Skillet Sloppy Joe Pot Pie takes a weeknight dinner classic to the next level by baking it in a cast iron skillet topped with cheddar cheese and biscuits.

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Originally this was going to be my Pi Day recipe. My husband thought that it was a stretch to make a sloppy joe pot pie in a cast iron skillet topped with biscuits for Pi Day but it doesn’t have to be pie to celebrate pie day, it just has to be round! Cast iron skillets happen to be round. Although when I found out that National Sloppy Joe Day was on March 18th I decided to postpone. Instead I shared a Dubai chocolate tart for pie day which I think was a good trade off since now I got to have both.

The first time I made a sloppy joe pot pie it was topped with tater tots, but even when I precooked them before baking them on top I didn’t feel like the tater tots were crispy enough. Maybe I like my tater tots extra crispy (truth) but I was not prepared to share what I considered to be a lack-luster recipe. However I still wanted it to be a fairly simple recipe so I ended up using refrigerated biscuits instead. Yes the biscuits are going to be a but soggy but in this situation I am okay with it.

SKILLET SLOPPY JOE POT PIE WITH BISCUITS

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Yield: 8 Servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 35 Minutes 35 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 lb. ground sirloin
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and minced (~1-1/2 cups)
• 1 medium onion, peeled and minced (~1 cup)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp yellow mustard
• 1-1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded (~2 cups)
• 1 (16.3 oz.) can refrigerated biscuits (8 count)**

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F with a rack on the bottom third.
2. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet* over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up gently, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Remove meat to a paper-towel lined plate and return skillet with meat great to heat.
3. Add the onion and green bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Stir in the brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, salt, and pepper until evenly distributed. Add the beef back to the skillet along with the tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often, until starting to thicken.
5. Remove from heat, spread mixture evenly in the skillet, sprinkle 1-1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese on top, then arrange the biscuits evenly over top of the cheese.
6. Bake for 15 minutes until the biscuits are starting to turn golden brown. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the biscuits and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

*Or other oven-safe skillet. **Can use homemade if you prefer, but cook time may vary.

Source: Adapted from Mama Knows Gluten Free and my Root Beer Sloppy Joes.

If potato soup and a Reuben sandwich got together they would create this Reuben soup. Can use leftover corned beef but it’s worth making some just for this!

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How many things can be Reuben-inspired? I feel like when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, this little blog of mine is putting that question to the test. I may not have any recipes for an actual Reuben sandwich but over the years I have shared recipes for Reuben Taquitos, Reuben Pizza, Reuben Dip, Reuben Burgers, Reuben Mac & Cheese, and Reuben Stromboli. Today I am adding one more to that list – Reuben soup!

This is Reuben soup actually a different version of my Cheddar Baked Potato Soup that has been heavily adapted to incorporate all the things a Reuben should have – sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, corned beef, and your choice of Thousand Island or Russian dressing. I recently learned that Russian dressing is technically the more traditional option but Thousand Island became more popular because it is sweeter and balances out the sauerkraut and corned beef.

While technically this was meant as a way to use up leftover corned beef I honestly think it is worth preparing corned beef just so you can make this Reuben soup. It’s that good. Better yet, I used the corned beef broth that ultimately was created when cooking my corned beef in a slow cooker as the broth in this recipe as opposed to using regular beef broth. Waste not! Of course don’t forget a slice of toasted rye bread for swiping up any soup that’s left in your bowl.

