Taco Soup

Taco Soup

2 lbs hamburger meat

1 medium chopped onion (can use dehydrated onions)

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans black beans or pinto beans, rinsed and drained

2 cans whole kernel corn

2 large cans stewed diced tomatoes (can use Mexican style)

2 small cans tomato sauce or 1 large

1 package taco seasoning mix (optional)

1 can black olives, sliced or quartered

Brown hamburger and onion in large soup pot or crock pot

    

Add all the other ingredients, do not drain the vegetables

     

Simmer for an hour or two

Serve over Fritos corn chip or crushed tortilla chips

with shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa on the side

Recipe freezes well

A Better Name?? Please!!

Better-Than-Sex-Cake 

Really?? Can't we find a better name for this cake?

From the Bakow Babble blog -

The friend who made this cake, made a "from scratch" German Chocolate cake (but I am sure you could use a boxed one if you want) in a 9x13 pan.

Then added these after the cake cooled:

Poked holes in the cake (not quite touching the bottom - otherwise you get a gooey mess) with a chopstick and poured a whole jar of hot fudge (slightly warmed so it was not so thick) over the entire cake.

When you can see the holes again. Pour a whole jar of caramel topping over the entire cake (save just a little for the top).

Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over the entire cake after the caramel.

Crush 3 Heath candy bars, and sprinkle over entire cake.

"Frost" the cake with a thick layer of Cool Whip and drizzle with caramel.

Crush 3 more Heath candy bars over the top of the cake.

Put in the refrigerator and then try to keep your hands off of it!

Hot Fudge Sauce Recipe

A quick and easy chocolate hot fudge sauce recipe from my Mom.

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

         1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

         1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

         3/4 cup cocoa

         1/4 cup all-purpose flour

         1/2 teaspoon salt

         1 can (14 ounces) evaporated milk

         1 cup water

         2 tablespoons butter

         2 teaspoons vanilla

Preparation:

Combine sugar, cocoa, flour, and salt in saucepan. Add milk, water, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Cook 5 minutes longer. Remove hot fudge sauce from heat, cool, and then stir in vanilla.

{Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe}

Rinse the pumpkin seeds under cold water removing all strings and pulp.Place the pumpkin seeds in a bowl in a brine mixture. For each cup of seeds, add two cups of water and 2 tablespoons of salt..  mix well, then let it sit overnight.  (this step is optional)

Rinse and drain the seeds.

Place on a sprayed cookie sheet and drizzle just to coat with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, then place in a 325 degree oven for 25-45 minutes stirring every 10 minutes. 

*cooking time can vary based on the size of your seeds and amount.  Be sure to watch carefully as they can burn quick.

Remove from oven and place in an airtight container.

Here are a few optional seasonings to add before cooking for other flavors.

• garlic powder or garlic salt
• seasoning salt
• black pepper
• salt free seasoning blend, such as Mrs. Dash brand
• cayenne pepper
• seasoning salt
• Cajun seasoning blend
• chili powder
• Mexican style chili lime seasoning
• Italian seasoning or other herbs
• grated hard cheese such as Parmesan
• curry powder
• paprika

Caramel Apples!!

Easy Caramel Apples

Every fall I look forward to making caramel apples. What great memories I have buying a caramel or candied apple at the Fresno Fair every year. It's funny growing up in California where so many things grow, I had never seen an apple growing on the tree until I was married with two kids. I was in Ohio where Donny's parents had an apple tree growing in their back yard. I guess it is like when people see oranges or lemons on the tree for the first time, when you grow up with it you don't realize how cool it is.

 

So Yummy!!

5 Granny Smith apples - washed, well dried . We used Golden Delicious apples: golden skin, firm, sweet, the Granny Smith are a little to tart for us. Choose smaller apples - they'll be easier to make, easier to eat, and will give you a better caramel to apple ratio! Yummy
5 wooden sticks 
1 (11 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped (the kids love unwrapping them)
2 tablespoons water

With a family our size we have to double and even triple this amount

Directions:

Insert wooden sticks 3/4 of the way into the stem end of each apple. Place apples on a cookie sheet covered with lightly greased aluminum foil.

Combine caramels and water in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring often, until caramel melts and is smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Dip each apple into the caramel and gently run apples around insides of saucepan to scrape off some of the caramel. Scrape excess caramel from the apple bottoms using the side of the saucepan. Place on the aluminum foil and chill until ready to serve.

Kraft vs Brach's

Our experience: The Kraft caramels were creamy, light in color and stayed on the apples. The Brach's caramels were creamy but created air bubbles (so they didn't look as nice), the color a little darker but the caramel did not stay on the apples. So the outcome, we will use Kraft for now on.

Tricks and Advice

You can use a combination of different colored apples: red, green and yellow.

Choose uniform-sized apples--small apples work best.

Before dipping apples in caramel, set them on an even surface and cut half-inch slices in the top of each apple to ensure that the sticks poke straight up.

