Goulash

Super duper easy peasy, speedy, and tastey!

RECIPE

1 lb. ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1 tsp. salt

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

8 oz. elbow noodles, cooked and drained

1 jar spaghetti sauce

DIRECTIONS

Brown meat with onion and salt; drain.  Add the sauce, stir in corn, and simmer for 5 minutes.  Stir in macaroni and simmer 5 more minutes.  

This recipe is pretty basic but simple enough to please everyone.  Add ins, such as a different or an additional meat (ex. sausage, pepperoni), different noodles, or chopped up peppers could definitely jazz this recipe up. 



-Heidi

Cream Cheese Frosting

Mmmm this frosting goes well with any dessert, and is hard to resist when it's by itself.

RECIPE

4 tbsp. butter
1 lg. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

Melt the butter.  Remove from heat or microwave and add the cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar.  Beat until creamy.  Frost on anything, put in fridge, or freeze for future use (let thaw at room temperature if frozen).


-Heidi

Pistachio Salad

This recipe is a side dish that goes with any meal.  Good luck trying to get a share!

RECIPE

1 lg. can crushed pineapple and juice
1- 3 1/2 oz. pkg. instant pistachio pudding
1 lg. can fruit cocktail- drained
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1- 9 oz. carton of Cool Whip

DIRECTIONS

Mix together the pineapple and juice and the pudding.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Refridgerate.

-Heidi

Lemon Bars

RECIPE

It looks quite messy, but I just did not have the patience to make it look neater; I couldn't wait any longer!  I added more cream cheese frosting than I probably should have, I just love it that much. (And yes, I did eat a good portion of that row.  :)  )

1 step angel food cake mix
1 can lemon pie filling

Make sure that you use 1 STEP CAKE MIX!!!  I had a heck of a time making these the other day.  Before I went to the grocery store, I had angel food cake and lemon on my mind.  I bought two step angel food cake mix and lemon pudding (obviously not thinking- both incorrect ingredients).  I ended up going to the store three different times just to get the two correct ingredients for this simple recipe.  Please do not do this. :)

DIRECTIONS

Mix together.  Spread in cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees until brown.  Frost with can of cream cheese frosting or the cream cheese frosting recipe listed under DESSERTS.

Like I mentioned earlier, this isn't as neat as it could be.  If I were to take it somewhere to share, I would definitely clean it up.  Our family gobbled this entire pan up in two days, so it didn't matter anyway!

-Heidi

Crispix Candy Snack Mix

This recipe hasn't been in my family, but came from a friend.  Anyway, it's pretty flippin' awesome!

RECIPE

2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
2 sticks butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 cups corn chips
6 cups pretzels
12 oz. bag M&M's
10 oz. Crispix cereal
2 cups dry roasted peanuts

DIRECTIONS

Boil brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt for 1 1/2 minutes.  Add the baking soda and remove from heat.  Spray the inside of a paper grocery bag with Pam.  Pour in the chips, pretzels, cereal, and peanuts.  Pour the caramel mixture over the snack mixture.  Put the entire bag in the microwave for 3 minutes.  Put in the M&M's, shake the bag, and put back in the microwave for 1 more minute.  Pour mixture onto wax paper to cool.


-Heidi

Crispix Mix

This recipe is one that is another tradition on Christmas for as long as I can remember.  It can be a healthier snack if the butter is reduced.  You won't be able to walk away after it's made; I promise!

RECIPE

3 tbsp. butter
1/4 tsp. onion salt
1/4 tsp. garlic salt (These two salts can be substituted with 1 tsp. Lawry's seasoned salt)
2 tsp. lemon juice
4 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
7 cups Crispix cereal
1 cup broken pretzels
1 cup salted mixed nuts or salted peanuts

DIRECTIONS

Melt the butter and add the seasonings, lemon juice, and Worchestershire sauce.  Mix well and pour over the cereal, pretzels, and nuts.  Put in a cake pan and bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes.  Stirring every 15 minutes. 


-Heidi

Easy Do Cookies

In our family, this recipe is known as black cookies, which sounds more unappealing than they truly are.  Quick and scrumptious!

 

RECIPE

1 1/2 cups sugar
6 tbsp. cocoa
1/2 cup milk
3 tbsp. butter
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
3 cups quick oatmeal

DIRECTIONS

Mix together all ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and add the 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter.  Stir until melted and add the oatmeal.  Stir well- can add more nuts if desired.  Drop by teaspoon on wax paper or put in butter pan.  Cool and enjoy!


-Heidi

Rhubarb Slush

This is a recipe we also often have on Christmas on one side of my family.  More so, it is a refreshing summer treat!  The vodka cannot really be tasted but adds a nice flavor to the recipe.  Definitely recommended for parties and summer gatherings.

