RIBS

YUMMO RIBS

We love ribs, but I never seem to be able to get them tender enough....until now....I think I've figured it out! Thanks Amy for helping me out.

I used one large rack of ribs. {You will probably have to cut them in pieces to be fit them in your pan}

Boil ribs for 10 minutes. {this helps remove some of the fat and it starts the cooking process}

Remove from water and put in a pan. Sprinkle salt, pepper and onion powder all over ribs.  Cover with tin foil and bake in 200 degree oven for 4-6 hours. Seriously, don't short this time. This is what makes them fall off the bone tender.

Remove from oven and turn the broiler on. Baste ribs with your favorite BBQ sauce. Leave uncovered and place under broiler for about 20 minutes. {I basted them again after 10 minutes}.

Remove from oven and let sit for a few minutes.

ENJOY!!! {we did!}

Spaghetti Pie

WE LOVE spaghetti....it's one of Tanner's favorite meals. On Pie Day (3.14) we had pie for dinner and dessert. I thought I would share my recipe with you.

SPAGHETTI PIE

8 oz Spaghetti - cooked and drained
1 tbsp butter
1/3 C Parmesan Cheese
2 well beaten eggs
1 1/2 C Cottage Cheese
1 lb Ground Beef
1/2 C chopped onions
1 8oz can diced tomatoes
1 5oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 C Mozzarella Cheese

Cook Spaghetti Noodle. While cooking, brown Ground Beef and onions together. Drain and rinse with hot water. Add tomatoes, sauce and all seasoning to mixture and let cook and thicken while you prepare the pie.
Mix noodles, butter, Parmesan cheese and eggs all together and press into a pie pan making a crust. {this makes 2 8" pies}.

Top each pie with cottage cheese. Top with spaghetti sauce and sprinkle top with Mozzarella Cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey Tetrazzini {our favorite thing to do with leftover turkey}

1/4 C Butter
1/4 C Flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 T cooking sherry
1 C. broth
2 1/2 C Cream {I just use milk}
8 oz Spaghetti - Cooked
1 small can mushrooms
2 C diced cooked turkey
1/2 C Parmesan Cheese

Heat butter, flour, pepper and salt until all mixed together. Add broth, cooking sherry and cream. Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, stilling constantly. Add cooked turkey, mushrooms and cooked spaghetti noodles. Pour into 2 quart cooking dish {or 9x13 pan}. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.


Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Olive Garden Soup {Pasta E Fagioli}

Tonight we tried this new soup. I found the recipe HERE and it was SO yummy!

• 2 lbs. ground beef {I used spicy Italian sausage, so good}
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 carrots, shredded
• 1 c. celery, chopped
• 2 (28 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained
• 1 (16 oz.) can white kidney beans, drained
• 4 cups beef stock
• 3 tsp. oregano
• 2 tsp. pepper
• 5 tsp. parsley
• 1 tsp. tabasco sauce
• 1 (20 oz.) jar Prego traditional spaghetti sauce
• 8 oz. pasta (I like using ditali pasta)

• Brown ground beef in large skillet. Drain fat. Add beef and all ingredients except the pasta into a large crock pot. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

• Before serving, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and add to soup.
• I decided to just add my noodles to the crock pot the last 30 minutes, they cooked too much and they soaked up all the liquid. If you are going to add them to the crockpot, you should add 2C water when you add the noodles. I would recommend cooking the noodles separate as she suggests!!

Sloppy Joes

Tanner has decided that he LOVES Sloppy Joes.  He would have them every night and he always wants two! {maybe that is why he has grown another 1 1/2" in the last month}. This is my mom's recipe and it is our favorite recipe.

Sloppy Joes {from Cindy McDonald}

1 lb Hamburger
chopped onion
1 c. ketchup
2 tsp. mustard
2 T. brown sugar
1 can Chicken gumbo soup {this is a MUST for this recipe}
salt and pepper to taste

Brown hamburger and salt and pepper to taste. Add onions to your taste. Add 1 can chicken gumbo soup, ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Simmer until ready to serve. Serve on hamburger buns.

