Bacon, Potato, and Onion Torte

Melissa d’Arabian makes a version of this a feel good fill your belly dinner…I added a few things to her recipe, you all know about my recipe OCD and it turned out pretty lip smacking!  Give it a try.  The kids will love it!

recipes for kids side dishes dinner    Bacon, Potato, and Onion Torte

By Melissa d’Arabian with some Fitz tweaks by me

Serves: 6   Prep Time: 45 minutes  Cook time:  1 hour 10 minutes

6 strips bacon

1 medium onion, chopped  recipes for kids side dishes dinner    Bacon, Potato, and Onion Torte

3 sprigs fresh thyme

1 cup heavy cream

2 Pie Crusts, recipe follows

3 medium baking potatoes, peeled

S&P

1 cup grated Gruyere cheese

1 egg yolk, whisked with a splash of water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

recipes for kids side dishes dinner    Bacon, Potato, and Onion TorteIn a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until just crispy. Drain on paper towel lined plate and set aside. Crumble the bacon when cool to the touch.  Saute chopped onion in reserved bacon drippings over medium low heat until soft, 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the thyme and cream over low heat to a bare simmer. Turn off the heat and let steep for about 5 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs.

Remove the pie pan from the refrigerator. Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise and then finely slice the potatoes. Arrange the potato slices in the pie crust, stopping to season each layer with salt, pepper, and some  of your cheese and crumbled bacon. Continue layering until the pie pan is nearly full.recipes for kids side dishes dinner    Bacon, Potato, and Onion Torte Top with a layer of the cheese and gently pour cream around and over the entire pie, allowing it to seep down between the potato slices.

Roll out the remaining disk of refrigerated dough. Cover the pie with the dough and crimp the edges closed. Brush the top and edges of the crust with egg wash. Make a few slits in the center of the top crust, for the steam to escape, and put the pie pan on a baking sheet. Bake the torte until the crust is browned and crispy and the potatoes are cooked through, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. If the crust edges get too brown, cover them with some strips of aluminum foil. Remove the pie from the oven and let rest at least 15 minutes.  Serve with a side salad.

recipes for kids side dishes dinner    Bacon, Potato, and Onion Torte

Pie Crust:

1 cup butter (2 sticks), cubed and chilled

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

8 to 10 tablespoons ice water

Put the butter, flour, and salt in the food processor, and pulse lightly just until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing briefly after each spoonful of water. Keep adding water until the dough just begins to gather into larger clumps. Transfer equal amounts of the dough into 2 resealable plastic bags and pat each into a disk. recipes for kids side dishes dinner    Bacon, Potato, and Onion TorteLet rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Remove 1 of the disks from the bag to a flour coated surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to a 10-inch round. Gently fit the rolled dough into a 9-inch pie pan, and refrigerate while you prepare the torte ingredients.

Oven Baked Fish Sticks n’ Chips

Do your kids love fish sticks as much as mine do?  Isn’t it funny how even the pickiest eater will for some reason gobble down those little fishies if they’re deep fried and slathered with tartar sacue?  Ok, well I’d eat almost anything if it was deep friend and slathered in tartar sauce.

Even my little brother growing up who ate nothing but peanut butter LOVED those fish sticks.  Granted he dipped them in applesauce, but I never said he was normal.

Anyway my kids love their Groton Fisherman, but I wanted something a little healthier.  I wanted to know where my fish was coming from and I wanted them to help me make it.  I also wanted to nix the frying, we all get plenty of fried food right?  So here it is…Oven Baked Fish Sticks n’ Chips!  They’re so delicious and if your kid thinks they’re afraid of fish, tell ‘em it’s chicken.

Oh yeah, I said it, I’m not above a little white lie to get my kids over the hump.  That’s how my Dad got me to eat sushi.  He told me the eel was chicken.  It was so good there was no going back…but that’s another story.
recipes for kids kid favorite recipes healthy eating for kids dinner    Oven Baked Fish Sticks n Chips

Serves: 4                         Prep time: 15 minutes                        Cook time: 35 minutes

FOR THE FISH STICKS:

1 ½ lbs                                  halibut fillet

1 c                                    all purpose flour

1 t                                    garlic powder

1 t                                     paprika

3                                     egg whites

½ c                                    milk

2 c                                    panko bread crumbs

½ c                                    parmesan cheese

2 T                                    extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

S&P

FOR THE FRIES:

2 large                                    russet potatos

1 T                                    extra virgin olive oil

1 clove                                    garlic chopped

S&P

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Slice your potatoes in half lengthwise.  Slice the half in half so you have quarters.  recipes for kids kid favorite recipes healthy eating for kids dinner    Oven Baked Fish Sticks n ChipsThen slice each quarter in thirds.  Place all your potato slices on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil, chopped garlic, and S&P.  Mix well with your fingers to coat and bake at 425 for 30 minutes.

