Cowboy Spaghetti (Spicy)

6 slices crispy bacon, chopped, or you can use real bacon bits (3 slices = 1/2 c.)

1 lb. lean ground beef, cooked and drained

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

15 oz. can crushed fire roasted tomatoes, undrained

10 oz. can Ro-tel, undrained, your choice, I used original, but you can use hot

8 oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 c. beef broth

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1-2 t. hot sauce, your choice, I used Mule Sauce (rated 4 out of 5 for heat intensity: made with habaneros, scott bonnet, and ghost peppers)

salt

pepper

Italian seasoning

sliced mushrooms, drained, optional

1 lb. thin spaghetti, cooked and drained, as directed on box

shredded cheddar cheese, optional (I didn't use any)

sliced green onion, to garnish, (I didn't use)

Combine ground beef and onion together in large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Ro-tel, broth, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, mushrooms, bacon, salt, pepper, and seasoning. Stir well to combine. Simmer 10-15 minutes, uncovered, stirring often to keep from sticking. Add cooked spaghetti to skillet and toss to combine. Tongs work well for this. Serve immediately with cheese and green onions as garnish if desired. 

*If not serving immediately, may be placed in 9x13 dish or crockpot to keep warm. Serve with Caesar salad and bread if desired. Yummy!

Sherri J's Super Easy Coconut Cookies

1 tube sugar cookie dough

1 1/2 c. chocolate chips (or other flavored chips, your choice)

2 c. coconut

1 t. vanilla

2 t. coconut extract

melted chocolate, optional

Mix all ingredients together, except melted chocolate. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking sheets, 2" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes (however long the sugar cookie package says). Melt 1/2 c. chocolate chips & 1 t. butter in microwave. Stir. Drizzle over cooled cookies. This is optional and I didn't do it. Store in covered container. These cookies are always a big hit and the first to go at gatherings. They can be made without the coconut and coconut flavoring for those who don't like it, I added additional chips to replace coconut.

*These can also be made as bars: Combine all ingredients as directed. Spread in sprayer 9x13 pan. Bake 15-20 minutes until lightly brown. Cut into bars with plastic knife while still warm to keep from tearing.

1st pic: Mixing the dough, 2nd pic: ready to bake, 3rd pic: ready to eat, Yum!

30 Minute Taco Casserole

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef, cooked, drained, rinsed

1/2 c. onion, chopped

16 oz frozen, cut spinach, thawed & drained, optional

8 oz. cream cheese, softened, cut into 4 blocks

14 oz. can Rotel tomatoes, drained

1 c. whole kernel corn, drained

shredded cheese (cheddar, colby jack, monterey jack)

Combine beef and onion in skillet until onion is translucent. Add spinach to meat mixture , if using, and cook a few minutes more. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in cream cheese, tomatoes, and corn. Pour into a sprayed 2 qt casserole dish. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake in 350 oven for 20 minutes. Serve with sour cream, jalapenos, hot sauce, tortilla chips, fritos, etc...I also served with Mexican caviar, fruit salad, sangria, and lemon icebox pie. It would also be good with Mexican cornbread.

*can also be made as an Italian recipe by switching out ingredients.

1st pic: in skillet; 2nd pic: in sprayed dish topped with cheese; 3rd pic: after baking; 4th pic: ready to eat; 5th pic: my son made it into loaded nachos!

Ham and Cheese Deep Dish Quiche

6 eggs, beaten

2 T. minced onion

1 lb. diced cooked ham

3/4 c. milk

salt and pepper to taste

deep dish crust

Thaw crust according to directions on pkg.  Prick crust with fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-11 minutes. Combine eggs, milk, and cheese. Add seasoning. Add ham and onion. Pour all in cooled, baked crust. Place on baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour. Serve with fruit, "sauteed" crockpot mushrooms, or hashbrowns.

Carolyn's Microwave Coconut Cream Pie

1 egg

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 t. salt

2 T. cornstarch

2 c. milk (any kind will work, I've used skim, 1%, evaporated...)

1/2-1 c. coconut (depending on how much you like)

1 T. butter, melted

1 t. vanilla

1 shortbread pie shell

Beat egg. Add sugar, salt, cornstarch and milk. Mix well. Add coconut. Put in microwave for 3 minutes on high. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes. Stir and cook for additional 2 minutes. Add butter and vanilla. Beat again. Cool filling and place in pie shell. Refrigerate until ready to serve. This is a delicious quick and easy pie to make.

1st picture is cooked coconut cream filling. 2nd picture is pie ready to eat.

Chocolate Graham Crackers

1 1/4 c. all purpose flour, or graham flour if you have it

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. Dutch baking cocoa, plain is fine to use too

1 1/4 c. powdered sugar

1 t. baking powder

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 T. honey

2 T. milk

Preheat oven to 325. Combine flour, salt, cocoa, powdered sugar, and baking powder in stand mixer bowl with paddle attachment on low. Add butter and stir until pea-sized clumps form. In a separate bowl, combine honey and milk until honey is dissolved. Stir into dry ingredients until dough forms. Split dough into two pieces. On parchment paper or silicone lined baking sheet, roll the dough out into a large rectangle. Prick with fork to prevent bubbling. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until you smell chocolate. Immediately cut into squares or desired shape. Make sure to do this while they are warm as they crisp up quickly once they cool. These cookies will stay fresh for 2 weeks when wrapped tightly, or up to a month in the freezer. *recipe from: onesweetappetite.com

**can also make without cocoa and use 1/8 t. cinnamon or, 1/8 t. cardamom or, 1 t. instant coffee & 1 t. vanilla, for variety of flavors.

