Cheesy Poatoes

Make extra lemon sauce for the lemon chicken

Slice 6-8 smallish potatoes, put them in a bow and site with the lemon sauce.  Spread on a cookie sheet and back at 375 for 20 minutes.  Flip.  Bake for 10-20 minutes more.  Top with cheddar and parmesan. Broil until cheese melts.

Lemon Chicken

Sauce

1/2 c butter melted

1/4 c fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teas salt

1 teas sugar

1/4 teas pepper

4-6 chicken breasts

Melt sauce ingredients together divide in half.  Use half of sauce to baste chicken breasts while grilling, then discard. Serve remaining sauce with chicken.

Gazpacho - aka Best Salsa EVER!

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 can el patos (buy next to enchilada sauce)

1 c unpeeled cucumber cut into small pieces

1 c. red bell pepper, diced

2 green onions, finely chopped

1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped

3 TBL red wine vinegar

2 TBL olive oil

2 dashes cholula

2 garlic cloves minced

1 avocado diced

salt and pepper

Mix all together and serve with tortilla chips

Pear Salad

1 head romaine

1 bag mixed greens

1/4 c blue diamond glazed pecans

2 pears sliced

1/2 brick feta

1/4 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled

Dressing

1/3 c sugar

1/2 teas salt

1/2 small red onion chipped

1/2 teas mustard

1/3 c cooking oil

1/3 c red wine vinegar

1/2 TBL poppy seeds

Blend and chill dressing (be sure all of sugar dissolves).  Toss on salad just before serving.  

Lori's Ice Cream Sandwiches/Mint Oreo cookies

In the summer we love to make these ice cream sandwich version, in the winter we make the mint oreo version.  The cookie is the same, it's just the filling that changes.

1 pkg devils food cake mix (WITHOUT pudding in the mix)

1/2 c shortening

2 eggs

2 quarts ice cream

Mix dry cake mix, shortening and eggs.  Spoon like cookies on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Careful not to over bake, you want them a little soft.  Cool cookies, then freeze.  Fill with ice cream, wrap in saran and freeze.

Mint Filling
2 c powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter softened (not melted)
1/2 teas mint extract
3 drops green food coloring
1 Tbl water

Spread onto bottom side of a cooled cookie.  Top with another cookie.  Drizzle melted chocolate over the top and let set.

Richard's Spinach Salad

1 pkg spinach

1 head iceberg or romaine lettuce

1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled

1 8 oz mushrooms sliced thin 

1/2 red onion sliced thin

3/4 lb swiss cheese

Mix, cover, chill for 24 hours

Dressing

3/4 teas poppy seeds

1/3 c white vinegar

1/3 c olive oil

1/3 c sugar

3/4 teas salt

1 teas dry mustard

3/4 teas grated onion

Mix and chill

1 1/2 c cottage cheese rinsed and drained.

Combine, lettuce, dressing and cottage cheese to serve.

Penne Pasta

1 16 oz package penne pasta 

(cook according to directions)

1 teas olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1/8 lb prosccuito

1/2 teas red pepper flakes

(saute above four ingredients for 1 minute)

add two cans diced tomatoes

(cook for 3 more minutes)

1 c heavy cream

(add and simmer for 15 minutes)

slowly stir in 1 c parmesan 

1/2 c fresh basil

salt and pepper to taste

Cinnamon Syrup

1 c sugar

1/2 c light corn syrup

1/4 cup water

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c whipping cream

In small sauce pan stir together all but cream.  Bring to boil on moderate heat.  Stir in cream.  Serve warm over pumpkin waffles.

Pumpkin Waffles

2 c flour

1/4 c sugar

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt 

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3 eggs

1 3/4 c milk

1/2 c olive oil (or 1/4 c oil and 1/4 c applesauce)

1/2 c pumpkin puree

Mix dry ingredients, then wet.  Make waffles!

Breaded Brussel Sprouts

1 1/2 lb Brussel Sprouts, washed, trimmed and scored

1 teas salt

3 TBL butter

1/4 c parmesan cheese

1/4 c bread crumbs

1/4 teas garlic powder

1/4 teas black pepper

1/4 teas seasoning salt

Put sprouts in a medium size pan with 4" water.  Add salt and bring to a boil.  Cover and simmer 6-8 minutes until tender.  (careful not to overcook)  Drain.

Place sprouts in 9x9 casserole dish.  Mix topping ingredients together and sprinkle over the top of sprouts.  Heat sprouts under a broiler 5 minutes or until crumb mixture is lightly browned.

Biscuits

2 c flour

1 TBL baking powder

1 teas salt

1 TBL white vinegar

1/3 c shortening

1 c milk

Preheat oven to 425.  Mix dry ingredients.  Cut in shortening.  Mix in milk, just until incorporated.  Roll out to 1" thick.  Cut biscuits with a cup.  Bake 13-15 minutes until they begin to brown.  

