Woodland Ogre Halloween Beef and Pasta Stoup Recipe

Hola Amigos: Not everything hasto be skulls, bones and witches for Halloween right? there are plenty of other fun characters out there to play along with make a recipes around them. This is one example, the friendly (?) Ogre!
We all learned to love that green fellow capable of making the "princess"  forget about getting  the ultimate makeover and be true to herself.  I wasn't quite fond of his taste for dinner (neither were the 3 blind mice) but I'm sure this dish would satisfy his appetite and the appetite of any of our own big and little ogres at home!

It's a crock pot dish too...so no need to slave over a cauldron  to enjoy comfort food at the end of a cool Fall or Winter's day!

Just like a real Ogre would do, don't even worry to much about perfectly cutting veggies, just rough chop everything and after 4 hours or so enjoy the goodness!

As you can see here, nothing is Mushed <-----not quite sure that's an actual word but you get the idea. Everything remains whole giving it the perfect "Stoup" consistency...a Stew and Soup together! what is not to love about it!

Here you have it my friends! Like our favorite character said once "Ogres (and bloggers) are like onions", no we don't stink, but we have layers and deep inside we all believe in fairy tales and we  bring them to life with projects, crafts or why not a recipe! Enjoy and remember that everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,

Lizy

Woodland Ogre Halloween Beef and Pasta Stoup

Ingredients:

1 (1 1/2-2 Pound) Chuck Roast

1 Small Bag Frozen Stuffed Pasta

(I had Ravioli handy, but you could use Tortellini too)

1 14.5 Oz Can Petite Diced Tomatoes

1 14.5 Oz Can Sweet Corn

1 14.5 Oz Can Beef Broth

1 14.5 Oz Can Condensed Tomato Soup

1 Large Onion Chopped

8 oz Baby Bella Mushrooms

Salt, Pepper, Celery Salt , Onion Powder to taste (or use your own favorite spice mix)

Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

Get your Crock Pot ready.

Make a bed with your chopped onion and place the roast on top, add the rest of ingredients except the Parmesan Cheese.

Cook for 4 hours. Serve with some Parmesan Cheese on top and Enjoy

Personal Tip: I like to use chuck roast for soups because it's not expensive and it gives the best flavor to soups, stock and broths, but I don't like the fact that it has bones and a bit too much fat for my taste, so I take the extra step of trimming the bone and fat before I freeze it, so it is ready to go when I need it. 

Prep Time: 5 Minutes                              Cooking Time 4 hours                         Serves 6 Bowls

Sharing some Ogre Chow at these Fa-BOO-lous Parties:

The 36th Avenue, 52 Mantels, The Mandatory Mooch, Sweet Haute, Saving 4 Six, Lamberts Lately, What's Cooking Love?, A Handful of Everything. Live, Laugh Rowe, The Crafty Blog Stalker, Katherines Corner, The Best Blog Recipes, Craftionary, Tidy Mom, The Girl Creative, One Tough Mother, Home Maid Simple, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, 504 Main, Craft Dictator, Do Small Things with Love, Diana Rambles, Sara Howe, Planned in Pencil, Living Better Together, The Jenny Evolution, Shaken Together, The Pin Junkie, Tatertots and Jello, Not Your Ordinary Recipes, Serenity You. Classy Clutter, Who Needs a Cape, Cheerios and Lattes, Too Much Time, Twigg Studios, Life on Lakeshore Drive, WCFS, Your Homebased Mom, Mommifried, The Thriftiness Miss, Under the Table and Dreaming, Dear Creatives, Flamingo Toes, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Frugal Foodie Mama, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Coastal Charm, Between Naps on the Porch, Carrie This Home, A Pinch of Joy, PandP Kitchen, Jembellish, A Southern Fairytale, Setting for Four, Titi Crafty, Huckleberry Love. VMG 206, The Gunny Sack, Ladybug Blessings, Home Stories A to Z, Chef in Training, Our Table for Seven, Nap-Time Creations, Mandy's Recipe Box, The Everyday Home, The Well Crafted Home, Smart School House, My Sweet Mission, Lady Behind the Curtain, Thank You Honey, All She Cooks, Ducks n' a Row, Six Sisters's Stuff, Call Me PMc

