Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Wednesday, April 30, 2014

10 Pies, Crumbles, Crisps and Cobblers

Who doesn't enjoy having a few extra recipes for pie in their pocket? Especially when it involves any KIND of pie! Check out these 10 favorites and see if there might be something you'd like to tuck away! 



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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Apple Pie Parfait

I enjoy an apple pie from time to time. My favorite pie would have to be some kind of berry pie...but apple's good, too. Apple pie is one of IT Guy's deals. He loves them. If we go out to eat and split a dessert, he always goes for the apple where I am headed toward something berry-ish or chocolate. But this dessert....this one right here?? This dessert might make me a believer where apples are concerned. And IT Guy? I think his exact words were "this might be the best thing you've ever made". Whoa...and I've made lots of stuff. The ingredients of this dessert can be made ahead of time and then you can put the parfaits together in assembly line fashion and serve.  SO STINKIN' GOOD!!! Go ahead. Impress your friends.

Apple Pie Parfaits



Crumbled Crust:

1 pie crust – store purchased or homemade
2 tablespoons butter - melted
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup sugar

Roll out pie dough into a thin circle – about 14 inches in diameter. Place on a cookie sheet or pizza stone. Brush crust with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Crumble crust and set aside.

Apples:

2 Granny Smith Apples – chopped, about 4 cups
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla

In a large skillet, add butter, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugars and vanilla. Saute until apples are tender and you’ve got a nice syrup. Remove from heat.

In a parfait glass, add 2 tablespoons crumbled crust, some apples with syrup, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Repeat. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel syrup, if desired.



Here's all you need for this yumminess.


Roll out your pie dough then brush 
it with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. 
I used my pizza stone and it worked great!


Bake it until it's golden brown.


Crumble it and set it aside.


Dice your apples.


Throw your butter into a skillet...


..then add your diced apples, sugars and cinnamon.


Let that cook for a while until the 
apples are tender and the syrup is syrup-y.


Layer all the stuff until it looks like this!! 
Marvel at how delicious this looks!!  
And it tastes even better!!!

Snickerdoodle Poke Cake

We had to go to a small gathering the other day and I needed to take food. I also wanted to make this cake. And since we can only eat so much of what I cook, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to make this, share it and hopefully come home with no leftovers. Enter: Snickerdoodle Poke Cake. I love making 9x13 cakes. They're less fussy than a layered cake but still delicious. And this one fit the criteria of both. This was really yummy...as evidenced by the fact that I brought ZERO of it back home with me. My plan worked!

Snickerdoodle Poke Cake




1 yellow cake mix ~ baked according to box directions
2 teaspoons cinnamon ~ divided use
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter ~ softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2-3 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

Prepare cake according to boxed directions adding 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon to the batter.

Pour batter into prepared pan.

Mix together the sugar and remaining teaspoon of cinnamon.

Sprinkle cinnamon/sugar mixture over cake and swirl through with a knife.

Bake cake according to box directions.

In a small bowl, combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.

When cake is done, poke holes all over with the end of wooden spoon.

While cake is warm, pour powdered sugar glaze all over the top and allow glaze to soak in.

Allow cake to cool completely before slicing.

Serve with sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Okay....let's do this thang!

Okay....let's do this thang!


Make up the cake mix according to the box directions except add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Make up the cake mix according 
to the box directions except add 
1 teaspoon of cinnamon.


Stir together the sugar and remaining cinnamon.
Stir together the sugar and remaining cinnamon.


Pour the batter into your prepared pan then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan 
then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.


Swirl the cinnamon/sugar through the batter with a knife but don't mix in.
Swirl the cinnamon/sugar through 
the batter with a knife but don't mix in.


Bake it up then poke holes all over it.
Bake it up then poke holes all over it.


Combine the butter, vanilla, milk and powdered sugar.
Combine the butter, vanilla, milk and powdered sugar.


Pour it all over the warm cake. You may have to spread it around for it to get in all the holes. Allow to cool before slicing.
Pour it all over the warm cake. 
You may have to spread it around 
for it to get in all the holes. 
Allow to cool before slicing.


Serve with some sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!
Serve with some sweetened 
whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!

