Cheesy Cauliflower Soup

This is a really good on a cool night. Don't let the cauliflower scare you away. The other ingredients do a great job of flavoring this soup.

Serves 4

1 large head of cauliflower, staulk removed and florest chopped into large pieces
8 cups chicken broth
4 tablespoons margarine
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
dash salt and pepper
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. In a large pot, bring cauliflower and chicken broth to a boil over high heat. Cook for 15 minutes. Spoon cauliflower into a boil and chop with fork, do not mash. Reserve cooking liquid.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat butter on medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and saute for an additional 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add saute mixture and half of caulflower back into broth. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, whisking often.
4. Add cheese and whisk until blended.
5. Add remaining cauliflower and serve.

Taco Seasoning

This recipe is very simple and cuts back on the sodium that prepackaged seasonings contain. Add a few tablespoons to your cooked ground beef or chicken for your favorite mexican dish or tacos. Enjoy!

 Makes approximately 1/2 cup

3 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Dash black pepper

Mix together and store in a container with tight fitting lid.

Homemade SpaghettiOs

I found a recipe online for SpaghettiOs. I tweaked it a bit. It is not perfect but tastes good. I think it is a cross between SpaghettiOs and Chef Boyardee Mini 123 & ABC pasta. Enjoy!

Serves 4

2 cans condensed tomato soup
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
pinch of salt
2 cups water
4 servings small pasta (I used ditalini)
1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon margarine
1/4 cup milk
Tomato juice

In a large saucepan, bring tomato soup, garlic powder, salt and water to a boil. Add pasta and reduce heat to medium. Cook for 14 minutes, stirring pasta every minute. It will stick if you don't. Once pasta is tender, mix in cheese until smooth. Add margarine, milk and 1 cup tomato juice. Add more tomato juice to thin down, if desired.

Goulash

This is a very easy meal and perfect for a cold day. Enjoy!

Serves 4

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
4 servings small cooked pasta, such as elbow macaroni or small shells

In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown ground beef, onion and green pepper. Drain fat. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Simmer on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add pasta, cook for 1 minute and serve.

Wet Beef Burritos

I think this recipe does a great job of mimicking El Charrito's wet burritos. It goes great with my spanish rice recipe, which is also similar to El Charrito's. Enjoy!

Serves 4

1 serving shredded beef taco recipe

1 can refried beans

8 flour taco or 4 flour burrito shells

2 cups beef gravy (jar or homemade)

2 tablespoons ground cumin

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar

Preheat oven to 350. Combine meat and refried beans. Spoon meat mixture onto each shell and roll up. Place in a 13x9 baking dish in a single layer. Heat gravy and cumin on medium heat in a saucepan, until heated through. Pour gravy over burritos and top with cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly.

Italian Pepper Beef over Rice

This is a very easy meal to put together. Feel free to add more vegetables to this dish. I usually do. Enjoy!

Serves 4
1 pound beef chuck steak or roast
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced onion
1 cup diced bell peppers (I used red, orange and yellow)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dry basil
1 teaspoon dry oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
3/4 cup beef broth
4 servings white or brown rice, cooked

Preheat oven to 295. Place meat in a roasting pan. Add vegetables and spices. Poor broth overtop. Cover and cook for 3 hours. Remove meat from sauce and increase temperature to 350. Shred with a fork, removing fat. Place back in sauce and cook, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

Stove Top Pot Roast

This is a very quick and easy recipe. Create a meal that tastes like you spent the whole day in the kitchen.

Serves 4

1 1/2 pound beef chuck steak - a chuck roast cut in half length wise, making it half as thick
Seasoned salt
Black Pepper
1 tablepsoon olive oil
4 cans beef broth or stock
3 tablespoons dehydrated minced onion
4 large carrots, cut into bite size chunks (I usually do more)
Salt and pepper
4 large potatoes

In a large pot, heat oil on medium-high heat. Rub seasoned salt and black pepper into meat. Place meat in pot and sear both sides until brown. Add broth, onion, carrots, salt and pepper to pot. Cover, bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 1/2 hours. Stir in potatoes and cook for an additional 30 minutes. Broth will naturally thicken. Enjoy!

"Bavarian Inn" Buttered Noodles

I love this dish. Now you can make it at home. If you want a more authentic recipe, buy Bavarian Inn Chicken Seasoning the next time you are in Frankenmuth. Enjoy!

Serves 4

1  16 oz package Reames Homestyle Egg Noodles - available in your grocery freezer section
10 chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon Bavarian Inn chicken seasoning, if available
dash black pepper
2 cups crushed saltine crackers
1/4 cup butter

In a large pot, bring 10 cups water, bouillon, seasoning and black pepper to a boil. Add noodles and cook uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally (ignore directions on package). In a frying pan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in cracker crumbs and cook until they are golden brown. Remove from heat. Drain most liquid from noodles. Top with cracker crumbs and serve immediately.

Oven Baked Ribs

This recipe is perfect for putting in your oven and leaving for hours. They will fall apart when you eat them. Delicious!

Serves 4
1 pound western style pork ribs
1/4 cup rib rub
favorite barbecue sauce

Preheat oven to 250. Place ribs in a roasting pan and massage in rib rub. Cover and cook for 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours. Remove from oven, drain off fat and slather with barbecue sauce. Place in oven, uncovered, for 30 more minutes. Enjoy!

Wet Chicken Burritos

I was actually going in the direction of enchiladas. But, as the recipe evolved, it turned into wet chicken burritos. They were a huge hit with my family. Enjoy!

Serves 4

1 serving shredded chicken taco meat
1  4 oz can diced green chillies
4 flour burrito shells or 8 flour taco shells
4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
1/4 cup all purpose flour
shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Spoon meat mixture and 1 teaspoon green chillies onto each shell. Roll up and place in a greased baking sheet. Place 1 cup broth in a small bowl, whisk in 1/4 cup flour and set aside. In a medium sauce pan, bring 3 cups chicken broth, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper to a boil. Whisk in water and flour mixture until well blended. Return to a boil and turn to medium. Cook for 5 minutes. Spoon gravy over wrapped burritos. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly. Serve with my spanish rice recipe (2nd recipe on the page)