Recipes, Fast and Easy

Ham & Cauliflower Gratin

Ham cubes from the deli, cauliflower florets from the freezer, cheese sauce from a soup can and a crunchy biscuit-mix topping create this great speed scratch casserole.
16 oz frozen cauliflower florets, thawed
2 cups cooked ham, cubed
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup biscuit mix (Bisquick)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 11 x 7 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Arrange cauliflower in baking dish. Sprinkle with ham. Mix soup, milk and nutmeg until smooth. Pour over ham.

Cut butter and cheese into biscuit mix with a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly. Sprinkle over soup mixture.

Bake for about 25 minutes until bubbly and topping is golden brown.
Yield: 4 - 6 servings.

South of the Border Casserole

You can use either chicken or turkey in this quick, tasty Tex-Mex inspired casserole. It's a great way to turn leftovers into an out of the ordinary casserole.

2 cups cooked rice
4 oz can diced green chiles
16 oz jar medium picante sauce
2 - 3 cups cooked chicken or turkey, pulled into bite-sized pieces (use your fingers)
8 oz canned mushrooms (stems and pieces)
6 Tbsp sour cream

Place chicken or turkey in the bottom of a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Mix together picante sauce, chiles, and mushrooms. Spread all but 3/4 cup of mixture over chicken. Add sour cream and rice to remaining picante sauce mixture. Spread over mixture in casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Yield: 4 servings.

Stewed Pork Chops

Two ingredients make this tasty main dish. Add rice and a salad and you have a meal.

4 pork chops
1 can stewed tomatoes, Italian style

Spray a skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat. Brown pork chops quickly on both sides until lightly browned. Pour on the stewed tomatoes, cover, lower heat and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Serve with the juices.

Tuna Patties

This dish goes together quickly with ingredients that are usually on hand.

2 cans tuna (6 oz cans) -- drained
2 eggs -- beaten
1/4 cup onion -- finely chopped
3/4 sleeve Ritz crackers -- crushed to crumbs

Mix all ingredients together well.

Preheat a skillet with some oil over medium high heat. Form mixture into 6 to 8 patties and fry until golden and crispy on the outside and heated through.

Yield: 3 to 4 servings.

Chicken Potpie

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) low fat condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can (15 ounces) mixed vegetables, drained
Plenty of chopped-up cooked chicken (or tuna, or meat substitute)
1 smaller tube of refrigerated biscuits, or your own biscuits

Mix undiluted soup, vegetables and chicken in a 9-inch pan baking dish until well blended.
Add salt and pepper. Bake at 350 F until the mixture is good and hot (15 to 20 minutes). Top with the biscuits, and follow the can's instructions, baking the entire potpie til the biscuits are lightly browned.

Tomato and Cabbage Casserole

This combination of tomato and cabbage is faintly, tastily tart.

Put 3 cups coarsely shredded cabbage in a 2-quart casserole dish. Cover with 1-1/2 cups lean ground beef, 1 chopped onion, 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Cover this with 3 more cups of coarsely shredded cabbage. Pour 1 (10\ 1/2 oz.) can of tomato soup over the top. Bake covered at 350 degrees for one hour.

Makes four servings.

Easy Pork Chops and Stuffing

4 pork chops, browned on both sides
3 cups soft bread crumbs (6 slices of bread, diced)
2 Tbsp chopped onion
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup water
1 can cream of mushroom soup (cream of celery also works OK)
1/3 cup water

Place browned chops in shallow baking dish. Lightly mix together dressing ingredients. Place a mound of dressing on each chop. Blend the soup with the 1/3 cup water and pour over chops and dressing. Bake at 350F for 1 hour or until tender.

Serves 4.

All Pork Chili

This is a little time consuming but is delicious!

Make the Basic Chili Mix:

Cook the following in 1 tablespoon corn oil until onion has softened:
1 cup chopped onion
2 finely chopped chili peppers
1 clove minced garlic

After onion has softened add the following & cook for 1 minute:
3-4 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano

Add 2 tablespoons flour and cook until flour is completely absorbed.

