Beef Stew

This is pretty simple.

1 Pkg Stew Mix McCormick

2 lbs stew meat
1 Onion-chopped
4 celery stalks-chopped
Carrots-I like to use the whole baby ones. 1lb package
4 Potatoes-peeled and cubed

I put the meat and the stew mix along with water to cover the meat in the crock pot overnight.  I like the meat really tender.  

I put the vegetables in and over with water and let cook 6-8 hours.  I like it thickened so I mix 1/4 cup cornstarch with cold water and add to stew and cook on high for 10 minutes or so.

There ya go!

The Stew mix has its own directions I only use the ingredients listed and I use the crock pot instead.

Chicken Enchiladas

1/2 Pint Sour Cream
1 1/2 Cups Chicken, Cooked, Cubed or Shredded
Green Onions
2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
2 T Hot Sauce
1 Can Green Chilies
1 lb Grated Cheese
Flour Tortillas

Mix everything together except cheese and tortillas. Spread some of the mixture on bottom of pan.  Put mixture on tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, roll up.  Place in pan.  Spread sauce on top of tortillas and sprinkle cheese on top.  Bake at 325 for 30 minutes

Variation

1 lb Chicken Breasts, Boil for 15 minutes or until no longer pink.  Drain and shred.  I use my mixer with the paddle attachment to shred the chicken.
4 Green Onions, Chopped
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro, Chopped
1 Jalapeno, Seeded and Minced
3 Cans, 10 oz each, Green Enchilada Sauce
8 Corn Tortillas
1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
2 Cups Lettuce, Shredded
1/2 Cup Salsa
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1Tomato, Diced
1 Can 2 oz Olives, Sliced

Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly coat a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat.  Add green onion, cilantro, jalapeno, saute for 2 minutes.  Add chicken and 1 can enchilada sauce.

Pour remaining 2 cans enchilada sauce in a microwavable bowl.  Microwave till warm, about 2 minutes.  Dip each tortilla in the heated sauce and fill with chicken mixture. Roll up and place seam side down in pan. 

Pour remaining sauce over tortillas and sprinkle with cheese.  Bake until cheese is melted. 

Serve with lettuce, salsa, sour cream, tomatoes and olives.

Chicken Salad

3 Cups Cooked, Shredded Chicken (I either bake or boil the chicken and to shred it I place it in my Kitchen aid Mixer with the paddle attachment.  So easy!)

1 Cup Carrots, Shredded
1 Cup Celery, Diced
1/4 Cup Green Onions, Chopped
1 Cup Mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper

Mix all together.

Serve on crescent rolls.  Potato sticks are good to add.

I have to make two dishes since some of my family don't like the celery and onions.  It is good plain too I guess!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1 Small Stalk Broccoli
1/2 Onion
1 Carrot
2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Pint Sour Cream
1 Small Jar Cheese Whiz

Cook broccoli, onion, and carrot covered for 1 hour.  Drain, use a pastry blender to mash.  Add soup and cheese and heat thoroughly.  Add sour cream.

I put the mashed vegetables, soup and Cheese Whiz in a crock pot.  Cook for 4 hours then add the sour cream.

Beef Sandwiches

5 Pound Rump Roast
2 Packages Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix
2 Packages Schilling Au Jus Mix
2 Cans Beef Broth

Put all in to crock pot and cook on low 20 hours.  Serve on rolls.

Sticky Buns

2 Cans Refrigerator Biscuits
1 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Melted Butter

Preheat oven to 400.  Melt butter.  Spray 9x13 pan with Pam.  Mix sugar and cinnamon together.  Open biscuits and cut each in half.  Dip each piece in the butter then in the sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Place on pan.  Bake for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Hot Spice Punch

5 Quarts  Water
3 Cups Sugar
1 Stick Cinnamon
6 Cloves

Boil for 5 minutes

Add
1 6 oz  Can Frozen Orange Juice
1 6 oz Can Frozen Lemonade
1 46 oz Can Pineapple Juice.

Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.  Remove Cinnamon stick and cloves before serving.

Chex Muddy Buddies

9 Cups Rice Chex Cereal
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/4 Cup Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Pour Chex in a large bowl.  Melt all ingredients except powdered sugar.  Pour over cereal.  Put all in a large Ziploc baggies with the powdered sugar..  Shake until all coated. Spread on wax paper to cool.

