Bean Burrito Mac & Cheese

This is one of my inventions. It was different, but Brian and I liked it. Chloe, not so much. This is what you need:

*Approx. 4-5 cups macaroni noodles
*1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese--divided
*1 can refried beans
*1 can tomato sauce
*1 tbsp lime juice
*salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to taste.
*sour cream or salsa optional

Cook noodles in boiling water for 10-12 minutes. Drain. In the meantime, heat refried beans and tomato sauce in sauce pan until heated through. Add seasonings. Stir in about 1/4 cup of cheese. Stir until melted. Add bean mixture to noodles and pour into a baking dish. Put remaining cheese on top. Broil for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serve with sour cream or salsa.

Fajita Frittata

This is a really good recipe. I found it in the Taste of Home "Simple and Delicious" cookbook, however, my version is a little different than the one in the book. The above picture is all the ingredients you'll need.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 eggs, beaten
5-7 strips of turkey bacon, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional:

1 small onion, cut into thin strips
1/2 medium green pepper, cut into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin--for a smokier flavor.
Salsa
Sour cream




In a large ovenproof skillet, saute the chicken, lime juice, salt, chili powder and optional ingredients (except salsa and sour cream) in oil until chicken juices run clear. Add bacon and cook for 3-5 more minutes.

Pour eggs over chicken mixture. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes or until eggs are nearly set. Uncover; broil 6 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and let stand for 1 minute or until cheese is melted. Serve with salsa and sour cream if desired.

Yield: 8 servings.

Ramen Noodle Makeover

I know I've already posted a Ramen noodle dish, and you may be thinking "enough is enough already," but this is the made over version of the ham and cheese noodle soup I posted a couple months ago. This was very good in my opinion and you don't have to use a gravy mix like the other one. I don't, however, have a picture for this one. Here we go.

You'll need:

--3 packages Ramen noodles--I used chicken flavor, but it doesn't matter all that much.
--About 2 cups chicken stock
--2 tbs butter or margarine
--1/4-1/2 cup flour--amount depends on how much butter you use and your personal taste.
--1/2-1 cup milk--again, amount depends on you.
1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped bacon, ham or hot dogs--I used hot dogs, and while they are quite redneck, I really liked them in this.

First, prepare the noodles according to package directions EXCEPT when noodles are done, DRAIN the water and DO NOT add the flavor. You will add them later. Return noodles to pot and add chicken stock. Remove from heat.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt butter. Then add flour and stir constantly until smooth. This is called a rue. Next, slowly add milk. You don't want to add too much, so that's why it's important to add it a little at a time. You want the mixture to be fairly creamy, but not runny. Add cheese, stirring constantly until melted completely. Add to noodles. Add two of the flavor packets to the noodles.

Next, prepare the meat. For hot dogs I just chopped them in the pan and let them brown slightly on both sides. Then add to noodles. Place noodles on medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Serves three quite nicely...we even had a little left over. This really isn't a soup, as mine came out more like a pasta with creamy sauce than anything...but it's tasty!!

Zucchini Banana Bread or Muffins

2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup mashed banana
3 eggs
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 cup sour cream
3 cups flour
Chopped dates or raisins, optional

Cream oil and sugar together; add sour cream, eggs, zucchini and bananas. Then, alternately add flour and the rest of the ingredients. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes. In bread pan or 10 x 13 inch pan.

Note: Instead of using the oil I used a 1/2 cup of applesauce - it cuts down on fat and adds sweetness so you can cut back on sugar. When making the muffins, I started checking them after about 35 minutes. If the toothpick comes out clean - they are done. Fill them about 3/4 full or a little less. I suppose you could add chocolate chips to these too. They are delicious and very moist.

Lilac Lace Scarf--Knitted Pattern

This is a really nice lace pattern. It will make a good spring scarf. I used 1 skein of Patons Lacette yarn in Lilac Lace. If you can't find this particular yarn, any soft fine yarn will do. I also used size 8 needles.

--C.O. 32 stitches. (You can make this wider or thinner, but make sure the # of stitches is a multiple of 4.)
-- K1, *YO p 2 tog. K2* repeat between * to last stitch, K1. Repeat this row throughout.
--Work until piece measures 50"
--make fringe (optional)

I was really surprised that one skein was enough to make this whole scarf. Not bad considering I bought this yarn at the Dollar Tree. I still have 4-5 more skeins of this so I could make a whole lot of these if I wanted to. But I think I'm going to design a sweater here before too long. Maybe I'll put the pattern on here when I'm done.

Homemade Vodka Perfume

I just made some today. I think it should work pretty well. Word of caution though. Do not put Vodka in a thin plastic cup. The Vodka will eat right through it and you'll end up with a sweet smelling mess. I know, because I did that already.

Anyway this is what you need:
2 ounces of Vodka (per 2 ounce spray bottle)
scented oil--about 20 drops per batch, in varying scents.
2 ounce spray bottle
glass or thick plastic container with a lid
Coffee Filter
Water

This is real simple. All you do is pour the Vodka in a glass or thick plastic container. Add the oil. This will take some experimenting until you get a scent that you like. The stuff I made was a mix of lavender, gardenia blossoms and sweet pea and jasmine. It smelled pretty good. Anyway, don't add too much oil or you'll end up with an oily mess. 20-25 drops should be fine.
Next, stir the Vodka and put the lid on the container. Let sit for 48 hours to 6 weeks. The longer it sits the stronger the scent.
Then, add two tablespoons of spring water. Filter the perfume with a coffee filter and put into bottle. You might end up with a small amount left over. You can either discard it or add it to your next batch

Cheesy Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:
3 medium potatoes
5 bacon strips, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup flour
1 packet sausage gravy mix (2 cups)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
seasonings:
salt, pepper, parsley, garlic, basil

1. Scrub and pierce potatoes; place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 8-12 minutes or until tender, turning once.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels.
3. In the drippings, saute onion until tender. Stir in 1/4 cup flour; cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Gradually stir in broth. Add the parsley, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
4. In a small bowl, whisk the gravy mix with milk until smooth; add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
5. Peel and cube potatoes; add to soup. Add bacon. Cook and stir until heated through. Add cheese and stir until melted.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This is yummy!

















3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbs cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl combine flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
In a separate bowl combine sugar and eggs, beat until well blended. Add oil and vanilla. Beat until combined. Stir in zucchini. And flour mixture, stir until moistened. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Spoon evenly into loaf pans. Bake in preheated over for 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pans and cool completely on wire rack.

I'll have plenty of zucchini this year if you want to try this recipe.

Ham & Cheese Pockets

2-3 cups chopped turkey ham

2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tubes large refrigerated flaky biscuits (I use the reduced fat kind)

Flatten half the biscuits into 4-inch circles. Place on a cookie sheet or large baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Spoon 1/4 cup ham into each biscuit. Sprinkle with cheese. Flatten the rest of the biscuits into 4-inch circles and place on top and pinch edges to seal tightly. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 8 servings.

Spinach Souffle'

3 eggs - Slightly beaten
8 ounces of cottage cheese
1 cup of diced cheddar cheese
¼ cup of butter
3 tbs of flour
¼ cup of buttermilk
½ package of frozen spinach
Mix all ingredients together and bake
At 350 for 45-60 minutes.
(Insert a toothpick in center to insure that it's not soupy)


This is a recipe my mother made for my daughter
when she was about 5 years old. My daughter has
continued to make it every Thanksgiving
and randomly throughout the year.
It is delicious - even if you don’t like spinach - and
I don’t. But you can substitute broccoli if you
feel the need to.