Hamburger Soup

1 lb Hamburger
2 - 14 oz cans diced tomatoes (or 1 large 28 oz)
1/2 cup diced carrots ( or a couple handfuls of baby carrots)
1 onion chopped
2-4 stalks of celery chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup rice or barley
8 cups Water or Broth

Brown the hamburger with the onion and then add the other ingredients! Simmer until veggies are tender and the rice or barley is cooked.

I also throw in whatever veggies I have in my fridge ( broccoli, asparagus, bell pepper, spinach..... etc.) when I make this soup!! Frozen peas and corn can be thrown in at the end also!!
Serve this with homemade bread or rolls on a chilly night to warm your body and soul!!!

Variations:
To do this in the crock pot, brown the meat and transfer to the crocpot and add the remainder of the ingredients. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the rice and veggies are cooked.

CHILI

I threw this together last night for dinner when an hour before we usually eat, I realized that I hadn't planned dinner!! I made it with stuff from my pantry that I always have on hand!! Fast, easy and it was so good even my kids ate all of it!! Made some corn muffins to go with it and had dinner ready in just over and hour!!!

Hope you like!!

Tamra

Last Minute Chili !!!

2 lbs ground beef or turkey
1 onion coursely chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 Tbsp Taco seasoning
1 - 14 oz can Mexican style stewed tomatoes
1 - 28oz. can diced tomatoes
1 - 14 oz can chili beans (in a spicy tomato sauce)
1 - 14 oz can Kidney beans
1 - 14 oz can Black beans
1 - 6 oz can diced green chili (can use jalapenos if you want more heat)
2 Tbsp Chili powder
1 Tbsp Cumin
Salt
Pepper
1/2 tsp thyme and oregano
1/8 tsp red pepper (Cayenne)

Brown the meat with onion garlic and taco seasoning. Drain.

Put tomatoes in blender and puree. My family won't eat chunks of tomato so this step is neccessary at my house!! If you don't mind the chunks, just add them to the meat.

Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for an hour or so, stirring once in a while. Tweek the quantity of seasoning to get the spice just right for your taste!! We don't like super hot things so this version is pretty mild.

You can also do this in the crockpot and let it simmer on low all day!! Just brown the meat and drain then transfer to the crockpot, dump the rest of the stuff in and walk away!!!

THIS FREEZES REALLY WELL SO MAKE LOTS AND FREEZE IT FOR A FAST DINNER DOWN THE ROAD!!!

Maple Glazed Meatballs

These are always a crowd pleaser at our house when we have a party. ENJOY!!!!

1 1/2 C. ketchup
1 C. maple syrup
1/3 C. reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tbs. quick cooking tapioca
1 1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. dry mustard
2 pkgs. frozen meatballs
1 can pineapple chunks - drained

Combine ketchup, maple syrup, soy sauce, tapioca, allspice, & mustard in crock-pot.

Partially thaw & separate meatballs. Carefully stir in meatballs & pineapple chunks into ketchup mixture.

Cover, cook on low for 5 - 6 hours.

One BIG Cookie

2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 C. butter - room temperature
1 C. packed brown sugar
3/4 C. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 C. chocolate chips

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and set aside. Mix butter, brown sugar, and sugar until creamy. Slowly add in eggs and vanilla. Then stir in your flour mixture slowly until all in incorporated. Add in the chocolate chips.

Grease the inside of crock-pot & pour in batter.

Cover & cook on low for 3 hours.

Enjoy!!!!

Tater Tot Casserole

32-oz bag frozen tater tots
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
10 3/4-oz can cream of chicken soup
1 Tbsp. dried onions
1/4 cup milk

Line crockpot with frozen tater tots. Combine remaining ingredients. Pour over potatoes. Cover & cook on high for 3 hours.

Options:

Add in 2 14 1/2 oz. cans green beans, drained
Sprinkle individual servings with your choice of grated cheese.

BBQ Baked Beans

This is one of my favorite side dishes for Ribs or Burgers!! It's hearty enough to stand alone as well!! I don't measure much of anything so I will do my best to guesstimate how much of what I put in these!!! We have done them in the dutch oven, on the stove top and they are also great for the crock pot!! Hope you enjoy them!!

Tamra


1 lb hamburger or turkey burger
1 pkg bacon
1 onion, chopped

Cooked the bacon and hamburger until is browned and the bacon is crisp. Drain the fat off. (I cut the bacon up with kitchen shears before I cook it!) Then add the onion and cook until it's transparent.

If you want to do these in the Crock Pot, transfer the meat now. Add the following and let simmer on the stove or cook on low in the Crock Pot until you are ready to eat!!

1 can of each of the following:
Pork and Beans (I use the big can of bushes baked beans)
Dark Kindey Beans
Light Kidney Beans
Black Beans
Pinto Beans
Butter beans
(any other beans that you like and want to add can be used!! I use black eyes peas sometimes and throw garbanzo beans in too!!)

1/2 c. Ketchup
2/3 c. Brown sugar
2-3 T. prepared mustard
1/2 - 1 c. barbecue sauce
1/4 c. Molasses
1/4 tsp chili powder
Few shakes of liquid smoke
a drop or 2 of tobassco sauce
1 tsp horseradish
1 T A1 sauce
........ I tend to put a little bit of everything in the fridge door in these and they always turn out great!! Experiment a little and try putting something different in each time you make them!!!

All-American Snack

3 cups thin pretzel sticks
3 cups Wheat Chex
3 cups Cheerios
3 cups Corn Chex
12-oz. can salted peanuts
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. celery salt
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Combine pretzels, cereal, and peanuts in a large bowl. Melt butter. Stir in garlic powder, celery salt, seasoned salt, and Parmesan cheese. Pour over pretzels and cereal. Toss until well mixed. Pour into large slow cooker and cover. Cook on Low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Remove lid and cook another 30 minutes on Low. Serve warm or at room temperature. Store in tightly covered container.

Note: For a little extra spice - add in 1 tsp. of cayenne pepper!

Breakfast Casserole

6 eggs, beaten
1 lb. little smokies or 1 1/2 lbs. sausage, browned & drained
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 slices bread, torn into pieces
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Mix together all ingredients except mozzarella cheese. Pour into greased slow cooker. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top. Cover and cook 2 hours on High, and then 1 hour on Low.