9.30.2008

Chalupas!

Feel like enchiladas, but don't feel like doing all the work? These were quick, easy, and really yummy!

1 pound ground beef
chopped onions to taste
2 Tbsp flour
3 Tbsp chili powder
1 can tomato soup
1 1/2 cup sour cream
8-9 tortillas
1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Saute the onion in a little butter until soft. Add beef and brown. Salt and pepper to taste. Add flour and chili powder and 1 cup water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add soup and sour cream.

Tear tortillas to make a layer on the bottom of a 9x13 dish. Pour 1/3 of meat mixture on top, then sprinkle with cheese. Layer tortillas, meat, and cheese two more times. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

9.27.2008

Zucchini Bread (from the Lion House Cookbook)

1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp vanilla
2 cups shredded raw zucchini
3 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine oil, sugar, and eggs in large mixer bowl. Beat well. Blend in vanilla and zucchini. Sift dry ingredients together. Add to oil mixture and blend well. Add nuts.
Pour batter into 2 loaf pans (8x4x3), well greased and lightly floured. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour, or until loaves test done. Or use 3 medium loaf pans and reduce baking time to about 30 minutes. Let stand in pans for ten minutes, then turn out on racks to cool.

Lasagna

1 pound ground beef (can also use italian sausage)
1 small onion, diced
1 28 ounce can tomatoes
1 12-ounce can tomato paste
1 TB sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 bay leaf
2/3 16-ounce pkg lasagna noodles (about 14 noodles)
2 eggs
15-ounce ricotta cheese
16-ounce mozzarella cheese, diced

1. In a 5 quart pan, cook ground beef and onion until juices evaporate and beef is browned. Add tomatoes, their liquid, and the next 8 ingredients.
2. Heat mixture to boiling, stirring to break up tomatoes. REduce heat to low, cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring mixture occasionally.
3. Discard bay left. Tilt pan and spoon off any fat which accumulates on top of sauce. Cook lasagna noodles as label directs; drain well in colander.
4. In 13 x 9 baking dish, arrange half of drained lasagna noodles, overlapping to fit. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
5. In a small bowl with spoon, combine eggs and ricotta cheese and spoon one-half of this mixture over lasagna noodles in baking dish.
6. Sprinkle with one-half mozzarella; top with one-half sauce. Repeat layers. Bake in oven 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

9.24.2008

Southwestern Chicken Soup

DIVINE! I just made this for the first time tonight and lucky for all of you...posting this recipe was the FIRST thing I thought of as I ate and enjoyed. TRY IT!

1-12 oz. Jar Salsa Verde (OK, I don't know WHAT this is but I just used a jar of La Victoria Green Taco Sauce and it was fabulous)
3 C. Cooked Chicken Pieces
1-15 oz. cannelloni beans, drained
3 C. Chicken Broth
1 tsp. Cumin
2 Green Onions, chopped
Sour Cream
Tortilla Chips

Empty Salsa into large saucepan. Cook 2 min on medium heat. Add chicken, beans, broth & cumin and bring to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Top each bowl with a sprinkling of onions, sour cream and tortilla chips.

I also think next time I make it (and there WILL be a next time very soon) I'll also add cilantro and avocado to the 'topping' list.

Enjoy. I got this recipe from my Sister in-Law who got it from a Real Simple magazine. Sorry, no picture...but trust me, it was great and super quick and easy to make.

9.12.2008

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

All my family uses this recipe. Delicious, nutritious...and not too hard!!

6 cups warm water
2 T. salt
2/3 cup oil
2/3 cup honey
2 T. wheat gluten
2 T. dough enhancer
2 T. instant yeast
10-11 cups wheat, ground

Add water and several cups of freshly ground whole wheat flour to Bosch mixing bowl with dough hook in place. Mix the water and whole wheat flour. Add the salt, honey, dough enhancer, gluten, instant yeast, honey, and oil. Mix briefly. While the Bosch is kneading at a low speed, slowly add whole wheat flour until dough pulls away from the side of the mixing bowl. Increase mixer to medium speed when it slows down. May need 1-2 cups of white flour - dough will be slightly sticky. Knead with Bosch until gluten is developed (8-12 min). With oil, water, or shortening on hands, remove kneaded dough from mixing bowl. Shape into loaves and place in pans previously greased (if needed). Let loaves rise in a warm place until double in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool. Makes 5 regular size loaves.