Recipes for Thought

Ground Beef & Pasta Casserole

2010-04-22T19:14:00.003-05:00

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
3 cups dry mini penne or medium sized pasta
1/2 tsp salt
1 medium onion diced
1 cup celery chopped
1 clove garlic minced
2 tsp sugar
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 15oz can tomato sauce
Monterrey Jack Cheese

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray an 11x7 baking dish with cooking spray.

Cook noodles according to package. Brown hamburger meat with onion and celery. When hamburger is almost done, add garlic and salt and cook another 2-3 minutes. Then add tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, and cooked & drained noodles. Mix together then spoon into prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake on 350 for 30 minutes, then remove from oven sprinkle cheese over top and bake another 5 minutes uncovered.

Mmmmmmmmm tasty!!!

Tasty Chicken

2010-04-14T17:51:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup tomato juice (I used tomato sauce)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp oregano

Pre-heat oven to 350°--place aluminum foil in bottom of baking dish
Pound chicken out flat
Dip chicken into tomato juice/sauce, then place in baking dish
sprinkle garlic powder and oregano mix onto chicken

Bake uncovered 45 minutes.

Tater Tot Casserole

2010-04-02T08:26:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:
1 Pound Lean Hamburger Meat
1 Can cream of mushroom soup
1 can corn
1 can green beans
velvetta cheese
tator tots

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°
Cook hamburger meat in skillet until brown; drain
Take small square baking dish and place drained hamburger in first, then pour drained corn and drained green beans in. Take cream of mushroom and spread across whole dish, then take a cheese sliceer and slice out squares of velvetta and cover the whole dish. Top with tater tots. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Traditionally, this dish is done with the meat raw, but it takes about an hour and a half for the meat to get all the way done, even with the smaller dish, so I have switched to cooking the meat first, draining and then baking. This also reduces the amount of grease in the pan because you can drain off what you have already cooked.

Alternatives:
I have used cream of mushroom with roasted garlic, at first I thought it was weird and gross, but it was actually really good.
Also, if you do not have velvetta on hand, you can substitute cheeses. I have used plain old american cheese, that you would put on a sandwich and shredded cheddar cheese. The velvetta cooks better, but the other cheeses still taste good!!!

Enjoy!!!

Banana Nut Muffins

2010-01-31T12:55:00.003-06:00

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup mashed banana
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 400°. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; make a well in center.
Mix milk, egg, oil, banana, and walnuts in a small bowl. Pour mixture into well. Mix batter just until moistened; do not over mix. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes our clean or until muffins are golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Tips:
To ensure round muffin tops, grease ONLY the bottom and halfway up the sides of each muffin cup.
Also, if you do not have a sifter, combine the ingredients that need sifting and take two forks and lightly run through the mixture a few times.
This muffin recipe can substitute blueberries or raisins if you don't want to use bananas.

Pinto Beans

2010-01-29T18:16:00.002-06:00

Ingredients:
2 cups dry pinto beans
8 cups water
1 lb ham
salt & pepper

You want to rinse the beans and soak them for at least 6 hours, then rinse again.
Combine the water, beans, ham, salt & pepper and bring to a boil. Then turn down and simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Serve with cornbread and onion. Serves 6-8.

2010-01-27T22:14:00.000-06:00

New posts coming soon. Pictures too when available.

2010-01-04T17:35:00.001-06:00

Search Engine Submission - AddMe

Cabbage and Beef Casserole

2010-01-03T12:59:00.001-06:00

Ingredients:

1 to 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped green bell pepper

1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 head cabbage, about 1 ½ to 2 pounds

3/4 cup shredded mild Cheddar cheese

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°

Cook ground beef, onions, and green bell pepper in large skillet until meat is no longer pink; drain off fat. Stir in tomatoes, salt, and garlic powder. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Cut cabbage into 6 wedges. Cook cabbage in a small amount of boiling, salted water, covered, for about 10 minutes, drain well. Arrange cabbage wedges in a lightly buttered 9-inch square baking dish. Pour ground beef mixture over and around the cabbage wedges. Bake casserole, uncovered, at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over casserole and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Serves approximately 6.

Mini Meatloaves

2010-01-03T12:46:00.002-06:00

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey breast

½ cup finely chopped onion

½ grated carrots

½ cup finely chopped mushrooms

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

½ cup dried breadcrumbs

1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 cup tomato ketchup

1 egg, lightly beaten

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400°

Coat a 12-pan muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray

Combine turkey, onions, carrots, mushrooms, parsley and breadcrumbs in a large bowl with a fork. Add Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and egg and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the muffin pan filling each about half full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Internal temperature should be 170° or more.