Mom's Meatloaf

This is my favorite meatloaf recipe. I made it in a muffin pan this time and it was SO good. It wasn't dry and it cooked in 1/2 the time.

Mom's Meatloaf
makes 1 large loaf or 6 large muffins

2lbs Ground Beef {I halved the meat and it was still fine}
1 C applesauce {use a little less if you are halving the meat, probably 3/4 C}
1 C cooked rice
1 egg beaten
1 T. onion
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 C bread crumbs

Sauce {1/2 this if making muffins}
1 C ketchup
1 T. brown sugar
1 C Boiling water

Mix all together with hands and divide into 6ths if you are using muffin pan. Press into muffin pan.

Cover with Sauce

SOOOO yummy!!

Crepes

We LOVE crepes. I make them all the time when I can get fresh fruit to eat in them. This is the recipe I use and they have always turned out great.

CREPES

2 eggs {beat them in the bowl before adding anything else}

Then add:
2 tbsp Sugar
2 cups Milk
3-4 drops of vanilla
2 tbsp butter {softened or melted}
1/4 tsp salt

Mix well.

Wisk in 2 C Flour until smooth and creamy.

I usually let the batter sit for 10-15 minutes while I get the strawberries ready. It's supposed to help it get air bubbles out {or something like that}.

Pour 1/4 cup of batter in bottom of frying pan, pick up pan and swirl around until you get it as thin as possible and all the way around the pan. If your batter is not thin enough, add a little more milk.

Like I said, we like them with fresh fruit, but I have friends who enjoy them with peanut butter, chocolate, marshmallows, Nutella, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, etc. {pretty much what ever you want!}

AMAZING Pork Chops

I think Amy told me about these....they are DELISH!!! {and SUPER easy}



3-4 Pork chops
1 egg
1 pkg Stove top

Crush up stove top in food processor, it doesn't need to be crumbs, just break it up a little so it will stick better to the pork chops. Make an egg wash, dip pork chops in egg. Roll in stovetop.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes, turn over and bake for 10 more minutes. That's it! Enjoy!

SO GOOD!!!!

Taco Soup

This is one of our favorites. I make it ALL the time. It's super easy and I almost always have everything to make it. It is always my food assignment for our scrapbooking weekend and I get tonz of compliments on it every year.


TACO SOUP

{somehow I lost the picture and I can't find it!}

1 lb Ground beef {browned and drained}
1 medium onion {diced}
1 16oz can corn
1 16oz can kidney beans {or any kind you want}
2 16 oz or 1 28oz can of diced tomatoes {I use 1 with green chilies and 1 without}
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning

Dump all ingredients in crock pot {with all of the juices} and let cook on high for 2-3 hours....or low for 5-6 hours. You can also put it all in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, let simmer for 30-40 minutes.

Serve with sour cream, grated cheese, green onions, chips, guacamole....whatever you want!

ENJOY!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

{This is SO YUMMY, and super easy}

1 can evaporated milk
2 cans enchilada sauce
1 can green chilies
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 whole chicken - cooked, deboned and cubed. {probably 3-4 cups chicken}

Mix milk, enchilada sauce, chilies and cream of chicken soup in a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil and simmer. {You can make this part in your crock pot}

Add chicken and heat through.

Serve with Frito's, grated cheese, sour cream, green onions. {any toppings you want}

That's it. Super EASY!

Empanada

1Lb. Ground Beef

1 Cup Salsa

1Pkg. Refrigerated Pie Crust (2 crusts)

1 Cup Mexican Style Grated Cheese

Heat oven to 425 degrees

Brown Meat in skillet ( I added fresh green pepper and oinion), stir in salsa..remove from heat

Place 1 crust on baking sheet... top with meat mixture..spread to 1 inch of the edge..cover with cheese and remaining crust..seal edges with fork.

Bake for 25 minuted or until Golden Brown.

