Slow Cooker Lasagne

This is an easy recipe I found in one of my books and great for a make-ahead dinner.

1 lb. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 29-oz can tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 6-oz. can tomato paste
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 8-oz package no-cook lasagne noodles
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups small-curd cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a skillet, cook beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Add the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, salt and oregano.  Mix well.

Spread a fourth of the meat sauce in an ungreased 5-qt. slow cooker.  Arrange a third of the noodles over sauce (break the noodles if necessary.)  Combine the cheeses; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles.  Repeat layers twice.  Top with remaining meat sauce.

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.  Yield 6-8 servings.

Embassy Brownies

I got this recipe from a cookbook in the International Ward when I was serving in Brussels, Belgium on my mission.  I LOVE brownies that use real melted chocolate, whether it be unsweetened or semisweet, because unlike cocoa, I think it just makes it more rich and chocolatey and decadent.  This one also has a little bit of Hershey's syrup in it to send it over the top.  Joleen Jardine, I've never met you, but thank you for this wonderful recipe!

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Pinch (about 1/8 tsp) salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter and flour an 8" square baking pan.  Melt chocolate in a small, heavy saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly.  Stir in the syrup.  Remove the pan from heat and add the butter.  Make sure the butter is really room temperature, because if it's slightly cold it will have lumps and it won't mix very well into the melted chocolate.  Beat until the mixture is smooth.  Stir in the eggs and vanilla and mix thoroughly (it's also better if your eggs are room temperature too, otherwise you can temper them with some warm chocolate so you don't end up with scrambled eggs.)  Sift together the sugar, flour and salt.  Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven until just cooked, about 30 min (adjust according to your oven.)  Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan; cut into squares and transfer to a serving plate.

Honey Lime Enchiladas

We tried these last night and they were so good!  I prefer to use corn tortillas, because I think using flour tortillas for enchiladas just makes them soggy, but you can use any type of tortilla you prefer.  Thanks to my cousin Marianne Dunn for the recipe!

1/2 Cup Honey

1/4 Cup Lime Juice
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 1/2 lbs chicken cooked & shredded
Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
2 10 oz cans Green Enchilada Sauce
1 Cup Half & Half
Tortillas

Stir together honey, lime juice, chili poweder and garlic powder until combined. Add chicken and let sit in marinade for at least 30 min.
Mix enchilada sauce with Half and Half. Spread roughly 3/4 Cup sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Fill tortillas with marinated chicken & shredded cheese, roll up, then place side by side in baking dish. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over teh top with more cheese. Bake at 350 for 25-30 min.

Taco Spaghetti

This was a great variation to your ordinary spaghetti recipe.  Cut down on the salsa if you think it might be too spicy for you (or your kids.)

1/2 package spaghetti
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 16-oz. jar mild salsa (like Pace Picante sauce)
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 cup shredded mexican cheese (cheddar and colby jack)
1/4 cup sour cream

Cook the spaghetti per package directions.  Brown the ground beef or turkey in skillet, add the salsa, tomato sauce and taco seasoning and simmer.  Serve with cheese and salsa.

my hubbys favorite cookies ever

these cookies are kinda a spin off of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, they are sooo yummy and easy!!



oreo cookies and cream cookies...

1cup softened butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 lg package oreo pudding
2 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips
4 cookies and cream candy bars crushed

mix butter and sugars until well combined, then add eggs one at a time beating well after each. then add pudding.

mix flour soda salt in a separate bowl and then add to creamed mixture.
add chocolate chips and candy bars.

bake 350* for 8-10 mins.

Southwestern Beef Chili with Corn

My sister and I love Real Simple.  For Christmas she gave me their newest cookbook.  I haven't gone to the store in ages, but tonight I actually had all the ingredients for this soup.  It was really good, and the kids ate it up.  I loved it because it was healthy and had lots of vegetables.  I used turkey meat instead of ground beef.  The recipe says it's also good the next day over tortilla chips and cheese for nachoes.

Southwestern Beef Chili With Corn

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 10m
Total Time: 30m

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 carrots, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 poblano or bell pepper, chopped

1/2 pound ground beef

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed

1 tablespoon chili powder

kosher salt and black pepper

1/2 cup corn kernels (from 1 ear, or frozen and thawed)

1/2 cup grated Cheddar (2 ounces)

2 scallions, sliced

Directions

1.Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onion, and poblano and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.

2.Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.

3.Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it is slightly darkened, 1 minute.

4.Stir in the beans, chili powder, 3 cups water, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

5.Simmer over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the corn.

6.Divide the chili among bowls and top with the Cheddar and scallions.