Taco Soup

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I made this one up...hope you like it! It is so comforting on a cool night and is so easy to fix. The longer it sits in the fridge the better it taste so leftovers are always eat here at our house.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Hamburger
1 large Onion (chopped)
2 cans Beef Broth
2 cups Water
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 tsp. Onion Powder
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 can Black Beans
1 can Pinto Beans
1/2 cup Elbow Macaroni (uncooked) 
1/2 cup White Rice (uncooked)

Directions:

Brown Hamburger in large pot, I season it with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of Onion and Garlic Powder. Drain.
Add Onion, Beef Broth, Water and Taco Sauce. Stir it good.
Add Onion Powder, Garlic Powder and Salt.
Add Black and Pinto Beans.
Bring to boil then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes. Stir every now and then.
Add Elbow Macaroni and Rice. Simmer 15-20 more minutes or until pasta and rice are tender.
Of course you always must taste test several times to make sure the seasoning is right...lol


Cooking Tips:

Boil-N-Bag Rice...just empty the contents into the pot. It makes things easier and it cooks up great.

I have used several different pastas...Angel Hair Spaghetti (broken in pieces) works well. Just use whatever you have on hand. Be careful not to add too much because the starch really soaks up the broth.

If it seems too dry just add some water.

I eat it just like this but you could add Sour Cream, Shredded Cheese, Fritos Corn Chips or Cornbread.

A can of Whole Kernel Corn would be great but my son doesn't like corn so none for us. 

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Peach Cobbler

Any good cook knows this easy recipe for Peach Cobbler. I don't remember where I got it from but there are several versions floating around out there...this is mine.

Ingredients:

1 stick Butter (melted)
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Milk
1 cup self rising Flour
1 large can sliced Peaches

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

Pour melted butter into baking 9 x 13 baking dish. 
Mix Sugar, Milk and Flour with a whisk. Pour into baking dish.
Place Peaches on top and then pour half of the syrup from the peaches over the mixture. It will look like a mess but it will cook up great!
Top with a couple of spoons of white sugar. This makes the crust have crispness and extra crunch.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Really good when it's hot!!!

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Hash Brown Casserole

I got this recipe while sitting in the dentist office from a Southern Living magazine about 30 years ago...lol  Long time! Everyone in my family loves it so it has been on the table at every gathering since. Hope you enjoy it as well!

Ingredients:

1 stick Butter (melted)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
16 oz Sour Cream (I use Daisy)
12 oz. shredded Colby Jack Cheese
32 oz bag frozen Hash Browns (the ones with green pepper and onions are good too.)

Topping:
2 cups Corn Flakes (crushed)
1/2 stick butter (melted)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together 1 stick of melted Butter with the Sour Cream and Cream of Chicken Soup. I use a whisk...it's just easier! 
Add Cheese and then Hash Browns. Mix all together with large spoon. Pour into buttered casserole dish. 

Mix crushed Corn Flakes and Butter. I do this in a Baggie because it makes less mess. Pour over casserole and distribute evenly across the top with a fork.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.


Sometimes I saute an onion and add in the mix before baking...makes it tastier!

Green Onions and pickles are always good with it too.

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Renee's "Award Winning" Chili

This Chili won a competition that my daughter Renee entered when she was in Nursing School. I don't know where she got the recipe...but it is delicious! On a cool fall night or a cold winter's day...it hits the spot. The wonderful thing about this recipe is that the longer it sits in the fridge the better it gets.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Beef (her recipe doesn't call for it but I also add 1 lb. mild sausage)
1 Onion (chopped)
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
2 cans Diced Tomatoes
1 can Tomato Sauce
2 cans Chili Beans
4 cups Chicken Stock or Broth (enough to cover ingredients)
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix (she uses Old El Paso)

Directions:

Brown Ground Beef, Sausage, chopped Onion, Garlic Powder, Salt and Pepper. Drain. You can do it right in the Chili pot...all the little bits on the bottom of the pan will just make it taste even better.