Cut into wedges and serve with lettuce and tomatoes!

This is a very yummy recipe ..found on Kraft foods.com.

Crockpot Lasagne

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
1 Cup Water
1 Container Ricotta Cheese
1 pkg. (7oz) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
1 Egg
2 tlsp. Parsley
6 Lasagne Noodles (uncooked)

Brown meat, drain.. Stir in spaghetti sauce and water. In bowl mix ricotta, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, 2 tlsp parmesan, egg, and parsley!

Spoon 1 Cup meat mixture into slow cooker, top with layers of half each noodles(broken to fit) and cheese mixture.

Cover and cook 4-6hrs .. Sprinkle with remaining Cheeses and let stand until melts(10 min)

Enjoy!!!

Easy Fajitas in a Pan

We LOVE anything mexican...we could have fajitas, tacos, salsa and guacamole every night.
{Tanner would hate it, he thinks he doesn't like all that yucky stuff, I don't know where he came from}

These are SO EASY!

FAJITAS IN A PAN

In a gallon size ziplock bag combine:

1 pkg taco seasoning
2 tbsp. flour
4 uncooked chicken breast, cut into strips or bite sized pieces

Shake bag to coat all chicken with taco seasoning and flour. Set aside.

In 9x13 pan add the following:

1 red pepper, sliced in strips
1 green pepper, sliced in strips
1 can corn, drained
1 cup of salsa or 1 can diced tomatoes {the kind with green chili's or jalapeno peppers if you want}
1 medium onion, diced

Mix all ingredients around and add raw chicken pieces on top.

Cover with foil. Bake for 35 minutes at 450. {yes, that's right}

I usually make rice while it's cooking and then serve in tortilla shells with toppings....sour cream, cheese, lettuce, guacamole, you get the idea!

Baked Potato Soup

Great on a cold winter day {like everyday here}

I usually make this the day after we have baked potatoes for dinner, and plan on making extras.

Baked Potato Soup

4 large Baked Potatoes {Baked and cooled} Peel, and cut into bite size pieces and set aside.

In a large pot, make a rue for the sauce:

2/3 C Butter
2/3 C Flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Melt butter and flour together and mix into a paste. Make sure it's all incorporated and melted together so your soup doesn't taste like flour.

Add 6 C Milk gradually.

Bring to a boil and let boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from Heat.

Gently stir in 1 C Sour Cream.

Add bite size potato pieces and mix all together.

Serve soup in bowl and garnish with grated cheese, bacon, green onions and any other baked potato topping you like.

Yummy!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a variation of a family favorite{Taco Soup with Ground beef}....it's sort of made up....but it was SOOOO good!!!!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cook whole chicken. I put a whole chicken on in a large stock pot, cover with water. Add celery salt, cumin and chicken bullion. Cook for about an hour {or until completely done}

Remove chicken from broth, de-bone and dice.

Strain chicken broth and add back to stockpot. Bring broth to a boil and add the following:

1 medium onion diced
1/2 C Brown Rice
1/2 clove garlic

Let boil for about 5 minutes. Then add:

1 can corn
1 can beans {I used kidney beans}
1 can tomatoes with green chilis {or add a can of tomatoes and one can green chilis}
diced chicken

Let boil for about 3o-45 minutes. Make sure the rice is cooked.

Garnish with sour cream, green onions and serve with tortilla chips.

SOOOOO Yummy!!!!

Options: drain the following day and use for taco filling or make nachos! {SO GOOD}

Tortilla Soup {another family favorite}

Tortilla Soup
1 qt tomatoes {any kind, I use whole}
1 qt water

{you can use equal parts tomato and water, so if you use canned tomatoes, just fill the can with water}

1 tsp chili powder
3 tsp chicken bullion
chili pepper flakes {just a few}
dash of hot sauce {if desired}

Combine tomatoes and water in blender and blend well {until completely smooth}, add spices and mix well.

Pour into saucepan and bring to a boil. Let boil for a couple of minutes.