Now the chili:

Brown 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder (cut into large bite-size pieces and dredged in flour), in 2 tablespoons corn oil. Add 1 pound sliced sausage & cook until it loses its raw look.

Add Basic Chili Mix along with the following & cook for 1 minute:
1 tsp rubbed sage
1 chopped green pepper
1 clove minced garlic
2 Tbsp tomato paste

Add the following:
3 cups chicken broth
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cider vinegar

Simmer covered for 2 hours until meat is very tender. Season to taste with 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon (or more!) of hot pepper sauce. Add 1-2 cans of drained beans (kidney or navy or both). Enjoy! Serve over rice, pasta, or just the way it is!

Simple Salisbury Steak

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup minced onions
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms

In bowl, thoroughly mix 1/4 cup soup, beef, bread crumbs, egg, and onion. Shape firmly into 6 (or so) oval patties. In skillet over high heat, in 1 teaspoon hot oil, cook patties until browned. Spoon off any fat.

Stir in remaining soup and mushrooms; return patties to skillet. Cover, simmer 20 minutes or until done, turning patties occasionally. Serve with rice or noodles.

Skillet Stroganoff

1 1/2 lbs. sirloin steak
2 Tbsp flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp diced pimentos
1 1/3 cup rice
1 1/3 cup beef bouillon

Cut steak into thin strips. Coat with flour, salt, and pepper. Brown quickly in oil. Add onions. Add Worcestershire sauce, soup, and sour cream. Bring to boil. Cover. In the meantime, add rice and pimentos to heated bouillon. Make a well in meat mixture and pour rice into it. Cover and simmer 5 minutes.

I sometimes buy the stir-fry beef and I just dump what flour, salt, and pepper I think would cover the meat without measuring. Then sprinkle what looks good of Worcestershire sauce. This is a fast dish -- 20 minutes.

Tater Tot Casserole

1-1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
2-3 cans cream soup (I use Campbell's Healthy Request... mushroom, chicken, celery...whatever you want. I usually use at least 2 different kinds.)
1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 pkg. tater tots
Milk

Brown ground beef. Drain off fat*. Add soup and as much of the frozen veggies as you want. Mix well. Add several handfuls of the tater tots & mix well. Add milk to thin if necessary. Put into casserole dish and top with more tater tots. Bake in 350F oven at least 30 minutes (until bubbling).

Note: Last time I made it using 1 1/2 lbs of ground beef. It made a lot and baked for 45 minutes.

* I usually rinse off browned meat with HOT water. It removes even more of the fat! (Read that in an article a few years back.)

Hodgepodge

This is a very Dutch dish, easy to make (except for maybe the potato peeling) and loved by kids:

One large onion
2 lbs carrots
4 lbs potatoes
Salt
Smoked sausage

Peel onion, carrots, and potatoes, add salt to taste, and boil together in large pan until very tender (mashable), usually about 20 minutes. Mash together and add milk to taste, add a pat of butter. Prepare the smoked sausage and serve with the hodgepodge.

Easy Broccoli Beef

Steamed white rice, about 2 cups (cooked)
Broccoli, frozen or fresh, about 2 cups, cut into bite-sized pieces and steamed until tender-crisp
½ lb round steak or chuck steak, thinly sliced (can substitute boneless chicken breast, cut into ½" chunks)

Mix together:

1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp water
1 Tbsp oil
2 tsp sherry (optional)

Pour over sliced meat and stir. Let marinate while you start the rice and broccoli and mix the sauce (or longer if you do this step in advance).

Sauce:
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp cornstarch
½ tsp. sugar
1½ cups water
¼ cup bottled oyster sauce

Stir-fry beef in wok or skillet until just barely pink (if using chicken, cook pieces thoroughly). Turn heat to low. Stir sauce well and add to meat. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until sauce thickens and boils. Add steamed broccoli and mix. Serve over hot rice.

makes 4 servings

Stir-Fried Beef with Broccoli

1 lb. sirloin or round steak, sliced in 1/8-inch thick strips (freeze slightly to cut easier)
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 green onions, cut in 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 lb. broccoli, cut in florets and 1-inch stalks

Marinade:
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp water
2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Sauce:
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp ketchup
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp oyster sauce (or 1 Tbsp water)

Combine marinade ingredients and pour over beef. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

In wok or skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add broccoli stalks and stir fry for 3 - 4 minutes. Add onions and broccoli florets; stir fry for another 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil and heat for 30 seconds. Add beef and stir fry for 2 minutes. Combine sauce ingredients and add to beef with vegetables. Heat through.

