I'm back!

Wow,I sure have neglected this blog for awhile! I am going to go back through and add more photos and new recipes so I'll start back with one of my all time faves~Baked Sketti. My family loves this and it's so perfect for a chilly late fall evening

1 pkg spaghetti,cooked al dente and drained


1 jar pasta sauce


1 lb ground beef,browned and drained(optional)

1/1 lb italian sausage (I use hot)


1 TBSP oregano


1TBP basil


2 tsp minced garlic


1 TBSP parsley


1 tsp red pepper flakes


1/2 tsp brown sugar


1/4 tsp allspice


1 pkg shredded colby cheese


1 pkg shredded mozzarella cheese


1/4 cup grated parmesan




add all ingredients (except cheese)together and place in a greased (I use non-stick olive oil spray) 9x13 pan. Top with cheeses and cover.


Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min,uncover and bake an additional 10 min or so,till cheese is browned and bubbly

Country Scalloped Potatoes

This is an awesome and easy recipe for yummy and buttery scalloped potatoes.
I got this out of a Gooseberry Patch cookbook.They have the best recipes!

2 Tbsp flour
1 t salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 C potatoes,peeled and sliced thin
2/3 C sweet onion
2 Tbsp butter sliced
1 1/2 C 1/2 and 1/2

Mix togetheer flour,sal and pepper,set aside.
In agreased 2 qt casserole dish layer half each of portatoes,onion,flour mixture and butter.Repeat layering with remaining then set aside.
Heat milk till almost boiling then pour over top.Sprinkle w/ paprika and bake at 375 for 45 min or so.

Easy Blue Cheese Dip

This is a great dip for hot wings or veggies,you could also thin it out with water or 1/2 and 1/2 and use it as a salad dressing .



1/2 C sour cream

1/4 C Mayo

2-3 TBSP Blue cheese crumbles

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp onion powder

1tsp fresh ground black pepper



Mix all ingredients,(kinda mash uo the blue cheese crumbles with a fork as your mixing)

Refrigerate for 1-2 hrs.

Ultimate P,B,and J

I learned to make this at a restaraunt that I worked in about a million years ago,it was one of the most popular menu items and I've never forgotten it.
My kids eyes actually glazed over when I gave it to them.

2 pieces large country white bread
peanut butter
strawberry jam
2 tsp crushed peanuts
3 strawberries,sliced

spread one piece of bread with peanut butter,sprinle peanuts on top
spread jam on other piece and layer with strawberries
slap together and eat

One of the guys I worked with would take the sandwich and grill it on the grill with a slice of butter,I never tried it like that but I'm thinking it might be illegal.

Taco Platter

My oldest son loves this one! It's a big hit at a party!

2 lbs ground beef
1/2 C water
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 pkg cream cheese (softened)
1/4 C milk
1 can chopped green chiles
2 med tomatoes,chopped and seeded
1 C chopped green onions
1 1/2 C shredded lettuce
3/4 C honey BBQ sauce
1 C shredded cheddar

Brown beef and drain,add water and taco seasoning.Simmer for 5 min.
Combine cream cheese and milk,spread on a large round platter or pizza pan.Sprinkle with chiles,tomatoes,onions,and lettuce.Drizzle BBQ sauce on top and sprinkle with cheese. Serve with corn chips or tortilla chips.

YUM!

Parmesan Chicken

I found this on a website awhile ago and it's very good.My kids don't normally like chicken like this but they loved it!

1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 env. Italian Salad Dressing Mix
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Mix cheese, salad dressing mix and garlic powder.
MOISTEN chicken with water; coat with cheese mixture. Place in shallow baking dish.
BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until chicken is cooked through

Family Baked Beans

This recipe has been passed down through at least 3 generations in our family.Very simple but delicious.

2 large cans pork and beans
1/2 C ketchup
1/4 C mustard
2 TBSP lt brown sugar
1 small onion sliced

mix all ingredients in a large baking dish and top with sliced onion.bake at 350 degrees for 30 min

Peanut butter cup pie

One word~sinful

2 c milk
2 3.9 oz pkgs instant choolate pudding
1/2 C creamy peanut butter
9 in graham cracker crust
8 oz container whipped topping(thawed)

combine milk,and pudding in a medium bowl,whisk till thickened,stir in .
peanut butter.
spoon into crust,chill and dive in.

you can actually use fat free pudding,fat free whipped topping,and 2 % milk if you want to go easy with this one.

Stuffed Portobellos

This is a lighter recipe,very tasty


4 large portobello mushrooms (about 1 lb.), cleaned
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing, divided
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bags fresh spinach
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

PREHEAT oven to 375°F.

Twist or cut off stems from mushrooms. Chop stems; set aside. Use a spoon or sharp knife to scrape out the gills from mushroom caps; discard gills. Brush 1 Tbsp. of the dressing onto rounded sides of mushroom caps; place, rounded sides down, in foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
HEAT remaining 3 Tbsp. dressing in Dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add mushroom stems, red pepper and garlic; cook and stir 2 min. Add spinach. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 4 min. or until spinach is wilted, stirring after 2 min. Spoon evenly over mushroom caps; sprinkle with cheese.
BAKE 18 to 20 min. or until mushrooms are tender.

Easy salisbury steak

I never tried to make salisbury steak till I used this recipe,it's really easy and fast.