REUBEN SOUP

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Yield: 8-10 Servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 45 Minutes 45 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (~1 cup)
• 3 ribs celery, finely chopped (~1 cup)
• 2 Tbsp fresh minced garlic
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups beef broth*
• 3 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, quartered
• 1 cup sauerkraut, drained
• 1 Tbsp Worcestershire
• 1 tsp carraway seeds
• 1/2 tsp ground white black pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup whole or 2% milk
• 2 cups cooked corned beef, chopped
• 1 cup grated Swiss cheese, plus more for serving
• Hot sauce, to taste
• Thousand Island or Russian dressing, for serving
• Green onion, sliced, for serving
• Toasted rye bread, for serving

Directions

1. In a stockpot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery and saute for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 
2. Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture, stir to coat, and continue to stir while cooking for 3 minutes.
3. Add the broth, scraping up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Add in the potatoes, sauerkraut, Worcestershire, carraway seeds, white pepper, thyme, and paprika then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20-30 minutes.
4. Stir in the cream, milk, and corned beef. Add Swiss cheese 1/4 cup at a time, stirring after each addition. Add hot sauce, salt* and more pepper, to taste. Serve topped with more Swiss cheese, dressing, Green onion, and toasted rye bread.

Notes

*Salt needed will depend on the salt content of the beef broth used. I used the liquid beef broth leftover from making slow cooker corned beef.

Source: Adapted from my Cheddar Baked Potato Soup, inspired by Poggiolieats.

Love eggs benedict? Put a burger on it and you’ve made eggs benedict burgers. Add a little chili crisp to the Hollandaise while you’re at it.

This content contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Eggs benedict is one of my favorite brunch dishes. The proof is in how many variations and inspired dishes I’ve shared on this blog of mine. Normally I make my Hollandaise with Greek yogurt but I went with the classic this time. Well, classic with a little chili crisp added in.

According to The Kitchn the best chili crisp is made by Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp, and in fact is the one I have used for years. Don’t have chili crisp and/or don’t want to buy it? You can use any other chili oil/sauce you have on hand or just omit if you prefer.

On top of my medium cooked burger (seasoned with homemade burger seasoning), besides my chili crispy Hollandaise sauce, you will find not just Canadian bacon but pan fried Canadian bacon, and of course the signature poached eggs all sandwiched between toasted and buttered English muffins instead of served open-faced.

You can definitely pick this burger up and eat it with your hands or fork and knife it if you prefer. I served mine with a side of tater tots which we excellent in the extra Hollandaise and yolk drippings.

More Brunch Recipes:

• Pretty in Pink Margarita from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Strawberry Tea Cakes from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Fruit and Granola Tart from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Blackberry Streusel Muffins from Blogghetti
• Lemon Lavender Cupcakes from Art of Natural Living
• Easy Cranberry Pomegranate Fizzer from A Little Fish in the Kitchen

EGGS BENEDICT BURGERS

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Yield: 4 Servings Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cooking Time: 20 Minutes 20 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, or to taste
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tsp chili crisp*

BURGERS & EGGS, ETC

• Four 1/4 lb (1lb total) ground beef burger patties, seasoned to taste
• 4 eggs, cracked and placed in individual ramekins
• 8 slices of Canadian bacon, pan fried if desired
• 4 English muffins, split, toasted and buttered

Directions

1. Prepare the hollandaise: In the top of a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, and salt. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes minutes. In last minute, whisk in the chili crisp and set aside.
2. Next, grill the hamburgers directly over medium-high heat, turning once, 3-5 minutes per side. Check for doneness using an instant read thermometer**.
3. While the burgers are cooking, fill a wide sauce or saute pan with two inches of water. Bring to a low simmer and gently pour eggs into the pan. Cook 3 minutes, then remove carefully with a slotted spoon and let drain.
4. To assemble, place a butter on the English muffin bottom halves. Top with two slices of Canadian bacon, one poached egg, and drizzle with hollandaise. Serve immediately.

Notes

*If you can't find chili crisp you can use any other chili paste or hot sauce you prefer - or omit. **You can cook burgers to different temperatures for desired doneness, such as medium-rare (130-135°F), medium (140-145°F), medium-well (150-155°F), or well (160-165°F). But be aware that the recommended temperature is 160°F for safety.

Source: The Spiffy Cookie original and AllRecipes.