Makes 4 servings, about 450 calories/serving.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

This is a great and easy recipe.

Meatballs:

2 lbs ground beef
1/2 row crackers
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 eggs
1/8 cup ketchup
1/8 cup mustard
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Mix these together and shape into balls. Place on cookie sheets and cook in a 400F oven until brown (10-15 minutes).

Sauce:

1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

Place meatballs and sauce in a casserole dish. It can also be left overnight in the fridge to allow the meatballs to soak up the sauce, but doesn't need to be. Cook for at least 20 minutes in a 450F oven. Serve on a bed of rice.

This recipe also freezes very well.

Taco Soup

1 lb. hamburger
1 cup chopped onion
1 16-oz. can tomatoes with liquid
1 16-oz. can corn with liquid
1 16-oz. can kidney beans with liquid
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
1 1+oz. pkg taco seasoning

Brown hamburger. Add onion. Add tomatoes, corn, beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Garnish with avocado, cheese, sour cream, or corn chips.

Taco Pie

1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup Bisquick mix
3 eggs (I only use 2 and a little less milk)
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tomatoes, sliced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Jalapeno peppers to taste (optional)

Fry beef and onion until brown. Stir in seasoning mix. Spread in pie plate. Top with peppers.

Beat milk, Bisquick, eggs until smooth. Pour over beef mixture and back at 375F for 25 minutes.

Top with tomato slices and cheese, and return to oven for an additional few minutes. Top with sour cream or plain yogurt. Serve with a salad.

Mexican Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
12-oz jar thick and chunky or picante salsa
6 tostada or taco shells (can also use tortilla chips)
1 cup refried beans
1 cup sour cream
4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Brown beef; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup salsa. Spread 1/4 cup salsa in 10" pie plate. Top with 3 tostadas or shells. Layer with half each of beans, meat mixture, sour cream, and cheese. Repeat layers, cover with foil. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

I have found it works well to use nonfat sour cream and reduced fat refried beans, but of course it's good (and really rich) the original way, too.

Substitutions

Baking

1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1 pkg active dry yeast
1 Tbsp dry yeast
or 1 cake compressed yeast (crumbled)

1 cup honey
1-1/4 cup sugar + 1/4 cup liquid

1 cup cake flour
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour

1 cup oil
1/2 pound butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar

Chocolate

1 oz (1 square) unsweetened chocolate
3 tbsp cocoa + 1 tbsp shortening or margarine

1 oz (1 square) semi-sweet chocolate
1 square unsweetened chocolate + 1 Tbsp sugar

Dairy products

1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup evaporated milk + 1/2 cup water
or 1 cup reconstituted nonfat dry or skim milk + 2 tsp butter or oil.

1 cup buttermilk or "sour" milk
1 Tbsp cider vinegar or lemon juice + enough milk to equal one cup and allowed to stand 5 minutes

1 cup dairy sour cream
1 cup plain yogurt
or 1 cup evaporated milk + 1 tbsp vinegar
or 1 cup cottage cheese mixed in a blender with 2 Tbsp milk and 1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 cup half-and-half
7/8 cup milk + 3 tbsp margarine or butter
or 1 cup evaporated milk

Miscellaneous

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms
4-oz can mushrooms

Legumes

With the exception of lentils, dried beans can be used interchangeably to suit personal taste

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Combination of 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp ground allspice, 1/8 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp dry mustard
2 tsp prepared mustard

1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp flour
or 1-1/3 tbsp quick-cook tapioca

1 Tbsp flour
1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
or 2 tsp quick-cook tapioca
or 2 egg yolks

1 Tbsp tapioca
1-1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Sign My Guestbook View My Guestbook

HomeSweetHome: