Rice Pudding

The perfect solution for leftover rice.

2 cups cooked rice

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups milk

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

raisins (optional)

Mix well and microwave 9 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes, until boiling and slightly thickened. Refrigerate to thicken completely.

Chocolate Chip Flax Muffins

1 3/4 cups flour

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup oil

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Fill muffins cups 3/4 full. Bake at 375 for 18 minutes. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.

The Best Coconut Muffins

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup oil

1 T. vanilla

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup coconut

1 1/2 cups flour

Bake 20 minutes at 350.

Pumpkin Muffins

4 eggs

2 cups white sugar 

1 cup oil

1 3/4 cups pure pumpkin (1 - 14 oz can)

3 cups flour

1 T. cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 cups chocolate chips

Beat eggs, add sugar, oil and pumpkin. Add dry ingredients, mix until smooth, add chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen.

Banana Cream Pie

Crust:

1 1/3 cups graham crumbs

1/3 cup melted butter

Mix and press into a pie plate. No baking required.

Filling:

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

3 cups milk

Mix together well and microwave on high for 3 minutes at a time, stirring in between, until filling is thickened (about 9 minutes total). Then add:

2 T. butter

1 tsp vanilla

Refrigerate filling until cool. When ready to assemble, spoon half of filling into pie crust, then slice a few bananas on top, then cover with the rest of the filling. Make sure all the bananas are completely covered so they don't turn brown. Top with whipped cream.

Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

3 cups rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup coconut

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup raisins/cranberries

1 cup walnuts

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen.

Homemade Shake n Bake

1 cup flour

1/3 cup cornmeal

1 tsp seasoning salt

1 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

Mix together. Shake or coat chicken pieces in flour mixture. If baking, drizzle with butter. This also makes a great batter for deep frying!

 

For an extra crispy coating, shake the chicken in the flour mixture, dip the chicken pieces in a beaten egg, and coat them a second time in the flour.

Hawaiian Salad

1.5 cups orzo macaroni

1 can pineapple tidbits

2 cans mandarin oranges

1 T. flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 - 9 oz. Cool Whip

Cook orzo noodles according to package. Drain juice from the fruit and add flour, sugar, salt and eggs. Cook until thickened. Pour over cooked orzo and cool overnight. The next day, add the fruit and the Cool Whip.

Grandma's Fruit Salad

1 can mandarin oranges

1 can sliced peaches

1 can pineapple chunks

apples

grapes

1 6-serving size Cook and Serve vanilla pudding mix

Drain the juice from the fruit cans (except the pineapple) until you have two cups of it. Add a little water if you're short. Whisk in the pudding mix and cook until thick. Cool. Add oranges, peaches and rest of fruit and mix until well coated. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

This does not work with instant pudding!

Quick Bread

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar, or less (as little as a tablespoon works)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk (I cheat and use regular milk with a wee bit of lemon juice)
1 egg
1/4 cup oil

Mix together and put into a loaf pan or an 8x8 pan. If using a loaf pan, bake for 45-50 minutes at 350. If using an 8x8, bake for 30 minutes.

Perfect if you need a bread side dish for soup or baked beans.

Cinnamon Muffins

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 T. cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs

Mix and put into muffin tins. Sprinkle tops of muffins with a little extra cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 13-15 minutes at 375. Makes 16-20 muffins.

Italian Sausage Tortelloni

2 packages Olivieri Italian sausage tortelloni pasta (600 g each)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 T. oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
pinch of parsley and basil

Cook the tortelloni according to the directions on the package. Meanwhile, saute the onion and garlic in oil. Add the beef broth, tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with spices and toss with the tortelloni.

 

Another way we love Italian sausage tortelloni is to make it into pasta salad. I buy the Clubhouse pasta salad mix and make it according to the directions on the package. Mix the cooked tortelloni with dressing mix, red peppers and onions, then refrigerate until cool.

The Best Baked Beans

1 lb. ground beef
Small onion, diced
Green pepper, chopped
2 cans beans in tomato sauce
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 T. mustard
1 T. soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
6-8 slices of bacon, chopped into small pieces

Brown the bacon separately and save until the end. In another pan, brown the beef with the veggies. Add the beans and all the condiments and sugar. Transfer to a 9x13 dish. Top with the cooked bacon and cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes at 350. Or you can keep the beans on the stovetop and simmer it for a good half hour, then top with the bacon before serving.

New York Delight

1 cup butter

1.5 cups sugar

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups coconut

6 cups mini marshmallows

3 cups graham crumbs

1 tsp vanilla

Boil the butter, sugar, eggs and coconut together for one minute, stirring constantly. Add the marshmallows, reduce heat, and stir until they are all melted. Take off the heat and add the vanilla and the graham crumbs. Pour into a 9x13 pan lined with parchment paper and freeze hard. Once frozen, you can lift it out of the pan by the paper and cut it into cubes. Keep in the freezer.

Easy Beef Stew

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
salt & pepper
4-5 potatoes, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1 pkg. onion soup mix
2 cups water

Brown beef and onions with spices. When beef is brown, add the rest. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about half an hour until the vegetables are cooked through and the liquid is absorbed.

Serve with biscuits.

Chicken Curry

2 chicken breasts
salt & pepper
1 tsp. curry
chopped onions
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp ginger
1.5 cups chicken broth
1 T. cornstarch
1 tsp. sugar
2 T. sour cream

Cut chicken into strips and brown in oil with onions and seasonings. Combine broth, cornstarch and sugar and add. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook until slightly thickened. Stir in sour cream before serving. Serve over rice.

Original recipe also calls for frozen peas to be added when thickened, but I always serve those on the side instead.

Easy Perogie Bake

chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
4 slices bacon, chopped
small bag of frozen perogies, about 1 kg
1 cup cream
2 cups grated cheese

Saute onion and bacon in 2 T. butter. Add rest of butter and frozen perogies. Cook 5-8 minutes to let the perogies thaw. Transfer to an 8x11 baking dish and add cream. Add more cream if needed. Bake 25 minutes at 350.

I usually pair this dish with farmer sausage but it can also be a meal in itself.

Nacho Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/4 cup water
salt & pepper to taste
1 can refried beans
1 bag taco chips
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown beef and onion. Add taco seasoning, water and seasonings. Spread refried beans on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Top with beef. Rim the dish with taco chips. Crush more taco chips and sprinkle generously over beef. Top with cheese and bake for 5-10 minutes to heat through and melt the cheese.

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion
1 carrot
1/4 cup peas
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg. onion soup mix
2 T. flour
2/3 cup water
salt & pepper to taste
4-5 potatoes
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Brown beef and onions. Add sliced carrot and peas, boiling water and onion soup mix. Bring to a boil. Shake flour with water until mixed and add to beef. Continue to boil for about 5 minutes and simmer until most of the liquid has boiled away. Boil potatoes separately and mash. Put beef mixture in 8x11 baking dish, top with mashed potatoes and cheese, if desired. Bake 10 minutes at 350.

Chicken Fajitas

3 chicken breasts, cut in long strips
1-2 T. taco seasoning
oil
1 green pepper, julienned
1 red pepper, julienned
1 small onion, chopped or cut in long strips

Sprinkle the chicken with the taco seasoning and saute in the oil until cooked through and browned. Saute the peppers and onion in oil in another pan. You can also cook it altogether in one pan, but my family prefers it to be separate because not everyone likes peppers.

When everything is done, serve in tortillas. You can also add shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa.