Noodle Bowl

onions

carrots

red peppers

broccoli

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 1/2 T. brown sugar

1 T. oyster sauce

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp ginger

300 grams pasta (any kind)

Throw this all together in a large pot or skillet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered until pasta is done and liquid is absorbed. Use whatever veggies you like.

Creamy Tomato Pasta

1 T. butter

chopped onions

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1/8 tsp pepper

1/2 T. flour

3/4 cup cream

3/4 cup pasta sauce

Saute onions in butter. Add spices and flour. Stir and cook for a minute. Add cream and pasta sauce, bring to a simmer. Toss with pasta. Also works very well with Italian sausage tortelloni.

Hashbrown Casserole

4 cups hashbrowns, frozen

chopped red and green peppers

chopped onions

cooked, chopped up breakfast sausage or bacon

1 cup shredded cheese

Mix these ingredients together and spread into a 9x13 dish.

10 eggs

1.5 cups milk

1.5 tsp salt

1 tsp parsley

pepper

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

Mix eggs, milk and spices, and pour over the hashbrowns in the dish. Top with another 1 cup cheese. Bake for 45-60 minutes at 350, or until eggs are set.

(A half recipe makes an 8x8 pan, and a 3/4 recipe makes an 8x11 pan.)

Creamy Bacon Pasta

325-350 grams of pasta

2 slices of bacon, chopped (or more, I use 1/2 a pkg)

3/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

pepper

1/2 cup whipping cream (35%)

1/2 cup pasta water

Cook the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup water when draining. Meanwhile, cook the bacon. Once cooked, add the spices and keep warm on low until the pasta is done. Add the whipping cream, pasta water and cooked pasta to the bacon. Turn up the heat again and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.

Skillet

oil

frozen hashbrowns

diced onions

seasoning salt or Cajun seasoning

eggs

breakfast sausage or bacon, optional

Brown the hashbrowns in the oil until they are beginning to get brown. Sprinkle with seasoning and add the onions. Continue browning until hashbrowns are browner and onions are done. Crack eggs over top and scramble them into the hashbrowns (I do 4-5 eggs per frying pan). When the eggs are done on the bottom, flip the skillet in sections to cook the other side of the eggs.

 

Pizza Sauce

 Kind of homemade, kind of not.

1 can tomato paste

1 can tomato soup (I like no name the best in this recipe)

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. garlic

1/2 tsp. basil

sprinkle of black pepper

Mix well and store in the fridge. Use whatever spices you like (oregano, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, etc.). It thickens quite a bit sitting in the fridge so if I want to use it when it's thick, I add a wee bit of water.

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.

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.

Taco Dip

Version 1:

Refried beans

Equal amounts sour cream mixed with mayo

Salsa

Shredded cheddar cheese

Version 2:

Refried beans

Equal amounts sour cream mixed with mayo

A sprinkle of taco seasoning

Shredded cheddar cheese

Chopped fresh tomatoes, green peppers & red peppers

Make these in layers in a baking dish. You really can add whatever you want but these are our favourites. You can leave out the refried beans and just do layers of sour cream/mayo, salsa and cheese. Serve with taco chips or - our favourite - rippled potato chips or Mexican Chili chips.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

 2 c. macaroni, cooked
1/4 c. butter or margarine, melted
1.5 tsp. salt
3 eggs, beaten
1.5 c. grated cheddar cheese
1.5 c. milk
plain potato chips, crushed

Combine macaroni with butter, salt and cheese. Add milk and fold in the beaten eggs. Place in a casserole dish and top with crushed potato chips (more is better). Bake 45-60 minutes at 350.

Original recipe calls for bread crumbs instead of potato chips but we like chips better.

Roll Kuchen

4 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
2 T salt
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
5 cups white flour

Mix well; dough will be quite sticky. Roll dough out flat on a well-floured surface (I'm never afraid to use lots of flour!) and cut into squares. Deep fry in oil until browned and puffy. I use my deep fryer with the lid removed and the basket lowered in the oil. Drop in a few, watch them sink to the bottom and then they will come back up as they puff up. When the bottom side is brown, flip them over with tongs and let the second side brown. Then lift them out and let them drain on paper towels. When they are all fried, serve them with watermelon.

This recipe makes a lot; I fill up 4 cookie sheets with the squares of dough and it takes a good half hour to fry them all. But the leftovers are great for breakfast eaten with strawberry jam. :)

Pizza

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 T yeast
2 T oil
1 cup warm water


Mix well until smooth and elastic. This makes enough dough for two round pizza pans or one big cookie sheet pizza. Spread into pans (I grease my pans with lard) and top with your favourite sauce, spices and toppings. Bake for 20 minutes at 375. I use no name canned pizza sauce, sprinkle on spices like garlic powder, cayenne pepper and oregano, and top with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Onions and peppers work well, ham and pineapple is another favourite.

For something really different, you can try what my family has termed "West Coast" pizza (named for my west coast relatives who introduced us to this fantastic version of pizza). Use BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce and top with chopped cooked chicken, onions, red peppers and mozzarella cheese.

Turkey Ranch Club Wrap

1 pkg. bacon
1 pkg. flour tortillas
~ 400 g smoked turkey breast, shaved (or any kind of oven roasted chicken)
cheese slices
Ranch dressing
tomatoes, sliced
lettuce


Cook the bacon the way you like it. Layer in a tortilla: Ranch dressing, smoked turkey breast, bacon, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Wrap and enjoy!