Chinese "Fake Out'"

There aren't too many people out there who don't enjoy good Chinese take out food. Chinese food is full of bright colorful veggies, meat and wonderful seasonings. Unfortunately not all of us are close enough to  great Chinese take out place. Even if you are close enough to said Chinese restaurant price for an order of Beef Lo-Mein about $9.50 on average. Not exactly cheap eats especially if you want to feed the whole family since those cute little take-out cartons only feed one  person. Let's be honest a lot of times after we eat that cute container of Lo-Mein we're still hungry. This sent me on a quest to create a cheap and kid friendly Lo Mein recipe that is quick, easy and great tasting to boot.
I decided to use thin spaghetti noodles instead of the traditional lo-mein noodle. Thin spaghetti is more easily accessible than actual lo-mein noodle and often times cheaper. Add to this some beef, veggies and sauce you to can replicate Beef Lo-Mein too.

Kid Friendly Beef Lo-Mein
1 1.5 pound beef skirt steak cut into thin strips (if your meat is partially frozen it cuts easier)
1 16 oz bag frozen California Blend Style vegetables
2 cloves garlic minced

8 ounces of thin spaghetti broken in half, cooked and drained

Sauce
1/4 cup beef stock
1/4 cup Teryaki Sauce/Marinade
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons MSG powder (optional- if you don't have it don't worry about it.) 

Oil for frying
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1. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles in it. While the pan heats up combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.  Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Add beef strips and cook until almost done stirring constantly. When meat is almost done add the minced garlic and continue to cook until done.

2.Add frozen vegetables and stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes. Cover with lid and lower heat to medium. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until vegetables are cooked.

3. Add cooked and drained thin spaghetti to meat and vegetable mixture. Add sauce and stir to coat. Cook until heated through.

4.  Serve in bowls with extra teriyaki sauce to pour on if desired.

There you have it. A quick, tasty and kid friendly lo-mein that's easy to make.

Until next time...

An Epiphany or Getting Inspired For Dinner

I am guessing that just about everyone out there has heard of Bacon, Egg and Cheese Crescent Casserole aka Breakfast Bake . It usually has a base of crescent rolls with  bacon, eggs and cheese with beaten eggs poured on top and baked. Trust me when I say it's pretty good. I decided to make one for dinner last night and while frying the bacon for it an epiphany came to me! If it's pretty good with bacon, eggs and cheese what could make it better? I thought to myself. That's when it hit me- why not add some fried onions and potatoes to make it a complete meal? That's right folks, I grabbed an onion out the fridge and two smallish potatoes and started off.
So without  further ado here is the recipe for Bacon, Egg, Cheese and Potato Crescent Bake

Bacon, Egg, Cheese and Potato Crescent Bake
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1 package of Pilsbury Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets (they are next to the crescent rolls in the refrigerated bread dough section- I brought mine at he local Wal-Mart) (if youn can't find these use a package of Pilsbury Crescent Roll dough-the 8 count NOT the 6 count one)
1 pound bacon chopped, fried and drained (save the bacon grease)
1 small onion chopped
2 small potatoes , scrubbed and chopped
2 cups Shredded mild cheddar cheese
6 eggs
3 Tablespoons milk
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1. Preheat oven to 400.
2.Grease a 9x13 baking dish . Place Pilsbury Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets in pan and gently press up the edge to form a small lip all the away around.(If using the crescent rolls , open the dough but do not separate. Taking a rolling pin and roll a few times to seal the seams together and finish according to the directions for the Pilsbury Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheets)Set aside
3. In the same pan that you fried your bacon in, fry your onion and potato until browned. If your veggies start sticking to the pan add some of the saved bacon grease to the pan to prevent this.
4 Lay the bacon, potatoes, onions and cheese on top the Pilsbury Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet..
5. Mix the eggs and milk together in a small bowl. Pour over the bacon, potatoes, onions and cheese . If it doesn't look like it has covered everything don't worry!!! As it bakes the eggs will spread out to and bake evenly.
6. Bake for abut 20-25 minutes. My oven runs hot so it was done at 20 minutes.

The final verdict? Out a 9x13 pan I have three small pieces left. Everyone thought it was very good. My kids recommended some ketchup and it did help to enhance the flavors especially of the potato and onions.

 So folks if you make this please let me know what your family thought of it and if you "tweak" it any.