Spaghetti

Yes, you could just cook the noodles and throw in some browned beef and store-bought sauce, but why? Ok, so that's basically all I did with the exception of making my own sauce. But whatever.

The Details:

1 lb spaghetti noodles

1 lb ground beef

1-12 oz can tomato sauce

1-6 oz can tomato paste

1 cup water

garlic

parsley

basil

salt

Cook noodles. Brown brown beef in skillet. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer 15 minutes. Add to noodles.

Pretty simple. You can use less meat if you don't want so much, but we're a meat family. And you could add whatever spices you want, or just use an Italian blend.

I'm also going to be sharing my French bread recipe later this week, which goes great with this.

Happy Cooking!

Chocolate Chip Pizza

Just when you thought pizza couldn't get any better, they added chocolate chips.

The Details:

Take 1/2 of a boxed cake mix. Mix in 1/2 cup melted butter. Spread evenly over your favorite pizza crust. I use the same recipe I used for my homemade pizza. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mini chocolate chips, about half a 12 oz bag. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or as directed for your crust. I also like to sprinkle a little powdered sugar over it after it's done.

If you're using a crust recipe that makes two pies, you can save the extra dough, cake mix, and chocolate chips for another pizza! Now excuse me while I go find a plate. Yum.

Happy Cooking!

Grilled Country Style Ribs

Don't you just hate it when you can smell someone down the street barbecuing? Only one thing to do - fire up the grill and give 'em a taste of their own cooking!

The Details:

Marinade

1 cup water

1/2 cup Dale's sauce

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1/4 cup vinegar

Lawry's seasoned salt to taste

powder garlic to taste

pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients for marinade together. Place country style pork ribs in marinade. Place in refrigerator overnight or at least one hour. Remove and place on grill set to medium-low. Slather on barbecue sauce. Cook until done, turning occasionally and adding more barbecue sauce.

Your mouth watering yet?

Now is it? I know mine is.

If you use a meat thermometer, pork is done at 160 degrees. You can always use your own choice of marinade. Mine changes depending on what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes I might add more garlic, or leave out the seasoned salt, or even add a tablespoonful of brown sugar or honey if I want a sweet sauce that night. Experiment and see what you like!

Happy Cooking!

Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes! Or I-forgot-to-take-pictures-of-the-recipe-that-was-supposed-to-be-here-before-it-got eaten!! So here's a simple side dish for you to make!

The Details:

Peel your potatoes, and cut into cubes about an inch wide. Place in pot with enough water to completely cover the potatoes. Bring to boil. Boil until a knife inserted into the potato comes out without any resistance, anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes depending on how many potatoes used. Remove from heat and drain. Mash potatoes. Add desired amount of butter and milk.

You can use as many, or as little, potatoes as you want to. I use a potato masher to mash them, or you can also use a potato ricer. Or I've heard of people using a mixer. Or you could use your hands. That'd be fun but the other people eating might look at you strange. Not that I would know.

. . .

Anyway, I usually use about 1/2 stick of butter and 1/2 cup of milk for 5 medium potatoes. Add a small amount of milk at a time until it gets to the consistency you want.

Happy Cooking!

Chicken Fried Steak

I love to use this recipe for venison steak, but it's just as good with beef. All you need in some cube steak, egg, milk, flour, and some oil to fry it in!

The Details:

Heat 1/4 inch of oil in pan. Whisk together 2 eggs and a splash of milk. Place one to two cups of flour in a bowl. Season flour with salt and pepper. Coat steaks in flour, then dip in egg mix, and then dip in flour once again. Fry in oil, turning once midway through. Cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your meat.

You can add additional seasonings to the flour, to the meat, or you can also marinate the meat.

Happy Cooking!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Does anyone else have that one item that's just them? That thing you are known for, that you make all the time? Ok, so I have a couple, but these cookie are at the top of the list. People my husband works with know me by these cookies. (And the Speedy Brownies) They might not have every met me, but I am famous (or infamous) for the cookies. So, here we go!

The Details:

1 c. butter

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. milk

3 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter, sugars, eggs, vanilla, and milk. Sift together flour, salt, and soda in separate bowl. Add gradually to wet mixture. Stir in chocolate chips by hand. Drop by teaspoonfuls unto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

I prefer to put parchment paper on my cookie sheet. Not all smaller grocery stores carry it, but you should be able to find it at larger stores. I like to us it because the cookies never stick and my cookies seem to cook better.

Happy Cooking!

Cloverleaf Rolls

Remember the crescent roll dough I froze here? I used that dough to make these rolls. They are made of three balls of dough stuck together and baked in a muffin tin. They pull apart nicely, ready to smear some butter on.

The Details:

Using this recipe, use either fresh made dough or frozen dough thawed in the refrigerator overnight. You will use 1/4th of the recipe for one pan. Roll the dough into a thick rectangle. Cut into 12 equal parts. Divide each section into three equal parts and roll each into a ball. Place each set of three balls into one section of a greased muffin tin. Pour 1/4 c. melted butter over dough. Back at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

These some out soft and warm, ready to smear some butter on. If I let them, my kids would just eat these for supper and forget about anything else!

Happy Cooking!