New Recipes Coming your way June 2012

So all of you faithful followers, I personally apologize for not updating this blog. The truth is I have lots of really great and new recipes that I want to add and share, but have not had internet at home, or time really to share them properly. Soon two big changes will be made in the Stewart family to make it possible for me to start keeping this blog updated again. First, I am retiring. I am no longer going to be a working mother. I am going to be a home-working mother, and I couldn't be more excited. Second, we are moving, and we will have internet in our new apartment which is also just exciting. So please be patient and wait just one more month. Then I will feed you with all sorts of yummy and simple recipes that you will not want to miss out on. Thank you. And I look forward to sharing recipes again.

Li'l Cheddar Meat Loaves

I made these last night and realized they weren't on my blog yet. It is one of our most favorite recipes. It comes from my mom's cook book and she made it for us a lot growing up. I tell James every time, what she would say every time, "The only thing about this recipe, is you can't try it to make sure it is good, or tasting right." (because it's all mixed with raw meat...) But it is kind of a no-fail recipe. I have exchanged ingredients and not added ingredients because I didn't have them and they always turned out great! (Sorry for the lack of picture, I thought about this after we devoured them all).

Li'l Cheddar Meat Loaves

1 egg
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 lb ground beef
2/3 c. ketchup
1 1/2 tsp mustard
1/2 c. brown sugar

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees
2. In a bowl beat egg and milk. Stir in cheese, oats, onion, and salt. Add beef and mix well. (I usually just do this part with my hands). (Also I like to mix in some of the Ketchup mixture into the loaves)
3. Shape into eight oval shaped loaves (like footballs), place on a greased 13 in x9 in x2 in baking dish.
4. Combine Ketchup, Mustard, and brown sugar, spoon over loaves. (I like to include part of this mixture into the meat loaf as well)
5. Bake for 45 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.

Spritz Cookies

My mom gave me this cookie press for my bridal shower. I have had good intentions to pull it out and use it for a long time. One night when James was at a Foot ball game I decided to get it out and experiment. It was so fun and these cookies were so good and easy to make with the press. James loves them and we have made them a couple of times since.





Spritz Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp almond extract

1. Cream butter. Mix in sugar and egg mix well.
2. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well.
3. Place dough into cookie press, Press cookies using various shapes, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Top with sprinkles if desired. and Bake 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Curry Chicken Salad

I got this recipe from a co-worker. I have made it a couple of times this last month and I haven't taken a picture but it sure is good. The key ingredient is the Rice A Roni. YUM! I think it tastes best on Croissants.

Curry Chicken Salad

1 box of Chicken Rice A Roni (follow instructions on box)
saute 3-4 chicken breasts then shred or cut up into small pieces which ever you want
cut up 4-6 green onions
cut red grapes in halves (as many as you want)
cut up celery small (as much as you want)
1/2 cup slivered almonds (roasted)
3/4 cup light miracle whip
3/4 cup light mayo
1 Tblsp lemon juice
1 Tblsp curry powder
mix all together keep chilled and serve on your favorite rolls or croissants.

Jolly Rancher Rainbow Suckers

I got this "recipe" from Traci, who got it from my mom, who got it from one of Mckay's soccer moms, who I'm sure found it on pinterest. (which I have recently been introduced to and I am trying to figure out). I decided to try it with my cub scouts. (Yes. I am the newest called cub scout leader... ) It was a HUGE hit. They were asking for pencils so they could write down the recipe, like it was something they planned on making regularly. It was fun. And now I am sure they will be begging me to make them every meeting from here on out.

Jolly Rancher Rainbow Suckers

parchment paper
jolly rancher candies
sticks (I used skewers and cut off the pointy end)

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees
2. line jolly ranchers on parchment paper. put in oven for 8 minutes and place stick in the middle when they come out of the oven.

Shout Out to the Taco Salad

There are some meals that really require no recipe, but sometimes we just need a reminder that they could be an option for dinner tonight. For the sake of this blog, I will give a "Shout Out" to some of my favorite easy dinner ideas. These "Shout outs" are meals that require less than 15 minutes of preparation, and a lot of times you can use left over materials that you have in your pantry and fridge to put them together. The first was Hawaiian Haystacks. I love these kind of meals, because they use ingredients that I keep well stocked in my kitchen, and if i don't have all of them, or have others to throw in, it usually works out.
I love taco salad, and let's be honest because it is so easy, we eat it a lot. Especially on those late home from work days.

Taco Salad

ground beef (browned)
1 can of beans, drained (any kind really)
taco seasoning
1/4 onion, diced
lettuce (any kind works)
tomatoes, diced
olives, sliced
cheese
salsa (we open a can of Pato)
ranch or sour cream
chips
avocado (if you have it, I rarely have them on hand)

1. I like to brown the ground beef with onion, beans and taco seasoning. (you could replace the ground beef with shredded chicken or keep it vegetarian with just beans)
2. Throw on what you like, how you like it. Enjoy!

Grandma Sullivan's Chilli

If you are a Sullivan/ Wells/ Webb and visit Grandma Sullivan during lunch time, you know Grandma Sullivan's Chilli. She makes a big pot of it and keeps it hot on the stove for anyone to that drops by. And it will be what you get for lunch everyday until it is gone. It is so easy to make and so delicious and great for big families.
Sunday I had my sullivan cousins over for dinner and made a big pot of this chilli. I also surprised them with a Grandma Sullivan Cake! I was in St. George on Saturday and asked Grandma to make me a cake to bring for this occasion. I knew she could not say no to pleasing a few of her grandkids. It was so fun. Just like old times when we would sit for hours on Grandma's front porch eating that cake and just laughing. I am so grateful for those memories and for cousins. It felt as though not a week had been missed spending a Sunday together. We laughed just as we did before.

Grandma Sullivan's Chilli

1 lb of ground beef (browned and drained)
1/4 onion diced
1 large can of Pork N Beans
1 small can of baked beans
2 cans white beans (drained)
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans tomato soup
1 1/2 packets of chilli seasoning
(I also like to add 1/4 cup brown sugar and a little extra chilli powder)

1. brown meat and onion and drain off grease.
2. open cans and poor it all together. (don't forget to drain the white beans) add seasonings and let simmer until cooked together.