recipes for kids kid favorite recipes healthy eating for kids dinner    Oven Baked Fish Sticks n ChipsCut your halibut fillet in half so it is about ½ inch thick.  Then cut the halibut into 1 inch wide pieces.  Pat them dry with a paper towel and set aside.  Get out three large bowls.  recipes for kids kid favorite recipes healthy eating for kids dinner    Oven Baked Fish Sticks n ChipsAdd in your flour, garlic powder and paprika to the first, the egg whites and milk to the second, and the breadcrumbs, cheese and S&P to the third.  Mix to combine all the ingredients in each bowl.  Beat the egg white and milk with a whisk for a minute or two.

Pour 2 T of olive oil onto a baking sheet and spread around to cover.  Dip each fish stick into the flour mixture.  Shake off excess flour and dip into the egg/milk bowl.  Then dip into the bread crumbs and lay onto your baking sheet in a single layer.  recipes for kids kid favorite recipes healthy eating for kids dinner    Oven Baked Fish Sticks n ChipsContinue with the rest of your fish sticks.  Drizzle the fish with a bit more olive oil and put into the oven.  Bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until nicely browned.   Serve with tartar sauce or ketchup for dipping, and veggie crudite for dunking!

recipes for kids kid favorite recipes healthy eating for kids dinner    Oven Baked Fish Sticks n Chips

Meaty Morsel:  You can make this same recipe with other types of fish!  Try omega 3 rich salmon or super easy tilapia (a very nice and mild white fish).  You can even try it with some jumbo shrimp, just cut down on the cooking time by about 8-10 minutes.

MAma Mia Meatballs!!!!

I don’t know what they’re  thinking as it’s blazing hot outside but the boys were dying for some meatballs!!!!  Ma?  Can we have meatballs?  Ma? I want spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  Maaaaa?????  Are we having meatballs?  MAMA MIA, YES!!!  For the love of all that is holy we will have some meatballs for dinner, and as you’ll see later this week for leftovers since in this heat and humidity if you put your time in slaving in front of the oven you’ve earned yourself a leftover meal!  Mangia, mangia!

recipes for kids kid favorite recipes dinner    MAma Mia Meatballs!!!!

1 1/2 lb  ground beef, veal, pork mix (also known as meatloaf mix)

3 T  milk

2 cloves chopped garlic

1 small onion grated

¾ c  bread crumbs

1 egg

¼ c  parmesan cheese

2 T chopped italian parsley

S&P

1/4 cup olive oil

flour for sprinkling

recipes for kids kid favorite recipes dinner    MAma Mia Meatballs!!!!Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Set a large skillet over medium high heat.  While your olive oil gets hot make your meatballs.  In a large bowl combine the first 9 ingredients.  With clean hands work the ingredients until they are incorporated then form into golf sized balls.  Dust the meatballs with flour.  Working in batches brown each meatball on all sides in your hot olive oil.  Place the browned meatballs in a casserole dish and bake at 375 for 25 minutes until cooked through.

Serve with pasta and marinara sauce.recipes for kids kid favorite recipes dinner    MAma Mia Meatballs!!!!

My Kid Likes Fruit? Cobbler

We’re on our way to go berry picking today.  After moving to such a rural area we’re embracing our farmer neighbors and going out to get our berry on.  Ok, for the record, it’s hardly rural…but when you’ve lived in nothing but big cities, LA, NYC, and Boston, then move to a place where there’s only 4 or 5 streets in town you’re allowed to drive over 25 mph it’s a huge adjustment.  And my house is on an entire acre!  An ACRE!!!  You have any idea what this would cost in LA County????  I don’t even want to think about it.  Anyway, we’re off to pick strawberries today.  I think a strawberry rhubarb pie might be in order shortly but in the meantime you’ll have to check out my blueberry/peach cobbler.  It’s insane.  Yeah, I said it, INSANE!!!  I dare you to make it and not eat the whole thing in one sitting…

recipes for kids kids desserts kid favorite recipes fruits    My Kid Likes Fruit? Cobbler

4 c                                    blueberries

4                                     peaches, peeled and sliced

2 sticks                        unsalted butter, divided

1 c                                    sugar, divided

2 T                                    corn starch

1 T                                    lemon juice

1 t                                    ground cinnamon

¾ t                                    salt, divided

1 ½ c                                    all purpose flour

2 T                                    baking powder

¾ c                                    heavy cream

1 whole                        egg

1 T                                    water

2 T                                    sugar in the raw

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  In a large pot melt 4 T butter.  Cut remaining butter into cubes and place in freezer.  Add blueberries, peaches, and ½ cup sugar to the melted butter.  Stir in corn starch, lemon juice, cinnamon, and ¼ t salt.  Mix well, and turn off heat.

