Mommy's Surprise

Ingredients:
1lb lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 cans french cut green beans
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 bag tator tots or tator rounds
1/4 cup milk

Directions:
Brown ground beef or ground turkey. I usually add chopped onion and oregeno for seasoning. Once completely browned drain any grease. Spread in bottom of ungreased casserole pan. Drain water from green beans and in seperate bowl mix green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and milk. Spread this over the meat in the casserole dish. layor tator tots on top of green bean mixture in rows. Bake in oven 30-45 mins at 350 until soup is bubbly and tator tots are browned.

Comments: The casserole food saves very well. Just be sure to freeze the casserole before you vaccuum seal it so the tator tots are not turned into mashed potatos. For variations we also used corn instead of grean beans and added cheddar cheese before putting the tator tots on.

Enchilada Soup

Ingredients:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can campbells nacho cheese soup
1 can of milk (like a soup can full)
1 can of enchilada sauce (the smaller size)
1 12 oz. can of chicken
Optional: Eat with chips.

Directions:
Put everything into a pot and bring to a boil and then eat it.We ate it with chips sort of like a chili. It's got a little bit of a kick to it but nothing that lingers and you literally could walk in the door, pour it all in, and eat within 10 minutes or less.

Chocolate Kahlua Dessert

Ingredients:
1/2 C butter, melted
1 C flour
1/4 C brown sugar
1/2 C chopped nuts
1 C confectioner's sugar
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
8 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided
8 oz. chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
2 1/2 C milk
1/2 C Kahlua
chocolate shavings

Directions:
Blend butter, flour, and brown sugar. Mix in nuts and press into 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Cool. With mixer, whip confectioner's sugar, cream cheese and 1 C whipped topping. Spread over crust and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Mix pudding mix, milk and Kahlua. Spread over cream cheese layer and refrigerate another 30 minutes. Top with remaining whipped topping and refrigerate overnight. Before serving, garnish with chocolate shavings.

MUST BE PREPARED AHEAD Serves 8.

Goolosh

Ingredients:
1lbs ground beef or ground turkey
1 16oz can tomato sauce
1 16oz box macaroni elbows or shells
Chopped onion, oregano, and garlic sauce to taste

Directions:
Brown meat in pan with onion. Once browned drain any grease. Add tomato sauce and bring to simmer. Add oregano and garlic sauce to your taste. Simmer on pan 10-15mins for full flavor. Boil macaroni noodles according to directions on box. Drain water and then add noodles to the meat sauce. Mix well. Spread over mashed potatos or enjoy plain!

Comments:
This recipe makes a lot and is very filling. It freezes well with the foodsaver and I've gotten up to 5 meals for the three of us out of one recipe.

Applesauce Roll Pancakes

Ingredients:
2 eggs well beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup flour1/2 tsp salt1 tbsp sugar
1 cup applesauce

Directions:
Heat applesauce in small saucepan. Keep warm. Mix eggs and milk. Add flour, salt, and sugar. Beat till smooth. Pour 1/4 of batter in pan. Tip pan to cover bottom. Turn and brown slightly on other side. Remove and spread with 1/4 cup applesauce and roll. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Broccoli Bake

Ingredients:
1 pkg frozen chopped broccoli
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup cream of mushroom soup
1 egg beaten
1 1/2 cup grated cheese
1 cup crushed crackers

Directions:
Cook broccoli according to package directions. Drain well. Mix mayo, soup, egg, and cheese. Stir in broccoli. Pour into buttered casserole dish. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs. Bake at 325 for 30mins.

Cheesy Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 jar (8oz) cheez wiz
1 can (10oz) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup Kraft 100% grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400. microwave cheese sauce as directed. Pour into small bowl. Dip each biscuit top in cheese sauce then in parmesan cheese, coating tops of rolls. Place biscuits on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown

White Bread in Bread Machine

Ingredients:
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 cups bread flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:
Place water, sugar, salt, oil, bread flour and yeast into pan of bread machine.Bake on White Bread setting . Cool on wire racks before slicing

***Tipmake sure to add the liquid ingredients first. then sugar, salt, and flour. Add yeast in last. Put your setting on the machine to white bread-Light to make sure the crust does not get to hard.

Pizza Crust

INGREDIENTS
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal. Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Comments:
Used this Saturday night to get rid of some chicken we had in the fridge. Once the dough was on the pan I used tomato sauce sprinkled with Oregano, Garlic Salt, and Parmesan cheese. Then topped with the chicken and mozzarella cheese. Very Yummy!

Super Easy Pancakes

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in milk, egg, vanilla and oil. Mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Comments:
These really are very easy, come out light and fluffy, and you can add things like chocolate chips to them. We make them just about every weekend and will never make box pancakes again!

Peanut Butter Cocoa No-Bake Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Place a piece of wax paper or foil on cookie sheet. Combine sugar, butter, milk and cocoa in medium saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to rolling boil.
Remove from heat; cool 1 minute.
Add peanut butter; stir to blend. Add oats, peanuts and vanilla; stir to mix well. Quickly drop mixture by heaping teaspoons onto wax paper or foil. Cool completely. Store in cool, dry place.

Comments:
These are an oldie but goodie!!! You can never go wrong with some of these cookies. Another alternative is to use rice crispy cereal instead of oatmeal as well.

Strawberry Vanilla Pancakes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Pour in the milk, oil, egg and vanilla, and mix until well blended. Stir in the strawberries.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat, and coat with butter or cooking spray. Pour batter into desired size of pancakes. Flip with a spatula when bubbles appear in the center. Cook until golden brown on the other side.

Comments: There are really yummy! The fresh strawberries give it an awesome flavor. We didn't even use syrup. Just a bit of butter on top. For the strawberries I did cut them up the night before and let them sit in sugar over night to bring out the sweetness. I do suggest that if you have any texture issues to do a mashed strawberry rather than sliced/diced as the strawberries will get really soft. Also, definitely spray your griddle with Pam. I have a really nice griddle so I didn't think I would need it and my first batch still stuck, the Pam solved that problem.

Flavored Oatmeal Bars

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup preserves, any flavor
1/2 cup flaked coconut

DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add butter and vanilla; stir until crumbly. Set aside 1 cup. Press remaining crumb mixture evenly into an ungreased 13-in.x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Spread preserves over crust. Combine coconut and reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over preserves. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until coconut is lightly browned. Cool.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine the egg, oil, yogurt and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in bananas and chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Comments:
I used milk instead of yogurt, three medium size bananas, and used mini chocolate chips. These came out very moist and taste amazing. Just enough banana flavor so you know it's there but not over powering and the chocolate chips give it a sweet boost.

Easy Stroganoff

INGREDIENTS

1 (16 ounce) package wide egg noodles
1 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 (8 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
10 3/4 fluid ounces milk
1 cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS

In a large, heavy skillet, brown ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, seasoning salt, and garlic. Drain well, set aside.
Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain.
Return noodles to pot. Gently stir in ground beef, mushrooms, condensed soup and milk. Place the pan over low heat, and heat through. Stir in sour cream, and serve immediately.

Comments:
Threw this together real quick for dinner. Didn't have the sliced mushrooms and only used 1 can of the cream mushroom soup. I didn't measure the milk either, just mixed until it had the right texture for us. I also used fresh garlic, about 2 cloves as we like a stronger garlic taste. You can certainly adjust it to your liking but this is a great meal to make in a short amount of time.