My Hand Will Go On Halloween Meatloaf Recipe

Hola Amigos! Today sharing a macabre twist on a favorite of most, Meatloaf...one thing though...after today, I'm not quite sure you will look at this dish the same way!
We all have meatloaf recipes. I don't have a particular one...is one of those meals that you put together as you go and with whatever you find at hand!

As I've said before, everything you cook on everyday basis could be transformed into the spookiest looking dish ever. It just takes a little patience and imagination. (Noticed the bent fingers on this creepy pic) lol

My little one was all hands on when it came to prepare it! And things got even better when he got the chance to literally pull the finger of the meatloaf and have a bite!

My hand here even has a bone...oh yeah...for those of you who like eggs in your meatloaf! They have the perfect color and even come with marrow..yikes!

I know you are probably thinking what the heart has to do with anything...well...I was just trying to give the meatloaf something to grab on while in the oven.

Cooking is about having fun my friends, when you have to do it everyday of the week, you better get creative with flavors, colors and even shapes when possible. Have a Happy day and Bon Appetit (if you can, lol) and remember everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,

Lizy

My Hand Will Go On Halloween Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Groud Beef ( I use 90/10)

3/4 Cup Mild Chunky style Salsa

1/2 Cup Onion and Garlic Refried Beans (or any other you have handy)

1 egg (slightly beaten) 

2 small bags of Doritos Cool Ranch Crushed

2 Coocked Eggs

salt and pepper to taste

4 Slices on Bacon cut in little 1 inch squares.

For skin texture

1 Cup Ketchup + 1/2 Cup BBQ

1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard + 1/4 Cup Honey Mustard Dressing 

Directions:

Pre Heat Oven at 365

To make the meatloaf mix beef , salsa, refried beans, slightly beaten egg, salt and pepper and crushed Doritos. Once is mixed. Place the mix on a parchment covered cookie sheet. and shape it as a hand if you choose to do this particular one, using yours as the model, Manipulate it at little into fingers, hand, Radius and Ulna (not much, just a little bit of these last). To make the Radius and Ulna make an indentation on the meat mold and place the eggs in this indentation one next to the other. Cover them with more of the beef mix.

Cover hand with little bacon squares.

Cover the entire hand with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Once the 45 minutes are done, pull it out, remove aluminum foil brush your hand with a mix of ketchup and bbq sauce. After is all covered, brush very lightly on the Mustard mix. 

Place back in the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Serve on a bed of rice. Enjoy!

Prep time 20 minutes                   Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes                          Serves 6-8

Sharing my Creepy Meatloaf at these Fa-Boo-lous Parties:

Real Housewives of Riverton, Maid in a Day, SNAP, All She Cooks, The Everyday Home, Real Coake, Made to be a Momma, Sew Much Ado, White Lights on Wednesday, Pink Recipe Box, Handy Man, Crafty Woman, Glitter, Glue and Paint, The Shady Porch, Creative Geekery, The Brambleberry Cottage, Artsy Fartsy Mama, Living Well Spending Less, My Turn (for Us), The Best Blog Recipes, Craftionary, Tidy Mom, Home Maid Simple, One Tough Mother, 504 Main, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, Happy Hour Project, Living Better Together, Food Done Light, Dear Creatives, The Wondering Brain, Cheerios and Lattes,Or So She Says, It's Overflowing, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Suburbs Mama, Twig Studios, Nifty Thrifty Things, Flamingo Toes, Navy Wifey Peters, Spatulas on Parade, VMG206, Titi Crafty, Cooking For the Seven Dwarfs, Who Needs a Cape, Summer's Scraps, Twelve' O Eight, The Velvet Moon Baker, Your Homebased Mom, My Mixing Spoon, Bowdabra, Craft-O-Maniac, The Chicken Chick, This Gal Cooks, Cupcake-n-Bake, A Pinch of Joy, Jembllish, Boogieboard Cottage, Keep It Simple, Alderberry Hill, DIY Home Sweet Home, Say Not Sweet Anne, Lines Across, Flour Me With Love, Under the Table and Dreaming, Ms. enPlace, Between Naps on The Porch, Rain on a Tin Roof, The PandP Kitchen, The Tumbleweed Contessa, Claire Justine oxox, Cozy Little House, The Blackberry Vine, Mad Skills, Love Grows Wild, Home Stories A to Z, Hun...what's for Dinner, Table for 7, LadyBug Blessings, I Gotta Create, Chef In Training, Mandy's Recipe Box, Nap Time-Creations, A Southern Fairytale, Huckleberry Love, Jam Hands, Not just a Housewife, This and That, Ducks 'n a Row, Lady Behind the Curtain, Ginger Snap Crafts, Dessert Now, Dinner Later, Made from Pinterst, Call Me PMc, Frugal Foodie Mama, Foodie Friends Friday

Easy Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja Recipe

Hola Amigos! This is a super easy, crock it and forget it recipe for Flank Steak. It's based on a traditional Latin dish called Ropa Vieja or Ragged Clothes. My mom makes the best Ropa Vieja ever, and for 10 years now I haven't had the "real stuff" like I like to call it, sad, I know. No matter how much I've tried I just can't make it exactly like hers, so I gave up and decided to wait till my mami cooks some for me and made my own recipe.

There are numerous versions to this dish, mine has only a few ingredients and that is what I really love. Lots of flavor, very little effort. The key is the day before you know you are going to cook your Flank Steak, Season it! It will pay up with taste I promise you!

My other favorite ingredients are easily found on the Latin isle of your grocery store, Mojo Criollo, Sazon with Coriander and Annatto and Recaito (cilantro base). These ingredients will put the Latin flavor to your beef and every meal without the typical Mexican seasonings most people are used to.

The best way to eat this savory dish is with a side of rice and a side of black beans and plantains! I couldn't find any plantains at my store when I was about to make it (now there's a ton) but just the black beans and rice are heavenly.

Now if you are my husband, then you skip this and go straight for a bun and cheese! Hey, I won't argue, as long as it gets eaten I'm good...(he wouldn't be able to do this to my mom,  though,  lol )

Have a great weekend friends and remember everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love!  and the hubs just added...and a bun!

Besitos,

Lizy

Easy Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja

Ingredients: 

1 (1 1/2) Flank Steak

1-2 Cloves Garlic mashed

Salt, Pepper

1 Large Onion, sliced

1 Orange Bell Pepper, diced*

1 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced*

1/2 Cup Goya Mojo Criollo

3/4 Cup Beef Stock

1 Flavor Packet Sazon Goya with Coriander and Annato (Achiote)  

1 TBSP Goya Recaito (Cilantro Base)

1 TBSP Ketchup

Cooked white or dirty rice

Cooked Black Beans 

* Red is ok too.

Directions:

The day before you are going to cook your Ropa Vieja, season the flank steak  by rubbing it with the mashed garlic cloves salt and pepper, put a zip lock bag in the refrigerator until the moment you are ready to cook it.

The next day, put your flank steak in the crock pot with sliced onions, orange bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, Mojo, stock, Sazon, Recaito and ketchup. Place lid and cook for 4 hours,

Once it's done, shred the beef using 2 forks and mix it up with the remaining of the cooking sauce. Garnish with some diced peppers and serve with a side of rice and beans. Or if you choose on  a bun with cheese.

Prep Time: At last 3 hour seasoning          Cook Time: 4 hours                 Serves 4

Sharing some Latin Flavors at these Fabulous Parties:

The Best Blog Recipes, Home Maid Simple, One Tough Mother, 504 Main, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, Simply Designing, The Answer is Chocolate, Living Better Together, The Jenny Evolution, The Pin Junkie, Not your Ordinary Recipes, A Peek into my Paradise, Sunny Simple Life, Diana Rambles, Tatertots and Jello, The Wondering Brain, Nap Time Crafters, 30 Handmade Days, Just Us 4, Five Days 5 Ways, Frugal Fit Family, Six Sister's Stuff, It's Overflowing, A little Claireification, Be Different Act Normal, What's Cooking with Ruthie, Serenity You, Funkie Junk Interiors, Angles Homestead, Sewlicious Home Decor, Spatulas on Parade, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Twigg Studios, Flamingo Toes, Suburbs Mama, EMM, Twelve O Eight, Under the Table and Dreaming, VMG206, Titi Crafty, The Chicken Chick, Pursuit of Functional Home, Lines Across, Huckleberry Love, Craft-O-Maniac, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Say Not Sweet Anne, Flour Me with Love, DIY Home Sweet Home, Alderberry Hill, Boogieboard Cottage, Sew Can Do, This Gal Cooks, jembellish, A Pinch of Love, Hun..what's for Dinner?, Adventures of a DIY Mom, The Shady Porch, Lady Behind the Curtain, I Gotta Try That, Table for Seven, Memories by the Mile, With a Blast, Not Just a Housewife, All She Cooks, Kitchen Meets Girl, Thank You Honey, Smart School House, Ginger Snap Crafts, The Everyday Home, My Girlish Whims, Cozy Little House, Clean and Scentsible, Shaffer Sisters, White Lights on Wednesday, The 36th Avenue, Fluster Buster, This Silly Girl's Life, Polkadots on Parade, 733 Blog, SNAP, What is Cooking Love?, The Real Housewives of Riverton, The Mandatory Mooch, Real Coake, Made to be a Momma, I Gotta Create, Live Laugh Rowe, Lamberts Lately, Creative Geekery, The Brambleberry Cottage, 52 Mantels, Saving 4 Six, Food Done Light, The Crafty Blogstalker, Considered Me Inspired, Jennifer Rizzo, Simple Dream and Create, House of Hepworths, The Girl Creative, Cindy's Recipes and Writings, My Turn (for Us), Rattlebridge Farm, Chef in Training, My Mixing Spoons, Home Stories A to Z

Other Panamanian dishes you might like:

Ensalada de Fiesta

Caribbean Sloppy Joes Recipe

Hola Amigos! This recipe is a twist on your classic Sloppy Joe Sandwich in the sense that the sauce it's not coming from your typical can. Nothing wrong with that though, but when you have the extra time, why not make something special for the family.
I'm choosing these sandwiches as my Afternoon Snack for older kids. I have a teenager and when there are some days when just chicken nuggets will make him happy (like 20 of them) others days he wants something a bit more substantial to carry him all the way to dinner. This is that snack.

Keep in mind that there would be plenty left over for the next day or it you want to make this recipe for dinner, just serve it with your usual side of greens and you will be all set in about 30 minutes or less. Do you add cheese to your Sloppy Joes? My kids add cheese to everything! Pepper Jack is the choice for this one here!

I hope you enjoy this summery treat on a classic. My kids have heat on their veins so even the little one enjoys some zing once in a while. Feel free to adjust the heat factor to your family's needs. It won't change the overall taste of this Caribbean Sloppy Joe! Everything you cook for your family and friends tastes better with your imagination and a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,

Lizy

Caribbean Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
1 Pound Ground Beef
1 Small Yellow Bell Pepper, Chopped
1 Small Orange Bell Pepper, Chopped
1 Small Onion, Chopped
1 1/2 Teaspoons of the following: Minced Onion, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Hot Sauce (optional)
2-3 TableSpoons Hoisin Sauce
1/2 Cup Jerk Marinade or 3 Tablespoons of Jerk Seasoning (more if you really like it spicy)
1 1/2  Cup Orange Juice
Oil for skillet
Buns
Pepper Jack Cheese Slices
Directions:
In a large skillet, heat up some oil and saute chopped vegetables and beef. Add spices. 
Mix in Hoisin sauce and Jerk Marinade. Coat everything and stir so it won't stick to the bottom and burn. 
Add orange juice, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and  simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring once or twice until done.
Toast your buns and serve! Enjoy

