Taco Soup

1 package of powdered ranch dressing mix
1 15oz can black beans (undrained)
1 15oz can pinto beans (undrained)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 15oz can corn ( undrained)
1 4oz chopped green chilies
1 15oz diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 lb ground beef, browned
1/2 onion, diced, cooked with beef
1 package of dry taco seasoning mix
Brown ground beef and diced onions in a large skilled
Throw skillet contents and remaining ingredients into a crock pot and cook for at least 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Serve with corn chips, sour cream and grated cheese.

recipe from zupas.com

I have tired a lot of taco soups and this one is a fav!

Won Ton Salad

(I got this picture from the Internet because my camera stinks, but the recipe came out of my grandma's book. It looks exactly like this)

1 head of lettuce
1 head of iceberg lettuce
1 bunch green onions
3 or 4 chicken breasts cooked with salt and shredded or cubed...I like shredded
Won tons fried until light brown in oil. It only takes a few seconds to be done. Don't over cook they will burn easily and taste like it.
Crumble won tons over greens and add just before serving 1/8 cup sesame seeds.

DRESSING:
4 TBS sugar
1 tsp accent
1/4 cup oil
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp vinegar
Mix together and add to above ingredients. Serve immediately


I sent this to work with John for a work dinner and they LOOOOOVVVEED it! It is for sure a family favorite!

Yummy Potato Soup

2-3 potatoes baked
3 T butter
1 cup onion chopped
2 T flour
4 Cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup instant mashed potatoes
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp basil
1 cup half and half... or can do 1/2 cup one percent milk and 1/2 cup evaporated milk
Melt butter and saute onions until brown. Add flour to onions and cook 1-2 mins add broth, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins. Cut baked potatoes in half scoring into cubes... I like to mash mine. Scoop out the cubes into the soup. Add milk and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Top with cheese, green onions, bacon and sour cream... of course if you want to =)

recipe from Just Another Day in Paradise

Oreo Truffle Balls

Okay ya'll here it is the recipe you have all been requesting. I share the recipe now so that I don't have to make them for you next year hahah LOL just kidding.

1 bag of Oreo's ( not double stuffed)

1 8oz cream cheese

3 symphony candy bars ( the 6.8 oz)

1 bag of peppermint candy melts

In a food processor grind the Oreo's into a fine powder...yes the whole Oreo

in a bowl combine powder Oreo's =) and cream cheese until moist. Roll into balls and put in the freezer for a couple of hours. Melt candy cars and roll Oreo balls until coated then drizzle melted candy melts on top. You can keep these in the freezer or in the fridge although I can almost guarantee they won't last long.

Enjoy =)

Buttermilk Cookies

This is a very light cookie...LOVE THEM!

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp salt
Cream sugar, shortening, and eggs. Mix flour, salt, and soda together. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Roll in cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Bottled Chicken

I'm going to warn you this requires a pressure cooker =) So if you don't know how to use one let me know and I can come help you.

All you need for this recipe is chicken breast and 1/2 tsp salt.

Put 1/2 tsp kosher salt into each jar. Cut chicken breast into chunks and fill the pint jar (just to the bottom of the jar, do not go up into the lid. Do not add water. Wipe off the top of your jars when you are done filling them. Boil lids for just a few seconds then place lid on and the screw top right away do the same with the rest of the jars. Process in a pressure cooker at 10 pounds pressure for 1 hour and 5 mins ( have a good book since you can't leave it unattended) =) this is soooo handy for cooking meals. It goes great in soups, casseroles, sandwiches and whatever else you want to use it for.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Put some chicken in the crockpot with your favorite BBQ sauce..ours is Sweet Baby Ray's. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. Then shred with a fork

We used sourdough bread from Costco and sliced it put the shredded chicken on the slice and topped it with Havarti cheese. Butter both sides and toast just like you would a grilled cheese. OH SOOOO GOOD =)

Chicken A'lorange

Dust 2lbs chicken with 1/2 cup flour. Head 4 tbs oil in a heavy frying pan and brown evenly on all sides. Place in a baking pan, pour sauce Al'a'orange (see recipe below) over chicken and cover with foil. Bake at 300 for 1 hour, or until chicken is tender. Garnish with orange slices and serve with rice.

Sauce:
Defrost 1 6oz frozen Oj . Saute 3oz can mushrooms ( I use fresh) and 1 slice onion chopped in oil until tender. add a pinch of pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, 1 tsp salt, oj, and a 1/4 cup of water. Simmer 5 minutes. Pour over browned chicken. This is a Sunday favorite.

Blueberry Muffins

I will have to warn you now....I forgot to take a picture =) forgive me these are really yummy though!

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 TBS flour
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup milk
2 TBS flour
5 TBS brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 TBS butter diced.
I know these ingredients sound crazy but follow instructions as you make these

Preheat oven to 375 grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners
2. Combine 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt in medium bowl. Sprinkle 1 to 2 TBS flour over blueberries and set aside
3. In a large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, and stir in vanilla and lemon zest. Fold in dry ingredients alternately with milk. Fold in blueberries remember, fold gently, don't stir. Spoon batter into prepared cups.
4. Combine 2 TBS flour, 5TBS brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 2 TBS butter with a fork mix until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle over batter in muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 mins.

allrecipes.com

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Okay let's be honest this really isn't soup...it's very hearty and delish! Heat:
2 tsp chicken bouillon, or 2 cubes
2 cans of chicken broth or 4 cups
Add and simmer until tender
2 cups chopped carrots
2 cups chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
Add:
1/4 cup evaporated milk
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
Add:
2 cups chicken...can use canned
salt and pepper to taste. We like to add homemade noodles to this but you can just add egg noodles. If you do add homemade you might have to add a little extra chicken broth.