Dip apples in one quick motion; let excess caramel drip off. Holding apple upright, press toppings into caramel to hold them in place.

Use latex/vinyl gloves (available at drugstores) when pressing on toppings.

Use a pastry bag with a small tip and melted chocolate to make polka dots.

Set dipped apples on wax squares or parchment paper.

And remember: caramel apples are always best eaten the same day they are made!


Ingredients to Make Your Own Caramel

Recipe without Corn Syrup
Makes enough caramel to coat 6-8 apples.

Brown sugar (1 and 1/2 cups)
Butter (1 and 1/2 tbsp)
Milk, cream or water (6 tbsp)
Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon)

Recipe with Corn Syrup
Makes enough caramel to coat 6-8 apples.

Brown sugar (1 cup)
You can use regular sugar, but brown sugar gives a deeper caramel flavor.
Corn syrup (1/2 cup)
Use either light or dark corn syrup. Dark corn syrup has a stronger flavor.
Milk (1/2 cup)
Cream (1/4 cup)
Condensed milk (1/2 cup)
Butter (2 tbsp.)
Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)

More Ways to Make Caramel Apples

If you want to give your caramel apples an extra kick, here are a few ideas:

Flavored Caramel

Flavor your caramel for an interesting twist on your caramel apple.
Vanilla extract goes perfectly with caramel; double your vanilla for more vanilla taste.
Add maple extract for a fall-like flavor.
Add peanut butter.

If you're melting caramel candies, melt chocolate caramels instead of regular ones!

Caramel Apple Variations

Re-create a popular flavor combination:

Turtle Caramel Apples: Add pecans and chocolate on top.

Rocky Road Caramel Apples: Marshmallows, chocolate, and pecans.

Peanut Butter Crunch Apples: Peanut butter cookies and chocolate drizzles

S'Mores Apples: Marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.

Seattle Caramel Apples: Trail mix and chocolate chips.

Cherry Almond Caramel Apples: Almonds, cherries, and chocolate.

Sweet and Salty Caramel Apples: Chocolate and sea salt.

Oreo Caramel Apples: Crushed Oreo cookies and white chocolate

Chocolate Caramel Apples

You can always dip your apples in a second layer of milk or dark chocolate. If you're not a fan of chocolate, use white chocolate for your coating instead. Then, if you wish, add a third layer of crushed nuts or candies.

Check it out - There are 139 recipes to do with caramels on the Kraft website

Hulling Strawberries With A Straw - Great Idea!

Let me tell you, I have found so many smart and talented women out there in the blogosphere. Here is a great example!!

This post is from Amy @
 New Nostalgia 

"My quest to recapture the simplicity of yesterday and apply it to today."

My girls and I spent the afternoon at a strawberry patch, picking strawberries with good friends of ours (Hi Carm!)  It was so much fun! We came home with almost 40 lbs of strawberries. I plan on making freezer jam, strawberry pancake syrup, smoothies, popsicles, and strawberry bread.
`

We started the big job of washing and hulling the strawberries right when we got home.  I plan on mashing them up, then putting them in jars to freeze, thanks to this post I read. (she talks about why she likes to mash them instead of freezing them whole).

I am so happy that I learned this secret to easy hulling from my step mom.  All you have to do is poke em' with a straw!  You start at the bottom of the strawberry, push the straw up, and the stem and white bit just pop right up!  My girls think it is quite fun, & my middle girl wanted to just keep going, even after hulling 10 lbs with me.  I said "Wow, honey, you are quite the hard worker"  She said "yup, as long as I have gum in my mouth" ???  I guess blowing bubbles while hulling strawberries is her thing.

Have any other ideas of how I can use up these berries?  I would love more ideas and recipes if you've got 'em!
`

This post is linked to:
Tip Me Tuesdays @ The Tip Junkie

Real is Best

This has been my message, my soap box for years. The problems artificial colors, flavors & preservatives are doing to our bodies and our children's bodies!

Re-post of "What are they eating?"

Okay, let me set the scene for you. (this can be any place at any time) You have made it to church, even on time. Good Job! You laid out the clothes the night before, even the socks and shoes (that is always the killer) Why can you only find one shoe when you really need to get out the door?

You have packed the diaper bag with toys, books and snacks. You wait until they have passed the bread and water, always waiting until the boys have sat down :-), and now you hand out the snacks. Within about 10 - 15 mins. your child is crying, hitting, biting she/he has lost all control and coping skills. What just happened?

When picking out, buying food and snacks many watch for fat and sugar content but overlook a very important thing. Artificial Colors and Flavors!! Our children are becoming so sensitive to these things. They lurk everywhere, in yogurt, cereal, Kool Aid, drinks, juices, candy, fruit snacks, otter pops, soda, condiments, ice cream, chips, lunch meats, crackers, soups, jellies, jams etc. Unfortunately they are everywhere. I find that they tend to be in items that are less expensive or in generic brands. Real is best.

