Mom’s Famous Picnic Beans

2 cans pork & beans

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can butter beans, drained

1 small onion, chopped

1 pound hamburger, browned

1 pound bacon or sausage, browned

1 cup ketchup

1 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon liquid smoke

3 tablespoons vinegar

Mix all ingredients together in slow cooker. Heat 3 to 4 hours until onions are soft.

Marnie’s Sugar Cookies

2/3 cup shortening

¾ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

4 teaspoons milk

2 cups flour

1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Preheat oven 375F. Cream shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Add egg and milk. Beat till light and fluffy. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture. Cut dough in half. Refrigerate one hour. Roll dough to ¼ inch. Cut and bake 8 to 10 minutes. Decorate with buttercream frosting.

Italian Sandwich Casserole

2 pounds ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 cup ketchup

2 cans tomato soup

2 teaspoons oregano

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 eggs

1 1/3 cup milk

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons onion salt

12 slices processed American cheese

Preheat oven to 350F. Brown hamburger with onion. Drain. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add ketchup, soup, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine eggs beaten with milk, flour, baking powder, and onion salt. Spread ½ batter into a greased 9x13 pan. Top with ½ meat mixture, cheese, remaining meat, top with remaining batter. Bake 30 minutes.

Minestrone Soup

½ pound ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

2 cans Italian style tomatoes, undrained

2 cups chopped Swiss chard

2 cups beef broth

1 can kidney beans, undrained

1 can garbanzo beans, undrained

1 can French cut green beans, undrained

1 cup dry small shell pasta, cooked

Brown beef with onion. Add tomatoes and chard. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes. Add beef broth, beans, and noodles. Stir gently to combine. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes till bubbly. Top with parmesan cheese if desired.

Crock Pot Chicken Dip

3 frozen chicken breasts
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can corn, drained
1 can pork and beans
1 can jalapenos
1 jar salsa
2 T. dry taco seasoning mix

Put all ingredients in crock pot on low for 8 hours. Shred chicken breasts with two forks. Serve with tortilla chips.

Cornbread Salad

1 package Jiffy cornbread mix

1 cup cream style corn

½ cup sour cream

½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can corn, drained

1 sweet onion, finely chopped

3 large tomatoes, chopped

1 green pepper, finely chopped

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 pint sour cream

1 package ranch dressing mix

Chopped parsley leaves for garnish

Preheat oven to 375F. Combine cornbread mix, cream corn, ½ cup sour cream, sharp cheddar, and cayenne pepper. Bake in an ungreased 8x8 pan for 30 minutes or golden brown. Cool cornbread then cut into 1 inch cubes. Put cubed cornbread into a large glass bowl. Layer beans, corn, onion, pepper, tomatoes, and cheese. Mix sour cream and ranch dressing mix. Spread dressing evenly over cheese. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Garnish with parsley before serving.

Chicken Chili Casserole

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 cans chili with no beans

2 cans diced green chilies

8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

10 flour tortillas

2 chicken breasts, grilled and chopped

Preheat oven to 375F. Stir together soups, chili, and chilies. Spray bottom of 9x13 pan with non-stick spray. Layer 2 tortillas, soup mix, chicken, cheese. Repeat 4 layers. Top with final 2 tortillas and sprinkle of cheese. Bake 30 to 45 minutes or until warmed through and bubbly.

Grandma Betty’s Hot Fudge

1 can evaporated milk

2/3 cup sugar

1 bag chocolate chips

Cook and stir all ingredients over low heat, stirring frequently.

Corn Flake Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
6 cups corn flakes
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Measure corn flakes into a large bowl; set aside. In a medium saucepan, heat sugar and Karo over medium heat till it comes to a full boil. Remove from heat; add peanut butter. Stir to combine. Pour over corn flakes; stir. Scoop by heaping teaspoon onto wax paper. Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Spatter over cookies with a wisk.

German Pancakes

3 eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons butter
Powdered (confectioners') sugar

1/2 cup milk, room temperature
1/2 cup sifted bread flour or all-purpose flour*
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 lemon, cut in wedges.

Preheat oven to 350F. Melt butter in a medium baking dish, 12 inch skillet or cast iron pan. In a medium bowl, mix flour, milk, eggs and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake on center rack in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm with butter, powdered sugar, and lemon wedges. 

Mango Salsa

1 cup onion, finely chopped

2 cups mango, chopped

2 cups tomato, chopped

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

6 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped

1 cup bell pepper, seeded and chopped

¼ teaspoon black pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon honey, warmed

¼ teaspoon oregano

¼ teaspoon basil

2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced

When peeling mangoes, hold them over the bowl to catch juice. Mix all of the ingredients together, stirring after each ingredient. Put mango in last. Let stand for several hours.

