Skillet Home Fries

3 medium sized potatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 sweet onion


Peel potatoes, then cut in half. Take the halves and lay on their flat sides and continue cutting into cubes. Also, peel and chop some onion. Use as much or little as you like. (I used a quarter of a medium sized onion.)
Heat olive oil, minced garlic and onion in skillet on medium high. When heated add the cubed potatoes and cover the skillet with a lid.
Heat for 20 minutes, stirring occassionally with a spatula.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

1 16 oz. package wide egg noodles (cooked and drained according to package directions)
1 12 oz. chunk light tuna (in water)
1/2 cup milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 cup of shredded cheese (your favorite)
1 2.8 oz. can french fried onions

Cook noodles and put in a 13x9 baking dish sprayed with cooking oil. In a small bowl mix together tuna, milk, soup, salt, pepper and paprika. Mix together and pour over noodles. Stir into noodles and sprinkle with cheese and french fried onions.

Bake covered with aluminum foil at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Texas Caviar

1 can (15.5 oz.) black-eyed peas (or black beans) rinsed and drained
¾ cup chopped sweet red pepper
¾ cup chopped green pepper
¼ cup minced fresh parsley
1 jar (2 oz.) diced pimentos, drained
1 garlic clove, minced
1 bottle (8 oz.) fat-free Italian salad dressing

Baked tortilla chips

Combine ingredients in bowl; cover and refrigerate 24 hrs. Serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

Ma’s Cheesecake

Filling

5 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 lb. Cream cheese (room temp)
1 cup sour cream
2 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. vanilla

Glaze: 1 can cherry or blueberry pie filling or fresh fruit

Heat oven to 275 degrees. Butter a 9” spring-form pan.
Dust bottom and sides with:
½ cup fine graham cracker crumbs
1 tbsp. sugar
¼ tsp. each cinnamon and nutmeg

Beat egg yolks until thick and lemon-colored. Gradually beat in sugar. Break up cream cheese; add to egg mixture beating until smooth. Add sour cream, flour, and vanilla; continue beating until smooth. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gently fold into cheese mixture.

Pour filling into prepared pan. Bake 70 minutes. Then turn off oven and leave in 1 hour without opening oven door. Remove from oven and cool. Refrigerate overnight or all day, then spread top with glaze.

Ma’s Strawberry Tallcake

Base:
½ cup butter
½ cup sugar
4 egg yolks beaten
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda

Cream together.

Top:
4 egg whites
¾ cup sugar
Sprinkle on top:
1 tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. cinnamon (can add more cinnamon)

Add base mixture to two round greased pans.
For top of base mixture - beat egg whites until light. Add ¾ cup sugar gradually. Spread over unbaked mixture and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.

Turn cake layers right side up.
Fill both layers with cool whip or whipping cream and fresh strawberries. (I usually add 1/4 cup of sugar to whipping cream.)

Enjoy!

Turkey Burgers

1 lb. ground turkey
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 small onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup ketchup
2 garlic cloves, minced

Mix all ingredients and form into 8 patties.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Serve on hamburger buns with lettuce, ketchup and mustard.

Enjoy!

Chicken and Rice Soup

1 chicken breasts (raw) cut into bite-sized pieces
1 teaspoon Italian Herb Seasoning
1 chopped onion
2 carrots peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon sugar

Boil covered for 15 minutes.

Add 1 cup of uncooked Comet Rice.

Cover and boil for 15 more minutes.

Add 2 cans of Campell's Chicken and Rice Soup - heat thoroughly. (This will add thickness and flavor to the mixture you have started.)

Cilantro - I added the leaves from about 12 pieces of cilantro. (This adds a lot of flavor.)

Grilled Cheeseburger Surprise

1 lb. lean ground beef
8 cubes swiss cheese (or your favorite kind)

Form beef into 8 large meatballs. Cut the meatballs in half and insert a cube of cheese. Put the halves back together and form into a patty. Grill until done. (I usually grill at least 7 minutes on each side.)

The cheese will melt on the inside and won't be as messy on your grill.

Don't forget the hamburger buns!

Enjoy!

Chili for Hamburgers or Hot Dogs

1 pound lean ground beef
1 can Healthy Requests Campbell's Tomato Soup
1/2 soup can of water
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder

Brown ground beef and drain. Add onions and cook until tender. Add soup, water, and chili powder and heat thoroughly.

Enjoy with a grilled hamburger or hot dog!

Easy Cole Slaw

One 14 oz. package of Dole Classic Cole Slaw
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup Miracle Whip
1/4 cup sugar

Mix all ingredients and chill. I put my bag of cole slaw in a food processor to chop it more finely.

This tastes great on a grilled hamburger with chili!

Enjoy!

Banana/Mango Smoothie

1 frozen banana
1 mango
1 cup of milk

I peel and wrap ripe bananas in a layer of Glad Wrap and a layer of Reynolds Wrap. I put them in the freezer - so when you want to make a smoothie you don't even need ice - the frozen banana makes it cold.

