DAILY BLESSINGS

WELCOME TO: FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS!

C'mon in and browse through some of our favorite recipes! Hopefully, a few will become YOUR favorites too! If you have a recipe you'd like to share with me, send it to me and I'll post it here!(view my profile to find an email link) We thank the Lord for His gift of FOOD and NOURISHMENT, and happily share some ideas from our own home with YOU now!

SUPER EASY SAUSAGE BREAD -N- GRAVY

This is SO easy and so delicious! It's one of our family favorites!

Ingredients:

4 1/2- 5 C of Bisquick Mix

2 1/2 C milk (approximate...add more as needed to get the dough the proper consistency)

2 lbs bulk sausage, browned and drained

1/2 C butter

8 Tbs flour, plus a little extra for dusting surface

4 cup of boiling water w/ 6-8 chicken boullion cubes in it

Directions:

Mix the Bisquick and milk until a dough forms

Knead a few times, then cut in half and let rest a minute

flour a surface and roll one half of dough into a wide/long rectangle shape

Spread 1 lb of the ground/browned sausage onto dough

gently roll long-ways as if for a jelly roll

Do this process again for a second roll

place both rolls on baking sheet and bake at 450* until nicely golden brown

For gravy:

Melt 1/2 C butter

while it's melting, microwave 4 C water w/ boullion cubes in it

add 8 Tbs flour

remove from heat to stir these two together

With heat on high, slowly add the boiling water and stir constantly

keep boiling and stirring for a couple of minutes, then turn heat down to low and continue

to cook and stir for a few more minutes

MOCK TACOS

Ingredients:

Ground beef (use according to family size)

Taco Seasoning Packet

Shredded Cheddar

Shredded lettuce

Sliced Cherry Tomatoes

Sliced black olives

Sour Cream

Salsa

Tortilla chips

Directions:

Brown and drain beef

Add Taco seasoning according to directions

Place a ladle full of beef mixture in center of plate

spoon any/all of the other sides on top

CheeseburgerPie

CHEESEBURGER PIE

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Ingredients: (we double this)

2 lbs ground meat, browned and drained
small onion, diced
Bisquick
milk
tomato, sliced
American Cheese (about 6 slices)

Instructions:

Stir together diced onion and browned ground meat
spread into pie dish
mix 2 cups Bisquick and 2/3 cup milk (these measurements can be adjusted...you want a mix that is a bit "liquid-y" and able to pour)
pour above mix over the ingredients in the pie plate
Bake in oven @ 400* until Bisquick forms golden crust
Pull pie out and layer top with sliced tomatoes, then cover with slices of American Cheese
Bake for another few minutes until cheese is melted

* NOTE* This is very tasty with hot sauce on it!

FRIED TATERS -N- DOGS

Super Easy!

Super Cheap!

Super Tasty!

Super Filling!

Ingredients:

(decide amounts according to family size)

HOT DOGS, sliced into "coins"

Potatoes, cut and sliced into bite-sized pieces

Onions

Green Peppers (optional)

cooking oil

salt/pepper

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients except oil, salt, and pepper

Pour a little oil into frying pan

Add mixed ingredients

Pour a little more oil over all and stir

Cook and stir every so often, seasoning as you go

Don't rush it! This is best tasting when allowed to really fry and get a bit crispy here and there!

Use ketchup or hot sauce on top!

THIS IS A FAVORITE MEAL OF OURS!

TWO QUICK AND EASY MEALS!

These meals are great when you need something quick...they are REALLY tasty...my kids eat THIRDS when we cook them!

Noodles and Cabbage

Ingredients:

One head of cabbage (or two depending on family size)
One bag of noodles (same as above)
a few T of butter
Season Salt, salt, pepper

Instructions:

Chop cabbage into bite size pieces
Boil
In a separate pot on stove, boil the noodles
Drain both when finished cooking
Combine both into one large stock pot
add butter and seasonings

DONE!!!

To make more of a meal out of it, you can add diced ham and/or potatoes
Also goes nice with some canned fruit on the side
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PASTA AND KIDNEY BEANS:

Ingredients:

Pasta of choice (we like to use bow ties)
Dark Red Kidney beans...one or two lg cans depending on family size
A half stick (or more to taste) of butter
garlic salt (tiny bit), salt, pepper, seasoning salt

Instructions:

Boil pasta, then drain
Return to pot
stir in butter and kidney beans
Add seasonings
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could eat a TON of this dish...and it is very healthy and full of iron!

WONDERFUL MEATLOAF

Ingredients:

2 lbs. ground beef

3 slices of bread, torn into tiny bites

1 egg

1 C milk

1 small onion, diced (I leave these out usually)

1 T of Worcestershire Sauce

1 t salt

1/2 t dry mustard

1/4 t black pepper

1/8 t garlic powder

1/2 C BBQ sauce

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients (except BBQ sauce) well.

Form into two loaves

Spread BBQ sauce on top

Bake at 350* for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.

NOTE: DELICIOUS COLD THE NEXT DAY ON SANDWICHES!!!

CHICKEN POT PIE

This recipe can also be found in From the Classroom to the Kitchen Table, a book listed in

My Book Corner (see home page)

My family doubles this recipe:

Ingredients:
6 T butter
1/3 C flour
1 C milk
10 ounce can chicken broth
2 1/2 C cooked chicken cut in bite sized pieces
16 oiunce bag frozen mixed vegetables
garlic, salt, pepper to taste

Pillsbury Ready Crust

Instructions:

Melt butter until bubbly; add flour and spices
Add milk, stir until smooth
Add chicken broth, stir until smooth
Add chicken and vegetables last

Lay bottom crust out in 9" pie pan
Pour in filling
Cover with top crust and pinch closed
(A small heart cut out in center of crust shows that it's made with love!)

PEAS -N- MEATBALLS

This is one of those recipes which is even tastier the next day!

Ingredients:

2 eggs, beaten
2 C wet bread crumbs
1/2 C Parmesan Cheese
2 lbs ground beef
onion salt
garlic salt
parsley
oregano
black pepper
small onion
3-4 cans of peas (drained, with liquid set aside)
Optional: elbow macaroni, cooked

Instructions:

Mix together the first nine ingredients (spices to taste)
form small meatballs (1 - 1 1/2 inches)
set aside

In a large pot on stove, sautee chopped onion in a small amount of oil
Add all liquid from cans of peas to the pot
Add same amount of water (using cans)
bring to BOIL
Add meatballs
SIMMER
when almost done, add peas
SIMMER a while longer

Serve as is...or serve over the Optional elbow macaroni (this is how we like it)

Delicious if served with butter and jelly bread

WILD WEST VELVEETA MAC -N- CHEESE

(from Velveeta Shells and Cheese box)

Ingredients:
1 lg box Velveeta Shells n Cheese (or similar)
2 cans chili w/or without beans (we like WITH)
pkg of cornbread muffin mix

Directions:
Cook Shells and Cheese according to instructions on package
Meanwhile, make the cornbread muffin mix batter
Stir chili into Shells and Cheese
spread mixture into 13 x 9 in. baking dish
pour cornbread batter on top, and lightly spread within one inch of edges of pan
Bake at 375* for app. 20-30 minutes

Serves well with mandarin oranges or other canned fruit on the side

DELICIOUS!

We feed 10 at our home table currently, so we DOUBLE this recipe!

MY MUM'S RAVIOLI!!!

MY BROTHERS AND I TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES TO ENJOY THIS DISH!!!

(Although, ONE PARTICULAR brother seems to get them more than the rest of us! LOL...and I KNEW how much my mum loved my husband when she made them especially for HIM!!!)

(We usually triple or quadruple this recipe)

Ingredients
ground beef (app. 1 1/2 -2 lbs)
ricotta cheese(app. 1 1/2 -2 16 oz containers)
salt
pepper (black)
parsley
2 C flour
1 t salt
1 egg
1/2 C water

Mix flour and salt in a deep bowl
Add egg and enough water to make a medium soft dough
NOTE: (it helps to add the egg to to some of the water and beat before adding it to the flour...and then add more water if needed afterward)

Knead onto a floured surface
cut into 2-inch rounds
place filling in ( instructions for filling below) fold, press edges together, and seal (I use a fork for this)

Filling:

equal parts of ground beef (browned and drained) and ricotta cheese
salt, pepper, and parsley to taste

Drop in rolling boil....they are done when they float (watch them, as it doesn't take long!)
NOTE: If you freeze these before cooking, you must freeze them in SINGLE layers first, and then they can be place into large freezer bags once they are already frozen.

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Spaghetti Sauce (to be served over Ravioli, above, or used for other dishes)

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless pork ribs
2 lg cans crushed tomatoes (w/puree if possible)
12 oz of tomato paste
garlic (crushed) (I use 4-5 cloves...but do it to your personal taste)
bay leaves (3-4)
oregano
small onion (diced)
salt
black pepper
fresh Parmesan cheese, to grate over top

Instructions:

Brown meat in a little bit of olive oil
add onions to sautee
add all other ingredients
using empty crushed tomato can, add almost 2 cans of water
bring to a GOOD boil
turn down heat and simmer for 3-4 hours
stir and add a little water from time to time when needed
When sauce is almost ready....take out meat.....cut it up into bit-sized pieces, and then return it to the pot to finish cooking the sauce

Serve over ravioli, or other dish of your choice, grating fresh Parmesan Cheese over top!

