Home-Style Potato Soup

This is from the Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook, but with a few modifications (like adding the corn).

1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth (can use a couple bouillon cubes in water or if you leave it out, it's probably ok)

3 med potatoes, cut into large pieces (about a pound)

1 1/2 C milk

1/4 t salt

1/8 t pepper

2 med green onions (optional)

1 can of corn (or half a bag or so of frozen corn)

1 - 1 1/2 C shredded cheddar

Boil the potatoes in the broth for about 15 minutes until tender. Remove the saucepan from the heat, but DO NOT drain. Break the potatoes into smaller pieces with a potato masher or fork. The mixture should be lumpy. Add the milk, salt, pepper, green onions, and corn. Heat through on medium, stirring occasionally. Don't let it boil or it will look curdly. Add the cheese.

New England Baked Bean Stew

This is a modification of the recipe in the Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook. We like this in the winter or camping or it was great for Scout trips.

● One to two links cooked Polish sausage cut up

● 2 Cans Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained 

● 2 Cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained 

● 2 Cans diced tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, and spices, undrained 

● 2 T packed brown sugar 

Combine all ingredients. Cook uncovered over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes stirring occasionally. Serves 8.

Impossible Vegetable Pie

(from Grandma Dolly) 

2 C chopped broccoli/cauliflower

1 C shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 C chopped onion

1/2 C chopped green bell pepper

1 1/2 C milk

3 eggs

3/4 C Bisquick Mix

1/2 t salt and some pepper (optional)

Boil the broccoli, cauliflower, onion, and green pepper in 1" water for 10 minutes. Drain the water. Stir in the cheese. Pour into a 10" pie plate (glass works well). Beat together the milk, eggs, Bisquick, salt, and pepper. Pour over the vegetables and cheese in the pie dish. Bake at 400 for 35 to 40 minutes.

Easy Meal Ideas

Ragu and Noodles

Get a jar of pasta sauce (my favorite is Ragu Chunky Garden Style) and serve with any type of noodles, but egg noodles are especially good. You can also brow ground beef or ground sausage to go in the sauce.

Potato Bar

Bake potatoes (350 for around an hour, scrub, poke, and bake, wrapping in foil is not necessary, or cook in the microwave). Serve with heated canned chili, cooked broccoli (chop and cook in a covered dish in the microwave for 5 min), and grated cheese, or other toppings (sour cream, bacon, etc.)

Crunchy Tacos

Taco shells, ground beef, canned refried beans, tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup/salsa

Homemade Burritos

Soft tortillas, refried beans, cheese

Breakfast Burritos

Soft tortillas, sausage, scrambled eggs*, hash browns*, cheese, salsa (or ketchup), tomatoes (optional)

*For scrambled eggs, crack eggs into a small dish, stir with a fork/whisk, pour into hot, oiled/sprayed skillet, and cook until done. You can buy the has browns frozen, or bake potatoes, then shred when cool enough and heat through in butter or oil.

Easy BBQ Chicken or Pulled Pork in the Crock Pot

Put 2-4 large THAWED chicken breasts in the Crock Pot with some BBQ sauce on low for around 8 hours. (If you use chicken breasts that came frozen in a bag, they will be smaller and you'll want to use 4 or more.) Shred with forks at the end of cooking time and add more BBQ sauce. Serve on buns.
-or-
Put a pork roast (really any kind of cut, like a pork shoulder or whatever, but not pork chops because that would be weird, but I guess it could work, but you should just bake those in the oven or cook them on the grill) in the Crock Pot with some BBQ sauce on it. Cook on low for around 8 hours. Drain off the liquid into a can to dispose when cooled. Shred with forks and add more BBQ sauce. Serve on buns with additional BBQ sauce if desired.

French Toast

To make French toast for one person, crack an egg or two in a wide-bottomed bowl or pie dish or something similar, whisk it and add a little milk and stir that in. Add some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger (or Allspice as it has those kinds of spices in it already, or pumpkin pie spice). You can also add some vanilla if desired. Dip the bread (both sides), even stale bread, into the mixture, and cook on an oiled/sprayed hot skillet/pan. Serve with syrup.

Biscuits and Gravy

Brown a tube of Jimmy Dean sausage (it's the best!). Once cooked, stir in 1/4 C flour.  Gradually add 2 1/2 C milk. Cook until it comes to a boil and thickens, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to med-low and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Season with salt and pepper. Serve on biscuits, either homemade or those that you bake from the refrigerated section in the grocery store. (From All Recipes)

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Cube a chicken breast. Cube turnups, potatoes, yams, carrots, and any other vegetables. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic salt, onion powder, rosemary, etc. Bake at 350 to 400 for 30-45 (could be 60?) minutes or so, until done.

