Just Plain Old Meat Loaf

2 eggs
1/2 cup ketchup or hot and spicy ketchup
1 cup bread crumbs
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/4 t ground black pepper
1 T minced bottled garlic
2 lb lean ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, beat eggs, whisk in ketchup. Stir in bread crumbs, soup mix, pepper and garlic. Add meat and mix well. Form mixture into 8 (4 inch) loafs. Arrange loafs on a foil covered baking pan.

Bake about 20 minutes or until internal temp is 160 degrees. Let stand for 10 minutes. Spoon ketchup over meat loaves.

Loaves can be wrapped in foil and frozen. Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Unwap and place in shallow pan. Reheat at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Apple Bread Pudding

4 c. soft whole wheat or white bread cubes
2 c. thinly sliced, peeled apples
1/4 c. raisins
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, beaten

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 6" x 10" (1 1/2 quart) baking dish. In large bowl, combine bread, apples and raisins. In small saucepan, combine 1 cup brown sugar, milk and 1/4 cup butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted; pour over bread mixture in bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla and eggs. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until center is set and apples are tender.

Chicken and Mushrooms in Wine Sauce

6-8 boneless chicken breasts or thighs
Flour
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
1/4 c. bacon drippings (I used turkey bacon and cut it into small pieces leaving the bacon in the sauce)
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 pound mixed mushrooms cut into large chunks
8 oz. red wine
4 oz. chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp. thyme

Brown onions, mushrooms and garlic in bacon drippings. Add wine and chicken broth. Add seasonings. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for approximately 1 hour. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Roll in flour and brown. Place in baking dish. Pour sauce over chicken. Cover and bake at 350 degrees until tender. Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Best Beef Tenderloin

I made this tenderloin recipe last weekend. It was a huge hit! My granddaughter, Penelope, asked for seconds. So easy and almost foolproof.

1 (3 - 4 pound) beef tenderloin
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 T butter melted
1 cup dry sherry
3 T soy sauce
2 t dry mustard
1/8 t salt
1/8 t pepper

Place meat in large shallow baking pan. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes

In a saucepan saute the onion in butter until tender. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour the mixture over the tenderloin. Reduce the oven temp to 325 degrees and bake for 35 minutes or until a meat thermometer reaches 150 to 170 degrees. Baste often with the drippings.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/2 medium onion, chopped
5 T butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half (I use skim evaporated milk instead. )
2 cups chicken broth
8 oz chopped broccoli, fresh or frozen
1 cup shredded carrot
salt and pepper
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 t ground nutmeg

Saute the onion in 1 T of butter. Set aside.
Using a wire wisk, combine 4 T of melted butter and flour over medium heat. Cook and stir for about 3 minutes.
Slowly add half and half, while stirring. Add the chicken broth and keep stirring. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the broccoli, carrots, and sauteed onion. Cook over low heat until veggies are tender, about 20 minutes.
Add salt and pepper
By now the soup should be thickened. Pour into blender or food processor and puree.
Return puree to low heat. Add the cheese and nutmeg and stir until blended.

Zucchini Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting

This recipe is from the Cake Doctor book. The cake is moist and rich. I love, love, love caramel frosting. The cake and frosting together are like a slice of fall on your plate.

1 yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground nutmeg
1/4 t ground cloves
1/4 t salt
2 cups grated zucchini (1 medium zucchini) or you can use grated carrots

Grease and flour 10 inch tube pan. Put all the ingredients, except zucchini, in bowl and mix until well blended. Fold in zucchini. Pour into pan and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Cool in pan for 15 minutes before turning cake onto a cooling rack.

Frosting
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 t vanilla

Melt butter and brown sugar in sauce pan. Cook and stir until it comes to a boil. Add milk and stir, bring back to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat with wooden spoon until smooth. Use right away, or it will harden on you. If it does harden, reheat to melt.

Banana Muffins (Cat can Cook recipe)

Banana Muffins (makes 12 muffins)
3 or 4 Large bananas, mashed (the more bananas the moister, so I use 4)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1/3 cup melted margarine or butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour

Mix the mashed banana, sugar, egg and margarine together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix wet and dry ingredients all together! Pour into greased muffin tins, and bake in 350 degrees F oven for approximately 20 minutes. Enjoy! (Reilly likes them with chocolate chips added)

Football Season Slider Recipe

We used this recipe for Labor Day. I thought they would be great for football season with a bowl of chili.


1/2 cup dried onion flakes
2 pounds ground chuck- 80/20 ground beef
1/2 t. seasoned salt
6 slices cheddar cheese
24 small party rolls- I use Sara Lee Party Rolls
24 dill pickle slices

Evenly spread the onions on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Gently press the ground beef on top of the onion flakes. Press evenly making one giant pattie. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Using a paper towel, pat the excess grease from the top of the pattie. Top with cheddar cheese, return to oven for 2 more minutes. Remove from oven, let set 5 minutes then cut into 24 patties. Slice open and separate each party roll. Place bottom of rolls on a large platter. Using a spatula lift pattie with onion layer onto each bun bottom. Top each slider with a pickle slice then the bun lid. Serve immediately. Makes 24 Sliders.

Buttery Rolls For the Bread Maker

Time to dust off the bread maker! These rolls are so rich and good. Using the bread machine makes them easy.

1 cup warm milk (70 to 80 degrees F.)
1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 cups bread flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast


1 In bread machine pan, put all ingredients in order: milk, butter, sugar, eggs, salt, flour and yeast.
2 Select dough setting.
3 When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface.
4 Divide dough into 24 portions.
5 Shape dough into balls.
6 Place in a greased 13 inch by 9 inch baking pan.
7 Cover and let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes.
8 Bake at 375 degrees for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown.