Cowboy Caviar

This is one of the MOST requested things I bring to a BBQ....

Cowboy Caviar
1 can great northern beans - drained
1 can garbonzo beans - drained
1 can corn - drained
4-5 chopped tomatoes
1/2 Walla walla sweet onion
1-2 jalepeno - chopped
juice of one lime
salt
2-3 chopped avocado
1/2 bunch cilantro chopped

Mix in a large bowl and chill for a few hours before serving.

Stew!

Matt and I have had many conversations about stew. We discuss if it needs more liquid, less potato, baby carrots vs regular potato, etc. These are the things that consume our table.

I think we are there... this is a mix of randomness and taste:
2 lbs. Stew meat
2 cups water
Worcestershire
Clove Garlic
Bay Leaf
1 Onion
Salt
1 Tsp Sugar
Pepper
Carrots (the big ones)
Potato
1 can diced Tomato
1 Beef Bouillon Cube
Basil
Italian Seasoning

Brown meat and onion. Add Water, worcestershire, Garlic, Bay Leaf, Salt, Sugar, Pepper, Bouillon, Italian seasoning. Simmer for 2 hours. Add can of tomato, Potato, Carrot, Basil. Cook on medium heat  for 1 hour.

Taa Daa!

Easy Cheesy!

When you have friends with kiddos coming over for dinner and you want to wow them with "Mac and Cheese for the kids" - toss this together.  It is FABULOUS - and easy:

In a casserole dish mix:
2 cups uncooked noodles
2 cups chopped cheese of your choice
2 cups milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tbs onion soup mix/any spice mix you like

Cook for 1 hour at 350 - stir at 30 minutes.

DONE!

Crockpots and time

At least once a week I get asked what I make in the crockpot. Well that is easy - easy stuff!  When you have to have dinner on the table by 5:30 and you get off at 5:00 - you live for the crockpot.

The Crockpot ham that is world famous (in my world)
Bone in Butt Ham (important - spiral cut is too dry and shank is too greasy)
1 Bottle of Apple Cider (apple juice works)
Whole cloves

Put the ham in the crockpot bone down
fill the crock pot with apple cider
toss in a handful of cloves

Cook on low all day
It is AMAZING!

Other EASY simple ideas:

Meatball Sandwiches
Frozen bag of meatballs
1 can of spaghetti sauce

Cook on low all day - we like to start it on "keep warm" and up it to high a few hours before.  This may not work for you at work all day.  Low all day works too.
Put the meatballs on rolls with provolone
YUM.
The kids and hubby love it.

BBQ Chicken
Frozen chicken breasts
1 can of pop (any kind works I think.  Coke, Sprite. I use any one hand.)
Cook on low all day
Shred when you get home and mix in BBQ sauce
Put on rolls
enjoy!

Pot Roast and leftovers

As I stood in the kitchen with a pot roast in hand I was trying to devise a new recipe that would bring flavor, less salt than the "three pack" recipe and not use a can of cream of mushroom soup.  I came up with the following:
Pack of AuJus
Milk (about 1/2 cup)
Butter
Water (about 1/2 cup)

Cover the bottom of the crockpot with potatoes and carrots.  Place the roast on top.  Cover with the mixture.  Cook on low all day. Fantastic!

Now I have leftovers....  What to do!  I am going to try for the following - I will let you know how it works out.
Cut up leftover beef
Mix with leftover carrots
Add peas from freezer
Mix with leftover gravy
Cover with a Pillsbury Dough sheet
Bake at 350 for a bit.

Cross your fingers!

Chili!

Ingredients:

 

1 pound ground beef 1 pound ground pork 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped, divided 1 green bell pepper, chopped 2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons chopped green onion 2 (15 ounce) cans pinto beans 1 can white navy beans 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (12 ounce) bottle lager-style beer 2 tablespoons cornmeal 1 cup water 1/4 cup chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Directions:

1.	Cook ground beef and pork in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease.
2.	Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in 3/4 of the onion and all of the green pepper, jalapeno pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir the drained meat into the onion mixture along with the green onion, chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, beer, and water. Sprinkle with the cornmeal, then season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
3.	Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Refrigerate overnight.
4.	Reheat the chili over medium heat until it begins to simmer again.

Pickeled Jalepano's

Slice up a bunch of jalepano's
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1 tbsp peppercorns
2 bay leaves
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tbsp coarse sea salt
1 tbsp sugar

Pack the jalapeños in a glass jar.
In a saucepan, add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Pour the hot pickling liquid over the jalapeños and let it rest for a few hours. Shake it up a little so that the peppercorns are evenly distributed.
Keep refrigerated for upto two months or can it according to jar manufacturer’s instructions.