Monday, April 28, 2014

Pepperoni Pizza Bites

I don't remember where I first saw these but when I did, I thought...GENIUS! What wasn't genius was that I didn't save the recipe! So I had to make up my own. I thought this turned out really good. I used pepperoni but you could use sausage or make them vegetarian. So many ways to do this...but you really should give them a try. What's fun is that these can be a main dish or an appetizer. And get the kids involved...this is right up their little alleys!!

Pepperoni Pizza Bites



3 cans Country Style Biscuits
Pizza Sauce
1 8-ounce package pepperoni
1 8-ounce Mozzarella cheese ~ cut into 1 inch pieces
3 tablespoons butter ~ melted
Parmesan cheese
Italian Seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

Remove biscuits from can. Press flat to about 3 inches in diameter.

Place a heaping teaspoon of sauce on top of biscuit.

Place a pepperoni on top of the sauce, then a piece of cheese then another pepperoni.

Gather biscuit up around the edges to make a little pouch. 

Place seam side down into prepared pan.

Repeat until all biscuits are used. 

Brush tops with melted butter.

Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.

Bake 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with extra sauce if desired.


Here's what you need.
Here's what you need.


Flatten out a biscuit then top with some pizza sauce, a couple of pepperoni and a hunk of cheese.
Flatten out a biscuit then top 
with some pizza sauce, a couple 
of pepperoni and a hunk of cheese.


Then wrap up like a little package.
Then wrap up like a little package.


Repeat with all the ingredients and lay seam-side down in your prepared pan.
Repeat with all the ingredients and 
lay seam-side down in your prepared pan.


Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with Italian seasoning and parm!!. Bake!
Brush the tops with melted butter 
and sprinkle with Italian seasoning 
and parm!!. Bake!


Look how fun and cute!! And yummy!
Look how fun and cute!! And yummy!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Nutella S'mores Pizza with Cookie Butter Drizzle...and a $1.00 off COUPON!!!

Holy smokes!!!! This dessert pizza is out of this world!!! Never underestimate the power of Nutella and cookie butter because the combo will have you begging for mercy! This was incredible! I used my trusty Mama Mary's thin crust for this but you could use any of their fantastic crusts and this would still be delicious!!! It so quick to throw together, too. If your family does a "pizza night", consider adding this to the menu for dessert. I promise you won't be disappointed! 

Click HERE to get your $1.00 off coupon

Click HERE to visit Mama Mary's website for more recipes

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Nutella S'mores Pizza 
with Cookie Butter Drizzle



1 Mama Mary's pizza crust ~ any kind
1 cup Nutella spread (found in the peanut butter section)
2 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 graham crackers ~ broken into small pieces
1/2 cup cookie butter (I used Biscoff, found in the peanut butter section)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread the Nutella all over the pizza crust.

Sprinkle with marshmallows, chocolate chips and graham crackers.

In a small bowl, heat the cookie butter in the microwave for about 15 - 20 seconds until very soft. Stir.

Drizzle cookie butter over the pizza.

Place pizza in the oven and allow to cook for about 10 minutes or until marshmallows begin to puff and turn golden brown.

Allow pizza to rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

Okay....let's get started!

Okay....let's get started!


Spread the Nutella on the pizza crust then sprinkle on the marshmallows, chocolate chips and graham crackers.
Spread the Nutella on the pizza 
crust then sprinkle on the marshmallows, 
chocolate chips and graham crackers.


Then heat the cookie butter and drizzle on top. Bake it up!
Then heat the cookie butter and 
drizzle on top. Bake it up!


Here you go! This is a scrumptious dessert pizza!!!
Here you go! This is a scrumptious dessert pizza!!!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Rajin' Cajun Chicken Pasta Casserole

Hmmm...I'm not sure if this dish qualifies as a casserole but I served it out of a pan and scooped it out by the spoonful so I'm gonna say it is. It looks like one....tastes like one. You know the old saying, "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then it's a duck." Except this one is chicken. I've made this several times and found that the fam LOVES it. You can make it as spicy as you want. My group likes it with more kick but of course you can pull back on the spice if that floats your boat. Regardless, give it a try and see if you think it's as delicious as we do.



