Drew's Reuben Casserole

I purchased my ingredients at Winco.

1/2 lb. pastrami (freshly cut from their deli section)
1 24 oz. jar sauerkraut ( I used about 20 oz) I drained and rinsed it.
1 Winco brand Thousand Island Dressing
Swiss Cheese (6 square slices)
1 loaf Dark Rye Bread
1 9 x 13 pan

Spray cooking spray in pan.
Cube between 6-8 pieces of bread and put on bottom layer of the pan.
Spread sauerkraut on top of bread cubes.
Pour Thousand Island on top.  Use however much you like.
Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven 400 degrees for 15-25 minutes, or until bubbly.
Remove foil, add the cheese squares and bake until good and melty.

I think next time I will double this.  It was sure tasty.

Chocolate Cake Castle

My daughter made this castle cake for her boyfriend's birthday. 
This is the recipe she used, but you can be creative and use  many other chocolate candies!

2 Boxes Chocolate Cake Mix
2 Tubs Chocolate Frosting
Rolos, Sprinkles, Chocolate Oreos, Hershey Miniature Candy, Kit Kat Miniature Candy Bars.

Bake both cakes according to box recipe.  Cool completely.
Put one cake on top of the other with frosting in between.
Add frosting on top and add sprinkles.
Put the miniature candy around all sides of the castle.
Put frosting in between the oreos so the towers will stay in place.
The Kit Kats look great as the drawbridge.

You can use your imagination and use many types of chocolate candy.
This was a fun and a very chocolate birthday cake.

Jenna's Chocolate Castle Cake!

Chicken Salad Rollup!

Ingredients:

Chicken (I used 4 breasts)
Cashews ( 1/2 cup)
Dried Cranberries (1/2 cup)
Mayonnaise (4 Tablespoons)
Apple (1 Golden Delicious)
Chives (1 tsp.)
Tortillas (9)

Bake chicken, cool and shred.
Add it to all of the other ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Place in tortillas.
Wrap in plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator.
Eat as is, or slice them.

You can adjust everything to taste and for the amount of people you will be serving!!

7 Up Apples

1 Can 7up
Apples

Open can of 7up and pour into bowl.  Slice the amount of apples you want to eat and place them in the bowl of 7up.  Let soak 10 minutes then drain.  A great way to keep the apples fresh in a packed lunch.

Butternut Squash

1 Butternut Squash
4 or 5 tablespoons butter, melted
Brown Sugar to taste


Peel butternut squash and cut into chunks, discard seeds.  Place on greased baking sheet.  Melt butter and add brown sugar.  Pour over squash.  Place in oven at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until tender. 

Caramel Apples

Unwrap caramels.  I used about 30 to have extra for dipping.  Put caramels and 2 ice cubes in crockpot.  Once melted put the caramels in hollowed out apples.  I used Golden Delicious apples, but use any kind you like.  Put in refrigerator until ready to serve. 

Baking Bacon

Line cookie sheet with foil.
Spray with cooking spray.
Place bacon slices on sheet.

Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

Steve’s Navy Bean Soup

 

 

1 ham bone and extra ham pieces

1 lb. navy beans (soaked overnight and rinsed)

1 onion (chopped)

carrots (sliced)

celery (sliced)

1 tsp baking soda

 

Soak beans overnight. Drain.  Put drained beans in pot, add 6 cups water.

Add other ingredients.  Cook until vegetables are soft. Add baking soda.

Remove ham bone before serving.

 

 

                              Chicken with Apricot Sauce

 

 

1 lb. Chicken

1 Onion Soup Packet

1 Jar Apricot Preserves

1 Bottle Russian Dressing

 

Mix soup, preserves and dressing in a bowl.

Put chicken in baking dish.

Pour sauce mixture over chicken.

Bake 375 degrees for 40 minutes.

 

 

 

Deviled Eggs

 

 

 

Once hard boiled eggs have cooled, carefully peal.
Cut each egg in half and put yolks in a bowl.
Mash a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise and mustard together with yolks.
(To taste and depending on the amount of eggs made.)
Stir in a taste of salt and pepper.
Put eggs on a plate.
Sprinkle with paprika.

This is a great dish to take to a potluck!

 

 

 

Hard Boiled Eggs

Put eggs in pan, cover with water.
Bring to a boil.
Simmer for 20 minutes.
Drain water.
Add cool water on the eggs.
Remove from pan, put in bowl and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Breakfast Burrito-Carol

Breakfast Burrito

Tortillas
Eggs
Shredded cheddar cheese
Cooked brown rice
Spinach leaves

In a iron skillet scramble the amount of eggs you need (1-2 per person). Once cooked add spinach and brown rice and combine until all are warm. Scoop mixture onto tortillas, top with cheese. Roll up and place in wax paper. Can be warmed up in microwave for a few seconds if the little darlings take to long to get to the breakfast table. Serve salsa on the side.

