Thanksgiving Sandwiches

I'm alive! Very much so.

I did not go AWOL exactly. I got a full-time job working in a High School as an aide for a mental health program. It is awesome but I am doing that on top of being a sign language interpreter and a captionist.

Needless to say, I have a lot on my plate. We all know I like to fill my plate up ;)

I don't have as much time to blog and cook like I used to but I hope to keep it up somewhat.

Yesterday was one of my most favorite days of the year...the first day of fall! I'm so ready for cozy sweaters, crock-pot meals and pumpkin spice lattes!

If anyone else is excited already for Thanksgiving, and just cannot wait, you oughtta try out a Thanksgiving sandwich. I actually made this months ago because I was spontaneously hit and overcome with a craving for a Thanksgiving dinner. That is not so easy to come by in the middle of May so I made this gem.

It tastes like the holidays. Trust me.

Thanksgiving Sandwiches
Dame Good

Ingredients:
Serves 6-8

Turkey:
1.5 lbs of turkey breast
1/3 cup apple cider
1/3 cup chicken stock
1/2 tablespoon thyme
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

1 box reduced-sodium stuffing
1 can cranberry sauce
light mayonnaise
Wheat hamburger buns

Directions:

Combine all of the turkey ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 5-7 hours. Shred with two forks.

Cook stuffing according to box instructions.

Assemble sandwiches by putting desired amount of cranberry sauce on bottom bun, top with shredded turkey. Scoop stuffing on top of the turkey. Put desired amount of mayonnaise on top bun and enjoy!

Birthday Cake Batter Oreo Pudding

It amazes me how easy it is to take things in life for granted.

A couple nights ago, some crazy wind/thunderstorms whipped through and caused hundreds of thousands in the area to lose power.

Some people are without power for days. I lost mine for approximately 20 minutes and thought I was going to die.

What on earth did they do before there was electricity? I mean really?!

Things like electricity, having a car and warm water are so second-nature to us now that when we lose it we have panic attacks.

It is a little bit sad. We all need to appreciate the little things in life more.

When I say "we" I definitely mean "I". As soon as the lights snapped off and the air conditioner stopped humming my heart dropped into my belly and I developed a nervous sweat. I immediately thought "OMG I am going to die...this is it". 

Then ten minutes later it was "OMG I am so bored, there is no purpose for life without electricity". 

Yes. It is sad. 

I wouldn't make it an hour in the wilderness.

I have a new and much stronger respect for you "man that 127 hours movie is about".

You're a super hero.

In sticking with the "simple things" theme...which I think I touch on a lot. I simplified one of my favorite new "Dame Good Recipes" for those who don't want to go through all the steps.

Anyone want to make that Birthday Cake Batter Oreo Cake? Feeling too lazy? Try this.

Birthday Cake Batter Oreo Pudding
Dame Good

Makes close to 3 cups

Ingredients:

1 (1 oz) package fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
2 cups skim milk
1/4 cup yellow cake mix (dry)
1/3 cup jimmies (sprinkles)
6 oreo cookies, crushed (birthday cake oreos if you have them)

Directions:

In a medium-sized bowl mix the pudding mix and milk. Stir constantly until mixture thickens. Add the cake mix and stir until combined. Add the oreos and sprinkles, stir just until incorporated. Enjoy!

German Style Potato Salad

I love the neighborhood I live in....

The streets are made of brick and are incredibly uneven. The houses were built a hundred years ago and look like cottages that were plucked straight out of Germany and dropped into Columbus, Ohio.

Each house looks like it has its own fascinating story as the steel gates are rusted and the gardens are extravagant. You can usually poke your neighbors house just by sticking your hand out the window.

I love it.

It's not for everybody but I appreciate it. Growing up with strong German roots, German Village feels like home to me. I appreciate the shabby aspect of this neighborhood. I love the idea of walking into a cottage with wood floors, brick walls and claw foot bathtubs and calling it home.

I'm a little creepy in that when I go for runs around the neighborhood and see a new house for sale, I do an about turn and run home to Google the house just so I can take a peek on what the inside beholds.

My grandma always makes this German Potato salad that I crave at least weekly. When I Google "German Potato Salad" in the hopes of finding something similar to hers, nothing seems to compare...

But I always see recipes similar to this. I played around with it and decided it HAD to have sauerkraut. It's a must.

German Style Potato Salad
Dame Good

Ingredients:

4 potatoes
4 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped (I like to bake my bacon :))
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoons white sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
8 ounces sauerkraut
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop.

Add the olive oil, flour, sugar, water and vinegar to skillet and cook over medium heat until dressing is thick.

Add bacon, potatoes, sauerkraut and green onions to skillet and stir until coated. Cook until heated and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Army Chow

I can't believe the words are coming off of my fingers but I have officially graduated college.

