Chicken Noodle Soup

After you eat this and once you find out how easy it can be, you'll never want soup from a can again!

• 3-4 chicken breasts
• 2 cans cram of chicken soup
• 4 cups wide egg noodles
• 2-3 lg carrot sticks
• 2-3 celery sicks
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 TBS butter

Boil Chicken for 20 min or until done.  Remove from water and chop or shred.  Add chicken soup to the chicken broth (water chicken was cooked in adding chicken bullion if needed).  Saute onions, chopped carrots, & chopped celery in butter.  Add chicken, noodles, and veggies to soup and boil 5-10 min. 

Note: If you have made Hawaiian Haystacks, just add noodles and veggies to that chicken mixture.  Add chicken broth if needed...from leftover to gourmet!

Mashed Potatoes

So Yummy!

• 5 large potatoes cut into thirds
• 1/2 cup cream
• 2 TBS butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Peel and wash potatoes.  Boil potatoes until tender about 10 min.  Drain saving some of the water.  Mash potatoes with butter and cream adding drained water until the desired consistency.

Note: Make extra because you can create another meal...from leftover to gourmet!

Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy

This is one of my favorite meals I ate growing up!

• 4 round steaks
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 cups oil for frying

Mix flour, powder, soda, salt, & pepper in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix milk, garlic and egg.  Dip the steak in the egg mixture then in the flower mixture.  Pat flower on steak so it is completely covered.  Heat oil in a skillet to 325 degrees.  Fry steak in oil until browned, for 5-10 min on each side.  Place on a plate lined with paper towel to drain. 

Drain most of fat from skillet, leaving 1/4 cup oil and as much of the solid remnants as possible.  Add 1/4 cup of flour (I just add any leftover flour from steak mixture, and add some if needed) and stir with spatula to get off everything from pan.  Add 4 cups of milk and salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer gravy until thick, about 5 min.  Pour over stake and mashed potatoes.

Tuna Casserole

My kids love anything with noodles.  This is a quick, cheap meal my family enjoys!

• 2 cups cooked egg noodles
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 can cream of mushroom or chicken soup
• 1 cup cooked peas (use leftover peas if you have them)
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 2 cans drained tuna
• 1 TBS butter
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs

In sauce pan cook onions in a little butter until tender. Stir in everything except butter and bread crumbs.  Pour into shallow dish and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 min.  Mix Bitter and bread Crumbs. Spread on top of casserole and return to oven for 10 min.

Note: Make plenty of noodles.  Put a little olive oil on them and store them in the fridge; we will use them for another meal...from leftover to gourmet!

Sausage & Rice

This is quick and easy!  My family loves when I make it!

• 1 lb hot sausage (I've also used ham)
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 8oz tub sour cream
• 1 can corn
• 2 small cans green chili
• milk
• cheese
• rice

Fry sausage until done.  Add soup, sour cream, and enough milk to make the consistency you like.  Add corn and green chili. Add cooked rice.  Top with cheese!

Note: You should have rice leftover from another meal, so use it...from leftover to gourmet!

Hawaiian Haystacks

A lot of people have never heard of these, but once they try them they fall in love!

• 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• chicken broth
• rice

Topping:

• Green onion
• 1 can Pineapple chunks
• green bell pepper
• tomatoes
• almonds
• coconut
• olives
• shredded cheese
• chow mien noodles
• put as many or as few toppings as you want...be creative

Boil chicken for 20 minutes or until done.  Shred or chop chicken, saving broth.  Place soup, chicken and broth, depending on consistency, in a large pot and boil gently 2-5 minutes.  Serve over white rice and top with favorite toppings.

Note: Make plenty of rice and plenty of sauce; they both will be the base of a meal...from leftover to gourmet!

Spaghetti

My whole family loves spaghetti!  It took me awhile to make it as good as my mother-in-law according to my husband, but he says I finally got it.  Maybe he is just forgetting what "mom's" taste like! 
(I must admit, sometimes if I find a really good deal on spaghetti sauce I use it, but it has to be a great deal.)

Sauce

• 1 lb ground beef or sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (29 oz) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 1 (8 oz) can diced tomatoes (also good with fire roasted diced tomatoes)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 lb dried spaghetti noodles
• Parmesan cheese

In a skillet, cook meat (I always season hamburger with garlic salt and pepper), onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is done; drain.  Add tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, salt, basil, and oregano.  Mix well and let simmer- the longer the better so the flavors blend!  Cook noodles according to package.  Spoon sauce on top of spaghetti and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Note: Make plenty of sauce because this will be another meal...from leftover to gourmet!

Creamed Green Beans

I always make these when I have evaporated milk leftover and need to use it.  They are so yummy!

