Easy-Peasy Busy Day Casserole -

This is so easy, I almost hesitate to even call it a recipe!  It's one I use when I'm basically too (pick one here)
~ Too tired to cook!
~ Out of fresh veggies!
~ Having a crazy-busy week and don't have time to really "cook"!
(You can choose "All of the above", too! LOL!)

You get the idea.  But you still have to eat!  And preferably eat a balanced meal -
~ sooooo ~
here it is, folks!

1 pound ground beef (ground turkey or sausage work well, too)

1 pound pasta, cooked. 
3 cans vegetables - your choice.

Directions -

In a large pan, or a Dutch Oven - cook, rinse, and drain the pasta.  Brown the meat either on the stove, or in the microwave, and add this to the pasta after the pasta has finished cooking.  Lastly, add the 3 can of vegetables.  Mix thoroughly.  Cook on medium heat for approx. 5 minutes, stirring periodically.  Then let simmer on low heat for approx. 15 minutes.  Plate and enjoy!  You can also top this with grated cheese, or pour gravy or your favorite meat or tomatoe sauce on top, and it will be yummy!

Quick and Easy Springtime Recipe!

Folks, my Mom made these for years - and they are sooooo YUMMY!!  It's basically an easy hot chicken sandwich - perfect for a light lunch, or for lunchboxes!

Jean's Chicken Crescents

2 Cups cubed chicken (or 2 - 5 oz. cans of chicken) 
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. onion
1 can crescent rolls

Mix the chicken, cream cheese, onion, and milk together. Open the can of crescent rolls, and - keeping two rolls together - form 4 "squares" of 2 rolls each. Place 1/4 of the chicken mixture in the center of each square. Fold the corners of the squares up and pinch together on the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.

(Author unknown - if you know who created this recipe - please let me know so I can give them credit!  :-)

APPLE-YOGURT PANCAKES
(Makes approx. 12 pancakes.)

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 eggs
1 2/3 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container plain yogurt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 apple - peeled, cored, and diced

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, milk, yogurt and oil until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, stir into the milk mixture until smooth. Fold in chopped apple.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each cake. Cook until bubbles form in the cakes and the bottoms are golden brown. Flip and cook the other side. Serve warm with syrup or jam.

DUTCH HONEY SYRUP

INGREDIENTS
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and cream. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for 5 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla. Serve warm over pancakes, waffles or French toast.

FRENCH TOAST 1

Today I thought I would share with you some of my favorite NEW recipes! These came from a wonderful website called "allrecipes.com". Check them out at http://www.allrecipes.com. You will love what you find there!


INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
6 thick slices bread
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
salt to taste


DIRECTIONS
Beat together egg, milk, salt, desired spices and vanilla.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle of skillet over medium-high flame.
Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, soaking both sides. Place in pan, and cook on both sides until golden. Serve hot.

Megan's Granola

I had never tried making homemade granola before - it seemed a bit daunting! This is the first, and only, recipe I have tried - and I absolutely LOVE it!!!!!!!!! It is sooo YUMMY & EASY to do, and virtually fail-proof! Give it a try - you will love it, too, I am sure!

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
8 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups wheat germ
1 1/2 cups oat bran
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup finely chopped almonds
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup honey
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries
Add to Recipe Box


DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.
Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.

Sy's Challah

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups warm water
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
3 eggs
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)


DIRECTIONS
Place sugar, salt, and oil in either a mixing bowl for an electric mixer with a dough hook or any large bowl. Add hot water, and stir to dissolve the sugar and salt. Stir in yeast, and let stand until mixture gets foamy. Add slightly beaten eggs.
If using an electric mixer, add 4 1/2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Mix until flour is mixed in, and dough gets stringy. This stringiness indicates that the gluten has developed. Continue to add flour until dough is all on dough hook; 1 or 2 cups is usually sufficient. Let hook continue to knead for several minutes. Dough should be smooth and elastic. To knead by hand, stir 4 1/2 cups of flour in to the yeast mixture. Turn soft dough onto lightly floured surface, and work in 1 to 2 cups of flour. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Place dough into a greased bowl, and turn several times to coat the surface. Cover bowl with a damp cloth. Let dough rise until doubled in bulk. Punch down after first rising, and allow to rise a second time. The first rising is about 1 hour, the second about 45 minutes. Two risings makes for a better bread, but if time is a problem just do one.
Divide dough in half, and divide each half into three or four equal parts. Make two braids, and place both breads on a greased baking sheet. Cover, and allow to rise until doubled. Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with poppy seeds, if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes until golden brown. Allow loaves to cool on a wire rack.