wow!

I noticed it has been almost a YEAR since I published on this blog! So sorry dear followers.

Here are some recipes that hopefully will make up for such a long sabbatical.

1. Cautini

Brown 1 lb of hamburger meat. Add in 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped bell pepper. Preheat oven to 350. Boil 1 box of elbow macaroni noodles & drain. Layer a casserole dish as follows: meat mixture, noodles, a jar of pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese REPEAT. BAke for 30 minutes.

2.  Quiche

(choose your favorite "topping"-spinach, ham, olives, tomatoes, or all of the above!)

In a blender, place 2 eggs, 2 cups of bisquick, 2 cups of milk. Blend, pour into buttered casserole dish. Add 1 cup of topping of choice and 1 cup of cheese. Press beneath egg mix with back of spoon. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

3. Frito Pie

Brown 1 lb of hamburger meat. Add in 1 jar of salsa until well warmed. Pour into a large casserole dish and top with 2 cups of mexican grated cheese and 1 bag of crushed fritos.

4. Strawberry & Chicken Spinach Salad

Note 1 chicken breast will =2 salads Marinate chicken breast in Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing ( i like Ken's) for 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

Preheat George Forman or standard grill. In a large bowl place 1 package of fresh baby spinach, 1 container of feta cheese, 1 bag of chopped pecans, 1 box of fresh strawberries-sliced. Toss. Serve into seperate bowls. On a cutting board use VERY sharp knife (or electric knife-my fave) and slice very thin pieces of chicken over salad fixings. Top with additional vinaigrette if you choose.

5. Not your average pot roast.

Whisk in a large bowl-one can of cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup of Dales, 1 cup of water. Cover roast with black pepper. Place roast in crock pot-pour sauce over. Add in quartered potatoes and carrots (and onion optional). Bake slowly on low for 8 hours. OR if you don't want your veggies meaty tasting-steam the carrots separately and bake the potatoes in a dish with butter and S&P-350 for 30 minutes.

1+1+1

I LOVE easy recipes and decided to share some of my favorite 1 cup plus one cup recipes:

Divine Biscuits:

1 8 oz. container of sour cream

1 stick of butter

2 c. Biscuick

Fruit Crisp:

1 can of your favorite canned OR

1 package of your favorite frozen fresh fruit (defrosted)

1c. sugar

1 c. flour

1 stick of butter

Fruit Salad:

1 c. vanilla yogurt

1 can of mandarin oranges

1 can fruit cocktail

1 can crushed pineapple

(optional 1 c. marshmallows &/or 1 c. coconut)

Fruit tea:

1 c. tang

1c. lemonade

1 c. tea

(This can be increased up to a container of each. Follow directions for making each)

Stay tuned for more..i plan on looking for some links for you!!

Recipes for Meatless Meals

Bean Soup:

--1 bag of beans soup mix (I used Hurst Hambeans)

--1 onion

--1 packet of onion soup mix

--4-6 cups water

Place in crock pot and cook on low all day.

Spinach Pizza:

1/4 c. olive oil

1 tsp of these spices:

crushed red pepper

black pepper

salt

(optional-garlic)

"paint" the above mixture over a precooked pizza crust.

Cover in mozzarella & provolone (or parmesan) cheeses.

Bake @ 400.

In a separate bowl-mix fresh spinach with 1 Tb of lemon juice sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Add spinach to cooked pizza as a fresh topping.

Lasagna Bake:

In one shallow pan melt 1/2 stick butter. Add 4 Tb of flour & whisk to create a 'gravy'. Slowly whisk in 3 cups of milk & 1/2 tsp of nutmeg. (yes the spice...i know sounds weird, but YUM!)

In separate pan heat 2-3 Tb of olive oil. Add one entire package of spinach to oil slowly till all is wilted.

Add to 'gravy' one box on no boil lasagna noodles. Pour half of that mixture into a square casserole dish toss in spinach, add the rest of gravy & noodles. Top with parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)

Bake @ 375 for 15 minutes.

Spaghetti Pie:

Boil Spaghetti noodles & drain. Peel, chop, boil 2-3 large carrots, and puree (in pureer or regular blender).

In large bowl mix noodles, carrot mix, 2 cups of spaghetti sauce, 1/2 tsp salt & pepper, 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese 2 Tb parmesan cheese.

