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.