Turkey Patties

Deliciously healthy! These are great hot or cold and go with just about anything! Perfect snack or addition to a meal.  (Pic coming shortly...)

Ingredients:
~ 1/2 onion
~ 2 cloves of garlic or garlic powder
~ 1 egg
~ shredded cheese of choice (I use cheddar or mexican blend)
~ 1 lb ground turkey
~ parsley
~ salt

Directions:
In a food processor, place onion, garlic, egg and cheese; process until all is chopped and blended. Transfer to a large bowl and add turkey, parsley and salt. Mix well. Take about 1/4 cup, roll into a ball and smush into a patty. These can be cooked on a skillet on low-med heat, or better yet in a George Forman grill (worth the investment!)

Recipe from: sister, Cammie

Taco Soup Chili

This is a fav of everyone who's tried it so far! Compliments all the way around to my lil sis who created this recipe by combining part if a taco soup recipe and part of a chili recipe. A 10 year old told me it's the best chili he's ever had. That says a lot considering its chuck full of veggies! :) pic coming shortly...

Ingredients:
~ 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
~ chili powder (as much as you like, I use about 2T)
~ 1 onion, chopped
~ 2 cloves chopped garlic or garlic powder
~ 2-3 small chopped sweet peppers (or as much as you like. I always add extra)
~ 1/2 to 1 package low sodium taco seasoning
~ 1 can undrained corn
~ 1 can black or pinto beans
~ 1 can chopped tomatoes with green chillies

Optional toppings:
~ shredded cheese
~ sour cream
~ tortilla chips

Directions:
Season ground turkey with chili powder and brown in large pot. Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 30 min. Serve with addt'l toppings if desired.

My sister makes this exclusively in a crock pot. Cook for 4 hrs on high and add 1 1/2 cups of water if cooking in crock pot.

Recipe created by: my sister, Cammie Christian

Quick 'n' Delicious Stuffed Bread Buns

This is a surprisingly quick recipe because the dough only needs to rise for about 30 minutes. It was a hit with Shawn and the munchkins. It would make an excellent breakfast as well as a delicious dinner.

Ingredients:
Quick 'n' Easy One Bowl Dough:
~ 3 cups white flour
~ 3 teaspoons (or 1 packet) active-dry yeast
~ 1/3 cup sugar (can be reduced to 1/4 cup if desired but bread will be slightly bland)
~ 1 1/2 - 2 c. warm (not hot) water
~ pinch of salt
~ 1 Tablespoon oil

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 for 4 minutes and then turn off.
Place dry all ingredients in large bowl
Hand mix so yeast is mixed in well with other ingredients.
Create a well in the flour mixture by pushing flour up along the sides of the bowl
Add approx. 1 1/2 c. warm water and mix
As dough begin to form begin kneading. Add more water as needed, dough should be mostly dry and not sticky (add more flour if it's too wet)
Add oil and knead into dough
Place dough in a large, clean bowl and cover with a towel. Place on a towel in the oven with the door closed for at least 1/2 hour or until double in size.
Punch down dough
If you like a chewy but light dough, let rise again. This dough can rise and be punched as much as 4 times without ruining outcome. (Dough freezes well raw. Allow to thaw and rise @ room temp. before baking.)

When dough is removed from oven after rising, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle a little flour on your hands and take about 1/2 cup of dough. Roll out or use your hands to make a thin oval, as thin as you can without it tearing. Fill with:

Filling Ingredients:
~ Ground beef, cooked and seasoned (sausage for breakfast)
~ Cheddar Cheese (use a lot of cheese, this will add moistness)
~ Diced potato pieces, cooked in oil and seasoned

OR

~ Pizza Sauce
~ Cheese
~ Pepperoni, cooked sausage, etc.

I like them very, very full, as full as you can get them and still be able to seal. Otherwise, the bread is all you will taste. These may be shaped any way you like. Seal and bake on an oiled cookie sheet until golden brown. Brush lightly with butter and ENJOY! These can be dipped in ketchup or BBQ sauce.

Tip: These are not as good as leftovers as they are fresh, so whatever dough I have leftover, I refrigerate and make fresh the next day.

