Spinach Dip

SPINACH DIP

1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 container (16 oz) sour cream
1 Cup Hellmann's or Best Foods Real Mayonaise
1 package Knorr Vegetable recipe mix (you can usually find this near the chicken broth)
1 can (8 oz) water chestnuts, drained and chopped
3 green onions, chopped

Combine all ingredients and chill for at least 2 hours. Makes 4 cups of dip.

VERY IMPORTANT: Do not try to substitute other brands of Mayo, especially Kraft. Trust me on this one. It makes a huge difference.

White Chocolate Pretzels

Try this super simple snack. Just melt Vanilla Flavored Almond Bark in the microwave (about 3 minutes for a 12 oz. package). Stir the chocolate until smooth and dip pretzels in it. Lay on wax paper until chocolate hardens. Yummy! I made these as gifts to give out to my neighbors this Christmas.

Sweet Potato Casserole

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

With a mixer or blender mix together and put in 9X13 casserole dish:
3 29 oz. cans sweetened yams, drained
1 C sugar
1/2 can evaporated milk
1 cube margerine, softened
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt

Topping - mix together and crumble on top:
1/2 cube margerine, softened
1 C. coconut
1 C. pecans, chopped
1 C. Brown sugar
1/2 cup flour

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

I don't have a picture of this one, but I will take one when I make it for Christmas dinner and then I will post it.

Chili

If you are someone who believes whole-heartedly in the virtue of soaking beans overnight for your chili then this is not the recipe for you. If, however, you are a huge fan of chili and a fan of the convenience of the can then give this a try!

CHILI

1 lb hamburger
1 Cup chopped onion
1/2 Cup chopped bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Can stewed tomatoes (14 1/2 oz size)
1 15 oz can Kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can black beans
1 8 oz tomato sauce
2 to 3 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1/4 tsp. pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Brown hamburger with onion, bell peppers and garlic until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat. In crockpot put undrained tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, basil and pepper. Add hamburger mixture. Cook in crockpot on high for 4-5 hours or low 6-8 hours. This can also be done on the stove top.

I usually double this recipe (except for the hamburger) to have enough for my family of 6 with enough for some leftovers.

Stuffed Manicotti

STUFFED MANICOTTI

Boil a package of Manicotti pasta for about 9-10 minutes. Don't boil too long or they will be hard to stuff without tearing them.

Mix:
1 15 oz. Ricotta Cheese
8 oz shredded mozzerella cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. Parsley
2 eggs

Stuff cooked shells with mix. Then pour 26 oz can of spaghetti sauce on top. Sprinkle with shredded cheese of your choice. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

My Momma's Salsa

My mom grows an enormous garden every summer and cans all day every day during the Fall. I tried her salsa recipe for the first time myself this Fall. I'm afraid my husband will never let me get away with buying Pace again! Sorry if measurements in gallons goes against cooking etiquette. Also, I know squished is not a proper cooking term but it's the best way to describe it!


MY MOMMA'S SALSA

2 Gallons tomatoes, blanched until skin peels easily, peeled
Squish the tomatoes with your hands (wash 'em first, mom's orders!)
Add 2 Tbsp. salt and 3 Tbsp. Sugar
Boil these ingredients together.
Add 2 cloves garlic, diced.
1 Cup Jalepenos diced
3 Cups Anaheim or bell peppers (or a mixture of the two)diced
4-5 Cups diced onions
1/4 Cup olive oil
1/4 Cup vinegar
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp. Salt
1 1/2 Tbsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. Sugar
1 Tbsp. oregano
Fresh cilantro to taste, chopped
1 Tbsp. Chicken boulion

Cook down until desired thickness (this takes hours!). Pour into clean pint jars. Wipe off top edge of jars. Boil lids for a few minutes then place on clean tops of jars. Put on rings. Water bath for 20 minutes at a boil.

My own personal opinion: Salsa without Cilantro is like when your kid forgets to wear underpants. Hard to see the difference but your instinct just tells you something is wrong!

Beef & Bean Enchiladas

This recipe is my husbands favorite. I made it for him when we were dating and here we are 10 years later still together! I make these probably once a month and we never get sick of them.

BEEF & BEAN ENCHILADAS

1 lb Hamburger
1/2 large onion, diced
1 package taco seasoning
1 Can Campbell's Cheddar cheese soup
1 Can refried beans
2 cans (16 oz) red enchilada sauce (I prefer El Paso brand)
2 Cups grated Cheese
1 package flour tortillas
cilantro (optional)

Brown hamburger with onion. Add Taco seasoning, soup and refried beans, mix well. Spray 9X13 pan with cooking spray. Place a scoop of meat and bean mixture, a spoonful of enchilada sauce and sprinkle cheese in tortillas and roll. Place tortilla in pan with the seam down. Cover tortillas with remaining enchilada sauce and remaining cheese. Sprinkle chopped cilantro on top.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Clam Chowder

This is absolutely yummy! Stir it constantly though or it will burn. I've labeled this as Vegetarian because it's easy enough to leave out the clams and use a can of corn to make it a Corn Chowder.

CLAM CHOWDER

2 Cans (6 & 1/2 oz size) minced clams
1 cup onions
2 cups diced potatoes
3/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup flour
1 quart Half & Half
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped celery
pepper

Drain juice from clams. Pour over chopped vegetables in a pot, add water until veggies are just covered and simmer until potatoes are cooked. In mean time, melt butter, add flour and stir together, add Half & Half (this part burns easily so have everything measured out beforehand), cook and stir until thick. Add undrained vegetables and clams and thicken again. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I also add a can of corn at the end.

Crockpot Barbeque Chicken

This recipe is so simple it ought to be punishable by law! Just don't tell your husband and he'll think you slaved all day! I like to make this one for Sunday dinner because getting my kids ready for church takes all my energy and I need a dinner that requires no hassle (and that won't lose it's shoes, or spill orange juice all over itself 5 minutes before it's time to leave!)

CROCKPOT BARBEQUE CHICKEN

4 Chicken Breasts
1 1/2 Cups BBQ Sauce
1/2 Cup Italian Dressing
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

Put Chicken in the crockpot. Mix all other ingredients and pour over the top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4. Take out chicken during last 30 minutes and shred and put back into the sauce. Stir. Put in hamburger buns for a sandwich or over rice. I prefer the using the buns but you might like to try the rice. You can also substitute a pork loin (about 2 pounds) for the chicken.

Peanut Butter Bars

Remember those yummy peanut butter bars with melted chocolate on top that you used to have at school lunch. Well, I used to have them and they're amazing. A real crowd pleaser. And they make a full sheet cake full so there are plenty to share.

PEANUT BUTTER BARS

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup butter or margerine, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
1 Cup creamy peanut butter
2 Cups Oatmeal, not quick
2 Cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS:
1) Cream first three ingredients together
2) Add the vanilla, eggs, and peanut butter and mix.
3) Add remaining ingredients
4) Spread dough on a greased sheet cake pan
5) Bake at 350 for 15 minutes until golden brown.
6) While hot spread 1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter on top.
7) Cool so that the peanut butter has become solid again then spread melted chocolate chips on top. It takes about 2 cups.
8) Cut into squares and make sure to share with friends because you don't want all of this going to your hips!