Simple Cookery

Turtle Pumpkin Pie

2009-11-15T16:14:00.004-06:00

I saw this recipe in a magazine and just had to try it. I altered the recipe a little to cut down on the sugar content. Check out the original at kraftfoods.com.
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Turtle Pumpkin Pie
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1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar free caramel ice cream topping, divided
1 graham cracker pie crust
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp chopped pecans, divided
2 pkg. sugar free vanilla flavor instant pudding
1 cup 2% cold milk
1 can plain pumpkin (15 oz) (not pie mix)
1 & 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tub Extra Creamy Cool Whip (8 oz)
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Pour 1/4 cup caramel topping into crust and sprinkle with 1/2 cup nuts. Whisk pudding mixes, milk pumpkin and spices until blended. Stir in 1 and 1/2 cups cool whip. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate. Top with remaining cool whip, nuts and caramel before serving.
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Here's a picture before the additional topping was added.

I didn't really measure the caramel sauce. I just layered it on the bottom of the pie and drizzled some more on the top. This would also be great as a frozen treat. Enjoy!

Crockpot Cranberry Chicken & Rice

2009-11-08T15:25:00.003-06:00

I found this interesting recipe at Crockpot Wednesday's on Dining With Debbie. This is a great site that will give you lots of crockpot ideas! The recipe was posted by Fancy Frugalista. You can visit her site for the original Cranberry Crockpot Chicken recipe. Of course I had to change a couple of things! I used a spice blend - Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs Seasoning. I also cheated and used one of the many frozen rice & vegetable sides available today. I think it would also be great over wild rice. So, here's my version.
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Crockpot Cranberry Chicken & Rice
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2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts (skinless)
1 tablespoon Tony Chachere's Spice N' Herbs seasoning
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 can whole cranberry sauce
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Sprinkle chicken breasts with seasoning on both sides. Put in crockpot and pour in chicken broth. Top with cranberry sauce. Cook on low 4-5 hour. Serve over rice and vegetables.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T07:55:00.003-05:00

Happy Halloween! Since I figure most of you will have lots of leftover candy, I wanted to share this recipe recently shown on WSMV - More at Midday - Don't Bug Me Chocolate Cake. Not only is it great for Halloween, but I think it would make a cute birthday cake. Check it out and have a Happy Halloween!

Herb & Garlic Chicken

2009-10-26T03:48:00.001-05:00

The secret ingredient in this baked chicken dish is Lipton Recipe Secrets Savory Herb with Garlic Soup & Dip Mix. I love the flavor it gives to chicken. Adding cream of chicken soup helps make a delicious and creamy gravy. Try this simple recipe the next time you find chicken on sale!
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Herb & Garlic Chicken
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Chicken Legs & Thighs (5 each)
1 packet of Lipton Savory Herb with Garlic Soup & Dip Mix
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup water
1 small can of mushrooms, drained
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse and pat dry chicken. Toss to coat with the Lipton soup mix. Line a shallow baking pan with foil. Coat with olive oil. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Cover with foil. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for another 20 minutes. Mix mushrooms, cream of chicken soup and 1/4 cup water. Remove foil and spoon soup mixture over chicken. Continue baking, uncovered, another 15 minutes or until liquid has thickened.
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Check out more great recipes at this weeks The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.

Simple Cookery on BettyCrocker.com

2009-10-24T04:36:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it's been a year since I started my Simple Cookery blog! A big 'Thank You' has to go out to all my friends and followers. Thanks for your support and comments over the past year!
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This month Simple Cookery is featured on BettyCrocker.com along with several other blogs with Cereal Spooktacular Creations! I was so excited to hear they were featuring my Golden Graham Spiders and Halloween 'Boo' Bags. Check it out and be sure to keep visiting Simple Cookery!

Ham and Cheese Casserole

2009-10-23T03:34:00.001-05:00

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I love coupons. I especially love coupons for free products! Lately Kroger has been very good with their cash register coupons. They gave me a coupon for their Kroger brand Deluxe Shells & Cheddar. So, I decided to see how far I could stretch this 'free' food. Leftovers combined to make this delicious casserole.
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Ham & Cheese Casserole
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1 box Deluxe Shells & Cheddar (12 oz)
1 cup cooked broccoli
1/2 cup cooked ham
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
salt & pepper to taste
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook shells & cheese according to package directions. Combine water, soup and ham. Mix in shells and cheese. Pour in a small casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30minutes or until slightly browned on top.