Pour into a round baking dish and cover with remaining 1/2 cup of moz cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is entirely melted.

Veggie Pasta Salad:

cooked & cooled Veggie Noodles or Wacky Mac

chopped 2-3 lg. carrots, 1/2 bag of broccoli, 1 red & green bell pepper, 1 chopped tomato,1 can black olives, sprinkle with grated parmesan.

p.s. i like this with celery & peanut butter or pimento cheese and raisins..

Meatless Meals

Here is one week of meatless meals for my fellow "no meat" fans..

When my husband and I first met, I was eating NO meat at all. I think that grocery stores have a conspiracy going on against me..Here are some questions for you:

Why do they package italian sausage so that it looks like a small intestine?

Or chop the meat through GLASS windows and come out with blood on their aprons when you need to know what kind of meat you need for fajitas?

Why do all meats have a double name except chicken?

[pigs are called pork, cows are called beef, chicken-leaves NO room for you to pretend you are eating anything other than a cocky, bug eating, feathered covered bird?]

1. Bean soup

2. Spinach pizza

3. Lasagna bake

4. Spaghetti pie

5. Veggie pasta salad

Yummy Chewy Goodness

Hi guys, if you are up for a little work and you love baking and the yummy results then click here to get the chewiest chocolate cookie ever. My hubby is a chewy cookie conesiuer and thought these were worthy of sharing with you. Enjoy!

One Pan Meals

South of the Border Skillet:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast

1/3 c. green onions

1 can rotel

1 can chicken broth

SPICES: (1T chli powder, 1/8 t. cumin, 1/8 t. pepper,1/4 t. garlic)

Brown chicken breast in 2t. of cooking oil on med-hi. 

Remove meat from pan & cook onion & spices for 1 minute. 

Add broth, rotel & 1 c. uncooked rice. Bring to boil.

Return meat to pan. Cover & simmer for 20 minutes.

Wild Rice Casserole:

1 package of wild rice mix (cooked according to microwave instructions)

2 cans of all white meat chicken (next to canned tuna in the store)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 package of Lipton onion soup (dry) mix

salt & pepper

1 package of sliced almonds

Mix first four ingredients. Place in buttered casserole dish. Top with sliced almonds.Bake 25 minutes.

Favorite Things Recipes

Potato Soup:

4-5 potatoes peeled and chopped to one inch size. 

Boil til tender.

Add 1 can of cream of chicken soup + 1 can of chicken broth

1/2 stick of butter

1 t. salt and 1 t. pepper

(1/4 c. of chopped onion optional) 

Bring to boil for 1 minute simmer for 8-10 minutes. 

Serve with the normals-cheese, bacon, sour cream.

Hashbrown Casserole:

1 lb. frozen shredded potato

1 8oz. package of cheddar cheese

1/4 c. chopped onion

1 6 oz. container of sour cream (or Ricotta cheese for extra flavor) I had some left over from Manicotti

1 can of cream of chicken or mushroom

1 stick of Ritz or storebrand crackers-crushed

Mix first ingredients then add to buttered dish and sprinkle crushed crackers. 

Bake 350 for 25 minutes.

Pork Bake:

Buy a one pound Pork Tenderloin and roll in 3 spices (about 1T each): parsely, garlic salt & basil.

Place in a baking dish covered in foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350.

Chicken & Rice:

Spray a pan with non stick cooking spray. 

Salt and pepper chicken tenderloins (or use lemon pepper seasoning-my fave)

Cook about 3 minutes on each side @ men-hi heat till no longer white inside. 

(I tend to overcook so watch carefully!)

Boil 5 Minute Rice 

Place in buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle again with lemon pepper or all seasoning. Bake for 15 minutes at 350.

Snow Cream:

1/2-1 c. sugar

Large bowl of snow

2 c milk

1 tsp vanilla

Snickerdoodle Cookies:

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. butter

2 c.  all purpose flour

1/4 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1 egg

Mix in a large bowl in that order.

Sprinkle final mixture with 1 T. cinnamon

Place on baking dish at 350.

Cook for 12 minutes. 

When cookies are done-sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar and serve!

A few of my favorite things

1. Potato Soup

2. Hashbrown Casserole

3. Pork Bake

4. Chicken and Rice Combo

5. Snow Cream

6. Snickerdoodle Cookies