Mac & Cheese!!!

This is my favorite Mac & Cheese recipe, although people also rave about Pioneer Woman's recipe and I haven't tried that one (yet).

This is one is so creamy and tasty!!!

Company Mac & Cheese
From Taste of Home Annual Recipe book 2000

1 7 oz package of elbow macaroni (almost 1 cup of uncooked macaroni)
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 package cream cheese, cubed
2 cups (8oz) shredded cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cook macaroni according to directions on package. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth.  Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat; add cheese, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Drain macaroni; add to the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to a greased shallow 3 quart baking dish. Cook at 400 degrees uncovered 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

(the recipe calls for dried bread crumbs mixed with 2 tablespoons butter. I don't usually do that thought, because I have a hard enough time trying to get my kids to eat mac and cheese...I'm really not sure if they're my kids if they don't like mac!!!)

Our FAVORITE Fettucini Alfredo

I got this from some Brand Name cookbook a long time ago.

1 8-oz package of cream cheese, cubed
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter/margarine
1/2 cup milk (I use heavy cream when I have it)
8 ounces fettucini, cooked and drained.

In a large sauce pan, combine cream cheese, parmesan cheese, margarine and milk; stir over low heat until smooth. Add fettucini and toss.

YUM YUM!

Delicious Potatoes (Seriously...they really are, even if it's a silly name!)

Everyone thinks they're delicious...even though some (my cousin Lana) say they're funeral potatoes...that's too morbid a name for something so yummy! So yes, my family calls them Delicious Potatoes!

1 32 oz bag of southern style hash browns
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 16 oz carton of sour cream
1/4 cup of chopped green onions
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 stick butter melted

Topping: 2 cups of crushed corn flakes
                1 stick melted butter

Mix together all the ingredients in a large bowl. Put into a 9x13 inch pan, spayed with Pam. Mix melted butter and crushed corn flakes and sprinkle on the top of casserole. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

LOVE this recipe!

60 minute Homemade Bread...this will become my staple recipe!

Oh so very good and oh so very FAST!  It may take slightly longer than 60 minutes, but not much...

3 cups all-purpose better for bread flour

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 package quick-rise yeast

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter

In mixing bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Heat milk, water and softened butter in microwave until 120-130 degrees (my butter was mostly melted). Add to dry ingredients, and beat until smooth (I used my Kitchenaide mixer with the dough hook). Beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 4 minutes (or if you're using a Kitchenaide mixer, let it mix on speed #2 for 4 -5 minutes...no hand kneading requried!). Remove from mixing bowl, form into a loaf and place in a bread pan. Place bread pan in a larger pan of hot water, about 1 inch deep. Cover and allow to rise for 15 minutes. Remove from water bath and bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

I brushed melted butter and sprinkled with rosemary and garlic salt before baking.

Yummy and easy!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Now, again, when your husband says "mmmmm....honey, this is good!" you know it's a keeper. For me, Chili's has the BEST broccoli cheese soup, and I personally don't this this is as good, but Jery does...he says it's better!

I modified the recipe in the cookbook Don't Panic....Dinner's in the Freezer. It's a good one...I've made and thoroughly enjoyed many of these recipes!

1 cup carrot, finely chopped
1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour (I think you need more, but not a half cup...somewhere in between!)
1/2 t. paprika
1/2 t. salt
4-5 ounces of Velveeta cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese

In a stockpot, heat the first 6 ingredients to boiling; reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until veggies are tender.



Whisk together the milk, flour, paprika, and salt in a bowl.


Add to broth mixture and cook until thick and bubbly.


Add cheese and stir until melted.



Can you say yum?

Freezer Meat and Pasta Bake

Oh, soooo good!!!! I guarantee it...make it!

2 cups bowtie pasta, uncooked
1 lb ground beef
1 onion
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 t. garlic salt
3 cups spaghetti sauce
8 oz. cream cheese
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup parmesan cheese

Cook bowtie pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Brown beef, onion and garlic until beef is no longer pink; drain. Add spaghetti sauce and garlic salt; simmer for 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese and milk, Microwave 1-2 minutes on high, stirring once. Stir with a whisk until blended. Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese. Place cream cheese mixture in lined 9x9 inch casserole dish. Spread cooked pasta on top of cream cheese mixture. Top with beef mixture and remaining parmesan cheese. (I also added some mozzarella to the top, too). Freeze, using foil and plastic wrap or gallon size baggie.



Cooking Day:
Remove from freezer and allow to thaw to a slushy state. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 25-30 minutes, covered. Uncover and bake 5-10 more minutes until bubbly.


Oh yum!