Tin Foil Dinners

Tin foil dinners are easy to make and clean up, not to mention delicious. Try one for your next camping adventure or throw one in the oven for an easy meal. Shawn asks for this particular recipe anytime there's a campfire.

Ingredients:
~ Raw Chicken Breasts, cubed
~ Potatoes (Idaho or red), peeled and diced (the smaller they are, the faster they cook!)
~ Packaged Italian Dressing Mix (optional)
~ Butter Cubes
~ Salt & Pepper
~ Celery, Carrots, Onions; diced (all optional; I leave my onions fairly large)
~ Aluminum Foil
~ Shredded Cheese (optional)

Directions:
Layer 2 18" long sheets of aluminum foil per dinner. Place about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of potato pieces in the center of the foil and cover with chicken and veggies (as much as you'd like). Sprinkle with salt and pepper and generously with Italian dressing seasoning packets. Mix well with your hands and then spread out lengthwise in the middle of the foil to about 4" x 12". Cover with pats of butter, about 3-4T per dinner, depending upon how large they are. Bring together long sides of foil over meal and fold 2-3 times, ensuring there will be no leaks when dinner is flipped on the fire. Push meal flat and then roll the ends in tightly. Cook over hot coals for about 30 min. or until done. Flip for final 10 min. or so. We love to open them up and smother with cheddar cheese and Famous Dave's Rich & Sassy BBQ sauce (found at the grocery store).

Our friends who gave us this recipe have never used chicken or Italian dressing mix. They always use hamburger meat and other pantry seasonings. You could give that a try too!

Tip: This is much easier to throw together if made ahead of time. The trick is to place the potato pieces in a container covered with water until you drain and use them or they will turn yucky and brown.

Recipe from: Jon & Jessica Croxford

Taco Salad (healthy)

Ingredients & Directions:
~ Romaine Lettuce (or any other dark leafy greens)
Place lettuce on plate and top with:
~ ground turkey, cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning (can use ground beef or chicken too)
~ Sprinkle of cheddar or Mexican style cheese
~ olives, sliced
~ fresh tomatoes, chopped
~ Kidney or pinto beans, drained
~ a dallop of sour cream
~ generous serving of salsa
Mix slightly and enjoy your deliciously healthy meal without the calories of dressing, and you won't even miss it!

Simple Taco Soup

This is a delicious, very quick, and healthy recipe our friends made for us. I don't love to spend hours slaving in the kitchen on Sunday, so this is a great quick meal to enjoy...just before naptime :). It makes a TON so you can eat all day and even share with friends.





Ingredients:
1 can of each of the following:
~ olives, sliced
~ chili (sometimes I use 2 cans :)
~ red beans (I also add 1 can black beans occasionally, if you do you will need to pour in the entire can of V8)
~ corn
~ tomatoes
plus:
~ V8 juice (2/3 of big container)
~ 1 lb ground turkey/beef OR chicken (we like chicken)
~ 1 med. onion
~ 1 packet taco seasoning


Directions:
In a large pot over medium heat, mix all of the cans plus V8 juice. Let that simmer. Meanwhile, brown meat with onion in a skillet. Season, according to package directions, with taco seasoning. Add meat to soup. Cook as long as you'd like and serve hot with the following...

Serve with:
~ Fritos
~ Sour Cream
~ Cheese (just about any type is great)

Recipe from: Friend, Sara Murray

Simple Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:
~ 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
~ 1 chopped onion (optional)
~ 1 can tomato soup
~ 1/2 tomato soup can of water
~ 1 can green beans, drained (optional, can substitute for frozen)
~ 4-6 servings of prepared mashed potatoes
~ cheddar cheese

Directions:
Brown beef and onion in frying pan. Add soup, water and beans. In the bottom of the casserole dish, place mixture. On top of that, spread your mashed potatoes. Top with cheese. Pop it into the oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 min.