Serve with jam or melted cheese.  Great breakfast for when there is NOTHING in the house.

Spicy Salmon and Grape Salad

4 salmon portions thawed

2 tsp powdered ginger

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

4 tsp brown sugar

4 tsp dark soy sauce

8 c mixed greens

2 c red seedless grapes, halved

Vinagrette

1/2 c olive oil

3 TBL balsamic vinegar

3 TBL orange juice

1/2 tsp dijon mustard

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper

Combine ginger, garlic, cayenne, sugar and soy sauce.  Mix well.  Brush mixture onto the salmon pieces.  Grill salmon on a preheated grill until done (usually 5 minutes a side).  Combine all vinaigrette ingredients and mix well.  Combine greens, grapes and dressing (Reserve 1/4 c. of dressing).  Divide salad among four plates and top with cooked salmon.  Drizzle 1 TBL dressing onto each salmon portion.  

Love it!!!!

Funeral Potatoes

2/3 of one of the brown Costco bags of shredded hash browns (partially thawed)

1 can cream of chicken soup

6 TBL butter, melted

1 c. sour cream

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all, put in a 9x13 casserole dish.  Top with 3 c crushed cornflakes mixed with 2 Tbl melted butter.

Bake uncovered at 400 for 45-50 minutes

Crockpot Meatballs

1/2 bag of the frozen costco meatballs

1 - 12oz jar of chile sauce (found by ketchup at the grocery store)

1 can whole cranberries

Put it all in a greased crockpot and cook on hi for 3 ish hours.  Serve over rice.

Indian Chicken

This recipe is amazing and really worth giving it a shot.  Don't be scared off by all the spices.  You can find all of them at Walmart and probably already have most of them.  

So I rarely invent a recipe myself.  But this one I have to take some credit for I made a butter chicken recipe and thought I can make this better.  I then researched recipes and squished some together and WALahh!!  An Indian chicken recipe that is mine.  So proud of myself.  

2 teas olive oil

1 sweet yellow onion chopped

cook for two minutes

add

1 TBL fresh chopped ginger

1 TBL fresh chopped garlic

cook until onion is translucent

add 

1 teas garam masala

1 teas chili powder

1 teas cumin

1/2 teas coriander

1/4-1/2 teas cardamom

1 bay leaf

2 teas lemon juice

1/4 teas crushed red pepper

1 c. tomato PUREE

cook 2-3 minutes to meld the spices

add 

1/4 c. plain yogurt

1 c. cream or 1/2 and 1/2

3-4 raw chicken breasts cut into pieces

Simmer until chicken is cooked thru

add

1 teas salt

3 TBL butter

Cook until butter melts

Serve over cooked jasmine rice.  The real secret is to top your jasmine rice with fennel.  Then serve your chicken over it.    

Misa's Baked Beans

1 lb ground beef (cooked)

1 onion chopped and cooked with beef

1 lb bacon (cooked and crumbled)

64 oz baked beans (without brown sugar)

1 15 oz can kidney beans drained

1 c. ketchup

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 TBL lemon juice or vinegar

1 teas liquid smoke

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and put in crockpot on low for 6 hours.  Don't stir.

The BOMB!! aka Marshmellow Popcorn

3-4 bags of microwave popcorn popped.  Remove old maids.

40 large marshmallows

 6 TBL butter

1 c. brown sugar

Melt together marshmallows, butter and sugar mix with popcorn.  

Love it!!!

From Grandma Annie

Zucchini Bread

6 eggs

4 c. sugar

4+ c. grated zucchini

2 c. oil (or 1 1/4 c applesauce and 3/4 c oil) 

2 TBL vanilla

2 teas baking powder

2 teas baking soda

2 teas salt

2 TBL cinnamon

1 teas nutmeg

Mix all then add

6 c. flour

Chocolate chips if desired

Bake at 350 for 60-62 minutes.

Makes 4 loaves

From Julie  :)

Butter Syrup

1/2 c milk soured with 2 teas vinegar

1/2 c butter

1 c sugar

1/2 teas karo syrup

warm on stove to melt butter and sugar but don't boil, just before serving add 1/2 teas baking soda and 1 teas vanilla.  I cannot even begin to express the goodness of this syrup.  There is no way to make it healthier and you would never want to.  It's worth it.  

Julie's Waffles

2 eggs

1 1/2 c. mild

1/2 c. olive oil or butter

mix then add

1/2 teas salt

1 TBL baking powder

mix then add

1 3/4 c. flour

Mix and pour into waffle iron.  If you're feeling extra fancy separate your eggs and beat egg whites and fold in at the very end.  Hands down best waffles ever.  

