Breakfast casserole (for dinner)

We tried something new tonight, and it turned out amazingly delicious! I made this up as a way to use some ham that needed to leave our refrigerator.

5 large baking potatoes, microwaved until mostly cooked (13 minutes for Costco size potatoes)

1lb boneless ham steak, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

2 small cans of diced green chilies

2 cups of grated cheese (I used Swiss and a Monterey Jack/cheddar blend)

6-8 eggs, beaten

Two cups of milk

Mix the eggs and milk, set aside. In a greased 9 x 13 glass pan combine the rest of the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole. Add additional milk, until the liquid comes 3/4 of the way to the top of the casserole ingredients. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.

Try it, and let me know what you think! 

Carrot pudding, canned

1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated potatoes
1 cup raisins
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 tsp cloves

Mix ingredients thoroughly. Put in bottles. Fill half full. Seal. Pressure cook for 45 minutes.

optional: add 1 cup dates, 1 cup nuts

Serve with lemon, carmel, or rum sauce. Grandma Young used lemon sauce.

Fluffy Tapioca pudding

This recipe came from Lorraine's mother, Mary Young.

1 quart milk
1/4 cup quick cooking tapioca
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 slightly beaten egg yolks
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 stiffly beaten egg whites

Combine milk, tapioca, sugar, and salt. Let stand 5 minutes. Add egg yolks. Bring to boiling, stirring constantly. Remove from heat (mixture will be thin.) Add vanilla. Put 1/3 of beaten egg whites in a large bowl. Slowly stire in tapioca mixture. Fold in remaining egg whites, leaving little pillows of egg white. Chill.  Pile into sherbets. Garnish with tart jelly.

Mystery Pecan Pie

1 9" unbaked pie shell
8oz package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

In a small bowl combine cream chesse, sugar, salt, vanilla, and egg. Blend until smooth. Spread in bottom of unbaked pastry shell. Sprinkle with pecans. In a small bowl combine topping ingredients. Blend well. Pour over pecans. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until center is firm to the touch. Cool before serving.

Chiligetti

1 pound lean ground beef
3/cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups grated cheddar cheese
2.5 cups diced tomatoes
1 cup sour cream
1 8oz package, spaghetti noodles, cooked
4 cups chili con carne
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

brown ground beef and onion in butter. Drain off fat. Add tomatoes and chili. Simmer 45 minutes. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti and drain. Add cheddar cheese and sour cream to meat mixture. Add spaghetti noodles and mix well. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with rolls or french bread.

Jason's mom fixes this for Halloween every year.

Lorraine's Chili Sauce

1 peck tomatoes (12-14 pounds), peeled and cored
1 pound of celery (about 2 bunches), chopped (~4 cups total)
1 quart small onions, ground (about 2.5 cups)
3 green peppers ground (about 2.5 cups)
6 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 Tbsp dry mustard
2 pounds brown sugar
1 quart cider vinegar
1/4 cup salt

Scald tomatoes, peel, core and slice in chunks, into a large kettle. Cook 15 minutes. Drain off half (about six cups) of the juice (do NOT skip this step). Use the reserved juice for drinking or cooking. Add celery, onion, and green pepper. Simmer about 1.5 hours. Tie cinnamon in cloth; add with remaining ingredients and 1/4 cup salt.

Continue cooking for 1.5 hours. Remove cinnamon. Fill hot pint jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Adjust lids. Process in boiling bath for 5 minutes (Start timing when water returns to a boil).

Yield: 9 pints

Crazy Crunch

2 quarts popcorn
1 1/2 cups pecans
2/3 cup almonds
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 Cup corn syrup

Cook sugar, butter, vanilla, and syrup to hard crack stage (310 degrees), stirring constantly. Pour cooked syrup over popcorn and nuts. Spread out on a cookie sheet to cool. Break in pieces.

Lorraine's Pasta Salad

For the dressing, mix:

1 1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup salad oil
1 1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 tsp onion salt
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp seasoning salt
2 tsp dry mustard
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp garlic powder

Toss the dressing with:

1 pound pasta noodles, cooked
1 large red onion, chopped
1 medium bunch broccoli, chopped
1 medium bunch cauliflower, chopped
2 green peppers, chopped
2 red peppers, chopped
1 can black olives

Refrigerate for 2-12 hours before serving

Hard, Filled, Cheese Rolls

These are a family tradition in my new husband's family. Gene (his step-dad) brought the recipe into the family, and they are served with holiday meals. These are unique and really good!

