[redhedded]

Share your recipes. Simple or not. Weekday or weekend meals. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. Salad, soup or dessert. Grill, range or crock pot. I know that many many of you are awesome cooks and do it everyday. Share your favorites, all yours or a standard with your twist or special something.

[momofmykids]

Now this will be a good thread (pun intended!! ). I'm leaving shortly, but I've got some good ones.

Now, Red, since your hubby is a chef, maybe you can share some of his good stuff with us.

[Lexmom]

My ds is a mac 'n' cheese fanatic. My dad gave us this recipe so we could introduce vegetables with his mac 'n' cheese.

1 pkg. (14 oz) macaroni & Cheese dinner
1 lb. extra lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 can (28 oz) dices tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg (9 oz) frozen green beans, thawed, drained
1 cup shredded reduced fat mild cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Prepare mac-n-cheese as directed on package. Meanwhile, brown meat with garlic and oregan in large nonstick ckillet; drain. Add otmatoes with their liquied and the beans. Mix well.

Spoon mreat mixture into 13X9-inch baking dish. Top evenly with prepared mac-n-cheese. Cover with foil.

Bake 30 minues or until heated through. Remove from oven; uncover. Sprinkle with cheese.

Let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted.


Enjoy!

[ourdreamcametru]

Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter

You need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the< wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9


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[brandydawn]

I like the Easter cookie idea, great tradition to have with your family.

My recipe is for breakfast

2 cans of refrigerated crescent dough
1 package of ground breakfast sausage (maple)
1 bag of shredded swiss cheese

break up sausage and cook in a fry pan until most of the pink is gone (leave some).

Spread one can of the crescent dough on a baking sheet. Top with the ground sausage and then the shredded cheese (I like alot so I use most of the bag).
Top with the other can of the dough and pinch the edges together.

Bake at the temp noted on the dough can until it is golden brown. Cut into squares and serve...they are awesome cold too!

Regards,
Brandy

[StorkWatcher]

EASY dinner - Crisis Casserole
This is all about using what you have on hand, and making it simple

• 1 can cream of anything soup (we like cream of celery, low fat/sodium)
• a bunch of cheese - Velveeta cubed or shreded cheddar - (probably really just need 1 cup, but I'm a cheese hound!)
• 1 can chicken broth (again, use low sodium, 99% fat free)
• 1 cup uncooked noodles (I like Kluski noodles for thicker, but regular egg noodles are fine too)
• 1 small to medium onion chopped (or use onion powder)
• one clove pressed garlic (or use powder)
• Optional: some diced celery for crunch
• 1 can diced white chicken breast (or boil 1 - 2 frozen/skinless/boneless chicken breasts or some chicken tenders and dice) or tuna

Throw it all in a dish (I use stones or Pyrex type casserole dishes. The Pampered CHef oval baker works well or a 9x13 dish. Stir up. Pop in 375 degree oven for 45 minutes or so.

Voila! Yummy fare! True, it's not gourmet, not overly healthy, but it's a treat that kids love once in a while.

[StorkWatcher]

Another quick and even easier one: Penny Casserole (because it's cheap to make?) Some of the ingredient combinations may sound weird, but it ends up a very good and unusual flavor!

• 1 package smoked sausage (I like skinless), cut into 2" pieces (or use hot dogs, if your kids love those)
• 2 cups (give or take) of cooked frozen vegetables (I use broccoli and cauliflower mixed)
• cream of chicken soup (yes, chicken w/ sausage)
• 1 Tbs. prepared mustard (doesn't have to be Grey Poupon)
• 1 small to medium onion, chopped
• 1.8 tsp black pepper
• shredded cheese for top, if desired

Cook veggies by steaming/boiling/microwaving. Mix soup, mustard, onion, and pepper in casserole dish (I use a Corning ware type or glazed stone 2 qt dish). Add sausage and vegetables. Stir together briefly. Top w/ cheese if desired.

Bake 20 - 25 minutes at 325 - 350 degrees, until heated through.

[jimpol]

Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake:

Devils food cake mix, cherry pie filling, 2 eggs, teaspoon of almond extract, 1 can of fudge or chocolate icing

mix first 4 ingredients, bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees

cool and ice

Southern Living Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

3 pounds potatoes, peeled and quartered.
2 (3 ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 tbs. butter or margarine
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tbs. butter or margarine, melted
1/2 tsp paprika

Cook potatoes in boiling salted water to cover 15 minutes or until tender; drain and mash. Combine potatoes, cream cheese, and next 4 ingredients in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until smooth. Spoon mixture into a greased 11 x 7 x 1.5 inch baking dish. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with paprika. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Remove from refrigerator; let stand, covered, 30 minutes. Uncover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated. Yield: 6 to 8 servings. They can also be baked immediately for 25 minutes.

** This is really rich, so I usually put four or five pounds of potatoes with these ingredients.

[Shai's Mom]

Quick fix veggie soup

1 lb of ground meat (whatever type you prefer or have at hand)
1 smallish onion chopped fine
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 bag of mixed frozen vegetables (i.e. carrots, peas, zuccini, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, just whatever is at hand. I like colorful mixtures)
2 medium size potatos, diced
2 cans of chicken stock, or the equivalent amount of water and bullion powder
2 Tbsp of Semolina, Cream of Wheat or Cream of Rice cereal

Brown ground meat of your choice with onions and garlic. Make sure it's really crispy ground and also make sure to break the meat up as small as possible
Add chicken stock, vegetables and chopped potatos and Semolina. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the potatos are soft. Stirr every so often to make sure the Semolina doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
My kids love this soup and will eat it anytime.

I have a few more and will post them later.

[kelceesmom]

Any cake mix
Only add 1 can of diet soda, any flavor. Do not add any of the box ingredients.
Bake at temperature on box and length according to your pan size.
Cool and sprinkle with powder sugar.
If you do weight watchers a 4x4 size is only 4 points


Quick Chilli Recipe:

Brown about 1-2 lbs of grown beef/turkey with diced onions.
Heat 1 can tomato soup, 1-2 cans dark red kidney beans and mixture from above.
Heat all together for about 30 minutes and dinner is done.
We like to put our chilli over white rice and for those that like there chilli with a little bit of zing I add a little crushed red pepper.

[Leigh131313]

marking this