How to make Taco Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1 package taco seasoning
• 3 tablespoons Ketchup
• 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
• 6 cheddar cheese slices
• 6 tomato slices
• 6 flour tortillas warmed
• 2 teaspoons chili powder (optional)

Steps:

1. In medium bowl combine ground beef, taco seasoning, ketchup, and chili powder
2. Mix well and form into 12 patties
3. Sprinkle 6 of the patties with cheese
4. Use the other 6 patties to seal in the cheese so it does not leak out while cooking
5. Grill or broil burgers, for 12 minutes (flip halfway through)
6. Top with extra cheese
7. Place burger and tomato slice on tortilla
8. Fold in both sides
9. Wrap bottom of tortilla over top, and toothpick in place

Tips:

• Serve with salsa and sour cream
• Add lettuce or onion
• Use Mexican cheese
• Chop burgers in half and use hard taco shells 

Beef Stuffed Shells

*Makes 6 Servings*

Ingredients:

• 24 Pasta stuffing shells
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 14 ounces Picante sauce
• 1 cup water
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 8 ounces chopped green chilies
• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
• French Fried onions (optional)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook pasta shells in unsalted water and drain
3. Brown ground beef in a large skillet 
4. Drain Fat
5. Combine picante sauce, water and tomato sauce in small bowl
6. Stir 1 cup of sauce mixture into ground beef
7. Add chilies, 1 cup of cheese, and 1 can french fried onions to meat (mix well)
8. In a ten inch round baking dish, pour half of the remaining sauce and spread evenly
9. Stuffed cooked shells with meat mixture
10. Arrange shells in baking dish
11. Pour remaining sauce over them
12. Bake 30 minutes (covered)
13. Put remaining cheese and french fried onions on top and bake an additional 5 minutes
14. Serve while hot, with tortilla chips 
15. Garnish with celery, and salsa verde if desired

How to Grill Corn on the Cob

Grilling food is very popular in the summer !

To grill corn on the cob, you have to follow these easy steps

1. Peel back corn husks, but DO NOT remove them. (leave them attached at the end)
2. Wash corn thoroughly until all corn hairs are washed away
3. Lightly salt and butter, then put husks back in place
4. Place on grill Remove when starts to crisp on the outside
5. Add more butter, it will melt nicely because the corn is so hot

How to make Potato Salad

Should make 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/6 teaspoon pepper
• 4 cups cooked potatoes (cubed) Tip* Do not cook the potatoes until mushy!!
• 2 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
• 1/2 cup onion ( finely chopped)
• 1/2 cup celery (sliced thin)
• 1/2 cup sweet pickles (optional)

Steps:

1. Combine mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, onion, celery seed, and celery in a bowl
2. Mix Well
3. Add eggs, potatoes, and sweet pickles if you choose
4. Mix Lightly
5. Cover and refrigerate until served

Switch things up, potato salad is good in many different ways.

You can add crumbled bacon, or ham. 

Substitute the mustard for horseradish. 

Even replace celery with cucumber, and celery seed with dill weed.

Cooking Conversions

Dry Measurements:

1 teaspoon = 5 mL

1 tablespoon = 15 mL

1 cup = 250 mL

2 cups = 1 pint or 500 mL

4 cups = 1 quart or 1 L

Fluid Measurements:

1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons

4 fluid ounces = 1/2 cup

16 fluid ounces = 2 cups

Weight:

1 ounce = 30 grams

16 ounces = 1 pound

Oven Temperatures:

250 degrees F = 120 degrees C

300 degrees F = 150 degrees C

325 degrees F = 160 degrees C

375 degrees F = 190 degrees C

425 degrees F = 220 degrees C

A Twist on Taco Dip

Ingredients: (serves 4)

• 1 container Sour Cream
• 1 bottle Catalina Dressing
• 1/2 Head of lettuce
• Small can sliced olives
• 1 Packet taco seasoning
• 1 bag Mexican cheese
• 1 bag Cheesy Doritos
• 1 lb ground hamburger
• Diced tomatoes and Beans (optional)

Steps:

Fully cook hamburger and drain fat
While meat is cooking chop up lettuce
Put lettuce, olives, cheese, and Catalina dressing in a bowl
Mix well
Add taco seasoning to cooked meat, (meat should be cooled)
You can either crumble the Doritos into the salad or serve them to be dipped
Have Sour cream on the table to be added on top

How to make Taco Dip

Ingredients:
1 can re-fried beans (16 ounces)
1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces)
1 large tomato chopped
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 cup sliced black olives
1/2 Teaspoon TABASCO
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
Tortilla chips
-- Use chopped tomatoes, and cilantro for garnish


Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine re-fried beans, 3 tablespoons tomato sauce, and 1/2 teaspoon TABASCO in a medium bowl
3. Mix well
4. Spread in 1 and 1/2 quart baking dish (evenly)
5. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese and chopped tomatoes on top
6. In a skillet cook beef, then add chili powder
7. **Make sure beef is fully cooked**
8. Remove from heat, and drain meat (to remove excess fat)
9. Stir in the rest of the tomato sauce, olives, and spread evenly in baking dish
10. Cover with Cheddar Cheese
11. Bake 15 to 20 minutes
12. Remove from oven and top with Sour Cream and Garnish as desired
13. Serve with tortilla chips

How to make Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (Sift flour before measuring)

1/2 cup of butter

Toppings: Sugar, nuts and cherries

Steps:

1. Cream Butter
2. Add sugar gradually
3. Add eggs and vanilla, beat until light 
4. Sift flour again with baking Powder
5. Add to butter mixture, let chill for a half hour
6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
7. Roll out dough very thin on a floured surface
8. Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes
9. Place on non stick cookie sheet
10. Decorate with sugar, cherries, colored sprinkles, or nuts
11. Bake for ten minutes
12. ** Watch closely so the cookies don't burn, remove before fully cooked as the will continue to cook sitting on the cookie sheet
13. When fully cooked, place on cooling rack
14. Serve while still warm and chewy

Tips**

• If you wish do not decorate until after cooked and cooled, then frost and add sprinkles
•  Freeze the dough before you want to use it, if dough is left at room temperature for too long it will become extremely sticky.
• Do this activity with your children, the will have fun mixing, and decorating the cookies. And we all know they will enjoy eating them after dinner.

Homemade Corn Bread

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk

Steps:

1. Melt butter in a iron skillet, inside over being heated to 350 degrees
2. Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl
3. Beat eggs;  then add milk, and 2 tablespoons of butter from hot skillet in separate bowl
4. Stir this mixture into dry ingredients, until no clumps (makes a batter)
5. Pour this batter into the hot skillet with remaining butter
6. Bake 20-25 minutes
7. Serve when cooled. with butter

How to make German Potato Salad

Ingredients:
3 pounds Potatoes
1/2 bunch celery
1.5 red onions
1/2 pound of bacon, crumbled
1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
1 and 1/2 cup of Mayo
2 tablespoons white vinegar (or cider vinegar)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon granulated sugar



Steps:

1. Cook unpeeled potatoes until tender, NOT mushy!
2. Slice thinly, trying not to make the crumble
3. Place 1 layer of potatoes in bowl and sprinkle with salt
4. Top with a layer of bacon, onion, celery and then parsley (In that order) 
5. In a separate bowl mix mayonnaise, salt, pepper, vinegar, and sugar
6. Spread a few tablespoons over the parsley layer
7. Repeat steps 3-6 until you are out of ingredients
8. Toss this salad very gently, trying not to break the potatoes
9. Chill in fridge until served

How to make Vegetable Beef Soup

Ingredients:

2-3 large carrots sliced

2 Large potatoes Chopped

1 large onion chopped

1 to 2 lbs ground beef 

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 quart tomato juice

Steps:

1. Put celery, potatoes, carrots, ground beef, onion, salt and pepper in large pot
2. add enough water to just cover the ingredients
3. Add tomato juice
4. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cook 1 hour covered
5. Stir occasionally to break up meat
6. Skim off fat from the top off broth
7. Season to taste

TIPS

** Pour over noodles for an extra boost, but remember pasta absorbs broth !
Add peas, mushrooms, or any other vegetable you think would be good

Party Cheese Ball

Ingredients:

3 cups shredded cheese
1 package cream cheese (8ounces)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Chopped Nuts
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Crackers/ Fresh Vegetables
1 and 1/2 teaspoons of onion powder

Steps:

1. Combine Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, onion powder, mayo, and Worcestershire in a bowl
2. Mix Well
3. Form into ball and roll into nuts 
4. Serve with crackers or other create ides that go good with cheese

What to eat on Good Friday?