Recipe from: Tiffany Eaton

Santa Fe Casserole Bake

Ingredients:
~ 1 lb ground beef
~ 1 pk taco seasoning
~ 2 c. water
~ 2 tsp chicken bouillon
~ 1/4 c. flour
~ 1 c. sour cream
~ 1 can 7 oz diced green chilies
~ 1 pk 11 oz tortilla chips
~ 2 c. grated cheese
~ 1/2 c. sliced green onions

Directions:
Brown meat, drain. Add taco seasoning. In a separate bowl combine boullion, flour & water, add to beef and taco seasoning. Bring to slight boil to thicken. Stir in sour cream & chilies. In lightly greased 13x9 place 1/2 of the chips, top w/ 1/2 beef mixture, 1/2 of the cheese and 1/2 onions, repeat. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Cool 5 min. Serve with salsa or taco sauce.

Recipe from: my sister, Tricia

Delicious Quick Stroganoff

This is a great quick meal my fam absolutely loves with ingredients I usually always have on hand which makes it so easy.


Ingredients:
~ 1 8 oz sour cream
~ 1 pk egg noodles, cooked
~ 1 can cream o' mushroom soup
~ 1 lb ground beef

Directions:
Saute mushrooms and ground beef until meat is cooked through. Add cooked noodles, sour cream and cream o' mush soup. Serve hot.

Family Favorite Chili

In Tricia's words... "I get asked for this recipe all the time. Mmmm! I always use 1 lb of hot Italian sausage and 1 lb of ground beef - gives it some kick."

Ingredients:
~ 1 lb ground beef
~ 1 lb Hot Italian Sausage (can use 2 lbs ground beef if don't have sausage)
~ 1 large onion, chopped (optional)
~ 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (I use garlic powder)
~ 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
~ 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
~ 2 T chili powder
~ 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
~ 1/2 tsp salt
~ 1/2 tsp pepper
~ 1 can (15 or 16 oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained OR 1 can chili beans (I use 1 can chili beans and 1/2 can kidney beans)

Directions:
Cook beef in skillet over med heat, stirring occasionally, until brown; drain. Mix beef and remaining ingredients except beans in 3 1/2 - 6 qt slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or high 3-4, or until onion is tender. Stir in beans. Cover and cook on high heat 15-20 min. or until slightly thickened.

OR

Throw everything in a large pot (except beans) and simmer for 1/2 to 1 hour. Add kidney beans for last 10 minutes and enjoy! It turns out just as good.

Recipe from: My sister, Tricia

The Bomb! Messy Taco Salad

This is the best taco salad I've ever had. We had it at my baby shower and it was a huge hit as well as our family reunion and my sister-in-law's baptism. It feeds as many or few people as you'd like, just make it bigger.


Ingredients:
~ Iceberg or Romaine lettuce, rinsed and torn (spinach and fancy lettuces don't hold up well)
~ 1 lb. ground beef, seasoned with 1 packet taco seasoning, according to package directions
~ 1 can kidney or pinto beans, drained
~ Tomato, diced (as much as you like)
~ Olives, sliced (as much as you like)
~ Chips (I like Doritos but I've had with tortilla)
~ Cheddar cheese (as much as you like)
~ Ranch Dressing (your fav brand)

Directions:
Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Be sure you use PLENTY of ranch...this is what makes it soooo yummy. If you're counting calories the day you think about making this...make something else!!

Recipe from: My sister-in-law, Liz

Tiff's Own - Spaghetti Bake

Yesterday I was in a mad rush for dinner...and this was the result. A scrumptious spaghetti bake!! I made it again tonight for another family and it makes a TON! It ended up making enough for a family of 5 as well as 2 smaller dishes, one for my mom and James and one for my little fam. I'm sure you could freeze half for another meal later on. My mom asked me to please put it online so she can make it again soon. YUM!

(PICTURE COMING SHORTLY)

Ingredients:
~ 2 1/2 cups dry noodles (I love capelletti from Costso 3 pack, can use any small noodle, I'm sure)
~ 1 lb. ground beef or turkey (I use turkey)
~ 20 Italian meatballs (from Costco frozen section)
~ 2 large cans spaghetti sauce (I use cheap $.88/can)
~ 1 cup mozzarella
~ about 1/4 cup shredded or grated Parmesan

Directions:
Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, bake meatballs according to package directions. In a large frying pan, cook beef or turkey. Add sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, baked meatballs and cooked noodles. Stir well. Pour into a baking dish, I use a really deep pie-shaped dish. Top with additional mozzarella and sprinkle with a little Parmesan and parsley flakes (optional- for looks). Bake at 350 degrees until sauce is bubbly and cheese is melted. ENJOY!

Recipe Created By: Me :)

Enchilada Beef - easy peasy MICROWAVE recipe!!

Dinner in a flash, literally! You microwave everything in this meal. It's done in minutes with no sink full of dirty dishes! Not a fancy dish by any means but quick and definitely a kid pleaser.



Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies, drained
3-4 T enchilada sauce (any)
2 cups shredded Monterrey jack cheese (I've used cheddar also)
about 1 cup coarsely crushed Frito's corn chips
Additional chips, optional

Directions:
Crumble beef in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and cook on high 4-6 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Stirring once; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, green chilies and enchilada sauce. Spread half of beef mixture in a 2 qt microwave safe dish; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese. Top with remaining beef mixture. Cover; microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle w/ crushed chips and remaining cheese. Microwave 1 min longer or until cheese is melted. Serve with additional corn chips, if desired.

Fantastic Lasagna (No Ricatta)

This is a recipe I came up with using some of the basics from my Mom’s easy lasagna recipe. Shawn has labeled this the “perfect” lasagna! VERY YUMMY!

Ingredients:
~9 lasagna noodles
~½ lb hamburger, cooked and seasoned
~½ lb sausage (any), cooked (OR TOTAL OF 1 LB HAMBURGER)
~2 large cans spaghetti sauce
~4 eggs
~1 cup dehydrated parmesan cheese
~Cheddar cheese
~Grated mozzarella (I’ve used all cheddar and it was great too)

Directions: Cook noodles and lay out on saran wrap, foil, or parchment paper to cool. In a skillet, place hamburger meat and season. Then add sausage. Cook through and add spaghetti sauce; warm. In a small bowl, beat eggs & parmesan cheese. Cover the bottom of a 9x13 pan with a small amount of the spaghetti sauce/meat mixture.
Layers: Lay 3 lasagna noodles over on bottom of pan (over sauce), 1/3 egg/parmesan mixture, 1/3 of the spaghetti/meat mixture, sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Repeat layers 3 times. Top with mozzarella cheese.

TIP: You can sprinkle parsley on top of anything topped with cheese and it adds a colorful, elegant look. Bake 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Don’t let the cheese get hard and yucky. This is great with French bread!

Original recipe from: MOM, altered by ME

Taquitos

I like this because there are very few ingredients. This is a full meal by itself. It’s a fun finger food for kids or a party! Guys go crazy over these easy, crunchy little delights! You could put dipping sides of sour cream, salsa, taco sauce or guacamole! Fun and Yummy!














Ingredients:
• Corn tortillas (white or yellow)
• 1 lb. Hamburger, chicken or steak (shredded)
• 1 pk. Taco seasoning
• Cheese (any type, I use cheddar)
• Vegetable or canola oil

Directions:
Cook meat and season with taco seasoning, following directions on seasoning packet. Warm tortillas, three at a time, on a plate in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until soft and pliable. Scoop a small amount of meat and cheese onto the tortilla. Roll tightly. Place on a baking sheet and brush top with oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then broil for a few minutes until desired crispness.

Hamburger Macaroni Casserole (quick n' easy)

This is a super fast and easy recipe for those nights you come home and think…what’s for dinner? It’s more of a kid pleaser than anything else but, Shawn LOVES it! I also always have these ingredients in my food storage, which is awesome! I even have canned ground beef from the cannery! This is truly a "food storage" meal!! Shawn also calls this one "hamburger helper...but better!)


Ingredients:
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 can cream o’ chicken soup
• 2-3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 small pkg. pasta (elbow works well)
• Corn (optional or just on the side)

Directions:
Boil noodles until soft. While waiting for noodles to cook, brown hamburger and drain grease. Add cream o' chicken soup & tomato soup to meat. Stir until blended. Drain corn and add to hamburger mixture. Add noodles. Cook until heated through. You can transfer to baking dish, top w/ cheese, & bake at 350 until cheese is melted & bubbly if you'd like.

Recipe from: friend, Angela Nelson