My Momma's sloppy Joes

These sloppy joes are a family favorite, especially for my son. I like to make these and then freeze the rest, for a quick meal later. We also like to make these for Halloween night, because there fast, warm and easy! And they taste better the longer that they simmer.

1 1/2 lbs Hamburger
3/4 cup ketsup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons Brown sugar
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 small onion

Directions
1.Cook meat slowly in skillet with salt and onion.
2.Meanwhile, make sauce by mixing together all other ingredients and cooking slowly over low heat for 15 minutes.
3.Drain (not much to drain if you use ground round) and add meat.
4.Let simmer for at least an hour, stirring from time to time, to let meat absorb the sauce.
5.Serve on hamburger buns with cheese slices and/or pickle slices.

Fast and easy skillet burrito

Posted by Windy:
I tried that beef burrito skillet last night everyone liked it way yummy and doesn't take long at all!!!



Prep Time:
10 min
Total Time:
35 min
Makes:
4 servings, 1-1/2 cups each
What You Need!
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (19 oz.) kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1 cup water
4 flour tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1-1/2-inch squares
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese
1/3 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1/3 cup chopped green onions (about 1 large)
Make It!

BROWN meat in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain.

ADD seasoning mix, beans, salsa and water; stir. Bring to boil. Simmer on medium-low heat 5 min.

STIR in tortillas; top with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and onion

More ideas for keeping kids healthy

someone over at www.zippy-health.com Posted this......

Great tips. A child under the age of four or five might eat six to seven times a day. One can give fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain crackers, cheese cubes, peanut butter-cheese sandwiches into daily snacks. Also can try can try a yoghurt shake with fruit of choice. Try to avoid pre-packaged snacks because its unhealthy. One can go for milk-based drinks because it rich in proteins, calcium, iron, also fruit juice will be good.
Good Site Check it out!

Cool Healthy treat for you and the kidos

Posted by: Tami Haws

I bought these plastic Popsicle makers at the dollar store yesturday, but you can use ice cube trays too.

Homemade Popsicles

you can use fruit juice, my boy's like the Odwalla health juice. It makes them a little more creamy. Or you can make you own in a blender. Mix any fruit with a little water. I've done blueberry banana, strawberry banana, plain banana, black berry, raspberry, blueberry.
NOTE if you are doing them in a ice tray fill the cup with your juice then cover tight with plastic wrap or tin foil and poke a popsicle stick in each cup so they will freeze straight. You can get Popsicle sticks at the dollar store in the craft section

Healthy snow cone.

our snowcone maker was the best thing we have bought. Ive had it for ever. I love this snack more then the kids. Shave some ice into a bowl and then get a very ripe ruby red grape fruit. Squeeze the juice into your shaved ice. This is the most refreshing snack ever. I make these all the time. I have used all of these as well. fresh Lemon juice, fresh lime juice, and fresh orange juice. Try this you will love it. If you let your lemons and limes get really ripe the juice gets more sweet then tart

Sweet Potato Fries

Posted By Tami Haws:

sweet potato - no need to peel
a little olive oil
garlic salt
onion powder

Cut potatoes into thin or thick strips. I like then about 1/2 inch thick. Put in bowl put enough oil in and toss to coat potatoes. Season with garlic and onion powder. NOTE I over season because some of it will cook off in the oven. Put them on a cookie sheet make sure they are all separated and spread out. Put in a 425 degree oven. I have not timed these but I believe it is about 15 20 min. or until lightly browned. I like then a little more darker. I don't like them sweet. I like them with a BBQ fry sauce. Mix a little mayo and BBQ sauce together. But if you like the sweeter fries try this. Instead of seasoning them with garlic and onion powder try cooking them just in the oil then when you take them out let them cool slightly and sprinkle them with brown sugar.

Chicken Wonton Salad

This is a great salad for summer. I like to make it for a meal on those hot days! and it is so good and addicting!

Chicken wonton salad

Dressing:
3 Tbl. Rice vinegar
2 Tbs. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 C. vegetable oil

Mix together and chill for at least 3 hrs

For the salad add:
Romaine lettuce
green onions
Diced cooked chicken
sesame seeds
Fried wontons (I buy the egg roll wrappers and cut into strips and fry)
*Then add the dressing and toss right before serving or I like to just put it on myself and then the salad does not go bad if you have leftovers.