Enjoy!

Carolyn's Orange Blossom Biscuits

1 can Grands Jumbo biscuits

2 T. melted butter

1/2 c. sugar, or less, your choice

zest of one small orange

1/4 c. chopped pecans

2 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 c. powdered sugar, or less, your choice

1 t. vanilla

2 T. orange juice

Preheat oven to 350. Place one whole biscuit in 8" pan that has been sprayed. Cut remaining biscuits in half and place around center biscuit. (See picture below.) Brush with melted butter. Blend zest and sugar. Add pecans. Sprinkle on top of biscuits. Bake 18-20 minutes until biscuits are no longer doughy. Blend powdered sugar with cream cheese. Add vanilla and orange juice. Pour on biscuits right out of oven while they are still warm. These biscuits taste a lot like my orange pecan bread with a whole lot less work. *I use less sugar and less powdered sugar in these because they are way to sweet for me otherwise.

1st picture: center biscuit surrounded by half biscuits & brushed with butter; 2nd picture: sugar, zest and pecan mixture sprinkled on top of biscuits; 3rd picture: cream cheese glaze; 4th picture: baked biscuits fresh from oven; 5th picture: glaze poured on biscuits; 6th picture: ready to eat! YUM!!  

  

Apple Pie Froyo Bites

1 apple, I used honeycrisp or fuji

1/2 T. butter

2 T. lemon juice

1/4 t. cinnamon

pinch of salt

pinch of clove

pinch of nutmeg

1 c. Greek yogurt

1 t. vanilla

1/2 T. honey

Chop apple. Place pan over medium heat. Add butter. Add apples and all other ingredients, except yogurt, vanilla, and honey. Cook until apples are tender. As it is cooling, combine yogurt with vanilla and honey. Stir in 1/2 of apple mixture. Place dollops on parchment paper. Top with remaining apples. Dust with cinnamon. Freeze 2-3 hours. Very refreshing on a hot summer day.

Steak and Shrimp Teriyaki Noodles or Rice

2 lbs. baby shrimp, cooked, peeled, deveined, no tails (I used frozen)

2 lbs. bite size steak, (I used frozen fajita strips with chopped peppers and onions)

2 lbs. spaghetti, your choice, cooked and drained, optional

2 lbs. rice, your choice, cooked (I used Uncle Ben's ready rice: basmati/jasmine), optional

4 T. olive oil (I used butter)

4 t. sesame oil, optional 

1/2-2/3 c. teriyaki sauce (I used Kikkoman with chopped ginger)

splash of rice vinegar

4 t. minced garlic, cooked (I use the spiceworld minced garlic in a jar..found in produce)

green onion, chopped for garnish, optional

In a large skillet, warm the steak in olive oil or butter and add desired seasoning. (I didn't add any seasoning). Add in onion and shrimp and cook until heated through. Add teriyaki sauce. Add in cooked spaghetti or rice. Toss to coat. Plate and garnish with green onion.

*I served with rice separately, if it hadn't been so thick I would have added it to the shrimp and steak. I also served with a Caesar salad. Very tasty. My adult son asked for the recipe..WIN WIN!

1st picture: steak and shrimp cooking on stove; 2nd picture: basmati/jasmine rice for teriyaki steak and shrimp; 3rd picture: both together, ready to eat!

Tex-Mex Chicken And Rice Skillet

3 T. oil, divided

1 lb. chicken breasts, cubed

1/2 t. salt

pepper, to taste

1/2 c. diced onion

1/2 c. diced red or orange pepper

1 jalapeno, seeded and diced, optional

1 t. minced garlic

1 c. long grain rice, uncooked

14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, drained

2 1/2 c. chicken broth

15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 t. chili powder

1 t. cumin

1 t. smoked paprika

1 t. onion powder

1 c. frozen corn, do not thaw

1 1/2 c. shredded sharp or colby jack cheese

3 green onions, thinly sliced, optional

salsa

avocado

sour cream

cilantro

Heat 2 T. oil in 12" skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-6 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer to dish and set aside. Add remaining oil to pan. Add onion, red pepper, and jalapeno (I used the flakes). Cook and stir for 5-6 minutes. Add minced garlic and continue to cook for another minute until veggies have softened. Add uncooked rice and cook 2 minutes to taost the rice. Stir in drained tomatoes, chicken broth, black beans, chicken and spices. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, & simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the cover and sit in frozen corn. Cook covered for another 5 minutes. Remove cover and sprinkle cheese on top. Cover and cook over low until cheese has melted. Sprinkle with green onions and serve with toppings. May be served with soft tortillas to roll up in or used as a dip.

*I have also placed this inside soft tortilla shells, fold up sides to overlap on top, in a baking dish, with salsa spooned over the tortillas and cheese sprinkled on top. Cover with foil & bake at 375 for 15 minutes, uncover, increase temperature to 425 and bake 10 more minutes.  (this is a lot like my chicken tortilla casserole)