Tips: You can use ground chicken instead of turkey if you can find it. If you aren’t trying to watch your calories per say, then I guess you could also use hamburger meat. The bad thing about using hamburger is that it will be really greasy, probably floating in the grease. It does not matter if you use the leanest hamburger you can find, that is just part of cooking with hamburger. :(

I have made this a few times and I don’t really care for the Worcestershire sauce. I love Worcestershire, but not so much in this. Also, if you want them to be a little more saucy, you should add a little more ketchup.

I have not filled my muffin cups half full, they have been FULL because my muffin cups are actually only half the size of regular ones, so I just fill them all the way.

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

2009-12-29T18:07:00.003-06:00

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 1/3 cups water
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
3/4 cup regular, long grain rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup cheddar cheese

Mix the water, soup, rice, pepper, and onion powder in a 2 quart baking dish. Place chicken on top and cover dish. Bake on 375° for 50 minutes or until the chicken is done. Sprinkle cheese on top after you pull it out of the oven.

Title

2009-12-28T15:29:00.001-06:00

I know that receipes is spelled wrong. The original spelling was taken. And I am aware of my typos, so please work with me and know that I can spell. Just a little fyi for ya!!

2009-12-01T19:41:00.002-06:00

Check out www.letssaythanks.com
It is a free website to send cards to soliders in the war. All the cards are drawn by children. You pick your card, put your name and pick a message if you want and they actually print the card and send it to someone. It is a nice gesture for the soliders that are going to be away from their family and loved ones during the holidays.

Ground Beef & Pasta Casserole:

2009-11-19T19:16:00.003-06:00

Ingredients:
3 cups uncooked medium or mini penne pasta
1 lb lean ground chuck/round
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 large can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

cook the noodles per package instructions. Over medium heat, saute beef with onions and celery. Cook until almost done and then add the garlic and salt cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, sugar and cooked noodles. Spoon into a 11x9, greased baking dish, cover tightly with foil and bake on 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and add cheese cook uncovered for another 5 minutes. Whala...dinner is ready and good!

2009-11-17T18:40:00.002-06:00

Tonight I made tuna helper. Not my favorite, but it is easy and I had nothing else out. My sides were boiled cauliflower, steamed broccoli, and baked cabbage.
The cabbage was great, butter and cavenders or just salt and pepper.

Garlic Cheddar Chicken

2009-11-17T18:34:00.003-06:00

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded parmesean cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp salt.

Mix all that together in a bowl. ( I don't use parsley or parmesan...)
Take 1/2 cup butter and 4 cloves of minced garlic (if you buy the already minced garlic, 1/2 tsp is equal to a clove) heat this over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
After your butter is melted take the chicken breasts and dip them in the butter (both sides) then press into the bread and cheese mixture. Place the chicken breasts into a baking dish and bake on 350° for 30 minutes. The receipe is for 4 chicken breasts. I have not used that many, so the recipe is really easy to cut down.
This recipe is a winner with everyone. Trust me, I am extremely picky and my step daughter is worse than me and I know that is hard to believe!!!
My sides were seasoned greens and seasoned black eyed peas, yummmmm!!!!!!

Salsa Salisbury Steaks

2009-11-10T19:26:00.002-06:00

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger meat
1/2 cup diced onions
a little shy of a teaspoon of chili powder
1/4 tsp of garlic salt
1/4 tsp of minced garlic

Mix all these ingredients together and then make oblong patties. In a nonstick skillet you need to spray the skillet with some cooking spray, turn the heat on medium and add patties. Cook both sides for three to five minutes each and then drain the patties. Put the patties back on the skillet and add some mexican style stewed tomatoes, diced are best, but slices work too. Now, one can of this stuff obviously does not make much sauce, so if you like sauce, you should use two cans(or you could use a small can of tomato sauce). After you get this added, turn your heat on low and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring the tomatoes once or how often you feel necessary. Make sure your meat is done, unless you live on the wild side and like raw meat...
Meanwhile, I was cooking some egg noddles to serve the meat on top of (really good!) I also made brussel sprouts in butter and cauliflower.
Please note, that not only was this meal delicious and pretty "lite", but everything included is Brain Food!!!! So not only does it taste really good, it was good for our bodies and our brain!!

2009-11-09T19:15:00.000-06:00

One thing on my mind is products made in the USA. I mean what is the deal with everything being made somewhere else??? I understand that it is cheaper blah blah, but don't we want to support our economy? If everything is made in other places, then how exactly are we going to help our economy by buying things made in other countries?

2009-11-09T18:01:00.001-06:00

Hi, welcome to my blog. I am new and excited. If you are easily offended, you might not want to look at my blog.