Quick and mostly store-bought meals

Not every meal I make is an in-depth recipe. Some are really simple.

The other night, I made pierogies.

Pierogies

Ingredients (serves 2):

1 box (12 pierogies) potato and cheddar pierogies
1 tbsp salted butter

1. Boil the pierogies for 5-6 minutes (or cook as otherwise instructed). Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pot.
2. Strain water from the pierogies, and plate them. Drizzle butter over them, and serve.



Tonight, I made a grilled cheese experiment.

Tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons

Ingredients (serves 2):

2 slices sourdough bread
3 oz favorite cheese
2 tbsp salted butter
1 can tomato soup

1. Assemble sandwich with cheese in between 2 slices of bread (my favorite is a 4-year cheddar). Melt 1 tbsp butter over low-medium heat in a skillet.
2. Place sandwich on the skillet, and cover with a lid (the lid helps the cheese melt). After 4-5 minutes (or until the bread is browned), add another tbsp butter, then flip the sandwich, cover again, and cook for 3-4 minutes (or until the bread is browned).
3. Cook tomato soup according to instructions.
4. Pour the tomato soup evenly into bowls, and slice the grilled cheese sandwich into small bits, and drop them into the soups evenly.

Turkey sausage and potato hash

Tonight's dinner!

Turkey sausage and potato hash

Ingredients (serves 2):

3 tbsp olive oil
3 russet potatoes
8 oz turkey smoked sausage
1/2 green bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 red onion
1 tsp seasoning salt
1 tsp pepper
Salt to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Peel the potatoes, and cube them.
2. Bake the potatoes for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the peppers and onion, and slice the sausage.
3. Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, and add the sausage. Cook on both sides until lightly browned, then remove. Add another tbsp olive oil to the same skillet, and fry the potatoes until lightly browned on all sides.
4. In another skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil, then add all the vegetables, seasoning salt, and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.
5. Mix all ingredients together, and serve. Add salt to taste.

Tacos Tequilas

Today, we went to Tacos Tequilas on Milwaukee Ave in Avondale. We had a Groupon, (and it's still available).

It's a small and comfortable sit-down restaurant with friendly service. We were served water, and chips and salsa upon sitting down. We decided to start with the Queso Fundido, which is a bowl of melted Chihuahua cheese with sour cream, and corn tortillas on the side. It was thick, warm, and delicious. For our 6 tacos, (from the top of the photo down), we chose a Choriqueso (Mexican sausage with melted Chihuahua cheese, sour cream, onions, and cilantro), 2 Tinga de Pollo (shredded chicken in chipotle tomato sauce, onions, lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cheese), a Mole (shredded chicken with mole sauce, onions, cilantro, sour cream, and cheese), an Arrachera (grilled skirt steak, cilantro, onions, and lime), and a Pescado (sauteed tilapia served with cabbage, pico de gallo, and chipotle aioli). We were very full! Our favorite was the Tinga de Pollo, and I really liked the Choriqueso as well.

It's very affordable, and in our neighborhood. We'll be back, even without a coupon.

Leghorn Chicken

Leghorn Chicken on Western Ave in Ukrainian Village opened earlier this month to a lot of hype. When they opened, they sold out of chicken in just 90 minutes. We wanted to see what the big deal was, so we showed up the other day and got in line.

There are 3 steps to order a chicken sandwich at Leghorn Chicken. You have to choose the style, cut, and bread. Each choice has 2 options. Step 1: Nashville Hot or Pickle Brined. Step 2: Breast or Thigh. Step 3: Housemade Bun or Buttermilk Biscuit. Then you can add extras and/or sauces. The sauces come on the side, which I like. I ordered a Nashville Hot Thigh on a Buttermilk Biscuit with Spicy Mayo.



I found the sandwich to be really hot, so I was happy about the self-serve free water near the counter. My partner placed a similar order to mine and didn't think it was hot, so I guess that's just a matter of taste. I wanted to get fries on the side, but they were already sold out for the day. From what I've read, selling out of menu items is common at Leghorn Chicken. They sell out of chicken every day, which is when they close, so get there early.

It's cash only, but there's an ATM inside. I really like these types of places. They're not really "hole-in-the-wall" places, but they're simple, casual, and popular to locals. Check out their "About" page on their website, and if you're anything like me, it will make you like them even more. We'll be back.

Bagel breakfast sandwich with bacon, egg and cheese

I've made it with sausage and I've made it with ham, but here's a bagel breakfast sandwich with bacon!

Bagel breakfast sandwich with bacon, egg and cheese

Ingredients (serves 1):

1 plain bagel
Cooking spray
1 egg
3 slices bacon
1 slice cheese

1. Toast the bagel.
2. Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, flipping often.
3. Scramble the egg in a bowl, and spray a skillet with cooking spray. Cook the egg in the skillet over medium heat. I like to fold the egg in on itself into quarters to keep it together and neat.
4. Assemble the sandwich from the bottom: Bagel half, egg, cheese, bacon, bagel half.

Milton's

Our last dinner in Minnesota was at Milton's at 3545 Douglas Dr N in Crystal. It's a comfortable, neighborhood restaurant with really good soul food. I ordered the Sunnyside Burger, which came with fries. I asked for aioli on the side because that's what I like to dip my fries in. Great restaurant, and great food.

Punch Neapolitan Pizza

We tried and really liked another Neapolitan pizza place while in Minnesota: Punch Neapolitan Pizza. There are several locations throughout the Twin Cities, and we went to the one at 3226 W Lake St in Minneapolis. The pizzas cook in a 900° wood-burning brick oven for 90 seconds, so your food is ready almost immediately after you order it. Here's the Bruni, which is sausage, spiced salami, onion, and oregano.