Tummy Pleasers

I love a dish that has hash browns, sour cream,  shredded cheese, cream of something soup, not sure which one.  A friend of mine makes it for almost every Church function we need food for, and I love her for it.  I love that dish.  I haven’t found a recipe I like as much for this type of dish.  I think this one makes a close second though, so here it is…I have no idea why it’s called….

California Potatoes

6 medium potatoes, peeled, finely diced and cooked

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup

2 cups sour cream

2 cups crushed corn flakes

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 cup diced onion

2 cups shredded cheese

Heat 1/4 cup of butter and add undiluted soup, onions, sour cream and cheese.   Stir mixture into potatoes and place in a casserole dish.  Mix together corn flakes and 2 Tablespoons of melted butter and spread on top of potato mixture in dish. Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

Can you say Yummy??  Merry Christmas Everyone. 

Hearty Ham Soup

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cups diced raw potato

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk

1 (10 ounce) package frozen peas, thawed

1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon marjoram

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon celery salt

wedge of blue cheese (optional)

In a heavy, covered 2-quart saucepan, melt butter.  Add onion, potatoes and water.  Cover, bring to a boil, lower heat to simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes.  Stir in flour.  Add milk slowly.  Cook until thickened, stirring constantly.  Stir in  peas, ham, salt, marjoram, pepper and celery salt; let simmer about 5 minutes until peas are cooked.  Serve hot.  If desired, serve with a wedge of blue cheese to be crumbled over soup.  Yield:  6 cups.

I am posting this recipe on the basis of the name alone…I find it just too cute to pass up!!  Plus, it has bacon in it.  And frankly, if it has bacon in it, it’s bound to be at least edible and almost always delicious!!  I’m just sayin’….

Wiggles

3 pounds lean ground beef

2 pounds spaghetti

3 large onions

3 cups cooked diced potatoes

1 cup cooked sliced celery

3 cups cooked diced carrots

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

1 1/2 -2 quarts tomato soup

1 1/2 -2 pounds cheese

10-12 slices cooked bacon

Fry bacon; remove from skillet.  Fry ground beef and onions in bacon grease until meat is browned and onions are tender and translucent.  Put into a large baking dish or roaster.  Cook spaghetti acording to package directions.  Add cooked spaghetti to baking dish or roaster.  Add cooked vegetables and cream of mushroom soup.  Pour tomato soup over all.  Arrange bacon on top of mixture.  Top with cheese and bake at 350° for about an hour and a half.

Pizza, cheese, pepperoni, these are just a few of my favorite things.  HaHa.  I like recipes my whole family will like and that are easy to make!!  This is one of those recipes.  Enjoy!!

Cheesy Pizza Casserole

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1 (16 ounce) can of pizza or spaghetti sauce, whichever you like best

8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

2-3 cups shredded mozzarella or pizza blend cheese

at least 4 ounces sliced pepperoni, or as much as you like

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and onion together until beef is no longer pink and onion is tender and translucent, but not browned.  Drain fat, if you have any.  Add the pizza sauce (or spaghetti sauce), half of pepperoni,  and half of cheese being used.  Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, and top with remaining pepperoni.  Bake in oven at 350° for about 40 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browning.  Yields 6 servings.

This sounds like a great recipe.  It’s very versatile and customizable.  If you don’t like a certain vegetable, omit it completely or substitute with another.  Very easy to do!!  It will get your kitchen AND your belly warm!!

 Main Dish Chicken Deluxe

8 cups cooked chicken, cubed

8 cups water

2-4 Tablespoons chicken base (bouillon)

1 pound noodles

1 can cream of mushroom soup (can use cream of chicken if you prefer)

4 cups peas (optional)

4 cups carrots (optional)

4 cups diced potatoes (optional)

4 cups string beans (optional)

chicken gravy

Parmesan cheese

browned bread cubes

Velveeta cheese

Cook all vegetables until just done, do not over-cook.  Cook noodles with chicken base (bouillon) and water.  Layer in pan; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Mix soup and gravy; pour over the top.  Top with bread cubes.  Bake in a warm oven for 30 minutes.  Top with Velveeta cheese, then bake until melted.

This sounds like such a good recipe.  I will be trying this one myself soon!!  Hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Chicken ‘N’ Stuff

1 chicken

6 cups of bread cubes

1 Tablespoon chopped onion

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup diced celery

1 Tablespoon parsley

1/4 cup melted butter

salt and pepper to taste

Cook and bone the chicken.  Mix dressing together and add enough water to make it moist.  Make sure to season your water for added flavor.  Place in a well-greased baking dish.

Cream Topping:

1/4 cup butter or margarine

4 Tablespoons flour

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup chicken broth

1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup

1 soup can milk

Melt butter; thicken with flour; add salt and pepper.  Add chicken broth, soup and milk  Cook until it forms a thick gravy.  Pour over dressing; cover.  Bake at 350° for one hour.

My husband loves molasses cookies.  I am not a big fan, unless they are soft and chewy!!  They have to be moist , too.  There is nothing worse than a crusty, hard, dried out molasses cookie!!  I have not made these yet, I have been busy with other goodies, so if you try these, let me know how they turn out!!

Molasses Cookies

5 cups sugar

2 1/2 cups shortening

1 cup molasses (baking molasses, do not use black-strap)

1 cup hot water

3 Tablespoons baking soda

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

12-15 cups flour

Dissolve baking soda in hot water.  Mix other ingredients in the order given until blended very well.  Roll out like sugar cookies, cut out and bake.  Ground raisins will give these texture and added flavor.  If using, add 3-4 cups ground raisins.

Sugar cookies seem to be a staple of the home this time of year.  You can’t hardly have Christmas without them, I mean, that would just be wrong!! Here’s a great recipe for the yummiest sugar cookies ever!!

Yummiest Sugar Cookies

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup sugar

1 cup margarine

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

5 cups flour

Cream powdered sugar with sugar and margarine.  Add eggs, vanilla and oil.  Mix together well, the flour, slat, baking soda and cream of tartar in a large bowl.  Shape into balls, then roll in sugar.  Flatten with the bottom of a glass.  Optional:  2 teaspoons of lemon or almond flavor can be added.  For chocolate chip cookies, use brown sugar instead of white sugar.  Add chips to suit your taste.

Just in time for the Christmas Season, I came across a gingerbread cut-out recipe.  Is there anyone who does not like gingerbread cookies this time of year, or any time for that matter??  I know I sure do.  This would make a great tradition for a family!!

Gingerbread Cut-Outs

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark corn syrup

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon ginger

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vinegar

5 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

red-hot candies

In a large saucepan, combine butter, sugar, corn syrup, and spices; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm.  Stir in eggs and vinegar.  Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into sugar mixture to form a soft dough.  Chill for several hours.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4″ thickness.  Cut with a floured 2 1/2″ gingerbread man cookie cutter and place on greased baking sheets.  Use red-hots for eyes and buttons.  Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  Yield:  about 6 dozen cookies.

Not sure what to get that hard-to-buy-for someone on your Christmas list??  I can’t think of a better gift than food.  I came across this gift idea/recipe in an Amish recipe book of mine.  What a great idea…Enjoy!!

Friendship Soup

1/2 cup dry split peas

1/3 cup beef bouillon granules

1/4 cup pearl barley

1/2 cup lentils

1/4 cup minced onion

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice

1/2 -3/4 cup small macaroni

Layer ingredients in a quart jar in the order listed, using enough macaroni to fill the jar.  Add a cute swatch of fabric to the top with a rubber-band or string.  Attach the following note:

To Prepare, simply add:

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained

28 ounces diced tomatoes (can use sliced, stewed as well)

3 quarts water

Remove macaroni from jar first.  Add remaining ingredients from jar to ground beef.  Simmer 1 1/2 hours.  Add macaroni for the last 15 minutes or so of cooking. 

Here are some more great hints, tips and tricks from my home to yours.  Have a Blessed Holiday Season.  Merry Christmas!!

Iron Cleaner:  Baking soda on a damp sponge will remove starch deposits.. Make sure the iron is cold and unplugged.

Add raw rice to the salt shaker to keep salt free flowing.

Vinegar will remove rust and mildew stains from most chrome.

Fresh Lemon juice will remove onion scent from hand and fingers.

Use baby oil to get chewing gum out of hair.  Soak in baby oil and it will come out easily.

You can also use baby oil on a soft cloth to shine up a kettle, saucepan handles and knobs.

Ferns and other houseplants like leftover coffee or coffee grounds.

To remove stubborn stains from white shirts or other clothing, just pour 7-UP over the stains, soak liberally, then wash in cool water.  The stains should disappear!

I happen to love asparagus!!  If it’s cooked right.  I don’t like it when it is tough and stringy.  I don’t like it when it is mush either.  I like it when it is tender but still has some body to it!!  This s a yummy recipe that adds cheese and ham…that makes everything taste good!!!

Ham and Asparagus Au-Gratin

6 slices baked ham

24 asparagus spears, cooked and drained

2 eggs, plus 2 yolks

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons shredded Swiss cheese

2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Wrap each ham slice around 4 asparagus spears and place seam side down in a greased 7×11x2 baking dish.  Beat together the eggs, yolks,cream, salt and pepper.  Pour over ham rolls.  Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes or until done.  Sprinkle with cheese and parsley, if desired.  Serve immediately.  Yield:  4-6 servings.