Potatoes Deluxe Casserole

Potatoes Deluxe Casserole

This was one of my childhoods favorite side dishes.  My mom would bring it to all holiday events by request!

Ingredients:
2 LBS Frozen Hash-browns, thawed 30 minutes
1 Cup diced onions
1 Can cream of chicken soup
1 LB sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
1 stick of butter
2 Cups (8oz) Sharp Cheddar
1 Cup of smashed potato chips or corn flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together well EXCEPT the potato or corn flakes.  Spray or butter a 9 x 13 baking dish.  All the mixed ingredients to the pan.  Add the potato or corn flakes on top.  Cover and bake for 45 minutes.  Uncover and cook for an additional 15 minutes
You can always add a dab of sour cream, bacon, or green onions on top!  I have made this is cupcake pans and it turned out great!

Best Home Made Sloppy Joe's

Best Home Made Sloppy Joe's

I am not a huge fan of Manwich Sloppy Joe's, and to be honest, not a huge fan of Sloppy Joe's period.  Then I tried this which opened up my mind to Sloppy Joe's once again!

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
2 -3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite, we use Master piece)
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions:
1 In a large skillet, brown ground beef, celery and onion.
2 Drain the fat, who needs it?.
3 Stir in remaining ingredients, simmer covered, 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4 If Joe's appear too'loose', leave cover off and let moisture evaporate.
5 Cook until it's the consistency you like for serving buns

Serves 4-6 depends on how sloppy you make them!

Smothered Burritos!!!

Smothered Burritos

I always get tons of compliments when I make this.  You can throw the meat on in the morning and it only take a few minutes to make for dinner.

Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 pounds stew meat or other beef cubed (top sirloin or rib-eye works well)

• 1 large can mild  enchilada sauce (at least 19 oz.)
• 2 beef bouillon cubes 
• 1/2 can re-fried beans (optional, but I use fat free)
• 5-7 burrito size flour tortillas
• 1 cup or so of shredded cheddar cheese
• Salsa (I make my ASS dip and use with it)

Directions:
Put beef, whole bouillon cubes, and enchilada sauce into a crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until meat is very tender. (Can also cook on high for maybe 3-4 hours.)  

When beef is done (very tender and flakes off when stirred), taste and add more salt, if desired. Heat up re-fried beans in the microwave, Set your oven on broil. On an oven-proof plate, or cookie sheet even, lay out a tortilla.  Place on tortilla about 1/2 cup of the meat, drained by using a slotted spoon, a spoonful or two of beans. and a spoon full of salsa. Roll into a burrito and place in dish. Pour some of the remaining enchilada sauce from the crock pot over the burrito to cover it. Sprinkle with some cheddar cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2-4 minutes.
If you do not use full fat cheese, it does not melt properly on top, but it is still good.  It just looks a little bit dried out. (I use 2% cheese).
After it is finished get creative on the toppings with sour cream, salsa, veggies or whatever! 

Serve.
Makes 5-7 burritos, depending on how full you make them.

Cabbage and Sausage Soup

Cabbage and Sausage Soup

Once again this is a favorite!  Great if you are trying to take off a few pounds or more.  This has protein (12g), veggies, and fiber (4.2g).  You can freeze this also.

Ingredients
1 Lb            Turkey Sausage or Kielbasa
4 Cups        Chopped Cabbage (I buy the slaw already chopped)
1.5 Cups     Sliced Zucchini
.5 Cup         Chopped Green Pepper
.5 Cup         Chopped Yellow Pepper
1 Medium   Chopped onion
2 Cups         Tomato juice (I usually use V8 low sodium)
1 Can           Stewed Tomatoes
1 Can           Campbell's Tomato Soup
2 TBS          Chili Powder (Omit if you don't like spice)
.5 TBS         Black Pepper
1 Stalk         Chopped Celery
.5-1 Cup      Mushrooms (can or fresh)
1 Cup           Chicken broth (I also use low sodium)

Directions
Cook onions, peppers and celery in broth until tender.  Place all ingredients in a crock pot on low for 3-4 hours.  If soup looks dry add more tomato juice or chicken broth.  (I also cook on high for 5-8 hours and not cook the onions, peppers, and celery first)

This is about 187 calories per cup and should serve 8.