No-Bake Cereal Bars

Sorry the picture is a little fuzzy. My camera is being temper mental today.

1 c. light corn syrup
1 c. Sugar
1 1/4 c. peanut butter
6 c. Cheerios
1 bag(12oz) semisweet chocolate chips, about 2 cups

Lightly butter 13x9inch pan. In 4-5 quart saucepan, heat corn syurp and sugar to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Cook until sugar is dissolved; remove from heat. Add 1 cup of the peanut butter; stir until smooth. Add cereal; mix well. Immediately press into the buttered pan.
In 2-quart saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with remaining 1/4 peanut butter, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over bars. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or cool completely at room temperature until chocolate is set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows.

Beef and Bean Taco Casserole

1 Lb. lean ground beef
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
1 jar thick and chunky salsa
1 pkg. taco seasoning
2 1/2 c. coarsely broken, Doritos Nacho Cheese chips
1/2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
4 medium green onions, sliced
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterrey jack cheese, grated
1/4 cup sliced olives
1 cup shredded lettuce

Heat oven to 350*F. In skillet brown the beef, drain. Stir in refried beans, salsa and taco seasoning mix. Reduce heat to medium. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
In ungreased 2-quart casserole , place 2 cups of broken chips on the bottom. Top evenly with beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese, bell pepper, green onions, 1 cup of tomatoes, and olives.
Bake uncovered 20-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted. Top baked casserole with lettuce, remaining 1/2 cup tomato and remaining 1/2 cup chips.

Ground Beef and Twice-Baked Potato Pie

1 Lb. lean ground beef
1/4 c. Chopped onion
1/4 c. plain bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. dried sage leaves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 pkg. instant mashed potatoes, or 5 medium potatoes made into mashed potatoes
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c. chopped fresh tomato, if desired
2 slices of precooked bacon, chopped, if desired
2 med. green onions, chopped, if desired

Heat oven to 350*F. In a large bowl mix beef, onion, bread crumbs, sage, salt, and egg until well blended. Press into bottom of ungreased 8 in. square (2 Quart) glass baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over top. Sprinkle evenly with cheese.
Bake uncovered about 50 mins. or until meat thermometer inserted into the center of beef mixture reads 160*F. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with tomato, bacon, and green onions.

"Deceptively Delicious" Pancakes

I received Jessica Seinfeld's cookbook for Christmas and am loving it! I've made these pancakes a couple times now and have added something different each time. These recipes are not only good for the kids, but "husband healthy" as well!

1 c water
1/2 c sweet potato puree (now I've used pumpkin and carrots because thats what I have)
1/4 t cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (optional)
1/4 t nutmeg (this is my add in, so it is optional)
1 c pancake mix
1 Tbs canola or vegetable oil

1. In large bowl, mix water, puree, and or spice if using. Add the pancake mix and stir just to combine-the batter should be lumpy.
2. When the pan is hot, add oil, and spoon the batter onto the griddle or pan using 1/4 c batter for each pancake.
3. Cook 2-3 min each side.

If your child has a hard time eating his/her vegetables or you want to add a little more nourishment to your meals, there are more recipes I can share or I can let you borrow the book. Just let me know.

"Poor Man's Food"

I don't really know the name of this dish, this is just what I called it when Jeremy asked. So the name does this meal no justice. It's a really simple recipe I got from my sister-in-laws cousin that is low cost and with most ingredients on hand. Jeremy thought it was fabulous, especially since I arranged it so "gourmet" on his plate.

Cut beef into strips and brown (I buy whatever is cheapest and load my freezer)
Add:
2 Tbs. oil
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 tsp of sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp soy sauce
Thicken w/ 1 heaping tsp of cornstarch mixed with a little water (make sure no clumps before adding)
Mix in the cornstarch mixture. Let cool 5-10 minutes.

Salad:
-chopped lettuce
-sliced cucumbers
-sliced tomatoes
-slice onions (red or white, whichever you prefer)

Dressing:
1 Tbs. lime juice
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs. water

Serve layered over rice.

I also added cilantro on top since the dressing involved lime. You will also notice there are no specified amounts for the ingredients. This can be made for the size of your family. I probably used 3/4-1 lb of beef for the two of us. I about tripled the dressing just because it is so delicious to use for other salads.

Mexican Pork

So I could have called it something more inventive but my brain is at a stall right now.

