Strawberries

We use strawberries a bunch, however they can be pricey. We mostly use them to make smoothies & strawberry sauce for crepes and waffles.  So I buy flats when they go on sale for $1 a carton.  I will then wash them, cut the tops off and freeze them. I can get a gallon size bag full for around $4! I'll also slice a bunch, put sugar on them and let them get real nice and juicey then put them in old sour cream containers and feeze those. 

Strawberry Pie

I love to make this simple yet delicious pie when strawberries are on sale.  Everyone thinks you spent hours making this because it's so yummy!

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 TBS cornstarch
• 1 small pkg of strawberry jello
• 1 basket strawberries, washed, tops cut off and cut in half
• cool whip
• 1 gram cracker pie crust

Mix sugar and cornstarch in a sauce pan.  Add water and bring to a boil over med heat.  Boil for 2 min.  Add jello and let cool.  Once cooled, add strawberries and pour in pie crust.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.  Serve with cool whip.

Grandma Faucettes Coconut Cake

This is the best cake in the whole world!  Everyone who has had a piece of my grandmas famous cake wants the recipe...enjoy.

• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 cube butter
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour

Mix oatmeal, butter and water in mixer and let stand 10 min.  In a large bowl mix brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, soda, cinnamon, salt & flour.  Add to oatmeal mixture and beat well.  Pour into 9x13 in sprayed cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 min, or until done. 

Topping

• 1 cube butter
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup nuts

Melt butter in large sauce pan over med heat.  Add cream and sugar; continue cooking until bubbly.  Add coconut, nuts & vanilla.  Pour over warm cake.  (Sometimes I add more cream, coconut and nuts because I like a thick frosting)

Homemade Rolls

There is nothing better than homemade rolls fresh out of the oven!  I'm so greatful my mother-in-law took the time to teach me how to make these wonderful things!

• 1 cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup instant mashed potato flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dry powdered milk
• 1/2 cup margarin
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 TBS yeast
• 5 cups flour

Mix first 5 ingredients.  Add margarine and eggs; mix well.  Mix yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water and set aside for 3 min.  Add to mixture and mix well.  Add 3 cups flour, one at a time, beating well.  Then if you have a dough hook I put it on, then add 2 cups of flour to make soft dough.  Knead about 20 times.  Place back in bowl and cover with plastic.  Let rise, about an hour.  Punch down and shape into rolls.  Let rise about 10 min and then bake at 350 degrees for 18-25 min, until golden brown.

Chili Dogs

This is a cheap meal and a good way to use that leftover chili!

• Hot dogs
• Hot dog buns
• Cheese

Cook hot dogs on a grill until done.  Place on a bun and smother with chili and top with cheese!

Note: I only make these when I need to use leftover chili...from leftover to gourmet!

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.

Potato Soup

This is so good on a cold winter night!

• 3-4 potatoes, peeled & cubed
• 4 slices of bacon
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups shredded cheese

Fry chopped bacon in a large stock pot until crisp.  Remove to paper towel to drain leaving 3 TBS bacon fat.  Add onions and potatoes to pan and saute 2-3 min.  Add flour and bacon and cook for another minute, then gradually add broth and cook until thickened.  Add milk, 1 cup cheese, and salt & pepper.  Simmer for 15-20 min.  Garnish with cheese.

Chili Beans

Such an easy meal that creates endless meals!

• 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
• Cottage Cheese
• Shredded Cheese

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.  We eat this with a little bit of cheese and cottage cheese in it with a side of crackers...so good!

Note: Always make a huge pot because you can always use beans for another creation...from leftover to gourmet!

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

I've never really been a fan of chicken pot pies, but my sister gave me this recipe and said I'd like it.  I really doubted her, however I decided to try it.  Well I'm a fan, it's not the normal dry pot pies I've had in the past.  It's definitely a keeper!

• 3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
• 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 cups carrots, diced
• 1 cup peas

Gravy

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp salt

Melt butter in saucepan & add onions.  Cook till soft.  Add flour, salt & pepper.  Mix well.  Add milk and broth and cook over low heat till thick.  Add chicken and veggies.  Pour into 9x13 baking dish. 

Topping

• 1 stick butter, melted
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup milk

Mix butter, flour and milk.  Pour over casserole and bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour

Note: Always cook extra chicken because you can create other meals with it. It makes it so fast and easy! Or if you have leftover chicken use it now...from leftover to gourmet!

Chicken Enchiladas

This is one of my favorites! The creamy chicken and green chilies are so yummy in this dish, you'll keep wanting more!

• 3-4 chicken breasts (I always cook extra chicken so I can use for meal later)
• 2 cans (10 oz) cram of chicken soup
• 1 can (8 oz) diced green chilies (hot or mild, or a small can of each)
• 1 pkg (10 oz) cheese
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 TBS garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 12 four tortillas
• 16 oz sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Boil chicken for about 20 min or until done.  Cut or shred chicken, saving the broth.  Mix soup, sour cream chilies and enough broth to slightly thin.  Add chicken, onions, garlic, and salt.  In a casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray, arrange 6 tortillas on bottom. Spoon half the chicken mixture and spread, sprinkle with half the cheese then repeat layers. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min.

Note: I'm going to cook double the chicken and have it all cut.  I'll store in an airtight container in fridge and use for another meal...from leftover to gourmet!