Lemony Apple Oat Muffins

Source: Janet Rose

I just made these again for the first time in a while and used regular milk instead of evaporated and regular oats instead of quick and both substitutions worked just fine.

Frito Salad

My neighbor Racheale Kunzler makes this often. Flint and I both LOVE it!

Racheale says she likes it heartier so she always adds one can kidney beans AND one can black beans.

Patio Beans

Great side dish for picnics or potlucks, especially of you haven't been grocery shopping in a while and don't have ingredients for a salad. Everything in these beans should be pantry staples. These are different than other baked beans, and by different I mean better :)

 

Patio Beans

Source: Janet Rose

2 (15 oz each) cans red or kidney beans (do not drain)

1 can tomato soup

1 T dry mustard

1/2 c brown sugar

1 lb ground beef

1 T dry onion

4 strips bacon, cooked and diced

Fry and crumble ground beef. Add remaining ingredients. Cook in crock pot for 4 hours or in oven at 350 for at least 2 hours.

 

Lately I've altered the recipe a little so that it fits perfectly in my 2.5 quart corningware dish.

Patio Beans Variation

Source: Amy Pugsley

 

3 cans beans

1 can tomato soup

1 can tomato sauce

1 1/2 T dry mustard

3/4 c brown sugar

1 lb ground beef

1 1/2 T dry onion

4 strips bacon, cooked and diced

Same cooking instructions as above. Fits perfectly in a 2.5 quart baking dish!

 

The recipe says two hours in the oven, but I always cook them longer than that. I like getting the beans as cooked as possible to help with the gas issue (TMI???). I also have made them without the bacon several times. It's a sad thing to cut out, but I don't always have bacon on hand. The bacon definitely makes the beans better, but the beans are still delicious without the bacon.

Cowboy's Delight

This is about the only meal that has "delight" in the name that I trust - hahaha - but really :) 

I love this because it's super easy and yummy. It's great college food or great for letting kids help cook. Kids also love eating it!

Cowboy's Delight

Source: Janet Rose

1 lb ground beef, browned

2 cans tomato soup

1 can corn

1.5-2 c dry macaroni, cooked until almost tender

Salt and pepper tt

Garlic powder tt

Sugar tt

~1 c water

Grated cheddar cheese

Mix ingredients together and top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have struggled for years to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. After trying countless recipes, I finally found my perfect one. It is Racheale Kunzler's recipe.

Cream:
1/2 c butter
1/2 c shortening
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 T water

Sift:
3 c flour (might need a tiny bit more for drop cookies)
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

Add dry mixture to wet. Add desired amount of chocolate chips. Bake at 350 degrees. This recipe works well for drop cookies OR bar cookies. For bar cookies, bake for 17 minutes. For drop cookies, bake for 8 minutes, remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheet for 3-5 minutes. This will result in super moist and soft cookies. Even if they don't look done, take them out of the oven anyway!!! 

Susan Larsen's Fast Dinner

I made this tonight for the first time in a long time. It's very simple to make - only takes a few minutes of prep and then (if you are like me), you can clean your house while it cooks itself! Score!

Susan Larsen's Fast Dinner
Source: Susan Larsen :)

1 package cube steaks (4 steaks)
Thinly sliced potatoes and onions (amount determined by number of people you are feeding)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can milk

Season and brown steaks in a large non-stick skillet that has a lid. Once both sides are browned, add potatoes and onions to the pan. Combine soup and milk and mix well. Pour soup mixture over meat, potatoes and onions. Cover with lid, reduce heat to low and simmer for an hour.

Ta-da! That's it! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! :)

You can also substitute tomato soup in place of the cream of mushroom.

Banana Cake

Flint loves this stuff. It's like banana bread but even better :) The mixing method for this cake is pretty crazy. Every time I make it I worry if it will turn out - and it does! (And just to clarify, YES, you do add buttermilk twice.)

Banana Cake

Source: Phyllis Kunzler

Cream:

1 2/3 c sugar

1 1/4 t soda

1 t salt

2/3 c shortening 

Add and mix well:

2 1/2 c flour

1/3 c buttermilk

1 1/4 c mashed banana

Add and mix well:

1/3 c buttermilk 

2 eggs 

Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Once cooled top with cream cheese frosting.