2 pounds pork loin
3/4 cup ranch dressing
2 cups pace picante salsa (Medium heat)
1 small can diced green chillies

Dump all of the ingredients into the crock pot and heat on high for about 5-6 hours. Shred with a fork.
Serve with tortillas or over a salad with that yummy tomatillo dressing.

Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

12 tomatillos peeled and well rinsed
1 small onion quartered
6 Lg garlic cloves
2-3 serrano chilis stemmed (depending on how hot you want your salsa)
1/2 C chopped cilantro
2 Tbs. fresh lime

Place first 4 ingredients into pan over high heat for 5 min or until thoroughly charred. Place in blender. Use on/off and chop coarsely. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let chill in refrigerator before serving. Yum!

Oven Pancakes

That is what Jeff and his family call them, apparently in Tara's house these are called German Pancakes. Either way, super great, full of butter and fabulously easy.

1 cup milk
2/3 cup flour
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs

Put 1/4 cup butter in 9 inch pie pan. Place in preheated oven at 400 degrees until melted. Pour in batter (aka above items mixed together) and bake for 35 minutes until fluffy and golden Serve with lemon juice and powdered sugar, syrup or jam.

My mother in law doubles the recipe and puts it in a 9 by 13 pan. Also, it didn't take 35 minutes, it only took me about 18-20 minutes.

Mexican Chicken

2 lbs. fresh or frozen boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins or breasts
1/2 cup chopped onion
2-3 garlic cloves
1 jar (16oz) salsa
1 can (2oz) sliced black olives
Sliced Monterrey Jack Cheese

Place chicken into freezer bag and store in freezer while prepping other ingredients. Chop onion using Good Chopper. Press garlic using Garlic Press. Open Salsa using Jar Opener. Open can of olives using smooth-edge can opener and drain using can strainer. Add ingredients to freezer bag, except cheese. Coat chicken well,squeeze air out of bag and freeze. Chicken will marinate as it defrosts in refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove chicken and sauce from bag and place in Stoneware Rectangular Baker. Bake, uncovered at 400 degrees for 45 minutes(30 minutes for tenderloins) Using Deluxe Cheese Grater, grate cheese onto chicken and bake 10 minutes. Serve with corn bread, along with rice and steamed vegetables cooked in Rice Cooker.

Mushroom Chicken

2 lbs. fresh or frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
4 slices bacon
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
8 oz fresh mushrooms
2-3 garlic cloves
Parmesan Cheese
Fresh tomatoes
Fresh mozzarella cheese

Place chicken into freezer bag and store in freezer while prepping other ingredients. Cook bacon in 8" saute pan using chef's tongs; crumble and set aside. Open soup can using smooth-edge can opener. Measure milk using Measure-all cup. Slice mushrooms with egg slicer plus. Press garlic using garlic press. Juice lemon using citrus press. Measure Worcestershire sauce using adjustable measuring spoon. Add ingredients to freezer bag, except cheese. Coat chicken well, squeeze air out of bag and freeze. Chicken will marinate as it defrosts in refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove chicken and sauce from bag and place in stoneware rectangular baker. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 45 minutes (30 minutes for tenderloins). Using Deluxe cheese grater, grate cheese onto chicken AFTER baking and serve. Slice fresh tomatoes using Utility knife and fresh Mozzarella cheese using egg slicer plus and serve with mixed green salad.

Parmesan Pull Apart Bread

2 T. butter
2 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
shredded Parmesan cheese
1 package grands biscuits

Using the 8" saute pan melt butter, add garlic pressed with garlic bread, and Italian seasoning. Open grands biscuits and quarter all biscuits. Only 4 whole biscuits(cut up) will fit in the pan at one time. Coat biscuits well. Place in 375 degree oven and bake for 10-11 minutes. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Also a Pampered Chef recipe

Garlic Chicken

1 whole chicken, cleaned. (about 4 to 5 pounds)
Season with pressed garlic inside and out.
Sprinkle Italian Seasoning on the outside.
Place in Deep Covered Baker. Place in microwave for 30 minutes. Microwave must be 13”x13”x7” with a minimum of 1,000 watts.
OR place in oven for 1 hour at 375*. Uncover and cook an additional 25-30 minutes.

I had a Pampered Chef show recently at my house. This chicken was served. Easy to do.