Corn Casserole

This tastes just like Chi Chi's corn cakes. I use an ice cream scoop to serve it just like Chi Chi's did. Really simple side dish that goes great with tacos, fajitas, etc.

Combine and poor into casserole dish:

1 can corn (not drained)
1 can cream style corn
1 box Jiffy corn bread mix
1 stick of melted butter

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Heath Blonde Brownies

I like these because I usually have all ingredients on hand.

1 1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 c butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
4 chopped Heath Bars or about a half bag of Heath Toffee Bits (found in baking aisle near choc. chips)

Cream butter with the two sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Blend in dry ingredients. Stir in Heath pieces. Spread over well greased 9 X 13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. When cool, cut into bars. They are ooey gooey, not crisp.

Spaghetti Casserole

This recipe is a little bit more involved than some, but I like that I can make it ahead of time and pop it in the oven at dinner time. That is how this recipe is "keeping it simple" (the do-ahead factor!)

1 lb. ground round
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 (8 oz) cans of tomato sauce with garlic (or plain and add some garlic)
1/3 c water
1 1/2 c low fat sour cream
1/2 c green onions
1/4 c (2 oz) of 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
7 oz box of ready cut spaghetti
5 oz shredded sharp cheddar

cook meat over medium heat until brown, drain

stir in salt, pepper, tomato sauce, & water. Bring to a boil & reduce heat. Simmer 20 minutes.

cook pasta (al dente since it will be baked later)

combine sour cream, cream cheese, & green onions

spray 9 X 13 glass pan

layer pasta, cream cheese mixture, meat/sauce, cheese

Bake 350 degrees covered with foil for 25 minutes.
Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes.

We serve with salad & garlic bread.

Love that it tastes great reheated too!

Super Easy Sirlion Tips

This is so simple, does it even count as a recipe? Do I even need to post this, or is this how most people make them? Well, regardless, I'll share:

1 to 2 pounds sirloin tip meat
1 can beef broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
salt & pepper
mushrooms (optional)

put meat in slower cooker and sprinkle with salt and pepper
pour soups & soup mix over
Cook on low 6 to 8 hours

*if adding mushrooms, wait until there is only about an hour left

Serve over buttered noodles

How easy is that?

My mom's dumplings.

I have always LOVED these. I don't make them very often because I think that I am the only one in my house that eats them. They are a really light, fluffy dumpling (not dense, heavy like those used in soups).

1 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 beaten egg
1/2 c milk
2 Tbls melted butter

Combine all ingredients. Drop by spoonful on top of gravy in large sauce pan (Use a thinner gravy b/c the dumplings seem to soak it up/thicken it. To "keep it simple", I use canned gravy that I dilute with chicken broth.) Cover and cook for 15 minutes. DO NOT lift cover. Cook on med/med low. (If the stove top is too hot, they will scorch.)

Chocolate Fondue

One of our kitchen appliances that gets a lot of use is our fondue pot. This is our favorite dipping sauce. We like to dip strawberries, raspberries, bananas, & oranges in it. I took bits and pieces from all different fondue recipes to come up with this one that we really love.

1/4 c milk
6 oz milk chocolate chips
6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine milk and chips. Stir until chips are melted. Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. Stir to combine.

(variation: For Chocolate Orange Raspberry-substitute Orange Juice for milk and add about 1/4 c of raspberry preserves/jam/jelly)

Minestrone (tastes just like Olive Garden's)

My friend Kristen gave me this recipe. She brought this delicious soup over after I had Ellie. I HAD to have the recipe. I LOVE soup. I make soup all year round. Derek will come home on a hot August day to a pot of Chili and make a comment like "Do you know it is 90 degrees outside?". What can I say, I love me some good soup. I've learned to turn my leftovers into soup as a way to reduce throwing away leftovers that sit in my fridge too long. Enjoy this soup with some Italian cheeses sprinkled over the top and some fresh warm bread to dip.

(Sorry there isn't a picture)

ITALIAN SOUP

3 (14 oz) cans of chicken broth

1 can Italian Style tomatoes (undrained)

1 can of beans (kidney, garbonzo, etc)

Frozen bag of Italian Stir Fry with Marinara Packet (I've only found this at Aldi....I've had to substitute frozen Italian vegetables with about a cup and a half of marinara sauce)

garlic, salt, & pepper

pasta cooked and drained (small or medium shells are great)

*Throw everything in a big pot and simmer.