Chili and Cornbread

This is what we had for dinner tonight and it was super duper yummy. You probably already have a favorite chili recipe but I'm going to post mine anyways. It's just a series of cans to be opened.

Chili

1 lb. ground beef

1 large onion diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1 can Heinz chili style beans

1 can black beans

2 cans oregano and basil seasoned diced tomatoes

1 small can diced green chiles

1/2 cup beef broth

several shakes chili powder

several shakes cumin

salt to taste

Brown beef, garlic, onions and seasonings until cooked and onions are tender. Drain. Dump all canned items and meat mixture into large pot. Simmer for 1 hour. Top with cheese and a dollop of sour cream. YUM!

It hit the spot tonight. Accompanied by a friend's recipe for Mexican cornbread, it was just perfect!

Mexican Cornbread

1/2 cup butter (softened)

1/3 cup honey

4 eggs

1 small can green chiles

1 can cream style corn

1/2 cup shredded Monty Jack cheese

1/2 cup shredded Old Cheddar

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 green onion, minced

1 cup flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

4 tsp. baking powder

Cream butter, honey and eggs together. Beat well. Add chiles, corn, cheese, buttermilk and onion. Beat well again. Add dry ingredients (sift together ahead of time if desired... I didn't because I didn't have time and it turned out divine so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.) Blend well. Pour into greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. DELISH!

Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef
1 large onion, chopped (optional)
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans
1 (16 ounce) can black beans
1 (28 ounce) white hominy (drained)
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes and chiles (Rotel or stewed tomatoes will work)
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix



Brown meat and onions. Mix taco seasoning mix into meat. Mix all other ingredients without draining (except for the hominy) into a large pot or crock pot. Add meat, and simmer for 1 hour (or several in crockpot.)
I got this recipe from my sister. Thanks Sandy!

Abominable Cheezeburger Casserole

I can't believe what I am about to do.

I've said those words before and somehow they never keep me from doing what I can't believe I'm about to do. Blame it on my OCD.

I am going to give you a recipe that calls for Cheeze Whiz (hence the spelling of the word cheezeburger in the post title). I have never ever purchased Cheeze Whiz until yesterday. I can't believe I'm going to admit that I have now incorporated it into a meal. Real cheese just wouldn't cut it... only the creamy processed stuff, of which my Mother in law says, "It just melts so beautifully." Not only am I going to give you this recipe but I am also going to admit to you that I personally created this recipe. I wanted a cheeseburger in a casserole dish so I made it up. The result was yummy... if you can contemplate anything containing Cheeze Whiz being yummy.

I've decided to name the recipe: Combo #1 Whopper with cheese and can I have onion rings on the side instead of french fries casserole

Yes, it's a sort of long title but that is the taste I was going for, as wrong as that is. Please believe we actually eat quite healthy on a regular basis. We eat lots of green vegetables and olive oil and low fat meats. My kids order salad when we go out to eat and some of their favorite foods are naturally green without food coloring.

So without further ado I give you Combo #1 Whopper with cheese and can I have onion rings on the side instead of french fries casserole (feel free to substitute the light version of any of the following products as I did.)


1 lb. ground beef
1/2 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
Seasoning salt to taste
3/4 cup Mayonaisse
3 Tbsp. Ketchup (approx.)
2 Tbsp. Mustard (approx.)
Pasta (we used shells) cooked and drained
1 jar of Cheeze Whiz (NOTE: If you shop at Costco or Sam's Club for your Cheeze Whiz it will probably be much less than one jar!!)
1 can French's French Fried Onions



Bring lightly salted water to a boil and cook shells until tender. Meanwhile brown ground beef, onion, garlic and season with Seasoning Salt. Drain fat from beef. In a small bowl mix the Mayonaisse, ketchup and mustard. (You are going for a pinkish color.) Stir this mixture into the browned ground beef and mix well. When the pasta is done cooking, drain it and put it back into the pot. Add the Cheeze Whiz and stir until melted and evenly distributed.

In a casserole dish (I used the french white oval Pyrex). Pour half of the pasta into the casserole dish. Then layer the beef mixture over it, spreading it out evenly. Add the remainder of the pasta on top of the beef. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Sprinkle the French Fried Onions over top of the pasta and bake for another 3-5 minutes to brown them.

There you have it. I can't remark upon the health value of it other than I believe it probably has fewer calories than the real Whopper... but who's counting?

Beer Brats and Potato Salad

Main Course:

Beer Braised Brats

5 brats
3 Tbsp. diced onion
1 minced garlic
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups German brown ale
Saurkraut

Melt the butter in large skillet. Add onions and garlic. Cook over medium-high until tender. Add bratwurst and 1/2 cup of beer. Cook (stirring frequently) until beer is evaporated. Add another 1/2 cup and cook until evaporated again. Add final 1/2 cup and cook until evaporated. Remove brats to a serving dish. Turn heat up to high and add saurkraut (I think I used about 1 1/2 cups), depending on how much you like it. Cook saurkraut for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until hot.

Side Dish:

German Potato Salad

GERMAN POTATO SALAD

1 lb. bacon, diced and cooked
1/4 c. oil or bacon fat
1 c. celery, chopped
1 c. onion, chopped
3 tbsp. flour
1 1/3 c. water
2/3 c. vinegar
2/3 c. sugar
3 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. celery seed

Cook potatoes in boiling water until tender. Cool, peel, and cut into cubes. Cook bacon; drain the fat, reserving 1/4 cup. Add the celery and onion to the fat; cook for 1 minute. Blend flour and water in a cup. Add this with the vinegar and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and bubbly. Stir in sugar, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Add dressing to potatoes and toss lightly. Refrigerate and let rest overnight. Reheat salad in a casserole or serve cold. Good either way.

The most evil brownies on the face of the planet

Ingredients:

• 24 small (1-1/2 inch) YORK Peppermint Patties
• 1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter or margarine, melted
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 5 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F.(325°F. for glass baking dish). Remove wrappers from peppermint patties. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

2. Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Add eggs; beat until well blended. Stir in flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; blend well. Reserve 2 cups batter. Spread remaining batter in prepared pan. Arrange peppermint patties or Reeses' Peanut Butter Cup about 1/2 inch apart in single layer over batter. Spread reserved 2 cups batter over patties.

3. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack; cut into squares. About 36 brownies.

Recipe originally found at: Hershey's Recipes

Suzanne's Hot Broccoli Cheese Dip

2 cups chopped broccoli
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayo (miracle whip will not work - it just melts into even more oil!)
2 cups grated cheddar (older & stronger the better)
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped red pepper

mix all ingredients together
place in deep dish baker (any pyrex or corningware will work)

Bake @ 375 for 25 minutes until bubbly & golden edges.

I doubled the recipe for the potlucks.
I baked it in the oven in my crockpot removable baking dish.
Then placed it in crockpot housing on keep warm setting.

This recipe is great hot & fine as cold leftovers.
Great with chips, nachos, bread, veggies - anything!

Rustic Italian Bean Casserole

2 handfuls spaghetti noodles broken up and boiled
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can White Kidney Beans, partially drained
1/2 to 3/4 (what you prefer) can of diced tomatoes, partially drained
1/2 can (or 1 small can) mushroom slices
1 can of artichoke hearts, drained and cut into 1/4’s
1 small can sliced black olives
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. dried crushed Basil
Salt&Pepper
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella, shredded

Cook broken spaghetti noodles as usual with a bit of olive oil and salt added to the water.
Meanwhile in large skillet sautee onion until tender (in butter or margarine or olive oil). Then add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, artichoke hearts. Add the olive oil and Sautee together for about 5 minutes on a high temperature, stirring constantly.
Combine cooked/drained spaghetti noodles and bean mixture in a casserole dish (9x13 would work... I used my oval pyrex with the higher sides). Stir in the olives and half of the mozzarella. Stir until mixed well. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella over the top and place in 375 oven for 20 minutes.

