Sloppy Joes

2 lbs ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery

cook together until the meat is cooked and the onion and celery are tender

1 can tomato soup

1/4 cup ketchup

1tb white vinegar

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

add all ingredients in pan with the meat and cook until heated. Serve on hamburger buns and side with your favorite vegetable and chips.

Granola Bar Cookies By Anges Locke

1 cup Butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla

cream together the butter and sugars, then add the eggs and vanilla. Then mix the following dry ingredients together and add.

2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

Blend well and add.

2 cups rolled Oats
2 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 pkg (12oz) chocolate chips: Semisweet or milk or both (if you only use milk chocolate chips it will be very sweet. It tastes best with Semisweet.)

Mix together and bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 8-10 min. Makes about 5 dozen cookies. recipe can be cut in half, or you can freeze some dough for later.

Cafe Rio Pork and Salad Dressing

Cafe Rio Pork

combine the following in a crock pot
5lbs pork roast
2 cups coke
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Once the pork is cooked and tender pull apart with a fork and add the following

1 cup brown sugar
1 can Hatch Green Chillies

Salad Dressing

1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 cup butter milk
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 Tomatillos
1 garlic clove minced
1/3 bunch cilantro
1 squished fresh lime juice
1 small Jalapeno without the seeds

Add all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth

Recipe Request

Hi, I was wondering if you could share with us your "Burrito Binge" recipe please? I hear it's a hit!

Breakfast Shakes

Breakfast shakes

These shakes are fast and delicious. Great for any morning you are wanting a healthy treat!

2 cups orange juice
2 cups ice
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup strawberries
Bananas, blueberries, raspberries. Any fruit you would like to add.

Blend in blender and enjoy!!

If you use frozen strawberry topping with sugar you will not need to add anymore to the shake. If you use fresh fruit, add Sugar to taste.

Enjoy!

My kids love to help me make this shake. They have fun adding the fruit and pushing the blender buttons.

Dry Stove Roast

This is a personal favorite. I have been perfecting it since a child; I cannot recall how many years I've been cooking this, but it keeps getting better and better.

Ingredients:

• Sliced bread
• Toaster oven

Carefully, open the carefully packed bag full of sliced bread and remove two (2) slices only. Try avoiding the the very first or very last slice, as all they contain are bread crust. Some people, like myself, however, enjoy the crust ends.

Without spilling too many crumbs, carefully place the slices into a toaster oven and set the timer. Be sure the timer heats up the bread long enough to create a crunchy effect, however, avoid the bread from being burnt.

Once heated properly, remove the bread and enjoy. Avoid putting butter, jam (any flavor), jelly (any flavor), spreads (including peanut butter or nutella) or any sauces. Eat plain and if so desired, dunk the toast into a nice tall cold glass of chocolate milk.

 -Posted by Patrik

Tomato Bruschetta

Tomato Bruschetta

This is one of the more common appetizers known and found everywhere. But in case you have yet to find a good recipe for tomato bruschetta, you've just found it! (modestly speaking, of course)

Serves: 12
INGREDIENTS

* 8 chopped ripe roma (plum) tomatoes
* 5 leaves chopped fresh basil
* 2 cloves minced garlic
* 1 pinch of dried oregano
* 1 dash of crushed red pepper
* 1 pinch salt
* 1 pinch ground black pepper
* 2-3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 loaf of Italian-style (or French) bread, cut into diagonal slices

1. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, oregano, red pepper, salt, pepper and olive oil. Use more olive oil, if necessary, to coat the entire mixture. Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes for flavors to blend.
2. In the meantime, preheat the broiler. On a baking sheet, arrange the slices of bread in a single layer and brown both sides slightly in the oven. Remove the slices from the oven.
3. Spread the tomato mixture on the still warm toasted bread slices and serve.

Buon appetito!

Olive Garden® Zuppa Toscana

Olive Garden® Zuppa Toscana

This is a much requested recipe on the site given its name! Someone who used to work at the Olive Garden sent in the original recipe and I've adapted it to serve just 6-8. Try it since it is really yummy!

It is a very good soup and hits the spot on cold winter days. I've included this and a few other Olive Garden-inspired recipes on the site for all of our visitors that enjoy eating at the restaurant chain. In my opinion, making these recipes at home makes them even better than the ones you eat at the restaurant! :)

Makes: 6-8 servings
INGREDIENTS

* 1 lb ground Italian sausage
* 1½ tsp crushed red peppers
* 1 large diced white onion
* 4 Tbsp bacon pieces
* 2 tsp garlic puree
* 10 cups water
* 5 cubes of chicken bouillon
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
* ¼ of a bunch of kale

1. Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
2. In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.
3. Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.
4. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
5. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve. Delicious!

Buon appetito!

Where does our food come from???