Alternate: Instead of seasoning with garlic powder and onion salt and paprika or whatever, mix one part balsamic vinegar and one part pure maple syrup and brush on the meat and vegetables. The glaze will caramelize!

Kielbasa

Cook some ground sausage in a large skillet until done. Drain off fat into foil or a heat-proof disposable container, throw in garbage (not in sink) when cooled. Add 1/2 to 1 head of largely cut up cabbage. Cook with sausage until done. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Chicken in the Crock Pot

4 chicken breasts

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 stick of cream cheese

1 pouch/envelope of Italian dressing powder mix

Put everything in the Crock Pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or so, or high from 4-5. Stir up when done, and serve on rice.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

 From Jennilyn Woolf

1/3 C (3 oz.) cream cheese

1/4 C green salsa

1 T fresh lime juice

1/2 t cumin

1 t chili powder

1/2 t onion powder

1/4 t garlic powder

3 T chopped cilantro

2 T chopped green onions (opt)

2 C cooked, shredded chicken (can use canned)

1 C shredded pepper jack cheese, or Mexican blend, or cheddar

6 inch corn or flour tortillas

2 T oil (can use the cooking spray instead)

Nonstick cooking spray

Kosher salt (regular salt will be fine)

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in microwave for 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic. Stir to combine, then add cilantro, green onions, chicken, and cheese.

Wrap 3-4 tortillas in a damp paper towel (or clean, damp towel) and microwave for 20-30 seconds so they are soft and pliable. If the tortillas crack when rolled, use damper towels and increase the microwave time.

Place 2-3 T of chicken mix in the tortilla and roll it up.

Place seam side down on baking sheet in a single layer. Spray the tops with cooking spray or brush with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with some Kosher salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends get golden brown. Cool for 5-10 minutes and serve with (opt) sour cream, guacamole, salsa. Makes approximately 16 corn or 12 flour taquitos.

Taco Soup

 The first time we ever ate this was at Jeff and Janae Stevenson's house when we lived downtown Salt Lake.

1 T oil

1 4 oz. can diced chiles

1 medium onion, chopped

4-6 C chicken broth

1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (I like it with diced stewed tomatoes)

10 oz. frozen corn (or a can of corn, drained)

2 15 oz. cans of beans, drained and rinsed (black, white, or kidney)

1-2 T Mexican/taco seasoning

Dash of chili powder, optional

Sour cream, optional

Chips

Cheese, grated

Saute the onions in the oil over medium heat until tender. Add everything else except for the last three ingredients, and heat until boiling. Simmer 30 minutes. Serve with the sour cream, chips, and cheese on top.

Macaroni and Cheese

 I think this is what Grandma Johnson used to make for the family and is what Mom always made for us.

1 3/4 C uncooked noodles

2 C cheddar cheese, grated

1 t onion salt

1 1/2 C milk

Soda crackers

Butter (maybe 2 T cut into little pieces)

Cook the noodles, drain. Stir noodles together with the cheese, onion salt, and milk. Put in a casserole dish. Sprinkle crushed soda crackers on top. Dot with some butter. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

Bacon Basil Avocado Pasta

 

8 oz (1/2 standard box) bow tie pasta

2 medium avocados, chopped

6 slices bacon cooked (425 in oven in tray with foil or parchment paper for 15? minutes, or fry in skillet)

2/3 C chopped fresh basil

2 T lemon juice

1 T olive oil (other oil will do)

3 cloves garlic (I like the kind that comes pre chopped in a jar from the store)

1/4 t pepper

1/8 t salt

1/2 C shredded parmesan

Cook pasta according to directions. In a large bowl combine the avocados, bacon, basil*, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, pepper, and salt. Add the hot pasta and toss to combine. (Put in a serving dish if you want), then sprinkle with cheese. Serves 4. *Don't let it sit around too long or the basil will wilt and look gross.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (off the old Western Family chocolate chip bag)

 2 1/4 C flour

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 C butter

1/2 C sugar

3/4 C brown sugar

2 t vanilla

1 egg

1 bag milk chocolate chips (we like the Guittard giant milk chocolate)

Preheat oven to 375. In a small bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt. In a larger bowl cream butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg. Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mix well. Add chocolate chips, mix well. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 10-15 minutes. Makes approximately 3 doz.

Southwestern Egg Rolls

I got this recipe from Kaylene from when we did dinner trades. The sauce is so yummy!