DELIZIOSO!!!!!!!!!!!!

CO-OP COOKING CLASS DOES IT AGAIN!

Beef Enchiladas

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb ground beef
1 can refired beans
2 cans enchilada sauce (8 oz cans)
2 C shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
1 pack 8- 10 tortillas (burrito style)

Directions:
spray casserole dish with cooking oil spray
brown beef and drain
mix in refried beans, 1 can enchilada sauce, 1 C cheese
spoon beef mixture onto tortilla and fold ends and roll
place into casserole dish
pour 1 can sauce over all enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese
bake at 375* for 30 minutes

YUM!!!

SOUPS

MY DMD (dear married daughter)'s LENTEN SOUP

Because I like the easy "style" of her instructions, I am simply pasting my dd's email to me about her recipe. ENJOY!

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Ingredients:
tortellini
tomato soup
shredded mozzarella cheese
bread
american cheese
frozen spinach
garlic salt
butter

you take tortellini, (precooked; i like the multicolored ones) and add it to tomato soup, top each bowl with a bit of shredded mozzarella...

very good if you make it with grilled cheese and spinach sandwiches... i just take the box of frozen, chopped spinach, cook it like it says on the package, strain it and blot it kinda dry with a paper towel, and put it on top of the cheese... before i cook the grilled cheese, i butter and lightly garlic salt the bread...

very simple, very good. very easy to omit the spinach for those who would rather die.

SIDE DISHES

TORTELLINI SUPREME....MMMMMMMMMM

This is a dish that we created, and my family LOVES it.

We usually use it as a side dish. However, it could easily be adapted for a main meal by adding some chicken, diced ham, or even shrimp!

Ingredients:

Fresh broccoli
Fresh cauliflower
2 boxes or bags of tortellini (we use the tri-colored because it adds to the presentation)
2 jars of cheez whiz (generic is fine)
can of chic peas, drained
cherry tomatoes, sliced

Instructions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add tortellini
when about 5 min. from being done, add broccoli and cauliflower
After cooking, drain
Put back in pot on stove with a low/medium heat
Stir in cheez whiz, chic peas, and cherry tomatoes

If you are using it as a side dish, then it's DONE! ENJOY!

If you'd like it as your main meal, experiment with added meat or shrimp. (Let me know if you do...I'd like to know how it tastes!)

My family likes this recipe so much that it is a staple of our Thanksgiving Feast!

DIPS AND SNACKS

YUMMY GUACAMOLE

CO-OP COOKING CLASS GUACAMOLE...DELISH!!!!!

Ingredients:

(we doubled the following)

1 ripe avocado
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 scallions (or onion) diced
1 T lemon juice (or lime)
1/2 t salt
Tortilla Chips for dipping

Instructions:

Cut the avocado in half and discard the pit. Scrape the avocado pulp into a small bowl; coarsely mash with a fork. Add the tomatoes, scallions, lemon juice, and salt; mix until just combined. Scrape into a serving dish and serve at once, with chips for dipping!

NOTE: I am not usually a lover of Guacamole....but this IS DELICIOUS !!! I could eat the entire bowl myself!!!

SUPER BOWL HOT WINGS!

Ingredients:

chicken wings and dressing to dip (ranch or bleu cheese)
1 bottle ranch dressing
1 bottle bbq sauce
1 bottle hot sauce

In a large pot on stove, combine everything except the wings and dipping dressing
Warm over low heat.
Preheat oven to 375*

Place separated wings in pot
stir and let cook for 5-10 minutes
remove wings using tongs...one at a time, and trying to keep lots of sauce on them
place in baking pan as you go
If needed, coat with a little more sauce from the pot
bake for 1 - 1 1/2 hours (check from time to time...we like them crispy!)
While they are baking, continue to cook the sauce on the stove to a low boil, stirring occasionally...cook long enough to cook-off any chicken germs

When wings are done, remove from baking pan and place on serving platter (or dish with a "lip" so sauce doesn't spill over)...and pour remainder of sauce over wings...cover, and let sit for about 20 minutes!!!

Dip in ranch or bleu cheese dressing!

DELICIOUS!

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DESSERTS AND TREATS

HOME MADE REESE'S CUPS

Need I say more?!?

