What's For Dinner?

Banana Cream Pie

2008-10-28T21:04:00.003-06:00

First "make" the crust. I DON'T make crust! I buy it at the store and unroll it. Just follow the instructions on the box. (Why torture yourself?)

For the filling:

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup starch

1/2 tsp salt

1 envelope unflavored gelatine

3 cups milk

4 egg yolks

Cook this mixture on the stove until thick, about 15 minutes. Add 2 T butter and 1 T vanilla.

Whip 1 cup whipping cream and fold into this mixture with 4 cut up bananas.

Pour into 2 baked pie crusts and refrigerate.

Taco Soup

2008-10-08T05:50:00.002-06:00

Another one from my Mother In Law...........

1 lb hamburger, browned
2 cans Mexican stewed tomatoes
2 cans kidney beans
1 can corn
1 can tomato soup
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 cup water

Dump everything into a pot and heat on the stove for about 10 minutes. That's it!! Just how I like it, quick and easy. (This makes quite a bit, I usually end up freezing half.)

Serve with cornchips, shredded cheese, etc.

Pepperoni Stromboli

2008-09-12T19:55:00.002-06:00

OK- I'm totally cheating!! I took a picture of this recipe card I tore out of a magazine. Trust me, the one I made wasn't pretty, almost inedible looking.) So this is what it's SUPPOSED to look like when you're done...........
1 pkg refrigerated pizza crust (13.8 oz)
1/2 cup spaghetti sauce
1/4 tsp dried oregano
8 oz sliced pepperoni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out crust on a greased baking sheet. Spread spaghetti sauce in a strip down the center. Sprinkle with oregano, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Fold crust in half; pinch ends to seal. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serves 4-6

I wish I remembered which magazine I stole this one from to give them credit. It's been in my recipe box forever and I don't have a clue where it came from.

Crock-Pot Roast Beef

2008-09-02T21:26:00.003-06:00

Buy a small/medium roast.
Put it in the crock pot with:

1 packet onion soup mix
1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup
2 cups water
6-8 peeled potatoes and carrots

Cook on high for 6-8 hours.

Orange Chicken

2008-08-25T21:27:00.002-06:00

Before the sauce...........
With the sauce..............
Around 2 pounds of chicken, cut up
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 eggs beaten
oil for frying

Sauce:
1 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbl orange juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 Tbl soy sauce
1 Tbl finely grated orange peel
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp ginger root (I didn't know what this was, so I used ground ginger?)
1/2 tsp garlic
2 Tbl finely chopped green onion
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
3 Tbl cornstarch
1/4 cup water

Combine the flour, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken in the eggs, then in the flour mixture and fry in the oil until it's cooked through.

In a saucepan, combine the 1 1/2 cups water, lemon juice, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Stir and cook over medium heat for a few minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, orange peel, ginger, garlic and onion. Bring to a boil. In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water. Pour into sauce and stir until it thickens a little. Pour over the chicken.

This wasn't quite as good as our favorite chinese place, but a close second. Maybe if I knew what ginger root was............

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

2008-08-20T12:40:00.002-06:00

Fettuccine (As you can see, I used half Fettuccine and half Spaghetti, I wasn't about to run to the store for one measly ingredient.)
1 cup half-and-half, or whipping cream
3 Tbl margarine or butter
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp pepper
Chicken

Cook the Fettuccine according to the package directions. Also, cook the chicken and cut into bite sized strips. In a saucepan; combine the cream, butter, cheese and pepper. Stir and heat, but don't boil. Add in the chicken and pour over the noodles.

Sometimes I add peas to the sauce, we had them on the side this time.

Italian Bake

2008-08-13T21:40:00.012-06:00

8 ounces pasta (I usually use the bow tie or the spiral ones, not sure what they're called.)

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix

1 lb. ground beef or chicken

2 cups grated mozzarella

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Cook the hamburger or chicken. (If you're using chicken, cut it up into bite sized pieces.) In a bowl, combine the spaghetti sauce and salad dressing mix; add pasta and mix together. Place the meat on the bottom of a casserole dish. Spread the sauce/pasta on top. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.

