......Care to hear tonight's special??

Bonjour ; Bonjourno ; Hola ; WHAT UP! I've recently discovered that my newest passion is COOKING. I soooo love to cook for friends and family & have them tell me that I should pursue it as a career. So, for those of you who are looking to make a yummy meal & wow someone you love, take notes :-) On the menu for tonight is a 2-meat Meatloaf, potatoes Au Gratin & sauteed string beans!

2-meat Meatloaf: (serves about 4 ppl)

1 lb. ground beef 1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 lb. ground pork balsamic vinegar
2 medium onions
2 eggs
1/2 cup breadcrumbs (seasoned or unseasond)
2 tblsp salt
1 tblsp ground black pepper

-PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 degrees. combine the ground beef and pork in a bowl (leave meat out for a while b4 cooking, cold meats are NEVER good to place in a hot oven or stove). dice the onions to a medium dice (not to chunky & not to small). cook the onions until they become translucent (a bit see thru). set the onions aside b/c you DO NOT want to add hot ingredients to the room temperature meat. after, the onions have cooled, add them into the bowl of ground meats along with the 2 eggs, breadcrumbs, salt & pepper. once the mixture is molded in to a loaf-like shape, mix the ketchup and balsamic vinegar together until the consistencey is of a glaze. slather glaze on meatloaf BEFORE putting it in the oven. let the loaf cook for 45 mins. and when it is done, let it rest for about 15 minutes. the meatloaf is still cooking once you take it out of the oven & if u cut into it prematurely, the juices will go to waste!


Potatoes Au Gratin: (serves about 4 ppl)

5 large potatoes
1 cup parmesean cheese (grated)
1 cup asiago cheese (grated)
1 qt heavy cream
2 tblsp salt
1 tblsp ground black pepper

-PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 degrees. peel & cut potatoes on the round. potatoes should be cut a little thicker than a potatoe chip. grate about a cup of parmesean & asiago cheeses ( you can use or own combo of cheeses). combine all ingredients into a baking/casserole dish (you don't have to use the full quart of heavy cream, just until it covers the potatoes a bit. you still want to be able to see the potatoes.) cook at 350 degrees for 30 mins & for the last 10 mins, turn the heat up to 425 to create a delicious crust atop the potatoes.

Sauteed String Beans: (serves about 4 ppl)

1 large package of fresh string beans
5 cloves of garlic
2 tblsp extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

-to prep, cut of both tips of string beans and wash in cold water. place the string beans in a bowl half-full of water and microwave for 1 minute. while the beans are blanching, mince finely the cloves of garlic and heat up a skillet with the oil. add the garlic to the pan while it is still cold, so to not burn the garlic. once the string beans are done blanching, remove them from the water and add to garlic & olive oil (becareful of splattering b/c there is still some water on the beans). cook the string beans on a medium heat & they are done when the skin looks a bit singed/crispy.

I hope that this recipe will be enjoyed by all!! Many more to come........