Grilled Chicken with Mango Salsa and Green side salad with Cheese crisps

This is Our Favorite way to eat BBQ Chicken So tasty! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

1. Marinate chicken in Italian dressing for at least 4 hours (I usually do 8 hrs.)

2. Dice a mango, chop a few Tablespoons of red onion, 2 garlic cloves, a handful of cilantro, and 2 Tablespoons of lemon or lime juice. Mix all together and refrigerate for up to an hour before. (the longer it sits in the fridge the better)

*I also like to add chopped watermelon or chopped avocado.

Cheese Crisps

For the cheese crisps: I just grate any cheese that you like and put it into a hot fry pan and cook on both sides until crispy! They are so Good!

Fun new Blog!

My Friend Melinda is awesome at paper crafting and cooking ect. And she has a fun new blog with free downloads for those of you who have a cricut cutter, and for those who don't all the rest is great and wonderful and fun too!


http://stayathomemomcrafts.blogspot.com/

Waffel Breadfast Sandwiches

These are really tasty and fun for kids too. Just get a box of frozen waffels and add an egg, sasage, ham or bacon and any cheese you like. (even a little bit of syrup inside or on the side is really tasty).

Fun and Healthy kids snacks (or adults!)

Thanks Tami! These are some fun ideas.

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt.
Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.

2. Spread celery sticks with peanut
butter or low-fat cream cheese.
Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants
on a log.”

3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket
with ricotta cheese and Granny
Smith apple slices. Add a dash of
cinnamon.

4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal,
dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich
bag for an on-the-go snack.

5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on
two graham crackers and add
sliced banana to make a yummy
sandwich.

6. Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with
crunchy granola and sprinkle with
blueberries.

7. Microwave a small baked potato.
Top with reduced-fat cheddar
cheese and salsa.

8. Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of
low-fat cheese and grapes on
pretzel sticks.

10. Spread peanut butter on apple
slices.

11. Blend low-fat milk, frozen
strawberries and a banana for
thirty seconds for a delicious
smoothie.

12. Make a mini-sandwich with tuna
or egg salad on a dinner roll.

13. Sprinkle grated Monterey Jack
cheese over a corn tortilla; fold in
half and microwave for twenty
seconds. Top with salsa.

14. Toss dried cranberries and chopped
walnuts in instant oatmeal.

15. Mix together peanut butter and cornflakes
in a bowl. Shape into a bowl and roll in crushed
graham crackers.

16. Microwave a cup of tomato or
vegetable soup and enjoy with
whole grain crackers.

17. Fill a waffle cone with cut-up fruit
and top with low-fat vanilla
yogurt.

Picture of Fried Burritos

I have posted this recipe or I should say idea on here before, but I thought that since it has been a while I would post it again with a picture.

All it is is a fun twist on burritos. Just fill a burrito shell with whatever you like in your burritos...chicken, pork, black beans, pinto beans, rice etc. And then fill a pan with a few tablespoons of canola oil and fry until crisp. Then top with sour cream, lettuce, tomato, cheese, guacamole etc. It makes a burrito extra tasty and it is better that those frozen ones! And yes that is a paper plate you see! hey it's better than eating out!

Chicken Roll Ups Picture!

Here is a picture of the chicken roll ups that I posted before. Very tasty!!!!!!!!!

Eggplant Roll ups Picture!

I have posted this recipe before, I just wanted to share a picture with you and remind you that it is tasty! Don't forget that it is good with zucchini too. I served it with a side salad and Parmesan garlic toast.

Cheese Ravioli with alfredo, and side salad

I just wanted to share some of my quick meals that I am improving on. (my new years goal was to have less meat) So here is a good one that my kids enjoy and it took me 20 min to make! Really!

I used the refrigerated ravioli (by the cheese section) and then my Alfredo recipe to top with. Oh and I made a Banana cream pie in the 20 min. too!











