Chili Hash Brown Casserole

 

So it's May in Texas which means it's already starting to get hot. Who on earth would want to eat chili when it's not cold outside? Me. I would. Which means my family eats it. Haha! This recipe got a thumbs up from everyone. Even my youngest, who doesn't care for beans and who only like potatoes in french fry form (no tater tots!) and mashed, ate the hash brown topping and some of the beans. I'll definitely make this again once Fall gets here.

Here's my interpretation of the recipe:

Chili Hash Brown Casserole

1# ground meat

1 small onion diced

5 cloves garlic - minced

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp chili powder

¼ tsp red chili flakes

2 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

4 Tbs tomato paste

1 - 14oz can diced tomatoes

Diced green pepper

1 can red kidney beans drained

16oz frozen hash browns shredded

8oz cheddar cheese grated

1 Tbs olive oil

Heat olive oil - add onions and garlic. Cook

Add beef - cook 5-8". Add pepper and seasonings

Add tomato paste, tomato and beans.

Cook 15-20" til thick

Pour chili in greased casserole dish.

Spread frozen hash browns over top and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 400º for 40"

Let sit for 10"

*I used 90/10 ground beef

*I used regular diced tomatoes. Next time I'll use the petite ones.

*The beans were drained and rinsed. Although next time I might not rinse them to help keep it moist for leftovers. Just drain them a bit.

** The " means "minutes" and the u with a line on top means "with". I guess that was a type of shorthand back in the day?

I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.

Forgotten Cookies

Alright, so I know this blog is supposed to be about handwritten recipes and this one is obviously not. Let me explain. This binder is probably just a tad bigger than my hand. Someone had to take the time to type out each recipe to make sure they'd fit in this little binder. So although it's not written by hand, it still was typed with love. Also, I'm not sure I'd actually call these cookies. They were more like a meringue. So I'd consider it more of a candy. I actually had to trash my first batch because a tiny bit of egg yolk got into my whites. I thought I had spooned it out but my whites never got stiff :( So I had to start over again. Lesson learned!

Here's my interpretation of the recipe:

Forgotten Cookies

2 egg whites, beaten til frothy

¾ cup sugar

*12 tsp cream of tarter (actually ½ tsp)

¼ tsp vanilla

16oz chocolate chips

1 cup pecans, finely chopped

1 brown paper bag

Heat oven to 375.

To egg whites add sugar, cream of tarter, and vanilla. Beat until stiff. Add food coloring if desired.

Add chocolate chips and pecans. Mix well. Drop like divinity onto cookie sheets lined with brown paper bag.

Place in oven. Turn off oven and leave over night. Go to bed. The cookies are ready when you awaken.

*I thought 12 tsp of cream of tarter was a lot so after consulting with my mom, we agreed that it was probably ½ and they forgot to put the / in there.

*I used mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.

Mashed Potatos & Gravy

I admit, I am not good a making gravy. White or brown. So I was skeptical with this recipe. But...it came out great! Both my kiddos love "country" gravy and mashed potatoes so this was a perfect side to  pair with some steak fingers and broccoli. Supper was a hit :)

Here's my interpretation of the recipe:

Mashed Potatos & Gravy

From the Kitchen of Whistle Stop Cafe

- Mashed Potatos

4 med potatos, peeled & quartered

½ cup milk

¼ cup butter

1½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

Cook potatos in boiling water, covered for 15 about 15 minutes

Pour off water, return to heat briefly to evaporate water

Remove from pan and mash with potato masher

Add remaining ingredients and mash well

- Southern Cream Gravy

¼ cup bacon or sausage drippings

¼ cup self-rising flour

1 cup milk

1 cup water

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

Combine drippings & flour in large skillet - cook over medium heat till pale brown

Stir in water, milk, salt & pepper

Cook until thickened, stirring constantly

*I used 2% milk (it's what I had on hand)

*The potatos were russet

*I made bacon for breakfast so I used the drippings from that for the gravy

*I used unsalted butter

I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.

