Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs. ground beef

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp minced garlic

3/4 cup ketchup

1/8 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup water

2 TBSP brown sugar

1 TBSP yellow mustard

1 tsp chili powder

Direcetions:

1. Brown beef, onion, and green pepper in LG skillet.

2. Add garlic part way through browning.

3. Drain off fat. 

4. Combine remaining ingredients. 

5. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

6. Serve on buns. Freezes well.

We like these with corn on the cob and other summer foods like chips and watermelon. What other summer foods do you like?

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake

Ingredients:

1 lb. chicken

4 cups rice, cooked

3/4 cup corn, frozen

15oz. can black beans (drain, rinse)

1 cup plain yogurt (I've used sour cream and that works fine too.)

4oz. can green chilis

1/2 cup salsa

1+ cup cheddar cheese

Direcetions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a LG bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly to combine.

3. Transfer to oven safe dish and tope with extra cheese.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. 

5. Serve plain or with tortillas and eat as tacos!

Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1 pkg. colored noodles

1/2 cup Zesty Italian dressing

1 chopped tomato -or- red pepper

1 SM can sliced olives

parmesian cheese

Direcetions:

1. Cook and rinse noodles according to directions.

2. Add other ingredients.

3. Stir well.

4. Best served chilled.

My kids don't like this pasta, but they will eat the olives and noodles without the dressing. I like to add just a little dressing to the entire salad and have the bottle available to add more per serving. 

What side dishes do you eat during Thanksgiving?

Mini Pies

Ingredients:

pancake mix (12-14 pancake servings)

fillers - (ham & cheese; sausage, egg, cheese)

Direcetions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Prepare pancake mix according to package directions.

3. Grease muffin tin.

4. Spoon 1 TBSP of mix into each muffin tin.

5. Mix filler together. 

6. Spoon mix into muffin tins.

7. Spoon 2 TBSP of pancake mix on top of filler.

8. Bake for 20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

These are good frozen and reheated. What fillers sound good to you?

Pizza Monkeybread

Ingredients:

1/4 tsp garlic powder

4 TBSP butter

12 frozen rolls

48 pieces mozzarella cheese (cubed string cheese)

96 slices meat

2 cups marinara sauce

Direcetions:

1. Heat garlic and butter over MED heat just until garlic begins to brown. Remove from heat. 

2. Lightly brush inside of bundt pan with garlic butter.

3. Cut rolls into fourths and flatten. Top with 2 slices of meat and cheese.

4. Wrap the dough around the pepperoni and cheese, pinching well to seal.

5. Lightly brush the pizza ball with garlic butter and place in pan.

6. Repeat until all dough is used.

7. Cover and let sit 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

8. Bake for 35 minutes or until top is very brown.

9. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes.

10. Turn out onto a platter and serve with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

Good leftovers. We usually eat this as an entree, but it is considered an appetizer. 

BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:

1 lb. chicken

1 bottle BBQ sauce

1/4 cup vinegar

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp garlic powder

Direcetions:

1. Add chicken to crockpot.

2. Mix BBQ sauce and all ingredients in a separate, small bowl.

3. Pour over chicken

4. Cook on low for 4 hours.

We usually eat this with mashed potatoes and some vegetable. Instead of gravy for the potatoes, we like to pour some of the left over BBQ  marinade over the potatoes. This made enough for me, my husband, and our 2 kids with left overs.

What's for dinner?

Have you ever wondered around 3:00, "What's for dinner?" I'm constantly asking this question and usually end up making PB and Jelly sandwiches because the hubs is at school and I generally don't like making food for two young kids that don't like what I make. But on the off chance that I'm prepared and have a plan for what's for dinner, I want things that are healthy, quick, and won't break the bank. Come back often to see what's for dinner tonight.

**These are not original recipes.