Sloppy Joes

Despite my STRONG aversion to the store-bought, meat-in-a-can version of this dinner, I do love homemade sloppy joes, and to keep up with my recent ode to summer meals, I thought I'd share this recipe with you all! You can find the recipe here. It's originally from Rachel Ray, and love her or hate her, these "sammies" are pretty dang good. Serve them with grilled corn on the cob, watermelon, and fries for an easy summer meal that promises plenty of leftovers throughout the week! Happy eating!

Rich Buttermilk Waffles

Now I know that waffles aren't especially hard to make, but they can be especially delicious with the right recipe and waffle maker (waffle makers from your friends always help the treats taste more delicious- thank you Hardys!) This recipe is from a delightful cookbook called How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman. Like most of the other recipes I've been using lately, it's cheap and delicious!

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (or a little more) sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 3/4 cup buttermilk OR (and I prefer the substitution) 1 1/2 cups sour cream thinned with 1/4 cup (I used a lot more) milk.
2 eggs, separated
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
canola or other neutral oil for brushing the waffle iron

1) Combine dry ingredients. Mix together the buttermilk(or sour cream/milk) and the egg yolks. Stir in the butter and vanilla (if you are using it).

2) Brush the waffle iron lightly with oil and preheat it. Stir the wet into the dry ingredients. Beat egg whites with whisk or electric mixer until they hold soft peaks. Fold them gently into the batter.

3) Spread about 1/2 cup of batter onto the waffle iron (depending on the size of your iron) and bake until the waffle is done, usually 3-5 minutes. (ours cook faster) Serve immediately or keep warm for a few minutes in a low oven.

Real maple syrup (a splurge, but worth it) sets off the tanginess of the waffles and takes them from good to great. Serve with fresh fruit and bacon and you are good to go.

Bean Tostadas

This isn't really a recipe, but it is really delicious. We eat this...more regularly than I'd like to admit. Still, it's easy, cheap, and we nearly always have all the ingredients on hand!

Basic Version:
*Corn Tortillas
*Vegetable Oil (for frying tortillas)
*Refried Beans
*Chopped/Shredded Lettuce (preferably not iceberg but anything else works fine)
*Salsa (We like Herdez) or at the very least some good hot sauce (Valentina)
*Corn
*Green Chiles (canned are fine)

Deluxe Version:
same as above, but add the following ingredients if you have cash to spare! :)
*Shredded Cheddar Cheese
*Non-fat plain yogurt, or sour cream (you really can't tell the difference).
*Shredded grilled or poached chicken
*Fresh tomatoes

Fry the tortillas in oil until just crisp. They should be flat and round. If you like them soft, don't fry them as long! Let tortillas drain on paper towels until ready to eat. Pile tostadas with beans and then add whatever other ingredients you have on hand. Then sit down and eat. These are very filling (more than you might think) and delectable. If you're on the deluxe budget, you could serve some calabacitas and watermelon with this. Otherwise, everything you need is piled on top. :) We love this dinner and hope you will too!