Cafe' Rio Pork Barbacoa

2008-08-11T22:07:00.004-06:00

5-6 Pounds Pork Roast
1 Tbls. Cumin
1 C. Brown Sugar
12 Ounces La Victoria Taco Sauce
20 Ounces Coca Cola

Place roast in a crock pot and add water halfway up roast. Cook on low for 12 hours. Drain out the water and add the remaining ingredients, then cook for 4 more hours. Shred the pork and cook for 2 more hours. (18 hours total!!)

I stole this recipe off of a website. I'm not sure if it really is the Cafe' Rio recipe or not. You can be the judge of that.

Obviously this is going to make a ton. I'm planning on freezing the leftovers.

(This can be used in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salad, whatever!

Artichokes

2008-08-05T21:48:00.003-06:00

I must have been a weird child. While most kids were requesting pizza and mac & cheese, I was requesting artichokes. These were my FAVORITE when I was little. I still love them, but I don't make them very often because HELLO, they are expensive!! No wonder my parents only bought them on "special occasions."
Put them in a large pot and boil for about 45 minutes-1 hour.

Serve with butter and a little lemon juice mixed together for dipping.

Homemade Pizza

2008-08-04T22:03:00.003-06:00

Oh my gosh! This is one ugly pizza!! I'm almost embarrassed to post it..........almost. I'd like to say it's ugly because the kids helped, or maybe it got tossed on the floor. But, I don't really have an excuse. It's just ugly because I made it that way!!! I "made" the crust by using a pizza crust mix. These are around 30-35 cents and come in individual boxes/packets. (I usually use Jiffy or Great Value.) You just add water, and roll it out. As you can see, I got the edges nice and neat. lol

Next, you spread on the sauce. (I used spaghetti sauce.) Now, sprinkle on some grated cheese, and add the toppings. Bake at 425 for 15 minutes.

We actually made two pizza's. The other one was vegetarian style. I WAS too embarrassed to post it. If you can believe it, it looked even worse than this one! Maybe I'll try the refrigerated dough next time.

BBQ Flavored Chicken

2008-07-31T13:02:00.002-06:00

Put some fresh or frozen chicken breasts/tenders/wings/whatever in an electric fry pan and pour some barbecue sauce on top with a little water. (I used 8-9 frozen chicken tenders and about 1/2 bottle sauce.) Cook this at 3oo degrees, turning it over every once in awhile until it is no longer pink inside. (It took about 20 minutes.)

It doesn't matter if you use frozen or fresh meat. But, it will take a little longer to cook if you start with it frozen.

Shortcut Enchiladas

2008-07-29T23:28:00.008-06:00

Okay, I've been completely neglecting this blog! I've made some repeat meals, we had a pizza party, I've been lazy, and I've been spending all my computer time (naps and after bedtime) on my other blog. So, there's my excuse. But, tonight I tried a new one I found in a magazine and it actually turned out pretty well. Of course I forgot to take a pic!

Now, don't tell anyone this is what you did, they'll never know the difference! Take full credit for the wonderful meal you "slaved" over.

10 frozen chimichangas or burritos (I used the $3 package walmart beef/bean chimichangas)
1 small can enchilada sauce (I used the Walmart "Red Sauce")
1-2 cups grated cheese

Place the little frozen cheaters on a pan or cookie sheet. Pour the enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle on the cheese. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. Serve with whatever toppings you want.

Breakfast Casserole

2008-07-23T22:17:00.002-06:00

More breakfast for dinner, what can I say?

6-7 eggs
1 cup milk
1-2 cups grated cheese
frozen hash browns (enough to cover the bottom of the dish)
sausage or bacon (about 1/2 pound)

Spread the frozen hash browns across the bottom of a medium casserole dish. (I actually used some leftover baked potatoes that I grated up.) Sprinkle the cooked sausage or bacon on top. In a bowl, mix together the eggs and the milk, then pour this over the meat. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

2008-07-22T19:06:00.003-06:00

Buy some boneless pork ribs. These are usually really cheap if you buy the big package. I usually get the five pounder and use half of it for this, and freeze the rest.

Put the pork in the crock-pot with a bottle of barbecue sauce. Cook on high for about 6-8 hours. Shred it up, and throw it on the bun. That's it.

This makes a ton, even with only using half of the 5 pound package. You can freeze the leftovers for another night.

