Beef w/ Broccoli & Asparagus

3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
1/2 cup water, plus
4 T. minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 lb boneless round steak or charcoal chuck steak, cut into thin 3-inch strips
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
3 cups broccoli florets
1-2 cups large chopped asparagus
1 small onion, cut into wedges
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
crushed red pepper for heat (opt)
hot cooked rice

Directions
In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoons water and garlic powder until smooth.
Add beef and toss.

In a large skillet or wok over medium high heat, stir-fry beef in 1 tablespoon oil until beef reaches desired doneness; pour in approx 2 T. of soy sauce to deglaze pan. Remove and keep warm.

Stir-fry broccoli, asparagus and onion in remaining oil and drippings for 4-5 minutes.

Return beef to pan.

Combine remaining soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and remaining cornstarch and water until smooth; add to the pan.

Cook and stir for 2 minutes.

Serve over rice.

Lazy Chiles Rellenos

Ingredients
8 whole Roasted, Peeled, And Seeded Green Chiles
1-½ cup Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
5 whole Large Eggs
2 cups Whole Milk
Salt And Black Pepper To Taste
½ teaspoons Paprika
¼ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.Mix together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne.Cut chilies in half and add a single layer of chilies on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.Top chilies with half the grated cheese.Repeat with another layer of chilies and another layer of cheese.Pour egg mixture all over the top.Place into a larger baking dish or rimmed baking sheet. Pour in 1/2 inch of water and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until completely set.Cut into squares and serve with warm corn tortillas!

Kung Pao Shrimp

1 pound shrimp
1 egg white
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons chicken broth
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups oil, or as needed
6 to 8 small red chilies, or 2 teaspoons chile paste
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 cup cashews


Shell and devein the shrimp. Cut in half lengthwise. Lightly beat the egg white. Marinate the shrimp in the salt, egg white and cornstarch for 15 minutes.In a small bowl, combine the chicken broth, vinegar, soy sauce and sugar. Set aside.Heat the oil. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp. Cook briefly until the shrimp turns pink. Remove from the wok.Remove all but 2 tablespoons oil from the wok. Add the chile peppers or chile paste. Stir-fry for a minute, then add the minced ginger and stir-fry until it is aromatic (about 15 seconds). Stir in the cashews. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, taking care not to burn.Make a space in the middle of the wok. Add the sauce. Heat briefly, then mix in with the cashews. Add the shrimp back into the pan. Cook for 1 more minute and serve hot.

Blackened Chicken or Salmon

4 Tablespoons paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup butter
4 salmon fillets, room temperature or
4 tilapia fillets, room temperature or
4 chicken breasts, pounded evenly, room temperature

Mix dry spices on a plate. In a skillet, melt butter and oil over medium-high heat. Pour off 1 Tablespoon of butter into a shallow pan. Turn on your oven vent and crank the heat to high. (work with your range, some gas ranges would be way too hot on high, work on med-high.) Pat fillets or breasts dry with paper towels. Dip each fillet or breast lightly into melted butter and dip into the dry ingredients, patting the spices on by hand. Cook fish/chicken in skillet, 3-4 minutes per side, careful when turning. Fish/Chicken will look charred black and you may get smoke- hence the name!

Italian Cheese & Pesto Sandwiches

Sliced Italian bread or a sturdy french bread
brush outsides with butter (no substitutes!)
spread prepared pesto on one side of bread
place shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top of pesto

Bake sandwiches on crinkled tinfoil on a baking sheet for 30-40 min at 300 degrees, flipping once. Or can toast on griddle.

Sloppy Joes

I hate buying canned sauces, never knowing what's REALLY in them. Here is a simple, quick recipe that tastes GREAT!

1 lb hamburger
1/2 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon salt
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Brown meat. Add onion, mustard, worcestershire, sugar, vinegar, ketchup, salt, green pepper, garlic powder and celery. Reduce heat to low, cook approx. 40 minutes with lid on, stirring occasionally.

Creamy Italian Crockpot Chicken

1- FAMILY SIZE CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP (or 3 regular cans)
1- PACKAGE CREAM CHEESE CUT INTO CUBES
1- 16 OZ SOUR CREAM
1- PACKAGE ITALIAN DRESSING MIX
2- large RAW CHICKEN BREAST, CUT UP - or use CHICKEN TENDERS
1- CAN OF MUSHROOMS
1- SMALL CAN OF GREEN CHILIS (IF YOU LIKE)
SALT & PEPPER

MIX IN THE CROCK POT AND COOK FOR 5 PLUS HOURS ON LOW. YOU CAN USE MORE CHICKEN IF YOU PREFER. SERVE OVER RICE OR PASTA.

(I have also added cooked chicken at the end of heating - if you are doing cooked chicken, just heat soup mixture through till thick soup consistency and to make sure flavors are melded)

Lentil Stew

I haven't tried this yet, but think it sounds pretty good.

LENTIL STEW

1 pkg. lentils
1/2 med. onion, cut up
2 1/2 - 3 c. cut up potatoes, pared
1 1/2 - 2 c. cut up carrots, pared
3-4 garlic cloves
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. basil
3 (10 oz.) cans Italian stewed tomatoes
Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tbsp. Italian salad dressing

Soak lentils in cold water overnight. Rinse off. Put lentils in large stock pot. Add onion, potatoes, carrots, garlic cloves, parsley, basil, stewed tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano and salad dressing. Cover with water to 2" from top. Cook over medium low heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally. Serve with grated cheese on top of each bowl. (Stew should have a lot of liquid. If cooked down, add water for consistency.)

Jambalaya

cook until tender over medium heat in LARGE pot:
1/4 c. butter
1 green bell pepper - chopped
1 red bell pepper - chopped
2 med onions - chopped
2 ribs celery - chopped
5 cloves garlic - chopped

Add in order and stir:
3 (6.75 oz) cans chicken in broth
1 (6.75 oz) can chopped ham
2 (4.5 oz) cans drained shrimp
1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced
2 t. red pepper sauce
2 t. worchestershire
1 1/2 t - 1 T. cajun seasoning for chicken or seafood
4 c. uncooked rice

Bring to boil then reduce heat. Simmer 25-30 min or until rice is tender and liquidis absorbed, stirring occasionally. Add additional chicken broth of the liquid is absorbed before rice is fully cooked.

*Serves 16

Rice & Hamburger

Brown 1 1/2 lb burger with 1 onion - drain
Add 1 can mushrooms

Mix w/ cooked rice & onion (start w/ 2 c. dry)
Add soy sauce to taste

Yummy Dutch oven Potatoes

Cut 1 lb. of bacon small. Cook and drain.
Wash and slice potatoes
Mix together:
1 large can Cream of mushroom soup
1 large can Cream of chicken soup
1 small can of golden mushroom soup
cooked bacon
small amount of milk
desired amount of onions
s&p
grated cheese (added at the end of cooking)

Cook for 45 min - 1 hour w/ 12 coals on top and 12 on bottom.

Tater Tot Casserole

Brown/drain:
1 lb. burger
1 onion
s&p

Combine with:
1 can cream mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. cheese (or more)

Line 9x13 pan w/ 1/2 bag of tater tots (2 lbs). Spread mixture over. Top w/ remaining tots and more cheese.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 min or until golden.

BBQ'd Spareribs

3/4 c. ketchup
3/4 c. water
3 T. vinegar
1 T. salt
1 t. chili powder
2 T. worchestershire
dash of pepper/paprika

Mix together and pour over ribs in crockpot. Cook until tender, about 3 hours.

Ham & Cheese Cresents

1 pkg refrig. cresent rolls
1/4 lb ham
1/2 c. cheese, grated

Put meat & cheese on rolled out cresent - roll up.

Bake as directed on cresent pkg.

Kielbasa Skillet Stew

5 bacon strips - cooked until crisp

brown in drippings:
1 med. chopped onion
1 1/2 lbs smoked fully cooked sliced kielbasa

stir in & bring to boil:
2 cans (15 1/2 oz) great northern beans, undrained
2 cans (8oz) tomato sauce
1 can (4oz) chopped green chilis
2 med. carrots, sliced
1/2 med. green pepper, chopped
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
1/2 t. dried thyme
1/8 t. pepper

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 min or until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally. Crumble bacon and sprinkle on top.

Bratwurst

Boil brats first (for however many your family will eat.) I use beer.
Fry on the stove in oil or cook on the bbq.

Cheesy Pasta & Beef Casserole

Cook & drain:
1 lb. lean hamburger
1 chopped onion
Cook until almost done:
4 c. uncooked penne pasta

Combine and stir w/ above ingredients:
1 c. grated cheddar
1 c. grated mozzarella
1 c. tomato sauce

Put into crockpot and top with 3 more T. of tomato sauce and grated parmesan cheese.

Cook low 3-5 hours or 1.5-2.5 on high.

Southwestern Lasagna

Brown & drain:
1 1/2 lb burger
1 onion
Add & bring to boil:
1 15oz can enchilada sauce
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 t. salt
1/4 t. garlic pow
1/4 t. pepper

Combine and set aside:
1 c. cottage cheese
1 egg

Spread 1/3 of meat sauce in 9x13 pan - top with shredded jack cheese, 1/2 of cottage cheese mixture & then corn tortillas, repeat layers, ending with meat sauce and more cheese.

Bake 350 for 20 min covered and 10 min uncovered

Dreamy Tortellini

Saute:
4 cloves garlic - chopped fine
1 1/2 t. basil
1 T. oil
28 oz. Italian stewed tomatoes

Add & heat thru:
1 c. sour cream
1/4 t. cayenne
1 can evaporated milk

Add & heat thru:
4 oz. wedge parmesan - grated

Pour over cooked cheese tortellini

Gobbly Goop or Dad's Good Grub :)

I know the sound of this is weird, but when my dad used to take care of us on the rare occasion my mom was gone, he would make this concoction that we lovingly named.

3 cans potatoes, drained
1 can cr. of mushroom soup
1 can corn
2 t. Mrs. Dash
1/2 t. salt
1 pkg ramen noodle seasoning (chicken or beef)

Cook till warmed about 30 min to flavors to blend. Serve w/ beef or chicken (match bullion)