But what about "saving" money, at what cost in the long run? The health and well being of our children, we need to be aware, proactive, read the labels. You can find alternatives even small changes that will make huge differences.

Re-post of "Real Food"

If we lived in a perfect world we would grow and cook all of our own food and we would store everything in GLASS.

Every thing would be real, fresh, without pesticides, antibiotics or hormones

High Fructose Corn Syrup is another Bad Boy – That is another whole topic

Real Sugar is better than ANY artificial sweeter period!!

The word – "Natural" Flavor can be deceiving – Did you know that if a chemical tastes like a banana without changing it in anyway, can be called a "Natural" Flavor

We will pick our battles First – Colors
Just to give you an idea:
Oscar Mayer Deli Meats – Carmel Color
Kraft Mini (white) marshmallows – Blue #1
I put Yoplait yogurt cups on the okay list etc.
for Lime – Yellow #5 and Blue #1
Taco Bell Taco Shells – Yellow #5

You can great items at Good Earth Health Food Store, Whole Foods, Real Food Market, Harvest Fresh Market, Trader Joes,

Food Choices
Some good ideas:

Ice Cream – Breyers (still check your labels)
Popsicle does have a few okay choices – Natural Colors and Flavors with Fruit Juice – Orange, Cherry, Grape, Fudgsicles
Capri Sun – 100% Juice Boxes
Juicy Juice – 100% Juice Boxes
Brach's has put out a few good fruit snacks – Tree Top – All Natural Fruit Snacks (at Costco) and Motts - All Natural Fruit Snacks
Yoplait yogurt cups – (but it does have a lot of sugar!)


Snack Ideas:
Kix, Cheerios, Puffed Wheat & Rice,
Nuts, Seeds, Pretzels, Cracker Jacks, Raisins,
Air Popped Pop Corn, Cut Up Fruit, Dried Fruit
String Cheese, Baby Carrots

Heavenly Chicken Salad

There is something so yummy about a light refreshing meal on a warm day. One our favorites is Chicken Salad, with it's mix of favors and crunch.

Boil your chicken breast and cool

Gather the other ingredients

(you have to use real mayonnaise)

Dice the celery

Cube chicken breast

For my family, I make 4 batches

so this is 8 cups of chicken

We like are almonds crunchy, so I toast them

in the oven for about 10 mins at 225 

Add lemon juice, you can use a real lemon

Cut your red seedless grapes in 1/2

They add great color

Fold everything together

and chill well

What a nice looking plate!

Chicken Salad

2 cups of cold cubed chicken breast
1-cup celery – diced
1 Tbs lemon juice (bottle)
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix in –

½ cup of mayonnaise (Best Foods)
1 cup of red seedless grapes – cut in ½
½ cup of sliced salted almonds – (roasted)

Chill Well

Can eat plain or can be served on lettuce or on a crescent roll

Strawberry Freezer Jam!!

Every year we look forward to "strawberry season", our favorite is making and sharing strawberry freezer jam. I made six batches of the yummy red scrumptious goo. There really should be something wrong with 2 cups of strawberries to 4 cups of sugar. But we love it!! (The best is on homemade bread! Okay, I made the jam anyone have the bread? :-)

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+

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 (a little piece of heaven)

  
Strawberry Trivia 
Here are some fun food trivia facts about strawberries that you can use as conversation starters..."Did you know that...."

• Strawberries are a member of the rose family (they are not "technically" berries)
 • Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside; an average strawberry has about 200 seeds.
 • One acre of land planted with strawberry plants produces about 50,000 pounds of strawberries
 • Fresh Strawberries were once used as toothpaste, as the strawberry juice helped in cleansing discolored tooth.
 • Supposedly if you break a strawberry into two and share it with some one then you will fall in love with each other
 • Strawberries were once avoided by pregnant women because it was believed that their children would be born with strawberry birth marks.
 • The ancient Romans believed that strawberries alleviated symptoms of depression, fainting, inflammation, fevers, throat infections, kidney stones, bad breath, gout, and diseases of the blood, liver and spleen.
 • Strawberries are rich in fiber. Strawberries are second only to blueberries when it comes to antioxidants in fruits. Strawberries offer more Vitamin C than any other berry.

David Carter Brown

What’s for Dinner?

I have come to hate that question, all though I do consider myself a very good cook. It can really be a pain to have to think of something for dinner every night! It not so easy to just fake it with a family this size and the fact that they are all growing up makes it that much harder. Going out to eat is out of the question, again just the sheer size of our family. The cost is so high we could eat for a week at home for the price we spent eating out. I am lucky, I do have kids big enough that I pass off the task to them once in while. (okay more often then not anymore)

Like most of us I have my standards list of meals we like, oh but please pull me out of the rut I find myself in. I do not have ONE dinner that everyone likes. So that is what cereal is for, if you don’t like what we are having, you can have a bowl of cereal. I am Not a short order cook!!