Best Casserole Recipe: Southwestern Rice Casserole
October 14, 2007
Best Casserole Recipe: Southwestern Rice Casserole
by: Donna Monday
Here’s a tasty variation of Mexican rice, and best of all it’s simple and quick to make.
3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup frozen bell pepper stir-fry
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced peeled tomatoes with chili or salsa seasonings, undrained
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In ungreased 1 ½-quart casserole combine all ingredients; mix well. Bake 35-40 minutes.
About The Author
© Donna Monday
Over 100 easy-to-make meals at your fingertips
http://www.best-casserole-recipes.com
How to Make Gooey Grits Cake
October 13, 2007
I was intrigued when I came across this unusual dessert recipe. Now, ordinarily, I wouldn’t think that a dessert containing grits, of all things, would be appealing. But there was a time when I thought rice was a funny choice, too, and I’m now a huge fan of rice pudding.
So needless to say, I tried it and surprisingly it wasn’t bad. In fact, it was sweet…maybe a little too sweet for some people, but I don’t mind.
Here it is:
Grits Cake
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 cup grits
- 8 oz. pack cream cheese
- 16 oz. powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Preheat over 350 degrees farenheit (careful here, ovens may vary. Mine does, a lot!). Mix cake, 2 eggs, butter, and grits in a bowl.
Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, 2 eggs, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Spread first mixture into a 9 x 13 pan. Pour second mixture over cake batter, then bake for 35-45 minutes (once again, ovens may vary).
The top of the cake should be gooey. If you give this dessert recipe a try, I’d love to know what you think about it!
Perfect Picnics - Frugal Food Safety Tips
October 12, 2007
Summer is finally here and for a lot of us that means heading out to the lake or to the park for a picnic with friends or family.
Unfortunately, if we’re not careful when we plan, transport and serve that picnic, our outing might not end up happily.
Here are some tips to remember when planning an outdoor meal:
1. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Bacteria multiply quickly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. Foods that have been kept at unsafe temperatures are a prime source of foodborne illnesses.
2. Plan ahead and try to take foods that don’t spoil so quickly. At any rate, don’t eat anything that’s been sitting out for more than an hour, especially if the temperature is over 80.
3. Try to take only the amount of food that will be eaten, so there will be no leftovers.
4. Pack your food with ice or cold packs in an insulated cooler. Place foods that will be eaten last in the bottom. You can make your own blocks of ice by freezing water in milk cartons or other plastic containers.
Best Casserole Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
October 12, 2007
Best Casserole Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza
by: Donna Monday
This bacon cheeseburger pie recipe is the perfect easy casserole for those Saturday nights when you want to whip up a fun meal.
Filling
1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, quartered, sliced
1 medium bell pepper, cut into bite-sized strips
6 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
1 (14.5 oz.) can chunky pizza sauce
2 to 3 Italian plum tomatoes, chopped
4 oz. (6 thin slices) cheddar cheese
Topping
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup all purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
2 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large saucepan brown ground beef with onion and bell pepper; drain. Stir in 6 slices crumbled bacon and pizza sauce. Spoon into ungreased 13×9 baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with tomatoes; top with cheese slices.
In medium bowl, beat eggs slightly. Add milk and oil; mix well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour and salt; beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour evenly over cheese slices. Sprinkle with 2 slices crumbled bacon.
Who Doesn’t Love Easter Candy?
October 11, 2007
Who Doesn’t Love Easter Candy?
by: Gray Rollins
There are only two types of candy that matter in today’s society
There are only two kinds of candy that people rave about these days and that is Halloween candy and Easter candy. Easter candy is one of the most popular and sought after types of candy in all the world and adults and children alike stock up each year on all of their favorites. I myself have a penchant for crème filled Easter eggs and chocolate marshmallow eggs. I admit it, I am not ashamed, they are delicious and they only come out once a year!
Everyone can appreciate the wonders of Easter candy, I mean seriously, it is candy and it is in fabulous Easter shapes. Who doesn’t love the way the chocolate bunny ears come off in their mouth, or the way that the marshmallow eggs go squish? It is heavenly I tell you!
In the year 2000 Americans spent a hefty little sum on Easter candy, can you guess how much all together? Well over 1 billion dollars, that is how much. Now do you believe me about how everyone loves Easter candy? Easter candy is fun and delicious and you don’t have to be a kid to like it, you don’t even have to be religious, it just tastes good and looks even cuter.
The History Of Jelly Beans
October 10, 2007
The History Of Jelly Beans
by: Gray Rollins
Jelly beans have some pretty interesting facts buried in their history. These are a favorite confection that have been around for quite some time, just over a hundreds years or so. While info about the exact time and place that jelly beans first came on the market is not available we do know that they began to emerge in the early 20th century. They were sold at stores as a penny candy and they became quite popular.
