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.