Cheesy Rice

4 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups rice
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed and diced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add rice and garlic. Simmer on low 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in cheese.

Variations:
Use 2 cans of chicken broth instead of bouillon.
Used powdered garlic instead of fresh garlic.
Served with salad, this makes a fast, filling yet light meal

White Bread Plus

1 T yeast
1 T Sugar
1/2 cup warm/hot water

1 egg
1/2 cup oil
2 cups warm/hot water
1 1/2 t salt
1/2 sugar
8 cups flour (approx)

Combine yeast, sugar and water. Let sit in a warm place 10 minutes. While yeast is sitting, combine egg, oil, water, salt, sugar and 2-3 cups of flour. Add yeast and remaining flour . Knead 8-10 minutes and allow to rise in greased bowl until double in bulk. Knead to release air bubble and shape into loaves. Leave to rise a little under 1 hour. Put bread in a cold oven and then turn oven on to 400 for 15 minutes. Lower to 375 for remaining 25 minutes.

Variations:
Substitute honey for sugar
6 cups whole wheat and 2 cups white makes a hearty loaf that is still light.

Fried Rice

1 cup bean sprouts
1 T olive oil (or vegetable)
1 cup sliced mushrooms (3 oz)
3 cups cold cooked rice
1 cup cut-up cooked pork
2 T sliced green onions
1 T olive oil ( or vegetable)
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
3 T soy sauce
dash of white pepper

Rinse bean sprouts with cold water, drain. Heat 1 T oil in skillet over medium heat. Cook mushrooms in oil about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until coated. Add bean sprouts, rice pork and onions. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes, stirring and breaking up rice, until hot. Push rice mixture to the side of the skillet. Cook eggs in 1 T oil until eggs are cooked, but moist. stir eggs and rice together. Stir in soy sauce and pepper.

Variations:
Omit bean sprouts and mushrooms
I add green peppers with pork and onions
Substitute chicken or beef for pork
Use regular pepper

General Tso's Chicken

Sauce
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 t garlic
1 1/2 t minced ginger
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sherry

Chicken
1 can chicken broth
3 lbs chicken, chunked
1/4 soy sauce
1 egg, beaten
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups green onions
8 small dried hot peppers, seeds removed

Sauce: Put all sauce ingredients in a jar and shake to mix. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Chicken: Mix chicken, soy sauce, and hot peppers. Stir in beaten egg. Add cornstarch. Mix until chicken is coated. Deep fry 7-8 pieces of meat at a time until crispy. Drain.

Place small amount of oil in wok or deep fry pan. Add onions and peppers and stir fry 30 seconds. Shake sauce mixture in jar and add to wok. Stir constantly until thick. If it gets too thick, add water. Add chicken. Cook until heated through. Serve over white rice or stir fried rice.

Variations:
I omit sherry. I use dry ginger. I use cayenne pepper if I don't have dried hot peppers. I heard that you can use pizza hot peppers too

Melanie's Granola

4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup nuts or sunflower seeds
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup honey

Mix all ingredients. Bake on cookie sheet at 300 for 40 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet after baking or it will stick.

Variations: Substitute sugar and honey with any sweet substance. i.e. molasses, maple syrup.

Hershey's Chewy Chocolate Cookies

1 1/4 cups softened butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Cream together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Mix flour, cocoa, soda and salt. Combine mixtures. Add chocolate chips. Bake at 350 8-9 minutes. Don't overbake!!!

Variations: Substitute chocolate chips with butterscotch, peanut butter, or white chocolate chips

Baked Tilapia

This mild tasting fish is often on sale and my kids love it!!! A nice, fast, easy recipe.

4 tilapia fillets (frozen or fresh)
1 T butter
lemon pepper seasoning

Place tilapia in greased pan. Brush with butter (if frozen just rub pat of butter on. If fresh, melt butter and paint or drizzle on. Shake lemon pepper on to suit personal preference. Bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes (fish should be easy to flake.) Serve immediately.

Variations: Use bread crumbs too, plain or seasoned

Pizza Dough

2 packages yeast (4 1/2 t)
2 Cups warm water
1 t salt
4 t olive oil
5-7 cups flour (divided)

Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixing bowl. Add salt, olive oil, and 3 cups of flour. Mix with flat paddle until smooth. Switch to dough hook and continue to add remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough clings and cleans sides of the bowl. Knead 2 minutes longer. Let rise 1 hour in greased bowl. Bake with toppings 15-20 min @ 400-425 degrees. Makes 2 pizzas.

Variations: Hunt's Garlic and Onion Tomato Sauce makes the best sauce!!! One can covers 1 pizza. Top with cheese and your favorite toppings

Hamburger Stroganoff

1 lb ground beef
1 small to medium onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
2 cups cooked noodles
2 T butter
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/2 cup sour cream

Sautee onion in a small amount of olive. Add burger and brown. Drain meat, add soup, milk, noodles, butter, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10-15 minutes, covered. Uncover and simmer another 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add sour cream. Heat through, but do not boil. Serve

Not a Recipe, but I had to Add It!!!!

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Yankee Corn Bread

1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
4t baking powder
1t salt
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup chopped crisp bacon

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the cornmeal. In a small bowl beat eggs with a fork, add milk and melted butter. Stir in bacon bits. Add to dry ingredients. Stir with fork only until moistened. Pour into 9x9 greased pan. Turn on oven to 425 now. Leave batter to rest until oven is heated (approximately 10 min.) Bake 25 minutes or until bread is raised and golden.

Variations: I omit the bacon
Use half white flour and half whole wheat flour for a healthier but still light corn bread. Or use all whole wheat for a denser loaf.
Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads (pg180-181)

Beefy Taco Joe

1 lb ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Brown Hamburger and add soup and salsa. Heat through. Top with cheese and serve on hamburger buns or corn bread (my personal favorite.)

Creamy Chicken and Pasta

1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 package vegetable pasta blend

Brown chicken, add soup, veggies, noodles and water. Cover and simmer until noodles and pasta are tender.

Variations: Use fresh vegetables (broccoli and carrot) and egg noodles. The egg noodles can either be cooked ahead of time or added raw. If using uncooked noodles increase water

Biscuits

2 Cups flour
4t baking powder
1/2t salt
1/2t cream of tartar
2t sugar
1/2 shortening
2/3 cup milk

Mix dry ingredients, cut in shortening until crumbly. Add milk and quickly stir with fork, just until moistened. Roll out to 1/2 inch thick (this is approximate) and cut with biscuit cutter (or the open end of a glass if you don't have a biscuit cutter.) Bake at 450 on un-greased cookie sheet 10-12 minutes. Makes 6-8 servings

Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie

1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, cut
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 package frozen veggie mix

Brown chicken breasts add vegetable and soup. Cover and simmer until veggie are cooked to desired texture. Serve over biscuits.

Variations:
Use fresh vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, peas etc...) add a touch extra water and increase simmer time.

Make homemade biscuits, or used pre-made biscuits

Tasty 2 Step Chicken or Pork (Campbell's Soup Recipe)

4 Boneless chicken breasts or pork chops
1 can of soup (cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cream of celery, tomato (with garlic and herbs added))
1/2 cup water or milk

Brown meat. Add soup and water (or milk.) Cover and simmer. Goes well with rice and veggies, or mashed potatoes and veggies.)

California Casserole

2 Boxes Chicken Stuffing
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 Can Canned Chicken (or your own cooked, chopped up)
1 Bag California Style Frozen Vegetables (or whatever combo is your fave)

Prepare Stuffing
In large bowl, mix all other ingredients (veggies don't have to be cooked)
Spread mixture into a 9*13 pan and top with stuffing

Bake on 350 for about 30 min

Alternatives: leave out chicken for a vegetarian dish, add extra soup and/or sour cream for a more saucy version, add a handful of shredded cheese to the mixture

Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes

5 lb Bag Red Potatoes, peeled and cut in cubes
1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1 Cup Water
1 Tbl Oregano
1 Tbl Salt

Put potatoes in 9*13 pan, mix other ingredients and pour over potatoes

Bake on 450 for 45-60 min

Alternatives: use diced canned potatoes, make a bag out of tinfoil, use half the amount of ingredients and cook on your grill. Yum!

Sloppy Joes

2 Pounds of Hamburger
2 Cans tomato soup
1 Tsp Garlic Salt
1 Tsp Onion Salt
Salt
Pepper

Cook hamburger, add tomato soup and spices to taste and simmer for 10 min

Alternatives: add chili pepper for a southwestern twist, add 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Bread Bowls

2 Tbl Yeast
2 Tsp Sugar
1 Cup Warm Water
Mix together, let sit until yeast is activated

In a separate bowl mix together
4 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tbl Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)

Add activated yeast to flour mixture
Add warm water (about 1 cup) until a ball forms

Let it sit for ten minutes

Shape into bowls

Bake for 15 min on 425

Bread Sticks

2 Tbl Yeast
2 Tsp Sugar
1 Cup Warm Water
Mix together, let sit until yeast is activated

In a separate bowl mix together
4 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tbl Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)

Add activated yeast to flour mixture
Add warm water (about 1 cup) until a ball forms

Let it sit for ten minutes

Shape into sticks (optional: top with cheese, butter, garlic)
Bake 10-15 min on 425

Cheatin' Chili

2 Cans Generic Canned Chili
1 Can Diced Tomatoes
1 Pound Cooked Hamburger
1 Cup Shredded Cheese
Chili pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients in a pot and warm up
Or put in crock pot on low for a few hours

Serve in bread bowls or with bread sticks (see recipes in bread section)

Tomato Mozzarella Pasta

1 Box Penne Pasta
Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, cut into halves
Mozzarella Cheese, cubed
3 Tbls Olive Oil
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Basil, fresh or dried

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, salt, basil, cheese and tomatoes
Cook pasta according to directions, drain and add to large bowl
Mix well and serve

Easy Homemade Pizza

2 Tbl Yeast
2 Tsp Sugar
1 Cup Warm Water
Mix together, let sit until yeast is activated

In a separate bowl mix together
4 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Salt
2 Tbl Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)

Add activated yeast to flour mixture
Add warm water (about 1 cup) until a ball forms

Let it sit for ten minutes
Spread out onto pizza pan

For sauce, mix 1 can/jar of spaghetti sauce with 1 can of tomato paste

Top with your favorite cheese and toppings

Bake for 15-20 minutes on 425

Shepard's Pie

1lb hamburger
1small to medium onion
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
2 carrots chopped
1/2 can corn
1/2 can green beans
5-6 potatoes mashed and seasoned (milk, butter, salt, pepper)
1/2-3/4 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)

Chop onion and sautee until clear. Add meat and brown. Slightly precook carrots. Mix, hamburger/onion mix, soups, slightly cooked carrots, corn and green beans in a greased 13x9 pan. Top with mashed potatoes and cheese. Bake 30 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is slightly brown.

Sloppy Joes

2 lb hamburger
1Tbs Mustard
3 Tbs Sugar
2 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
1 Cup Ketchup

Brown hamburger and drain grease. Add all other ingredients, heat through and serve on hamburger buns or whole wheat bread. Goes excellent with a side of corn.

Macaroni and Cheese

1/2-3/4 lb elbow macaroni
1 lb sharp cheddar cheese cubed (approx. 2 cups)
3 Tbs. Butter
2 Tbs. Flour
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper as desired
2 cups milk

Cook noodles according to package directions.
Melt butter on low heat. Add flour to make paste. Add salt and pepper. On high heat, slowly add milk a bit at a time. Stir constantly until think and bubbly. Add cheese, stir until melted. Remove from heat. Pour cheese sauce into greased baking dish (I use a pyrex bowl that is oven safe.) Add cooked noodles until there is just a little more cheese sauce than noodles. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Variations:
Use 3 T olive oil instead of butter
Add 1-2 cups cubed ham
Top with Bread crumbs
Use fun shaped noodles
Use pepper jack cheese for a spicy kick

Stir Fry

1 Small to medium onion
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
1 lb chicken, cubed or cut in slivers
1 can chicken broth
1 cube chicken bouillon
1 cup water
2-3 Tbs. soy sauce
1-2 heads of broccoli
3-4 carrots
2-3 Tbs. cornstarch
water


Chop onion and garlic. If you have kids who don't like onion, cut it VERY fine. Sautee onion and garlic in olive oil. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add chicken broth, bouillon, water and soy sauce. Add carrot and broccoli. Cook until vegetables are soft but not squishy. Once vegetables are to desired texture, bring mixture to a boil and thicken using cornstarch dissolved in water. Serve over rice.

Variations:
You can use all canned broth or all bouillon.
You can add green peppers and snap peas, just before serving.
You can use beef and beef broth instead of chicken
I don't use a recipe for this so all measurements are approximate

Hamburger Soup

1 lb Hamburger
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 cups tomato juice
2 cans cream of celery soup
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 bay leaves
2 cups shredded carrots

Brown hamburger with onions, drain. Add tomato juice, soup and spices. Add carrots and simmer until tender.

Variations:
1-2 cloves of fresh garlic sauteed with the burger and onions is tasty instead of garlic powder

Galooey Goulash/Chop Suey

1 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked according to box instructions
1 small to medium onion, chopped
3 small cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
1 lb. hamburger
1 can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
basil
cayenne pepper
salt

While noodles are cooking, sautee onions and garlic until tender. Add hamburger and brown. Add tomato sauce and spices (salt, basil, cayenne pepper (go light on this.)) Simmer on low heat while waiting for noodles. Drain noodles and add to tomato mixture. Simmer until heated through. Top with parmasean cheese to serve.

Variations:
For a really fast, easy meal, omit onion, garlic and tomato sauce, and substitute pre-seasoned spaghetti sauce

Nutty Spaghetti

3/4 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
5 Tbs. soy sauce divided
2 Tbs. vinegar
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. grated ginger
2 Tbs. cornstarch
1 lb.chicken breast cut into small pieces
4 tsp. vegetable (or olive) oil, divided
1 lb. spaghetti, cooked according to package directions
1 cucumber, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and sliced
1 head broccoli, cut in small pieces and delicately steamed

In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, peanut butter, 3 Tbs. soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil and ginger. In another bowl, combine cornstarch with remaining 2 Tbs. soy sauce, then toss with chicken pieces to coat. In a large non-stick skillet heat 2 tsp oil over high heat. Add half the chicken pieces and cook, stirring until cooked through. Remove from pan and repeat with remaining oil and chicken. In serving dish, toss noodles with sauce, cucumber, broccoli and chicken pieces. Can be served warm or chilled.

Variations:
Original recipe called for seasoned rice vinegar, Asian sesame oil and 1 1/2 cups shelled edamame, cooked according to package directions.
Dry ginger can be used if you don't have fresh ginger laying around.

Mulligatawny Stew

2-4 Chicken Breast
1 Quart Chicken Broth
1 Medium Onion
2 Carrots
1-2 Stalks Celery
Green Pepper (optional)
1 Apple, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup flour
1 can stewed tomatoes (8oz or 15oz)
1 Tsp. curry
1/8 tsp. mace
1/8 tsp cloves
1 tsp dry parsley

Cook chicken breasts in broth. When chicken is cool enough to handle, chop into chunks. While chicken is cooking, chop onion, carrots, celery, green pepper and apple. Sautee in olive oil, set aside until chicken is done. Once the chicken is done reheat veggie mixture on medium heat and sprinkle with 1/3 cup flour and stir to mix. Slowly add chicken broth and stir until it begins to thicken. Add canned tomatoes with juice and chicken. Add spices. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice.

Crispy Cheesy Potato Wedges

5 Large Potatoes
1/3 Cup Olive oil
1/2 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
1 tsp. paprika
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 Tbs. bread crumbs
dash of garlic powder
dash of pepper

Cut potatoes into wedges, toss to coat with olive oil in 13x9 baking pan. Combine cheese, paprika, salt and bread crumbs. Add garlic powder and pepper to taste, sprinkle over potatoes. Bake at 425, 30-40 minutes, until cheese is crispy.

Variations:
Peel potatoes
Many others herbs and spices can be used according to personal tastes.

Macaroni and Cheese Soup

2 Cans Chicken Broth
1 Package frozen carrots, broccoli, cauliflower
6 oz small shell noodles
1.5 cups milk
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbs. Flour

Bring broth to a boil. Add noodles and cook 5 minutes. Add veggies and cook additional 5 minutes. Pour milk into resealable container, add 2 Tbs. flour, shake to mix. Stir into pasta mixture. Cook and stir until thickened. Add cheese and cook until melted.

Variations:
2 Cups Water and 2 chicken bouillon cubes for canned broth
I use fresh vegetables and omit the cauliflower unless I have it around. Just cook until tender.
I ust whatever small noodle I have around
Use extra cheese if you want added punch