Homemade Spaghetti O's

                                                                               

Delicious Homemade Spaghetti O's. So much better than those canned Spaghetti O's! Kids young and old will love this! Enjoy!

2, 28 Ounce cans of Tomato Sauce

1, 12 Ounce Can Tomato Paste

1 Box Ditalini Pasta 1 Pound Box

1 TBS each Paprika, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder

1 TBS Honey Optional but it does help give this that Spaghetti flavor

3 to 4 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese, I use Mild Cheddar and used the 4 Cups

1 Cup of Milk or more to suit your taste

1 Cup Water or more if you want a thinner sauce

4 Tablespoons Butter

Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. You want firm pasta not soft.  Drain well. In a large pot stir together the sauce, the tomato paste and seasoning. Cook and stir until bubbling. Now stir in the honey, milk, and water, Cook and stir until bubbling. Now add the cheese and stir until melted and well blended. Once it is hot and bubbling add the cooked pasta. Stir well and cook until heated. Ladle into bowls. Makes  about 8 servings. I tripled the recipe and made it in my electric roast pan! It served about 40 servings, and was a success! Kids young and old loved it! ENJOY!

Fried Apples Cracker Barrel Style but made in the Crock Pot!

                                                                                

The aroma fills your house and once done, oh my, warm apple goodness that can't be beat! These go great with any meat but works as a dessert too!

15 Large Apples peeled and sliced. I used Honey Crisp. I put my slices right into a bowl with 2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice to prevent browning. Just stir each time you add more sliced apples. 

3 Tablespoons Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Ginger

1 and 1/2 Cups Dark Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

3/4 Cup Melted Butter use Salted Butter

2 Teaspoons Vanilla

1/2 Cup Apple Cider or Juice, I used Cider

Heat Crock Pot to High then spray with cooking spray. 

Scoop apples out of the lemon juice and put right into the crock pot. Stir all your dry ingredients together until combined well.  Sprinkle this over the apples and stir to make sure each slices is coated. Now pour over the apple mixture the melted butter, cider and vanilla, stir well to be sure it is mixed well. Cook on high 3 to 4 hours, mine was perfect at 4 hours!  Apple Perfection! Serve hot as a side with beef, pork, ham, turkey, chicken, sausage or as dessert with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream! 

Baked Beans With Burger

                                                                               

Super Easy 1 Pot Dish! I baked mine but crockpot would work too!

1 and 1/2 Pound Burger browned and drained

2 Cand Hanover Great Northern Beans 40.5 Ounce Size DO NOT DRAIN!

1 8 Ounce Can Tomato Sauce

1 Onion Peeled and Chopped

3 Tablespoons Yellow Mustard

1/2 Cup Ketchup

Brown Sugar to taste. I like mine sweet so I used 2/3 Cup. But dump some, taste and tweak to suit you!

1 Tablespoon Chopped Parsley

1 and 1/2 Teaspoon Steak Seasoning

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. 

In a large roast pan just dump everything in and mix well. Cover with lid or with foil and bake 2 hours stirring once halfway through the baking.  Recover and return to oven for 1 more hour!

OR, mix everything in your crockpot and cook on low 6 hours or on high for 4. Yummy!

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

                                                                                

Soft Chocolatey Sugar Cookies! Makes 5 Dozen too!

2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Shortening

2 Eggs

1 Cup Sour Milk

1 Tsp. Vanilla

3 And 1/2 Cups Flour

1/2 Cup Cocoa

2 Tsp. Baking Powder

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp. Salt

Colored Sugar to sprinkle

Oven Temperature is 350 Degrees

Cream shortening, add sugar and beat again. Add eggs and vanilla and beat again. Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. In a large measuring cup measure 1 cup sour milk. Add to the milk the baking soda stir and allow it to foam. Now into the shortening alternate with the flour mixture then the sour milk about 1/3 of the mixtures at a time. Beat well until everything is incorporated and blended very well.  Chill dough for at least 4 hours or overnight. When ready to bake preheat the oven at 350 degrees . Drop dough onto cookie sheets no need to grease the pans. Drop by heaping tablespoon. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and bake for 15 minutes! Light soft chocolatey cookies! YUM! 