Grandpa Pete’s Garlic Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick baking mix

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

2/3 cup milk

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Dash parsley

½ cup butter, melted

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat oven to 450F. Mix baking mix, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, milk, and cheese until soft dough forms. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile; mix butter, parsley and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. Brush over warm biscuits.

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

2(8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

½ cup sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

½ cup pumpkin

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1 pinch cloves

1 pinch nutmeg

1/3 cup butter

¼ cup sugar

1 ¼ cup finely crushed graham crackers (about 18)

Preheat oven to 375F. Melt butter; stir in sugar. Add crackers. Toss mixture well. Spread evenly in 9 inch Springform pan. Press along bottoms and sides to form a firm, even crust. Bake 4 to 5 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325F. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours.

Charred Corn and Radish Salad

4 ears fresh corn

1 bunch radishes, thinly sliced

½ sweet onion, chopped fine

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

2 roma tomatoes, diced

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Zest and juice from one lime

Shuck and clean corn. Grill 15-20 minutes over medium flame, turning frequently. Corn will become slightly blackened. Remove corn kernels from the cob. In a medium bowl, combine corn and remaining ingredients. Chill.

Fajitas

1 flank steak

3 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

1sweet onion, ¼ diced, ¾ sliced thin

½ jalapeno, chopped fine

1 teaspoon red chili flakes (divided)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Juice and zest from two limes

1 red bell pepper, julienned

1 green bell pepper, julienned

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Flour tortillas

Shredded cheddar

Sour cream

Combine steak, garlic, cilantro, ¼ diced onion, ½ teaspoon red chili flakes, salt, pepper, lime zest and juice in a large plastic zipper bag. Marinate 30 minutes. Heat grill. Grill steak to medium, let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet. Add ½ teaspoon red chili flakes, sliced onions, and peppers. Saute till slightly softened. Slice meat against the grain into thin strips. Serve with warmed tortillas, cheese, and sour cream. Great with Pico de Gallo.

Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins

1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup leftover cranberry sauce
1 orange zested and juiced

Combine sugar and egg, beat well. Combine flour and baking powder. Add to sugar mixture, alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in butter and vanilla. Fold in cranberries orange zest, and orange juice. Spoon into greased muffin pans, filling 2/3 full. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes.

Cranberry Sauce

1 pound fresh cranberries, wahsed and dried
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 orange, zested and juiced

In a medium pot, combine the cranberries, suar, and water. Stir to blend. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to simmer and add cinnamon stick, allspice, and nutmeg. Simmer 5 to 7 minutes. Add orange juice and zest. Chill. Remove cinnamon stick before serving.

Pico de Gallo

6 roma tomatoes, diced

1 sweet onion

1 jalapeno, chopped fine (remove seeds and ribs for milder salsa)

½ cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon salt

2 garlic cloves, minced

Juice and zest from a lime

Combine all ingredients. Enjoy!

Megan’s Blender Salsa

2 cans stewed Mexican style tomatoes

1 onion, quartered

1 jalapeno, quartered (remove seeds and ribs for milder salsa)

½ cup fresh cilantro leaves

½ teaspoon garlic salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

Place all ingredients in the blender. Chop until desired consistency. Serve with tortilla chips.

Layer Dip

1 can hot bean dip

2 avocados, mashed

1 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix

2 tomatoes, diced

1 small can sliced black olives, drained

8 ounces shredded mild cheddar

Mix sour cream and taco seasoning together. Set aside. Layer ingredients in 9x13 pan in the following order: bean dip, avocado, sour cream mixture, tomatoes, olives, cheese. Chill for at least one hour before serving with corn tortilla chips

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup margarine

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 small package dry instant vanilla pudding

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 ½ cups flour

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream together margarine and both sugars. Add egg, pudding mix, and vanilla. Beat till light and fluffy. Add baking soda and flour. Mix gently. Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Drop by heaping teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.

5 Cheese Lasagna Rolls

1 pound ground Italian Sausage
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
1 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 c. ricotta cheese
1/2 c. cottage cheese
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. mozzarella cheese
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 beaten egg
10 lasagna noodles
1 jar marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 400F. Cook noodles in well-salted boiling water. (These only need to be partially cooked; they will finish cooking in the oven.) Meanwhile, in a large skillet, brown sausage; season with salt and pepper. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, ricotta, cottage cheese, Parmesan, and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheeses. Stir in egg. Drain noodles and separate by lying them flat on a cookie sheet. Spoon meat and cheese filling along the length of each noodle, leaving 1 1/2 inches at on end unfilled. Loosely roll each noodle and place them in a 9x13 pan. Cover with marinara. Cover lasagna rolls with tin foil and bake 40 minutes. Uncover; top with remaining mozzarella and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.

Breakfast Casserole

1 pound pork sausage
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
6 slices white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

In a skillet, brown and crumble sausage. Drain and set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk and salt. Stir in bread cubes, cheese, and sausage. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake uncovered at 350F for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.