Poppy Seed Casserole

2-3 chkn breasts cooked/cubed
1 1/2-2 cups cooked white rice
1 cup sour cream
1 can crm. chkn soup (or crm. mushroom; either is very yummy)
1 Tbsp. white cooking wine
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. chicken broth
30 Ritz Crackers crumbled
1/2 cup butter melted
Poppy seeds

Cook chicken whichever way you prefer. If you have the time, it tastes best if you saute it in oil/butter (and salt and pepper it). But if you are short on time you can microwave it or boil it or whatever. Cut into cubes. Mix chicken, rice, sour cream, soup, wine, lemon juice, chicken broth in oven safe cass. dish (I always use our oval french white dish).
Put crumbled crackers over the top of the rice mixture. Sprinkle poppy seeds generously over entire top. Pour melted butter evenly over top.
Cook for 30 min. on 350.
This is an old favorite here... kids love it, grown ups love it... and it makes great leftovers!

My Lasagna

1 large can of diced tomatoes
1 small can of diced tomatoes
1 1/2 white onions
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. marjoram
1 tsp. oregano
1 Tbsp. white sugar
1 tsp. salt
few dashes of pepper
1 Tbsp. dry white wine
1 - 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 cups Mozarella cheese
1 container Ricotta cheese
Sprinkling of Parmesan cheese
Lasagna noodles

Brown the ground beef in a large skillet. While cooking the beef, in blender, blend together the 1 large can of diced tomatoes, the onions and the garlic. Blend them up until smooth. Drain the ground beef. Add the contents of the blender, the 1 small can of diced tomatoes and all of the seasonings and the wine. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or so.
Layering it:
In a 9x13 casserole dish, begin with a layer of the hot sauce mixture, followed by lasagna noodles (you'll have to break one up to fill in the gaps at the ends. The next layer should be Ricotta cheese. Use a spoon and spread evenly just less than half of the container onto the noodles. Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layering pattern once again, ending with a top layer of mozz. cheese and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese
Cover with foil and place on cookie sheet (because it tends to bubble over a bit). Cook in a 375 Degree oven for 1 hour (usually more like 55). Let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

Easy Meatloaf

2 pounds ground chuck
1 pkg. Stove Top Stuffing Mix--any flavor (I used Savory Herbs)
1 cup of water
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup BBQ sauce, any flavor, divide into two 1/4 cup servings

Mix all ingredients except 1/4 cup of the BBQ sauce

Shape meat mixture into 2 oval loaves, side by side, in 13 x 9 inch baking
dish. Top with 1/4 cup BBQ sauce.

Bake @375 degrees for 35 minutes or until the center is no longer pink.

Makes 6 - 8 servings

HAWAIIAN CHICKEN

OVEN TEMP. 375

5 BONESLESS CHICKEN BREAST
ROLLED IN BEATEN EGGS (2) AND THEN IN CORNSTARCH
FRY UNTIL CHICKEN IS BROWN
PLACE IN OVEN SAFE DISH
SAUCE:
4 TBS KETCHUP
JUICE FROM A CAN OF PINEAPPLE AND A CAN OF PINEAPPLE SLICES
2 TSP SOY SAUCE
1/2 C. BROWN SUGAR
1 TBSP. CORNSTARCH
COOK IN SAUCEPAN OVER LOW HEAT UNTIL SUGER MELTS
POUR OVER CHICKEN
TOP WITH CRUSHED PINEAPPLE AND PLACE A PINEAPPLE SLICE ON TOP OF EACH CHICKEN BREAST
BAKE FOR 35 MIN. OR UNTIL CHICKEN IS DONE.
SET OVEN TO BROIL AT HI-TEMP, BROIL FOR ABOUT 8 MIN. (WATCH CLOSELY) JUST UNTIL PINEAPPLE TURNS BROWNISH ON TOP
SERVE OVER RICE!

This is Oh so "company" worthy. Really pretty presentation too.

Hash Brown Casserole

10.25 oz. can condensed cream of chicken soup
8 oz. Colby cheese - grated
1/2 cup melted butter OR margarine
1 sm. onion - minced
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 lb. bag frozen shredded hash browns


-Spray a 13" X 9" X 2" baking pan with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
-In a bowl, combine soup, cheese, butter, onion, salt, and pepper.
-Gently fold the potatoes into the mixture and pour into prepared pan.
-Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes, until heated through and top is browned.