Author: maggie black

Danny’s Doubledecker Tacos

dinner, mexican

ingredients

  • 6 hard shell tacos
  • 6 flour tortillas
  • 1 can refried beans, warmed up
  • 1 pack mexican rice
  • 1 lb ground beef/meat substitute
  • 1/2 pckg cojita cheese or nacho cheese if ya nasty (as Michael Scott would say)
  • mediterranean salad for serving
  • couldn’t hurt to have a little cilantro and lime

  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

instructions

  1. Heat a pan over medium heat and 1 tsp olive oil. When the pan is hot, add the meat/meat substitute. Cook, stirring often, until it begins to brown.
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  2. Add in the cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Cook until just browned.
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  3. Assemble the tacos!
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    1. Cook the flour tortilla on your gas range.
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    2. Coat one side of the tortilla in refried beans.
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    3. Press the bean side of the tortilla against the outer side of the hard shell taco like a cover.
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    4. Lay in the ground beef, rice, cheese, and salad if desired.

Adapted from www.howsweeteats.com/2019/01/ground-beef-tacos/

BBB Grilled Cheese (aka fancy af grilled cheese)

dinner, new american

ingredients

  • 2 pretzel rolls (or any really good bread)
  • a bunch of mozzarella (or any) cheese
  • 1 bunch basil
  • 1/2 pint blackberries (or any berry)
  • 2-4 tbsp balsamic reduction (make by heating balsamic in a pan with brown sugar until thickened)

instructions

  1. Warm the inside of the rolls to allow for easy melting. Then, put down a layer of cheese, a “layer” of berry mixture, and another layer of cheese (for dan, use slightly less than twice as much cheese).
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  2. Make dat grilled cheese.

Adapted from: https://rachaelray.com/blogs/recipes/grilled-cheese-with-blackberry-balsamic-and-basil-rachael-ray

616 Carne Asada Tacos

dinner, mexican

ingredients

  • 2 lb flank or skirt steak
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 jalepeno minced
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 1 tsp vinegar
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • Serve with cojita or queso fresco and pico (or instead of pico: mediterranean salad wink wink)

instructions

  1. Combine marinade ingredients in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag, then reserve half of the marinade in a separate container for serving later.
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  2. Add the steak to the bag and squish around to coat. Marinate for at least four hours to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the steak from the marinade.
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  3. Heat a heavy large skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat. Cook the meat for about 5-7 minutes per side (or until done).
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  4. To serve, cut meat against the grain. Then pour remaining marinade over the top of the steak.
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  5. Serve with whatever other shit you want!

Adapted from: https://thestayathomechef.com/authentic-carne-asada/ and https://damndelicious.net/2019/05/05/carne-asada/ (<– that one has good pics and videos for help!)

Mom’s Sicilian Pasta

dinner, mediterranean, pasta/grains

ingredients

  • 1 lb orecchiette
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
  • grated rind of one lemon
  • 1/2 cup raisins, soaked and dried
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 12 pint grape tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 1/2 cup basil, chopped (so good, but it’s fine if you skip this)
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, toasted
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • romano cheese (optional)

instructions

  1. While pasta cooks to al dente, saute garlic in olive oil in a large frying pan. After a minute or two, add red pepper, then lemon rind, basil, and pine nuts to taste.
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  2. Add sliced tomatoes. Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Put pasta in frying pan and mix, adding more water if needed. Stir in breadcrumbs. Top with romano if desired.

Dan’s Pan Cookie

dessert

“It’s a batch of cookies smushed into a pie pan.”

ingredients

Cookie

  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (2 stick) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 1/2 powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • SPRINKLES MF

instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325. Line the bottom of a big pie pan with parchment paper, spray with pam.
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  2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl.
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  3. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla extract in your stand mixer.
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  4. Add eggs, once at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and spread into pan.
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  5. Mix butter and sugar in the stand mixer. Then, beat in eggs and vanilla for 1-2 minutes, until fluffy and light in color.
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  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes (until just set), depending on the size of the pan tbh.
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  7. While it’s baking, make the buttercream frosting. In a perfectly clean and dry stand mixer, cream butter on medium for about 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk, salt, and vanilla. Beat on low speed for 30 sec, then high speed for 1 minute. Add more powdered sugar if too thin, more milk if too thick.
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  8. When cookie cools, frost around the edges (and in the middle if it sinks!). Maybe throw on some sprinkles or a happy birthday danny!