RECIPE

8 cups rhubarb
8 cups water
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 pkg. strawberry jello (small)
1 cup vodka

DIRECTIONS

Boil and the water and rhubarb.  Strain.  SAVE THE JUICE!  Add the sugar and lemon juice to the rhubarb juice.  Cook to dissolve sugar and remove from heat.  Add the package of strawberry jello.  Let cool awhile and add the vodka.  Freeze in an ice cream pail.  Stir several times while it is freezing.  To serve, fill glass 1/2 full with slush and add 7up or similar pop.

Previously we have added fresh cut up strawberries into the mix before it freezes.  It adds another fresh flavor.


-Heidi

Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This recipe adds a little interest to the typical banana bread.

RECIPE

3/4 cup margarine or butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 lg. bananas
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 jar maraschino cherries (whole) and juice
6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
3/4 cups chopped walnuts or pecans

DIRECTIONS

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and bananas.  Add flour, soda, and remaining ingredients.  Mix well.  Put dough in two 9x5-inch pans and bake about 60 minutes at 350 degrees.


-Heidi

Aebelskiver (Danish Pancake)

This recipe has been known in my (Heidi) family for countless years.  Traditionally, we eat it on Christmas and it is one food that everyone in the family enjoys, as we do not get it too often otherwise.  Aebelskiver is one of my most cherished foods and holds a special place in my heart. 

RECIPE

1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cup flour
1 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
3 eggs, separated
1/4 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS

First, beat egg yolks and then add the sugar, salt, and milk.  Next, add the butter and dry ingredients.  Last, fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.

Place a little butter in pan (pan specifically for Aebleskiver- see below) or spray with Pam.  Fill each  2/3 full with batter, bake slowly and turn.  My family adds raisins or blueberries (after the batter is poured into the pan).  In Danish, the word "aebel" means apple and can be used to stay true to the recipe's name, but we enjoy the other fruits better. 

*A large difference between this recipe and other pancakes is that Aebelskiver is made in the specific pan.  The pancakes turn out at small balls of pancake rather than usual large flat ones.  I truly recommend investing in one of these pans.  It's a unique and interesting twist on the traditional pancake.*

-Heidi

Lemon Lime Bars

RECIPE

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour

2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
salt

1 pkg. lemon pudding (not instant)
1 pkg. lime jello

DIRECTIONS

Mix together the first three ingredients and press into a 8 1/2x11 pan or 9x13 pan (for thinner bars).  Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  Next, mix the next six ingredients and put on crust.  Bake for another 20 minutes.  For the top filling, cook the lemon pudding according to package directions, adding an extra 1/4 cup of water.  Cook until thick and add the lime jello.  Cool to lukewarm.  Spread over the top of lukewarm bars.  Refrigerate.


-Heidi

Sour Cream Raisin Pie

Often people who have never tasted Sour Cream Raisin Pie think that it sounds completely inedible.  Once you've tasted a piece, though, there is a good chance it may just become one of your favorites, like it is in my family. 

RECIPE

1 cup raisins
2 egg yolks
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. cornstarch
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cloves
Baked pie shell

DIRECTIONS

Boil raisins in water for 5 minutes.  Cool.  Beat egg yolks and mix with sour cream, sugar, spices, and cornstarch.  Stir into raisin mixture and cook until thickened (use microwave).  Pour in baked shell and cover with meringue made from the 2 egg whites and 4 tbsp. sugar.  Bake in moderate oven until meringue is brown- about 15 minutes.

Sour cream and raisin mixture

Added meringue before baked

-Heidi

Rhubarb Pudding

Rhubarb + Pudding = Of course it's going to taste good.

RECIPE

Rhubard
Water
Sugar
Constarch

DIRECTIONS

Chop desired rhubarb and add water to about cover.  Cook until soft and stringy and then strain, saving the juice; throw away the pulp.  Put back on the stove and add sugar to taste.  Thicken with cornstarch mixed with water.  May add red food coloring.  Cook until desired thickness is reached.

This is how the rhubarb should look when it is bowling and becomes stringy.

The rhubarb is the part that you discard!  Remember to KEEP the juice.  You will need to have a bowl under the strainer in order to do that.  (DON'T FORGET!  I've been close to throwing away the juice.)

-Heidi

German Potato Salad

This recipe is one that was sort of made up in my family a long time ago.  Apparently other potato salads tasted "too sour" and this became the traditional family German potato salad. 

RECIPE

1 cup diced bacon
1 cup diced celery
1 cup chopped onion
3 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 tbsp. flour
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup vinegar
1 1/3 cup water
8 cups sliced, cooked potatoes

DIRECTIONS

Fry the bacon and drain.  Return 4 tbsp. of fat to pan and add the celery, onions, salt, and flour.  Cook gently.  Add the sugar, vinegar, pepper, and water.  Bring to a boil.  Pour over potatoes in a large casserole dish (if the potatoes are hot and thoroughly cooked).  If the potatoes are not hot or cooked yet, place the entire dish in the oven for 1/2 to 1 hour.


-Heidi