Stew Hot Dish

Stew Hot Dish is a simple one dish meal that includes meat and an array of different vegetables.  You can add or remove the vegetables to suit your taste. Sometimes I add a beef bouillon cube for more flavor.  Serve with homemade bread or biscuits

Ingredients

1 lb. hamburger
1 onion, chopped
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 c. diced potatoes
1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 c. sliced carrots
1 c. water
1 can tomato soup
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
2 bay leaves

Directions

In a Dutch oven, we have a heavy cast iron one with a lid, brown the hamburger, onion and garlic until the hamburger is no longer pink and the onion is tender.  Drain off excess grease.

Add the potatoes, frozen mixed vegetables, sliced carrots, water, tomato soup, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Mix well.  Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to low.  Simmer for 45 to 60 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Stir occasionally and add more water as needed. 

Scalloped Potatoes, Sausage and Cabbage

Comfort food. Growing up, we had potatoes with almost every meal. This recipe uses cabbage, but you can leave it out if you prefer. The Kielbasa sausage can be substituted for another kind of meat.  This recipe is very versatile, allowing you to use what you have on hand. this dish can even be made ahead of time and baked later on. 

Ingredients

4 medium potatoes, sliced very thin
1 onion
8 oz. Kielbasa sausage
1/4 c. butter or margarine
1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 c. water
2 c. shredded cabbage
1/2 cheddar cheese, shredded 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 3-quart casserole dish.  You can also use a 13 x 9 baking dish if you don't have a casserole dish.  

Slice potatoes, onions and sausage thinly.  Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter or margarine.  Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper until smooth.  Gradually add milk and water, stirring constantly over medium heat until thickened.

Layer one third of the potatoes, half of the onions, half the cabbage, half of the sausage and one third of the sauce.  Repeat layers and top with the remaining potatoes and sauce.

Cover and bake for 35 minutes.  Uncover and bake 45-50 minutes more or until potatoes are tender. 

Pan Tacos

This is a different twist to the usual hand held taco and it is less messy.  This recipe combines ground beef, onions, peppers, taco seasoning and peppers in single pan.  You can also add some left over rice to the dish for a great tasting meal.

Ingredients

1 box taco shells
2 lbs. hamburger
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 can mushroom soup
1 can celery soup
1 (12 oz.)  can tomato paste
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix ** see below
2 c. shredded cheese
sour cream
lettuce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

Crush taco shells. Place them in an ungreased 9 x 13-inch pan.

In a heavy cast iron skillet, brown the hamburger, onion, sweet pepper, and jalapeno peppers until meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.  Drain off excess grease.

Add mushroom soup, celery soup, tomato paste, taco seasoning mix.  Mix well.

Pour the hamburger mixture over the broken taco shells. 

Top with shredded cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes.  Serve with shredded lettuce and sour cream. 

Taco Seasoning Mix

If you don't have a package of taco seasoning, you can easily make some at home with spices you probably already have in your kitchen.  

Ingredients

1/2 c. chili powder
2 Tbs. cumin
2 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 1/2 Tbs. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. oregano

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and place them in an airtight container.  Use 2 tablespoonful of taco seasoning to equal one store bought packet of taco seasoning.  

Cavantini

Cavantini is a great recipe to make if you don't have a lot of time. It is economical and easy on the pocketbook. If you are rally short on time, you can skip making the meat sauce and use a large jar of spaghetti sauce with meat. 

Ingredients

2 1/2 c. rigatoni or other noodles, cooked and drained
1 lb. ground beef
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 can mushrooms
3/4 c. water
1 bay leaf
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
pepperoni (optional)

Directions

Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil. Cook rigatoni or other noodles according to package directions.  Drain.

In a heavy cast iron skillet, brown the ground beef, pepper and onion together until the hamburger is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender.  Drain off excess grease.

Mix in the oregano, pepper, garlic powder, salt, tomato paste, tomato sauce, mushrooms, water and bay leaf.  Bring to a boil.  Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.  Remove the bay leaf. 