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
2 T green onion, sliced
1 can or 1 C frozen or canned corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced green chiles
1 t cumin
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t salt
Dash of cayenne pepper
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
Flour tortillas

Avocado dipping sauce:
1 C ranch dressing
1 avocado, seeded and mashed
juice of one lime
salt, pepper, cayenne to taste

Combine everything but the tortillas. Slightly warm tortillas to make them easier to roll. Place a portion of the mixture into each tortilla and roll as tightly as possible. Spray a jelly roll pan or baking stone and place the chicken rolls an inch apart from each other. Brush the tops of each tortilla with a little butter and bake in oven at 400 until golden brown. Dip the rolls in the dipping sauce that has been pureed until smooth.

Instant Pastafazool

When I was in Young Women's, we collected some easy recipes to send to the missionaries. Over the years, I have made some of the recipes, and this is one that we like. Plus, it's a great food storage recipe.

1 15 oz can chili with beans
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
7 oz elbow macaroni, cooked (about 2 C dry)
1/2 C grated cheese

Mix chili and tomato sauce. Heat. Drain cooked macaroni and add to chili, along with cheese. Toss to mix. Top with extra cheese. Serves 4-5.

China Fried Rice

This recipe is from my 2nd cousin's wife who is from Malaysia.  She's lived in Singapore and speaks Chinese.  I've tried so many ham fried rice recipes and never gotten the right taste, but this recipe comes the closest.

4 T oil
3 cloves garlic
3 T chopped onion
2 spring onions
1/2 can lunch meat/pack of ham
2 1/2 C cooked, chilled rice
1 T sugar
1 T soy sauce
1/2 T sesame oil
Pepper
1 T fish sauce or 1/2 t salt
3 T peas
1 egg

In a wok or fry pan, stir fry garlic and onion in oil until golden, add meat, spring onion, peas, and egg.  Stir fry until cooked.

Add rice, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, and fish sauce.  Cook over medium heat, stirring and tossing gently until mixture is well combined. Cook another minute, then serve.

***

I usually use less oil, sometimes use garlic powder, use regular onions, don't use sesame oil, use garlic salt for the fish sauce, and add more peas.  I also cook the egg in my frying pan on its own, then add the other ingredients.

White Bean Hummus

This is the hummus mom brought to the family reunion in Rupert.

2 cloves garlic
1 t chopped fresh rosemary
2 cans great Northern beans, rinsed and drained (3 C cooked or 1 C dry, then cooked)
3 T lemon juice
3 T tahini (I just grind up sesame seeds in my blender to make a paste)
3/4 t salt
1/4 t ground red pepper (I just used black pepper)
1/4 C olive oil

You can make this in a food processor, but I lost the blade to mine (!), so I did it this time in the blender.  First I blended up the sesame seeds, added the rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper, then added the lemon juice, beans, and oil.  I just blended it until it was all smooth. Delicious with those multi-grain Food Should Taste Good chips from Costco.

Mexican Bean Dip

This is my favorite 7-layer bean dip (sorry, the picture doesn't have the tomatoes).  If I make this with tamales or tacos or whatever, this gets eaten, not the other food. So, I've just turned this appetizer/side dish into a main dish at our house.  I got the recipe from someone in Evan's mom's ward when we got married.


Layer 1:
2 10 1/2 oz cans jalapeno bean dip

Layer 2:
Mash together:
3 medium-ripe avocados
3 T lemon juice
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Layer 3:
Combine:
8 oz sour cream
1/2 C mayo
1 1/4 oz package taco seasoning

Layer 4:
1 large bunch green onions

Layer 5:
3 medium tomatoes chopped

Layer 6:
2- 3 1/2 oz chopped, drained olives

Layer 7:
8 oz sharp shredded cheese

I use regular refried beans because I almost always have them on hand.  I leave off the onions. 

No-Knead Bread

This is seriously amazing.  We had it for Easter dinner, too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Ah9ES2yTU
Sullivan Street Bakery

Here's how I make it:
3 C flour
¼ t yeast
1 ¼ t salt
Mix above together
Add 1 ½ C water
Stir it together until it makes a lump
Cover and wait 12 hours
Dump out stringy dough onto a dish towel sprinkled with wheat bran
Lightly pat dough, fold sides in to make a ball
Spray Pyrex casserole dish with a lid and sprinkle in some wheat bran.
Pick up dough in dish towel and plop it into a hot Pyrex* (seam side down on bran)
Wheat flour or bran on top
Bake at 500 (says you can use cast iron)
30 minutes with cover
15-20 no cover
Golden color on top

*I let mine raise 1-2 more hours after putting it in the Pyrex