Good Friday is a day when you are not supposed to eat meat. Today's the day to eat seafood and fish, as a main course. Personally I like Salmon and shrimp, in place of any other meal. Here is a shrimp recipe to help spice up your meal Friday night.

Shrimp with Rosemary

Ingredients:

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, or double for fresh rosemary
• 1/4 cup finely minced parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup Lemon Juice
• 1 dozen raw jumbo shrimp
• Lemon Zest (1 tablespoon)

Steps:

1. Mix together Oil, cayenne, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, rosemary, and zest in a bowl
2. Marinate the shrimp and refrigerate for four to twenty-four hours
3. Broil Shrimp for four minutes
4. Marinate again, and continue
5. Flip shrimp over and broil for another four minutes
6. Serve right after cooked, or refrigerate to serve cold

Tip** Marinade the night before for extra flavor.

How to make Jello Eggs

What you need....

• Egg Mold
• Jello (Favorite flavors)
• Hot water
• Measuring cup with pouring spout
• Cooking spray                  

What to do....

First open the molder and spray with cooking spray so jello wont stick

Make jello as directed on box, usually will ask for hot water

Stir until fully dissolved

Do not mix flavors of jello for solid colored eggs

* you should do one flavor at a time

Pour jello mixture into measuring cup 

Make sure the egg molder is closed tightly 

Pour mixture through the top holes until egg is filled

* Just fill to the top of egg shape

Put in fridge and let set for a few hours

Use a small butter knife to gently open the mold, and remove eggs

Keep refrigerated !

Repeat for other flavors

How to color Easter eggs

First you have to hard boil the eggs, which is very easy.

1. Fill a pot with water, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and a teaspoon of salt
2. Gently put eggs into pot and bring to a boil
3. Reduce to medium heat and let cook for 15- 20 minutes

REFRIGERATE AFTER REMOVED FROM WATER FOR AT LEAST 12 HOURS

When eggs are ready to be colored.....

1. Get six medium size plastic cups
2. Put 1 tablespoon of vinegar in the bottom, and add 15 drops of food coloring. (add 20 to 25 for deeper colors)
3. Add half a cup of water, and stir
4. Do this in every cup with different colors
5. Mix colors to get different shades

Get spoons, rubber bands, egg decorating kit (optional), stickers, white crayon, and paper towels.

Be sure to have your egg carton handy.

1. To start off lay newspaper or something down so you don't stain you working space
2. Wear gloves if you have them
3. Put one colored egg into a cup at a time and let sit ( the longer it sits in the color the darker the egg will be)
4. Hold egg half way in the color with a spoon or wire egg holder from kit to get more designs or patterns
5. Use the white crayon before dipping in color to draw a design
6. Use rubber bands to wrap around the egg, after the color dries and the bands are removed an interesting design will be left white. Or if dipped in another color it will look striped
7. You can use paper towel to lighten colors, and help dry them faster, be gentle though
8. There are many ways to decorate eggs and if you have kids it is important to be creative. Just have fun with it. 

After Easter is over, remove shells, wash thoroughly, and enjoy an egg salad sandwich 

How to make Deviled eggs

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1 tablespoon of mustard
• Paprika
• Salt and Pepper
• Green olives (optional)

Steps:

1. Carefully put eggs in a pot of water ( Use a spoon to set on the bottom of the pot so they don't crack)
2. Bring water to a boil for 5 minutes, then reduce heat cover and let sit for 15 minutes
3. Carefully remove eggs and let cool, put in refrigerator until cold
4. Take out and slice in halves, remove the yolk and place egg face up on a dish
5. Put all the yolks in a bowl with mayo, mustard, salt and pepper. 
6. Mash thoroughly
7. Spoon back into the wholes, lefts in the eggs ( Or fill a plastic bag and cut the corner, like you would to frost a cake)
8. Lightly sprinkle paprika on top of eggs
9. Top with an olive if you want 

Tips:

* Add vinegar and a little salt to the water in case an egg breaks. It will help keep the white part of the egg from exiting the shell while boiling.

