Homemade Hamburger Helper?

This recipe was taken from my Ward Cookbook, the Bishop's wife contributed it. And my kids LOVE it! Super simple... so why would I ever buy Hamburger Helper again for a quick meal?

 

The secret is in this great Season Salt we found! No MSG!! And it tastes GREAT!

(found at Costco, and more recently at Wal*Mart) 

Cook some pasta, al dente. It doesn't matter which kind, though my kids like the shells for some reason! LOL 

Brown your Hamburger, seasoning generously with the season salt.

Add a can of drained corn, heat through.

Drain the pasta. 

Add the meat to the noodles and smoother with grated cheese.

That is it!!

Isn't she brilliant?

5 ingredients and it is tasty!!!

And no added preservatives or funny "boxed food taste".

Serve with a great side salad and you are done!

Cake Mix Cookies

These are some of our most favorite treats...

Super simple recipe where you can have 2 dozen cookies in less than 20 minutes, perfect for that last minute potluck! And the possibilities are ENDLESS... 

You Need:

1 cake mix (any flavor)

2 eggs

1/3 cup of oil

Mix together, add desired extras, place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 8-9 minutes.

This particular batch was made with our favorite combinations:

Yellow cake mix with semi-sweet chocolate chips & butterscotch chips.

More Great Combos:

Chocolate with nuts and marshmallows, for Rocky Road Cookies

Strawberry with cream cheese frosting

Devil's Food with cream cheese frosting (homemade Oreos!)

Cinnamon, rolled in sugar for great snicker doodles

Plain yellow or white, served with strawberries and whipped cream

Classic Chocolate chip with a butter yellow or white mix

White with frosting for a sugar cookie

Chocolate Fudge with Mint Chips

See??

Endless possibilities! Play with it! Your family will thank you!

Sloppy Joes

I needed a quick dinner... and the canned version did not sound good! I found this recipe in a friend's ward cookbook and I tweaked it! :) Isn't that what we do?  

I added a healty dose of onion powder - as I didn't have an onion.

And I only used 1 lb. of hamburger.

Then I added a healthy sprinkling of our new favorite seasoning! YUM!!

It was the first time that everyone in my household ate a sloppy joe!

Definately a do over! :)

p.s. try this seasoning on steaks... it is divine!

Homemade Icecream Cake

It's so much prettier when it isn't melting! LOL

25 ice cream sandwiches, unwrapped

1 batch Amy's Butter Cream Frosting

On a serving platter, lay 5 ice cream sandwiches side by side to form a rectangle. Spread top with a layer of frosting. Top with another layer of ice cream sandwiches, followed by frosting, continuing 5 layers high. Cover entire "cake" with remaining frosting. Freeze until firm, about 2 hours. To serve, let soften for about 5-10 minutes. Slice down short side for a very pretty cake! :)

Be creative!

Use cookies and cream or Neapolitan flavored, or colored ice cream, chocolate frosting... sky's the limit with this super simple dessert!

Amy... your turn! (lol) We need a frosting lesson! ;)

Pumpkin Pancakes w/ Cinnamon Syrup

1 c. all purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
6 T. packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
dash of ground cloves
dash of nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 2/3 c. buttermilk
3/4 c. canned solid pack pumpkin
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T. melted butter

Mix all dry ingredients together to blend. In another bowl whisk wet ingredients. Pour into dry ingredients and whisk until mostly smooth. Spray skillet or griddle with cooking spray. Drop batter by 1/4 cups and cook until bubbles form on top and bottoms are golden brown. Flip and cook about 2 min more. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve with warm cinnamon syrup.

CINNAMON SYRUP
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 T. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. water

In large sauce pan, stir together dry ingredients. Add water and vanilla and bring to a rolling boil, stirring often. Continue to boil, stirring often, until mixture begins to thicken (about 5-8 min). Remove from heat and let stand a few minutes before serving.

We REALLY enjoyed these last night for dinner, served with a sausage patty and scrambled eggs. YUM!

Pizza Sauce

Tastes just like Pizza Hut's sauce! I couldn't believe it! Super easy and Holy-cow-I-can't-believe-it cheap! :)


1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 tsp. dry oregano
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. dry basil
1/2 tsp. garlic salt

Combine and let sit for about an hour before use to allow flavors to blend. Makes enough for 1 large pizza.

If you watch sales you can get the cans of tomato sauce for less than $.25!

(I tried cooking this to speed up the flavor blending, and it boiled... did not turn out nearly as good. If you are going to heat it up I suggest NOT allowing it to boil - it becomes a little too strong.)

Great Grandma's Spiced Peach Preserves

Ever wonder if there was a quick and easy recipe that will make your house smell divine at the same time to use up all those extra peaches? Well... here is a family favorite! :)

Great-Grandma's Spiced Peach Preserves
Heather Dorius

10 cups of peaches
7 1/2 cups of sugar
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 t. ground cloves

Blanche peaches, remove skins and pits and cut into quarters (I always blanche them a few minutes longer and then I can do all of the above almost in one quick movement! *grin*). In a large pot mash peaches with potato masher. (it's better chunky) Add sugar and spices. Cook on low heat until desired consistency (about 60-90 minutes). Fill into hot sterilized jars, wipe rim and place hot lid and secure with ring. Tip upside down on kitchen towel to cool and seal (I leave them overnight). According to extension guidelines it is good to process them in a water bath for 10 minutes - but that is to sterilize - so I just do it how Grandma said to and we have never had a problem! :)

Tastes great on sandwiches, sugar cookies and warmed up over vanilla icecream! YUM!

Pear Honey

One of Amy's and my many adventures included a new beloved favorite! Many of the neighbors in our neighborhood can't wait for Christmas to receive their new jar of pear honey!

PEAR HONEY
(adapted from an online recipe)

8 cups almost too ripe Pears, run through a food mill
1 cup 100% pineapple juice
8 cups sugar

Bring to a boil in large pot over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Once reaching a full boil (still boils when stirred) reduced to medium (I do medium low) and cook until mixture is the color and texture of pure honey (almost like it needs melted just a little bit)

It takes 2 1/2-3 hours. Stir frequently!! The longer you cook it, the thicker it gets. ;)

Laddle into hot jars, filling to 1/4" of top. Wipe rims and seal with hot lids and rings. Process is water bath canner for 10 minutes (in Utah we should increase that to 15-20). Enjoy!!!

It is BY FAR my MOST favorite thing to can and to eat! :)

3 Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

1 Large Can of Pumpkin (not pie mix)
2 Boxes Spice Cake Mix
1 bag Semi Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mix and Bake on parchment covered cookie sheet for 9-12 minutes @ 350. Let cool on pan for 3-5 minutes, then cool completely on wire rack. YUM! Happy Fall!

Heather's Famous Bread Machine Rolls

I have finally come into good graces with my husband with these rolls. It has taken me awhile to find the perfect roll recipe and here it is. I have started making this in my Kitchenaid mixer starting with the water and yeast and then add the other ingredients and mixing for 2-5 minutes until it's really smooth. You can double this in the kitchenaid as well. Makes 12-15 rolls.

(Side note from Heather: I never dissolve my yeast first, I put it in last, on top of the dry ingredients. It does make little gritty spots of yeast in your dough... but when it is baked it makes delicious little pockets of fluff! *grin* I also only knead it for about 3-4 minutes. Bottom line... these are hard to mess up! They really ARE tasty!)

Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting
Heather Dorius

3 eggs
2 ½ C sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 C oil
½ tsp salt
2 ½ C Flour
¼ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 ½ C grated zucchini

Beat eggs, sugar vanilla and oil together. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spread into 9x13 pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frost with cream cheese frosting while cool
¼ C butter
2 ¼ C powdered sugar
8 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
Mix until smooth and spread over cooled cake

Grandma Stoddard's Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Chocolate Zucchini Cake from Heather’s Grandma Stoddard

2 C Sugar
1 C oil
3 eggs
2 ½ C Flour
¼ C Cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ C milk
2 C shredded zucchini
1 Tbsp vanilla

In large bowl mix sugar and oil; add eggs 1 at a time beating well after each. Combine dry ingredients and gradually alternate with milk. Stir in zucchini and vanilla. Pour into a greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until done. While baking make frosting:

½ C butter
¼ powdered cocoa
6 T evaporated milk
4 C powdered sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla

Mix until creamy – frost HOT cake. Serve when cooled.

Yummy!!!!!