Easy Chicken-Carol

Easy Chicken

6 chicken breasts
zip lock gallon baggie
bottle of Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing

Put chicken in bag. Pour the amount of dressing you want (could be close to the whole bottle). Flatten bag out. Put in freezer.

Let in thaw overnight in refrigerator. Place in crock pot for 4-6 hours.

I serve this with roasted sweet potatoes, carrots and onions.

You can use Italian Dressing, or any of your favorite salad dressings.

Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna-Carol

2 lbs. ground beef
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
2 tablespoons hot salsa
12 ounces uncooked lasagna noodles( I used wheat)
4 cups Jack or Monterey Cheese (I used Mexican Blend)
1 jar (16 ounces) mild salsa
2 cups water
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
1 can (2 1/4) sliced ripe olives, drained
3 green onions, chopped

In a skillet cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the beans, chilies, taco seasoning and hot salsa; mix well. In a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish, layer a third of the noodles and meat mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese. Repeat layers twice. Combine mild salsa and water, pour over top.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until heated through. Uncover, top with sour cream, olives, onions and remaining cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer. Let stand 10-15 minutes before cutting.

Serve with chips if desired.

Crescent Roll Lasagna-Carol

Crescent Roll Lasagna

2 cans crescent rolls
1 lb. ground chuck or ground turkey
1 lb. pork sausage
1 (6oz) tomato paste
1 can water (tomato paste can)
1 (16 oz) container small curd cottage cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 package (8 slices or shredded) Mozzarella cheese
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. oregano

Cook meets until pink is gone; drain grease. Add tomato paste, water and spices. Roll out 1 can crescent rolls and put in a 9 x 13 pan. In a small bowl combine egg, cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese.

In pan put a layer of meat on crescent rolls, then a layer of cheese mixture, continuing to alternate layers, ending with meat mixture. Place Mozzarella cheese on top. Roll out another can of crescent rolls and put on top. Pinch edges together and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

I always fix this for my husband's birthday meal. It is similar to the one his mom used to fix.

It is a family favorite.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers-Carol

4 medium bell peppers (red, yellow, green, whatever is on sale or in your garden) trim off tops and remove and discard cores and seeds

1/2 cup long-grain white rice
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
12 ounces ground beef
3 cloves minced garlic
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained but reserve 1/4 cup juice from tomatoes
1 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley(optional)
Ground black pepper
1/4 cup ketchup

Directions:
Bring 4 quarts water to boil in stockpot over high heat.

Add 1 tablespoons salt and bell peppers to boiling water. Cook until peppers begin to soften about 3 minutes.
Remove peppers with slotted and drain on paper towels, cut-side up.

Return water to boil and add rice. Boil about 13 minutes or until tender.

Drain rice and transfer to large bowl; set aside.

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large skillet, over medium high heat; add oil. Cook onion about 5 minutes, or until softened and brown.

Add ground beef to onion mixture. Cook about 4-5 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in garlic and cook about 30 seconds.

Add this mixture to bowl with rice. Stir in tomatoes, 1 cup cheese, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

In a small bowl stir together ketchup and reserved tomato juice.

Place peppers cut-side up in a 9 inch square baking dish. Spoon filling evenly among peppers. Spoon 2 tablespoons ketchup mixture over filled pepper and spring with remaining cheese.

Bake until cheese is browned and filling is heated through. About 25-30 minutes.

I double this recipe.

It is a great leftover too.

Rainbow Pancakes

Rainbow Pancakes-Carol

Using your favorite pancake mix or recipe, separate into bowls and add food color to each bowl. Cook per recipe instructions and serve.

This was served on St. Patrick's Day.

Stir fry pork

Stir Fry Pork

Marinade pork strips in teryiaki sauce for 15 minutes.
Stir fry in olive oil until no longer pink.
Serve with stir fry veggies and rice!

Stir Fry-Carol

Stir Fry Veggies

In your wok or frying pan, add olive oil and favorite vegetables. In this picture I am stir frying
orange, red and green bell pepper
asparagus
green beans
carrots
water chestnuts
cashews and peanuts
Stir until soft but not mushy

Glazed Fruit-Filled Drop Biscuits from Betty Crocker

2 cups Bisquick mix
1/4 cup butter or margarine softened
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup fruit preserves

Vanilla Drizzle
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons warm water
1/4 teaspoons vanilla

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with spray. In bowl stir Bisquick mix, butter and granulated sugar until crumbly. Stir in milk until dough forms; beat 15 strokes.

2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto cookie sheet. Make shallow well in center of each with back of spoon dipped in water, fill each with 1 teaspoon preserves.

3. Bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

4. In small bowl, beat all vanilla drizzle ingredients with spoon until smooth, stirring in additional water if necessary. Spread over warm biscuits.