Favorites Friday - Easy Cobbler

This recipe has been around in my family ever since I was little.  I don't think we even had it written down anywhere, because it's so easy.  This recipe needs no introduction, really.  It's just good.  Maybe "cobbler" isn't the right word for it, but it's the closest thing I could think of to describe it.

Easy Cobbler

Makes one 8x8 dish, ~6-8 servings

Ingredients

• 1-2 cans pie filling (cherry, blueberry, apple, peach)
• 1 box Jiffy cake mix
• 1 stick butter or margarine, melted

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.  Dump pie filling into 8x8 (or similar) pan and spread out evenly.  

This pan was actually 8x10

Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly on top.  

Pour melted butter on top, as evenly as you can (don't worry, it's impossible to really get it distributed evenly).  

Ready to go in the oven

Bake for 25 minutes or longer, until topping turns golden brown on edges (and make sure the middle doesn't look soupy).

All done!

It is best eaten while still pretty warm, but let it cool a little before eating.  Seriously.  It's upsetting to take a bite, have a cherry burst lava hot filling into your mouth, and burn your tongue bad enough to not be able to taste the rest of it afterwards.  You have been warned.

A few notes:

• The temperature is not critical.  You could probably bake this anywhere between 350°F and 425°F and it would be just fine.  That way you can stick it in the oven with something else and bake at the same time.  Just adjust the time as needed.
• So far we have made this with cherry, blueberry, apple, and peach filling.  All have been good.  My favorite is cherry, though.
• I think the original called for 1 can of pie filling, but I like a little more filling so sometimes I use 2 (especially if I'm using a lightly bigger pan where it gets spread out more).
• No need to refrigerate leftovers.
• You can also make this over a campfire!  Line a dutch oven with foil, layer the ingredients in the same way, cover, and let cook until done.  We have done it before, and it was awesome!  Just don't forget the foil.

That's it!  Super easy, and the recipe is flexible.  Oh, and it's even better served with vanilla ice cream!

Favorites Friday - Tony and Lisa's Awesome Pizza of Doom

We stumbled across a specialty pizza at Mellow Mushroom one time, and it had a load of toppings that sounded delicious.  I think it was called "Hey Dude"?  Well we loved it, and decided to make our own version at home, with some personal touches.  This is typically what we make now when we do pizza from scratch.  I tried to think of what to call our pizza a while back, and in a moment of silliness I wrote down "Tony and Lisa's Awesome Pizza of Doom" and that's what I've called in in my head ever since; though in real life we just call it "our pizza".

Tony and Lisa's Awesome Pizza of Doom

Ingredients
(Use your judgement for amounts, based on your personal preference)

• Pizza dough (we like Publix or Trader Joe's)
• Olive oil
• Garlic, minced or garlic powder
  
• Grated parmesan or romano
• Pizza sauce  *see note
• Mozzarella
• Pepperoni
• Bacon bits
• Chicken, shredded (or canned)
• Buffalo sauce
• Jalapenos (optional)
• Onions, diced (optional)

Instructions

Let the dough rest at room temperature, as instructed on package.  Prepare/preheat your pizza stone (if using one).  Mix chicken with some buffalo sauce.  Roll out the dough into a large circle, and place onto the greased pizza stone or pan.  Brush (or Misto) the edges with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and parmesan/romano on edges.  Layer sauce, cheese, and toppings in order listed, finishing with a drizzle of buffalo sauce swirled on top. 

All prepped and ready to go in the oven!

Bake at 400°F for about 18-24 minutes (check what your dough package says), until cheese and crust turn golden brown.

 

 

 

 

Fresh out of the oven!  (No jalapenos or onions on this one)

 
We recently tried a variation using some leftover garlic butter spread from Publix, melted and brushed on the crust instead of olive oil.  It was even better!  But it's not something I keep around all the time.

*We have tried many different pizza sauces, some of which have been pretty good, and some have been downright icky.  The best ones we have found so far have been Trader Joe's fresh sauce (found right next to the pizza dough) and Classico jarred pizza sauce.  Publix brand jarred sauce wasn't bad, either.  Avoid Ragu at all costs.  There was also another one that I found was just too chunky, but for the life of me, I can't remember what brand it was.  (I know...helpful, right?)

Enjoy!