I recently watched the documentary "Food INC" revealing where our food comes from. I was appalled and shocked to learn how damaged our system of food production has become. How we trust a government to keep us safe when in actuality they have created a corporate monster who have the power and money to bully farmers to produce food their way.

In the documentary it showed how chickens are fed growth hormones to become a fatter chicken faster. They are so fat their bones cannot carry the added weight so they are unable to take but a few steps before falling down into their poop.

Cows and pigs are fed corn and antibiotics to make them fat and try to keep them from becoming to sick. Sicknesses are becoming resistant to the antibiotics and new dangerous virus being created killing animals and consumers. Animals that by nature are grazers of grass are kept in extremely confined areas for the mass production of cheap food.

The question is asked, should we not be concerned with something so personal as the food we put into our bodies?

I believe we should be. The documentary suggests buying foods from a local farmers market or looking for vegetables in season and grown locally. I encourage you to watch this documentary "Food INC" and decide for yourself....

Poteet Strawberry dessert

Every year in April a little town called Poteet has a huge strawberry festival. The local grocery store buys some of the strawberries to sell. The Poteet Strawberry Festival® is one of the oldest, most popular events in the state of Texas. It is recognized as the largest agricultural festival in the state as well as one of the most exciting, dynamic festivals in the Greater Southwest.

Here is a true southern strawberry recipe. Given to me by a local Southern Texas Gal. Enjoy!!

a small small bag of frozen strawberries
1 tub of cool whip
1 small box of strawberry jello
1/2 of an angle food cake ( i get this from heb or walmart in the bakery and cut it in half and freeze the rest for another time)
1 cup of chopped pecans

in a bowl-tear the angel food cake in pieces
prepare the jello as directed on the box
"mash" the strawberries in a separate bowl and save all the juice too

once you have the cake ready, pour the jello in it, it'll get mushy, add the strawberries, and pecans, stir it all up real good. put in the fridge until the jello sets. when you serve it- top it with whip cream. even ice cream is good too!

Chicken Puffs

I made these for Jen two nights ago and lucky me she liked them. I think this is the first thing I've made since she's been pregnant that she's liked. Anyway, this is an adaptation of what Chalyse does, so feel free to comment and make any changes.

Chicken Puffs
4 serving
45min prep time

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 pkg cream cheese
garlic powder to taste
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
chives (optional)
2 pop-open-cans prepared crescent roll dough (reduced fat recipe)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 tbs milk

Fry the chicken, unseasoned, in a small amount of olive oil until golden brown on the outside. After the chicken is done shred with fork removing all unwanted pieces. Take the shredded chicken and add the cream cheese, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, and chives. Mix well. Take a cookie sheet and pop open the crescent roll dough. With each triangle take some of the chicken mixture and place on wide end. Fold in sides and then tuck over the top to completely cover. Continue until all the chicken mixture is used. Bake according to package instructions or until golden brown. In a microwave safe bowl combine soup and milk. Cook until thoroughly heated. Serve puffs with soup poured over like gravy. Also great if served with brown rice and a nice veggie! Enjoy!

Banana Nut Bread

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter

1 heaping Tablespoon of sour cream

3 very ripe banana's

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream together sugar and butter. In a bowl mash banana's and sour cream together slowly add to butter and sugar mixing well. Sift together flour, salt and soda add a little at a time mixing well. Stir in chopped nuts. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until a tooth pick stuck in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Raspberry Yummy

Nut Crust;

2 cubes of butter or margarine

2 cups flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Cream Cheese Topping;

1 8 ounce package cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 envelopes of Dream Whip make according to package directions

Raspberry Topping;

1 package of Raspberry Danish pudding desert mix

1 package of frozen raspberry's thawed

Mix together butter, flour, brown sugar, and chopped nuts. Press into a large oven dripper pan. And bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool then break into small pieces with a fork. While crust is baking cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla. Fold in dream whip and chill for 1 hour. Next drain juice from thawed raspberry's and add enough water to make 2 cups stir into danish dessert in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute remove from stove and stir in raspberry's and let cool. Top crust with chilled cream cheese mixture and then cooled raspberry danish dessert. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.

Oceania Chicken

6 boneless skinless chicken thighs thawed

2/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 cup butter

1 15 ounce can sliced pineapple drained reserve juice

1/2 cup light soy sauce

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Mix together flour, celery salt, nutmeg, garlic salt in a medium size bowl. Melt butter in a non stick fry pan. Dredge chicken in flour mixture and place in fry pan brown on both sides. Place browned chicken in a 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Next mix together pineapple juice, soy sauce and sugar and pour over chicken. Place in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes basting chicken every 15 minutes. While chicken is cooking brown pineapple in the same pan you used to brown the chicken. When chicken is done top with browned pineapple. Serve over rice.

