Meatball Rolls

meatball rolls
1 batch bread dough
1 bag store-bought meatballs
12 slices string cheese, diced into bite-size pieces
pizza sauce

prepare dough and roll out flat on countertop.
cut dough into 2 inch squares.
place one frozen meatball and 2 pieces cheese in each square and shape into rolls.
place in greased 9x13 baking dish.
(rolls can be frozen at this point, and then thawed for 4-6 hours before baking)
bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
serve alongside pizza sauce as dip.

banana pudding poke cake

my grandpa holyoak turned 91 this week,

and for his birthday party I wanted to try out a recipe I had seen for a banana cake.

(remember he doesn't eat chocolate & bananas are his fave!)

he's also not supposed to eat a lot of sugar, 

so i tweeked it to have as little sugar as i could.

banana pudding poke cake

1 sugar free yellow cake mix (plus the water, eggs, & oil it calls for)
2 small sugar free, fat free banana pudding boxes
4 cups cold milk
1 tub sugar free cool whip
(opt.) crushed nilla wafers

bake yellow cake mix according to package instructions.
let cool for a few minutes and use a wooden spoon handle to poke holes all over the cake.
mix the two pudding powders with 4c. cold milk and stir well.
let sit for just a minute until it begins to thicken.
pour pudding over entire cake making sure it gets into the holes.
let set in fridge for a couple of hours.
"frost" cake by spreading tub of cool whip evenly over top just before serving.
(opt.) top with crushed nilla wafers.

i'm pretty sure i saw him eat at least five plates of cake,

so i'm gonna call it a success! ;-)

now, the search is on for a cake to celebrate the big 9-2!!!

Sausage & Lentil Stew

1 1/4 c. lentils, rinsed and drained
6 c.  chicken broth
2 c. water
1 kielbasa sausage, sliced & browned
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium carrot, sliced thin
3 cloves garlic,minced
1 t. dried thyme
1/4 t. black pepper
3 T. red wine vinegar

combine all ingredients except vinegar in slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
just before serving add red wine vinegar and stir well.

Pic: http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/smoked-sausage-lentil-stew/

Recipe adapted as well.

cowBoy sammies

cowBoy sammies

1 lb. ground beef
1 tablespoon dehydrated onion
1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper & garlic salt
1 (8oz.) can tomato sauce
6 slices cooked bacon
6 strips green chile
6 slices white cheese
6 hoagie rolls

brown hamburger with onion and spices. drain.

add tomato sauce; stir and simmer until well combined.

fill hoagie with a spoonful of beef, a slice of bacon, strip of chile, & slice of cheese.

wrap each sammie in saran wrap. (freeze & eat it later)...or
microwave on high for 1 minute or until heated through.

careful when unwrapping! it'll be hot and steamy and you'll be tempted to lick the melted cheese right off the saran wrap.

take-out beef

take-out beef

2-3 pound lean ground beef
1 T. rice vinegar 
3/4 c. brown sugar 
1/2 c. soy sauce (use low-sodium)
1/4 c. water
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t. fresh ginger
1 t. crushed red peppers
salt and pepper

heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic.
drain most of the fat.
add the rice vinegar.
add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt and pepper and red peppers. 
simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. 
serve over steamed rice next to veggies.

We ALL surf Pinterest & some ideas flop and some are genius! THIS was a GENIUS idea...but it needed a little twist for my family. I LOVE Pinterest! Finally, a great recipe!!

The original Pinterest recipe made a TINY amount...the hubby needed veggies too, "to make up for the 'baby serving' I gave him"...here's the original: http://elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/2010/05/korean-beef.html

samoa cake (or cupcakes)

samoa cake (or cupcakes)

2 cups  sugar

1 3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. cocoa 

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1 1/2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 eggs

1 c. milk

1/2 c. oil

1 t. vanilla

2 t. coconut flavoring

1 c. coconut, packed

1 (scant) c. boiling water

preheat oven to 350° and line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners.

in a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

add in eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, and coconut flavoring. mix well.

fold in coconut, then add boiling water.  (batter will be very thin!!)

pour batter into 9x13.

bake at 350° for 28-32 mins.

salted caramel buttercream frosting

2 sticks butter, softened

2 t. vanilla extract

1/2 c. caramel topping

4 c. powdered sugar

1 t. salt

cream butter until fluffy.

add in vanilla extract and caramel topping.  

add powdered sugar and salt and mix until smooth.  

if icing is still too thin add a bit more powdered sugar

wait until cake is completely cool & frost!

enjoyed from http://spice-is-nice.com/2011/06/30/samoas-cupcakes/

Hometown

I love this place.