Marsha's Spaghetti

I think a lot of you might have this one, but I thought I'd post it because 1) I made it last night for my in-laws, and 2) it's a staple favorite at our house. It makes a lot for our little fam, so I can usually freeze half of it and get two meals out of one preparation.

2lbs ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 large green pepper, diced
2 cans (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 cans (15 oz) tomato paste
1 can olives, sliced
1 large pkg Spaghetti Sauce Mix (Shillings-family size)
3 cups water
1 can mushrooms
1 Tbl sugar
1 Tbl oregano
1 Tbl garlic salt
1 crumbled bay leaf

Brown beef, onion, and green pepper. Drain. Add sauce, paste, dry mix, & olives. Add water, mushrooms, sugar, oregano, garlic salt, & bay leaf. Simnmer about 2 hours.

MY NOTES: I use 1 lb ground beef instead of 2, I add one can diced tomatoes (or a couple fresh if I have them), I use brown sugar, and I omit the mushrooms (Curtis is not a fan). Lastly, if I am short on time I'll just use a jar of bottled spaghetti sauce as my tomato base and then add all the other stuff.

Chicken Tortilla Bake

This is another one from Kraft. I didn't try this one forever because I don't buy miracle whip, so finally I just used mayo and it turned out fine.
I only make 1/2 the recipe for the two of us, and I put most of the sauce inside, since it sets funny on the top.

Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 35 min Makes: 8 servings

1/2 cup Miracle whip (or mayo)
1/2 cup flour
3 cups milk
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup Salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
16 flour tortillas

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Mix dressing and flour in medium saucepan with wire whisk until well blended. Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended. Cook and stir on medium heat until sauce comes to a boil and thickens. Stir in half of the cheese. Reserve 1 cup of the prepared sauce.

ADD chicken, salsa and parsley to remaining sauce; stir until well blended. Spoon 1/3 cup of the sauce mixture down center of each tortilla; roll up. Place 8 of the roll-ups, seam sides down, in each of two (11x8-inch) baking dishes; top evenly with reserved sauce and remaining cheese.

BAKE 25 min.

Fried Ice Cream Dessert

ok, so this is not a health food!

3 c crushed cornflakes
1/2 c toasted coconut
1/2 c brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
mix together and add:
1 cube melted butter
press 2/3 of the mix into bottom of a 9x13 pan
spread 1/2 gallon softened vanilla ice cream
pour on top:
1 jar butterscotch/caramel topping and remaining cornflakes mixture
freeze until ready to serve

Crock Pot Chili

I like chili, but never had much luck making it until my neighbor/friend had us over for her traditional Halloween Chili dinner. I am not sure why it turns out so well, it's so simple!

1 lb hamburger
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
2 cans beans
red & green pepper, chopped (like 1/2 of each)
1 T chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/3 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano

brown meat, drain, and add all ingredients to crock pot. cook 6 hours. Mostly its to cook the onion all the way through. You could probably saute it and it wouldn't take as long

Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

After having pretty good luck with copy cat Olive Garden recipes, I thought I could try these Red Lobster biscuits. They turned out really good and they are really easy!

2 c Bisquick mix
2/3 c milk
1 c cheese, grated
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt

mix together, drop on a cookie sheet and bake 10 min at 400

spread on top:
2 T butter, melted
1/4 tsp garlic
1/4 tsp parsley

bake 5-10 more minutes

Peanut Butter Balls

OK, this is going to seem like a strange recipe, but it's great especially when you are craving something sweet, but want to be better about not eating the sweets.

Peanut Butter Balls...
3 c rolled oats (Pull out 1/3 c)
1/2 c raw pumpkin seeds
3/4 c raw sunflowers(Pull out 1/4 and add to 1/3 c oats)
In coffee grinder, food processor or really good blender combing dry ingredients and blend till flour like. (You may need to break it down, but it does work in a blender)
remove and set aside
Blend raisins (and I add a 1/2 c apricots) until chopped a bit
add to "flour blend)
stir in 3/4 c almond or peanut butter
1/2 c agave syrup (found in the organic section of Fred Meyers
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 c shredded coconut
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Stir all together. You may need to use your hands. roll the mixture into walnut size balls and roll in nuts or oats or more coconut (some have even rolled this in mini chocolate chips for a treat.) I usually blend this oats and sunflowers set aside earlier and roll mine in the powder.

freeze 20 minutes and store in the fridge. Makes 24-30 balls.! mmmmm

Sweet n Sour Chicken

I have made a few different kinds of sweet n sour chicken but this one seems to turn out well:
2-3 chicken breasts, cut up

2 eggs, beaten

1-2 T corn starch
garlic powder
salt
mix together

coat chicken in eggs then cornstarch and fry until golden brown.

sauce:
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
3 T ketchup
1 T soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic salt

stir in saucepan on low heat

Price likes his sauce separate, so we just serve as is with white rice or friend rice. Or you can pour sauce over chicken and bake for 20 minutes.