Ragin’ Cajun Chicken 
Pasta Casserole



3 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" cubes
4 tablespoons Cajun Spice Mix
1 pound fettuccine
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 whole green bell pepper, sliced
1 whole red bell pepper, sliced
½ whole large red onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
Cayenne pepper to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Salt to taste

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!
Sprinkle Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over medium/high heat. Add the chicken and cook until done. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Leaving pan on medium/high heat, add remaining olive oil and butter. Add peppers, onions, and garlic. Add salt and pepper if needed. Cook over high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently until veggies have some color and are soft/crisp. Remove all of the veggies from the pan onto a clean plate.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until it starts to thicken. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste.

Add the chicken and vegetables to the sauce. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot.

Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.


Here's the line-up...
Here's the line-up...

Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over the cut up chicken.
Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over the cut up chicken.

Then throw the chicken in a pan to cook.
Then throw the chicken in a pan to cook.

Remove it and add some olive oil and butter.
Remove it and add some olive oil and butter.

Then throw in the veggies to cook.
Then throw in the veggies to cook.

Remove the veggies and add the chicken broth and cream. Let that thicken and cook for a few minutes.
Remove the veggies and add the 
chicken broth and cream. Let that
thicken and cook for a few minutes.

Then get your spices in there.
Then get your spices in there.

Add the meat, veggies and cooked pasta to the sauce and give it a stir.
Add the meat, veggies and cooked 
pasta to the sauce and give it a stir.

Then call it a casserole..or don't....but it eat up, cuz it's GOOD!
Then call it a casserole..or don't....
but it eat up, cuz it's GOOD!

Copyright © 2011 Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. All rights reserved.

Polish Sausage Sandwiches

When IT Guy and I were young and could eat anything we wanted, one of our favorite places to go was Weinerschnitzle. Although I think back in the day (and by "day", I mean 1975) it was called Der Weinerschnitzle. Regardless, we'd go and enjoy their Polish Sausage sandwiches. There was one very near the little trailer we lived in that was very near my high school that was very near the miniature golf course where we had one of our first dates that was very near my old house in Tucson. We'd always eat outside, because back in the day there was no indoor seating, so we'd sit in the blistering heat of an Arizona afternoon and chow down on these bad boys. I haven't seen a Weinerschnitzle restaurant in years but I've always remembered these yummy sandwiches, so for me, the next best thing was to make them at home. These are good...really good...but I have to say that there's something about the ones from my newlywed years that will always be the best! 

Polish Sausage Sandwiches



1 pound package Polish Sausage
Rye bread ~ 8 slices
Swiss cheese ~ 4 slices (or 8 slices if you want cheese on the top and the bottom)
Mustard
4 Kosher Dill pickle spears

Cut sausages into 4 equal pieces. Then slice each piece lengthwise.

In a large skillet, lightly brown the sausage on each side. 

Apply mustard to each slice of bread.

Place a piece of cheese on 4 slices of bread. (Or all pieces if using 8 slices)

Then place 2 slices of the sausage halves on top.

Add a pickle slice between the kielbasa pieces and top with another piece of bread. 

Grill or wrap each sandwich in a piece of foil and heat in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes to warm through and melt the cheese. Or pop in the microwave for a few seconds. 

Makes enough for 4 sandwiches.



Here's the stuff to get you going.
Here's the stuff to get you going.


Cut the sausage in 1/4's then slice each piece in half lengthwise. Then grill 'em up.
Cut the sausage in 1/4's then slice 
each piece in half lengthwise. Then grill 'em up.


Mustard up the bread.
Mustard up the bread.


Then place the cheese, then the meat then a pickle on 4 slices of bread.
Then place the cheese, then the meat 
then a pickle on 4 slices of bread.


Top with another piece of cheese, if desired. At this point, you can grill them to melt the cheese or place in the oven or microwave to heat through.
Top with another piece of cheese, 
if desired. At this point, you can grill 
them to melt the cheese or place in
 the oven or microwave to heat through.


I wrapped mine in foil and threw them in the oven for about 10 minutes or so.
I wrapped mine in foil and threw 
them in the oven for about 10 minutes or so.


Enjoy!!!
Enjoy!!!