In your food processor sift in flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, and remaining salt.  Pulse quickly to combine.  Add in butter from the freezer and pulse until the flour mixture looks like sand.  Pour in cream and pulse again quickly just until the dough comes together and is slightly sticky.

Beat your egg in a small bowl and add water.  Set aside.

Pour your fruit mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.  Drop the dough by spoonfuls onto the fruit mixture, spread it out as it will all cook together in the oven.  Brush the top of the batter with egg wash then sprinkle on sugar.

recipes for kids kids desserts kid favorite recipes fruits    My Kid Likes Fruit? CobblerPlace the pan on a baking sheet to catch “bubble over” and bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with ice cream or whip cream.  You kids are sure to love this fruit!

Meaty Morsel:  Switch up your fillings with this cobbler.  Try raspberry/nectarine or peach/apple, or mixed berry!  It’s always delicious and a big crowd pleaser.

I’m linking up today to meet some new Thursday friends.  If you’re new here, welcome.  Pull up a chair.  Can I get you a cup of coffee with your cobbler?

recipes for kids kids desserts kid favorite recipes fruits    My Kid Likes Fruit? Cobbler

Fo’ Shizzel my Schnitzel

Last week I was feeling a bit blah.  I couldn’t think of anything new to make, so I went blog surfing and I hit my good friend Julie’s blog over at Mommie Cooks and she had recently made some schnitzel.  Hmmm, schnitzel?  Ok, even the word is funny.  Say it with me…schnitzel…draw it out like…shniiiiiit-seeellll.  What?  I’ve never really made schnitzel, in fact, I wasn’t 100 percent sure what it was made out of.  All I could think of was that hot dog place, which as far as I can tell has absolutely nothing to do with schnitzel whatsoever.  Anyway, I read up and made the stuff, turns out it’s really really good.  The hubs was moved, moved I tell ya…You gotta try it.  See what I found out below there…
recipes for kids dinner    Fo’ Shizzel my Schnitzel

Little bit of history for you this fine Monday morn.  What the shiznet is a schnitzel?  Well, it is quite simply a breaded veal cutlet, or any pounded thin cut of meat.  Yup, that’s right, all the Italians out there are talking at the computer with their hands screaming, hey we invented cutlets, but au contraire mon frere, or in this case mein bruder, as the Germans whipped these bad boys up centuries ago.  Check out what Miriam-Webster says about zee schnitzel…

Main Entry: schnit·zel

Pronunciation: \ˈshnit-səl\

Etymology: German, literally, shaving, chip, diminutive of Schnitz slice, from Middle High German snitz; akin to Old High German snīdan to cut, Old English snīthan, and perhaps to Czech snět bough

See, how cute is that?  It means little slice.  And it is a little slice, it’s a little slice of heaven!  I made ours out of some pork chops that were on sale and threw them over a big salad.  Totally cost effective and delicious all at the same time.  The hubs ate 4!  Here’s how you make them.

Fitzpatrick’s Fo’ Shizzel my Pork Schnitzel

8 thin sliced pork chops pounded thin

2/3 cup flour

1 t garlic powder

S&P

2 eggs beaten

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

4 T olive oil divided

2 T butter, divided

2 sprigs of thyme, divided

2 cloves garlic whole, divided

1 lemon cut into wedges

Set out three bowls to make your breading stations.  In the first bowl combine your flour, garlic powder, and S&P.  In the second bowl, combine your eggs and milk, the panko bread crumbs in the third.  Start my dredging your cutlets in the flour.  Shake off any excess then dunk them into the second bowl of eggs and milk.  Finish off by putting them into the third bowl with the bread crumbs.  Place them on a baking sheet or cutting board and let them sit for about 10 minutes.

recipes for kids dinner    Fo’ Shizzel my SchnitzelIn a large skillet put 2 T of oil and 1 T of butter over medium high heat along with your 1 garlic clove and thyme sprig.  Once the oil has heated up remove the garlic and thyme and add in 2 cutlets.  Cook for about 3-4 minutes keeping an eye on them.  Flip them when they are golden brown, cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.  Remove from heat and sprinkle with salt.  Set under some tin foil to keep warm.  Repeat with 2 more cutlets.  Toss out your oil and butter and start fresh heating remaining 2 T of oil and 1 T butter and garlic and butter.  Repeat process for the remaining cutlets.  Squeeze some lemon over all the cutlets and serve immediately with additional lemon.  SOOOOO good!

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