I peeled the mango and removed the pit.

Put frozen banana (broken in half or smaller pieces) mango and milk in blender. (I use whatever type of milk I have on hand - skim, or for a creamier smoothy you can use whole milk. ) Blend until smooth.

Note: If mangoes are not in season, you can always just use the banana and milk and it tastes great too!

Enjoy!

"Healthy Requests" Chicken and Dumplings

2 cans Campbell's Healthy Request cream of chicken soup
1/2 package Mary B's frozen dumplings
1/4 or more onion chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano

Add 2 cans of cream of chicken soup to a large pot.
Add 4 cans of water (instead of 2)
Add spices and heat.
In a smaller pot fill with 7 cups of water and chopped onion. Add a Tablespoon canola or olive oil so noodles don't stick together. Add 1/2 of a 24 oz. package of Mary B's frozen dumplings. Boil for 30 minutes. After noodles are done, add the entire pot of noodles, water and onion to the cream of chicken soup. Mix together.

I came up with this recipe when I needed a lunch idea and wanted something a little more substantial than soup.

Enjoy!

Easy Chicken Pad Thai

14 oz. box Thai Kitchen stir-fry rice noodles
1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
2 or 3 scallion onions chopped
2 Tablespoons canola or olive oil
1 Tablespoon sugar
3 or more raw chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
1 egg, slightly beaten
cilantro leaves to taste
1 cup mildly spicy "San-J" Thai Peanut stir-fry & dipping sauce

Cook noodles according to package directions.
In large stir-fry pan heat the 2 Tablespoons of oil.
Add garlic and onion to oil. Cook until tender.
Add raw chicken pieces and cook until done. (I used a large skillet with a lid. I cover the chicken while it's browning.)
Stir in beaten egg and 1 Tablespoon of sugar.
Add cooked stir-fry noodles and 1 cup Thai Peanut stir-fry sauce. Heat through.
Toss in cilantro leaves at the end.

Enjoy!

Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Pasta (easy as 1,2,3)

1 box of bow tie pasta (or any of your favorite)
1 jar of Classico Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Heat Alfredo sauce.
3. Pour over noodles.

To make this look special on the plates I sprinkle on the following:

parmesan cheese
basil
oregano
fresh cilantro leaves

Enjoy!

Easy Baked Salmon

Approximately 1 pound of salmon filets
1 teaspoon Emeril's Original Essense

Spray baking dish with canola oil. Add salmon filets sprinkled with Emeril's Original Essensce.
Bake 375 degrees, uncovered for 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Light Vanilla/Caramel Iced Coffee

1 cup of brewed coffee
1 cup of skim milk
4 teaspoons of splenda
4 teaspoons of sugar-free caramel syrup
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients and pour over ice.

Enjoy!

Easy Roast or London Broil Marinade

1 cup of marsalla cooking wine (found in the salad dressing section)
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon minced garlic (the kind in a jar that needs to be refrigerated after opening)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper

I use this as a marinade to cook london broil, roasts or steaks. I usually will cook a roast or london broil in a slow cooker on low for 10 to 12 hours, or grill steaks until done - on average 7 to 10 minutes each side, depending on size.

Enjoy!

My Best Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
3 or 4 mashed ripe bananas
1/3 cup water
1 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Pour into 4 mini loaf pans sprayed with oil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutues. (One large loaf may take one hour.)

Enjoy!

Pillsbury Dough Pizza

1 Pillsbury Dough pizza crust
One 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 oz. mozzarella cheese shredded
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano

Spray large cookie sheet with oil. Press one Pillsbury Pizza Dough into pan. Spread olive oil onto dough. Distribute remaining ingredients over the dough.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Green Beans in your Apron

This is a poem I wrote in memory of my "Papa and Granny." Papa always worked in his garden and grew apple trees; and Granny always worked hard preparing some of the best meals I have ever eaten. She would wear an apron, and the green beans I mention in the poem are the ones that had just been collected from the garden. Mealtime was always a time to gather with family, and friends were always welcome too. The seed I mention in the poem is the Word of God and the Bible was worn out - not from misuse, but from constant use. Papa lived to be 94 years old.

Green beans in your apron on a summer day,
Bread dough in your wooden bowl - the biscuits for this day.
Apple pies are baking; the coffee's on to boil.
Papa's outside digging putting seeds into the soil.

Though these are not the only seeds that were planted there that day.
The seeds you planted in my heart are still growing here this day.
God told you to plant them, and He would make them grow.
You did the things He told you because you loved Him so!

What grace the Savior showed me to let me hear His voice
through a worn out, tattered Bible and Papa was His choice.
These memories are sweeter as each day passes by,
And now I finally realize I saw Jesus in your eyes.

