Mulligatawny,

This is an Indian curry soup served with rice. My family, esp TGH, loves this. It's also super easy!

Mulligatawny

1 7 oz can tomatoes, cut up, undrained
1/2 C. chopped celery
2 1/2 C. chicken broth
1/2 C. chopped, peeled cooking apple
1/4 C. chopped carrot
1/4 C. chopped onion
1 T. snipped parsley
1 to 1 1/2 t. curry powder
1 t. lemon juice
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 C. chopped cooked chicken
2 C. hot cooked rice

In a saucepan, mix all ingredients except chicken and rice. Bring to boil, cover and simmer 15 min, stirring often. Stir in chicken, heat thoroughly. Serve over rice. Makes 3 Main dish servings.

Navajo Fry Bread

I have tried a lot of recipes for this and they have all turned out, well frankly, disgusting but last night at dinner I hit the jackpot. So here you go, a really great recipe for Navajo fry bread.

2 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 c warm water

Mix the dry ingredients and slowly stir in the water until you have a nice soft dough.
I divided the dough into about 8 small pieces and worked them with my hands until they were flat circles probably about 4 inches or so. (The dough was really soft, so I floured my hands when I did this.) Then I fried each piece in oil until they were light brown on both sides. I actually used my deep fat fryer at 375 degrees, but the recipe says to use about an inch of oil.
You can serve these with pretty much the same thing you would tacos- spiced up hamburger, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and salsa. Or you can have them as a treat with honey on them. (that's what I did when I made more for lunch today. yummy!)

Ham and Rice with Curry

We ate this at my mother-in-law's house. I love, love, love it.
2 c cooked rice
1 1/2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 c grated cheddar cheese
2 c diced ham
1 c. mayonnaise
3 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp curry
1/2 c milk
(I think that's it, oh and those crunchy fried onions to spread on top, or if you don't have them crunched up potato chips)

Put the rice in a greased 9 x 13. Then mix up the ham, cream of soup, cheese, mayo, lemon juice, curry, and milk. Pour it on top and mix it up. Cook at about 300 for 30 minutes, covered. (That's what the recipe says but my mother-in-law came home, turned it up to 375 and left it a little longer, so just cook it until it's nice and hot.) After you take it out add the onions or potato chips. SO GOOD!

Chicken Rolls

I think everyone has probably had these. My bff said her mom-in-law calls them chicken pillows. Hmmm. Anyway, here's the recipe, I made it on Sunday for TGH birthday:

1 roll refridgerator crescent rolls
3 oz cream cheese
1 C chopped cooked chicken
2 T butter
2 T minced onion
salt
pepper
melted butter
seasoned breadcrumbs ( I like to use crushed dressing)
1 can cream of chicken soup

Unroll the rolls and stretch out the triangles. Mix the cream cheese with all the rest of the ingredients. Put 1/8 of the chicken mixture on each triangle and make a sealed bundle. Dip the bundle into melted butter, then bread crumbs. Bake for 20 min at 375. Mix the soup with 1/2 can of water and heat. Serve as gravy.

Simple Dinner

Sometimes it's really nice to just keep dinner simple. Last night I made a nice big green salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, celery, zucchini, and chicken. Then I got some corn on the cob out of the freezer. I also made jell-o because my girls love it like crazy. Easy and nice.

Chile Relleno Casserole

I really love chile rellenos and when I don't have time to stand and make them, this casserole really gives me the taste I want. Even better yet, my super picky little gals love love love them. I serve this with rice and refried beans.

2 4oz cans chopped green chilis
1 lb. monterey jack cheese
1 lb. cheddar
4 eggs- divided yolks and whites
2/3 c evaporated milk
1 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

mix chilis and grated cheese, put into well greased 9 x 13. Beat egg whites until stiff. Mix yolks with milk, flour, salt and pepper. Fold whites into yolks Pour over cheese and chilis. Mix eggs gently into cheese and chilis.
Bake 60 min at 325.

Serve with a big can red enchilada sauce

Super Mashed Potatoes

1 potato for every person in your family

Peel, and slice potatoes, put in pan and barely cover with water, cover with lid and bring to boil, then turn heat to med low, simmer about 15 to 20 min, til potatoes are soft. Drain potatoes and return to pan (unless coated with Teflon, then put in bowl)

Add:

1 T butter for each potato
1 T sour cream for each potato
1 clove garlic, chopped finely, per each 5 potatoes
salt to taste
white pepper to taste
Milk to make creamy

Mash potatoes with masher or fork, lightly, then get out your mixer. Mix in all ingredients except milk, add a little at a time until desired creaminess. Watch out for over mixing, as it will make your potatoes gluey.

Crockpot Heaven

I love my crockpot and use it about once a week, at least. I have the best book, Fix it and Forget it, which is a wonderful resource for recipes. Here's todays, Beef Stew:

1 lb cut up meat (I buy cheap roasts and chop them up)
4 T flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 C water
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1 garlic clove
1 bay leaf
4 cut up carrots
3 cut up potatoes
1 cut up onion
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp marjoram

Coat meat in flour,salt, paprika, and pepper. Put in crockpot. Mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on High for 4 to 6 hours or Low for 10-12 hours.

Emergency Dinner

Yesterday was an extremely long, messy day. When dinner time neared, I realized that after chasing my two year old all day, I had forgotten all about dinner! This is what I did:

boil enough pasta for your family
leftover chicken from fridge, chopped into pieces
Grated cheese
Milk

While the pasta is hot, add the chicken, cheese and enough milk to moisten. Low heat on a burner until the cheese is melted, then taste for salt. Serve with toast:)

( I didn't eat this....hubby and I went to a nearby fast food Mexican restaurant) But the kids loved it and wanted to take it in their lunches today!

Perfect Caramel Corn

That Muddy Buddy Recipe made me think of yummy snack recipes. I rarely have Chex in the house, but I always have popcorn. We LOVE popcorn at my house- VERY big fans. Anyway, I am always trying to make good caramel corn and this one is super. It doesn't turn out really crunchy, but it is fast and delicious, in my humble opinion.

1 c. light Karo syrup
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 cube butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
lots of popped popcorn (we fill our popper on the stove twice to make a really big batch)

Combine all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat, using a wooden spoon until it comes to a boil, then boil for 2 minutes, then pour over popcorn.

Muddy Buddies

9 C. Rice Square cereal (like chex)
1 C. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 C. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1/4 C. margarine or butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar

Pour cereal into large bowl or plastic zip bag. I like to use my gigantic Tupperware bowl. Heat in microwave, the choc chips, peanut butter, and margarine, about one minute or so, stirring til smooth and melted. Pour over cereal and stir well. Pour powdered sugar over all and put the lid on tight or zip up the bag, tight. then shake til cereal is well coated.

My mother-in-law's Jackpot Casserole

This one is always a favorite for the Professor and the girls. When I don't know what else to make, I go for this. Always a winner.

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 c chopped onion
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can cream-style corn (optional)
1/4 c. olives
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 (8oz) bag noodles
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Brown meat, drain fat and add onion. Cook until golden. Add tomato soup, water, and noodles. Cook until noodles are tender, stirring frequently. Add corn, olives, 1/2 cup cheese. Pour into greased casserole dish. Sprinkle on remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.