6 years. Done.

It is a surreal feeling. All I have known for the past 6 years is college and being a stressed out student. Now I am a professional sign language interpreter and actually have time to do things like read, or blog, or do nothing.

I can do nothing if I want now.

!

This weekend I celebrated graduation with a few family members at a lake 2 hours from Columbus. It was a blast to throw back some margaritas, olive dip (to die for) and cupcakes.

I can't think of anything better than enjoying a body of water with a few of the people who mean the most to you.

I thought I should post something that has always been a favorite of mine growing up. I don't know what it is because there is really nothing special about this recipe...but I've always loved it.

When I visit my grandparents in Minnesota and step into the familiar home and get a lung-full of that comforting smell that you can only describe by labeling it as Grandma's house, I immediately get a pang and yearning for German potato salad, German pancakes, fried bread and army chow.

I believe this is something they would literally eat in the army. It is simple and no fuss and maybe that is what I like about it.

Making this for that man of mine here in Columbus really made me miss eating it around the kitchen table I have known for years around the people I don't get to see enough.

Army Chow
Dame Good (family recipe)

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

4 slices of wheat bread, toasted
1 can of reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1 cup crumbled turkey sausage
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1/2 tablespoon skim milk
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium-sized pot, heat the mushroom soup, turkey sausage, salt and pepper over medium heat.

Combine the eggs, egg whites, milk, hot sauce, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix. Heat a skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Pour the egg mixture into the pre-heated skillet. Allow to cook for 2-5 minutes or until it begins to bubble on top and brown on the bottom.

Carefully flip the egg and cook an additional 2-5 minutes.

When the gravy is heated and the egg is cooked, divide the gravy evenly and pour over top of the toast. Divide the egg evenly and cut it into portions (I like to divide it into fours). Top the gravy with the egg and enjoy!

Green Olive Chicken

I have the Real Housewives of Orange County on right now. There is a lot of squealing and shrieking.

I want it to stop but I can't look away.

Help.

Once, I saw a recipe on some random food site and was excited when I saw that it was olive chicken. I love olives...and I love chicken! But I was disappointed when I saw the reviews.

I think it had like 3 stars or something.

Meaning it is time to take matters into my own hands.

I threw this together. I found that I made a bit too much of the sauce and that it was just a little thin. I tried to counteract that with cornstarch and reduce the liquid content.

Hopefully this is better.

Green Olive Chicken
Dame Good

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried mustard
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive juice (from jar)
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:

Season chicken with salt, pepper, dried mustard and celery salt. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat; brown chicken in oil, about 5 minutes each side. Remove chicken and set aside.

Add wine, broth, olive and lemon juice to the skillet and let simmer for 2 minutes over medium heat. Add onion, olives, Add garlic, bay leaf, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper (to taste) and mix well, Let simmer for 5 minutes. Add chicken back into skillet.

Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Flip the chicken halfway through. Remove bay leaf. Remove chicken and set aside. Add cornstarch to the sauce in the skillet and stir until thickened. Pour the thickened sauce over chicken serve.

Turkey Sausage Pancakes

I am a huge fan of sweet and salty.

When I go to the movies, I like to get a popcorn and pour an entire bag of peanut m&ms in it and shovel the salty sweet stickyness into my big mouth while watching the movie.

I'm also that weird person who dips their Wendy's french fries in my chocolate frosty. It's so good its gross.

Makes sense yeah?

This is a crazy recipe I came up with that you will either love or you will hate. If you are strange like me and enjoy dipping your french fries into ice cream then try it. If not, maybe you should avoid this one.

I like it. It reminded me of a McGriddle. That's another one of my sweet and salty guilty pleasures.

Mmm...McGriddles...

Turkey Sausage Pancakes
Dame Good

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup skim milk, plus more if necessary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon artificial sweetener
1/2 cup turkey sausage crumbles

Directions:

Sift together flour and baking powder, set aside. Beat together the egg, milk, salt and artificial sweetener in a bowl. Stir in flour until just moistened, add sausage, and stir to incorporate.

Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn, and continue cooking until golden brown.

Serve with sugar free syrup. 

S'mores Oatmeal

I have been sucked into yet another predictable season of 'The Bachelorette"...I know it's wrong, but I just don't wanna be right!

I know every season is the same. There's the smooth talker whose too good to be true, and the weirdo who comes on with a weird prop or persona and the guy with the heart-wrenching story...it always ends the same with two strangers professing their undying love for each other and spout out empty promises about it lasting forever...when really I think only one season out of the 700 has lasted...and who knows how happy they are?

I know these things. I know it is cheesy and the dates are too out-of-this-world to be even somewhat realistic but man I love some cheese.

I can't help but get excited to sit down on the couch with some sinful dessert and a cup of tea and my coziest sweats and dive in.