You lived each day to serve Him, and you did this faithfully.
How thankful I did witness how one's life ought to be:
Giving, caring, sharing - leaving self behind,
So others could see Jesus and not be left behind.

Granny told us not to waste our time going to her grave,
or spend our money on flowers - that money we could save.
"I will not be there," she said, and I knew that was true.
She was going home to Jesus and I wanted to go there too!

These were two simple people - not rich in human eyes,
But imagine them in heaven - I know we'll be surprised!

Easy Cajun Shrimp Boil

16 oz. package of fully cooked peel and eat frozen shrimp
1 to 2 packages of Kielbasa (I buy the lowfat kind.)
Red potatoes (No need to peel, just wash and cut into large chunks - I usually cut the potatoes in half and then cut the halves into four pieces.)
Corn on the cob (I used 8 small frozen ears of corn)
1 Sweet onion quartered
1 Teaspoon of Cajun seasoning

Put a large pot of water on the stove. Add to the pot the Kielbasa, cut into individual serving sizes, the red potatoes, corn on the cob, sweet onion and teaspoon of Cajun seasoning.

Bring water to a boil and set timer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, add the frozen shrimp that has been rinsed and thawed, and cook for an additional 3 minutes.

Drain water and put in a large serving tray or bowl.
I have sweet mustard on the side for the Kielbasa and Cocktail Sauce for the shrimp.
Enjoy your food!

Baked Barbecue Chicken Wings

3 pounds of chicken wings
salt and pepper to taste
1 and 1/2 cups barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons mustard
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
*hot sauce to taste if you like them spicy

Add salt and pepper to wings. Put in a broiling pan lined with aluminum foil and broil 10 minutes each side (or until brown). Take wings out of oven. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. Cover chicken with barbecue sauce ingredients and return to oven. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. (Although putting aluminum foil in the pan is not absolutely necessary, it makes cleaning the pan much easier!)
Enjoy your food!

"Gran Gran's" Spaghetti

2 to 3 lbs. lean ground beef
1 sweet onion chopped
4 stalks of celery chopped

In a skillet or large pot brown the hamburger meat. Drain grease. Then, add the chopped onion and celery and cook until softened. Add the following ingredients to the pot, or put all ingredients in a crockpot and cook until bubbly or you are ready to eat!

One 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
One 6 oz. can tomato paste
One 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 26 oz. jar Classico Spaghetti Sauce with mushrooms and black olives
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons mustard
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Also, fill the Classico jar with water and add to the sauce.

Serve over pasta. I usually buy a 16 oz. package of Angel Hair pasta.

My sister watched her mother-in-law make this spaghetti and wrote the recipe down. She didn't realize it at the time, but this was the last time her mother-in-law would make this for their family.

Enjoy your food! and don't forget to enjoy your family as well!

Enjoy your food!

You will notice at the end of my recipes I usually put enjoy your food! My inspiration for doing that was from a dear senior pastor and volunteer chaplain at a local hospital. He had seen much suffering in people's lives and made the comment one Sunday, "If you can get out of bed and enjoy your food, it's a good day!"

Have a great day!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

4 chicken breasts boiled (thin pieces about 20 minutes - thicker pieces up to 40 minutes)
2 cans Veg All canned vegetables drained (I use the 15 oz. size - no salt added)
1 can cream of celery soup (I use Campbell's Healthy Request)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can filled with chicken broth (the water you boil the chicken in)

Boil chicken until done. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and place in the bottom of a 9 by 13 baking dish sprayed with canola oil. Put the 2 cans of Veg All on top. Next, mix together the two cans of soup and one can of chicken broth. Pour over chicken.

For bread topping mix together the following:

2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups milk (I use skim milk)
1/2 cup canola oil

Pour on top of chicken mixture and bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.

Enjoy your food!

Quick and Easy Taco Burgers

1 to 2 pounds of ground beef
1 package of Old Elpaso taco seasoning mix

Mix meat and seasoning mix and form into patties. Grill until done. (I grill 7 minutes on each side.)

Serve with Taco Bell Salsa con Queso cheese dip and Food Lion Thick & Chunky Salsa.
Your other traditional sides such as lettuce and sliced onion goes great too.

Don't forget the hamburger buns!
Enjoy!

Mom's Hawaiian Meatballs

1 and 1/2 lbs. of lean ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 egg slightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 green and/or red pepper cut in chunks

Toss together above ingredients (except green/red pepper) and then form into meatballs. (Can be made ahead and chilled in refrigerator.)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place meatballs and pepper chunks in foil lined baking dish and bake 25 minutes.
Remove meatballs and green pepper (discard grease) and put in large skillet to warm or put in crockpot and add the following sauce:

1 bottle Heinz chili sauce
1 bottle water
1 cup of Smucker's grape jelly

Right before serving add a 20 oz. can of Dole pineapple chunks (drained) and serve over Comet rice.
Enjoy your food!