add garlic, oil, salt and water and mix to coat. Cover crockpot and cook on high for 3 ½ to 4 ½ hours, until potatoes are tender.
Mash potatoes roughly with a fork. Stir in cream cheese until blended, then add enough milk for desired consistency. You can serve this right away, or cover and hold it in the slow cooker up to 2 hours on low.

Pork Steaks with Mushroom Gravy ****

(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ Recipezaar)

2 tablespoons canola oil
4 pork steaks
salt and pepper
garlic powder
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced or 2 (4 1/2 ounce) cans sliced mushrooms
2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
1 3/4 cups water
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
Brown steaks on each side.
While browning, season steaks with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Transfer steaks to a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
Sauté the onions and mushrooms in the same skillet.
Add water, Worcestershire sauce, dry soup mix, and mushroom soup; mix together until sauce forms.
Pour sauce over steaks.
Cover dish with aluminum foil.
Bake in preheated oven for 90 minutes.

Crawfish Tortellini ***

(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy)

1 lb frozen crawfish tails, thawed
2 pods garlic
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stick butter or margarine
1 1/2 pints whipping cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons parsley
1 package tortellini noodles (I used two small packages of Barilla)

Prepare noodles according to package. Saute onion and garlic in butter; add parsley then stir in the flour. Slowly stir in whipping cream, cheese, and crawfish tails. Add noodles, cover, and cook in a 350 oven for 45 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Apple Enchiladas ***

APPLE ENCHILADAS
(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy )

2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
2 cooking apples (Fuji is good -- I used Baja)
2 sticks margarine
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 (12-oz) can Mountain Dew soft drink (not sugar-free)

Cut apples into 8 slices each. Place on apple slice in each triangle of crescent dough. Roll up from large end to small. Place all rolled up slices in 9x13 inch baking pan. In a small saucepan, melt margarine. Mix with sugar and cinnamon. Pour sugar mixture over enchiladas. Pour Mountain Dew over all. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Can be served with ice cream.

Bacon Parmesan Brussels Sprouts ***

(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ Recipezaar)

25-30 fresh Brussels sprouts
8 slices of crisp cooked crumbled bacon
5 tablespoons sour cream
5 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter
½ clove fresh minced garlic
Fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese (extra)

Cut ends off Brussels Sprouts and remove yellow or spotted leaves.
Score an "X" on the bottom of each sprout to allow the bitterness to escape.
Steam-cook or boil sprouts until tender crisp.
Heat the next 5 ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is hot.
Combine all in casserole dish and toss to coat.
Grate fresh ground black pepper over top, and sprinkle with extra cheese and serve.
** Amy's notes: My 5-year-old actually asked for seconds!

Meatloaf Florentine ****

(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ Recipezaar)

1 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon crushed dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 lb ground beef
3 slices whole wheat bread
1 egg white
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine tomato sauce, oregano, basil and garlic powder in a small bowl.
In a larger bowl, mix beef, bread crumbs, egg white, salt pepper, and ½ the tomato sauce mixture until well combined. Press meat mixture onto a sheet of wax paper, making a rectangle approximately 8 x 10 inches. Spoon spinach over half.
Place mozzarella cheese over spinach, being careful not to place too close to the edges, or your filling will leak out. Fold meat over so that spinach and cheese are inside.
Pinch edges to seal.
Place meat in shallow baking pan, on a rack or strips of aluminum foil, or some means of keeping the loaf off the pan to allow the juices to drain. Top with remaining tomato sauce and the parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour.
Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
(Try the leftovers on a sandwich or kaiser roll).
** Amy's notes: I subbed 1/3 cup bread crumbs for the bread, ¼ cup Egg Beaters for the egg white, and ground turkey for the ground beef. Next time, I want to try spaghetti sauce in place of the tomato sauce and spices.