Cranberry Ginger ale Punch

This also makes a yummy drink without the sherbet.

2 liter bottle Cannada Dry Ginger ale
48 oz bottle of 100% cranberry juice
1 pint sherbet (any flavor)

Add the Sherbet to a punch bowl. Than pour in the ginger ale and cranberry juice.

Black Bean Soup

This is what I had for lunch today and it was yummy! It was my first time making it and it turned out great.

1 can whole black beans
1 can broth (chicken, beef or vegetable)
1Tbs butter
1/2 small onion (chopped)
1 garlic clove (chopped)
sour cream (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onion and garlic in butter. Than place 3/4 of the can of beans and the whole can of broth in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the mixture to the pan with the onions, garlic and remaining beans and than bring to a boil. Salt and pepper to taste.
Optional: Top with shredded cheese or sour cream.

Note: For a thick and creamy black bean soup use less broth, blend all of the ingredients together and stir in a spoonful of sour cream.

Egg Salad

I like to make this every year with the eggs my kids color for Easter. Some times you get some colorful egg salad. You can eat it as a side dish or put it on bread for an egg sandwich. 

12 hard boiled eggs
3/4 cup Miracle Whip
1 Tbs mustard
2 Tbs pickle relish (optional)
paprika to taste

Place uncooked eggs in a large pan of warm water. Heat over Med/High heat. Turn heat to low just before it starts to boil (boiling the eggs may cause them to crack). Cover and let the eggs cook for 20 minutes. Rinse the eggs under cool water and than place in the fridge until they are completely cooled. Peal the eggs and then chop them (in a bowl) into bite sized pieces. Add the Miracle whip, mustard, relish and mix well. Than sprinkle the Paprika on top.

Pizza Bites

1 can Grands biscuits
8 mozzarella cheese sticks
32 pepperoni slices
Marinara sauce (pizza sauce)

Cut each biscuit into fourths. Cut each cheese stick into fourths. I used the bottom of a cup to smash each piece of biscuit so the pepperoni would fit better. Place a pepperoni slice on each biscuit piece and than wrap around a piece of cheese. Bake as directed on the biscuit can or at 350 for about 10 minutes. Serve with pizza sauce.

Cotton Candy Soda

I'm not sure if I can call this a recipe because there are only two ingredients. But I thought it was interesting and my kids thought it was fun to make. Just fill a glass with cotton candy and pour in a clear soda like Sprite or 7UP.

Biscuits and Gravy

While the biscuits are a relatively new recipe for me, I've been making this gravy for years. You can use sausage or bacon grease in place of the butter if you want the flavor. And FYI a stand mixer makes the biscuits much easier to make.

BISCUITS:
3 cups flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1 Tbs sugar
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 cup butter
1 cup milk

GRAVY:
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs flour
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste

BISCUITS: mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl than cut in butter with a knife until the mixture resembles crumbs. Than add the milk and mix until it forms into a dough. Roll the dough to about 3/4 inch thick and cut with a biscuit cutter. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes.
GRAVY: melt the butter in a sauce pan over med/high heat. than add the flour and mix until it's smooth. Continue to heat while you slowly add the milk and whisk until it thickens. Salt and pepper to taste.

Baked Spasagna

Baked Spasagna is one of my favorite meals from Cheddar's restaurant. I was so excited when I found a similar recipe on the internet and I must share it with you. You will notice that I did not add the ground beef to the sauce in this photo. That's because on this particular day my family requested meatballs instead. (meatball recipe coming soon)

16 oz spaghetti noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup milk
olive oil (for baking dish)

MEAT SAUCE:
1/2 pounds ground beef
24 oz jar of spaghetti sauce

Cook ground beef and than mix with spaghetti sauce and set aside.
Cook noodles according to the package. Rinse and drain noodles.
Mix together mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese and milk. Than use your hands to mix it with the noodles.
Rub a baking dish with olive oil and than pour the spaghetti mixture in the dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. After it's done and slightly cooled cut into squares and top with the meat sauce.

Salisbury Steak

1 pound ground sirloin beef
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs flour
2 cups beef broth
1 small onion
mushrooms
salt and pepper to taste

Dice onion and mix with ground beef. Shape into oval patties about 1 inch thick. Cook over medium/high heat until juices run clear. Add a bit of salt and pepper and set aside.
Add butter to the pan and saute mushrooms until tender. Add the flour to mushrooms and than add beef broth. Whisk until well blended than add the beef patties and simmer until the gravy begins to thicken.

Cinnamon Bites

I didn't get this recipe from the internet or from a book...I made it up. And I don't know what to call it. It's not really a cinnamon roll or baked cinnamon doughnuts. I guess it's more like monkey bread or pull apart bread (only you don't pull it apart). I don't know so I will just call them cinnamon bites.

1 can Grands biscuits
1/4 cup butter (melted) or use spray butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
ICING:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cut each biscuit into fourths (an 8pk of biscuits makes 32 bite size pieces). Mix cinnamon and sugar together. Dip each biscuit piece into melted butter and than roll in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place about an inch apart on a cookie sheet and bake according to  the directions on the can or at 350 for about 10 minutes.
While the cinnamon bites are cooling mix 2 cups confectioners sugar and the milk (1 tablespoon at a time) until you get a desired thickness. Than add the vanilla. Mix and pour over the cinnamon bites.

Garlic Cheese Rolls

These are so good. I like to make them when we eat spaghetti.Or use them as an appetizer when dinners going to be a little late. They are smaller than they look in the picture...more bite size.

1 can Grands biscuits (8pk)

8 string cheese sticks

butter (I used butter spray)

garlic powder

parmesan cheese (dry powdery kind)

Cut each biscuit into fourths and also cut each cheese stick into fourths. Wrap a biscuit piece around each piece of cheese. Use your fingers to pinch and seal each one so the cheese doesn't ooze out while baking. Spritz with butter spray and sprinkle with garlic and parmesan cheese. Bake as directed on the can of biscuits or at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Note: keep a close eye on them and don't over bake or the cheese will ooze out. I bake mine for less time than it says on the can.