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.