Overnight Casserole

This is an easy casserole that you assemble the night before and bake the next day. The recipe calls for American cheese, but we often use extra sharp cheddar cheese, pepper Jack or cheddar cheese. You can use the cheese that you like best.

Ingredients

2 c. uncooked macaroni
4 hard boiled eggs, cut up
1 pkg. dried beef, cut into bite size pieces
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 c. milk
1 onion, chopped
1 -2 jalapeno peppers, chopped (optional)
1/2 lb American cheese, cubed (or Cheddar cheese, pepper Jack or any kind you like best.)

Directions

The night before, lightly butter a 3-quart casserole dish or a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. 

Combine the macaroni, hard boiled eggs, dried beef, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, milk, onion, jalapeno pepper, and cheese in a casserole dish.

Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator. 

The next day, preheat oven to 350°. Place the covered casserole dish in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.

Remove cover and bake another 45 minutes or until done.  

 Boiled Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting 

We often make spice cake, and this recipe is an old-fashioned treat that came from my mother's recipe box. It is loaded with spices and that makes your kitchen smell so inviting.  The cake is moist and delicious. You can eat it plain or make up some Brown Sugar Frosting (recipe follows) to put over the top.

You can add nuts to the recipe if you like, as well.

Ingredients

1 c. sugar
1 c. raisins
1 tsp,. cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1 c. hot water
1/2 c. shortening
1 tsp soda
1/3/4 c. flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spray a 9x13 inch cake pan.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg cloves, and allspice. Stir until combined.

Pour in the hot water and add the shortening. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Boil for 7 minutes, making sure you stir the mixture frequently so it does not burn.  Set aside to cool.

Stir in the soda and flour after the above mixture has cooled completely.  Pour into prepared cake pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the cake tests done with a toothpick inserted in the center. 

Cool completely and then frost with brown sugar frosting.

Ingredients

1 c. butter, softened
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. evaporated milk or heavy cream
2 tsp. vanilla
4 c. powdered sugar

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar and heavy cream together. Cook and stir constantly over medium low heat until it comes to a boil.

Remove from heat. Pour the brown sugar mixture into a mixing bowl and let stand until completely cool.

Using the whisk attachment, and the mixer on low, slowly mix in the powdered sugar. After the powdered sugar is added, add the vanilla. 

Turn the mixer to medium speed and mix until the frosting is combined and creamy.  Frost your cooled cake.

 Coleslaw with Creamy Calico Dressing

This coleslaw recipe is one of the best that we have tried and it is one that my kids will eat without complaining. This is one of my mother’s hand written recipes from her recipe box. It is so easy to make and with just a few ingredients, you can serve delicious coleslaw without a lot of fuss.

For more color, you can use red and green cabbage and/or red onions.  Even carrots come in different colors so you can have a rainbow coleslaw salad.  How awesome is that?

Ingredients

1 1/3 c. evaporated milk
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. vinegar plus 2 Tbs.
1/4 tsp. salt
6 c. shredded cabbage
1 to 2 carrots, shredded
1 onion, chopped

Directions

In this order, combine evaporated milk, sugar, vinegar and salt in a small bowl.

In a medium bowl, combine shredded cabbage, shredded carrots and onion. Mix to distribute the ingredients evenly. Pour the dressing over the cabbage, carrots and onion. Mix well.

Serve and enjoy! Refrigerate any leftovers.

 

Barbecued Spareribs

BBQ Spareribs are so good!! You can add all the sauce to the ribs, or save some for dipping later. Slow cooking them in the oven for 8 hours or so will give you ribs that are tender and falling off the bone.

The BBQ sauce gives them a great flavor and is so easy to prepare. 

Ingredients

3 lb. spareribs
Salt and pepper
2 Tbs. butter
1 onion, chopped
1/2 c. celery, finely chopped (Optional)
2 Tbs. butter
1 (20 oz.) bottle ketchup
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. water
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
2 Tbs. cider vinegar
4 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. mustard
2 to 3 tsp. liquid smoke (to taste)
2 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed

Directions

Preheat oven to 195° to 200°. 

Cut spareribs into pieces for serving. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I also sprinkle some onion powder and garlic powder over the meat as well. Place in baking dish and cover with a lid or aluminum foil.