Prep Time: 10 minutes                                Cooking time 25-30 minutes              Serves 4-6

Bringing some Sugar and Spice to these Fabulous Parties:

Our Table for Seven, Memories by the Mile, Not Just a Housewife, Bebetsy, Clean and Scentsible, Mom's Test Kitchen, The Lady Behind the Curtain, The Everyday Home, Smart School House, Kitchen meets Girl, Ducks'n a Row, The Shaddy Porch, Crystal and Co., Made to be a Momma, Sew Much Ado, Thank You Honey, My Girlish Whims, Handy Man, Crafty Woman, This Silly Girl's Life, Someday Crafts, Polkadots on Parade, The Real Housewives of Riverton, We Like to Learn as We Go, 733 Blog, Real Coake, 52 Mantels, The 36th Avenue, The Brambleberry Cottage, What's Cooking, Love?, A Handufl of Everything, Katherine's Corner, CrazyLou, House of Hepworths, The Mandatory Mooch, I Gotta Create, Lamberts Lately, Chocolate, chocolate and more, The Crafty Blog Stalker, The Best Blog Recipes, Jennifer Rizzo, Do Small Things with Love, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, The Answer is Chocolate, My Turn (for Us), Simple Living and Eating, The Pin Junkie, Simply Designing, 504 Main, Craftionary, Tidy Mom, The Shabby Nest, A Simple Five, A Peek Into My Paradise, Living Better Together, One Tough Mother, Happy and Blessed Home, Five Days Five Ways, Shaken Together, Not Your Ordinary Recipes, Four Little Fergusons, Just Us Four, Made from Pinterest, The Wondering Brain, Cheerios and Lattes, Six Sister's Stuff, Classy Clutter, A Little Claireification, Spatulas on Parade, Too Much Time on my Hands, Angels Homestead, What's Cooking with Ruthie, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Serenity You, Under the Table and Dreaming, Frugal Foodie Mama, Claire Justine oxox, Huckleberry Love, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Say Not Sweet Anne, Flour Me With Love, Jembellish, Jam Hands, Sew Can Do, Keeping it Simple, Boogieboard Cottage, Who Needs a Cape, Alderberry Hill, Ms. enPlace, Between Naps on the Porch, The Tumbleweed Contessa, Joyful Healthy Eats, Cozy Little House, The Blackberry Vine, Pint Sized Baker, A Southern Fairytale, Coastal Charm, The Gunny Sack, Hun...What's for Dinner?, Chef in Trainning, The Princess and her Cowboys, Home Stories A-Z, Nap-Time Creations, Mandy's Recipe Box, Ladybug Blessings, Setting for Four, Dessert Now, Dinner Later, Sugar Bee Crafts, A Pretty Life in the Suburbs, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Ducks n' a Row, SNAP, Tatertots and Jello, EMM, My Sweet Mission, Under the Table and Dreaming, Call Me PMc

Other Sandwiches You might like:

Philly CheeseSteak Sandwich on Pita

Easy Ravioli Lasagna Recipe

Hola Amigos! Once in a while we all deserve a break from the kitchen, take a few shortcuts but at the same achieve great and delicious results. This is that kind of recipe. Using frozen ravioli of any kind you would be able to create this lasagna in no time and great taste. 

It freezes wonderfully so you will probably want to  bake 2 and freeze 1 for another lazy day.

You put together your lasagna the same way you would a regular one.  Cover it up, bake and enjoy!

You know you have done a great job when you can cut your lasagna and see all the layers you carefully put together come out so pretty!

