Cowboy Dinner

Recipe from thesisterscafe.com

Beef Mixture:
2 pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 cups salsa (jarred or homemade)
1 can (15 ounce) black, pinto or white beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cornbread Topping:
½ cup cornmeal
1 ½ cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs, beaten
1 ¼ cup milk

Preheat the oven to 375. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan and set aside.

In a large 12-inch skillet, brown the ground beef and onion, adding the salt and pepper, over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the grease from the pan. Stir in the corn, salsa, and beans. Pour the beef mixture into the prepared 9X13-inch baking pan and set aside.

For the cornbread, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center and add the oil, beaten eggs and milk. Whisk together until just moistened and no dry spots remain.

Sprinkle the cheese over the beef mixture and pour the cornbread batter over the cheese and beef mixture. Gently spread the cornbread to the edges of the pan, evening it out over the top of the casserole.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until the edges are bubbly and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutella Hot Chocolate

recipe from thesisterscafe.com

1 c milk
2 TBSP nutella

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

1 c flour
1 1/2 TBSP brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
1/8 tsp ginger
1 c buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 c pumpkin puree
chocolate chips

In a medium bowl mix together all dry ingredients. In a small bowl measure out the buttermilk and add the egg. Beat. Mix in the pumpking puree until completely blended. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients until combined.

Heat griddle. Using a 1/4 c measuring cup pour batter on griddle. Top pancakes with chocolate chips. Cook and serve.

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

recipe from picky-palate.com

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large egg

1/2 cup finely chopped white onion

1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 teaspoon hot sauce, like Tabasco

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Ten 1-inch Mozzarella balls

1. Preheat oven to 35o degrees F. and grease 9×13-inch baking dish with oil.

2. Place beef, egg, onion, bread crumbs, Parmesan, milk, garlic, Worcestershire, mustard, hot sauce, salt, pepper and garlic salt into a large mixing bowl, stirring until just combined. Take 1/4 cup beef mixture and press into center with your thumb to make room for cheese ball. Place cheese in middle then with hands enclose the cheese with the beef, making sure the cheese is completely covered. Place meatballs into prepared baking dish and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cooked through.

3. Serve over top your favorite pasta or inside a warm roll for delicious meatball sandwich.

Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake

recipe courtesy picky-palate.com

1 box yellow cake mix

4 eggs

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1/2 cup milk or buttermilk

3.4 ounce box Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix

1/2 cup sour cream

15 ounce can pumpkin

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 cups powdered sugar

1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream (start w 1/4 cup and add a little more cream if needed)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a jelly roll pan with non stick cooking spray.

2. Place cake mix, eggs, oil, milk, pudding, sour cream and pumpkin into a stand or electric mixer, beating until well combined, about 1 1/2 minutes. Pour into prepared pan, spreading evenly.

3. Place butter into a microwave safe bowl and melt, about 30-40 seconds. Add brown sugar and cinnamon to bowl, mixing until combined. Drizzle mixture evenly over cake then take a knife and run it through to swirl.

4. Bake cake for 30-35 minutes, until cooked through and remove. Place powdered sugar and cream into a large bowl and mix until creamy and smooth. Drizzle over warm cake then let cool for 20 minutes before cutting into squares. Refrigerate if not serving same day. Enjoy with milk!

Makes 16 to 20 squares

Crock Pot Chicken

Recipe from kukiskookbook.blogspot.com

2-3 chicken breasts (I did 2 Costco ones and I thought it was a good amount)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 can chicken broth
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 c salsa

Put all ingredients into the crock pot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 5-6 hours. Serve on flour tortillas, hard taco shells, or even as Supreme Nachos over chips.

Banana Bread

recipe from allrecipes.com

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

recipe from allrecipes.com

1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/2 cup cold water
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup heavy cream, whipped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for two 9-inch layers. Cool and remove from pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together sweetened condensed milk and melted chocolate. Gradually stir in the water, then instant pudding until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
3. Remove the chocolate mixture from the refrigerator, and stir to loosen. Fold in whipped cream and return to the refrigerator for at least another hour.
4. Place one layer of cake onto a serving plate. Top with 1 1/2 cups of the mousse, then cover with the remaining cake layer. Frost with the remaining mousse, and refrigerate until serving. Garnish with fresh fruit or chocolate shavings.

