Patty Melts

Good afternoon readers, friends, and fellow bloggers! Today we are trying our hand at patty melts. These are tasty thin burgers (Yes, THIN burgers) topped with Swiss or Cheddar cheese smushed between two slices of bread, typically rye, but sometimes sourdough. Once everything is compiled together, that bad boy is fried with butter in a pan so the cheese can melt. Can you smell the yummy goodness yet? I sure can!

Now, no one really knows when patty melts were invented, but there are records dating back as early as the 1940s. Before we begin, I do want to add that if you aren't a fan of hamburgers or onions, then this meal probably isn't for you. We do have a variety of other blog entries that may satisfy your sandwich-y needs though!

Suggested Sandwiches:

Confetti Tuna Salad

Hot Colby Ham Sandwiches

PB&J French Toast Sandwiches

Turkey, Cranberry, and Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwiches


Now that everyone's sandwich needs have been taken care of, I'm ready to begin this delicious recipe. I'll meet you in the kitchen to begin our foodie adventures!

Patty Melts

Yields 4 Sandwiches

You will need:


For the caramelized onions

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced

For the patty melts

• 1 pound freshly ground chuck, (80/20 mix)
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 thick slices deli-counter American cheese
• 8 thick slices white sandwich bread
• 1/2 cup thousand island dressing, plus more for dipping
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

Ready?

1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat. 
2. Add the onions, stir briefly to coat with oil, and cook without stirring for 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Flip so that the onions on the bottom of the pot are now on top, and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes. 
4. Flip one more time, lower heat and allow onions to caramelized until completely brown — about 15 minutes — gently stirring occasionally. 
5. Remove from heat and set aside.
6. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, onion powder, salt and pepper until just combined. Do not over mix, or your patties will be tough. 
7. Divide into four portions and form patties using our handy patty-shaping guide, but use a square container instead of a round one so the burger fits the bread. Make these right before you grill them, so they stay at room temperature. 
8. Preheat your grill, grill pan or cast-iron skillet to high heat and add burger patties. 
9. Cook until the crust that forms on the bottom of the burger releases it from the pan or grate — about 2 minutes. 
10. Gently test, but don't flip it until it gets to this point. 
11. When burgers lift up easily, flip and cook on the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes for medium to medium rare, then transfer to a plate and allow to rest.
12. Assemble the patty melts: spread both slices of bread for each sandwich with thousand island dressing, then add a patty, two slices of American cheese and top with caramelized onions.
13. Preheat a cast-iron skillet and melt half a tablespoon of butter for each sandwich. 
14. Drop a sandwich in, press down with a spatula and grill until golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. 
15. Flip and grill on the other side.
16. Slice down the middle and serve with extra thousand island dressing on the side for dipping.  

Thank you for joining me today on another epic food journey! I'll be back as soon as possible with another scrumptious recipe, but until then, have a wonderful evening. I'll catch you on the flip side!

-Mandie

Philly Cheese Steak Stromboli

Good evening readers! Welcome to another edition of The Tasteful Texan. Today, we will be making Philly Cheese Steak Stromboli. If you have no idea what Stromboli is, I'm about to clue you in. Stromboli is an Italian bread turnover stuffed with meat, cheese, and some times vegetables. Most people make Stromboli with pizza dough. They are absolutely delicious!

Okay ladies, gents, and food enthusiasts, it's that time once again. Let's grab our aprons, rolling pins, and baking sheets, and I'll meet you in the kitchen! See you all soon!

Philly Cheese Steak Stromboli

Serves 6

You will need:

• 3 Pre-made Pizza Dough loaves
• 1 pound roast or sandwich steak, sliced thin
• 1 medium onion, sliced thin
• ½ green bell pepper, sliced thin
• 2 jalapenos seeded, washed, and sliced (optional)
• 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced
• 6 slices provolone cheese 
• 1 small jar sliced mushrooms
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Ready?