• 2 (8oz) cans green beans, drained
• 1/8 cup minced onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 TBSP flour
• evaporated milk

Put green beans, onion, garlic and butter in medium pot and bring to a boil.  Add flour and gradually stir in milk to desired thickness. Simmer for a couple minutes; add salt if needed.

Can also make with fresh green beans!  If using fresh, I've found if you wash and cut green beans and put them in a crock pot with chicken broth and cook all day they are super yummy!

Pizza Pockets

Biscuits Makes 8 (or, if it's a great deal, buy refrigerated biscuits)

• 2 cups flour
• 1 TBSP baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 TBSP sugar
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, & salt. Cut in shortening until mixture becomes crumbly. Slowly stir in milk until a ball of dough forms. Knead 8-12 times. Roll dough out till 1 in. thick. Cut large enough to make a pizza pocket. Place leftover spaghetti sauce and spread on half leaving 1/2 inch edge.  Add mozzarella cheese, olives, ham, green chili...whatever you like.  Fold over dough and pinch edges together.  Prick holes in top with fork to allow steam out.  Bake at 375 degrees for 13-15 min.

Stuffed Sopapillas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love this meal because you get dessert too!  These sopapillas are great with honey butter!

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 tsp canola oil

In a bowl, combine flour, salt, & baking powder.  Stir in water, milk and oil with a fork until a ball forms.  On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently for two minutes.  Cover and let sit for 15 min.  Roll dough thin, I've found the thinner the puffier they get, and cut into rectangles.  Heat oil in a skillet to 375 degrees.  Place dough in oil and fry for about 2 min on each side.  I've also found if you take a spoon and put hot oil on top of dough they will also puff up better. 















Chili Beans

• 2 lbs Hamburger
• 3TBS garlic salt
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 ½ TBS chili powder (more if you like it hotter)
• ¼ cup flour
• ½ tsp cumin
• 4-6 cups water
• 2 (8 oz) cans pinto beans
• 1 (8oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 can diced green chili

Place hamburger in a large pot and add garlic salt, salt, pepper and onion. Brown hamburger and drain off fat.Add chili powder and flour to hamburger and cook 2-3 min. Add beans, tomatoes, and chilies.  Then add water and bring to a boil over medium heat.Add ½ tsp cumin and let simmer 10 min.

NOTE: If you have made enchilada sauce then just add the cans of beans, tomatoes, and chili. Bring to a boil and boil lightly for 10 min.

 

Cut your sopapilla in half.  With a slotted spoon, scoop meat and beans from chili and put in the middle and sprinkle with cheese.  Smother with chili and garnish with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

Open Face Enchiladas

This is one of my favorite dinners my mom made for us growing up!

• 2 lbs Hamburger
• 3TBS garlic salt
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 ½ TBS chili powder (more if you like it hotter)
• ¼ cup flour
• ½ tsp cumin
• 4-6 cups water
• Package of corn tortillas
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Onion
• Sour Cream
• Salsa

Place hamburger in a large pot and add garlic salt, salt, pepper and onion. Brown hamburger and drain off fat. Add chili powder and flour to hamburger and cook 2-3 min. Add water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add ½ tsp cumin and let simmer 10 min.

NOTE: You want to make plenty of this because we’re going to use this as our base for Chili Beans… from leftover to gourmet!

Dip tortillas, one at a time, in your enchilada sauce. Let sit for 10 sec., just to soften them. Get tortilla out with spatula and place on a plate. With a slotted spoon, place some hamburger on top of tortilla then top with cheese, lettuce, tomato,& onion. Repeat layers then smother with sauce. Garnish with sour cream and salsa. (It’s also good with an ‘over easy’ fried egg on top)

Biscuits and Gravy

This is my favorite breakfast and one of my favorite dinners!  I use sausage for breakfast and ground beef for dinner...so good!

Biscuits Makes 8  (or, if it's a great deal, buy refrigerated biscuits)

• 2 cups flour
• 1 TBSP baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 TBSP sugar
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, & salt. Cut in shortening until mixture becomes crumbly.  Slowly stir in milk until a ball of dough forms.  Knead 8-12 times.  Roll dough out till 1 in. thick.  Cut and bake for 13-15 min. or until golden brown. 

Note: Make plenty of Biscuit dough (do not cook) because we will use it for another meal...from leftover to gourmet!

Gravy

•  1 lb ground beef or sausage
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• salt and pepper to taste

In a skillet, brown meat with salt and pepper. Stir in flour.  Gradually add milk.  Cook and stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.  Reduce heat and simmer for 2 min. stirring constantly.  Add salt and pepper to taste.