In a 9 x 13-inch pan, put the meat sauce on the bottom.  Then add the noodles for the next layer. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and add the pepperoni over the top.

Bake at 375° for 30 to 40 minutes.

Refrigerator Raisin Bran Muffins

Refrigerator Raisin Bran Muffins are so easy to make. The best part is, you can make fresh baked muffins for breakfast every morning without having to make up the batter. They are very versatile as well. We will often put blueberries and /or mashed overripe bananas in ours.  Substitute some of the oil with melted butter.  You can also replace some of the sugar with honey.

Ingredients

1 (12 oz.) pkg. Raisin Bran Cereal (May use the off brand cereal as well)
3 c. sugar
5 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
4 tsp. soda
1 c. vegetable oil 
1 qt. buttermilk
4 eggs, beaten

Directions

In a large bowl, combine cereal, sugar, flour, salt, and soda.  Mix thoroughly.

Add oil, buttermilk and beaten eggs. Stir only until the dry ingredients are moistened. Do not over mix.

Cover with a tight fitting lid and place in the refrigerator. 

The next day, remove from the refrigerator.  Do not stir the mixture. Spoon out the dough and put in muffin tins or cupcake liners.  

Bake for 20 minutes at 375°

This mixture keeps in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 weeks.  It is important to remember to not stir it at all. Just scoop the dough like batter out and bake.  

 Pasghetti Pizza

Combine the flavors of spaghetti and pizza together, and you get Pasghetti Pizza.  This is a twist of two great tasting meals combined into one great dish. 

Ingredients

1 (16 oz.) pkg. spaghetti
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt

Topping

2 (15 to 16 oz.) jars spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
3 c.  mozzarella cheese, shredded

Optional Toppings

1 pkg. sliced pepperoni
1 lb. sausage, cooked and drained (We use spicy or hot sausage)
1 lb. hamburger, cooked and drained
1 can mushrooms, drained

Directions

Break spaghetti into 2-inch long pieces.  Cook according to package directions or until done.  Drain and cool.

Preheat oven to 400°.  Grease a 10 x 15-inch cookie sheet.

In a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs. 

Pour in the milk, 1 cup cheese, garlic powder and salt.  Mix until combined.  Add the cooked and cooled spaghetti.  Stir and mix well.

Spread the spaghetti mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared cookie sheet. 

Bake 15 minutes.  Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 350°.

Spread the spaghetti sauce over the mixture in the cookie sheet. 

Sprinkle the oregano evenly over the top of the spaghetti sauce. Choose one or several of the optional toppings and for the next layer.  Sprinkle the 3 cups mozzarella cheese over the top.  

Bake 30 minutes.  Let stand for 5 minutes at room temperature before cutting.

Cherry Surprise Cake and Topping

Hidden between the two layers of cake batter is a sweet surprise. Cherries.  This fruit is a favorite in our family, especially with my kids. Cherry Surprise Cake and Topping is very easy to make, even though it will look like you spent hours in preparation. 

If you are really short on time, you can use a box cake mix instead.  Just follow the directions on the box, but put the cherry pie filling and sugar cinnamon topping in the center as this recipe calls for.

Ingredients

1 c. vegetable oil
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
2 c. flour
1 large can cherry pie filling

Topping

1/2 c. sugar
1 Tbs. cinnamon

Directions

Heat oven to 325°.  Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch cake pan.

Cream together oil and sugar.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat until the mixture is fluffy. Pour in vanilla and mix well. 

Add the baking powder and then the flour. Beat well.  The batter will be thick.

Spread half the cake batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle half of the sugar cinnamon topping mixture over the batter.  Pour cherry pie filling over the batter and sugar cinnamon topping.  Place the the rest of the cake batter over the top of the cherry pie filling.  Sprinkle with the remaining half of the sugar cinnamon topping. 

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  Be sure to check the cake after 40 minutes as oven do bake differently.