Add all the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil then simmer for at least 30 minutes...the longer the better. Stir often as it will burn and you don't want that to happen!

Serving Suggestions:

Even better with Crackers, Cornbread or Corn Chips.

WOW! All these start with "C" lol.

Pat's Baked Beans

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A long long time ago I "finally" got this recipe from one of my good friends. I have made it many times over the years and its one of my son's favorites. I have changed the amount of ingredients from her original to suit our taste so here is my version.

Recipe:

1 lb. Ground Beef 
1 medium Onion (chopped)
3 16 oz. cans Pork-n-Beans
3/4 cup Ketchup
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp. Yellow Mustard
1 tsp. Salt

Directions:

Place ground beef and chopped onion in skillet and cook till beef is browned (I season with salt), drain. Place in large microwave safe bowl then add pork-n-beans, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard and salt. Mix well. Microwave for 14 minutes on high stirring half way through.

Merry Christmas!!!

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Wishing you a 

very  Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year

I know everyone's traditions are different but this year our family will sit down to a lovely meal of Baked Ham, Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese, Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese, and Rolls. Banana Pudding and Pecan Pie will be the show stoppers at the end when no one really has the room for them but shovels them in anyway...lol. Then there are the usual drinks of Sweet Tea and assorted sodas. 

We have a very small family...six of us but who's counting? Two of that number are my grandchildren Ethan and Drew. They keep us on our toes all year but make us realize what life is all about.

My Banana Pudding recipe is here on the blog so I hope you enjoy your Holidays and don't stuff yourself too much...lol

I'm going to leave you with a recipe for a quick and delicious little dessert.

Fruity Stuff

2 cans Fruit Cocktail
2 containers Cool Whip
2 pkgs. Instant Vanilla Pudding

Drain Fruit Cocktail, mix in Vanilla Pudding and then the Cool Whip. Stir and chill. That's it!!!
Told you it was simple! You will get asked for the recipe...I guarantee it! 

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 Angela's Potato Casserole                                              I got this recipe from Angela...a dear church friend. She hosted our Ladies Meeting and served this dish along with a spread fit for a king. I just couldn't stop eating this...it was habit forming and when you make it you will see why. So Yummy!!!  She didn't give me a name for it so I just call it Angela's Potato Casserole.                                                                                                       

Ingredients:                                                                       

Potatoes (5-8 lbs.) I use Idaho or Russet...both are tasty

Kosher Salt (1 tsp. for the boiling pot and 1 tsp. for the casserole dish)

1 stick Butter (melted) plus 1/2 stick for boiling potatoes

2 cups shredded cheese (I use Colby Jack but use whatever you like.)

Bacon (1 lb.) 

Green Onions (5 or 6 chopped)

Directions:

Peel, chop, and boil potatoes. Place them in a large boiling pot and cover with cold water till about 2 inches over the top. I season with 1/2 stick butter and 1 tsp. salt. Boil until tender but not falling apart. 

In a 9 x 13 casserole dish place boiled potatoes. I dip them from the boiling pot into the casserole dish with a slotted spoon. I then pour one cup of the liquid from the boiling pot over the potatoes. It helps to keep them moist during baking. 

Top with 1 tsp. salt, melted butter and shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

While casserole is baking fry up the bacon and chop the green onions. I let my oven do double duty by baking the bacon at the same time as the casserole. Just place bacon in a 9 x 13 glass casserole dish and bake for about 20 minutes. However you like to cook your bacon is fine. I like mine crispy...my son like his not so crispy so I fix some both ways.

When the casserole comes out of the oven top with bacon and green onions.

I promise you that this will not be the last time you fix this dish...your family will love it. I made it 3 times one week and every bite was gone but if you do have leftovers they are delicious reheated in the microwave.

Oh by the way, the reason you only see green onions on half the casserole in the picture would be my son Daniel's fault...he doesn't like them.  Yeah, I don't understand it either but I try to please...lol