Derby Dogs

These pigs in a blanket are too cute! We just love them, and they are so easy! Be creative...you can add a number of things to make these dogs more interesting (ie. bacon, different types of cheeses, etc...). We call them derby dogs, because my husband says they look like little derby hats. Enjoy!

1 can Pillsbury Croissants (makes 12) cut into 12 sort of rectangular sections
1 slice american cheese (cut into sixes)
2 -1/2 hotdogs cut into 12 one inch pieces (you will have 1/2 hotdog left over, give it to your dog)

I used the Redi-Set-Go for this one...with the 6 tiny wells. Spray wells with cooking spray and preheat. On a piece of croissant, lay cheese, then a hotdog. Roll and stick in well. Cook for 9 minutes, then do the same with the other six. (see photo)

Ham and O-So-Cheesy Calzone

If you like ricotta cheese, this is simply ricotta heaven! The pizza place has nothing on me! You must try this. I guarrantee you will never buy calzones from your local pizza place again.

I cooked my calzone in the Xpress Redi Set Go without the divider insert, but I am sure you could cram one of these calzones into a well.

all-purpose flour, for working your dough (a palmful or so)
fresh, ready-to-use dough, room temperature (prepared by your grocery store or pizza place) (1/4 lb. of dough makes 1 calzone)

mix the following ingredients together: (this measurement is per calzone)

1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup mozzerella cheese
2 slices deli ham, chopped into 1" pieces
grated romano or parmesan cheese - 1 tsp.
salt and pepper, a sprinkle or two
garlic powder, a sprinkle or two
olive oil, just enough to coat your calzone

Preheat your GT Xpress or Redi Set Go. Meanwhile, place flour on your counter to easily work your dough into shape. Just keep tugging on it and rolling it with a rolling pin until you get a 5" round. It will be stubborn and try to keep shrinking on you, so do your best. Place ricotta, ham, mozzerella, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and grated cheese mixture in the center of your dough. Fold dough in half, and crimp edges really well, so you don't have an explosion or blowout while cooking. Brush top and bottom of calzone with olive oil and place in cooker. Cook 7 minutes. (see photo, I know it's messy, but when I cut into that calzone, it was a cheese volcano!)

Rolled Chicken w/Cheese & Roasted Peppers

1 thin sliced chicken cutlet
S&P
Onion powder
Garlic powder
2 Tbsp. Alouette Garlic Herb Cheese Spread
1 2x2" piece jarred red roasted pepper

Preheat your GT Xpress or Xpress Redi Set Go (use divided pan insert) . Place chicken cutlet between 2 pcs of Saran Wrap & pound thin with a mallet. Season with S&P, onion & garlic powder. Spread Alouette Cheese in the center of the cutlet. Pat dry red roasted pepper & place it on top. Roll up the chicken (not too tight, but not too loose either). Cook 5 min. or until cooked through. (see photo)

I just bumped this recipe up, because I just made it yesterday, and because I haven't had the time lately to create new recipes. Life has been hectic. This recipe and the 15 minute meatloaf are sooooooo good! Try them!

Mexican Beef -N- Eggs

So, I made a mexican pizza the other night, and I had some leftover ground beef that I had saute'd with onions and some Taco Bell seasoning (in a packet).

1 egg, beaten with a splash of milk, S&P
leftover seasoned ground beef
hot sauce, to taste
Chi Chi's Nacho Cheese sauce, about 2 tbsp. (warm)
sour cream, 1 dollop

Preheat your GT Xpress. Spray top and bottom of well with cooking spray, such as Pam. Pour in the egg. Add as much ground beef as you can without the egg spilling out of the well. Cook 3 min. Flip with your GT spatula, and if it breaks (which it will) no problem. You'll see. Cook 2-3 more min., until done to your liking. Plate & top with hot sauce & liquid cheese sauce. Serve with a dollop of sour cream on the side. (see photo)

Steak-n-Cheese Scramble

So, I had made some flat iron steaks on the barbeque last night. I had leftovers, so I thought this would be great with eggs. This recipe serves 2.

3 eggs beaten w/ a splash of milk
a couple of snips of green onions/scallions
2-3 oz. leftover cooked flat iron steaks, cut into bites
1 slice American cheese
1 slice Swiss cheese (or whatever cheeses YOU like)

Preheat your GT Xpress. Spray wells (top and bottom) with Pam/cooking spray. Divide egg mixture between the 2 wells. Do NOT overfill. Add steak & onions. Cook 2-3 min. until bottom sets. Flip as best you can. It will break apart, but that's okay. This is a scramble, not an omelete. Cook another 2-3 min. (turning once or twice). Top with cheese, but don't close the lid! When cheese is melted to your liking, serve.