2 pounds Kraft American cheese, no substitutions
6 hard boiled eggs
12 green onions, sliced
2 cans chopped olives
2-3 garlic cloves
4 hot yellow peppers, seeded, and finely chopped (canned)

Chop all of the ingredients very fine, mix.  Then add:

2 cans tomato sauce
1 Cup vegetable oil
1 tsp salt

Using 2 dozen hard rolls (hard, crispy rolls, like for soup bowls):

cut each roll from side to side, scoop out the center of each roll. Fill with cheese filling. Wrap individually in aluminum foil. Heat on cookie sheet for about 30 minutes, at 375 degrees.

Alverta Schmitt's Famous Rolls

Basic Recipe:
1.5 Cups milk
1/2 Cup margarine
1 Tbsp Yeast
1 Tbsp salt
2 Cups warm water
1 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
about 9 cups flour

Scald milk with margarine, let cool. Dissolve yeast in 2 cups water; add 1 tbsp sugar after yeast is soft. Mix together with remaining sugar, butter, egg and salt. Add scalded milk (cooled) to yeast. Add enough flour to make dough stiff enough to handle well. After adding flour, while kneading, put butter in a bowl to use to keep fingers from sticking, and to avoid having to add more flour to the rolls. Let rise twice, then shape rolls and allow to raise again.

Roll out to 1/4" thickness, cut about 2.5" diameter, brush with melted butter. Let rise.

Cinnamon Rolls
Add to the basic recipe the following:
1 Cup sugar
1/4 tsp lemon extract
grated rind of lemon
raisins

Spread with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Doughnuts
To the basic recipe add the following:
2 eggs
1 Cup sugar
1/4 cup of butter
nutmeg
lemon flavoring

Buns
To the basic recipe add the following:
1 Cup sugar
currants
grated orange peel
lemon rind
nutmeg
lemon flavoring
ground mix peel (I'm not exactly sure what this is, just saying)

Sloppy Joes

These are one of our favorite dinners. Not too long ago we discovered that we could split a batch of roll dough into two sections and roll them out to fit a cookie sheet, cover the bottom layer of dough with the sloppy joe mixture, top it with the other half of the roll dough, and bake some less sloppy sandwiches. These are a hit with everyone from my 92 year old grandmother, to my rather picky eight year old. I love how easy they are, and the ingredients are staples that we always have on hand.

2 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 stalks of celery, sliced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 cans (15oz, each) tomato sauce (organic tastes best, really)
salt and pepper to taste
cloves to taste (I'm guessing that I use about 1/8 tsp, try that, taste and adjust for your tastes)
Italian seasoning (probably between 1 and 2 tsp)
brown sugar to taste (I'm guessing a scant 1/4 cup... too little is better than too much, so add a handful and taste)

Brown the beef with the vegetables, add the tomato sauce and seasonings. I like to let this simmer while my bread dough is rising, so I begin browning the beef immediately after setting the bread dough aside for it's first rising. While the beef is browning I chop vegetables and then add them to the dutch oven (because I usually cook in an enamel coated, cast iron, dutch oven). As soon as the beef is browned I add the tomato sauce and seasonings, then turn the heat down, put a lid on the pot, and let it simmer (stirring occasionally) until the rolls are done (about two hours). You CAN serve the sloppy joes after only about 20 minutes of simmering, but what fun would that be?

Cheesy Potatoes

These are so easy and so good!

1 small package frozen hash brown potatoes

1 small container sour cream

2 cans cream soup (I usually use celery)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I also like colby jack)

Mix all together and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

That's It!

Grandma Canfield's Macaroni Salad Recipe

Grandma wants it known that she has never made this salad... but I'm calling it hers anyway because I found the recipe in her recipe files. We often take this to potlucks (unless we've been asked to bring broccoli salad instead... mmm... broccoli salad). It's very, very rare to have any leftovers. This recipe is very flavorful and has the perfect balance of flavors. It is neither bland, nor spicy... it's just right! (according to Jake). Remember as well that I NEVER measure... so if this tastes a little different than mine it will still be awesome, but I use the measurements as a guideline and kind of guess, pinch, and glug instead of using the measuring cups and spoons. We generally use a large bag of macaroni... so makes quite a bit more than this recipe.