Alfredo Sauce
3 T. butter
1 T flour
Melt butter and then stir in flour and cook for a minute.
then add:
2 cups of whole milk or half and half
2 handfuls of parmesan cheese (I buy it in a big bag shredded at Costco and freeze)
Garlic powder, salt and pepper (to taste)
1 tsp. of Nutmeg (this adds a good flavor!)

www.Simplifysupper.com

Posted by: Tami Haws
I have found a great website to help you plan your meals for the month. It has recipes for every day of the month and for the meals you choose they have a shopping list of items to buy. I have started planning weekly meals and it has saved so much time and money just buying the items needed for the week. Good luck and enjoy.
www.simplifysupper.com

Crock Pot Dumpling Soup

Posted by: Jamie (my husband loves this soup!)

1 lb. lean steak, cut into 1" cubes
1 pkg. onion soup mix
6 c. hot water
2 carrots, peeled and shredded
1 ribs celery, finely chopped
1 tomato, peeled and chopped
1 c. packaged biscuit mix
6 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley

With pot on low, sprinkle steak with dry onion soup mix. Pour hot water over steak. Stir in carrots, celery and tomato. Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours or until meat is tender. Turn pot to HIGH. In separate small bowl, combine biscuit mix with parsley. Stir in milk with fork until mixture is moistened. Drop dumpling mixture into crock pot with a teaspoon. Cover and cook on high for about 30 minutes.

Makes 5-6 servings

Skillet Ravioli

This is so fast!..... I buy the ravioli at the store... by the cheese section. It is really good and fresh.

* 2 cups purchased pasta sauce
* 1/3 cup water
* 1 9-ounce package refrigerated or frozen cheese- or meat-filled ravioli
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1 15-ounce carton ricotta cheese
* 1/4 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
* 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
* Grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a 10-inch skillet combine pasta sauce and the water. Bring to boiling; stir in ravioli. Reduce heat. Cook, covered, over medium heat about 5 minutes or until ravioli are nearly tender, stirring once to prevent sticking.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl stir together egg, ricotta cheese, and the 1/4 cup Romano cheese. Top ravioli with spinach. Spoon ricotta mixture on top of spinach. Cook, covered, over low heat about 10 minutes or until ricotta layer is set and ravioli are tender. Sprinkle each serving with additional Romano cheese. Makes 4 main-dish servings.

Easy Valentines

I just made these quick but cute valintines for the special loved ones in our lives.(like grandparents, cousins & teachers)
I got large boxes of candy or you could use king size candy bars too. Decorate them however or with whatever you have. And then I had my kids slip their valentines inside.

Hawaiian pork in crock pot

Posted by: Sammie (who is from Hawaii) This looks good!

3 lbs. port roast, boneless, rolled
6 cloves
½ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. paprika
¼ c. catsup
2 tbsp. orange juice
2 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. lemon juice
½ tsp. Kitchen Bouquet (optional)

Place the roast on a rack and broil 15-30 minutes or until brown (can be done the night before). Stick the cloves randomly all over the roast. Place the roast into the crock pot o the meat rack. Mix together the nutmeg and paprika, sprinkle over the roast. In a small bowl, stir together the catsup, orange juice, honey, soy sauce, lemon juice and Kitchen Bouquet, pour over roast.

Cover and cook on low 10-12 hours (high 4-6 hours). Remove the meat from crock pot and thicken juices by mixing together 1½ tbsp. cornstarch and 2 tbsp. water, which into juices and cook on high until thickened

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Me and my family love this soup (Hadley's favorite!). I often make it for lunch because it is so quick and easy to make. I kinda took two different recipes and made my own so I don't have exact measurements, but you will get the idea.












1 large 26 oz. can of condensed tomato soup.

4 oz of cream cheese

1 cup of beef broth

1 cup of chicken broth

1 cup of 1/2 and 1/2 or cream (optional)

Large handful of fresh basil leaves chopped (I buy or grow fresh basil and then put it in small ziplock bags and freeze it. It stays really fresh that way.) If you don't have that then add 2 T. of italian seasoning or dried basil.

I don't usually use sugar but in one of the recipes it says to add a Tablespoon or so of it, so taste it and see what you think.

*put all of the ingredients in a large sauce pan and heat through. After the cream cheese starts to melt I like to pour the soup into the blender and blend it up because the cream cheese stays chunky and that will smooth the soup out more. I also like to serve with Mustard grilled cheese sandwiches! sounds weird but put mustard on them before grilling it is so good.