Why make regular sloppy joes when you can have Skull Sloppy Joe Bombs? Easily assembled with a few ingredients for a spooky fun dinner.

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In case the skull deviled eggs weren’t enough, I have another skull recipe for you this week – skull sloppy joe bombs! Similar to the popular pizza skulls, but made with sloppy joe and a little cheddar cheese instead.

Could I have make sloppy joes from scratch? Maybe even stuffed with them a different variation of chicken gumbo sloppy joes? Absolutely. But this recipe for skull sloppy joe bombs is more about the appearance so I decided to take the easy way out and make this semi-homemade. Because not everything needs to be homemade. Sometimes you want a quick, easy, and fun recipe.

What do you need to make Skull Sloppy Joe Bombs?

• Ground beef
• Can of sloppy joe sauce (or homemade)
• Cheddar cheese
• Can of prepared pizza dough (or homemade)
• Most importantly, a skull baking pan

Once you have all your ingredients and tools, you just need to brown the beef, add the sloppy joe sauce and cheddar cheese, cut the pizza dough into 6 squares and place over each skull cavity, fill with sloppy joe meat, seal, and bake! If you need more than six sloppy joe skull bombs you could buy a second pan but they come together so quickly you could probably get away with reusing the same pan.

Welcome to 2024’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event!

If you’re new here, Welcome! If you’re a returning haunt, welcome back!

#HalloweenTreatsWeek is a yearly Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife . This spooky event is an online, week-long event that is filled with some frightfully fun Halloween treats and recipes from some fantastic Halloween loving bloggers!

For this year’s 7th annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 12 hauntingly talented bloggers who are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! You can follow the hashtag #HalloweenTreatsWeek on social media to collect all of these frightful recipes to use at your own Halloween parties and events!

• Cherry Pie Murdered Cinnamon Rolls from Semi-Homemade Recipes
• Mummy Jalapeno Poppers from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Ouija Board Planchette Cookies from Savory Moments
• Pumpkin Spice Blondies from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Antipasto Eyeballs from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Count Chocula Pop Tarts from Sweet ReciPEAs
• Pumpkin Pear Soup (Spiderweb Soup) from Art of Natural Living
• Jalapeno Ranch Skeleton Cheeseball from Jen Around the World
• Melted Witch Bark from For the Love of Food
• Biscoff No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake from A Day in the Life on the Farm

SKULL SLOPPY JOE BOMBS

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Yield: 3-6 Servings Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cooking Time: 25 Minutes 25 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 15 oz. can of sloppy joe sauce (or homemade)
• 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
• 13.8 oz. can of prepared pizza dough (or homemade)
• Skull baking pan

Directions

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, stirring to break it up into small pieces, and cook until browned, about 3-4 minutes. Add sauce and cheese, stirring until combined. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 400℉. Working on a clean surface, roll out dough to a 15x10-inch rectangle. Cut dough into 6 (5x5-inch) squares.
3. Lay one square of dough over each cavity of a nonstick 6-cavity skull-shaped pan. Fill the dough by scooping about 1/3 cup of filling in the center of the dough square (you may have excess filling). Fold sides of dough together and pinch tightly to seal. 
4. Bake in preheated oven until lightly golden, 15-20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan and  serving.

Source: Adapted from AllRecipes and Food Network.

Can I have a side of Cheetos with my meatloaf? Better yet stuff it inside to make a BBQ Cheetos Meatloaf! It’s cheesy tangy goodness.

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With a long list of recipes on this website that include Cheetos in the ingredient list, National Cheese Doodle Day is a food holiday I don’t like to miss – except I nearly missed it this year! Guys, I literally baked this BBQ Cheetos meatloaf last night after realizing it was coming up only the day before that. Talk about a close call.

I almost phoned it in. But as luck would have it, a coworker gifted me a bag of Cheetos for helping her with something last week. In an effort to not inhale the bag straight up (or maybe dip them in chocolate?), I decided to inhale it in meatloaf form, inspired by my Cheetos Cheeseburgers. My dad is probably shocked that I willingly made meatloaf after a childhood full of hatred for it.