Adapted from https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/recipes/original-nestle-toll-house-chocolate-chip-pan-cookie and https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/favorite-chocolate-buttercream/.

Fudgy AF Brownies

dessert

ingredients

  • 8oz semisweet chocolate
  • 12 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 1/4 ups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp salt

instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Line an 8″ baking dish (or a big pie pan worked).
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  2. Melt half the chocolate and melt the butter!
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  3. Mix butter and sugar in the stand mixer. Then, beat in eggs and vanilla for 1-2 minutes, until fluffy and light in color.
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  4. Whisk in the melted chocolate (not too hot or it will cook the eggs!). Then add flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold to incorporate dry ingredients, careful not to overmix (this will cause the brownies to be more cake-like in texture).
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  5. Fold in the chocolate chunks/chips, then transfer to prepared baking dish.
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  6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the pan tbh. Enjoy!

Adapted from https://tasty.co/recipe/the-best-fudgy-brownies

Vegan Gyros with Roasted Potatoes

dinner, pasta/grains

ingredients

  • 1 can chickpeas
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 grated cucumber
  • 1/4 cup greek yogurt
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 3/4 tsp red wine (or plain) vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp lemon zest

  • pita bread
  • pre-made hummus
  • for serving (optional): tomato, lettuce, feta cheese

  • 1 lb (more or less whateva) red potatoes, chunks
  • 1 large onion (more or less or whateva), chunks
  • Olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano

instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400. Drain and rinse chickpeas. Dry with paper towels (wet ones won’t roast well). Generously grease a sheet pan with cooking spray.
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  2. Potatoes. Spread potato and onion on one half of a large sheet pan. Drizzle with oil, salt, pepper, oregano (optional) to taste. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes.
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  3. Chickpeas. While you wait, add chickpeas to a mixing bowl. Drizzle on oil, seasonings, salt, and pepper to taste. Toss until well coated, spread evenly on the other half of the baking sheet when 10 minutes is up. Roast for 18-22 minutes, tossing or shaking the tray at the halfway mark. Roast until crisp, but not hard.
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  4. Tzatziki. Meanwhile, grate cucumber the large holes of cheese grater. Line a small bowl with a few paper towels and place the grated cucumber on top. Squeeze out as much as extra moisture as you can to keep the sauce from being watery. Once it’s drained, add to a medium-sized bowl with the rest of the sauce ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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  5. Char the pita bread. Spray both sides of the pita with olive oil cooking spray and “grill” the bread on the stovetop over an open flame on medium heat until slightly charred about 10-15 seconds per side. Once charred immediately fold in half and cover with a clean towel until ready to serve.
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  6. Assembly. Spread hummus on one side. Press some chickpeas into the hummus to help them stay better. Add desired toppings and serve with potatoes!

Note: Double chickpeas and their seasonings if you want leftovers!

Adapted from https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/vegetarian-gyros/

Tuna Macaroni Salad

classic american, dinner, pasta/grains

ingredients

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni
  • 2 5oz cans tuna, drained
  • 1/2 jar gherkin pickles, diced
  • 3 hard boiled eggs (or skip)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt, pepper

instructions

  1. Start a large pot of water to boil. As soon as it’s boiling, add noodles and cook. Strain with cold water so noodles are room temp/cold.
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  2. Drain and shred tuna. Dice pickles (and optional eggs). Mix together with mayonnaise, sugar, salt, and pepper.
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  3. Mix noodles into tuna mixture. Done!

Hawaiian Sloppy Joes

dinner, new american

ingredients

  • 1 pack brioche or Hawaiian buns
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 pack bacon (8oz)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 5ish cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple (in 100% juice) not drained
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp each chili powder, salt
  • 1/2 tsp each ground ginger, smoked paprika, pepper

instructions

  1. Cook bacon till crispy. (Find a good way to do this).
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  2. Mix together everything from pineapple down.
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  3. Heat oil in a large saucepan, cook for a few min, add beef and cook until cooked through, stirring often.
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  4. Add sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. When done, crumble bacon into mixture and serve with toasted buns (and maybe cornbread too!).

Adapted from: https://carlsbadcravings.com/hawaiian-sloppy-joes