I served mine in the photo with a dark wheat bread with butter. I also served a few drops of hot sauce on my scramble. Yum!

Broccoli Havarti Cheese Omelete

1 egg, beaten with a tablespoon of water or milk
leftover cooked broccoli (about 2 spoonfuls)
1 oz. Havarti Dill cheese, cut into little chunks or crumbles (or any cheese you like)


Spray one well with cooking spray. Add broccoli just to heat through. Add cheese chunks. Pour in egg. Cook 3-5 min. depending how well done you like your omelete. (see photo)

Western Sammy with Cheese

This is not your average Western sandwich. The crispiness of the roll really makes it.

1 roll, (butter it for extra flavor)
1 egg with a splash of milk (1 tbsp. or so)
1 slice American cheese
ham steak (about 2 oz.), diced
green pepper (a generous spoonful), chopped
onion (a generous spoonful), chopped
extra-virgin olive oil (a couple of teaspoons or so)

I saute' my ham, peppers, and onion in a little olive oil, S&P, in a non-stick pan until desired tenderness and set aside. Preheat GT Xpress. Beat egg, S&P, and milk. Spray one well with Pam. Pour in egg, & add as much ham, peppers, and onion as you can get in there UNTIL the mixture comes up to the top of the well WITHOUT spilling over. Close lid and cook 2 min., flip over, cook 2 more min. If it breaks when you flip it, not a problem. You'll see. Cut open your roll and lay a slice of cheese on it. Put eggs on top. Close roll, cut in half, and pop into the wells just to crisp.

Beef Empanadas

1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, cut in half (makes 2 empanadas)
1 cup cooked ground beef (season with chili powder or some Taco Bell seasoning & some diced onions & S&P)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
jarred chopped jalapenos or canned green chiles ( a sprinkle per empanada)

Preheat your GT Xpress. Re-heat or cook your beef. You will have two half moon shapes of crust. Divide your jalapenos or chiles, cheese, & beef onto each crust, but pile it all on one half on each half moon. Pull the crust on top over the filling side & crimp edges with a fork or by tucking and folding edges. Poke the top of each pastry once with a fork to vent. Spray wells with Pam or cooking spray. Cook 15 min., flip over (carefully) and cook another 5 min. Serve with salsa or taco sauce & sour cream, if desired.

Chicken & Bean Burrito

1 soft taco / flour tortilla
2 tbsp refried beans
1 tbsp salsa
1 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp black olives, chopped
a sprinkle of chopped jarred jalapeno or chopped green chiles
1 tbsp cheeze wiz
a sprinkle of chopped chives or green onion/scallion
a handful of white meat chicken (from a roaster chicken or rotisseree chicken)

Preheat your GT Xpress. Microwave tortilla for 15 sec. so it is easier to roll. Assemble burrito. Tuck in sides and roll up carefully. Put into well. Cook 5-7 min. until warm and melty. Top with a dollop of sour cream & more salsa.

Chicken & Cheese Melt

This is great for leftover chicken cutlets!

1 leftover chicken cutlet
2 slices American Cheese
1 Flax wheat rollup
1 tbsp. Russian dressing

Preheat GT Xpress. Combine all ingredients into a soft rollup or wrap. Tuck in sides. Rollup & fil into one well. Cook about 5 min. until cheese is melted and chicken is heated through. (see photo)

Tuna Bacon Melt

1 can of tuna, drained and prepared with mayo for tuna salad
1 slice American cheese
2 slices Pre-cooked Bacon
2 (1" thick) slices of loaf bread, toasted

Assemble your sandwich, cut in half, and place one half in each well. Cook 3-5 min., just until cheese melts. (see photo)

Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Bagel Scramble

1 egg, scrambled
1 slice cheese, folded in half
2 slices pre-cooked bacon
1 Western Bagel (or any small bagel), split

Preheat your GT Express. Scramble an egg in a small bowl. Toast bagel in toaster. When bagel is toasted squeeze it slightly to create an oval shape, so that it will fit into one well of the GT Express. Spray wells lightly with cooking spray. Push bagel bottom in to fit into the well. Top with bacon, then cheese. Carefully pour the egg on top of the bagel, being careful not to drip the egg over the side. You want to pour it slowly. It's okay that the egg drips off the sandwich into the well. You'll see. Put the other half of your bagel on top, and close the lid. Cook about 5 min. I keep peaking in after 4 min. to see when the egg looks cooked. As soon as egg looks solid and cooked, put it on your plate and let stand 1 min. before eating because it will be very hot. (see photo)