Fruit Crepes

2008-07-21T19:37:00.003-06:00

2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 Tbl vegetable oil
1 cup flour
2 Tbl sugar

Mix everything together well. Pour 3-4 Tbl of the mix into a heated skillet. (If you use anything but a skillet with a non-stick surface, you will have to grease it first.) Spread the batter out thinly by tilting the pan slightly in all directions. Let it cook a little, then flip it over and just lightly brown both sides.

Add whatever fruit you want to the middle and roll it up. We put whipped topping on the top of ours. I know some people put cream cheese in with the fruit. Whatever trips your trigger!

These are more of breakfast/dessert type crepes. If you would rather have less sweet "dinner crepes" with meat, eggs, vegetables etc, use this same recipe, except take out the sugar and add 1/4 tsp salt instead.

Barbecue Steaks

2008-07-18T08:21:00.002-06:00

We fired up the grill again last night. (Even though the wind blew the ENTIRE time we were cooking.) We had planned to eat outside, but WHATEVER.

Potato and Ham Casserole

2008-07-15T20:51:00.005-06:00

Not much to this one folks, 3 ingredients!

Potatoes
Ham
Cheese

Peel and boil about 7 potatoes (it only takes about 35 minutes to cook if you cut them into pieces.) Drain them and make mashed potatoes. (Mix them up with an electric mixer, adding a little milk, until smooth.)

Now for the ham: I use what I call "fake ham." It's actually turkey sold in a chunk of meat that looks and tastes like ham, only it's a lot cheaper. (You'll find it in the lunch meat section by the ham.) You can use "real" ham if you prefer, or if you have leftovers, that would work great. Cut this up into bite sized pieces. (about 1-2 cups.) Oh, and make sure whatever kind of meat you choose is already cooked.

Mix the potatoes and meat together. Spread this mixture into a casserole dish and sprinkle 1-2 cups grated cheese on top. Stick it in the oven and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Orange Salad

2008-07-15T20:40:00.003-06:00

Here's another salad/dessert for ya. (I can't figure out why I'm not loosing weight eating all these "salads" lately!)

1 medium container cottage cheese
1 box of orange jello (not the sugar free stuff)
1 small can mandarin oranges
1 medium container whipped topping

Put it all in a bowl, and mix it up. Stick any leftovers in the fridge.

Tacos

2008-07-14T22:24:00.003-06:00

If anyone here has never made tacos, raise your hand. I'm doubting there are any hands raised right now. But, just in case.......Here are the instructions.

1 lb ground beef
1 taco seasoning packet
tortillas
toppings (lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, etc.)

Brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add the seasoning packet with 1/4 cup water, simmer for a few minutes.

For the tortillas: You can either buy the crispy or the soft. With the soft ones, I like to either warm them up in the oven (wrapped in foil) for a few minutes, or fry them in vegetable oil on the stove for a few minutes. This is optional.

Now you are ready to make the tacos. I'm not going to explain this part, I mean REALLY.

Cheater's Stew

2008-07-11T12:37:00.005-06:00

I thought I would give this stuff a try. It was on sale for $3. I don't know how much it is normally, but I can't make my own stew for that price. It says it serves 2, but it served my family of 5 with a little left over. (I did add a can of corn to it.)

It's very easy, you just put it in a pan, cover it, and cook for about 20 minutes. I added the corn in halfway through.
I wouldn't call it great, but it was okay. And, considering how cheap and quick it was, I'll probably be buying it again. (Depending on how much it is not on sale.)

Chicken Rolls

2008-07-09T19:42:00.004-06:00

Refrigerated crescent roll dough (I usually use two packages)
Cooked chicken (about 2 cups)

This is another one of those of those recipes that originally had some other ingredients. But, none of them were nutritional, (butter, cream cheese) and it tastes the same without them to me, so I make them plain.

Unroll the crescent rolls, put some cooked chicken in each one, and roll them up. Place them on a cookie sheet and follow the directions on the crescent roll package for baking time and temperature.

These are good with gravy.

Orange Cashew Pork and Peas

2008-07-08T13:20:00.002-06:00

1 pound boneless pork
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 Tbl soy sauce
1 Tbl cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1-2 Tbl cooking oil
2 cups pea pods, fresh or thawed
2 medium peaches, nectarines, or papaya, crushed (I've tried them all.) (You could also use about 1 1/2 cups frozen and thaw it.)
1/2 cup cashews

Thinly slice the pork into bite sized strips. For the sauce: Stir together the juice, marmalade, soy sauce, cornstarch, and ginger. Set aside.

Pour the oil into a large skillet. Preheat to medium-high heat. Add the pork and stir-fry 3-4 minutes until it is no longer pink. Stir in the pea pods, nuts, and fruit. Stir the sauce and add to the skillet. Cook and stir until the sauce thickens.

Serve with rice if you want.

I forgot to take a picture last night. I'll try to remember to add one next time I make it. For now, use your imagination.

Strawberry/Yogurt Salad

2008-07-07T13:14:00.002-06:00

I don't really know why some salads are called salads instead of desserts. But whatever, my kids really like this one, and it makes me feel better to think they are eating "salad."

1 family size container of strawberry yogurt. (The 2 pounder.)
2 cups strawberries, cut up.
1 small container whipped topping
1/2 cup marshmallows

Just mix it all up, and you're good to go. (Put it in the fridge if you have leftovers.)

This one is also good with raspberries and raspberry yogurt instead of the strawberries.

Tin Foil Dinners-otherwise known as Hobo Dinners

2008-07-05T21:26:00.005-06:00

As you can see, we went camping this weekend. So, here's an outdoor dinner idea.

Put some hamburger, and whatever veggies you want on a piece of tinfoil. Season.
Wrap it up. We used 3 layers of foil.
Throw it in the campfire and let it cook, turning it over every once in awhile. We cooked ours for about 20 minutes. As you can see, the potatoes got a little burned. My advice would be to pull it out every 5 minutes and check on how it's doing, maybe you would avoid eating black potatoes this way.

Chicken Quesadillas

2008-07-02T21:57:00.003-06:00

Cook up some chicken and cut it into bite size strips (you could use the canned stuff if you have it on hand.) Sprinkle some grated cheese onto a tortilla and add some chicken, fold the tortilla in half. Cook in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, avacados, sour cream, whatever. (You could also make these without the chicken if you wanted.)

Salad Bar

2008-07-01T17:47:00.004-06:00

My kids aren't huge lettuce fans, so I made sure I got some stuff they would eat. (They basically had fruit and cheese for dinner.) Just make sure you get toppings that are in season, or this can get pricey.

Ravioli

2008-06-30T18:28:00.004-06:00

Buy some of this......(It's in the frozen section, there are several varieties available.) Follow the directions on the package to cook. (It's really quick, you just boil it for a couple minutes.) Drain, and add a jar of spaghetti sauce. Cook for a few more minutes. That's it!

Corn Bread

2008-06-27T22:51:00.003-06:00

Here's another one from my mother-in-law. Now, I haven't actually made this myself. But I do know it's really good because I've tasted it, straight out of my MIL's kitchen.

1 cup melted butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
4 eggs
Beat well all of the above
(JP)(I add 1 egg, beat, then the next, etc.)

Add together:
2 cups buttermilk* **JP
1 tsp soda

Stir in
2 cups flour
2 cups cornmeal
1 tsp salt

Bake @ 375 for 30 min
(350 for a glass dish)
Makes a 9 x 13 cake pan
(JP)(I have halved this
recipe and it still works great)

*can substitute 2 T vinegar
to 2 cups regular milk
**JP I have also used the dry
buttermilk powder baking mix
and 2 cups of water

In case you're wondering, JP are my MIL's initials. These are her instructions.

(This recipe makes a ton, so unless you're planning on feeding the neighborhood-I'd half it.)

Quick and Easy Sandwiches

2008-06-27T06:05:00.003-06:00

I took it easy on myself last night. We had a choice between turkey and PB&J sandwiches. I bet you can't guess who chose what. And, I'm sure you're all really disappointed, but I didn't even take a picture. They were pretty ordinary, no fancy bread or anything, just plain old sandwiches. So, there you have it, another dinner idea. ( I would save this one for one of those days when you're feeling especially lazy.)

Parmesan Chicken

2008-06-25T21:44:00.003-06:00

1-2 eggs
italian bread crumbs
pasta
fresh or frozen/thawed chicken tenders
spaghetti sauce
vegetable oil

There's no exact measurements for this recipe. It just depends on how much you think your family will eat.

Boil the pasta according to package directions. (You can use any kind you like.) Meanwhile, put the eggs in a bowl and beat them. Sprinkle some of the bread crumbs on a plate. One at a time, dip the raw chicken in the eggs, then into the bread crumbs to cover it.

Pour a little bit of vegetable oil into a skillet and heat it up. (You only need enough to cover the bottom of the skillet, you don't want the chicken swimming in it.) Carefully place the chicken into the oil and cook until it's golden brown on the bottom, then turn it over and cook the other side until the chicken is cooked through.

Take the chicken out of the skillet, drain the excess grease. Put the cooked/drained pasta into the skillet and pour the spaghetti sauce over it. Place the finished chicken on top. Cover and simmer for a couple of minutes.

I usually melt some mozzarella cheese on top of this. But, I haven't been to the store for awhile. You can add this if you want, it does make it a little better, but it was fine without it.

Raspberry Frozen Salad/Dessert

2008-06-25T21:26:00.004-06:00

8 oz cream cheese
2 -8 oz cartons raspberry yogurt
4 oz whipped topping
2 cups raspberries (fresh or frozen, it doesn't matter.)

In a bowl, combine the cream cheese and yogurt. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Stir in the whipped topping, and raspberries.

Pour into a medium sized casserole dish. Cover and freeze about 8 hours.

To serve, pull it out of the freezer about 20 minutes before you eat, to thaw slightly.

I've tried this with blueberries and peaches as well. Just substitute the flavor of yogurt for the same kind of fruit you are using.

Turkey Roast

2008-06-24T22:13:00.002-06:00

This is another one of those dinner ideas that doesn't have a recipe:
Just buy this stuff, and throw it in the oven, it makes itself!

You can usually pick this up at Walmart for around $3. (In the frozen foods.) It easily feeds our family of 5, so I think it's a pretty good deal. It does take a little over 2 hours to cook though, so it's got to be on a day you can plan ahead. This isn't my favorite meat, it doesn't really taste like turkey to me, but my kids and hubby really like it. It comes in little tinfoil pan, gravy and all. You just slice it up after it has cooked.

(In case you're wondering, it's the piece of meat on the right side of the plate.)

Sweet Potato Casserole

2008-06-24T21:59:00.003-06:00

4-5 large sweet potatoes, peeled, and boiled for about 45 minutes. (I bet if you wanted to, you could use canned sweet potatoes.)
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbl. margarine, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs

Topping:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
3 Tbl. flour
2 Tbl. margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mash the sweet potatoes, stir in the rest of the ingredients (minus the toppings.) Put this mixture in a casserole dish. Mix the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the potatoes. Bake for 30 minutes.

(This picture turned out weird. The topping doesn't look white like it is showing.) ???

BBQ Kabobs

2008-06-23T22:10:00.002-06:00

Cut some raw (yum) chicken into bite size pieces. (We used about 7-8 chicken tenders.) Put the pieces in a bowl and add about 1/2 bottle of barbecue sauce. Stir this up and if possible let it sit (in the fridge) for a few hours. If you don't have the time, you can skip this.

You can add any veggies or fruits you want. We usually use pineapples, mushrooms and squash. Cut these up into bite sized pieces as well. (This meal works well with picky eaters, as you can see, some of us only wanted the pineapples and chicken.)

Stick a skewer through everything, (alternating for variety) and throw them on the grill. Let it cook, turning it over every once in awhile. When the chicken is cooked through, you're ready to eat!

Spaghetti With Meatballs

2008-06-20T12:26:00.003-06:00

Boil the noodles according to package directions, drain.

For the meatballs: I actually just take about a pound of ground beef and form it into little balls. Put these in a pan on the stove, cook on medium heat, rolling them around every few minutes to cook all the sides. That's it! (I've used meatball recipes before that have more ingredients in them, but I tried it this way once and didn't notice the missing ingredients, so I haven't gone back.)

Now, pour a jar of spaghetti sauce over the meatballs, and cook for another few minutes. All done!

And, if you're wondering what the weird little thing covered with cheese on this plate is.... It's a half of a leftover hamburger bun with cheese and garlic salt, broiled in the oven for a few minutes. (Our own garlic cheese bread.) Sometimes we have to get creative with our leftovers.

Barbecue Hamburgers

2008-06-19T13:56:00.005-06:00

We love cooking outside when it gets hot. It's nice not to heat up the oven when our house is already 90 degrees!