Obviously, I didn't use a 9x9 pan. I used loaf pans because then I could divide the original recipe in half, eat one half and freeze the other half. That's all my family will eat in one meal any way.

Lemonade Cake

Oh, yum!!!

1 lemon cake mix
1 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 cup powdered sugar
1 container lemon frosting

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare and bake cake as directed on package in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Cool 15 minutes.

Stir together lemonade concentrate and powdered sugar. Poke holes in warm cake with fork. Drizzle lemonade mixture evenly over cake. Refrigerate cake until cold.

Spread frosting over cold cake. Cover and refrigerate leftover cake.

Freezer Meal...Super Yummy Beef Chimichangas

I made this the other night and it is super yummy!!!!

Cooking Day
1tsp salt
2 lbs lean ground beef
2 cloves garlic, crush
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp oregano, crushed
1/2 cup canned green chilies, chopped
1/2 cup taco sauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup cider vinegar (If you are doubling this recipe, do not double the vinegar...go with 1/4 cup + 1/8 cup)

Serving Day
1 cup butter melted
7 inch tortillas

Sprinkle salt in medium skillet. Place over medium heat. Add beef, garlic and spices. Cook until meat loses pinkness. Stir in remaining ingredients. Remove from heat and cool.

To serve, heat skillet, melt butter. Dip both sides of tortillas, one at a time, into the butter to soften. Drain off excess. Mound 1/3 cup filling into center of tortilla and roll up like an envelope. Place seam side down in ungreased baking dish. Repeat until you have as many chimichangas as you want.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees and bake until crispy, about 15 minutes, sprinkle with cheese and return for a few seconds.

Top with all the typical Mexican Food goodies. We just used sour cream and home made green chili.

(Any extra meat mixture you have, put in a freezer bag, label and freeze for another meal!)

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Okay, so I guess next year I have to go back to work full time (blick) and so I have to start planning ahead my meals. So I've decided that I will begin making a freezer meal each time I make certain dishes. This Chicken Pot Pie recipe was very good.

Chicken Pot Pie
   (this recipe is adapted to what I had on hand)

4 cups cubed cooked chicken
   (boiled my chicken with some salt in the water and some frozen pearl onions)
4 cups frozen Souther-style hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 16 oz package frozen mixed vegetables, thawed and drained
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can of cream of mushroom soup, undiluted (recipe called for Cream of Onion which wasn't something
    I could find)
1 cup milk or cream
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (I may have used a little bit more)
1 package refrigerated pie pastry

1. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, potatoes, veggies, soups, milk or cream, flour, sour cream and seasonings. Divide between two 9-in pie plates. Roll out pastry to fit the top of each pie. Cut slits in pastry. Place over filling, trim, seal and flute edges.

2. Cover and freeze one potpie for up to 3 months. Bake the second potpie at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.

3. To use frozen potpie: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking. Cover edges loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees, remove foil and bake 50-55 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Jery's Left-over Rotisserie Chicken Gravy Concoction!

The kids declared this EXCELLENT!

approx. 2 cups rotisserie chicken
approx. 1 1/2 c. chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 c flour
1 T. cornstarch
1 tsp. kitchen bouquet
1/2 c. water
1-2 T. butter

Make a gravy! Serve over mashed potatoes! YUM!!

Overnight Egg & Sausage Casserole

This is seriously the yummiest morning sausage casserole I've ever had. Flavors blend perfectly!

6 slices of bread, 1 inch cubes
10 eggs, beaten
2 cup milk
3 cups cheese (I use a mix of sharp cheddar and pepper jack
1 lb browned sausage (sometimes I mix regular and hot sausage
salt and pepper
1/4 tsp. dried mustard
1/2 can - 1 can of green chilies

Place cubed bread on bottom of a greased 9x13 inch pan. Spread sausage and cheese over bread. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper, and chilies in a bowl and pour over sausage and cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Italian Roast Beef recipe for the crockpot

This isn't my recipe, but one I got from a twopeasinabucket gal, who calls herself Burning Feather. It really is a yummy recipe and so I don't want to have to hunt it down every time I want to make it!

Mix in Crockpot:
1 (1.25 oz) envelope dry onion soup mix
1 t. oregano
1 t. red pepper flakes
1 t. basil
1 t. dried parsley
1 large clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup water

Place on top of mixture:
3 lb chuck roast

Cook on high all day, or until meat is tender.  Turn it over every now and then if you can!

Yum, yum!

Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

As some of you know, I'm always on a hunt to find the most wonderful artichoke spinach dip EVAH! WEll, I haven't found it, BUT this one apparently was a hit at Christmas this year. It ended up being completely gone by last night...and it made a big batch! So the recipe goes on the blog:

1/2 bag of fresh spinach leaves, chopped up in the food processor
1 can of artichokes, chopped up in food processor
12 oz softened cream cheese
2 green onions
2 cloves garlic (we like garlic)
3/4 tbsp of dill weed
1 tbsp of celery salt
1/2 tsp of white pepper
3/4 tsp of seasoned salt
3/4 c sour cream
1/2 c mayonaise
3/4 c shredded parmesan cheese
1/8 c white wine

Mix everything except the spinach leaves, then add spinach. Adjust seasonings as you see fit!

Cook mixture in oven at 300 degrees until heated through.

This dip was even BETTER the next day. YUM!!! Enjoy!

Yummy Salad Recipe

Crunchy Romain Toss

1c walnuts
1 pkg ramen noodles, uncooked and broken up
4 T unsalted butter
1 bunch broccoli chopped
1 head Romaine lettuce
4 green onions chopped
1 c sweet & sour dressing

Brown walnuts and noodles in butter. Cool on paper towels. Combine noodles and walnuts with broccoli, romaine and onions. Pour dressing and toss well.

sweet and Sour Dressing

1/2 c vegetable oil
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c wine vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
Salt &pepper to taste

Blueberry Bread Pudding

This is wicked good...From Taste of Home Simple and Delicious magazine.

3 eggs
4 cups heavy whipping cream
2 cups sugar (but one will do...ask me how I know!?)
3 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1 pkg (10 to 12 oz) white baking chips
1 loaf of French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

Sauce:
1 pkg (10 to 12 oz) white baking chips
1 cup heavy whipping cream

In large bowl, combine the eggs, cream, sugar and vanilla. Stir in blueverries and baking chips. Stir in bread cubes. Let stand for 15 minutes or until bread is softened.

Transfer to a great 13x9in baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

For sauce, place baking chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over baking chips; whisk until smooth. Serve with bread pudding.

Yum! Very rich, but oh so good!

Mom's Wicked Good Baked Beans

BayLea calls these Sugar Beans.

2 lbs pork and beans
3/4 C brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 C ketchup
6 slices bacon, cut in pieces

Stir together ingredient and top with sliced, uncooked bacon. Bake at 350 for at least one hour.

Seriously yummy!

Meatball Stew: Make this stew! It's excellent!

frozen meatballs, heated in oven so that they're not completely frozen
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each ) beef broth (I accidently used chicken broth..worked fine)
2 cans (10 3/4 oz each) condensed golden mushroom soup
4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
4 medium carrots, cut into chunks
1 jar (16 oz) pearl onions, drained (I used frozen ones)
3/4 cup elbow macaroni
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley (didn't have, so didn't use)

In a dutch oven, add meatballs, broth, soup, potatoes, carrots and pearl onions; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 30 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Sprinkle with parsley.

There's Goes One!

I successfully canned my first applesauce BY. MY. SELF! Very excited! Okay, so mom helped via the telephone, but I did it by myself! When I was a kid, I thought my mom and grandma, and whoever else who was there willingly (I was there...not willingly) was CRAZY to do this. That it seemed like soooooo much work! It's not so bad! The making of the applesauce, yesterday with the kids, took some time, but the canning part went quick!




Unfortunately, I only got 7 jars out of the applesauce I made yesterday, so I need to make more. I have only 12 jars all together, so I won't make tooooo much more...

So there goes one!

PS So here's the "There Goes One" story as it's been told to me...(maybe mom and dad will comment on this and add anything needed to be added).

When dad began dating my mom, he went to their house one evening. They were sitting around the living room and every once in a while my grandma or my mom would say "There goes one!" My dad had no idea what they were talking about and would would whip up his head to see try and see what going by. Come to find out, they were hearing the popping of the jars as they sealed. I think he thought his new girlfriend and family might be a little nuts for a while!

So when my first jar sealed, I called my mom and said "THERE GOES ONE!!!"

Chicken Scarpariello

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (I needed a little more)
4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (next time I'll slice it up)
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp rosemary
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup milk or cream mixed with some flour to thicken sauce
salt and pepper

Heat the oil in a skillet. Dredge the chicken in the flour. Add to the pan and brown on all sides. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add broth, rosemary, butter and lemon juice. Allow the liquid to reduce as the chicken finishes cooking over medium-high heat until it reacehes a sauce-like consistency. Add milk/cream (that has a little flour in it for thickening). Simmer a few minutes longer. Serve warm over pasta! Yum!

Broccoli Salad

2 large bunches of broccoli, chopped into small flowerettes
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup raisins (I usually put more)
1 cup sunflowers seeds
small amount of onion

Dressing

1 cup mayo
3 tbsp vinegar
1/4 cup sugar

Combine right before serving.

Yum!