Beanie Wienie Stew

                                                                              

Beanie Wienie Stew is a hearty indulgence of comfort food and easiness. Kids of all ages will love it! Great for social gatherings, picnics, or cold weather days. 

2, 40 Ounce Cans of Baked Beans. I used Hanover Baked Beans

3 Packs of Hotdogs or Wieners which explains the name of this dish! Slice hotdogs into rings like shown above

1 Medium Onion peeled and chopped 

4 Large Potatoes peeled and diced into cubes

3/4 Cup Catsup

1/3 Cup Mustard

2/3 Cup Brown Sugar, I used Dark Brown Sugar

Place everything in your crock pot and stir well. Cook on low 8 hours until potatoes are soft. If cooking on high allow 5 to 6 hours. I gave this a stir about half way thru. It smells so good and my group gobbled this up and kept going back for more. I doubled the recipe and had 2 full crock pots. If you have a cookout and have leftover hotdogs just freeze them and then when you want to make the Beanie Wienie Stew just thaw the hotdogs and you are good to go! 

Baked Chicken Salad Casserole

                                                                           

Baked Chicken Salad my way. Everyone has their version but I keep mine very simple. This recipe makes a large deep casserole and serves 8 nice big servings. 

2 Pounds Cooked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, cooled and cubed 

2 Cups  Raw White Rice, Cook rice according to package Directions

1 Onion Chopped

2 Ribs Celery Chopped

2 TBS Parsley Chopped or use Parsley Flakes

1 & 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise

2, 10.5 Ounce Cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup

2 Cups Cheddar Cheese Optional

2 Cups Thawed Frozen Peas Optional

Place Chicken, Cooked Rice, Chopped Vegetables, Thawed Frozen Peas if using them, and Parsley in your large casserole dish. Stir everything together. In a large bowl stir together Mayo and Cans of Soup. Blend well.  Add this mixture to your casserole dish & stir until mixed well. Cover and bake in a preheated 350 Degree Oven  Covered for 1 hour. Remove lid and sprinkle with the Cheddar Cheese if you desire. Bake another 10 minutes.  The picture above does not have the peas and cheese. I love this both ways. Other stir in ideas that many people use is 1 Cup Slivered Almonds, 1 Cup Water Chestnuts, and many people like this with 2 Cups of  Dry Bread Crumbs Sprinkled over the top and bake uncovered. I prefer my basic recipe, but jazz it up as you choose! ENJOY! 

Rustic Pork Pie

                                                                           

                                                                                     

Whenever I have leftover roasts be it beef, chicken,  pork, or turkey, I  am making one of these! 

For  Pie Filling:

2 Cups of Leftover Roast, this recipe I used Pork

2 Cups Leftover Gravy, if you do not have gravy you may use canned or jarred store bought but homemade is always better

4 Large Leftover Peeled and Cubed Potatoes. If you do not have leftover potatoes, microwave 2 large baking potatoes , let them cool then peel & cube

Leftover Carrots and Onions from your roast chopped. If you do not have leftover just chop fresh & add them to the filling. About 1/2 of a large onion and 1 large carrot peeled sand chopped.

2/3 Cup Thawed Frozen Mixed Vegetables.

Stir everything together & now make your pie crust.

Pie Crust for a double 9 Inch Crust

2 Cup Flour

1/2 TSP Salt

1/4 TSP Sugar

1/3 Cup Cold Butter slice into small pieces

1/3 Cup Shortening

4 to 5 TBS Cold Water

In your large mixing bowl stir all the dry ingredients together. Now on low add the shortening & the butter a little at a time. Mix until you have crumbs. Now add a little of the water at a time on low speed until dough forms a ball. Take 1/2 the dough and roll out on floured surface. Use this to line your 9 inch deep pie pan. Dump all of the filling into the dough lined pie pan.  Roll out the other 1/2 of the dough on the floured surface. Use this to cover your pie. Cut a few slits in the top center so pie is vented. Bake in a 350 Degree oven for hour or until pie is golden brown and bubbling! Pure Comfort food!