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
2. Heat a large pan to medium/high heat. 
3. Add 1 tablespoon oil, then place steaks in pan and Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper. 
4. Cook for a few minutes then add the sliced onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes or until the onions are lightly browned. Don't overcook the meat and veggies because they will still cook in the oven. 
5. With a rolling pin, roll the dough of one loaf into an approximate 9 X 13 inch rectangle. 
6. Pour the steak mixture in the center (make sure you leave about ½ inch of the dough edges plain so the dough will stick when you roll it). 
7. Layer the cheese on the steak mixture then Fold in the sides and tuck and roll the loaf. 
8. Place the loaf, seam side down on a greased baking sheet or aluminum foil. 
9. Beat one egg and brush the outside of the loaves until completely covered with the egg, then cut thin 2-inch strips on the top layer of the dough. 
10. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. 
11. Cut and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Well thank you for joining me today. I will be back as soon as possible, possibly over the weekend. If not, I'll be back next week after I get home from work. Have an awesome weekend! I'll catch y'all on the flip side!

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-Mandie

Pretzel Dogs

Good afternoon foodies and friends! Today we will be conquering one of my favorite snacks, pretzel dogs. I used to be such a mall rat in my younger days. My first job was at the mall in the arcade. My best friend worked at the mall with me. I used to love going to the pretzel shoppe to buy delicious pretzel dogs! Who didn't?! To me, I cannot go mall shopping without stopping to buy pretzels or pretzel dogs. It's an absolute MUST.

Now that I'm older, wiser, and can cook on my own, I've decided to make my own delicious pretzel dogs. Are you up for the task of baking with me? If so, grab your aprons, your food mixer, and your pots! I'll meet you in the kitchen!

Pretzel Dogs

Yields 16 Dogs

You will need:

• 1.5 cups warm water
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. yeast
• 3.5 cups flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• ½ cup baking soda
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 8 hot dogs, cut in half
• salt

Ready?

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together warm water, sugar, and yeast.
2. Fit your mixer with a dough hook attachment. 
3. Add flour and salt to the bowl. 
4. Mix on medium-low speed until smooth. 
5. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
6. Divide the dough into 16 equal sized pieces. 
7. Roll each piece into a long log (about 8 inches long). 
8. Wrap a rolled piece of dough around one hot dog half and pinch the ends together to keep it from unraveling. 
9. Repeat with remaining dough and hot dogs. 
10. Allow to rest while you prepare the next steps.
11. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
12. Grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray. 
13. Bring a large pot of water to boil (about 6-8 cups). 
14. Add baking soda to water (Be careful, it will bubble up!)
15. Use a slotted spoon to place dough-wrapped hot dogs in the boiling water (do 4 at a time). 
16. Allow to boil for 30 seconds. 
17. Remove with slotted spoon and place on a paper towel.
18. Once all hot dogs have boiled, place them all on the prepared baking sheet. 
19. Brush melted butter over the hot dogs. 
20. Sprinkle with sea salt to taste. 
21. Bake about 15 minutes or until dough is golden brown.

Thanks for joining me today. I'll be back as soon as possible with another delicious recipe for everyone to try! I'll catch y'all on the flip side. Have a great day!

-Mandie

Mexican Chicken Casserole

Good evening foodie friends! It's been a wild few days since our last posting. I took my son out for his first Halloween, and spent a few nights over at my sister's house to visit with my niece and nephew. Halloween was slowwww, and by slow, I mean no one was handing out candy because of the San Antonio Spurs game (Go Spurs!). I've also been busy with work, but alas, I'm back. I bring a delicious casserole recipe that's quick and relatively easy, especially if you've just gotten home from work and don't want to slave over a hot stove for hours.

Okay trusty food loving people, grab those dutch ovens and I'll meet you in the kitchen!

Mexican Chicken Casserole

Yields 8 Servings

You will need:

• 1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 
• 2 (4.5 ounce) cans chopped green chiles, divided
• 1.75 pounds skinned, boned chicken breasts 
• 2 teaspoons olive oil 
• 1 cup chopped onion 
• 1 cup evaporated skim milk 
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup tub-style light cream cheese 
• 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce
• 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
• Cooking spray 
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat extra-sharp cheddar cheese 
• 1 ounce tortilla chips, crushed

Ready?