Buy some buns and ground beef. Form the meat into patties. (I make my husband do this, I can't stand touching the raw meat, yuck!) Take it out to the grill, and go to town. (My husband does the cooking as well. I don't know why, but when we cook outside it always ends up being his job to run the grill.) I'd make some instructions, but I'm assuming everyone knows how to barbecue a hamburger.

Our kids ate outside on the lawn, this meant minimal clean up for me!

Homemade Fries

2008-06-19T13:43:00.005-06:00

Pour some vegetable oil into a large pot on the stove (about halfway full.) Turn it on to medium high. Peel and slice up the potatoes into fries (making them as thick or thin as you prefer. (I used about 6 potatoes.) Place the potatoes into the pot and let them cook. I didn't time them, but they didn't take very long. Just watch and wait for them to start getting golden brown, then pull them out. If you make more than just a few, you'll have to cook them in shifts. (I used a pair of tongs to pull them out.) Oh, and for additional artery clogging purposes, add a little salt before you eat them.

Dinner Rolls

2008-06-17T18:49:00.002-06:00

This is actually my mother in law's cinnamon roll recipe. (Minus the cinnamon)

3 1/2 cups warm water
1 cup veg. oil
3/4 cup sugar
3 Tbl yeast
(Mix these ingredients together, cover and let sit for 15 minutes.)

Add:
1 Tbl salt
3 eggs
10 1/2 cups flour

Mix and roll out dough. Form into rolls and let rise 15-20 minutes. Spread a little butter on the top and bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes.

I cut this recipe in half and it made 1 1/2 pans of rolls, perfect for my little family.

Also, I shaped these rolls by taking a glob of dough, rolling it into a 5-6 inch "snake." Tying it in a knot, then tucking the ends underneath.

Baked Potato Bar

2008-06-17T18:32:00.002-06:00

Potatoes (as many as you want.)
Toppings (whatever you like.)

Wash the potatoes, poke them with a fork, and wrap them in tin foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

For our toppings, we had: Grated cheese, sour cream, butter, bacon bits, broccoli cheese sauce, and chili. (Our kids loved being in charge of their own potato, choosing whatever they wanted on top.)

To make the broccoli sauce: Cook the broccoli (about a cup or two), then add 1 can cream of chicken soup, two cups water, and 1/4 cup grated cheese. Cook this for a few minutes on the stove, stirring it all together.

To make the chili: Buy a can at the store, open it and heat it up. Yes, I'm serious. Why would I spend all day making chili for a few spoonfuls of topping on a potato?

Scrambled Egg Pizza

2008-06-16T16:26:00.003-06:00

1 16 oz loaf frozen whole wheat bread dough, thawed (I guess you could make your own dough, but I'm too lazy for that.)
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 Tbl cooking oil
1 Tbl margarine or butter
8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled (if you don't have time, you could use bacon bits)
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Roll bread dough out and transfer it to a greased cookie sheet. Prick dough with a fork and bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until light brown.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the zucchini, mushrooms, and crushed red pepper in hot oil for about five minutes. Remove the vegetables and drain.

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. In the same skillet you used for the vegetables, melt margarine or butter over medium heat, pour in the egg mixture and cook up the scrambled eggs.

Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese over the hot crust. Top with the scrambled eggs, vegetables, bacon, and remaining cheese. Bake for 5-8 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Sorry, this picture is a little blurry, but I'm sure you've seen pizza before.

Hamburger Helper

2008-06-14T21:46:00.004-06:00

Alright, this for sure isn't one of my favorite meals, and this picture kinda makes me want to barf! But, I picked up a whole case of these gems while they were on sale awhile back. So, now I'm forced to make it once in awhile, before they expire! This is the "Philly Steak" version.
Pick whatever variety you would like, and follow the directions on the box. I've found that if I make this with a good salad or some veggies it makes it more tolerable.

Enchiladas

2008-06-11T22:44:00.006-06:00

1 lb ground beef
2 Tbl taco seasoning
1 can pinto or black beans (optional) I like these because it adds some texture and makes the meat go further to make more enchiladas
1 10 oz can enchilada sauce (I use the Walmart "red sauce" it's cheap!)
10-12 tortillas
2-2 1/2 cups grated cheese

Brown the ground beef, drain the fat and add the taco seasoning, stir. If you want to add the beans, add them to the meat and stir together.

Place some of the meat mixture, a little cheese and a little sauce in each tortilla. Roll them up and place them on the pan. Here's a few pictures to show the process.