Ultimate Potato Soup

recipe from allrecipes.com

1 pound bacon, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 cups chicken stock, or enough to cover potatoes
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
3 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until done. Remove bacon from pan, and set aside. Drain off all but 1/4 cup of the bacon grease.
2. In the bacon grease remaining in the pan, saute the celery and onion until onion begins to turn clear. Add the garlic, and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cubed potatoes, and toss to coat. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Return the bacon to the pan, and add enough chicken stock to just cover the potatoes. Cover, and simmer until potatoes are tender.
3. In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the heavy cream, tarragon and cilantro. Bring the cream mixture to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Stir the cream mixture into the potato mixture. Puree about 1/2 the soup, and return to the pan. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Serves 8

Ready in 40 minutes

White Chocolate S'mores Gooey Cake Bars

Recipe from picky-palate.com

THESE ARE TO DIE FOR. Only problem, they are super rich and yummy that you can only eat one serving at a time. (great for the holiday calorie count I guess)

1 box yellow cake mix

1 large egg

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

4 1/2 full graham crackers

10 ounce bag white chocolate chips

2 cups mini marshmallows

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with tin foil that’s been generously sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure foil goes all the way up and over the edges for this one. It will be a full pan.

2. Place cake mix, egg, and butter into a large mixing bowl. Mix with hands until a nice dough forms. similar to a cookie dough. Press half of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer with graham crackers, white chips then marshmallows. Top with remaining half of dough pressing evenly. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over top then bake for 28-33 minutes, until cooked through and golden brown on top. Remove from oven. Let cool for 5 minutes then take a plastic knife and run along edges to loosen marshmallow (this will make your life easier when pulling foil out of pan to remove bars. Let cool completely then remove bars from pan with foil edges. Cut off all edges if desired, about 1/2 inch each side. I save the edges to snack on too. Cut bars into squares and serve. They are delicious room temperature or chilled.

Pumpkin Cake (to die for!)

recipe courtesy Brooke Petersen

1 15 oz can pumpkin
1 can evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 c sugar
4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 c butter, melted

Mix together pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and pumpkin pie spice and pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with cake mix. Drizzle with butter. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Homemade Oreos

1 box devil's food cake
2/3 c shortening
2 eggs

Mix together using a spoon. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely before frosting with cream cheese frosting. Serve with milk

Banana Caramel Cupcakes

1 box white or yellow cake mix (and ingredients that go with it)
1 cup mashed banana
1 bag of caramels, unwrapped


FROSTING
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c milk or cream
2 1/2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla


Mix cake as directed. Add banana and mix until smoothed. Scoop batter into lined cupcake tins so it's about 2/3 full. Place caramel on top in the middle. Bake at 350 for 18-21 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING
Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add sugar and stir for 2 minutes. Add milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and pour into a small/medium bowl. Let it sit until room temperature. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Frost cooled cupcakes.

Ice Cream Cake

8-12 ice cream sandwiches
12 oreos
splash of milk
1 pint of 3 ice cream flavors you want in your cake

cool whip to top

Spray a 9 inch spring form pan. Line sides with wax paper.

Either by hand or by food processor crush cookies. Add a splash of milk to create a oreo paste. Set aside.

Taking 4 ice cream sandwiches out at a time, unwrap and cut into fourths (once long ways and once short ways). Line the sides of pan with sandwiches, pushing together to create a firm bordered crust. Repeat process until all sides are filled in. On bottom of pan press oreo paste to create a bottom for your cake. Place in freezer for 30 minute-1 hour.

About 15 minutes before removing springform pan from freezer remove the pints of ice cream that you will be using to softened. Remove pan and start layering your ice cream into pan. Place in freezer again for 1 hr or over night.

Just before serving top with cool whip. Cut and serve. Can top with crushed oreos.

Easy Breadsticks

recipe courtesy Jamie Nelson

2 TBSP yeast

1/2 c warm water

2 c warm milk

1/2 c melted butter

1/2 c sugar

2 tsp salt

2 eggs

7 c flour

Put butter, not melted, in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave until melted. Add milk, water and yeast. Whisk together. Add sugar, salt and eggs. Whisk together. Whisk in flour 1 c at a time until you can't use a whisk anymore then switch to a wooden spoon. Once well combined cover and set aside. Let it raise until double its size. (I only had 30 minutes to let it rise, and they seemed to be just fine).

