The Dave Ramsey Special (Beans and Rice, of course!)

First, I have to say that I LOVE my new pressure cooker and I HIGHLY recommend getting one! Imagine cooking carrots and other veges for soup in 4 minutes! OR dry beans in 40 minutes. I have even cooked frozen-solid meat in under an hour! I love it! This recipe uses a pressure cooker, but I'm sure it can be adapted.

1 pound dry beans (I used black, but any would work)
1 large onion, diced
1 c. diced celery
1 c. chopped green pepper
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 bay leaves (I didn't use these)
4 Tbsp parsley, chopped (forgot this, oops)
2 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper*
1 tsp. ground black pepper*
3/4 C. olive oil
3 to 4 C. water
2-3 C. cooked rice

Directions:
Quick soak beans. (I will give instructions for doing this with a pressure cooker if anyone requests it). Drain, and set aside in pressure cooker.

Place the onion, celery, green pepper, garlic, bay leaves, and seasonings in a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over them and let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Pour the olive oil and the vegetables over the beans and let sit at room temp for 10 to 15 minutes (I forgot to do this too, oops). Add enough of the water to cover the beans (I used all four cups). Close the lid, bring to high pressure and cook for 40 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and serve the hot beans over the rice. (I used brown rice, cooked in the pressure cooker--of course!)

This was so good, even with my changes and mistakes!!

*Instead of black and red pepper, I used a cajun seasoning that I have--it has both those peppers in it and other stuff besides.

Chocolate Mud Cake (Crockpot)

This is one of those ummy-yummy hot fudgey cakes, and it's baked in the crockpot. It was sooo yummy!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1 cup sugar (2/3 cup & 1/3 cup, added separately)
3 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup cocoa
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup brown sugar
11/2 cups hot water
Whipped cream or ice cream

1. Coat the inside of a 2 1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. (Note: the cake's cooking time and final appearance will vary depending on your crock's size.)

2. Whisk together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, melt the butter and chocolate chips in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water and mix well.

3. Whisk in the 2/3 cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of cocoa, vanilla extract, salt, milk, and egg yolk. Add the flour mixture and stir until thoroughly mixed.

4. Pour the batter into the slow cooker and spread it evenly. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, and hot water until the sugar is dissolved.

5. Pour the mixture over the batter in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the crock pot.

6. Even when done, the cake will be very moist and floating on a layer of molten chocolate, but you'll know it's ready when nearly all of the cake is set and the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pot. (As you check, try not to let the condensed steam from the lid drip onto the cake.)

7. When it's done, turn off the power and remove the lid. Let it cool for 25 minutes, then serve it in bowls topped with whipped cream or ice cream. Makes 4 to 6.

Hot Artichoke Dip/Spread

2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese
2 C. mayo
4-5 garlic crushed
1/2-2/3 C. fresh grated parmesan cheese
1 15-oz. can artichoke hearts (not marinated), chopped

Combine all the above ingredients. Put in pie plate or in casserole dish. Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes. Serve with slices of french bread or tortilla chips, etc.

Yummy Meatballs

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 bottle chili sauce (found on the ketchup aisle)
1/3 C. brown sugar

Mix the above until well-combined. Put in crockpot with about 3 pounds of your favorite frozen meatballs. Cook on high for about 3 hours. So good!

Caesar Chicken Pasta Salad

Very yummy summer salad recipe!

3 cups cooked/skinned shredded chicken breast
3 cups cooked penne pasta
2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
1 1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup creamy caesar dressing (or you could try poppy seed)
1 garlic clove minced

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Enjoy!

Breakfast Quiche (or dinner!)

Crustless Quiche

1/2-3/4 cup Bisquick
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup melted butter
Pinch of Salt and dash of pepper
1 1/2 cups of grated cheese of your choice
Vegetables of choice-
(diced Zuchinni, mushrooms, chopped spinach, broccoli, green peppers, onions, can of diced chiles, etc)
Meat of choice-
(Bacon, diced ham, etc)

Beat together bisquick, eggs, milk and melted butter. Add salt and pepper. Mix in grated or diced cheese, vegetables, and meat of your choice. It is really versatile- you can add what (and how much) you like.
Bake at 400* for 35-45 minutes.
After 15 minutes I like to place sliced tomatoes on top and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Continue baking until egg mixture is set and cheese is crispy and brown. Let it stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

This was something simple and really yummy! I'm not even a big fan of eggs, but I liked it.

Sweet Chex Snack Mix

Be prepared to be addicted! Once you start eating it you can't stop and it makes TONS! So you can keep some and give some away or cut the recipe in 1/2.

1 box rice chex
1 box corn chex
1 box golden grahams
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup coconut
pretzel sticks (add as much as looks good to you)

2 pkg. mini marshmellows
1 lb. butter

Melt marshmellows and butter together, pour over and mix with all other ingredients.

Polynesian-Style Chicken

1 pkg. chicken (boneless, skinless thighs are the best!)
2 Tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup and 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. minced garlic

Preheat oven to 350*
Whisk all ingredients and pour over chicken
Bake for 1 hour and turn chicken over and bake for another 1/2 hour.

This is probably the yummiest chicken I've ever had!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I made this the other day and Dustin said it's his new favorite soup! He loved it! I thought it was yummy too!

Ingredients:

3 cloves garlic
1 medium onion
4 tablespoons oil
2 cans mexican-style tomatoes, chopped
2 cans stewed tomatoes, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups chicken...chopped (I cooked the chicken in lime juice with salt and pepper)
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
cilantro leaves...from about 10 stalks of cilantro (chopped)

10-15 corn tortillas...cut into bite size pieces and fried in oil right before serving

grated mozzarella (about 1 cup)
1 ripe avocado (sliced)

Saute garlic and onion in oil. Add tomatoes, broths, cumin and chili powderm mixing well. Add cilantro. Simmer one hour on medium heat. Just before serving add chicken and heat all the way through.

Heat oil and drop in cut up tortilla chips...they will cook quickly...remove from oil and allow to drain on some napkins. Salt them after cooking.

When you serve the soup...top each bowl with some fried tortilla chips, some grated cheese and a few avocado slices. (I also sliced some limes and squeezed one and dropped one in each soup bowl.)

Chile

1-2 lbs. Hamburger
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
3 tsp. salt
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
2 bay leaves (take out after baking)

Bake in 9x13 glass pan. 325 for 1 and a 1/2 hours. Then put in crock pot and add:

2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans pork & beans
2 cans diced green chilies (In original recipe, but I don't add)
1 can refried beans
1 can cream of mushroom
2 can cream of chicken

**All cans are the small size.
Heat through and serve. I like to keep my on low for a few hours.

**Makes a lot. I like to freeze half and get two (or three) meals out of it. I am normally not a Chile lover, but this is the exception!

Crock pot cake

1 pkg. devils food cake
1 - 8 oz. sour cream
1 cup chocolate morsels
1 cup water
4 eggs
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1 lg pkg. instant chocolate pudding mix

Spray crock pot with non-stick cooking spray. Mix cake mix, sour cream, chocolate morsels, water, eggs, oil and pudding mix in a bowl by hand. Pour into crock pot. Cover & cook on low 6-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. Makes about 12 servings.

Carmel Brownies

Stir Together:
1 German chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter

Melt in saucepan on low heat:
1 -14oz bag caramels
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Other:
1 bag (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips

Combine cake, milk and butter - put half of mixture into bottom of 9 x 13 greased pan. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. Take out of oven and sprinkle one bag of milk chocolate chips on baked half. Then drizzle melted caramels & milk mixture over top. Pat remaining batter on top and bake for 15 more minutes. Cool before cutting.

Breadsticks

Breadsticks

Yields 12 breadsticks

1 tablespoon yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ cups warn water
½ tsp salt
3 cups flour
½ cup butter
garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and salad supreme


Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix together yeast mixture, sugar, salt, and flour. Knead for about 3 minutes. Add flour as needed. Let stand for 10 minutes, or longer. Melt butter on cookie sheet. Cut dough into fourths, then into thirds. Roll & twist. Roll in butter, sprinkle with garlic salt, parmesan cheese and salad supreme. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until lightly browned.

*Salad Supreme is a seasoning in a shaker. It's a must for this recipe. SO yummy.

Too Much Chocolate Cake

INGREDIENTS
1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.
Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

**This was the yummiest chocolate cake!!

Barbequed Pulled Pork

I got this recipe from Angie. It is SOOO yummy!

3 to 4 pound pork roast
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. ground red pepper (I didn't add this)
1 med onion, thinly sliced
1 med green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 18-oz. bottle bbq sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ)
1/2 c. packed brown sugar

Trim excess fat from pork. Combine salt, cumin, paprika, black pepper and red pepper in small bowl; rub over roast.

Place onion and bell pepper in slow cooker; add pork. Combine bbq sauce and brown sugar; pour over meat. Cover; cook on low 8 to 10 hours.

Transfer roast to cutting board. Trim and discard fat from roast. Using 2 forks, pull pork into coarse shreds. (I did this step in the crockpot).

Can serve on hamburger buns (that's how we ate it and it was yummy) or with rice and tortillas.

Crepes

3/4 cup flour
1-1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the rest of the ingredients to the flour mixture. Beat until smooth. Spray and heat up a medium sized frying pan (to about medium heat). Pour 1/4 cup batter into the pan, rotating it until the batter covers the entire bottom. Cook until brown on that side, flip and cook the other side. Spread with sliced fruit or fruit puree and whipped cream. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and eat.
Alternate Topping: Nutella spread topped with sliced strawberries and bananas. DELICIOUS!