In your soup bowl, add the following:

cubed avocado
cubed cheese

Pour boiling soup over cheese and avocado. {this will melt the cheese and soften the avocado}

Garnish with sour cream, green onions, and serve with tortilla chips.

3 Meat Soup or The best Chili EVER

I don't really like "traditional" chili....but this is a favorite!!!!

3 Meat Chili

1/2 lb bacon {cooked and cut into 1" pieces}
1/2 lb ground beef, chicken or turkey
1/2 lb sausage

1 med onion
1 clove garlic
2 stalks celery

2-3 cans beans undrained {you can use any kind, kindney, black, great northern, red, white}

1/4 C molasses
1/3 C Brown Sugar
1/4 C BBQ Sauce

Brown all meat and put in the crockpot, dice onion, garlic and celery to the size of your liking {I like mine pretty small} add to the meat in the crockpot. Pour in all bean {including all juice}, add molasses, brown sugar and BBQ Sauce to taste. I don't measure the last three ingredients, I just guess....so use whatever you like.

You can leave in your crockpot all day, or just a few hours. Everything is cooked through so you just need to get it all incorporated together. I usually put it in before noon and leave it on low until dinner.

...it's a great meal for a cold winter day {and we have lots of those here} it's also a tradition that we have on Halloween.

Enjoy!

Dutch Oven Coke Chicken

This chicken is AWESOME!!!!!!



8-12 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 C ketchup
1/4 C Molasses
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 can coke (or any cola drink, diet is fine)

Mix together ketchup, molasses and spices. Put chicken breasts in oiled dutch oven. Pour ketchup mixture over chicken. Dump coke over chicken.

Cook for 60-75 minutes. Cook with 14 coals on bottom and 12 on top.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

3-4 Chicken Breasts
2-3 stalks of celery
1 bag baby carrots
1 med onion
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 pkg egg noodles
8 oz frozen peas
chicken and poultry seasoning
salt and pepper

Put a large stockpot of water on stove to boil. I fill mine with about 4-5 quarts of water.
Boil Chicken in seasonings and salt and pepper until cooked through.

Remove chicken from water and cut into bite size pieces, put back in water.
Dice carrots, onions and celery. I leave mine in pretty big pieces.
Add all diced vegetables and garlic to stock pot. Cook until all veggies are mostly tender.
Add egg noodles and cook for amount of time on package. (usually 7-8 minutes)
During the last 2-3 minutes add frozen peas.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

This makes a large batch of soup, you can 1/2 it, but I like extras!)

Enjoy!!!
So that you know I don't have any great culinary skills...the recipe for biscuits is as follows:
Pop open a can of biscuits....sprinkle with a little mozz cheese....bake according to package.
Hope you enjoy! We did!

Chicken or Pizza Pockets

Another of Tanner's favorite meals is Chicken Pockets...he would probably have them every meal if I would make them for him...he usually eats 2 or 3 (if I let him)

Anyways....tonight I thought I would try a little twist on them and make pizza pockets. They were REALLY good...I loved them...and because I am so generous (and MaryRuth asked me)... below is the recipe for both. Happy Saturday!


Chicken Pockets

1 pkg Cresent or Grand Biscuits
1 pkg cream cheese (room temp)
1 can chicken
diced green onions (optional)
chives (optional)
seasoning (I use Mrs. dash)
bread crumbs

In bowl, combine cream cheese, chicken, chives, onions and seasoning.
Roll out each piece of dough.
Divide filling equally between dough pieces.
Fold dough pieces to make cresents (or you can make them circles)

Cover with bread crumbs.
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. (or until biscuits are done.)

Pizza Pockets Filling

(basically the instructions are exactly the same, just different filling)

1 C Ground Sausage (cooked and crumbled)
1/4 C Pepperoni
2 C grated Mozz Cheese
1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 C Spaghetti or Pizza Sauce

(make sure you get sealed really well, next time I will probably seal with a fork around the edges.)

ENJOY!