Ingredients and Supplies:

milk chocolate to melt
peanut butter
cupcake papers
muffin baking tin
very small paint brush (never used)

Instructions:

cut cupcake papers to make them half of their original size
line baking tin with them
melt chocolate in pot on stove
Using paint brush, "paint" a layer of chocolate 2/3 way up the cupcake papers (working a bit quickly so chocolate isn't drying on you as you go...fill in the bottom and work your way up the sides)
CHILL
Once chilled, take out of frig, and fill your "chocolate shell" with peanut butter
melt down chocolate on the stove again (if it has hardened by this time)
finish "painting" the top onto the peanut butter cups
CHILL AGAIN

VOILA!!! Peel and eat! EASY ! SOOOOOOOO DELICIOUS!!!! MAKES A GREAT GIFT!!!!

PRETZEL BITES!

Two easy pretzel ideas:

1) Small traditionally shaped pretzels

Hershey Kisses

M and M's

Lay out pretzels on baking sheet and top each one with a KISS

place in LOW oven for a few moments...KEEP WATCH...when they begin to

glisten and shine, they are ready....

remove from oven and gently PRESS an m-n-m into the center of each chocolate piece (It will smash down when you do this)

Let cool....and ENJOY!

2) Pretzel Rods

Melted chocolate (white and regular is nice for variety)

Sprinkles of choice

Melt chocolate in double boiler method on stove

Dip the top halves of pretzels into chocolate (swirl it around in quick circle to cover all sides)

Immediately roll in sprinkles

lay out to cool on wax paper

BUNDLE these with pretty ribbon as favors, gifts, or gift adornments

PEANUT BRITTLE

1 C Sugar

1/2 C white corn syrup

(microwave 4 minutes on HIGH)

Stir in 1 C peanuts

(microwave 4 1/2 minutes)

Stir in 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla

(microwave 2 minutes)

Stir in 1 teaspoon of baking soda

QUICKLY (using rubber spatula) pour out onto baking sheet

Work to spread out a little but BE QUICK as it begins to harden fast!

Let cool and harden the break into pieces and ENJOY!!!

THIS MAKES A WONDERFUL GIFT!!!!

CO-OP CHOCOLATE MOUSSE!

Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:
4 egg yolks
1/4 C sugar
1 C heavy whipping cream
1 pkg semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream

Directions:

beat egg yolks 3 minutes, gradually add sugar.
Heat 1 C whipping cream in sauce pan just until hot...gradually stir hot cream into yolks, then pour back into sauce pan. Cook for 5 minutes on low until thick (DO NOT BOIL). Stir chocolate chips into hot cream mixture until melted.

Refrigerate for 2 hours covered

Beat 1 1/2 C whipping cream until stiff and fold chocolate mixture into whipping cream. Immediately spoon into dishes and chill. (If left uneaten for too long, it will harden)

A DELICIOUS IDEA FROM CO-OP COOKING CLASS!

Fruit Crepes (a Better Homes and Gardens recipe)

Ingredients:
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 C milk
1 C flour
1 T oil
2 T sugar
Your choice of canned/fresh fruit
Whipped Cream

Directions:
Combine eggs, milk, flour, oil, sugar; beat until well mixed. Heat lightly greased 6 inch skillet; remove from heat...Spoon in 2 T batter; lift and tilt skillet to spread batter. Return to heat; brown on 1 side only. Invert onto paper towels; remove crepe.
Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet occasionally.
Fill center of crepe with fuit; roll; top with whipped cream

makes 18 small crepes
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Raisin Bran Muffins

Ingredients:

3/4 C milk

1/4 C vegetable oil

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2 C Raisin Bran Cereal

1 C All-purpose flour

2/3 C sugar, plus 1 Tbs sugar, divided

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

1 Tbs margarine, melted

Instructions:

Pre-heat oven 400*F

Grease or paper line twelve muffin cups

combine milk, oil, egg in bowl

stir in cereal

let stand 10 minutes

stir to break up cereal

combine flour , 2/3 C sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 tsp cinnamon in separate bowl

add cereal mixture all at once to flour mixture

stir just until moistened

divide evenly among prepared muffin cups

bake 20-25 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean

remove from pan

combine remaining 1 Tbs sugar and remaining 1/4 tsp cinnamon

brush muffins with margarine and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture

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CROCKPOT IDEAS

Delicious Crock-pot Chili (I double this recipe for 10 people eating)

Ingredients:

1 C diced onion
1 green pepper, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 LG can tomato sauce
2 t black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 diced carrots
1 can corn (drained)
2 t chili powder
1 LG can kidney beans
2 lbs ground beef, browned
Optional: elbow macaroni, cooked

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients into crock-pot (except corn...add that in last hour of cooking)
Cook on medium to high for app. 4 hours

We serve over the optional elbow macaroni!
Also good used as a dip for soda crackers!