Taco Soup/ chili

This Recipe is a great  pitch-in recipe or make ahead.
This  can be frozen and  taken straight from freezer to microwave!  To  me it tastes better t he second day.
you can do  this in an hour or so. You can also start it in t he morning in a crock pot before work by the time  you get  home  its ready!

2 pounds ground beef cooked, crumbled and drained (you can substitute with ground turkey)
2 cans red kidney   beans              2 packages Taco seasoning
2 cans black beans                       2 packages dry ranch mix
2 cans garbanzo beans                  2-3 cups water
2 cans diced tomatoes                   2 cans mexican corn
1 large diced onion

Dump all ingredients  in pot stir (do not drain beans) together and simmer until beans are tender.
Serve with  options we find best:
Corn Bread
Shredded Cheese
Sour Cream
tortilla chips
corn chips
ritz crackers

Green Bean Casserole

I love green bean casserole,  it's not just for  the  holidays!

2 cans green  beans drained                3/4 cup milk
1 can mushroom soup                        1 tsp pepper
1 can Durkee Fried onions

Combine beans, soup, milk pepper, and  1/2 can of onions.  Bake uncovered  at 350 for 30 minutes. top with remaining onions and  bake an additional 5-10 minutes.

Spinach Dip

10 oz frozen Spinach (thawed and drained)
16 oz  Sour cream
1 cup Miracle Whip
1 Pkg Knorr vegetable mix
3 cups chopped green onions
1 can water chestnuts chopped (optional)

mix all ingredients together  and chill for at least 2 hours.
Note: Good served with Hawiian Bread

Boiled Custard

I am an egg nog fan but allergies prevent me from enjoying it.  Boiled custard is a recently discovered delight that I can enjoy.

1  Box Vanilla pudding
1/2 cup sugar
5 cups milk

Mix  well  and store in refrigerator!

Pimento Cheese

ok  I never liked pimento cheese until  I tried this pimento cheese.

1 large box velvetta cheese
1/2 jar miracle whip
1 large jar of pimentos

In large sauce pan on low heat melt cheese. Mix in pimento, then fill pimento jar with water and  pour  into cheese mixture. when mix is  melted  re move from heat.  when almost  cooled mix in miracle whip.  will  be  creamy. Refrigerate.

WHITE SAUCE

My sis  in law made this  sauce when she  made Japanese rice. I find it a great sauce  to  dip many different things in. or spread  on a sandwich.

1 1/4 C Helman's Mayo
1/4 C Water
1 TBS Tomato Paste
1 Tbs melted butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2  tsp ginger
1/4 tsp paprika
dash of Cayenne Pepper

Blend all  ingredients well, store in sealed container in refrigerator. 

French Quarter Beignets

                                                          Recipe Courtesy Paula Dean

• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 7 cups bread flour
• 1/4 cup shortening
• Nonstick spray
• Oil, for deep-frying
• 3 cups confectioners' (powdered) sugar

Directions

Mix water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix egg mixture to the yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, measure out the bread flour. Add 3 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour. Remove dough from the bowl, place onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
Add the confectioners' sugar to a paper or plastic bag and set aside.
Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares. Deep-fry, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels, and then toss them into the bag of confectioners' sugar. Hold bag closed and shake to coat evenly.

Be a Hermit

Applesauce Hermits are a great way to warm the  soul.  I remember having these every year around Christmas. Granny always hid these in her special cookie jar.  I would always come straight to that jar when she baked! 

Here you go:
mix in the love  that a grandma would!

2 3/4 c flour                               1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp  baking soda                      1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg                           1 cup raisins
1/2 cup butter                            1 cup Brown  Sugar
1 egg                                         2 cups applesauce

Preheat oven to 350. Cream Butter, Sugar, and eggs.  Add  precombined dry ingredients and  applesauce alternately. mix well!  Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.  Don't over cook. 
Drizzle glaze over top.

To make glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons strained fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon orange extract

 Sift powdered sugar into a small saucepan and stir in orange juice and extract to make a smooth paste. Heat glaze over moderately high heat until just warm to the touch.

Enjoy!!! 

Trail runners!

Trail Mix   that has a twist

1 box Duncan Hines Snack Express kit~ S'mores
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup raisins
1 cup pretzel sticks
1 cup banana chips
1/2 cup dry roasted sunflower seeds

1. Coat a large mixing bowl and stiff spatula with cooking spray. Add graham and chocolate chip pieces and add all remaining ingredients into bowl.
2. Place marshmallow  packet , vertically, in a microwave safe cup or mug. Cut corner to vent. Microwave 45-60 seconds.
3. pour over mixture, mix until evenly coated.
4. Spread mix on waxed paper in single layer to cool. when cool pull apart into bite sized pieces.

COOKIES!!!!

These recipes originally were made for a  cookie press. but you can shape them or roll them for cookie cutters if  you wish, spoon them out onto the pan. chill and slice, whatever is easier for you!

PLAY  have  fun!  Enjoy!!

Orange Cookies

1 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tbs orange juice
1 egg
1 tsp grated orange rind
2 1/2  cups sifted flour
dash of salt
1/4 tsp baking soda

cream butter and gradually ad sugars, beat until light.
Add orange juice, mix well. Add egg and grated orange rind. Sift flour salt and baking soda together and add to the creamed mixture gradually. mix well. Fill the cookie press and form cookies onto and ungreased  cookie sheet.  OR roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness on floured surface. used floured cutters.
If you choose to drop by spoonfuls please use spoon to gently press dough down a bit.
Back at 350 approximately 10-15 minutes

                          

CARAMEL COOKIES

1 cup shortening
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream shortening and gradually add both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Add salt and baking soda mix well! Gradually add flour and mix well. Fill the cookie press and form cookies onto and ungreased  cookie sheet.  OR roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness on floured surface. used floured cutters.
If you choose to drop by spoonfuls please use spoon to gently press dough down a bit.

Back at 350 approximately 10-15 minutes


Chocolate Cookies


1 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
5 tbs cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
dash of salt
2 c sifted flour

Cream shortening, gradually add sugar. Add unbeaten egg and vanilla.  Sift dry ingredients together and gradually add to cream mixture, mix well.   Fill the cookie press and form cookies onto and ungreased  cookie sheet.  OR roll dough to 1/2 inch thickness on floured surface. used floured cutters.
If you choose to drop by spoonfuls please use spoon to gently press dough down a bit.

Back at 400 approximately 10-15 minutes

Grilled Cabbage

Grilled Cabbage
Let's bring the summer in right fire up teh grill and eat healthier~

1 large aluminum pan
1 large cabbage quartered
2 sweet onions quartered
1 pound of bacon add pork chops if  you like
1 can of beer
hot sauce to taste
season to taste I prefer garlic and sea salt
optional diced red and green peppers

Directions
1. Place cabbage and onion in the aluminum pan with a small amount of oil
2. Add can of beer
3. Sprinkle seasoning over cabbage and onions
4. Dash with hot sauce depending on how hot  you want
5. Layer bacon over cabbage and pork chops if  you choose
6. cover with foil and place on grill until meat is done ( about 2 hours)