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You're still following? :)

I have cooked SOME in 4 weeks, but nothing new. Actually, not even anything that's worth talkin about. At the end of summer all my responsibilities get ramped up and we survive on fast-ish meals. Lots of tacos. Today I even broke out a can of tomato soup. It's exciting eating around here, I tell ya!

I do not foresee any new recipes on the horizon for another week or so and then I begin baking and cooking for my volunteers at work. They're my guinea pigs. They love it. Free treats are always a hit. Until then, please, feel free to check out my categories if you're interested. Autumn is my favorite season in which to cook so don't despair, I'll be up and posting yummy dishes soon. Thanks for hanging in there.

Beef Stroganoff

This, like the Chicken Cacciatore, is a VERY simple meal. You can find more robust recipes out there that add green peppers and whatnot. This is just the recipe that my kids like. Actually, this is my 20-year-old's favorite recipe. Why do they always choose the simple, almost embarrassing ones? Memories, I guess.

Speaking of memories, my youngest brother-in-law (he was nine when I married his oldest brother) lived with us during the weekdays when he was in Jr. High so he could attend the school where my husband and I taught. At the time, we only had Ashley and she was between one and two years old. I wasn't anything special in the kitchen, but enjoyed trying new things here and there. Anyway, Matt (the Jr. High B-I-L) went around school telling everyone that I was the best cook! His favorite foods: PBJ sandwiches (because I added way more jelly than his mom) and Hamburger Helper. Ha! I begged him not to say that; at the time he never really got why that wasn't quite the compliment he thought it was.

Now he's 31 years old and still teases me about how much he likes my Hamburger Helper. I haven't made it in almost a decade, but it's a sweet joke between us.

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 pint of sour cream
salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
small can of mushroom pieces, drained

Brown ground beef; drain. Add one can of cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 pint of sour cream and any spices you would like to add. I use salt, pepper, garlic powder and sometimes onion powder. Add drained mushroom pieces. Mix well. Warm through on low heat and serve over rice or egg noodles.

Serving: 4-6
Recipe Given By: ?? (maybe my mom-in-law)

Oreo Cake

Ok, I'm at a loss for words this cake is soooo goood!! I don't even really like chocolate oreos (don't get me going about the golden!), but this cake is delicious. I usually don't even like frosting, but this one is so light and refreshing I may use it on other cakes, as well. I LOVE this cake and so did my family. They've asked me to make it again soon...maybe tonight!

Oreo Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg (18 ¼ oz) white cake mix
16 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely crushed
1 pkg (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
2 T. milk
2 C heavy whipping cream
¾ C confectioners sugar
Additional cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies

Prepare cake batter according to pkg directions; stir in crushed cookies. Spoon into a greased and floured 10-in fluted tube pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 33-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Beat in cream until mixture begins to thicken. Gradually add confectioners sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Frost cake. Garnish with additional cookies. Refrigerate leftovers.

Serving: 12 Servings
Recipe Given By: Taste of Home
Here it is in all it's pretty glory!

I must confess that we couldn't even wait for it to cool, so we cut pieces and dolloped the frosting on top. It worked fantastically! Yum!

Ranch Pork Chops

You couldn't ask for an easier dinner. I served these with mashed potatoes and steamed carrots. Super Easy!

Ranch Pork Chops

Ingredients:

1 pkt. (1 oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
¼ t. black pepper
6 pork chops (about ¾-inch thick)
Optional: dash of paprika

Mix together dressing mix and pepper. Rub mixture on both sides of pork chops. Arrange chops in single layer on baking pan or broiler rack. Sprinkle with paprika (if desired.) Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Serving: 4-6
Recipe Given By: Hidden Valley Ranch
Hint: I added a little cornstarch to my pan drippings to make a quick sauce.

Chicken Cacciatore

There are certainly more complicated Chicken Cacciatore recipes out there, but this is a quick and easy recipe that yields a delicious result. Mark's mom passed this recipe on and it's one of the family's favorites.

Chicken Cacciatore

Ingredients:

2 lbs. chicken parts (I use drumsticks)
1 can tomato soup
1/4 cup water
1 T cider vinegar
2 large cloves minced (or equivalent in powder form)
1 t. oregano, crushed
1/4 t. salt
1/2 medium green pepper, cut into strips
1/2 cup onion - chopped or sliced (I slice it into strips)

In skillet, brown chicken in non-stick skillet (or use 2 T. shortening or oil to brown & then drain off the oil after browning)
Add remaining ingredients. Cover; cook over low heat 45 min. stir now 7 then. Uncover; cook until sauce thickens to desired consistency.

Serving: 4-6
Recipe Given By: Martha Martens
Hint: Serve with spaghetti or rice

Taco Casserole

This is such a quick easy meal that is so tasty! It's basically tacos and nachos combined. Yum!

Taco Casserole

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef or turkey
1 taco seasoning packet
2 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce
1 can (11 oz) Mexican corn mixture or whole kernel corn, drained
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1 C coarsely crushed tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown meat in a large skillet over med-high heat; drain. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauces and corn. Simmer 5 minutes. Spoon mixture into a 2 quart baking dish. Top with cheese and tortilla chips. Bake until cheese in melted about 5-10 min.

Garnish with sour cream, sliced green onions, and serve with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes.

Serving: 6
Recipe Given By:McCormick

I'm back!

Our trip was filled with multiple stops at Steak 'n Shake and the local ice cream stand. I worked hard and felt more physically fit, but found that I had gained a few pounds when I returned home. Muscle weighs more that fat, right! We had a good time eating out and taking turns cooking in Grandma's kitchen one last time.

I didn't end up making anything new while I was away, but I'll be looking for some recipes to share with you soon. Until then I give you some food for thought:

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. ~Voltaire

Amen to that!