Bake until the meat is tender and almost falling off the bone. At this temperature, they can cook low and slow for 8 hours.

In a medium saucepan or skillet, melt the butter. Add the onion and celery. Sauté them for about 3 minutes.

Add ketchup, salt, water, garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, liquid smoke, and brown sugar. Cook slowly for 20 minutes over low heat. 

About 30 minutes before serving, remove the spareribs from the oven and drain off the grease. Pour the BBQ sauce over the browned spareribs. Continue baking in the oven until done. Serve with baked beans, and coleslaw for a delicious meal.

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 Hamburger Meat Buns

This is a versatile recipe that you can make and eat on the go or take on a picnic. One time I had some cabbage in my refrigerator that had to be used up before it spoiled. My kids hate cabbage, but I didn't want to waste it ! So I chopped it up in small pieces and added it to the mixture. They had no idea about my addition of cabbage to the dish. They ate the buns stuffed with hamburger and said they were the best ever.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 1/2 c. chopped cabbage
1/2 Tbs. cumin
1/2 Tbs. chili powder
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese (optional)
Frozen bread dough, thawed or homemade bread dough

Directions

Cook hamburger with onions and cabbage until the hamburger is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Drain off excess grease. Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder and mix in to combine.

Stir in cream cheese and mix well. Mix in the shredded cheese and set aside.

Divide the bread dough into 12 pieces. Place on a lightly floured counter top or cutting board and roll each piece into a 5-in. circle. Top each with about 1/4 cup filling. Fold dough over filling to meet in the center; pinch edges to seal.

Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush a little olive oil over the top of each bun to keep them from drying out. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

**We brush some butter over the tops of the hot buns when they come out of the oven. This makes them super yummy!

Oven Baked Chicken With Mushrooms

 This chicken with mushroom recipe is one of our favorites to make. It doesn't take a lot of time to prepare, either. It is perfect for people who work and then come home to prepare supper.  The chicken breasts stay juicy, and baking them instead of frying them in oil gives you a healthy alternative.

Ingredients

6 chicken breast halves
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 (6 oz.) can mushrooms, drained
1 Tbs. butter
1/2 c. chicken broth
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

 Preheat oven to 350°.  Lightly spray a baking dish with cooking spray.

Season the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika.  Place in the baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.

In a skillet, melt the butter over medium low heat.  Add the onions and garlic. Stirring frequently, sauté for about 4 to 5 minutes until they are tender and browned.  

Pour in the chicken stock and add the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper as needed.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, so the vegetables don't burn. Remove from heat and pour over the chicken.

Bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, or until chicken tests done with an internal temperature of 165°.

Sprinkle the top with cheese and bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. 

Serve with mashed potatoes, or broccoli or any vegetable of your choice.

Garlic Pork Chops With Gravy

Pork chops are economical and they make a quick, easy, and delicious meal. These pork chops are juicy and succulent and loaded with garlic. Serve with mashed potatoes, or rice for a perfect comfort food supper.

Ingredients

4 pork chops
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 Tbs. oil
2 Tbs. butter, divided
1 head of garlic, minced
1 Tbs. flour
1/2 c. chicken stock
3/4 c. heavy whipping cream, evaporated milk, or whole milk

Directions

Season the pork chops with salt and pepper to taste, paprika and garlic powder.

In a heavy cast iron skillet heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter.  Sear the pork chops until they are lightly browned on both sides. The length of time to cook the pork chops depends on their thickness. For thin pork chops, cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.  For thicker pork chops, cook about 5 minutes on each side.

Remove the pork chops, placing them on a plate while you prepare the gravy. 

Add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet. when the butter is melted, add the garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until the garlic is browned. 

Stir in the flour.  cook and stir for about 1 minute to remove the flour taste. 

Stirring constantly, pour in the chicken stock. Cook and stir until thickened. 

Pour in the cream, (or evaporated milk or whole milk) Cook and stir until combined. Add the pork chops into the skillet. continue to cook for another 4 to 5 minutes or until the pork chops are done. They should have an internal temperature of 145°.  Remember to stir the sauce occasionally and turn the pork chops over.

Taste the gravy and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with mashed potatoes of rice.