Spiced Blueberry Honey Jam

2 ½ cups of blueberries- coarsely chopped or mashed well with potato masher


2 ½ cups of sugar


1 cup of honey


1 tbsp of lemon juice


½ to ¾ tsp of ground nutmeg


1 pouch of liquid fruit pectin






Cook mashed blueberries, sugar, honey, lemon juice & nutmeg on high heat & boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat & stir in pectin, mix well. Ladle into hot jars (6, 6oz jars) & process for 10 minutes.

Any Night Nachos

1 lb of ground beef


1 packet of taco seasoning


¾ cup of water


½ of a red onion


2 tomatoes


1 12.5oz bag of tortilla chips


1 15oz can of nacho cheese sauce with jalapenos

Brown and drain ground beef, put back in pan and add taco seasoning and water. Let simmer on low for approximately 5 minutes. Meanwhile empty the can of nacho cheese into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 2-3 minutes, until warmed through, stir. Chop the red onion and tomatoes finely, set aside. On a large platter dump the entire bag of tortilla chips, top with heated nacho cheese, the seasoned beef, tomatoes and onions. Eat immediately since this does not reheat well.

Fajitas

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or

1 large chuck eye steak

½ of a green pepper

½ of a red pepper

½ of an onion

1 packet of fajita seasoning

½ to ¾ cup of water

4 tbsp. of olive oil-divided

1-10 count package of soft flour tortilla shells

1 8oz bag of Mexican shredded cheese



Slice chicken breasts or steak into thin slices and cook in large skillet over medium-high heat in 2tbsp of olive oil, stirring every few minutes so the meat doesn’t burn. Slice peppers and onions into strips and add them along with two more tbsp of olive oil into the skillet. Now cook for 4-6 minutes until the meat is cooked through and the veggies are fork tender. Add fajita mix and water, cover and cook on low for about 5 minutes. On a microwave safe plate, warm the tortillas in the microwave for 1 ½ -2 minutes. Place a large spoonful into tortilla and top with cheese. Serves 6.

Ultimate Pancakes

6-8 servings


2 cups of baking mix/bisquick

1 egg

1 1/3 cup of milk

2 tbsp. of sugar

1 tsp. of vanilla


8-10 servings


4 cups of baking mix/bisquick

2 eggs


2 ½ cups milk

4 tbsp. of sugar

2 tsp. of vanilla

Cook on large griddle sprayed with non-stick cooking spray on low-medium heat until multiple bubbles form, flip and cook for approximately 1 minute more. Top with butter/powdered sugar, maple syrup, whipped cream or fresh fruit.



You could also add:

1 tbsp. of cinnamon or

1 cup of chocolate chips or

1 cup of fresh/frozen blueberries gently folded into the batter or

½ cup of chopped/mashed ripe bananas



My kids love to help me with these, there simple, fun and easy to make :)

Sunday Pot-Roast

Pre-heat oven to 350

You will need:

1 large chuck roast

6 medium potatoes (peeled if necessary and chunked)

1 large onion chopped

1 bag baby carrots/4 large carrots peeled and sliced

1 packet of onion soup mix

2 packets of brown gravy mix

2 cups of water

1 tbsp. of steak seasoning

Salt, pepper and seasoning salt to taste

Clean, peel and chop the potatoes, onion and carrots, set aside. Place the roast into a large roasting pan that has plenty of room and top with the steak seasoning. Put the potatoes, onion and carrots around the roast and season with the salt, pepper and seasoning salt. Mix the 2 brown gravy packets with the 2 cups of water and pour into pan (but not on the roast itself), then pour the onion soup mix packet on top of the roast. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 2hrs on 350. Sliced roast into thick slices and serve the veggie mixture right out of the pan, ladle gravy over top.

This goes well with french or italian bread

Jo’s Easy Breakfast Bake

Step 1

1 sausage roll- sage tastes best

Brown, crumble and drain the sausage, set aside. I usually cook mine the night before and put it in a container with a lid in the fridge.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350, you will need:

1 seamless crescent roll

Scrambled eggs:

6-8 eggs

1/3 cup of milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Wisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper together in a large bowl and scramble in large non-stick skillet until soft and still slightly wet.

1 8oz. bag of colby-jack shredded cheese

Open and unroll the crescent roll into a large baking or roasting pan with sides, bake for 5 minutes, take out and top with cooked crumbled sausage, the cooked scrambled egg mixture and top with entire bag of colby-jack cheese. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.





Cut into squares, serves 6-8 people, goes well with hash browns.