To make them healthier:

Sub out 1/2 your flour for whole wheat flour and 1/2 your oil for applesauce.  Still divine.

Made with applesauce 1675 calories per batch.

Bean Burritos

3 c. dried pinto beans

9 c. water

4-5 cloves garlic or 2/3 teas garlic powder

1 onion peeled and halved

1 TBL salt

1 teas black pepper

1/8 teas cumin

Put all in crockpot cook on low 8-10 hours.  Once cooked remove and reserve most of the liquid.  Smash with a potato masher returning reserved liquid as needed to get the consistency you want.  Serve in heat and eat tortillas (that have been cooked).  Top with cheese, sour cream, salsa, avocado etc.  

You can also cook the same recipe using black beans.  Change cumin to 1/2 teas oregano and add a couple bay leaves.  Serve black beans whole over rice.  

Taquitos

This recipe is adapted from OUR BEST BITES.  Find the real recipe there.  This is the quick and easy version that works well for our family.  

2 cans chicken breast

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 c. salsa or a small can of green chiles

1 TBL lime juice

1/2 teas cumin

1 teas chili powder

1/2 teas onion powder

1/4 teas garlic powder

one green onion (sliced)

1 c. shredded cheese

Mix all together.  Roll in corn tortillas.  Place on cookie sheet, spray with pam and sprinkle with salt.  Cook at 425 for 15-20 minutes.

Breakfast Burritos

1 lb ground sausage

1 green pepper chopped

1/2 onion chopped

Frozen hashbrowns (1/3 of a big brown costco bag - I don't know 16 oz??)

8-12 eggs

Shredded cheese

Heat and eat tortillas

Cook Sausage, add in onion and pepper, cook until onion is translucent.  Remove sausage/pepper mixture from skillet.  Cook frozen hash brown in the same skillet so they can take on the sausage flavor.  Season with salt, pepper and seasoning salt.   Once hashbrowns are cooked add back in sausage and slide to the side of the pan.  Beat your eggs and then cook on the empty half of the pan.  Mix all together and top with cheese.  Serve in cooked heat and eat tortillas.  

Pancakes

3/4 c. white flour

3/4 c. wheat flour

1 TBL baking powder

1 teas salt

1 TBL white sugar

1 1/4 c. milk

1 egg

3 TBL olive oil

Mix wet ingredients then dry (add flour last).  Mix until smooth.  Cook on a griddle.

Tomato Soup

So I know the stuff you get out of a can is way easier, but this stuff is divine.  I tried forever to recreate Julie's to no avail but this is what I came up with in the process.

6 cups smashed and peeled garden tomatoes (or three 15 oz cans)

2 teas chicken bullion

Boil 5-10 minutes to soften your tomatoes

1 1/2 TBL sugar

4-8 TBL butter (depending on your mood)

4 oz cream cheese

18 fresh basil leaves chopped

Mix in to the tomato base and mix all with a drink mixer to blend tomatoes/incorporate cream cheese/make divine.  

Season to taste with seasoning salt and garlic salt.

5 in 1 salad

This recipe isa modification from one from my Grandma Smith

1 c. plain yogurt

1 c. shredded coconut

1 c. mini marshmellows

1 can pineapple

1 can mandarin

Mix together and serve

Homemade Mac and Cheese

1 2/3 C. Macaroni Cooked and Drained

2 TBL cornstarch

1 teas salt

1/2 teas dry mustard

1/4 teas pepper

1 - 12 oz can evaporated milk

1 c. water

2 TBL butter

(Mix above 7 ingredients together and boil for 1 minute)

Stir in 1 1/2 c. shredded cheese

Pour cheesey noodle mixture into a greased 9x9 pan top with a 1/2 c. shredded cheese.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes

Great served with fruit or 5 in 1 salad

Sesame Pasta

1 - 16 oz package bow tie pasta (cooked and rinsed)

Sauce

1/4 c. sesame seeds

1/3 c. cooking vegetable/olive oil

1/3 c. soy sauce

1/3 c. RICE vinegar

1 teas sesame oil

1/2 teas ground ginger

1/4 teas black pepper

Mix ins - 

Red pepper sliced

Cucumber pieces

Carrots cut in matchstick pieces

snap peas

2 grilled chicken breasts (season with salt & pepper when grilling)

Mix Pasta, sauce and mix ins together.  Serve over a bed of spinach.

Quick and Easy Alfredo

1/2 C. Butter

8 oz brick of cream cheese (light works great)

1 teas garlic powder

2 C milk

6 oz grated parmesan cheese (the cheap powdery stuff)

1/8 teas black pepper

Put butter, cream cheese, garlic and milk in a pan.  Heat until cheese and butter are melted, stirring occasionally.  Add in parmesan cheese and pepper.  Serve over fetticcine noodles.