Browse my collection of favorite recipes gathered from various sources. Find your next delicious meal!
Mongolian Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb flank steak, sliced thin
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ onion, sliced
- 3 green onions, chopped (white and green parts separated)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (for sauce)
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp MSG (optional)
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Marinate beef with salt, white pepper, sesame oil, soy sauce, cornstarch, and baking soda for 10 minutes.
- Heat oil to 350°F and shallow-fry beef until crispy. Remove and drain.
- Remove most oil, sauté onions, then garlic, then add sauce ingredients and beef.
- Add green parts of green onions, toss to coat, and serve over rice.
McGriddle Bites (Mini Muffins)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Hungry Jack pancake mix
- 1½ cups water
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease mini muffin tin.
- Mix all ingredients in large bowl.
- Spoon into muffin tin (makes ~48).
- Bake 15 minutes until golden. Cool and refrigerate or freeze leftovers.
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp butter (or bacon fat)
- 1 cup hot water (about 105°F)
- Extra flour (for rolling)
Instructions
- Mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut in butter until crumbly.
- Stir in hot water and mix until dough forms.
- Knead 2–3 mins, rest covered 15 mins.
- Divide into 10–12 balls, roll into 7-inch circles.
- Cook in dry skillet 30–40 seconds per side until golden. Butter and salt if desired.
Hibachi Steak Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 8 oz steak, cubed
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ sweet onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 eggs
- 3 cups day-old rice
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil in a hot pan or wok. Sauté onion until soft.
- Add steak and sear until browned. Add butter and garlic.
- Push ingredients to the side. Scramble eggs in the pan.
- Add rice and drizzle soy sauce around edges. Season with pepper and salt.
- Mix all together and serve hot.
Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3–4 lb chuck roast
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1½ cups beef broth
- 12 oz beer (or additional broth)
- 1 packet au jus mix
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 6 sandwich rolls (e.g., Jimmy John’s bread)
- 6 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Season roast with salt, pepper, garlic. Sear in butter until browned.
- Place in crock pot. Sauté onions in skillet, then add broth, beer, au jus, garlic, and Worcestershire. Simmer and deglaze.
- Pour over roast. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Shred meat, place on rolls with cheese. Air fry to melt cheese.
- Strain juices for dipping. Serve with au jus.
Copycat Taco Bell Quesarito
Ingredients
- 1 box cheesy Mexican rice (e.g., Old El Paso)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 16 oz Velveeta cheese
- 7 oz canned diced green chilies
- 8 oz shredded pepper jack
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1 cup sour cream
- Spicy ranchero sauce (Taco Bell)
- 4 large burrito-size flour tortillas
Instructions
- Prepare rice as directed. Brown beef, drain, add seasoning and water, simmer.
- Make cheese sauce with evaporated milk, Velveeta, chilies, and pepper jack. Stir over low heat until smooth.
- Heat skillet, add cheddar and a tortilla. Melt, then top with another tortilla and flip.
- Assemble with sour cream, ranchero, beef, cheese sauce, and rice. Roll into burrito. Serve warm.
One-Pot Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta
Ingredients
Major Ingredients
- Pasta (approx. 12 oz)
- Sausages (12–16 oz, caramelized red onion or your favorite)
- Mushrooms (8 oz, sliced)
- White wine (½ cup)
- Chicken or vegetable stock (1 to 1½ cups)
- Heavy cream (1 cup)
- Parmesan cheese (½ cup, grated)
- Spinach (1–2 cups)
- Fresh parsley (chopped)
Minor Ingredients
- Garlic (2–3 cloves, minced)
- Olive oil or butter (1–2 tablespoons)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil or butter in a pot. Cook mushrooms until browned, then remove.
- Brown sausage in the same pot. Add garlic and sauté briefly.
- Deglaze with white wine, scraping up browned bits.
- Add stock and cream, bring to a simmer.
- Return mushrooms to the pot. Add pasta and cook until tender.