After a quick trip to the grocery store later, and a not so quick cooking time in the oven (add a shorter cook time to the reasons why meatloaf muffins are superior), I had this BBQ Cheetos Meatloaf on the dinner table. Served with a side of roasted broccoli or marinated green beans to make up for the copious amount of Cheetos and cheese in this thing.

But at the same time, are crushed Cheetos really that much worse health-wise than bread crumbs? I would argue that they are basically equal in this situation. Hey, I went for a side of broccoli instead of more Cheetos (or Cheetos mac and cheese), I call that a win. But I may have eaten plenty while I cooked – ha!

BBQ CHEETOS MEATLOAF

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Yield: 6-8 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 Hour 1 Hour

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

MEATLOAF

• 2 lb. ground beef
• 4 tsp steak seasoning
• 4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 small onion, grated
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup crushed Cheetos (4 oz. crunchy)
• 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

TOPPING

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tsp mustard

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add all the ingredients for the meatloaf mixture into a large bowl and gently combine. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick spray. Press meatloaf mixture into the pan.
3. In a medium bowl, combine honey, barbecue sauce, and mustard. Spoon half of it evenly over meatloaf. Bake for 30 minutes, brush top with remaining topping, and bake about 30-40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reads160 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
4. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Source: Adapted from my Cheddar-BBQ Turkey Meatloaf Muffins.

What’s better than Frito Pie? Cheetos Pie of course! Made with ground beef, onion, tomato, green chiles, chili beans, corn, taco seasoning, cheddar cheese and obviously Cheetos.

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I’m up to my usual antics, swapping out Fritos or Doritos in a recipe for Cheetos because they are clearly superior. And it’s an excuse to have Cheetos in my house because normally I cannot control myself around them.

I have successfully done this swap already with Cheetos Walking Tacos and Chopped BBQ Ranch Salad with Cheetos so why not a Cheetos pie instead of Fritos Pie? Just in time to sneak onto your menus for Cinco de Mayo in a few days.

Cheetos Pie is a simple two pan meal, cooking up ground beef and onion, then adding taco seasoning, chili beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and corn. Spread this mixture over Cheetos in a baking dish, top with cheddar cheese and bake! Then all that’s left is serving it with your favorite taco toppings – reminds me of a walking taco casserole.

The only downfall to using Cheetos instead of Fritos to make Cheetos Pie is that the Cheetos don’t retain as much crunch as the Fritos when baked with moist ingredients. But to be fair the Fritos are not perfectly crispy either in the same scenario so it is only a minor texture change.

What’s next on my Cheetos crusade? At least in the savory realm, I think I need to try my Mom’s Frito Taco Salad with Cheetos. But I have some wild ideas about sweet incorporations as well to add to my list of Cheetos Cookies, Chocolate Covered Cheetos, and Cheetos Marshmallow Crispy Treats. Don’t be scared, haha.

CHEETOS PIE

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Yield: 6 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 35 MInutes 35 MInutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) bag Cheetos
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
• 1 (15 oz.) can chili beans
• 1 cup corn kernels*
• 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Favorite taco toppings

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Evenly spread the entire bag of Cheetos in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and onion, cooking until meat is no longer pink and onions are soft. Drain excess fat.
4. Stir in taco seasoning until well blended. Add diced tomatoes, beans and corn, mixing until distributed and warmed through. Remove from heat.
5. Spread meat mixture evenly over the Cheetos, then sprinkle the cheese on top.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
7. Serve immediately with your favorite taco toppings.

Notes

*Fresh, frozen, or canned work just fine. If using canned be sure to drain first.

Source: Adapted slightly from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts.