1 lb ground chuck
2 tBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 onion sliced thin
3 TBSP chopped fresh parsley (I use dried and it works fine)
1 jar pre-made beef gravy (I get the one with mushrooms)
1 pkg egg noodles cooked and drained

combine beef with 1 TBSP worc sauce,dash of salt and pepper,and parsley.
form into patties and cook over med heat in non-stick skillet.cook 5 min each side then add onion,add 1 tbsp butter and cook 10 more min or till patties are done.
add gravy and 1 tbsp of worc sauce,reduce heat to low.Continue cooking another 8-10 min
toss noodles with butter and parsley,layer patties and gravy on top.

Easy home-made pot pie

pure comfort food

1 can chunk white chicken
1 bag egg noodles~cooked and drained
1 can cream of patato soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 Cup milk
1 bag frozen mixed veggies(cooked for 7-8 min in microwave)
1 can country biscuits

combine chicken,soups,milk,and veggies in bowl and add to noodles.
put in a greased casserole dish and arrange the biscuits on top.Bake according to biscuit pkg directions.

I serve this with mashed potatoes,nothing like it on a chilly fall day.

Best Ever Lemonade

juice of 4 lemons
1 c. sugar
2-ltr. bottle club soda chilled
Garnish: lemon slices
Combine lemon zest, juice and sugar in a 2-quart pitcher. Add club soda slowly; mix well. Serve over ice with lemon slices. Makes about 2 quarts.

YUM

Crescent dogs

My kids love these.

8 hot dogs
4 slices American cheese, each cut into 6 strips
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

Heat oven to 375°F. Slit hot dogs to within 1/2 inch of ends; insert 3 strips of cheese into each slit.

Separate dough into triangles. Wrap dough triangle around each hot dog. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, cheese side up.

Bake at 375°F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
I drizzle mustard or ketchup over top

Peanut butter haystacks

this is another recipe I got from one of the kids teachers.

1 12 oz bag butterscotch chips
1 C peanut butter
3 C chow mein noodles

Place 1st 2 ingredients in 2 quart glass dish,cover and microwave on high for 3-5 min.
blend well with rubber spatula(spray it 1st with non-stick spray,it won't stick as bad)
Stir in noodles and drop by forkfulls onto wax paper.let cool.
The kids really love these!

Carrot Casserole

I got this from the dear friend who brought me the potato casserole. I must admit that this was not a big favorite of mine at 1st,I've grown to love it and I can't imagine my holiday dinners without it!

3 cans Julienne carrots(save 1/2 juice from can)
1 TBSP minced onion
1 TBSP horseradish
1 TBSP mustard
2 TBSP butter
1/2 C Ritz crackers

put carrots in a shallow baking pan,mix remaining ingredients and pour over carrots.
bake at 375 degrees for 25 min
add crushed crackers to top,bake 5-10 more min

The flavors are addictive and the cracker topping just makes it!

A-1 cheese ball

I got this from the same dear friend that does the GARLIC-KY cheese ball.YUM!

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese(softened)
2 TBSP chopped green onions
1 pkg budding beef(chopped)
2 TBSP A-1 steak sauce

mix all ingredients and refrigerate overnight.Roll into ball and serve with crackers.(I've also rolled it in crushed pecans and it was really good)

Pumpkin pudding

I got this recipe from my kids pre-school several years ago.
One of my faves.

2 boxes instant vanilla pudding
4 C cold milk
(prepare pudding as directed)
2/3 canned pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Mix all ingredients,chill and enjoy!

Ramen salad

Ramen nodles~another thing my friends and I used to eat alot,my kids love them now too.
This is definitely a twist on the old fave,I got the recipe from Paula Deens show on food network a few years back.I've only made it once but it was really tasty.

1 head Napa or bok choy cabbage
3 green onions
1 (3-ounce) package ramen noodles with seasoning pack
1 (6-ounce) package slivered almonds
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat the broiler.

Tear the cabbage and slice the onions, and place in a large salad bowl. Crumble the noodles into a broiler pan, add the almonds, sesame seeds, and broil for 2 minutes, being careful not to scorch the sesame seeds. In a jar with a tight lid, combine the oil, sugar, vinegar, and salt with the contents of the seasoning pack. Cover the jar and shake well to blend the dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad, add the toasted sesame and almond, and toss to combine.

Winter Pot Roast

The 1st time that I made this my husband and I had only been married about 2 years and he thought I was the just the best cook ever.In truth I had NEVER touched a raw pot roast let alone cooked itI had no clue what I was doing.I don't even remember where I got the recipe from.
I made a loaf of fresh white bread in my bread machine with it(1st time I had used that too) and it was a HUGE hit.
I still make it pretty much the same as I did that 1st time,always make the bread too.It's become a winter time tradition.

1 4-6 lb beef roast (any cut is fine)
1 bag baby carrots
3 potatoes peeled and cubed
1 large onion chopped
2 cans french onion soup
2 cans water
3 TBSP flour
salt an dpepper

put all veggies and 1 can of soup in a large crock pot
rinse roast and pat dry with paper towels,dust with flour,salt and pepper,
place in a hot skillet with 2 tsp canola oil till all sides are brown.(you're not trying to cook the meat just brown the outside)
put roast on top of veggies in crock pot,add the other can of soup and water.Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hrs,high 6-8 hrs.
Serve with fresh bread

Fluffed up scrambled eggs

These are excellent and cheesey!

6 eggs
1/2 C evaporated milk
salt and pepper
1/2 C shredded cheddar
1/4 tsp paprika

add all ingredients except cheese,scramble in a buttered skillet over med-low heat,when almost set add cheese.
My kids put these on toast and eat it.

mmmmmmmmmm!