How to Fry French Fries out of the Bag

Frying french fries out the bag can be really easy but very dangerous if you don't pay close attention to them. When frying foods make sure your grease or oil does not get to hot because it may start a fire. oil can bubble over, or start splattering and can cause severe burns. But frying french fries is really easy, if you take the right precautions.

Things you will need

• Frozen French Fries
• Vegitable Oil
• Frying Pan
• Stove

Directions:

1. Bring oil to medium heat
2. Insert French fries into grease
3. Cook until Golden Brown
4. Remove carefully with tongs
5. Place on plate with paper towel to help absorb extra grease

If you do start a small fire, wet a wash cloth and throw it over the flames. Or pour salt over it.

Homemade Sloppy Joe's

Ingredients: (makes 2-3 Sandwiches)

• 1 small can Tomato Paste
• Chili powder
• Half an Onion (Finely Chopped)
• Half a green pepper (Finely Chopped)
• Small pack Ground Beef
• Hot Sauce ( for an OPTIONAL twist)
• 1/2 cup of ketchup
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Pack of hamburger Buns
• Cup of water

Steps:

1. Saute pepper and onion in light oil for 5 minutes ( just lightly, not until brown)
2. Put pasta sauce, water, onion, and green pepper in a sauce pan on medium heat
3. Do not bring to a boil
4. In separate skillet cook hamburger until almost done
5. Drain grease, and add to saucepan
6. Stir in Ketchup
7. Cook covered for five minutes, it should make a meat sauce
8. Add more water for thinner consistency
9. Sprinkle chili powder, salt and pepper into sauce
10. Serve on hamburger buns with sweet potato fries

How do you make Risotto?

Ingredients:
6 cups of Chicken Broth (heated)
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (Separate two tablespoons until the end of recipe)
2 cups Arborio Rice
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese



Steps:

1. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in saucepan
2. Add onions, cook until translucent
3. Add rice
4. Slowly stir in white wine (Continue stirring until full absorbed)
5. Add chicken broth, very slowly (Stir constantly until rice is cooked)
6. Add cheese and remaining tablespoons of butter

* You can steam up some mushrooms and add them if you like

How to make Cacio e Pepe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound or spaghetti
• 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of black pepper
• 1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese ( or 1 and 3/4 Pecorino and skip next ingredient)
• 3/4 cup grated Cacio de Roma 

Steps:

1. Boil pasta until al dente in saucepan (continue on to other steps while this one is in process)
2. Heat oil in a skillet
3. Add pepper until fragrant
4. Add 3/4 cup of pasta water to oil
5. Bring to a boil
6. Use Tongs** to transfer pasta into oil skillet
7. Sprinkle 3/4 cup of cheese on pasta
8. Toss until creamy
9. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 and 3/4 cup of heavy cream
• 6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 pound of pasta (angel hair, Spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine, of any other pasta you like)
• Spices: Parsley, nutmeg, white pepper, shallots, lemon zest

Steps:

1. Get a sauce pan and combine heavy cream and butter
2. Put over medium heat until bubbling
3. Stir in Parmesan cheese (and any other white cheese of your choice)
4. Season to your liking
5. While making sauce, bring a separate pot of water to boil
6. Slowly stir in pasta, and cook until desired softness
7. Drain noodles thoroughly
8. Pour a little Alfredo sauce into the cooked noodles so they don't stick together
9. When serving pour sauce over noodles on plate and use parsley as a garnish

Alfredo is very good with chicken in it, you can grill, boil, bake, or steam the chicken. Cut into strips and stir into sauce. Or crumble on top with grated Parmesan cheese.