Roll out on a sprayed surface (I like to use cooking spray instead of flour so the dough doesn't get too dry with the added flour). Roll out until 1/2 inch thick. Cover with the following ingredients:

melted butter

parmesan cheese

garlic powder

season all or salad supreme

Cut the dough using a pizza cutter and place on greased cookie sheets. Let it raise for 15 minutes and bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until golden brown. To make them look prettier top with melted butter again-or don't if you are worried about your butter intake :)

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Recipe courtesy thesisterscafe.com

1/3 c (3 oz) cream cheese

1/4 c green salsa-I used normal red, i didn't even know you could make green salsa

1 TBSP lime juice (1/2 a lime)

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp granulated garlic

3 TBSP cilantro, chopped

2 TBSP green onions, chopped

2 c shredded chicken

1 c grated pepperjack cheese

tortillas

kosher salt

cooking spray

Soften cream cheese in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir in salsa, lime juice, and spices. Add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese until well mixed. *This can be made ahead of time and stored in fridge until ready to cook.

Preheat oven to 425. Line cookie sheet with tinfoil lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

Spoon chicken mixture in a line on the bottom edge of tortilla-keeping 1/2 in away from edge so you can tightly roll it up. Line taquitos seams down on cookie sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crispy and edges turn golden brown.

Serve with guacamole, salsa and/or sour cream.

Sweet and Sour Crockpot Chicken

Recipe courtesy from thesisterscafe.com

1 lb chicken, about 2 breasts

1 14-oz can diced tomatoes

1/3 c brown sugar

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in crockpot. Cook on low for about 6 hours. Shred chicken when done. Use for tacos.

Carmelitos

Recipe courtesy thesisterscafe.com


1 c flour
1 c quick oats
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c butter, melted

1 c milk chocolate chips
3/4 c carmel topping
1/2 c chopped pecans (optional)
3 TBSP flour


Mix flour, sugar, oats, salt, soda and butter. Press half of mixture into an 11x7 pan and set the other half aside. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans, if using. Combine carmel topping and 3 T flour together. Drizzle over chocolate. Sprinkle the remaining dough over the dessert. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before slicing.

Cookie in Ramekin

inspired by Kuki's Kookbook Blog

cookie dough, your choice (I used my Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe)
ice cream
toppings

Spray ramekins. Press dough into dish until it is about 1-1 1/2 inches thick. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cookie cool slightly. Top with scoop of ice cream and your choice of toppings. Enjoy!

Yummy Cracker Dip

Recipe courtesy of Bobbi Lynn Anderson

24 oz Cottage Cheese
16 oz sour cream
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 package Ranch Dip mix

Serve with your choice of crackers. My favorites are Ritz and Wheat Thins.

Egg Rolls

1 lb meat, I used ground beef, cooked
1 c chopped cabbage
1/2 c grated carrot
1/2 c bean sprouts
1/3 c chopped celery
2 TBSP oyster sauce-could use soy to replace
1 package egg roll wrappers
Olive Oil
Small bowl of water

Brown meat with salt and pepper. Remove as much grease as possible, then put meat in large mixing bowl. Add veggies and sauce. Mix together. Add 1/3 c of mixture to each egg roll noodle and place in the middle. Grab bottome point and cover meat mixture, then fold the side points in to create an envelope effect. Roll to complete. Dab finger in a small bowl of water and spread over top point to seal egg roll. Place on greased cookie sheet with seam facing down. Complete until egg roll wrappers are gone. Spread olive oil on egg rolls. Bake at 375 until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes. Serve with rice and soy sauce to dip in.

Manacotti

1 lb mozzerella cheese, shredded (4 c)
1 1/4 c cottage cheese
3 eggs
3 TBSP butter
1/3 c parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
3/4 c water
Spaghetti sauce, I like Prego

Combine all ingredients, except water and spaghetti sauce, in a large bowl. Mix well. Preheat oven to 350. Stuff noodles firmly with cheese mixture. Place in a casserole dish. Add water to dish. Cover with sauce to your liking. Cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour. If you think there is still too much water in it 45 minutes into baking remove foil for the last 15 minutes. Let it stand for 10 minutes, covered, before serving.

Mexican Casserole

I saw a picture in a magazine at a doctor's office of a Mexican Casserole and thought I could go home and create my own. So here it is.