Back then there were different colors of jelly beans as well but unlike today each color was sold separately. Instead of selling a jumble of colors they would sell batches of red or white or some other color. This made them very popular during the holiday seasons because they could sell specific holiday related colors to consumers.
Jelly beans remained the same, with their semi hard shell and soft chewy center until the mid 1970’s. That is when the Herman Goelitz Candy Co., Inc. created a whole new era of the jelly bean and changed the history of the jelly bean forever. This company made the jelly bean into a delicacy by making unusual flavors. Now jelly beans could be found that tasted like pears or watermelons or even tutti fruity.
How to Easily Make Sourdough French Toast Like Cracker Barrel
October 9, 2007
I got an idea one day when I was in a Cracker Barrel restaurant eating breakfast. They had sourdough French toast and it was the best French toast I’d had, so I wanted to re-create the recipe at home.
I haven’t gotten this down to a recipe with exact measurements, but I usually use:
Pepperidge Farmhouse Sourdough bread slices about 1 to 1 1/2 or so cups of milk 1 or 2 egg whites (or the whole egg, if you prefer) cinnamon and/or sugar (optional)
Mix the milk, egg whites, and cinnamon and/or sugar together. Place both sides of each bread slice into the mixture to saturate the bread.
Most of the time I use Pam cooking spray to butter the pan, because it’s easier and quicker for me to just spray every time to keep it from sticking. But if you prefer butter or margarine, that’s fine too.
The first slice you should cook for a few minutes on each side. Then with the other slices, after the pan has had a chance to really get hot, it only takes a couple of minutes each side to get it brown.
Best Casserole Recipe: Easy Tex Mex Hash
October 8, 2007
Best Casserole Recipe: Easy Tex Mex Hash
by: Donna Monday
Here’s a great Tex Mex recipe if you love cheesy hash browns with a little extra kick.
1 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon oil
3 cups (24 oz.) package frozen potatoes O’Brien with onions and peppers
1 cup thick and chunky salsa
2 teaspoons chili powder, optional
1 cup shredded Colby Monterey Jack cheese blend
Directions
In a large nonstick skillet, brown ground beef. Remove beef from skillet; cover to keep warm. Discard drippings.
In the same skillet, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add potatoes; cook and stir 8 to 10 minutes or until browned. Stir in salsa, chili powder, and ground beef. Cook 5 to 8 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stir occasionally.
Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook 2 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted.
About The Author
© Donna Monday
Over 100 easy-to-make meals at your fingertips
http://www.best-casserole-recipes.com
50% Less Cooking
October 7, 2007
50% Less Cooking
without hitting the fast food button! Don’t you just cringe when some clever kitchen type tells you what you could be doing with the leftovers in the fridge, when it’s plainly obvious the leftovers will stay there until they walk out by themselves!
More often than not, saving money with leftovers, although a great idea, takes a lot of time in preparation and relies on many other ingredients being available. So……….
Design your own leftovers!
Cooking twice as much as you need ‘by design’ allows you the extra time tomorrow with the added bonus of knowing what you’re going to cook.
Dithering around in the kitchen working out who wants what and what you forgot to buy, takes ages. If you know you’ve already got a portion of the evening meal ready in the fridge, life becomes a lot less stressful.
Most ‘in-the-pot’ dishes like bolognaise, chile, casseroles and stews can all be made in double quantities in very little extra time. Make sure you thoroughly reheat meat dishes until very hot. The only real problem with in the pot recipes is that you’re obliged to eat the same meal two nights in a row. Although you can serve it with rice, pasta, or potatoes to add some variety.
The Benefits Of Family Meal Planning
October 7, 2007
The Benefits Of Family Meal Planning
by: Christine Steendahl
Are you ready to save some time, feed your family healthier meals and save some money along the way? These are just some of the benefits of family meal planning. Let’s look at all of them in a little more detail.
Eat Healthier
Planning your family meals will cut down on your trips to your favorite fast food restaurant and the amount of pizza you have delivered to your door. Food you prepare at home tends to be much healthier than hamburgers with fries, fried chicken or pizza. When you plan your meals include some lean protein like chicken breast, as well as some salads and vegetables. Your entire family will benefit from the healthier meals.
Save Time
How much time are you spending now running to the grocery store a few times a week. I used to run to the store at least 3 times a week to buy something to fix for dinner. Planning your meals out for a week at a time and then putting together a grocery list with everything you need to cook those meals will cut your trips to the store down to one a week. This alone will save you a few hours each week. Plus you won’t be standing in front of your fridge and pantry every night trying to come up with something you can fix with what you have at hand.