Lin’s Smothered Steak

Round steak, approximately 4-6 oz per person or cubed steaks already in portions

Flour

Seasonings (salt & pepper)

Oil (enough to cover the bottom of the pan about 1inch deep)

If you use round steak, pound with a meat hammer until fairly thin. Cube steaks can be used as is. Flour and season steaks and brown in oil (for approximately 3-5 minutes per side). Place in a large pan to go into oven. Make a gravy from the oil and more flour, season to taste. Pour gravy over steaks, cook in 300 degree oven for approximately 4-5 hours. Check occasionally to make sure you don't need to add more water, the water should always cover the steaks. This can be served with rice, noodles, instant/fresh mashed potatoes, biscuits, and some frozen veggies or a salad. Another very tasty, non crock pot meal.

This is my mothers recipe...I hope you like it!

Chip Dips

My Mamas Green Onion Chip Dip

1 8oz package of softened cream cheese

1 16oz of sour cream

2 bunches/approximately 16 green onions finely chopped

1 tsp. of onion salt

In a large bowl with a form fitting lid, mix the cream cheese and sour cream (use a hand held mixer if necessary). Add the onion salt and green onions, stir. Refrigerate for an hour or two til set, will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Goes well with any corn or rippled chip(s).




Chili Cheese Dip


1 8oz package of cream cheese

1 15oz can of no bean chili

1 8oz package of colby-jack shredded cheese



In a microwave safe dish add cream cheese and the can of chili. Heat for 3 minutes, stir, and top with the entire package of colby-jack cheese. Microwave for another 2-3 minutes just until cheese is melted.

Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute or two so nobody burns their lips.

Perfect with any salted tortilla chip 


 

Georgette's Quick and Easy Taco Salad

1 lb ground beef

1 packet of taco seasoning

¾ cup of water

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

½ of a red onion

2 tomatoes

1 bag of nacho cheese doritos

8-10 oz. of catalina salad dressing

1 8oz bag of shredded colby-jack, cheddar or mexican blend cheese



Brown and drain the ground beef, and put it back into the skillet, add the taco seasoning and water, cook on low heat for approximately 5 minutes. While waiting chop the lettuce, and slice the onion and tomatoes into small bite size pieces. Open one end of the doritos bag and while holding it closed crush the chips, then pour them into large bowl. Add the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cheese and salad dressing to the crushed doritos and mix well. Lastly add the seasoned ground beef, stir and enjoy. Serves 4-6.





This dish travels well, just put everything into separate containers/baggies, warm up the meat and toss the ingredients together when you get there.

3lb Chili

2lbs ground beef


1lb ground (reg./hot) sausage


Brown both the ground beef and the sausage and then drain. While cooking prepare the following:


1 green bell pepper chopped


1 medium onion chopped


Put drained meat, the pepper and onion in crock pot. Then add:


1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes with/without green chilies


7 (8oz) cans of tomatoes sauce


1 (15.5oz) can of chili beans


2 packets of chili seasoning


Stir together and cook in crock pot all day 6-8 hrs on low heat. Serve with corn bread/muffins, top with shredded cheddar cheese or sour cream, or just crumble up your favorite cracker into your bowl.






Serves 6-8 people and freezes well.

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins

Makes 12 regular size muffins

 Pre heat oven to 350


1/3 cup of shortening


1 cup of sugar


1 egg


1/3 cup of cinnamon applesauce


½ cup of milk


1 ½ cups of all purpose flour-sifted


1 ½ tsp. of baking powder


½ tsp. of salt


½ tsp. of cinnamon






Topping:


3 tbsp of melted butter


½ tsp cinnamon


1/3 cup of sugar


Melt butter in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds and mix cinnamon and sugar together in a sandwich bag and then set aside.






Cream the shortening and 1 cup of sugar. Add egg and applesauce, beat well. In a separate bowl sift flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together. Add the dry ingredients along with the milk alternately to the egg mixture, combine (but do not over mix). Batter will be light brown and thick. Using an ice cream scoop, fill paper lined muffin cups that are sprayed with non-stick cooking spray about 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes at 350.


Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Welcome!

I have never done this before so please try and be patient with me :)

I am a stay at home, mother of 4 and I enjoy making home cooked meals for my family. This doesn't mean I love spending hours in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, because I don't. What it does mean is that I would rather take the time to feed my kids REAL food than pizza or take-out. Sometimes we cheat and go out to dinner, although this is rare.

Not everything I make is strictly homemade, it's usually a combination of fresh, boxed and canned ingredients. What I am looking for is like minded people to test some of MY recipes and give me their input, tips or ideas.

Thank you for your interest, stay tuned for my first recipe post.......