Middle Class Beans and Rice

Michelle, from Polka Dots and Stripes, came up with this recipe, I think, and its really yummy!  Hubbie and I nicknamed it "middle class" beans and rice, because its not the beans and rice you always hear about on Dave Ramsey's show.  This is definitely "more expensive" but still a cheap and hearty meal.

1 lb of ground beef
1 can of Bush's Grillin' Beans- Black Bean Fiesta
Rice, cooked, enough for your family

Brown the ground beef, drain fat and added a can of Bush's Grillin' Beans, Black Bean Fiesta.  Stir and simmer until chili like.  Serve on top of a bowl of rice.  We usually serve with warm cornbread on the side.  Yum!

Southwest Batter Bake from E-Mealz

While recovering from number four c-section, a friend from MOPS brought us dinner that had been on her E-Mealz Low Fat (I believe) menu.  It was very yummy and kinda different which made it nice!

Note: We don't use fat free milk or egg substitute, so I'll be using regular eggs and our non homogenized, local dairy milk.  I am assuming it'll turn out the same!

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chkn breasts

1/2 packet of taco seasoning

(4c cooked rice)

15 oz can pinto beans w/ some juice

1/2 bunch green onions, diced

1 large tomato, diced

15 oz can corn, drained

(Salsa, FF sour cream) optional

8 oz. box cornbread mix

(Egg sub, FF milk)

Layer in 13x9:  rice, beans, green onions, tomatoes, chicken- (sprinkle with taco seasoning), corn, and then corn bread batter.  Substitute egg sub and FF milk in cornbread batter.  Bake at 350 for 25-35 min, until cornbread is done.  Serve with salsa and sour cream.

Amy's Banana Bread

Amy's Banana Bread

For years I made a certain banana bread recipe and I guess in one of the moves or busyness with adding babies, I lost or misplaced it or forgot which one I used.  I loved the recipe and hadn't really been able to duplicate it until, a friend, Amy brought over a loaf one morning for us.  The boys begged for some at lunch time and I realized it was a hit!  Amy's recipe is now ours!  

Cream together:  1 cup of sugar and 1 stick of butter.  Add 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 2 eggs and 4 mushy bananas.  Pour into greased loaf pan.  Bake 350 degrees for 65-70 mins.  

Momma's Chicken Pot Pie

My mom's chicken pot pie is SO good!  I still remember the first time I made it for Hubbie.... he wasn't liking the idea of a non-traditional chicken pot pie ( a pot pie without a bottom crust AND a top crust), but I won him over and he always goes back for seconds!  Its so warm and such a yummy comfort food!  It freezes well too!  So, here is the recipe!

Pot Pie:
Chicken (I usually eye ball this part... if I have a couple of chicken breasts I'll boil those and shred them)
1 1/2 cups of chicken broth
1 can of cream of chicken
1 bag of frozen veggies
Stir all this together and dump into a casserole dish.  Usually a 9x11 is too big.  So something square but pretty deep is good.  I have a round casserole dish that has tall sides and thats what I use for our chicken pot pie.

Topping:
1 cup of flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. salt
1 cup of milk
1 stick of butter, melted
Mix all this together....might be lumpy, so I use a wisk.... and pour over the pot pie mixture.

Bake 425 for 34-40 mins.  :o)  And enjoy!!

Hubbie's Chili

When Hubbie and I first got married, all he ever raved about was his family, or maybe its his Dad's?, chili.  He finally had a chance to make it and it was yummy!  Along the years, Hubbie and I have added our own "special" ingredients to make it "Hubbie's chili" and its still quite yummy!  We do cheat and use a little can called "chili magic".  We really wish we could get away from using that jar, but its just too easy to use it with all the spices and seasonings in it!  Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to try to make it from scratch!  So, here it is.... enjoy!



1 can of Chili Magic, traditional
1 lb of browned, ground beef
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 onion, chopped
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of black beans
a few dashes of cayenne pepper
a few dashes of green tabasco


Follow the directions on the back of the chili magic can (which I believe is brown and drain the ground beef, saute the onions and then add the can of tomatoes and chili magic!  Now...start dumping!  I've done this next part in the slow cooker or on the stove... so either works... basically you just want it to cook and simmer.  So, add the rinsed kidney beans and black beans to the pot.  Stir.  And then add the few dashes of cayenne pepper and tabasco.  Stir and let simmer.  :o)  If its too thick, I'll fill up one of the bean cans or Chili Magic can with water and dump it in the pot.  And thats it!  And its tasty!

New Sloppy Joes

I wasn't raised on a tomato based sloppy joe, so one day when making a menu I asked Hubbie if he'd like to try something new.  So we searched around online and found this recipe.  They were so yummy!   Hubbie did them for us and he did a great job!


Homemade Sloppy Joes  


1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
Small onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. salt (to me, it DOES NOT need more salt! )  
3/4 tsp. pepper
1 tbspoon of Worcestershire sauce   
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 sm. bell pepper, chopped


Brown ground beef.  Drain.  Add onions, bell pepper and add seasoning.  Add tomato sauce rinsing the can with a small amount of water.  Bring to boil, then cut heat down simmer 30 mins.  Serve on hamburger buns.  


And if you're curious, I grew up with this sloppy joe....



Mom's Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground beef
1 can of french onion soup


Brown ground beef.  Drain.  Add soup can.  Simmer until thick.  Serve on hamburger buns.  

Enjoy!

Buggy's Birthday Cupcakes

A year or two ago my parents bought me the book Hello, Cupcake! since I had taken a cake decorating class and enjoyed it.  The book has a lot of cute decorating ideas and recipes.  A few weeks ago we made the chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese icing.  They were SO good!  The kind of good that you have to use all the will power you can to not polish off the plate!  Hubbie took the remainder to work so that we wouldn't be tempted!  For Buggy's birthday, we decided to try out the carrot cake with cream cheese icing!  Also delicious!  This cream cheese doesn't have a "after taste or bite" to it.  I think the butter helps mellow it out.  Whatever the reason, this is  definitely a family favorite!

Carrot Cake 


2 cups of flour

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg 

2 large eggs

1 cup of sugar

1/3 cup of lightly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup of oil

1/4 cup of milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

1 1/2 cups of grated carrots (about 4) 

1/2 cup of dark raisins

1/2 cup of chopped walnuts

1.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners

2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and nutmeg in a medium bowl.

3. In another bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs, brown sugar, sugar, oil and milk until light and thick. 

4. Reduce speed to low and add the flour mixture, beating just until blended.  Stir in vanilla and carrots until well blended (and raisins and walnuts if adding)

5. Bake until golden  and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 22 mins.  Remove and cool.  

Cream Cheese Icing 

1 package of cream cheese (8 oz), softened

1 stick (8 tblspoons) of unsalted butter, softened

1 box of confectioners sugar 

2-3 tablespoons of milk 

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1. Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl.  Beat with a mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 mins.

2. Gradually add the sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk and beat until smooth.  Add vanilla.  And add remaining 1 tablespoon of milk if the mixture is too thick.  

Buggy is what we call our youngest son and I figured bugs made out of candy would be appropriate for his celebration!  Everyone Our oldest sons enjoyed the candy!

The icing and both cake recipes that we've made are SO good!  Once you eat these homemade cakes, you will never be able to go back to a box cake or tub of icing!  I really wish I could "go back" sometimes, because it would make things a lot quicker and easier...... but once you eat one of these YOU DON'T want to go back to any store bought cake!  Delicious!!!