Pampered Pesto Pizza

Sometimes I look in my fridge and cupboards and try to use up stuff that either I have half a jar of or it's nearing it's expiration date. I'm thrifty like that. Sometimes my "experiments" turn out tasting like something out of the lab that ends up being slop for the animals, but once in a great while I actually create something delicious. This was one of those rare occasions where it turned out great.
I'm almost embarrassed to post the recipe because it's so simple and the measurements are totally dependent on your personal taste but here's what I did and it was a hit. The pigs were disappointed that they didn't get any extra slop but the family declared it a thumbs up. So here goes:

1 premade PIzza crust, I used a thin and crispy one
1/4 c. pesto sauce (can be found by the spaghetti sauce)
1/4 c. alfredo sauce
1 large can chicken
5 strips turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 c. Mozzarella cheese (more or less to taste)
1/2 t. Italian seasoning

Spread alfredo sauce over crust, then pesto sauce. Layer chicken, bacon, Parmesan, Mozzarella, and then sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Cook according to pizza crust package instructions. And viola! dinner is served. Bet you didn't know I was part Italian huh? :)

*You don't have to use both pesto and alfredo sauce, you can do one or the other, you would just increase amount to equal 1/2 c. of sauce total. We liked the creaminess that the alfredo brought to it combined with the tanginess of the pesto but we're backwoods country folk so do it however you want!

Cha Cha Salsa

This is a top secret restaurant recipe that you must not tell anyone you got from me. if ever confronted about it I will deny it and throw you under the bus! The lengths I had to go to in order to obtain this recipe are indescribable. You know that restaurant with the big red pepper on the outside that have the bottomless chips and salsa for a mere $2.99? Well, this my friends is the recipe for that delicious, eat it til you have to waddle out, salsa. Psssssttt...it's super super easy and you will probably never buy salsa again. You're welcome.


1 can diced tomatoes, I usually get the garlic and onion kind but any is fine
1 small can diced green chiles
1 T. lime juice
1 t. salt.
1/2 t. cumin
chopped onion or onion powder to taste, I usually do 1 T. onion powder
canned or jarred jalapenos to taste, usually 2 or 3 slices, makes it the same heat as the restaurant.


Combine everything but the jalapenos into a blender. Turn blender on high for just a second or two until it's pureed but still has some tomato chunks. If you overdo it with the blender don't worry about it, still tastes great. Finely chop up jalapenos, remember not to touch your eyes when dealing with jalapenos. Red, puffy, watery eyes are not a good look for anyone. Mix jalapenos in. Put in fridge for a couple of hours so that the flavors can "meld". Devour with some nice and salty tortilla chips.


It takes all of about 3 minutes. I make it on a weekly basis it's that good! Ole!!!

Chilly Night Cornbread

Because I promised to try and on occasion be informative and educational I thought I would share my world famous, secret cornbread recipe. Every farm girl must have a cornbread recipe to go with their fried chicken and greens. Oh maybe that's not just a farm girl thing and greens..YUCK. Never really understood that whole thing. Anyway, it's very gourmet because I am high maintenance after all. Not really. Actually, I really am high maintenance but this is not gourmet by any stretch of the imagination.

Ingredients
1 box Jiffy golden yellow cake mix (you'll have to splurge to buy this it's very expensive..$.39)
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix (same here, but it's worth it)
2 eggs
1/2 c. cold water
1/3 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl, obviously you shouldn't try to mix it directly on your countertop. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish, pour mixture in. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until the top is nice and golden yellow brownish but not too brownish. If in doubt do the toothpick test, if it comes out clean it's done. Serve warm with butter and honey cuz that's how we roll at the Koons Zoo. Oh and by the way it's really not top secret so feel free to take full credit and pass it on to all of your friends.

Here's a cornbread testimonial from one of my children this evening during dinner.

"Mmmmm the cornbread is sooo good but the chili, well how many more bites do I have to eat of the chili before I can have more cornbread?"

Don't worry I won't give you the chili recipe.

Steak Bites Go Here and Make These

Pioneer Woman is my long lost sister and I follow her blog religiously and have tried many of her recipes. These steak bites had my mouth watering all day so I made them tonight and I'm telling you make them immediately. Even if you're a doubting Thomas like me and can't believe something with so little seasonings could taste good, believe me it does. Hence the Biggest Loser workout. Enjoy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/