Easy Cheesy Shells

Cook macaroni shells and drain.  Place noodles in sauce pan with 4 T butter.  Stir until butter melts.  Add 1 can of cheddar cheese soup, 1/2 large can evaporated milk, 1 T season salt and 2 cups of cheese.  Stir until creamy and mixed well with noodles.  This is very similar to velveeta shells and cheese only better! You can add more evaporated milk as needed...especially when reheating.  This can stay warm and delicious for quite some time but fresh out of the pan is evil!!

Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

1 and 1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup mashed banana (3 bananas)
1 egg
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup chocolate chips

combine wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients.  Bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or until bounces back to the touch at center.  This makes for an exciting breakfast for the kids.  Serve bacon on the side to add some salt to the sweet! :)

french dip sandwiches

place roast beef (of your choice) in crockpot.  Salt and pepper the meat. Add 1/2 cup water, 1 pkg onion soup mix, 1 pkg AuJus powder, 1 can beef broth. Cook on low for 8 hours.  Strain the juice and save for dipping.  Shred your beef and serve on deli rolls with one slice of melted provolone cheese.  Don't forget to dip!

Cucumber salad

7 cups unpeeled pickling cucumbers sliced thin
1 cup sliced red onion
1 cup sliced green pepper
1 cup sliced red sweet pepper
1 T salt
about 2 cups of sugar (depending on how sweet you'd like it)
1 cup white vinegar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard seed

Mix cucumbers, onions, peppers and salt and set aside.  Put vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed in a pot and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat and let cool for 1 hour.  Pour mixture over cucumbers and put in jars and store in refrigerator.  Will keep for up to 2 months...but it won't last that long, trust me!

Yummiest Chicken soup!

Shredded chicken (1-2lbs)  *my preferred method is ALWAYS frozen chicken breast tenderloins baked in a cooking bag...dump them in frozen, add 1/2 cup water, stick in a dish and bake for 1 and 1/2 hours on 300
*empty one LARGE can of chicken stock...you will also add the water from your bag that you cooked ur chicken in, into crockpot
**Add 1 tsp salt, 1tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp onion salt, 1 onion cubed, 1 tsp celery salt.
*Add 3 chicken bullion cubes to the chicken stock (this allows you to add some water if you decide you need more juice in your soup
*Add 6-8 diced red potatoes (I leave the peel on)
*5-6 sliced carrots
*1 large can of green beans
*Add chicken to your soup and allow to cook in the crock pot to help infuse flavors and soften vegetables.
-finally cook one package of noodles of your choice.  I like the yolk free egg noodles. Stir up your soup and enjoy!  Serve with home made parker house rolls to really wow your crowd! (I better make sure that recipe is posted!)

spinach artichoke dip

1/3 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese (softened-if heated in microwave, 2 mins on 50% power)
1/4 cup mayo
2 cans artichoke hearts (un-marinated and drained)
1 can of spinach (brought to a boil then drained)
approximately 1 tsp garlic salt
approximately 1/2 T chili powder
* season to your taste preference
-top with mozzarella cheese and stick in the oven on 350 for about 20 minutes
serve with chips, crackers or especially homemade french bread!

Sloppy Joes

1-2 lbs beef
1/2 chopped onion
1 can tmto sauce
1can tmto soup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon mustard
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp chili powder

*brown the hamburger meet in the skillet or microwave.  Place in crockpot and add all other ingredients.  cook on low for 4-6 hours.  Serve on buns...Yummy! (and way better than the canned stuff)