Did you make this recipe? I want to see! Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

This retro frito taco salad recipe came out of my mom’s recipe box. Made with spinach, taco seasoned ground meat, onion, tomato, pinto beans, radish, cheese, Catalina dressing, and of course Fritos corn chips.

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This Frito Taco Salad is the next recipe card that I pulled from those that my mom gave me over the years. But she often didn’t supply a source so I initially wasn’t entirely sure where this one originated.

While searching the internet to determine if this was one of her own creations, I discovered that there are many interpretations of the same dish. Some use Romaine lettuce, beans, corn, or taco seasoning, bur the most consistent thing was ground meat, Catalina dressing, and Fritos corn chips.

Her recipe originally did not call for taco seasoning (just salt and pepper) or pinto beans but I decided to add them because I felt like to be a taco salad it needed taco seasoning, right? After all, where would the taco flavor come from if I didn’t use the taco seasoning? But she did use spinach (albeit half as much) instead of Romaine and radishes so I kept those.

Have you ever had a Frito taco salad before? What’s in your version? This salad actually reminds me a lot of a Doritos salad or as I made it, Cheetos salad. Also similar to a walking taco, or again in my case a Cheetos walking taco (do you see the trend here?).

MOM'S FRITO TACO SALAD WITH CATALINA DRESSING

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Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 10M 10M

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
• 1 package of taco seasoning (or 2.5 Tbsp homemade)
• 1/3 + 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 5 oz. fresh baby spinach
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1/2 cup sliced radishes
• 1 (14 oz.) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or a blend)
• 16 oz. bag Fritos corn chips

Directions

1. Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add meat and brown, breaking into smaller pieces, until no longer pink on the outside, about 5 minutes. Add taco seasoning, 1/3 cup dressing, onion, and simmer for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
2. In a large bowl, combine spinach, tomato, radish, beans, cheese, and remaining 1/2 cup dressing*. Add meat mixture and and Fritos, then toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Notes

*Stop here if you are preparing ahead of time. Otherwise the Fritos will get soggy.

Source: My mom gave me this recipe in May of 2007, but while digging through old recipe boxes of hers I found a similar recipe from a Charlene Reid of West Junior High School that originally used 1/2 head of lettuce.

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This slow cooked, Italian Braised Beef is a show stopper of a meal and yet most of the cooking time is inactive. Serve over Parmesan Polenta to impress your guests.

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As you may know, I loved a good themed meal. During COVID lockdown, I dreamed of all the themed dinner parties I would host once things went back to “normal”. Jokes on me, right?

Despite the madness, we have managed to host a few smaller outdoor gatherings when the weather cooperated (or not as we heavily used our gas-powered space heater for porch visits during winter), one of which actually had two renditions.

I can’t recall where I got it in my head, but hosting a full nine course Italian dinner party was at the top of my list (because the Seven Hobbit Meals weren’t enough). But when the primary people I had hoped to invite had conflicting schedules, I decided to do it twice. Yes, I know I’m nuts.

I’m not going to get into the entire menu just yet (I’ll post the full menu in its own post), but the first time I hosted the Italian dinner party I made beef braciole as the meat course. As a testament to it’s deliciousness, I lacked the patience to ensure I captured good photos. Instead, I am sharing the Italian braised beef from the second menu.

I honestly cannot say which I liked better. Both were different enough to be uniquely delicious. Also both catered to their accompanying other courses. But either would be delicious served with Italian roasted potato bites and/or roasted broccoli if you’re not in the mood to cook 9 courses. But I digress.

What you need to know about this Italian Braised Beef recipe, is that once your brown up the outside of the beef chunks, saute the veggies, and cook down the wine, you combine it all back in the Dutch oven to simmer in the oven, for 3-4 hours. Towards the end of the cooking time, whip up the polenta are serve the beef on top. It’s hearty, flavorful, and absolute comfort food.

We may have required an extended break between courses after this one – ha.

