Sloppy Joes

What's for dinner, Sloppy Joes

Once again I do try to achieve healthy meals but then I have a bad habit of then ruining them. I use pumpkin in my sloppy joes so that I dont use so much ketchup but then I am serving them with tator tots. This recipe is a sneaky way of getting pumpkin in your diet. I use 1/2 the can and the other half I usually make pancakes with the next morning.

Sloppy Joes

1# burger

1/4 c onion, diced

1/4 c bell pepper, diced

1/2 can (15oz) pumpkin, about 3/4 c

2 T bbq sauce

1/4 c ketchup

1/2 t garlic powder

1 t yellow mustard

1 T brown sugar

Saute onions and peppers until soft. Add burger, cook, and drain. In a 1 cup pyrex I put in the pumpkin, then bbq sauce, and then ketchup in order until you reach 1 cup. Then add garlic, mustard, and sugar. Mix and add to drained burger. Cook until heated through and thick enough for your taste.

(Altered from allrecipes sloppy joes II)

Shrimp Alfredo and Biscuits

What's for dinner, Shrimp Alfredo and Biscuits

I have been really wanting Red Lobster so I decided to make it for dinner. You can always buy shrimp at Aldi for $3.99 for cleaned shell on, easy peel. This is a cheater sauce but some times just jazzing things up is all we have time for as moms. I am learning to take short cuts here and there because life is so busy. I have a list going in my head of meals that I can make completely from Aldi's, this is on that list.

Alfredo with Shrimp

1# penne pasta

1/2 medium onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1/2# mushrooms sliced

1 (15 oz) jar Alfredo sauce

3/4 c grated parmesan cheese

1/2 c 1/2 & 1/2

1 pound shrimp shelled and tail removed

Cook pasta and drain. Saute onions in a little EVOO until soft, add garlic, sauce, cream, cheese, and shrimp. Cover but watch closely since milk products burn easily, until shrimp is cooked. Then remove lid and cook until thickened, I dont like my sauce to get too think so I add a couple of tablespoons of pasta water. Plate pasta and top with sauce and garnish with parsley.

Cheddar Garlic Bay Biscuits

2 1/2 c Bisquick (or make your own)

1/2 c cheddar cheese

1 t garlic powder

1/4 t onion powder

1/2 t dried parsley

2/3 c water

1/4 c butter

1/2 t garlic powder

1/8 t onion powder

1/4 t dried parsley

2 dashes Old Bay Seasoning

Preheat 375. Mix the top ingredients together, add water. You may have to add a tablespoon or so more of water to incorporate all the ingredients. Spoon on to baking sheet or stone. About 8 good since biscuits. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden

Combined the bottom ingredients, if butter is hard microwave to soften or liquidity. Brush over biscuits fresh out of the oven. Turn off oven and return the biscuits while you set the table, serve and enjoy!

Oatmeal and Dried Cranberry Cookies

What's for dessert, Oatmeal and Dried Cranberry Cookies!
1 1/2 c flour
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
2 sticks softened butter
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs ( I do 1 egg and 1 T ground flax with 1 T water)
1 t vanilla
2 c oats
2 c dried cranberries (you can buy these at Aldi cheap but for large quantity they have them at Costco, I just have never priced it)
Preheat oven to 350. Sift dry ingredients together but oats and berries. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients and mix in oats and berries by hand.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes, enjoy!
I am thinking this recipe could be good as a jar gift at Christmas, just thinking ahead

Dip, fruit, and popcorn

What's for dinner, Dip, fruit, and popcorn!

It is a Bailey family thing to do fruit and popcorn for dinner. When Guy first tried to introduce this he would want to do it on a night I had worked. I obviously turned him down flat since I had worked 13 hours I would need something more than that. Now a days we tried to have quiet Saturday nights to start getting us prepared for church. We usually watch a movie, get tithe ready, and get to bed in good time. So, these nights are great for something easy like fruit and popcorn. I still like a little more so I like chips and dip. I whipped up this spinach and artichoke dip for tonight.