Crunchy Onion Chicken

Ingredients:

2 cups (4 oz.) FRENCH'S® Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour

4 (5 oz.) boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 egg, beaten

Directions:

Place French Fried Onions and flour into plastic bag. Lightly crush with hands or with rolling pin. Transfer to pie plate or waxed paper.

Dip chicken into egg; then coat with onion crumbs, pressing firmly to adhere. Place chicken on baking sheet.

Bake at 400°F for 20 min. or until no longer pink in center.

Vaun's Royal Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers

I share this recipe with one stipulation...YOU MUST HAVE GUESTS FOR DINNER. This is a "Secret recipe" I don't like to share because I would rather have to to our house for a BBQ. Our co-worker at Marriott Vaun, gave it to us. We used to have many BBQ's at Marriott and this was our favorite. It can also be used on Chicken, Salmon, Pork, Steak and of course ground beef.

Sauce for 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. of ground beef

1/4 cup Kikkoman Soy Sauce (name brand soy sauce tastes best)

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

3/8 to 1/2 cup water

2 tblsp Grated fresh ginger root (or to taste)

2 tblsp Garlic (or to taste- fresh is best)

2 tblsp Sesame oil

3 tblsp Mirin (Japanese cooking Sake - optional)

Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl and taste it to make sure it is good. Put uncooked ground beef in a mixing bowl and add half the sauce and mix together. Add more sauce but not too much. When you form the Burgers they should be able to retain their shape. If the meat is too moist it will fall through the grill.

Ground beef should have a minimum of 10% fat and 15-20% is best. Less then 10% and the burgers will fall apart.

DO NOT press the burgers down while they are cooking and turn only once or twice.

For a Royal Hawaiian Burger use a bun, Leaf Lettuce, Tomato, red onion and BEST FOODS Mayonnaise.

You can use sauce with other meat as a marinade. The longer you let it sit the better. ENJOY!!!

Rancher Chicken

I know that mom technically came up with this recipe and she might have somethings to add to this post but Ben and I went skiing last Monday and he brought some of this chicken with him and it was just amazing!

Here's what you need:

Boneless skinless chicken breast meat cut into strips (as much as desired)
Prepared Hidden Valley Ranch dressing
Club crackers, crumbled

Dip the chicken strips into the ranch dressing and then roll in club cracker crumbs until generously covered
Bake uncovered for 30-40 min or until chicken is tender and done
Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or macaroni and cheese for a yummy, quick, easy meal!

Enjoy!

Easy Waldorf and Raisin Salad

I made this salad the other night for dinner with some of grandma meadows apples off her tree. It was a keeper. I hope you enjoy it as much as me,mom and dad did.

Waldorf and Raisin Salad

4 cups cubed apples

1 cup unsweetened pineapple tidbits

2 Tablespoons chopped celery

2 Tablespoons chopped pecans

2 Tablespoons raisins

1 cup fat-free sour cream

1 Tablespoon reduced fat mayonnaise

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons orange juice

In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar and orange juice. Pour over apple mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serves 6

Cup Cake Cheesecake

I love cheesecake and these are perfect because you can top them with whatever you want. So you can have a taste of each one if you want .

Cup Cake Cheesecake

2 8 oz packages of cream cheese at room temp

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 cup of sugar

2 eggs

12 vanilla wafers

12 foil baking cups

Blend cream cheese , vanilla, sugar mix well. Then add eggs one at a time beating well. Place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of each foil baking cup. Pour cream cheese mixture over the top about 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees. Let cool then top. You can top with any canned pie filling and whipped cream or cool whip. Or sprinkle with allot of cinnamon before baking or any thing else you like enjoy.

Grandma Lloyd's Baked Beans

This is the recipe that Mom used to make when we were kids. Its easy to throw together and taste's really good. Its great to take to pot luck. I always buy pre cooked bacon it makes it allot easier to prepare.

Baked Beans

6 15oz cans of pork and beans

1 lb of bacon cooked and crumbled

3 Tablespoons of worcestershire sauce

1 large onion chopped

1 large green pepper chopped

2/3 cup of brown sugar

2 cups of ketchup

Mix all together in a large crock pot or dutch oven and bake at 325 degrees for 2 hours.

What's for Dinner???

Have you ever asked or been asked "Whats for Dinner"? Are you ever stumped for ideas. Do you ever find yourself eating the same food. Then this is the blog for you! I would like to invite you to participate in this Blog by posting ideas you have to cook. It can be anything dinner, drinks, snacks, crock pot ideas and deserts.

Find a recipe, cook it and if your family likes it, post the recipe for the rest of us. If you want you can even take a picture of your finished dish. Be sure to also offer any tips you think would make it helpful to cook.

Happy cooking! I look forward to seeing posts on this blog.