I guess we'll call it a guilty pleasure.

We all know I have plenty of those. Ahem, shoes, chocolate, cheesecake, trashy tv, chocolate, my iPhone, chocolate, girly books...just to name a few.

I guess this oatmeal is a little bit guilty too. Just a TAD. Or more than a tad. Whatev, have some while you watch "The Bachelorette"...you get my approval.

S'mores Oatmeal
Dame Good

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup mini marshmallows
1 graham cracker sheet (2 squares), broken into pieces
1 packet of splenda

Directions:

In a microwave-safe bowl combine oats, vanilla, water, milk and splenda. Microwave on high for 1 1/2-2 minutes, or until thickened.

Stir in the chocolate chips, marshmallows and graham cracker pieces. (Don't let it sit too long or the graham crackers will get soggy. Uncool) Enjoy!

Birthday Oreo Pudding "Cake"

Woe is me.

I meant to post this recipe way back when I was freaking out about the introduction of Birthday Cake Oreos...Perhaps the excitement caused me to go temporarily insane.

If there are still boxes of those Birthday Cake Oreos to be found, or you still have a box waiting in your pantry (btw you must be crazy) then pay attention!

I love Oreo desserts. Love them. When those Oreos came out I knew I had to come up with something. Since they taste kind of like cake batter I went that route...naturally.

Anyway, who doesn't love Oreo/dirt pudding?

Exactly. Well this version has cream cheese, cake batter and sprinkles.

You're welcome.

No, seriously. When I made this I could not get it in my mouth fast enough. I'm typically a slow eater but this little dessert made me abandon all reason and manners. I grabbed the biggest spoon I could find and went to town with a "pudding-eating-grin" on my face.

I really want some now. Why did I have to eat all my oreos?!

(BTW you can obviously still make this with regular Oreos, the bday ones just bump it up a notch)

Birthday Oreo Pudding "Cake"

Dame Good

Ingredients:

1 (10.5 ounce) package birthday cake oreos (or regular if you cant find them)
1/4 cup  light butter
1 (16 ounce) container fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 (8 ounce) packages neaufchatel cream cheese
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 cups skim milk
1 (3.5 ounce) package fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
1/4 cup yellow cake mix (dry)
1/2 cup sprinkles

Directions:

Crush cookies into bite size pieces. Reserve 3/4 cup for top. Melt butter and mix with rest of cookies. Press into 8x8 (or 9x9) pan. Put in freezer for 5 minutes.

Blend 1/2 of the whipped topping, all of the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Spread over crust and place cake back in freezer.

Prepare instant pudding with the milk according to package directions. Add cake mix and 1/4 cup sprinkles to the pudding. Spread the pudding over top of cake. Spread the remaining whipped topping on top of the pudding then sprinkle with the remaining cookie and sprinkles. Keep cake refrigerated.

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

I've been making up crazy recipes lately.

I'm kinda liking it.

I made this buffalo chicken lasagna and loved it...s'mores oatmeal, fluffernutter oatmeal, reuben quesedillas, turkey sausage panakes...I must have gotten some kind of creative bug.

Buffalo chicken anything seems to be huge right now. I'm loving it because I have always been a huge fan of buffalo chicken. I can't open a bag of buffalo chicken pretzel crips without devouring the whole bag. Whoops.

I don't know about this though. A buffalo chicken milkshake?! I like weird things but this may be a little too weird. Has anyone tried it? You are a brave soul if you have.

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna
Dame Good

Ingredients:

9 whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 3/4 pound)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 lbs chicken breast, cooked and shredded
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups buffalo sauce (get the mildest version)
2 cups fat-free ranch, or blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup fat-free greek yogurt
1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
8 ounces reduced-fat crumbled blue cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups celery, chopped fine
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup reduced-fat grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 cup scallions, chopped

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cook the noodles al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain them well and spread them out onto aluminum foil or waxed paper to prevent them from sticking.

In a separate bowl, combine the buffalo sauce, ranch and greek yogurt. Mix well.

Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add garlic. Season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the buffalo and ranch sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Add shredded chicken.

In a medium bowl combine the ricotta cheese, blue cheese crumbles, egg, the rest of the salt and pepper.

Spread 1 cup of buffalo ranch sauce on the bottom of a 9 by 12-inch baking dish. Layer 3 noodles on top of the sauce and spread half of the ricotta mixture. Spread half a cup of buffalo ranch chicken on that. Repeat a second layer again with 3 noodles, the other half of ricotta and half a cup of sauce. Layer the final 3 noodles on top of that. Spread the remaining 1/2 cups of sauce over the lasagna rolls. Top with the cheeses, cover loosely with foil, and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes more.

Top with scallions.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

I wish I could claim this as my idea.

Carrot cake oatmeal is kinda genius no?