Spread the sauce over the top. My kids don't like these "spicy" so this is the amount of sauce I use. If you want them more saucy, you'll have to buy the "bigger" can of sauce. (This picture also demonstrates the amount of enchiladas this recipe makes. I have to use two pans, but if you have a huge casserole dish, you could probably jam them into one. Also, I don't put very much meat in each one, if you want them meatier, you could use fewer shells. It's all personal preference.

The next step isn't shown........But, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Then, bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Ready to eat! These can be served with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream. Whatever you want.

A little side note: If you want these crispier and you have the time, you can individually fry the tortillas in vegetable oil for a few minutes before you add the ingredients and roll them up. They're really good this way, but it does take awhile. Also, if you have leftover chicken, roast beef, or pork, you can substitute it for the ground beef. This is a great way to use up those leftovers.

Baked Apples

2008-06-11T22:27:00.005-06:00

This is one of those desserts that I don't feel too bad about serving my kids. (There are a couple of ingredients that are healthy.) Sometimes I even use this as a side dish.

2-3 apples, peeled and sliced

1 Tbl lemon juice

3 Tbl brown sugar

4 Tbl oats

4 Tbl butter, melted

a dash of cinnamon

Place apples in an ungreased baking dish. Sprinkle with the lemon juice. Combine the sugar, oats, butter and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the apples. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Crock-Pot Pork Chops

2008-06-10T19:36:00.006-06:00

1-2 lbs pork chops
4-5 potatoes
carrots (as many as your family will eat)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups water
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Peel the potatoes. Put everything in the crock-pot. Cook on high for about 6 hours, or on low for more than 6 hours. Fish everything out when you're ready to eat and enjoy!

Puffy Pancakes

2008-06-09T09:09:00.004-06:00

This is actually a breakfast food, but sometimes we have breakfast for dinner around here.

7 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cube butter or margarine

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, then add the milk, flour and salt. Mix together. In a large casserole dish, (I used a 9x13) spread the butter in the bottom (it helps if you melt it a little.) Pour the batter on top of the butter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. This is good with syrup.

Quick Cheap Chinese Food

2008-06-05T18:26:00.007-06:00

I realize this doesn't have quite the same charm as ordering take-out. But, it is CHEAP!

1 lb ground beef
2 packages oriental ramen noodles
2 cups frozen vegetables (I suppose you can use any variety you like)
1/4 tsp ginger
2 cups water

Brown the beef, put it in another container and add one of the seasoning packets from the ramen noodles, stir. In the skillet you cooked the hamburger in, (that is now empty) combine the water, noodles, the other seasoning packet, the veggies and the ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 3 minutes. Add the beef back in and stir.

Sometimes I use 3 packages of ramen, 3 cups of veggies, and 3 cups of water. This way, we have plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.

Homemade Play Dough

2008-06-04T21:40:00.003-06:00

Um, we didn't actually have this for dinner. Well, except Tayvin did have some for a little appetizer. But, our actual dinner tonight was nothing to blog about, (think frozen corn dogs thrown into the oven at the last minute.) How do you cook dinner when your son has a baseball game at 5:30?

So, this is the extent of my cooking today.

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water
1/2 tsp. food coloring

Mix ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the dough leaves the sides of the pan, stirring constantly. Remove from the pan and knead for a few minutes. Store in a tightly closed container. (I usually make a few different batches, with different colors.)

Creamy Potatoes

2008-06-03T21:12:00.002-06:00

This one came from Grandma Kaye, (My step-mother.) My kids LOVE it.

10 oz frozen shredded potatoes (hash browns)
1 cup evaporated milk
1 pint whipping cream

Put the frozen potatoes in a casserole dish. Sprinkle with a little salt. Combine the milk and whipping cream. Pour over the potatoes. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Keep an eye on these and stir them up every once in awhile while they are cooking, otherwise the edges tend to burn. Just don't burn your hand on the top of the oven like me! (ouch)

These are a little runny, but still, we like them.