1 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni

2 Tbsp vinegar

1 cup diced ham or cheese (cheese, ick!)

2 hard cooked eggs, chopped (eggs, ick!)

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup minced green pepper or pickle relish (I add both)

2 Tbsp cut-up pimiento (I use red bell pepper instead- because I'm cheap)

2 Tbsp minced onion (if you add too much onion you'll get an odd aftertaste)

2/3 cup mayonnaise

1 tsp or more prepared mustard

salt, pepper, and sugar to taste

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain, then rinse with cold water. Add vinegar, mix lightly and let stand ten minutes. Toss macaroni with ham, eggs, celery, pickles, peppers, and onion. Blend in mayonnaise and seasonings to taste. Chill. Yield: 8 servings

Healthier Chewy Oatmeal cookies

These turned out so good, I started with this recipe and then tweaked it a little bit.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup applesauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups rolled oats

optional:

about 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

dash of cloves

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease cookie sheet.

Cream butter, sugars, and applesauce. Add eggs one at a time mixing in between, then add vanilla and mix. Stir in dry ingredients, then add oats and mix. Add optional ingredients, making sure that batter is well mixed.

Place on baking sheet by rounded spoonfuls. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then place on cooling rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Marshmallow-Almond Key Lime Pie

I found this really good pie here, and had to share it

Marshmallow-Almond Key Lime Pie

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup slivered almonds, toasted, divided
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, divided
• 1/2 cup key lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grated key lime peel
• Dash salt
• 1 egg yolk
• 1-3/4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 4-1/2 teaspoons butter
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

• Place the flour, brown sugar and 1/2 cup almonds in a food processor. Cover and process until blended. Add melted butter and honey; cover and process until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. pie plate. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.
• In a large bowl, beat the milk, 5 ounces cream cheese, lime juice, peel and salt until blended. Add egg yolk; beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack.
• In a large saucepan, combine marshmallows and butter. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until melted. Remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl. Add cream and remaining cream cheese; beat until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.
• Beat marshmallow mixture until light and fluffy. Spread over pie; sprinkle with remaining almonds. Yield: 8 servings.

Coconut Haupia Cream Pie

This is a bit involved but well worth the time. You can save some time by using either a regular pastry crust or graham cracker (you can even use premade) and still have a great pie. I think the crust from this pie could also work really well, and it's quite a bit easier.

Crust

1 cup unsalted butter

2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup melted butter

Haupia Pudding

6 oz coconut milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup milk

1/4 cup cornstarch

Coconut Bavarian Cream

1 rounded T unflavored geletin

3 T water

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

1 1/2 cups milk

6 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (toasted if you like)

To make the crust:

preheat oven to 350

Mix butter and vanilla together, add egg, flour, salt and mix together. Place dough on a greased baking sheet and bake 15 - 20 min. Let cool, refrigerate 1 hour. Crumble 2 cups of cookie, add melted butter and mix by hand. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of a pie plate and the rest up the sides. Bake another 15 - 20 minutes.

Make the pudding next:

In a saucepan combine coconut milk, sugar and 1/2 cup milk bring to a slow boil. In a bowl mix together the remaining 1/2 cup milk, and the cornstarch. Mix until there are no lumps, then slowly add to the hot mixture stirring constantly till thick. Remove from stove and pour into the pie crust. Refrigerate until cold and set.

To make the cream:

Soften geletin with the water in a small bowl, set aside. Whip the whipping cream and set aside. Combine milk, egg yolks and sugar in a stainless steel or glass bowl and set over a double boiler. Cook until the mixture coats a spoon and you can run a finger through it and a line remains. Remove from heat and add the set geletin; mix well. Set hot bowl over an ice bath and stir until it cools and starts to thicken. Fold the whipping cream in, in 2 parts. Add coconut and fold in. Layer this on top of the pudding in the pie plate and chill 2 more hours.