January 7: 10-Layer Slow-Cooker Dish

I was looking through my favorite beef recipes and found this one. Great recipe! It comes from the book "Fix it and Forget It, Lightly". This recipe will be great fro the side of beef I just bought. 

1-1 ½ lbs lean ground beef

6 medium-sized potatoes, thinly sliced

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper
sliced carrots

15-oz. can corn, undrained, opt

15-oz. can peas, undrained

10 ¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup

Brown ground beef in nonstick skillet. Then create the following layers in the slow cooker.

Layer 1: one-fourth of the potatoes, mixed with one-half the onions, salt, and pepper.

Layer 2: half-can of corn and corn

Layer 3: one-fourth of the potatoes.

Layer 4: half-can of peas.

Layer 5: one-fourth of the potatoes, mixed with one-half the onions, salt, and pepper.

Layer 6: remaining corn.

Layer 7: remaining potatoes.

Layer 8: remaining peas and water.

Layer 9: ground beef.

Layer 10: soup.

Cover. Cook on high 4 hours.

January 5: Waffles

This is a wonderful recipe for waffles, given to me by my sister, Robyn.

2 eggs

2 c milk

½ c melted butter

2 c flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 TB sugar

½ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Beat eggs until fluffy.

Add milk and butter.

Mix. Add dry ingredients.

Mix well. Bake in waffle iron

January 4: Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Again, from my favorite cooking blog "Jamie Cooks it Up" comes this highly requested favorite chicken recipe.

Chicken:
4 large chicken breasts
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 c milk
3 c grated Cheddar cheese
1 tsp dried parsley


Sauce:
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 TB sour cream
2 TB butter


Cut each chicken breast into 3 large chunks.  In a food processor, grind up Ritz crackers. Put the milk, cheese and cracker crumbs into 3 separate bowls or small pans. Combine the salt and pepper with the cracker crumbs. Dip each chicken chunk into the milk, then the cheese, then finally the cracker crumbs. Place chicken pieces on a sprayed baking sheet.  Sprinkle the dried parsley over the chicken pieces.  Cover the pan with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake the chicken 10 more minutes or until chicken is golden brown and crispy. 


In a medium size sauce pan, combine soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk. Heat until hot. Serve over chicken. 

January 3: The Best Little Ham Sandwiches

My sister, Robyn, came to my home last year for a visit and made these for dinner. They are so delicious and everyone loves them. 

2 dozen King Hawaiian Rolls
1/2 lb shaved ham
1/2 lb baby Swiss or reg Swiss cheese
To make the sandwiches,slice rolls in half. Place 1 slice ham and 1/2 slice cheese on each roll. Place sandwiches in a baking dish (24 rolls will fit snugly in a 9x13 pan). 


Melt 1/4 cup butter
Add 2 TB Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp garlic salt
Mix together.
Pour the sauce over sandwiches. Place foil over pan and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. (In the photo poppy seeds are sprinkled on top before baking.)

January 2; Layered Ground Beef Casserole (Shepherd's Pie)

Vivian, a woman from my church, brought this to our family at the birth of one of my children. It is delicious and   as you will note, it can be used for 2 different meals. 

2 ½ lbs extra lean ground beef

2 tsp salt and pepper, or to taste

1 ½ TB Worcestershire sauce

1 onions, chopped

1 ½ cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 c finely chopped carrots

1 c ketchup

1 c hot ketchup

1 16 oz can French cut green beans, drained

2 c mashed potatoes

1 c grated cheese

Melt 2 TB shortening in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, and carrots. Sauté until onions are golden brown. Add ground beef. Stir and cook until meat is browned. Add salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and ketchups. Cover and simmer until meat is cooked. Only use half of the meat mixture for the casserole. Use the other half for barbeque beef sandwiches. Layer the meat, green beans, potatoes and then cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

January 1: Lentil Pasta Sauce

Good luck foods for New Year's Day. Around the world, people eat certain foods on New Year's Day that are thought to be symbolic. Noodles are eaten to bring long life, black-eyed peas for prosperity, cabbage for luck and fortune, and lentils also for good fortune, pomegranate for abundance and fertility and fish represent moving forward in the new year. Today I will post a favorite dish using one of these food items.  This recipe comes from "Good Morning America". 

Saute:
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 onion
1 clove garlic
1/2 green pepper, opt


Add:
15 oz tomato sauce
1/2 c tomato, chopped
1 c water
1/4 c dry lentil


Add:
1/4 tsp oregano
1/3 tsp basil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp thyme
dash Tabasco sauce


Bring to a boil. Cover. Simmer on low for 45 minutes. 


Serve over pasta. Top with Mozzarella and/or Parmesan cheese.  

December 31: Egg Rolls

New Year's Eve! In celebrating this day, we often have Chinese food so I am sharing my favorite egg roll recipe.

2 lbs ground pork
3 1/2 c diced carrots
4 c shredded cabbage
3 c diced mushrooms
3 c diced celery
1 medium diced onion
4 1/2 c bean sprouts
60 lumpia wrappers
2 or more TB soy sauce

Cook in order of ingredients. Brown pork. Drain fat from pork before adding vegetables. Add carrots, cook 3 minutes. Add celery and onions, cook 3 more minutes. Add cabbage and mushrooms, cook 3 more minutes. Add bean sprouts and soy sauce. Cook 1 minute. Spoon 1 TB mixture into each wrapper (follow directions on package of lumpia to fold.) Deep-fry 4 to 6 minutes til golden brown and heated all the way through. 

Serve with sweet and sour sauce.