My Little Open Cookbook

Mama’s Chocolate Chip Cookies Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 20 minutes - when first batch is made. 2 ½ cups - flour 1 tsp - salt 1 tsp - baking soda 1 cups - melted butter ¾ cups - granulated sugar ¾ cups - packed brown sugar 2 large - eggs 1 tsp - vanilla extract 2 cups - semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup - favorite nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda. In a separate larger bowl beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar together until creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, beating slowly. Beat in chocolate chips. Scoop Tablespoon-sized balls onto parchment paper covered baking sheets. Bake for 9 - 12 minutes, or until golden brown, switching from one rack to the other halfway, 4 ½ to 6 minutes, through. Let cool on baking sheets for 1-2 minutes before moving them to wire racks to co...

Instant Pot Beef Stew Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 55 minutes 1 Tbsp – olive oil 2 lbs – chuck steak 1/2 tsp – salt 1/2 tsp – pepper 1/3 cups – flour* 2 cups – broth 2 lbs – potatoes 1 – yellow onion, diced 3 large – carrots 3 – celery stalks 2 tsp – garlic 1/2 tsp – onion powder 1 Tbsp – parsley 1 1/2 Tbsp– worcestershire sauce* 1 – 15 oz can diced tomatoes Cut steak and vegetables into approximately 1×1 inch pieces. Set Instant Pot to saute. Add oil. Once oil is heated add meat. Stirring often, cook meat for 5 minutes or until cooked thoroughly. Add salt, pepper, and flour, being sure to each piece is covered with flour. Slowly add broth, stirring continuously. Add chopped vegetables, remaining spices, Worcestershire sauce, and tomatoes. Manually set time to 20 minutes on high pressure. Release pressure when done. Enjoy! Notes *To make this Whole30 compliant replace flour with coconut or almond flour, and do not add Worcestershire sauce.

Easy Italian Sausage Gravy Over Biscuits Prep time: 5 minutes Total time: 20 minutes 1 - 16 ounce can of buttermilk biscuits 1 lb - Italian pork sausage ¼ cup - flour 1 ½ cup - milk ½ cup - beef broth ¼ cup - green onions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly butter a 9x13 pan. Add biscuits to pan and bake for 11 - 13 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Add pork sausage to pan and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in flour until meat is coated equally. Add milk and gravy. Stir slowly until gravy starts to boil. Take pan off the burner and stir for 2-3 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onions on top. Add a side of salad or your favorite vegetable for a balanced meal and enjoy! Notes To conserve time bake biscuits while making the gravy. If using regular pork sausage add 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, ½ tsp garlic, and ¼ tsp onion powder.

Deconstructed Stove-top Chicken Kabobs Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 45 minutes 2 Tbsp - olive oil 3 medium - chicken breasts 2 large - peppers 6-8 - mushrooms ½ - fresh pineapple ½ - onion (optional) Cut up all meat, veggies and fruit into 1×1 inch cubes and/or squares. Set stovetop to medium heat. Using a grilled cast iron pan, add oil and bring to heat. Add chicken and cook for 20 minutes, flipping pieces of chicken over every 5 minutes being sure to cook thoroughly. Chicken must be 165 degrees internally. Remove chicken from pan and set aside on a separate dish or plate. Add peppers (and onions, if used) to pan. Cook for 10 minutes, turning pieces over at 5 minutes. Set aside with chicken Add mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes turning pieces over halfway through. Set aside with chicken. Add pineapple. Cook for 5 minutes turning pieces over at 2 ½ minutes. Remove from pan and add to chicken and veggies. Serve hot and enjoy! Notes If...

A three-part recipe Prep time: 35 minutes Total time: 60 minutes Marinade 4 - flank steaks 2 Tbsp - olive oil 2 Tbsp - soy sauce 1 Tbsp - minced garlic Pasta 5 cups - water Pinch of salt 8 oz - penne pasta 1 Tbsp - butter Veggies 2 Tbsp - butter Marinated steak 2 Tbsp - butter 4 oz - mushrooms 10-15 stalks - asparagus 1 medium - yellow onion ½ cup - beef broth Add all marinade ingredients into a ziploc. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Boil 5 cups water in a large pot or a deep pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. When it comes to a rolling boil, add noodles and salt. Boil until noodles are al dente around 8-12 minutes or according to instructions on box. Stir occasionally in between. Strain noodles. Place back in pot and add butter. While waiting for noodles, set pan to medium heat. Add butter. Once butter starts to bubble up, add marinated steak. Cook on each side for 6-8 minutes or until cooked to medium-rare. Remove meat a...

Juicy Apple and Pear Pork Tenderloin Oven setting: 400 degrees Prep time: 10 - 14 minutes Total time: 40 - 44 minutes 1-2 Tbsp - olive oil 1 lb - thawed pork tenderloin Salt and pepper to taste 3 - pears 1 - red onion 1 Tbsp - balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp - honey 1 Tbsp - Thyme 1 cup - Apple Juice Preheat oven. Add oil to frying pan. Set to medium, heat and wait until oil starts to simmer. Add tenderloin and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side. Slice Pears and onion. Remove tenderloin and set meat aside in an oven safe pan. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Keeping pan at medium heat add  sliced pears and onion to the pan, stirring every 30 seconds for 3-5 minutes or until browned. When pears and onions are caramelized, add honey balsamic and vinegar. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low for 4 minutes. Add to tenderloin. Add apple juice and sprinkle thyme on top. Cook for 30 minutes or until internal temperature of meat is at 165 ...