Chopped Challenge- Round 2

Broccoli, little smokies, oranges, and ricotta cheese.

Okay, I have my menu planned, but I want to see what yall can come up with.  I'll post again with pictures and recipes!

Jalapeno Raspberry Meatball Sub

Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced very finely
• 1 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce (I started there and added more as I went)
• 1 container fresh raspberries
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste)

***optional: a few dashes of liquid smoke

Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in jalapenos; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in garlic, and bbq sauce; cook for 2 more minutes. Stir the raspberries into the sauce; cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, salt, brown sugar, and cayenne. Mix well. Simmer until thickened.

Meatballs

Ingredients
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3/4 cup crushed rice crispies
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, gently mix by hand all the ingredients. Shape into 12 large meatballs, and place in a baking dish.

3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cooked through.

Toast your rolls. Slather each side with cream cheese. Assemble your sandwich starting with a little raspberry sauce, three meatballs, then more raspberry sauce. Yeilds four sub sandwiches.

It turned out really well. I can't wait for the next challenge!

Chopped Challenge- Entree course

Have you ever watched the Food Network show Chopped?  They have mystery baskets with 4 ingredients in them and chefs have to compete to see who can come up with the best dish containing all 4 items.  After making Ned watch it with me dozens of times, he came up with an idea.  Once every couple of weeks he is going to come home from work with a few random ingredients and see what I can do with them.  This actually solves a big problem for us, because we always argue about who has to choose what we will eat for dinner.  Neither of us can ever come up with anything.  Now, every once in a while, he will choose the ingredients, and I will decide what to do with them.  Perfect solution! 

So without further ado, here are this weeks ingredients:

Crispy Rice cereal, raspberries, jalapenos, and ground beef.

I already know what I'm going to make with it, but before I post it, I'm curious as to what your ideas might be.  As soon as I make it, I'll post pictures and recipes!

Chopped Challenge...

Coming soon to a blog near you!

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Bathtime

Look at those eyelashes!

Jack of all trades:

Jack Rabbit

5 monthes old

Happy Easter!