Banana Pudding

My mom has us (mainly my husband) spoiled to her banana pudding. It's hard not to compare any other version to hers, which is super yummy. Personally, I don't care for the treat, but my husband LOVES it. So I wanted to try this one and have him be the guinea pig. He said it was okay, but he wouldn't be sad if I never made it again. It's a basic recipe. Nothing to brag about unfortunately. It was good to try it though :)

Here's my interpretation of the recipe:

Banana Pudding

3 Tblsp. flour

½ cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups milk

1 tsp vanilla

2 Tblsp cornstarch

Cook until thick. Place over top of a casserole of layers of vanilla wafers and bananas. 

*Simple and to the point

I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.

Ground Beef Pie

This recipe was surprising good! Although I think it was a bit dry. I did drain the can of peas (it didn't say to and I did it out of habit), so next time I think I'll leave the juice in. The kids gave it a thumbs up to add to the "make it again" list. Yay!

My interpretation of the recipe:

Ground Beef Pie

1 pie crust

Filling

1 lb. ground beef
½ cup celery (chopped)
¼ cup flour
1 cup water
1 can peas
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
¼ tsp. oregano

Cook ground beef and celery until browned. Drain. Sprinkle flour on meat. Mix. Add peas and ¼ cup liquid (water), onion soup mix, remaining ¾ cup water and oregano to meat mixture. 

Bake 375º about 30-40 min.

*I used a premade refrigerated pie crust

I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.

Carrot Salad

When I first saw this recipe, I immediately flashed back to my childhood when my Grandma would take us to the local cafeteria for lunch or an early supper. She would get some carrot salad. I would usually get a regular salad with ranch, and a piece of jalapeno cornbread. I know my grandma would have loved this one had I had the chance to make it for her. Surprisingly, my 12 year old daughter liked it. So much so, that she would take some for lunch! Mom win!

My interpretation of the recipe:

Carrot Salad

Grate 3 carrots (raw)
1 can crush pineapple (17 )
2 fresh apples cubed
Little lemon juice
1 tsp. mayonnaise
1 Tbs sugar

Mix together. Serve cold
Add raisins before serving.

*I wish a can of crushed pineapple was 17 !

*Red apples were uesd

*Fresh lemon juice was used

*I added raisins to each individual serving

 I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.

Untitled “Nacho Casserole”

This was a quick and easy supper to make! I think cooking the ground beef took the longest. While that was cooking I was shredding cheese (freshly shredded is always better than bagged!), crushing tortilla chips and assembling the bottom sauce layer. We debated on what to call this since it didn't have a name. We decided on Nacho Casserole. It got a thumbs up from the husband and both kiddos. I think it might even make it onto our monthly menu planning! 

Now normally I like to follow the recipe exactly how it's written. I did have to make one big adjustment for me personally. I HAD to season the meat when cooking. Ever since having my two wonderful kiddos, I cannot stand the smell of meat cooking. I have to season it right at the beginning or it grosses me out. So I added some of our favorite seasoning (it's also a secret ingredient in my famous hot sauce! If you want to know what it is, I MIGHT let you in on it :)) along with my standard taco seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.

 My interpretation of the recipe:

Untitled "Nacho Casserole"

1 lb. ground beef

1½ cups thick chunky salsa

1 10oz can corn (drained)

¾ cup miracle whip

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 cups crushed tortilla chips

2 cups colby cheese (shredded) 

1. Set oven for 350 degrees

2. Brown meat and drain. Remove from heat.

3. Mix salsa, corn, mayonnaise and chili powder in 2 quart casserole dish.

4. Cover with layer of one-half meat, tortilla chips and shredded cheese, ending with cheese on top.

5. Repeat step 4.

6. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

7. Let stand for 5 minutes.

* I seasoned the meat while it cooked

* I grated my own cheese instead of using a bag of shredded cheese.

* If you use more than 1 pound of meat, you'll need to use a bigger baking dish. All the ingredients fit perfectly (although I doubted it) in a 2 qt. dish.

I hope you enjoy and give this recipe a second chance in your kitchen too.