Jello Popcorn

1 cup corn syrup
½ cup sugar
1 small box jello (any flavor)
Bring to boil in saucepan.

9 qts popped popcorn
Pour contents of saucepan over popcorn and toss to coat.

Blender Salsa

2 (14.5) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can diced green chilies
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 bunch fresh cilantro
Put all in blender and blend.

1 small lemon or lime, juiced
salt to taste
Add lemon or lime juice and salt to blender. Pulse to mix.

Really Good Cake

1 yellow or white cake mix - bake according to directions

1 small can crushed pineapple – heat to boil, pour over cake right from oven

1 small box pudding mix – make while cake cools slightly; spread over cake

shredded coconut and pecan pieces – sprinkle over pudding layer

1 large container cool whip – when cake is cool; spread over coconut and nuts

sprinkle more coconut and pecans over top to finish

Keep in Refrigerator! (until you eat it all gone)

Spicy Pretzels

These are addicting. (Just thought I'd warn you)

1 cup oil
1 pkg (3 Tbls) dry Ranch dressing mix
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper (I don't do this much)

Mix all together.

1 (20 oz) bag pretzels

Put pretzels in large roasting pan. Pour seasonings over pretzels and mix to coat well. Bake at 200 for 2 hours – stir about every 20 minutes.

Toothpick Lunch

This is obviously not a recipe, but my kids love it so I thought I'd post it as an idea. Also fun is Muffin Tin Lunch - same idea (finger foods) but each kid gets a muffin tin with different foods in the sections. They think it's especially funny if you put a muffin in one of the spots.

Hot Chocolate and Chicken Noodle Soup

Comfort foods. I need them today as the snow flies - again. We had Hot Chocolate this morning and will have Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner. (or rather, Noodle Soup - I don't always put in chicken)

May food always comfort us.

Hot Chocolate

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup sugar
1/3 cup water
Stir together in saucepan and bring to boil. Boil 2 minutes.

4 cups milk
Pour into chocolate mixture and stir until well combined. Heat, but do not boil.


Chicken Noodle Soup

5 cups chicken broth
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup sliced celery
1 Tbls dried onion
Mix together in large saucepan. Boil 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

1 cup dry noodles
1 cup chopped, cooked chicken (optional)
Add noodles and chicken and boil an additional 10 minutes or until noodles are cooked.

Burrito Skillet

1 box Zatarain's black beans and rice
1 cup corn
1 can tomatoes with green chilies
1 lb ground beef, browned (optional)
2 ½ cups water
Bring to boil in saucepan. Reduce heat, simmer 25 minutes. Stirring occasionally.

Serve in flour tortillas with grated cheese. Is good with sour cream, avocado, salsa, etc.

Freezer meals

Does anyone have some favorite meals to freeze?  If so, please tell me what they are.

Spaghetti

I rarely use these recipes but I needed something in my recipe book for spaghetti. Oh, and if, by chance, you are making meatballs for a Blue and Gold Banquet it will take 5 times the recipe (to feed about 35 - make the balls small) and a long time to get them made.

Spaghetti Sauce Mix
1 Tbls dried onion
1 Tbls parsley
1 Tbls cornstarch
1 ½ tsp salt
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sugar
¾ tsp Italian seasoning
Mix together.

1 lb ground beef, browned
2 cans (8oz) tomato sauce
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
2 ¾ cups tomato juice or water
Simmer together with seasoning for 30 minutes.

Meatballs
1 lb ground beef
½ cup dried bread crumbs
¼ cup milk
½ tsp salt
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp pepper
1 large egg
Mix all together. Shape into meatballs. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 15 – 25 minutes.

Sausage Bake Pictures

We can delete this after you see; I took the pictures to go with my comment but can't link them to it.

Kima

Taken from my mother-in-law's cookbook.  She attributes the recipe to Mark Spear.

1 lb. ground beef or tofu, cubed
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 t. curry powder
1/2 t. salt
dash of pepper
1 T. Kikkoman soy sauce
2 potatoes, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 c. frozen peas
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes

Brown beef and onions. Drain. Add seasonings and vegetables. There is very little
liquid but don’t worry. Simmer until potatoes are done. Serve in a bowl over rice and
top with a dollop of sour cream.

I always cook it covered.  It apparently doesn't say that in the cookbook, though.

Pizza Dough

Since I have to look this up on allrecipes every time I make it I thought I'd post it here for you to enjoy and me to be able to find without googling.

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

1. 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.
2. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest for 5 minutes.
3. 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 

Wheat Snickerdoodles

½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Cream together.

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
½ tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp baking soda
Add to butter mixture and blend well. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8 – 10 minutes.

Cinnamon Sugar:
½ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbls white sugar

Blender Waffles

1 ½ cups milk or 1/3 cup powdered milk and 1 ½ cups water
1 cup whole wheat berries
Put in blender and blend on high for 3 to 4 minutes.

1 egg
2 Tbls oil
2 Tbls sugar or honey
1 tsp salt
Add to blender and blend 1 to 2 minutes.

1 Tbls baking powder
Add baking powder and pulse three times (or just enough to mix well). Mixture will foam up and get light. Cook immediately on hot griddle or waffle iron.