Chicken Enchilada Cassarole

I got the recipe from my fabulous aunt, and its great!

Mix all of these together
1 family size chicken rice a roni (made)
1 pt sour cream
1 can olives
1 can green chilies
2 cans of chicken

Then mix together 2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 small can green enchilada sauce
layer with tortilla ( we like the ones that you have to cook from Costco) and cheese
put a layer of soup mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 pan then add a layer of tortilla's and cheese then add a layer of rice mixture...repeat till gone. Top with cheese and back at 400 until bubbly

Frog Eye Salad

I cannot go to a Riley function without this... I would be banned from the family lol! This is a fav of all. There are a lot of recipes out there for this but I have found this one to be the best!
Just FYI...this takes 2 days to make

1 (16 oz) pkg. acini de pepe
1 cup sugar
2Tbs flour
1 3/4 cup pineapple juice
2 eggs, beaten
1 TBS lemon juice
1 can mandarin oranges...drain and save juice
1 can tidbits pineapple...drain,save juice
1 can crushed pineapple...drain,save juice
1 lg carton cool whip
1/2 package mini marshmallows...colored kind

Cook acini de pepe as directed on the box. Drain and let cool. Combine sugar, flour,1/2 tsp salt , pineapple juice( I also add the juice from the mandarin oranges...but only if you want too) and eggs in a heavy sauce pan. Cook over medium heat until it thickens usually 1 to 3 mins.
Then add lemon juice. Let set overnight. In the morning add the rest of the ingredients.
Note... I usually just add as much pineapple juice as the cans provide.

Dill Dip

I serve this with homemade pita chips, veggies or whatever you like it on we even add it to grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. You can pretty much put it on anything =)

2 cups mayo

2 cups sour cream

1 TB dried parsley

3 TB grated onion

3 TB dried dill weed

1 1/4 tsp seasoning salt

Mix all ingredients together, cover and chill overnight. It won't taste as good if you don't let it sit.

No-Bake Cookies

Mom here is the recipe for the no-bake cookies I make!!!
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 TBS cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 tsp vanilla

~Mix butter, sugar, cocoa and milk in a pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and allow to cool.

Mini Tacos

These are ohhh so yummy!

24 wonton wrappers

1 lb ground beef

1 package taco seasoning mix

1/2 cup salsa

1 cup shredded mexican blend cheese

sour cream (optional)

olives (optional)

~Heat oven to 425. Press the wonton wrappers into 24 (1 1/2 inch) mini muffin-pan cups

Brown beef, pour off any fat then stir the taco seasoning with water into the meat. Spoon the meat into the uncooked wonton cups top with cheese and salsa. Bake for 5 minutes or until the wontons are golden brown and cheese is melted. Garnish with sour cream and olives, if desired. Serve immediately.

So so easy

This comes from Cambells Kitchen cookbook

Spagetti Sauce

Sorry my pictures aren't that great but you get the idea! I got this recipie from Paula Deen and we love love love it!

1lb ground beef
1 lg onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
2 6oz cans tomato paste
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 14.5 oz stewed tomatoes ( or a quart bottle)
1 TB Italian Seasoning
1 TB Worcestershire sauce
2 TB sugar
1 tsp salt
~Brown beef add onion, pepper garlic and saute until onion is tender. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes and seasoning. Simmer for 30 mins.

Bottled Tomatoes

If you don't bottle your garden tomatoes you should. They are so delish!! I use these in spaghetti sauce, chili and soups.
Wash tomatoes. Scald in boiling water for about half a minute or until the skins start to crack. Run them under cold water, peel and remove stem ends. Pack into quart jars, press down to release juice. Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp sugar to the jars. Put lids into boiling water just to heat the rubber then place them on your jars and screw on the tops. Process in the pressure cooker at 10lbs for 8 minutes. Read the instructions on pressure cooker if you have never used one and make sure you don't tighten the lids on your bottles after they come out of the cooker....learned that the hard way!

Graham Cracker Lemon Balls

My husband laughs at me when I try stuff like this because I just kind of wing it...I think it sounds good so I try it out even if I have no recipe to follow. Well he's not laughing anymore cause he loves these.



2 packages (there are 4 to a box) Graham Crackers I used Keebler

1 tub lemon frosting

2 packages of white chocolate chips or white candy melts whatever you like better



Put the graham crackers through the food processor and crush them to a fine powder. Add all of the lemon frosting to the graham crackers and mix until it forms a big ball. Roll into little half inch to one inch balls. Place them on a cookie sheet that is lined with wax paper and stick them in the freezer for about 30 mins to an hour. Before you take them out melt the white chocolate chips or candy melts in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds. When that is all melted pull the balls out of the freezer and roll them in it. Place back on the cookie sheet until the white chocolate hardens. THEN EAT THEM UP!!!

The Best Chili EVER!!

I made this last night and I decided to do a food blog after so I'm sorry that I don't have a picture for this. I will take a picture next time I make it and post it for you.


~CHILI~

Brown and set aside:
1lb lean ground beef
1 large onion
1 large green pepper

Place the following ingredients in a large kettle:
1 can tomato sauce
1 large can stewed tomatoes
1 large can chili or 2 smaller cans
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup brown sugar

Add meat mixture and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Top with a little sour cream and cheese.

ENJOY!

You asked for it!

I have decided to start a food blog!!! I love to cook and I try new recipes all the time. I think I got my love of cooking from my grandma. I spent many many days in the kitchen with grandma and learning different things from her. Those moments I will cherish forever. The reason for the blog title is that is the name of the cook book I use the most that my grandma put together. I love you grandma and I hope I can make you proud by the lessons I learned from you!!!