Meat and Potatoes

Not to bombard you with more recipes this week, but I have some more food news to share! Last weekend I decided I needed to expand my cooking horizons and get down to basics. My husband is a "meat and potatoes" kinda guy...he could eat that up for dinner any night of the week. I tend to lean more towards pasta dishes, sauteed chicken, or of course my go-to Mexican food {you know, things that can be prepared after work and after I stop at the store on the way home}. 

So Sunday afternoon, my mom walked me through roasting my very first chicken {and potatoes, carrots, onions and gravy from scratch to boot!} I guess you can say I never knew what I was missing. First of all, that lovely aroma of chicken roasting in your very own oven...I didn't know mine was capable of that. Second of all, we had leftovers turned into a buffalo chicken salad Monday night, and still have more leftovers in the freezer. I'm the furthest thing from a leftovers fan, so believe me when I tell you this is good stuff! I present to you my first chicken...

Since my mom is quite the cook and very patient with me on the other end of the phone {How far does the thermometer pop out when it's done??}...this turned out great! I'm glad I went with her recipe and not one online, some things you just can't compete with :)

Last night, I tried out this recipe by Pioneer Woman since I had half of a bag of red potatoes left over. I became a huge potato fan after trying these and they will most definitely be put on the regular rotation of side dishes for our dinner menus. 

They were really simple to make. I will give you the run down, but for full instructions make sure you check out the Pioneer Woman, she has tons of lovely photos to accompany!

CRASH HOT POTATOES

-Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender

-Drizzle oil on cookie sheet, place potatoes on the cookie sheet

-Smash them with a potato masher {I don't have one somehow, I used a glass}

-Baste with olive oil and sprinkle S+P {she used herbs, I did not}

-Bake in oven 20-25 minutes at 450

I really couldn't get over how tasty these potatoes were, for such a simple recipe. Stephen even commented that they looked like something out of a magazine! Best compliment ever. They just might be the best potatoes I've ever had!

Other things I hope to make soon are:
-Popovers
-Beef Tenderloin
-Lasagna {yes, it's true I've never made it! eek}
-A Pie {any fruity pie, I've only made a butterfinger one before}
-Gnocci

Any basics you think I can add to this list? I have accomplished a few things on my cooking horizons list this week and feel pretty good about it! Ya never know when you will need to roast a chicken, right?

Have a great day! xo.