My boss actually gave me the idea. She told me how she came across a recipe for carrot cake oatmeal online somewhere and I decided to come up with my own.

Because I'm stubborn dangerous like that.

I actually never liked the idea of carrot cake until I tried one of the carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting at the bakery...um...yum! As a kid, I thought the idea was gross. Carrots in a cake? No thank you!

Now, I take that back. Please put carrots in my cake. Anyone?

Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Dame Good

Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup skim milk
1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup carrots, shredded
2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1 tablespoon plain greek yogurt
1 packet of splenda (optional, if you would like more sweetness)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 1/2-2 minutes or until thickened. Enjoy!

Low-Carb and Low-Sugar Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

I recently noticed something about myself.

It may be a combination of my OCD or the fact that I almost always feel overwhelmed but more than once a day it seems that I check my phone with the intentions of finding out the time only to realize a few short minutes later that I was not paying attention and did not in fact have a clue what time it was.

I feel like this isn't normal.

Someone help me.

Maybe I can blame Instagram. Yeah, Instagram distracts me.

See? Anybody have any ideas on how to justify taking random pictures of nothing and spending too much time uploading them using various fun settings and looks? No?

I'll work on it.

This here recipe is one that took a lot of work. I actually made it for Christmas.

Procrastination what?

I offered to bring dessert (shocker) and was told my uncle recently started a low-carb/low-sugar diet. I started racking my brain on how to transform a cheesecake recipe to fit his dietary needs.

I wanted to make something festive and my mind instantly went to this little "hole in the wall" Italian restaurant that man of mine and I went to months ago. I had this smoked gouda mac and cheese with sausage and we finished our delightful meal sharing a mint chocolate chip cheesecake.

Yeah, it exists.

But not so much in "recipeland" so I decided to come up with one myself...that's also low in sugar and low in carbs. I combined about 997 recipes online and prayed to the cooking Gods...

Pretty sure I held my breath the entire time but low-and-behold (is that the appropriate phrase? meh...) it worked out! It was a hit and nobody could tell it was not only reduced sugar and carbs but also reduced fat.

Merry Christmas to all!

Low-Carb and Low-Sugar Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Dame Good

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 ½ cups ground almonds (or pecans or walnuts)
1 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons Splenda sugar substitute
4 tablespoons melted light butter
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Cheesecake:
3 (8 ounce) boxes neufchatel cream cheese , room temp
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
2 teaspoons green food coloring (or more if preferred)
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
3 eggs
20 (1 g) packets Splenda sugar substitute or 1 ¼ cups Splenda granular
1/2 cup andes mint chips (optional)


Directions:

Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9" springform pan with cooking spray.

Place nuts in bowl of a food processor; pulse until ground into a meal. Add Splenda, butter and cocoa powder (optional) pulse to combine.

Transfer nut mixture to a 9" springform pan and gently press to form a crust on bottom of pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes Remove from oven and cool.

Cheesecake:
Mix cream cheese in mixer until smooth. Add sour cream. Add 1 egg at a time.

Add splenda, peppermint extract, green food coloring and mix until smooth. Add chocolate chips and mix until combined.

Spray that sides of springform pan with cooking spray and pour in cheesecake mixture. Top with andes mint chocolate chips. Place cheesecake in a larger pan with enough water so that the water goes up 1/3 to 1/2 up the side of your cheesecake.

Bake 38-45 minutes at 375 degrees until cheesecake is set.

Ham and Cheese Dip

I have a new obsession.

Instagram.

I know.

That man of mine teases me about my new compulsion to take pictures of any and everything. This was definitely the case on St. Patrick's Day.

What can I say? Beautiful weather makes me crazy happy.

I hope everyone else had a good holiday weekend as well!

I love when a recipe I create actually works out.

I'll admit it. This is not always the case.

In fact, last week I concocted what seemed to be a very promising peanut butter granola. Wrong! I burnt it so bad that it was beyond salvageable. Fail.

I discovered my love of food and creating it when I was around 5 and I was taking everything out of my mom's pantry and throwing it into a giant pot of boiling water and calling it soup.

Since that time I have had many fails, and some pleasant surprises. This dip concoction is one that is now a staple for me. Anytime I go to a potluck or some kind of holiday party, this is one of the ones I always like to whip up.

It's a crowd-pleaser and it's simple to whip together. It's my favorite around Christmastime...maybe because of it's festive colors :)

Ham and Cheese Dip
Dame Good

Ingredients:

16 ounces neufchatel cream cheese, softened
1 cup fat-free sour cream
9 oz lean thin-sliced ham, shredded
1 cup reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 cup green onions, chopped
1 oz dry ranch seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Stir together the cream cheese, sour cream and ranch seasoning. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until combined. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chilled. (I prefer this dip with ritz crackers the best! :))