- Stir in Parmesan, parsley, and spinach. Cook until spinach wilts.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm.
Notes
Assumed ingredient quantities based on standard one-pot pasta methods. Wine can be substituted with extra stock.
Mexican-Style Spanish Rice (Family Recipe)
Ingredients
Major Ingredients
- ¾ cup long grain white rice
- ⅓ cup tomato sauce
- 1½ cups water (approx.)
Minor Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon (Maggi brand preferred)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add rice and toast until lightly golden.
- Add tomato sauce and sauté for a minute.
- Stir in seasonings and chicken bouillon until rice is evenly coated.
- Add water and stir. Cover and simmer until rice is cooked through and fluffy.
- Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
Notes
Family recipe traditionally cooked in a well-loved Dutch oven. Adjust liquid and salt as needed based on bouillon and rice type.
Fresh Shrimp Ceviche with Lime, Jalapeño & Cilantro
Ingredients
Major Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped
- Juice of 2 limes
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- ½–1 cucumber, diced
- 3 jalapeños, finely chopped
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (or parsley)
Minor Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Chop shrimp and submerge in lime and lemon juice. Refrigerate for 1½ hours until opaque.
- Dice and mix vegetables in a bowl.
- Drain shrimp (optional) and add to vegetables.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well and chill or serve immediately with chips or tostadas.
Notes
Be sure to use safe shrimp and fresh citrus. Season to your preference. Parsley can be used if cilantro isn’t your thing.
Crispy Orange Chicken with Sweet & Spicy Citrus Sauce
Ingredients
Major Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken thighs, bite-sized
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 egg
- Water (as needed)
- Neutral oil (for frying)
Minor Ingredients
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Dash of sesame oil
Instructions
- Mix batter ingredients. Coat chicken pieces.
- Fry chicken in hot oil until golden. Set aside. Optional: double-fry.
- Make sauce in same pan. Simmer and thicken with slurry.
- Toss chicken in sauce. Garnish and serve.
Notes
Double-frying boosts crispiness. Use fresh citrus for best flavor. Sauce quantities are flexible.
Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)
Ingredients
Major Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, halved
- 16 oz gnocchi
- 3 carrots, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- ½ onion, diced (optional)
- 1–2 cups fresh spinach
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
Minor Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil (plus extra for seasoning)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Garlic and herb seasoning (to taste)
- Thyme (to taste)
- Italian seasoning (to taste)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Season chicken with oil, garlic and herb seasoning, and thyme.
- Sear in pot over medium-high heat, 4–5 mins per side. Set aside.
- In same pot, melt butter. Add celery, carrots, and onion. Cook 6 mins.
- Add garlic, cook 1–2 mins. Stir in flour and cook 2–3 mins.
- Add broth, milk, and cream. Stir and simmer.
- Season soup base. Shred chicken and return to pot.
- Stir in spinach and bring to a boil.
- Add gnocchi, cook 2–3 mins until tender.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Can reduce cream for a lighter version. Seasonings may be adjusted to taste.
Chicken Pot Pie Noodles (Budget Dinner Recipe)
Ingredients
Major Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- About 12 oz egg noodles
- 1 bag frozen peas (approx. 10 oz)
- 1 family-sized can cream of chicken soup (22–26 oz)
- 1 cup milk
Minor Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1–2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (optional)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1–2 tablespoons sour cream (optional)
Instructions
- Cook chicken with salt and pepper. Dice and set aside.
- Boil egg noodles. Drain and set aside.
- In skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic. Add peas and heat through.
- Add cream of chicken soup and milk. Stir until smooth.
- Add diced chicken back into the pan. Mix well.
- Season with bouillon, salt, pepper, and sour cream if using.
- Mix in cooked noodles until fully coated. Serve warm.
Notes
This is a quick and budget-friendly dinner that’s creamy, filling, and easy to customize. Sour cream and bouillon are optional enhancements.