No one can complain there is not enough cheese on this lasagna! Add more veggies to yours by using spinach raviolis instead. Delicious!

Serve it with garlic bread or a green salad. This one is a main dish in itself

Here is the recipe for you friends. Enjoy and remember everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love. 

Besitos,

Lizy

Ravioli Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients

1 Pound Ground Beef

1 Jar (28 oz) You Favorite Spaghetti Sauce

1 1/2 Package (250z) Frozen Ravioli Cheese, Beef, Spinach, your choice

1  Cup Bechamel Sauce

1 (8oz ) Can Sliced Mushrooms (optional)

1 1/2 Cup Shredded Italian Cheese

Directions

In a large pan, over medium heat, brown beef until no longer pink. Add Spaghetti Sauce and season if necessary. 

Using a 9"x13" lasagna baking dish, layer a 1/3 of the beef sauce, half of the ravioli (frozen or cooked), bechamel sauce, mushrooms and half of the mix of Italian Cheeses. Repeat 1 more layer of ravioli, beef sauce and finish with the rest of the cheese.

Cover and bake in a 365 F oven for 40-45 minutes or until heated up.

Prep Time 30 minutes   Cooking Time 40-45 minutes  Servings 6-8 

Sharing my Lazy Recipe at these Fabulous Parties:

Life with the Crust Cut Off, The Shaffer Sisters, Rose Chintz Cottage, The Trendy Tree House, The Mandatory Mooch, Real Coake.com, The Crafty Blog Stalker, Live Laugh Rowe, 52 Mantels, Saving 4 Six, House of Hepworths, Sew Crafty Angel, A Handful Of Everything, Living Well, Spending Less, Consider me Inspired, Artsy Fartsy Mama, The Best Blog Recipes, Craftionary, Naptime Crafters, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, The Answer is Chocolate, Living Better Together, The Jenny Evolution, Becoming Martha, Happy Hour Projects, Rooted in Thyme, Home Maid Simple, One Tough Mother, Tidy Mom, 504 Main, The Pin Junkie, My Turn (for Us), Love and Laundry, Happy and Blessed Home, Chef Picky Kid and Me, Rattlebridge Farm, The Wondering Brain, Lovely Crafty Blog, A Little Claireification, Homemade Ginger, 4 Little Fergusons, 30 Handmade days, Five Days 5 Ways, Dessert Now, Dinner Later, Sew-Licious Home Decor, 4 You with Love, Angels Homestead, Be Different Act Normal, Too Much Time on my Hands, Cheerios and Lattes, It's Overflowing, Serenity You, Mama Gab, Spatulas on Parade, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Bowdabra, Cooking for the Seven Dwarfs, Titi Crafty, WCFS, Create with Joy, Frugal Foodie Mama, Claire Justine oxox, Uncommon Designs, Alderberry Hill, BoogieBoard Cottage, Flour Me with Love, Keeping It Simple, Sew Can Do, Cupcake-n-bake, Jembellish, Jam Hands, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Chicken Chick, Craft-o-Maniac, Huckleberry Love, Under the Table and Dreaming, Ms. enPlace, The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen, The Princess and her Cowboys, I Gotta Try That, Between Naps on the Porch, Who Needs a Cape, Love Grows Wild, Mandy's Recipe Box, Nap-Time Creations, Home Stories A to Z, Pint Sized Baker, Adventures of a DIY Mom, Sugar Bee Crafts, Our Home Away from Home, The Blackberry Vine, Feeding Big, Chef in Training, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Homemade Ginger, Smart School House,

Made to be a Momma, Ducks' n a Row, Daisy Cottage Designs, All She Cooks, The Lady Behind the Curtain, The Shady Porch, My Girlish Whims, Fluster Buster, Designed Decor, Lori's Culinary Creations,

French Country Cottage, I Heart Nap Time, Le Chateau des Fleurs, CrazyLou Creations, Six Sister's Stuff