Keep it Simple: Mini English Muffin Pizza

How many of you LOVE Kroger?
Do you want to know how I spend my time at Kroger? I go there at 3:00 a.m. when the store is empty, and the shelves are being stocked. So it's just me and the stock crew. I have plenty of alone time to travel the store without being bumped, side-tracked, and rushed. I travel the store looking for these tags ------->
The ones that say, "WOOHOO".
On one of my solo trips I found this fresh pepperoni. And what do you do with pepperoni? You make PIZZA!

 I used canned mushrooms and grated myself Muenster cheese.

I love the way Muenster cheese melts.

It is so creamy.

 We have a local Nickle's store.

Yes, still one of the lucky areas that gets to take advantage of Nickle's.

We go every two weeks and stock up on bread items.

One of the items we picked up was English Muffins.

I like English Muffins toasted with lots of butter and a little jelly.

But why not put these babies to good use and make a meal?

Keep it simple, I say.....

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

So I assembled the English Muffins with pizza sauce (as much as you like)

Cheese (sprinkle of oregano),

Mushrooms,

Pepperoni,

Cheese (sprinkle of oregano)

I like the way the oregano melts into the cheese.

Bake in preheated 425 degree F. oven for 15-18 minutes.

I went with the 18 minutes to brown the cheese a little.

 The muffins turned out crispy,

and it made for a simple lunch.

I served peaches in passion fruit juice on the side.

The peaches are found at Aldi.

Best peaches ever!!

These are perfect to serve if you have children running around.

They WILL stop for pizza.

And perfect for their little hands.

Enjoy!

Baked Beans with a KICK

 I have a little quiet time.

Alone time.

Silence time.

Hear a clock ticking time.

Concentrating time.

Focus time.

Can you tell I enjoy the quiet time I get sometimes?

That is much needed for a blogger.

Let me show you what we have been up to in the kitchen.

I don't understand why someone would buy already assembled canned baked beans

when these are so easy to make in your own kitchen.

We had some frozen trimmed pork butt that we saved from when we made homemade Carnitas.

And the Carnitas is a whole nother recipe to share with you. 

Once we find the spice mixture we like the best, we will share the recipe with you. 

We have made Carnitas over and over, and we just aren't happy with the outcome.

Maybe it's because our local Mexican Restaurant has us spoiled?

But anyway,

I used the meaty pieces of the frozen pork but pieces.

And just so you know, yes, I save everything......

Chip crumbs,

Cookie crumbs,

Leftover spaghetti sauce,

and I even soak Great Northern Beans and freeze them in serving size bags.

Just a little of my grandmother and mother in me.....

 So, I cooked the bacon and pork butt pieces together until they were almost brown.

When they were almost brown I added the onion.

I cooked all that till the onion was translucent. 

 And just look at this pot of gold I found.

French's now makes crispy jalapenos.

Can you just imagine these on a grilled burger?

I can. 

I just know it will be amazing. 

These baked beans are so easy to make. 

And the timing is perfect for the up-coming summertime picnics.

You could probably skip the oven (baking) part and just throw everything in a crock pot.

How simple is that?

We served our Baked Beans with a KICK with smoked ham and seasoned greens.

The crispy jalapenos gave the baked beans an awesome flavor.

That is where the KICK comes from.

Now let me try and get this in recipe form for you:

Baked Beans with a KICK

1/2 pkg bacon, cut in pieces

leftover pork butt pieces (if I had to guess, maybe a cup worth)

1 onion, chopped

4 - 15 oz. cans pork & beans (I used organic)

1 c. BBQ sauce

1 c. ketchup

1/4 c. spicy brown mustard

1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 c. brown sugar

French's Crispy Jalapenos (enough to sprinkle on top)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Cut bacon in pieces and use meaty parts of trimmings from pork butt. Cook some of the bacon to sprinkle on top of beans before baking. I used a large skillet and small skillet. I cooked the topping bacon in the small skillet, and removed to drain on paper towels. In a large skillet cook bacon and pork butt pieces until almost brown. When it is almost brown add the chopped onion. Cook until onion is translucent. 

Meanwhile, combine the liquid ingredients in a small mixing bowl (mix). Add mixed liquid ingredients to the pork butt and bacon skillet (I did not drain the meats). Simmer for 5 minutes. Add canned pork and beans to a casserole dish (I used a 9X9), I also drained the top liquid off of each can of beans. Pour simmered sauce over beans. Top with reserved bacon. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle on French's Crispy Jalapenos and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Enjoy!