Beef Cubes and Potatoes

Tender, juicy pieces of beef served with crispy potatoes. It is almost a complete meal on its own. This is a simple recipe that is sure to please every member of your family.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb.beef roast, trimmed and cut into 1 inch cubes*
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 Tbs. (or less) hot sauce
1 Tbs. olive oil or vegetable oil
1 lb. potatoes, quartered (We use Yukon gold potatoes)
1 Tbs. butter, divided
1 Tbs. olive oil or vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic
1 Tbs. Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a bowl, combine beef cubes, soy sauce, hot sauce and oil.  Mix well and set aside.

In a large cast iron skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat.

Add potatoes and cook for about 15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and tender.  Turn them frequently to get all sides browned.  Remove the potatoes to a plate when they are tender and set aside.

In the same skillet, over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon butter.  Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning.  Cook and stir for 20 seconds, or until fragrant.

Add in the beef cubes. Cook and stir to brown all sides of the beef.  It can take around 2 minutes per side.  You may have to do this in batches depending on how big your skillet is.

Put the potatoes back into the skillet and cook until they are heated through.

Season with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle some parsley over the top if desired. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

You can also use steak instead of a roast. We use the roast meat because it is cheaper for us to buy.

You can also use the potatoes that you have on hand or the ones you like best for this recipe as well.

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Banana Cupcakes

These cupcakes are moist and they taste so good. They are good on their own, or you can frost them with the buttercream frosting. If you have very ripe bananas, this is a great recipe to use them up, so they do not go to waste. 

Ingredients

12 cupcake liners (optional)
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening, butter, or margarine
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 c. sour milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
1/2 to 1 cup nuts (optional)

Buttercream Frosting  

3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1–2 Tbs. milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Line muffin tines with cupcake papers, or lightly spray or grease the cupcake pan.

In a bowl, combine sugar and shortening.  Mix until it is light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time.  Beating well after each addition. 

Mix in the mashed bananas until the mixture is smooth.

Pour in the sour cream and vanilla, beating until thoroughly combined.

Add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour. Mix until combined.

Stir in nuts, if desired.

Pour the batter into prepared muffin tins.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

When the cupcakes are cooled, it is time to make the frosting.

In a bowl, combine powdered sugar and butter.  Mix until smooth.

Pour in vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk.  Beat the mixture until smooth.  Keep beating in a little more milk until you get the frosting the right consistency for spreading. You may also add a few drops of food coloring to the frosting to make it a different color.  

Frost the tops of the cupcakes. Serve and enjoy!

Saucy Ham Slices

With a few simple ingredients, you can turn a slice of ham into something amazing. Ham, apples with a sweet and spicy sauce over the top.  It is so quick and easy to make that you'll have supper done in no time.

Ingredients

1 (103/4 oz.) can condensed tomato soup
1 onion chopped
2 Tbs. sweet pickle relish
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. vinegar
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. horseradish
2 lb. fully cooked ham cut 1/2 inch thick into 2 slices
1 20 oz. can pie sliced apples, drained

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. You will need a 12 x 7.5 x 2-inch baking dish with a lid, or you can use a sheet of foil.

In a bowl, combine condensed tomato soup, onion, sweet pickle relish, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and horseradish.

Place one ham slice in the baking dish. 

Place half of the pie sliced apples over the top. 

Pour half of the tomato soup mixture over the top.  Put the other ham slice on top of the tomato soup mixture.  Add the rest of the pie sliced apples over the top and pour the remainder of the sauce over the apples. 

Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the lid or cover and bake another 10 to 15 minutes.

Potato and Vegetable Scallop

A delicious mixture of potatoes, onions and mixed vegetables served in a creamy, cheesy sauce. This is an easy side dish to make. If you want, you can use a condensed cream soup in place of the flour and milk.  Mix it up with your favorite vegetables if you like.

Ingredients

2 c. potatoes or 2 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 (10 oz.) pkg mixed vegetables, or peas thawed
1 onion, chopped
1/4 c. water
2 Tbs. flour
1 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
pepper
1 c. milk
dash hot pepper sauce (Optional)
1 can mushrooms, drained
1/2 c. cheese, shredded
dash of hot pepper sauce

Directions

In a roasting dish or casserole dish, add potatoes, mixed vegetables and onion.