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

2008-06-03T20:57:00.005-06:00

1 pkg frozen broccoli (follow the directions on the package to cook)

1 1/2 cups cooked, cut up chicken

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 T. lemon juice

1 cup grated cheese

Spread the cooked broccoli on the bottom of a small casserole dish. Layer the chicken on top. Combine the soup, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Spread the soup mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

French Bread Pizza

2008-05-29T19:40:00.004-06:00

There really isn't much of a recipe to this one. It's pretty self explanatory and I'm quite sure everyone already knows how to make it. But hey, it's another dinner idea. (The whole point to this blog.)

1 loaf of french bread
spaghetti/pizza sauce (whatever you have on hand)
1-2 cups grated cheese
toppings (whatever you like)

Buy a loaf of French Bread. (Make sure it isn't sliced.) Cut it in half lengthwise. Place both halves on a cookie sheet with the insides up. Spread the sauce over the tops. Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce. Put on the toppings. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Teriyaki Chicken

2008-05-28T19:56:00.006-06:00

7-8 frozen chicken tenders
8 oz (1/2 bottle) teriyaki sauce (not marinade)
1 can chunk pineapple
1 cup frozen snap peas

Open the can of pineapples and drain the juice into a mixing bowl. Add the teriyaki sauce and mix together. Pour the mixed sauce into an electric fry pan, add the chicken and turn the pan on to 350 degrees. Cook the chicken for about 10 minutes, (turning it over every few minutes.) Add the frozen snap peas and cook for another 10 minutes, (continuing to turn it over.) Add the pineapple and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is starting to thicken. (Continue to turn the chicken over every few minutes during the entire cooking time.) It usually takes about 25-30 minutes total to cook completely.

This goes well with rice.

Easiest Dinner of All !!

2008-05-27T21:28:00.005-06:00

I promised I would post the recipes to all the meals I make. This one is my absolute specialty. I'm really good at it, cuz I make it A LOT............

Fast Food:

We tried this at Burger King tonight, but it works at almost any restaurant.

First, you need to be really busy all day long. You can't have time to go shopping for groceries, let alone make dinner. It helps if you have whiny kids, visiting teaching appointments, laundry, cleaning, babysitting, and a sporting event for one of the children. When it's close to the time you should be starting to make dinner, some kind of disaster should happen that takes lots of time to clean up or take care of.

When your husband comes home, throw all the kids in the car and head to the nearest and cheapest restaurant you can find.

When you get inside the restaurant, have everyone yell at the same time what they would like. Sometimes it's a nice touch to have a few kids ask for something that's not on the menu.

When you finalize what you are going to order, it's really fun to try to find a worker that doesn't speak english. This really adds to the ambiance of the occasion. And, you never know what you will actually get, so if you like surprises, this works like a charm!

Check the receipt a few times for accuracy........That can't be right!! All we ordered was a few hamburgers, who do they think they're kidding?

Now, it's time to eat the greasy/unhealthy food. Make yourself feel guilty because you are feeding your family trash for dinner AGAIN.

This is my absolute FAVORITE part of the whole fast food experience. Make a huge mess at the restaurant, throw food all over the floor, and run out the door hoping nobody noticed.

Drive home and enjoy the thought of not having to wash any dishes or clean up the mess you just made.

Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos

2008-05-26T10:21:00.006-06:00

I feel that I need to give credit where credit is due on this one. It came from my Mother-In-Law, and I use it all the time because it is so good and easy!

1 small jar of salsa
1 can black beans
4-5 frozen chicken breasts
1 can corn

Just throw all the ingredients in a crock-pot in the morning (without draining anything.) Let it cook all day. Right before you are ready to eat it, pull the chicken out and shred it up. Throw it back in and stir everything together. (At this point it looks kind of gross, but it is really good, I promise.) Spoon this mixture into taco shells, and you're ready to eat. You can add cheese, lettuce, and whatever else you put on tacos if you want.

Quick Lasagna Casserole

2008-05-25T14:34:00.006-06:00

1 lb ground beef
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 small container cottage cheese
1 egg
8 oz bow tie pasta
2 cups grated cheese

Boil pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef, drain the yucky fat, then add the jar of spaghetti sauce to the meat and stir. In a separate container, combine the cottage cheese and the egg, stir. After the pasta has been boiled and drained, layer half of it across the bottom of a 10x10 (or similar) glass baking dish. Then pour the cottage cheese mixture on top and spread it over the pasta. Layer half the meat mixture over the cottage cheese. Sprinkle about 1/4 of the cheese on top. Layer the rest of the pasta, the meat, and the remaining cheese. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.