Kitchen Hints and Recipes from our Readers

Brown Hamburger In Bulk

To help save time in the kitchen when I know it is going to be a busy week, I will buy a large amount of lean ground beef at Costco or Sam's. I purchase, say, a 5 1/2 pound package. I bring it home and cook it in a large pot with diced onion and garlic and season it up with black pepper and salt. After the meat is cooked through, I drain it in a colander then add it back to the pan to let it cool down a bit. I then weigh the meat on my kitchen scale to get 1-2 lbs. of cooked meat, put it in freezer bags, and label.



Now all I have to do the rest of the week is pull out a package of the already cooked meat and thaw a bit in the microwave. Add it to a pan along with taco seasonings, spaghetti sauce ingredients, sloppy joe ingredients etc.- whatever your family is wanting for dinner that night. You can even use it to make one of the boxed hamburger helper dinners. Dinner is done in a fraction of the time.

I realized that I start all my ground beef recipes basically the same way with onion and garlic. It just made sense to go ahead and cook it all ahead of time instead of freezing the raw meat.






Recipes of the Day:
Oops Makeover Cookies

A yummy (easy) cookie to redeem a previous cookie disaster. We've all done it - forgotten the cookies were in the oven and either the timer wasn't working or we forgot that, too! I don't mind a little carbon and I don't want to throw them out. What a waste! But the family won't touch them. With this revamp recipe, they never have to know. (Also works with leftover cookie/brownie crumbs or stale cookies.)

Ingredients:



1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup (burnt) cookie crumbs (can also use graham crackers)
Directions:



Blend all ingredients and bake on greased sheet 12 minutes at 375 degrees F.




Servings: 30 cookies
Time:5-7 Minutes Preparation Time

12 Minutes Cooking Time
German Farmers Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole that is hot and filling. Great to eat anytime of the day, but makes you feel warm and cozy when its cold out. Can also be prepared ahead of time and reheated. My husband likes to make this one when all the kids come home for the holidays.

Ingredients:



3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
3/4 cup shredded Monterrey Jack or cheddar cheese
1 cup diced ham
1/3 cup chopped green onion
5 beaten eggs
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated skim milk (although we used regular milk just fine)
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. parsley
Directions:



Grease a 2 quart square baking dish. Arrange potatoes evenly in dish and sprinkle with cheese, meat, and green onion. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, milk, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour over mixture. You can refrigerate it overnight at this stage (if for an early breakfast).

Bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting and serving.




Servings: 12
Time:15 Minutes Preparation Time

40 Minutes Cooking Time
Jalapeno and Lime Kettle Potato Chips



Ingredients:



2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 fresh jalapeno, finely diced, size according to love of heat
1 tsp. lime juice, or more to taste
2 (4 oz.) bags Sea Salt Kettle Baked chips
Cilantro sour cream or regular sour cream for dipping
Directions:



Saute jalapeno in olive oil over medium heat in a small skillet until jalapeno is slightly softened, add lime juice and saute for about 10 to 20 seconds longer.

Place chips in a large bowl, evenly pour jalapeno mixture over the top, toss well to coat and serve.

Butterhorn Rolls

Ingredients:



1 cup shortening
1 cup milk
1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp. salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
Directions:



In a small saucepan, combine shortening and milk. Heat until shortening is melted; set aside to cool. Dissolve the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in the warm water. Beat the eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt together. In a large bowl, combine the milk mixture, yeast mixture, and egg mixture. Sift the flour and baking powder together, and add to the wet mixture; stir until combined, then cover and refrigerate overnight.

Divide dough into fourths and roll out on a floured surface. Spread surface with the soft butter. Cut dough into triangles and roll up from larger to small end. Place rolls on a baking sheet, and allow to rise for 3 to 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C.)

Bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.








Strawberry Divinity

Ingredients:



3 cup sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup water
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 (3 oz.) pkg. strawberry jello
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup flaked coconut (optional)
Directions:



Combine sugar, syrup, and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Then cook without stirring to 260 degrees F on candy thermometer. Combine beaten egg whites and jello. Beat until mixture forms peaks. Pour hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites, beating constantly. Beat until candy loses its gloss and holds its shape. Fold in nuts and coconut. Drop by spoonful onto wax paper.









Vegetable Casserole

Ingredients:



1 pkg. frozen cauliflower
1 pkg. frozen brussel sprouts
1 pkg. frozen broccoli
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can onion rings
1/2 cup milk
Directions:



You can use chopped broccoli or buy the whole stalks and cut up coarsely. Steam veggies until tender crisp. Combine rest of ingredients and mix with cooked veggies. Put into large casserole and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Sirloin Steak Special

Ingredients:



1 lb. sirloin steak
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of onion soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 small can mushrooms
Directions:



Cut steak into small pieces. Cook until done. Pour soups and mushrooms in. Stir until heated well. Serve over rice or noodles.

Pink Salad

Ingredients:



1 can sweetened condensed milk, whipped a little
1 quart (32 oz.) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 can cherry pie filling
1 small can crushed pineapple
2-3 green mint pears, diced
red maraschino cherries, drained (optional)
1/2-3/4 cup pecans or black walnuts
Directions:



Whip sweetened condensed milk and then the whipped topping together. Fold in pie filling, pears, pineapple, and nuts. Chill or freeze as desired. Spoon into a large bowl to serve or freeze in a 9x13 inch pan. Cut in squares and garnish with the maraschino cherries, halved.

Barbecued Meatballs

Ingredients:



1 cup soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 lb. hamburger
salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce: 4 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. vinegar
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chopped onion
Directions:



Moisten crumbs with milk and add to meat and seasonings. Form into balls and brown quickly in skillet. Put in casserole and pour the sauce over top. Bake 1 hour in slow 325 degree F oven.