Pumpkin Chip Muffins

4 eggs
2 c sugar
1 16 oz can pumpkin
1 ½ c vegetable oil
3 c all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 c semisweet chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, suar, pumpkin and oil until smooth. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; add to pumpkin mixture, mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups ¾ full. Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Makes about 24 standard-size muffins.

Cabbage and Beef Soup

1 lb lean ground beef
1 c onion, chopped
½ tsp garlic salt
¼ tsp garlic powder
2-16 oz cans kidney beans, drained
1 med head cabbage, chopped
28 oz can tomatoes, chopped
16 oz can tomato sauce
3 c water
4 beef bullion cubes

In Dutch over, brown ground beef with onion. Add all remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 1 hour. Garnish with parsley. Yields 3 quarts.

Fruit Salad Dressing

1/4 c vegetable oil
1/4 c lime juice
2 Tablespoons sugar (or substitute 1 Tablespoon Splenda)
Dash of red pepper sauce (Tobasco)
2 Tablespoons poppy seeds

Combine all ingredients in tight container. Shake well to blend. Serve over any combination of fresh fruit. (Makes enough for a large bowl of fruit)

When my mother in law makes this salad, she uses fresh pineapple, grapes, apples, bananas, kiwi and strawberries! And maybe mango? It is so delicious!

Artichoke Dip

Mix together-
2 cans Artichoke hearts, drained
1 1/2 Tbsp. garlic
2-3 green onions
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. celery seed
1 1/2-2 cups mayo
Parmesan cheese to taste

Topping-

Sargento mozzarella w/ sun dried tomato and basil

Hollow out french bread and set bread pieces aside.
Fill hollowed out bread with dip
Place in 350* oven until cheese is melted on top
dip bread pieces into dip, or use crackers or sliced bread.

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

1 1/2 C. butter
2 C. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
5 C. flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
Chill for 2 hours befor rolling out.
Bake at 400* for 6 minutes.

Yummy frosting

Cube of butter, softened
powdered sugar
salt-shake or 2
little almond extract-few drops
mix together until right consistency

Bowtie Salad

I have not tried this recipe yet, but I thought it sounded yummy.

Bowtie Salad
1 bunch of romaine lettuce
1 box of bowtie pasta
3-4 C. bean sprouts
2 large cans of mandarin oranges
1 package of frozen peas
6 chicken breast cooked and cut
1 C. slivered almonds
1 bottle of poppy seed salad dressing

Lion House Rolls

Lion House Rolls:
Ingredients:
2 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
2/3 cup nonfat dry milk (instant or non-instant)
2 tablespoons dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup butter, shortening, or margarine
1 egg
5 to 5 ½ cups all-purpose flour, or bread flour

In large bowl or electric mixer, combine water and milk powder; stir until milk dissolves. Add yeast, then sugar, salt, butter, egg, and 2 cups flour. Mix on low speed until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes at medium speed. Add 2 cups flour; mix on low speed until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes at medium speed. (Dough will be getting stiff and remaining flour may need to be mixed in by hand). Add about ½ cup flour and mix again, by hand or mixer. Dough should be soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff (It is not necessary to use the entire amount of flour).

Scrape dough off sides of bowl and pour about one tablespoon of vegetable oil all around sides of bowl. Turn dough over in bowl so it is covered with oil. (This helps prevent dough from drying out). Cover with plastic and allow to rise in warm place until double in size, about 45 minutes.

Scrape dough out onto floured board. Turn dough over so it is floured on both sides; gently flatten to about 1 inch thick. With rolling pin, roll out to a rectangle about 18 inches long, 8 inches wide, and ¼ inch thick. Brush with melted butter. With pizza cutter or very sharp knife, cut dough in half to make two strips about 4 inches wide. Make cuts through strips of dough every 2 inches, making about 18 pieces of dough.

Starting with short end, roll up one piece of dough, with butter on the inside. Place roll on parchment-lined pan with other short end down on the paper. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough. Be sure all rolls face the same direction on baking pan. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise until double in size, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, or until light to medium golden brown. Brush tops of rolls with melted butter. Serve with Honey Butter. Makes 1 to 1 ½ dozen rolls.

Homemade Oreo Cookies

Homemade Oreo Cookies

1 box devil's food cake mix
3/4 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs

preheat oven to 350*
blend ingredients, roll golf ball size and slightly flatten on greased cookie sheet
bake for 8 minutes and cool
fill with scoop of ice cream or filling-

For filling beat together-
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp. vanilla
2 Cups powdered sugar

Spread filling on top of cookie, and then top with another cookie. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Black Bean Salsa

Black Bean Salsa=YUMMY

This tasty treat will tantalize your taste buds. It is a light and refreshing treat for summer.

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
1 small bunch cilantro, chopped
1 small bunch green onions, finely chopped
3-4 medium tomatoes
2-3 medium avocados
1 pkg. Good Seasonings Italian dressing mix (mix as directed on pkg.)
Mix together and serve with tortilla chips.