Spinach and artichoke dip

1 c mayo

1 c shredded parmesan

1 box of spinach thawed and squeezed

1 can/jar artichoke hearts chopped

Mix together, spread in 9x13, top with 1/2 c mozzarella or mon jack cheese and bake covered in a 350 oven for 20 minutes. I am going to serve with tortilla chips but you can use sliced French bread

Mac and Cheese and Veg Salad

What's for dinner, Mac and Cheese and Veg Salad

Mac and Cheese

1# pasta

20 oz cheddar cheese or a mix of cheddar and american

8 oz 1/2 and 1/2

4 oz butter

Cook pasta. Put cheese, milk, and butter in microwave bowl and heat for 1-2 minutes. Once the pasta is done, reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain. Add cheese mixture and pasta back into the pot. Mix well and add pasta water until it is well mixed and not dry. Pop into a 350 oven until top is just golden.

Veg Salad, thanks Paula Hink

2 can corn, drained

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 bell pepper, finely diced ( I used orange, it was good)

1/2 c finely chopped purple onion

1 c cucumber peeled and chopped

4 T mayo

1/2 c sour cream or yogurt

1/2 dry mustard

2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

2 T vinegar

1/2 t celery seed, optional

Mix veggies together, mix dressing together, and fold dressing until veggies are well coated. Refrigerate overnight. Make 10-12 servings (Note from Paula which I agree with: unless you're like me and eat half of it).

Old School Muffin

What's for breakfast, Old School Muffins

Alton Brown's base recipe for muffins, man these things are awesome.

All purpose flour 11 oz

Baking powder 1/4 oz

Baking Soda 1/8 oz

Salt pinch

Sugar 3 3/4 oz

Veg oil 1/2 c

Whole egg, 1 large

Egg yolk, 1 large

Plain yogurt 1 c

1-2 cups extras, chips should only be one cup

Preheat 375

Mix dry, mix wet; add wet to dry. Mix only until flour is gone. Fill cups to top. Bake 18 to 20 minutes. 12 muffins

I have been thinking I could substitute 3/4 c mashed bananas for oil and reduce the yogurt to 3/4 c. Then add walnuts

Pancakes and turkey sausage

What's for dinner? Pancakes and turkey sausage

My favorite pancake recipe

1 1/2 c flour

1 T and 1/2 t aluminum free baking powder

1 t salt

1 T sugar

1/3 c powdered milk

1 T ground flax seed

1 1/2 c water

3 T butter or EVOO

Mix dry then add wet ingredients. You can make up a lot of mix and store then just add water. I love to use brown sugar and walnuts or pumpkin with spices or chocolate chips.

Turkey sausage is my only option. Once a year Aldi has 10 turkey breakfast links for 89 cents. I stock up for our brenners (breakfast for dinner).

Santa Fe Chicken

What's for dinner? Santa Fe Chicken

2 cans black beans rinsed and drained

2 cans corn drained

1/2 c salsa

4 chicken breast

1/2 c salsa

8 oz cream cheese

Mix beans, corn, and 1/2 c salsa in crock pot. Top with chicken then the other 1/2 c salsa. Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove chicken, dice it up and throw it back in. Top with cubed cream cheese. Let cook another 1/2 hour. Stir and serve over rice.

Hint: I make the beans and corn for a side dish often. I just let it cook on the stove for a while so the salsa permeates the beans. Stir in cream cheese and serve.

Cold Desserts

What's for dessert? Something cold!

Here are two recipes that will cool you down in the summer heat.

Strawberry Chantilly (allrecipes)

1 c flour

1/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c butter (that is one stick)

1/2 c chopped walnuts or cashews

2 egg whites

1 c white sugar

2 c fresh strawberries finely chopped or whirred in processor for a second

1 small cool whip

If you use frozen strawberries use 2/3 c sugar and 10 ounces frozen strawberries.

Mix flour, brown sugar, and butter until crumbly. Add nuts and place 2/3 of the mix in a 9/13. The other 1/3 put in another oven proof dish and bake at 300 for 20 minutes

In a large bowl whip egg whites, sugar, and strawberries on high for 10 minutes. Then fold in cool whip. Spread over crumb mixture and sprinkle with the crumbs from the other dish. Freeze for 6 hours or overnight.

Lemon Fruit Freeze

2/3 c margarine

1/3 c sugar

7 c rice crispies or rice chex crushed to 3 c

1 14 oz can sweet/condensed milk

1/2 c lemon juice

1 small box lemon pudding

cool whip

Melt marg, stir in sugar than crumbs. Set aside 1/3 c for garnish, pat crumbs in a 9/13. Bake at 300 for 12 minutes, cool.

In a large bowl mix milk, lemon juice, and pudding mix. Pour over cooled crust then top with cool whip and garnish with crumbs. Freeze 4 hours. Remove 20 minutes before serving.