Spagehtti Pie (Heather's)

Cook 3/4 of a 16 oz package of regular spaghetti (angle hair doesn't work as well).

Add to cooked noodles: 2 eggs, 2 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup crated Parmesan cheese.

Add noodle mixture to bottom of a 9x13 pan.  

Top with layer of cottage cheese.

Then top with a jar of Traditional Prego mixed with 1/2 pound cooked hamburger.

Then top with mozzarella cheese

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Grandma Lounsbury' Best Apple Pie

Pie Crust (The Best):

3/4 cup Shortening (crisco)
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
1/3 cup ice water

Blend first three ingredients with a pastry blender
stir in the ice water and knead on a floured surface until well blended

This is for a double crust pie.

Apple pie mixture:
Use 5-6 apples
stir in:
3 tbsp flour
3 tbsp butter
1 cup sugar (brown or white)
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Cover edges with foil if desired so they don't burn.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove foil.  Bake 20-25 minutes more or until crust is golden brown.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Made this pumpkin dessert yesterday.  It was pretty good so I thought I'd share!

1 box yellow cake mix (or spice cake mix)
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (the original recipe called for 1/2 cup)
1 cup butter, melted

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease bottom of 9 x 13″ pan.  Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.  Pour mixture into greased pan.  Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and top with pecans.  Drizzle melted butter over pecans.  Bake 50-60 minutes.

http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2008/11/22/pumpkin-crunch-cake/

Spaghetti Pie

This has become a new staple at our house! Easy and yummy!

2/3 of a 16 oz pk of Spaghetti (original recipe I got calls for the whole package but I
             think it's way too many noodles for the sauce, and angel hair doesn't work
             quite as well... try to stick to spaghetti)

1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

2 eggs

2 Tbs butter melted
1 jar spaghetti sauce (I prefer Prego)
1 lb hamburger (I think 1/2 is better :)
a sprinkle of dried onion
1 small carton of cottage cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti and drain. Add butter, eggs, and parmesan cheese. Mix well.  While you are cooking spaghetti, simmer your sauce, hamburger and onions. (don't boil too hot or water starts to separate).

Layer spaghetti noodle mixture on bottom, then cottage cheese next, then sauce and finally top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Enjoy!

Homemade Re-fried Pinto Beans

Super easy to make your own refried beans!

Cooking Beans:
1 lb. dry pinto beans, sorted and rinsed
8 cups hot water
2 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. oil
1/4 onion, rough chop
1-2 cloves of garlic, mashed

Put beans on the bottom of crockpot, add water. Mix in salt, oil, onion and garlic. Cook on high for 4-5 hours. Add more water while cooking if needed. Discard onion and garlic when beans are cooked.

Refried Beans:
1 lb. cooked pinto beans
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/3 cup oil
Salt to taste
Garlic, minced (optional)

Saute onions in oil until soft and clear (don't burn). On med-high heat, add drained beans a little at a time. Smash them while you add them. Add liquid from the beans until desired consistency is reached. If you prefer a smooth texture, you can blend the beans with an immersion blender (hand blender) or hand mixer. Add salt and garlic to taste. Heat until bubbling. Serve hot with cheese!

Salsa

28 oz. whole peeled tomatoes
1/4 to 1/3 small onion
1/3 bunch of cilantro, washed and ends trimmed off
1/2 to 1 jalapeno, seeded and de-veined (leave some seed for heat)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin (optional, but adds a nice smokey undertone)
Juice from 1/2 to 1 lime

Place all ingredients in blender or food processor.  Blend for a few seconds to incorporate.  Do not over blend.  If possible refrigerate before serving so ingredients have a chance to meld!

Basic Buttercream Frosting

3 sticks butter, softened

2 lbs. powdered sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

whipping cream or 1/2 and 1/2 – enough to thin frosting to desired consistency

Beat butter in mixer on medium high  for 2-3 minutes or until pale and creamy.  Reduce speed to medium and add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.  Beat well after each addition increasing speed to high after all sugar is added. 

Add vanilla and food coloring if desired.  Beat until buttercream is smooth.  Can be refrigerated for several days if covered.  If refrigerating, bring to room temperature before using and beat on low until smooth.

Ginger's Toco Salad

Mexican Hash (Taco Salad)

1 lb. ground beef -  browned with chopped onion

1 pkg. Zatarains's Black Beans and Rice- prepared

Mix together and add 1 small can Mexican stewed tomatoes

(cut smaller if desired)

1 can green chilies (about 4 oz.)

½ C. Salsa

(when making for a large group you can add 1 can black beans with juice)



Serve over chips with:

Chopped lettuce

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Avocado

Sliced olives

Sour Cream

Chopped tomatoes

(can also serve in a tortilla wrap)

KRISTI'S KETTLE CORN

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Popcorn Salt

DIRECTIONS:

Heat the oil over medium-high heat. add the popcorn. When the oils sizzles, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels. Cover the pan and crank handle until the popping slows down, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and toss with the salt.

Side notes: I don't think a full 1/4 cup oil is necessary.  You can reduce the oil by almost half.  Of course, if you use the full amount it will taste great too.  :)

If you don't have a crank stove-top popper, you can use a heavy duty pan and lid. While corn is popping make sure to shake the pan.

Enjoy!!!

KILLIAN KORN

This is a recipe from the famous "Killians"  who have a professional pop corn business.

4 Quarts popped popcorn
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup whole almonds
1 cup ribbon coconut

Mix in a big round bowl until completely mixed together

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
Bring to a boil and boil exactly 1 minute, take off heat and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla
pour over popcorn mixture!
Spread out on wax paper, voila...YUM