Easy Chicken and gravy

Dump half a bag of frozen chicken breast tenderloins into a large "cooking bag." add 1 cup water and a packet of lipton onion soup mix and place in a casserole dish. (follow directions for using the bag....twist tie, cut slits, and so on) Bake on 325 for about an hour an a half.

Keep juices for gravy,
*take about 2 spoonfuls of cornstarch and add to about one cup of water, stir and add to the the chicken juices. bring to a boil and remove from heat. Serve with mashed potatoes and the shedded chicken.

Stuffed Shells

1-2 lb ground beef
small container of ricotta cheese
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp basil
1/8 tsp oregano
3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
1 small box frozen chopped spinach

Boil jumbo shells according to the directions on the box. Cool. Thaw and cook spinach according to the directions. Mix ricotta, spinach, mozz. cheese, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Brown the ground beef, then add basil and oregano to the meat. Stir the meat into the cheese mixture. Pour 3/4 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Stuff shells and place in pan. When the pan is full, cover with desired amount of sauce and top with additional cheese. Bake for about 20 min on 350.
*Easy option for kids is to stuff shells with only meat and cheese!

Cuban Beef

3 lb roast (can be smaller)
1 small onion sliced
2 T olive oil
1 large onion diced
2 garlic cloves
1 bell pepper
4 large tmtos diced or one can of rotel
1 and 1/2 T cumin
2 T tmto paste
1 bay leaf

*salt and pepper roast and brown on both sides in cooking oil in a large pot. Add 2 cups of water and the small sliced onion. Bring to a boil and reduce to med-low heat, cover and simmer for about 1 and half hour or until tender. Shred beef. Heat olive oil in a pan, add garlic, onions, peepper and saute for 5 min. Add tmtos and tmto paste, cumin, bay leaf and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Remove bay leaf and add beef.

This can be used as a taco meat, served over rice, the filling for potstickers or poured over a salad. Anyway you dish it, it will be delicious!

Mexican Breakfast Casserole

Cook a 2 lb bag of southern style hash browns. Layer on bottom of 9 x 13 casserole dish.
cook 1-2 lbs of ground beef then stir in one jar of salsa. Dump meat mixture over the potatoes, top with cheese and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until the cheese melts.
*this is great with scrambled eggs!

Macaroni chili

1-2 lbs of ground beef
1 15 oz can of tmto sauce
1 14oz can of diced tomatoes
1 cup kernel corn
1 small diced bell pepper and/or onion
1 pkg of slow cooker chili seasoning
1 cup cooked pasta (rotini or macaroni)
2 cups grated cheese (can adjust to taste)

cook the beef....in crock pot place all incredients except for pasta and cheese. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3. Add pasta and cheese 10 min before serving.

Cowboy Cookies

3 cups flour
1T baking powder
1T baking soda
1T cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 cups butter (3sticks)
1 and 1/2 cup sugar
1 and 1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1T vanilla
3 cups choc. chips
3 cups rolled oats
2 cups sweetened coconut flakes
2 cups chopped pecans

Beat butter euntil creamy, gradually add sugars: beat to combine. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each then add vanilla. Slowly stir in the dry ingredients. (four, soda, salt, cinnamon, bkg powder) Finally add oats, choc chips, coconut and pecans. This recipe can be made in the mixer but it is very full. Bake at 350 for about 8 minutes. This makes tons of cookies so plan on sharing! They also freeze fantastic!

Buttermilk Waffles

Combine:
8T butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 and 3/4 cup buttermilk

add:
1 and 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder

Yummy!

*serve with homemade syrup: 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water and 1/2 tsp maple extract...stir over medium high heat until it starts to boil, remove from burner and let sit (stays good in fridge for a long time)