Tortilla chips

1 can black beans, drained and washed

1/2 can corn

1 c salsa

about 1/2 c sour cream

1 1/2-2 c shredded cheese, to your liking

Place a layer of chips on the bottom of a casserole dish 8x8. The chips should overlap. Next sprinkle a thin layer of cheese on top of chips. Layer beans on top, followed by corn and then salsa on top of that. Place drops/spoonful of sour cream over salsa every 2 inches or so. Top with remaining cheese. Bake in oven at 350 for about 20 mins or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

OTHER OPTIONS:

1- repeat layering process and make the casserole thicker

2- use a variety of beans

3- place chips on top of sour cream as to make a "sandwich" with the chips and top with cheese

Cashew Chicken

Recipe courtesy Angie Harding

4 chicken breasts, diced
4 TBSP soy sauce, divided
1 TBSP corn starch
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1/4 c oil
3 green onions sliced diagonally
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4-1/2 c cashews
sesame seeds
hot cooked rice

In a medium bowl place 2 TBSP soy sauce. Place cubed chicken in bowl. Let it sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

In a small bowl combine the other 2 TBSP soy sauce, corn starch, sugar, and vinegar. Whisk until well combined and set aside.

Slice green onion and mince garlic.

Heat oil over high in a wok. Add chicken and cook until browned on all sides. Remove from wok. Add green onions and garlic. Cook until tender which is only about 1-2 minutes. Add chicken. Slowly add corn starch mixture and cook until it thickens. Once at desired thickness remove from heat and stir in cashews. Serve over rice and top with sesame seeds.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recipe courtesy Mary Lynn Driggs

3/4 c shortening
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1/2 c water
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 c flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp soda
3 c oats
chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugars. Add egg, vanilla and water. Add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Makes about 5 dozen.

Sweet Potato with Maraschino Cherries

Sweet potatoes (enough for your serving amount)

1/2 can maraschino cherries, including 1/2 the juice

butter (about 1/2 a cube for a 9x13 dish)

cinnamon

mini marshmallows

In a medium-large pot place sweet potatoes. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drain water and let potatoes cool. When cooled enough to handle remove skins. Cut into cubes. Place in pan. Add cherries and juice. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Thinly slice butter and place throughout potatoes. Bake uncovered at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Remove pan from oven, but leave oven on. Top with marshmallows. Place back in oven until mallows are golden brown.

Broccoi, Cheddar and Ham Strata

recipe courtesy familycircle.com

1 TBSP olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1 lb frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 loaf Italian bread (14 oz), cut into cubes
1/2 lb sliced deli ham, chopped
6 large eggs
1 1/2 c milk
2 TBSP chives
1 TBSP dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar

Heat oven to 375. Coat a 2 quart oval baking dish with cooking spray. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add broccoli and cook another 3 minutes. Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Stir in broccoli mixture and the ham.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, chives, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over bread mixture, stirring to mix. Transfer to baking dish, top evenly with cheese.
Bake for 40-45 minutes

Pumpkin Breakfast Rolls

Recipe from Picky-Palate.com

I halved the recipe for my little family of 3.

2 pkg pillsbury cresent rolls
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
4 oz cream cheese
1/4 c pumpkin
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Unroll cresent rolls and pinch together to form "cinnamon roll" dough (long sides pinched together). Mix together the rest of the ingredients in a blender or with a hand mixer. Then spread over dough. Roll long end to the other long end (again, like a cinnamon roll). Cut either with a knife or using dental floss into 1/2-1 inch pieces. Place into greased 9" round pans leaving the center open. Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes then frost.

Frosting
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 TBSP pumpkin

Little Monkey Bread

Recipe from Picky-Palate.com

1 roll French Bread Loaf (Pillsburry), cut into pieces
6 TBSP sugar
3 TBSP cinnamon

Toss dough pieces in cinnamon and sugar. I put bread pieces in a gallon ziplock baggie and shook it until covered. Place dough in LINED muffin tins. (I made them without being lined and it was a pain to clean so I recommend doing lined).

1/2 c butter
1/2 c brown sugar

Melt butter and add sugar. Mix. Pour over dough pieces evenly. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven. Let sit for 5 minutes then drizzle with frosting.

Frosting
1/2 c powdered sugar
2-3 TBSP heavy cream