Hot Pastrami Swiss Melt (Reuben's Brother)

1 Flax Rollup (or wrap of your choice)
2 slices swiss cheese
1 tbsp. Russian dressing
2 tbsp. coleslaw
2 oz. deli pastrami

Preheat your GT Xpress. Place all ingredients onto the wrap, fold in sides and roll burrito style. Cook 5-7 min. (see photo)

15 Minute Meatloaf

14-16 oz. ground beef or meatloaf mix (it comes out real juicy with the meatloaf mix)
1 egg
1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/8 cup parmesan cheese
S&P
Onion & Garlic powders

Preheat your GT Xpress. Combine all ingredients & form into 2 loaves. Put one in each well, and press it down & pack it into each well. Cook 15 min. Poke the middle & peek in to make sure it's done. If not, cook 1-2 min. longer and check again. Serves 2. (see photo)

Artichoke & Herb Cheese Pizza

1 Arnold multigrain sandwich thin
1-2 tbsp. Alouette herb cheese spread
a sprinkle of parmesan grated cheese
3 marinated artichoke halves/quarters, drained on a paper towel
1-2 tsp. chopped black olives
1-2 tbsp. shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat GT Xpress. Top bread with cheese spread, grated cheese, artichokes, olives, & mozzarella. Cut in half. Cook 2-3 min. until bottom crisps and cheese melts. (see photo)

Toasted Bagel, Sausage, Eggs, & Cheese

1 large bagel, split & toasted, then cut in half to fit wells
2 eggs
2 Brown & Serve or Jone's pre-cooked sausages (or any pre-cooked sausage)
1 slice American cheese, cut in half

Split your sausages length-wise (see photo) to make thinner. Place into your GT Xpress. Cook 2-3 min. Meanwhile, toast your bagel in your toaster & cut in half to fit wells. Remove sausages & set aside. Dry up any juice from the sausages with a paper towel to clean the GT Xpress. Be careful not to burn yourself. Lay the bottom half of the bagel into both wells. Carefully crack and egg onto each bagel and poke the yoke. Yes, you actually WANT to break it. LOL. Cook 1 min. Top each egg with a couple pieces of sausage & 1/2 slice cheese & put the top back on the bagel. Cook 3-4 min. Keep peeking at it so that it's cooked to YOUR liking. If you want to keep it on another min., then do so. (see photo)
(Makes 2 bagel halves)

Egg McMuffin My Way

1 english muffin, fork split
1 egg
1 slice pre-cooked bacon
1 slice American cheese

Preheat your GT Xpress. I like to toast my english muffin in my toaster first & butter it. Beat egg with a fork. Spray well with cooking spray. Pour egg into well. Cook 2 min. Flip over & place bacon on top. Cook 1 more min. While waiting for egg to cook, place your cheese on the bottom half of your muffin. Place egg on top, and I fold the egg to double stack it as I place it on the muffin bottom. It makes a fatter sandwich. If you want, you can put the top of your muffin on and place it back into the well & cook 1 min. (it will crisp & heat your muffin through). (see photo)

Tuna Melt Rollup

1 Flax Rollup
Prepared Tuna salad with mayonnaise
1 thin slice of deli swiss cheese (or half if it's thick)
1 thin slice of American cheese

Preheat your GT Xpress. Prepare your tuna salad with mayo to your liking. I like to add onion and celery, onion and garlic powder, & black pepper to mine. Place cheeses on rollup, so that they almost cover the entire rollup. Spread on the tuna salad. Tuck in sides and roll up & place into well. Cook 5-6 minutes. (see photo)

Rolled Chicken with Cheese & Roasted Peppers

1 thin sliced chicken cutlet
S&P
Onion powder
Garlic powder
2 Tbsp. Alouette Garlic Herb Cheese Spread
1 2x2" piece jarred red roasted pepper

Preheat your GT Xpress. Place chicken cutlet between 2 pcs of Saran Wrap & pound thin with a mallet. Season with S&P, onion & garlic powder. Spread Alouette Cheese in the center of the cutlet. Pat dry red roasted pepper & place it on top. Roll up the chicken (not too tight, but not too loose either). Cook 5 min. or until cooked through. (see photo)