In a saucepan, combine water and cornstarch.  Mix until smooth.  Add seasoned salt, dry mustard, pepper and milk.  Whisk until smooth. 

Whisking constantly, pour in the milk.  Cook over medium heat until thickened and bubbly.  

Stir in cheese and mushrooms.  Stir until the cheese melts.

Pour the mixture over the potatoes and mixed vegetables.  Mix well. Sprinkle some more cheese over the top if desired.

Bake for 1 hour and 40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and everything is heated through.

Optional Cashew Chicken

This is one of our favorite recipes to make. Tender, juicy chicken, colorful vegetables in a delicious sauce.  It is an easy recipe to make. If you don't like nuts or if you are allergic to nuts, leave them out.  We don't care for nuts in our meals, that is why I called this recipe Optional Cashew Chicken.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs. chicken, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbs. cornstarch
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. sesame oil, or olive oil, divided
2 c. broccoli florets
1 sweet bell peppers, diced
1 onion, chopped
1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts, drained, optional
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 c. or more cashews or peanuts (optional)
cooked rice

Sauce

2 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbs. cold water
1/3 c. soy sauce
2 tsp. sesame oil or olive oil
1 Tbs. vinegar
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. chili flakes

Directions

In a large bowl, add the chicken.  Sprinkle soy sauce, salt, pepper and cornstarch over the chicken. Stir or toss to ensure that all sides of the chicken are coated with the mixture.

Make the sauce by combining cornstarch and water.  Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth.  Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, brown sugar and chili flakes.  Stir together until fully combined. Set aside for later.

In a cast iron skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.  Working in batches, add some of the chicken.  Cook the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes, until browned on the bottom. Turn the chicken over and brown the other side.  

Add the broccoli florets, bell peppers and onions. Sauté them until they begin to soften. This takes about 4 minutes. 

Add the water chestnuts, garlic, and ginger. Cook and stir for another 2 minutes. 

Pour in the sauce mixture that you set aside and the cashews.  Cook and stir until the sauce comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and continue to simmer until the sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes.  

Serve over rice and enjoy!

Enchilada Sauce

We love enchiladas, and it's the sauce that makes them so good. You can buy enchilada sauce at the store, but sometimes it is hard to find. However, you don't have to worry because it is so easy to make your own enchilada sauce at home. The ingredients are probably already in your pantry.  

Ingredients

3 Tbs. flour
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 to 3 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. oregano
pinch of cinnamon
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 c. beef broth
2 c. tomato sauce
2 Tbs. tomato paste
1 tsp. vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a bowl, combine flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and a pinch of cinnamon.  Set aside.

In a cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  

Whisk constantly, pour in the flour mixture.  Cook and stir for 1 minute, or until the mixture has deepened in color. 

Slowly pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce and tomato paste, whisking constantly.  You don't want any lumps in your enchilada sauce. 

Raise the heat to medium high and bring the mixture to a bubble. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring often. The sauce should be a bit thick. This sauce will thicken as it cools.

Stir in vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pizza Crust

This is a pizza crust that my son loves to make. It is easy and does not take a lot of time to make. This is a no knead crust and the rising time only takes about 15 to 30 minutes.  It is a soft chewy crust and it tastes so good.

Ingredients

1 c. warm water
1 pkg. yeast
1 to 2 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 c. bread flour or regular flour
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. oil

Directions

Heat oven to 400°. Lightly oil or grease a 15 x 10-inch baking sheet.

In a bowl, combine warm water, yeast and sugar. Stir to combine.  Place in a warm location for about 8 to 10 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom.

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Mix to combine with a whisk.  

Add yeast mixture and oil.  Stir with a wooden spoon until combined and all the flour is incorporated into the dough.  Cover the bowl with a tea towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm location. Let rise for 15 to 30 minutes, or until doubled. 

 Turn the dough out onto your prepared pan.  With buttered or oiled fingers, press or pat the dough out into the pan.  

Spread pizza sauce over the top of the crust. Add your favorite toppings like cheese, pepperoni, jalapeños, peppers, and onions.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Notes

You can add spices to your crust during the mixing process.  Add some garlic, Italian seasoning, or cheese for a more flavorful crust.