1. Combine broth and 1 can of chiles in a large skillet; bring to a boil. 
2. Add chicken; reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until chicken is done, turning chicken once. 
3. Remove chicken from cooking liquid, reserving cooking liquid; cool chicken. 
4. Shred meat with two forks, and set aside.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. 
7. Add 1 can of chiles and onion; sauté 3 minutes or until soft. 
8. Add reserved cooking liquid, milk, Monterey Jack, cream cheese, and enchilada sauce; stir well. 
9. Stir in shredded chicken; cook 2 minutes. 
10. Remove from heat.
11. Place 4 tortillas in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole coated with cooking spray. 
12. Spoon 2 cups chicken mixture over tortillas. 
13. Repeat layers twice, ending with chicken mixture. 
14. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and chips. 
15. Bake for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. 
16. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Well ladies and gents, I hope you enjoy this recipe. I know that since Iv'e been so busy, this recipe is a must for me. It looks like a lot of steps, but it's really not. Everything runs together to make for one quick recipe. I'll be back hopefully tomorrow with another recipe for y'all. Have a great evening, and I'll catch you all on the flip side!

-Mandie

Jack O' Lantern Cheeseburger Pie

Good afternoon fellow bloggers and trusty followers! Today, we have a delicious treat for everyone. As most of you know if you've followed my blog for the past few years, I always celebrate upcoming holidays with specialized posts related to whichever holiday it is. This year is no different. Halloween is a few days so I figured we could treat ourselves to a delicious themed dinner that would please even the most difficult person! How can we go wrong with a smiling Jack O' Lantern?

Before we begin, why don't we take a trip down memory lane to review some of our past Halloween entries?

Candy Corn Cheesecake

Beef Stew with Ghoulish Mashed Potatoes

Pumpkin and Butternut Creamed Soup

Okay ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I present to you:

Jack O' Lantern Cheeseburger Pie

Yields 6 to 8 Servings

You will need:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crust
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 large egg 
• Red and yellow liquid food coloring

Ready?

1. Cook first 5 ingredients in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. 
2. Stir in ketchup and Worcestershire sauce; cool.
3. Unfold 1 pie crust, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. 
4. Spread mustard evenly over crust. 
5. Stir together meat mixture and 2 cups cheese; spoon on to center of crust, leaving a 2-inch border.
6. Unfold remaining piecrust, and cut out a jack-o'-lantern face, reserving pastry cutouts to use as a stem. 
7. Place crust over meat mixture; crimp edges of crust, and fold under. 
8. Place stem on top of jack-o'-lantern face.
9. Whisk together 2 tablespoons water, egg, and 1 drop each of red and yellow food coloring; brush over crust.
10. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes; remove from oven, and brush again with egg mixture. 
11. Fill eyes, nose, and mouth with remaining 1 cup cheese. 
12. Bake 5 to 10 more minutes or until golden brown.

Okay everyone, I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, enjoy spending some quality time prepping for Halloween with your friends and family. I'll catch y'all on the flip side!

-Mandie

And We're Back!

My devoted blog readers, oh how I have missed you! It has been a very long year since I last left you unexpectedly. Want to know why? Well, I'll tell you. Right after the last post, BBQ Chicken and Cheddar Quesadillas, my husband and I found out some wonderful news. The news? We were having a baby. Yes, a baby! It would be our first after almost 4+ years of trying. Believe me when I say that after those 4 long years of trying without success, we had many pitfalls and heartbreaks, so when this test came back positive, we were shell shocked to say the least.

Since our last blog entry, I went on to have a healthy 7 pound, 14 ounce baby boy named Eugene (now he's more like 15 pounds of chunkamonk, haha). He really is our world. Along with having a baby, I enrolled in school in order to obtain my Bachelor's degree in Applied Behavioral Science. Anywho, I'm back now that my schedule has evened out. I'll do my best to keep the posts coming, but some days will be tricky. So today, I bring you:

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies

You will need:

• 1 stick softened butter
• 6 Tablespoons sugar
• 6 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1.25 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 11 broken pieces Oreo Cookies
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Shall we begin?

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream the butter and sugars until well combined.
3. Add egg and vanilla until mixed well.
4. Place flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl, then stir to combine.
5. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients then stir in oreos and chocolate chips until just combined.
6. With a medium cookie scoop or a spoon, scoop onto baking sheet.
7. Bake for 10 minutes or until cooked, but still soft.
8. Let cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes or more before transferring to cooling rack.
9. Enjoy!

Okay guys and gals, I'll be back as soon as I can with another delicious recipe for everyone to try. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave me some love at the bottom of this post. I've dearly missed all of you and am so glad to be back! I'll see y'all on the flip side!

-Mandie