Taco Soup

Taco Soup

This is great for when you don't know when you'll eat, and makes good leftovers.

1 can kidney beans (drained)
1 can corn (drained)
1 can tomatoes with green chilis
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce (or two little cans)
1/2 lb. ground hamburger, cooked
1/2 can black beans, optional
1 TBSP taco seasoning (I add more if I used 2 cans tomatoes instead of one with green chilis)
2 TBSP dried onions, or some fresh onion that I've diced and grilled

Put everything in a pot and simmer for half an hour.  Not as yummy but 15 minutes if you're in a hurry.  OR put on low in a crock pot or simmer on the stove for an hour if you don't know when the guests are coming.

Serve with tortilla chips and cheese and maybe sour cream.



Easy Whole Wheat Tortilla Chips

1 tortilla per person
oil
garlic salt or regular salt
pizza cutter

Rub oil and sprinkle salt onto tortillas, cut with a pizza cutter.  Bake 10 minutes on each side at 325 degrees, preferably on a oven-safe rack.

Cream Puffs

I learned to make these for a bake sale in high school.  This recipe from college is a little better than the BH&G. 

Cream Puffs

3/4 c. water
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. flour
4 eggs

Boil water and butter and salt.  Add flour all at once and mix until it's a blob that sticks together.  Wait a minute or two, then stir in eggs, one at a time.  Drop onto cookie sheet and bake 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.  Turn off oven and let them sit for an hour.  Cool and fill with vanilla pudding and top with chocolate frosting.

Skillet Spanish Rice

Spanish Rice

1/2 lb Bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 lb. hamburger, cooked
1/2 TBSP onion flakes
2 c. water

1 c. uncooked rice
2/3 c. chopped green pepper
1 can stewed tomatoes (diced!)
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp. ground oregano
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

In a large skillet, combine all ingredients. Heat to boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. May add small amount of water while cooking if needed.

Spinach Tortellini Soup

It doesn't get any easier or healthier or faster than this, and it doesn't use anything fresh so you can have the supplies on hand always.  I make this through a big batch of Costco tortellini (quality tortellini is important), then we take a break for a while.  We eat it with crackers and lots of parmesan cheese on top.  The only downside is price.

Spinach Tortellini Soup


2 cups chicken broth
1 can italian style diced tomatoes
1 c. frozen spinach
2 c tortellini

Bring broth, tomatoes and spinach to a boil. Add tortellini and simmer 10 min. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Recipe Review: 7 Layer Bars

If you like butterscotch chips, this is definitely a 5-star recipe!  I ate the whole pan myself!  This recipe is from Cookie Madness.  Get it here.

Pumpkin Fruit Pizza

Happy Halloween! Try this at home with sugar cookie dough, frosting, and some fruit!

Winger's Sticky Finger Salad

I wanted to copy the sticky finger salad that I'm always ordering at Wingers, using the Amazing Sauce that we bought from them.  Here's what I did.

Sticky Finger Salad

Green Leaf Lettuce, chopped
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
craisins
Sticky fingers
cherry tomatoes (optional)
Ranch Dressing

Layer on the plate just before serving.  It's as simple as that!  The magic is in the craisins, yum, yum.

 Sticky Fingers


First, I bought a bag of frozen pre-breaded chicken tenders from Costco, which cook for around 20 minutes.  Five minutes before they are done, I take them out and cut them into strips and return them to the oven.  Then I cook them 10 minutes longer (five minutes over time) so they are nice and crunchy.  I pull them out, put them in a bowl, and drizzle the Amazing Sauce over and I have sticky fingers for under $2.50/lb.  I estimate that I am using $1 worth of sticky fingers on each salad (and that is the most expensive part).

Note- Here is an attempt at reproducing Winger's Amazing Sauce.  I use 3 cups brown sugar and boil it with 1 cup Frank's hot sauce.  Tastes just like it!