ITALIAN BRAISED BEEF WITH PARMESAN POLENTA

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Yield: 6-8 servings Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cooking Time: 5 Hours 5 Hours

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

BRAISED BEEF

• 3 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
• 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour*, divided
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 3 Tbsp Italian parsley chopped, plus more for garnish
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 1 cup beef broth, plus extra if needed
• 1 cup tomato sauce

POLENTA

• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup dry polenta
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a gallon zip-top bag, place the beef cubes, 1 tablespoon of flour, salt, and pepper. Seal the bag and shake to coat. Shake off excess flour and set aside.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch Oven (or other pot with an oven-proof lid) over a high heat. When the oil is hot, add the floured beef and cook until evenly browned on all sides, turning as needed (may need to batches depending on pot size). Remove the beef to a plate.
4. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, rosemary, and season with additional salt and of pepper to taste. Cook 8-10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Remove to another plate.
5. Add more oil if needed to total 2 tablespoons in the bottom of the pan. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for about 6-7 minutes for a medium roux. Add the wine and scrape up any bits that cling to the bottom of the pan; cook until the alcohol evaporates, and the wine reduces, about 5 minutes.
6. Add the beef broth, tomato sauce and bay leaf and bring to a gentle simmer. Return the beef and vegetable back to the pot, place the lid on top, and transfer to the oven. Cook for 3-4 hours or until so tender that you can slice your beef with a spoon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. About 45 minutes until the beef is done, prepare the polenta. Pour broth, water, and salt in a large sauce pan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and then slowly pour in polenta, whisking constantly until there are no lumps. Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking often, until polenta starts to thicken, about 5 minutes. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, whisking every 5 minutes. Polenta is done when texture is creamy and individual grains are tender. Turn off and remove from heat.
8. Stir in butter until partially melted. Add 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and stir until cheese has melted. Cover and let stand 5 minutes to thicken. Season with salt to taste before transferring to a serving bowl or platter, top with beef, and more parmesan and parsley for garnish. Serve immediately.

Notes

*You could also use cornstarch for gluten free.

Source: Adapted from Healthy World Cuisine, Food Schmooze, and AllRecipes.

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This birria flatbread takes everything you love about birria tacos and serves it up as if it were an open-faced puffy taco. Of course you can also dip the crust in consommé!

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If you’ve ventured out into the world at all in the last two years, I bet you’ve come across the latest taco trend – birria tacos!

Fun fact: Birria is a Mexican dish from the state of Jalisco and is traditionally a slow-cooked stew made from a combination of chili peppers, goat meat, garlic, cumin, bay leaves, and thyme. But here in the USA it’s more commonly made with beef, stuffed into a corn tortilla with oaxaca cheese, fried, and dipped in the broth.

When I set out to make my own birria tacos at home, I gathered up my ingredients after picking through various recipes online, and even though the tacos we made with it were not the most structurally sounds creations, it was absolutely worth it. But then we ran out of tortillas and still had a ton of birria leftover.

Enter, birria flatbread.

This creation was the result my usual trip to the grocery store, where I spied a stack of par-baked flatbread crusts with discount stickers on them. Since we love making random pizzas with whatever we have in the fridge, it seemed like the perfect route (but also could have made thin crust pizza dough).

I topped the flatbread with some of the birria, shredded oaxaca cheese, and toast them up into gooey goodness. Sprinkled chopped onion and cilantro on top and it was like an open-faced birria puffy taco. Especially when dipping the crust into the consommé!

But the first time I made it I had no plans to share the recipe until after I ate it. So back to the store I went for more discount flatbread crusts to make it again for you! The sacrifices I make…

BIRRIA FLATBREAD

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Yield: 4-6 Servings Prep Time: 10 Hours Cooking Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes 1 Hour 15 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

BIRRIA

• 8 cups water
• 4 lb. boneless beef chuck roast or beef shank*, cut into 4-inch cubes
• 1/2 large white onion
• 8 garlic cloves
• 1 Tbsp dried ground cumin
• 1 Tbsp salt
• 1/2 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 sprigs fresh marjoram (or oregano)
• 1 sprig fresh mint
• 2 springs fresh thyme

SAUCE

• 4 dried guajillo chiles
• 4 dried arbol chilies
• 4 dried chipotle chiles
• 2 dried ancho chiles
• 2-3 cups water
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/4 large white onion
• 1 Tbsp vinegar
• 2 tsp salt

FLATBREAD

• 2 par-baked flatbread crusts (or one recipe thin crust pizza dough divided in half)
• 1 cup prepared birria
• 8 oz. Oaxaca cheese, shredded
• Chopped onion
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges, for garnish

Directions

1. In a slow cooker add water, beef, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, black peppercorns, bay leaves, oregano, marjoram, mint, and thyme . Cook on low for 8-10 hours or until cooked through and tender.
2. Remove the beef, discard fat pieces, shred meat, and place back in the slow cooker with the liquid.
3. While the meat cooks, prepare the sauce. Preheat a large Dutch oven over low heat and add the chilies to toast them, turning as needed for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Once cool enough to touch, remove seeds and stems, and place in a large bowl.
5. In a small pot, bring the water to a boil. Pour the boiling water over the peppers. Allow to sit for 30 minutes.
6. Place the cooled chiles, garlic, onion, vinegar, salt, and liquid in blender. Blend until smooth.
7. Strain red chile sauce through a fine sieve into a bowl. Discard skins and seeds. When the meat has been shredded, add the sauce the slow cooker and stir (this is the consommé).
8. Preheat oven to 425 F.
9. Top both flatbread crusts evenly with 1/2 cup birria each, followed by shredded cheese. Place topped flatbread directly on the middle oven rack and bake for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
10. Top with chopped onion and cilantro. Slice and serve with lime and consommé.

Notes

* I use boneless short ribs

Source: Adapted from Muy Bueno Cookbook and Girl Carnivore.

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Why make regular burgers when you can have bacon & pimento cheese burgers!? Top your traditional patty with prepare pimento cheese and thick crispy bacon.

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Not only is May National Burger Month and Beef Month but today is National Burger Day! While the patty of this burger creation may be standard salt and pepper seasoned ground beef, the topping is less traditional.

Inspired by my favorite pimento cheese dip (which comes with or without candied bacon bits) from Bleu & Fig, this burger is topped with pimento cheese and thick crispy bacon. I originally was going to top it with candied bacon but decided to keep it more savory – TBH mostly because I was lazy.

But you know what? There’s nothing wrong with taking the easy way out. Heck I didn’t even make my own pimento cheese, I actually bought it from Bleu & Fig, because why dabble with a recipe when you know where to get the good stuff? I did link to a recipe in the ingredient list if you want to make your own.

Southern Food

• Bacon and Cracklin Bread from That Recipe
• Blackened Mahi Mahi from Art of Natural Living
• Pimento Cheese Macaroni Salad from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Skillet Shrimp Boil from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• South Carolina Bird Dogs from Palatable Pastime
• Southern Fried Potatoes from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Southern Style Hush Puppies from Jen Around the World

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BACON & PIMENTO CHEESE BRUGERS

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Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cooking Time: 10 Minutes 10 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 1-1/3 lb. ground beef
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 cup prepared pimento cheese
• 4 burger buns, toasted
• 8 strips of thick bacon, cooked

Directions

1. Add ground beef to a large bowl and season with cocoa, salt and pepper. Form into four equal patties and then let sit at room temperature. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Grill the burgers about 4 minutes per side or until desired doneness (toast buns towards end of cooking time). Remove from the grill and cover with foil.
3. To assemble burgers, place a burger on the bottom half of a bun and top with pimento cheese, 2 slices of bacon, and top half of the burger bun.

Source: Inspired by Bleu & Fig. and adapted from my Brutus Burgers.

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