Chex Mix

1/2 Box Corn Chex
1/2 Box Golden Grahams
1 Cup Karo
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cube Butter
sliced almonds
1 Cup Coconut

Boil Karo, butter, sugar. Pour over dry ingredients.

Cheese Ball

2 8 oz Cream Cheese-softened
3 Green Onions, Chopped
1 1/2 Teaspoons Bon Appetite seasoning
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Chives
Chopped Walnuts

Mix all together but nuts. Roll into a ball, (place in wax paper or glad wrap to shape the ball).  Roll in the chopped nuts.

Waikiki Meatballs

1 Package Frozen Meatballs
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 13 oz Pineapple Tidbits-drained and save juice
1 1/3 Cup White Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1/3 Cup Chopped Green Pepper

Mix Cornstarch and sugar.  Stir in pineapple juice, vinegar and soy sauce.  Mix till smooth.  Pour in skillet.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick and boiling.  Put meatballs in crock pot.  Pour sauce over meatballs cook on low for 2-3 hours.  Serve over rice.

Buttermilk Caramel Syrup

3/4 Cup Buttermilk
1 1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Stick Real Butter
2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Combine buttermilk, sugar, butter, corn syrup and baking soda in a LARGE pot.  Like one you'd make soup in.  Yes, you'll have way more pot than ingredients but this will boil all over your stove if you put it in a smaller saucepan.

Bring ingredients to a boil and reduce heat to low (as long as it is still bubbling you're okay).  Cook, stirring very frequently for 8-9 minutes. 

When it done, it should take on a golden-brown color. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

There will be foam on top.  It tastes just as good,but it's not super pretty.  You can skim it off or just give it a good stir.

This is great on almost anything, ice cream, pancakes, waffles, french toast, bananas. Like I said almost anything.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/06/buttermilk-caramel-syrup/

Baked French Toast

1 Loaf French Bread cut into slices

Caramel

2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar

Heat till disolved. Pour into a 9x13 pan.  Put sliced bread on the caramel.

Egg Mixture

5 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 Teaspoon salt

Beat the eggs. Add the milk, vanilla and salt.  Pour over the bread.  Cover and put in fridge overnight.

Bake 350 45 minutes

Top with fruit, whipping cream, syrup.  The choices are endless!

Butter Cream Frosting

1 Cup Butter (salted, or unsalted)-softened
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (a good quality)
2-3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream, Half and Half or Milk

*Optional-If you want a cream cheese frosting it cuts down on the sweetness just a bit.  For a very light cream cheese flavor add 4 oz cream cheese leaving the other ingredients listed above the same.  For a more traditional cream cheese flavor, reduce the butter to 1/2 cup, and add 8 oz cream cheese and reduce the cream or milk to 1 tablespoon.

If you want chocolate buttercream, add 1/2 cup (good quality) unsweetened cocoa powder.

Directions

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, beat butter (on medium speed) until completely smooth (30 seconds to a minute)  (If you are adding cream cheese, add it now, then beast until smooth)
• One cup and a time, add 2 cups of powdered sugar beating after each cup.
• Add vanilla, or other flavors and beat to combine.
• Add 1 tablespoon of cream, continue beating.
• Add the remaining 2 cups of powdered sugar, one at a time.
• Add an additional 1-2 tablespoons cream until desired consistency is reached. If you want to pipe the frosting on cupcakes, the frosting should be nice and thick.  Continue to beat another minute or so.  The frosting should now be smooth and fluffy.

If your frosting is not smooth, it is likely because the butter was not fully smooth before adding the other ingredients.

Sugar Cookie Frosting

Best frosting, trust me.

1/4 Cup Butter-softened
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
2-4 Tablespoons Milk
1 Teaspoon Almond Flavoring

Mix all together adding 1 tablespoon at a time of the milk.

Mom's Sugar Cookies

1/2 Cup Butter-softened
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
3 1/4 Cup Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Cream-Half and Half

Cream butter, eggs, and sugar. Add vanilla.  Add dry ingredients and cream alternating cream and flour mixture.  Roll 1/4" thick and cut out.  Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

These are soft and yummy.

Best frosting

1/4 Cup Butter-softened
4 Cups Powdered Sugar
2-4 Tablespoons Milk
1 Teaspoon Almond Flavoring

Mix all together adding 1 tablespoon at a time of the milk.