Check out more great recipes at this week's Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.

Cranberry Raisin Drops

2009-10-19T23:47:00.000-05:00

I was telling Sunflower Sue about my latest chocolate and fruit experiment the other day. She wondered if I would be posting a picture. My answer was no, because it looked like all the other chocolate drop candies I had already posted. The taste is different, but you can't tell that from the picture. So, had this partial bag of candy corn that needed to be used. Well, it is Fall and close to Halloween....
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Cranberry Raisin Drops
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1 lb of chocolate almond bark
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Candy Corn
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Melt chocolate according to package directions. Stir in cinnamon. Add graham cracker crumbs, cranberries, raisins and pecans. Drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper. Before chocolate sets, top each candy with a piece of Candy Corn.

Bow-Tie Pasta & Meatballs

2009-10-17T03:30:00.000-05:00

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We all have those days. We're too tired to cook or have run out of time. And, I don't want to measure anything! Well, here's a five ingredient dish that you can make anytime. Just base the amount of ingredients on the size of your casserole dish. I used a small casserole dish and I've listed the measurements for it to the side of the ingredient. I used canned pasta sauce and store bought frozen meatballs, but you could make a batch of your own to keep in the freezer. The uncooked pasta absorbs the water in the dish as it cooks.
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Bow-Tie Pasta & Meatballs
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Prego Pasta Sauce mushroom & onion(2 cups)
Bow-Tie Pasta-small (1 cup)
Water (3/4 cup)
Frozen Swedish Meatballs (1 dozen)
Mozzarella Cheese (1/2 cup)
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Layer uncooked pasta in bottom of casserole dish. Mix water and pasta sauce. Layer sauce on top of pasta. Top with frozen meatballs. Cover dish with foil and bake for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Remove foil and sprinkle cheese over meatballs. Cook another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

And the winner is....

2009-10-16T03:32:00.001-05:00

The winner is....

Katy

Congratulations Katy! E-mail me at simplecookery@aol.com with your address so I can ship your prize courtesy of MyBlogSpark and Tablespoon.com!
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Be sure to visit Tablespoon.com for delicious recipes!

Guest Recipe - Susan's Pizza

2009-10-09T19:19:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I'm going to Sunflower Sue's house the next time she makes pizza! She sent me this delicious recipe.
Here's a picture just as it's going in the oven!
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Susan's Pizza
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1 lb. ground sausage (I almost always use Tennessee Pride mild sausage )
Canadian Bacon – 5 –7 pieces
1 medium onion
1/2 to 1 cup chopped green pepper – approx..
1 small can mushroom pieces drained
Cheddar Cheese and Mozzarella cheese or what ever you like (Combo of ricotta, Provolone, etc.)
4 oz. sliced Pepperoni
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Adjust the ingredients to your liking. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.
Prepare your crust mix as directed on package. While it is resting you can fix the rest. Chop your onion and green pepper. To the size you like (I use frozen peppers a lot)
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Brown a pound of sausage, if there is a lot of fat, drain some off, if too little you can add some margarine. Remove the meat and add the chopped onion and green pepper. Cook until just tender you don’t want them to get real wimpy. When I use the frozen green peppers I let the onion cook a bit before I add the pepper.
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While that is cooking you can chop up your Canadian bacon.
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Put some sauce on the prepared crust
Sprinkle with some cheese
Add your meats and toppings
add more cheese on top..
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Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and browned to your liking

Tablespoon.com & Contest

2009-10-03T05:41:00.003-05:00

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I was given an opportunity to preview a new website from General Mills, Tablespoon.com. This is a great site that lets you find, save and share delicious recipes. You have access to over 25,000 of the best recipes on the web. Becoming a member allows you to add your own recipe creations and create your own version of existing recipes that suit your own taste. You can also save up to $80 each month with printable coupons from a great selection of your favorite brands.
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Part of the appeal of Tablespoon.com is the ability to organize all your recipes in one place. And, if you add your recipes to Tablespoon.com, your recipe and profile could be featured in a Tablespoon newsletter sent to thousands of subscribers!
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Visit Tablespoon.com today and begin searching for your 'next' favorite recipe. Thanks to MyBlogSpark and General Mills, I have a "Pass the Inspiration" Prize Pack to giveaway to one of my readers. Every cook can use an extra potholder or measuring cup and this prize comes with both in addition to a great set of measuring spoons. Just leave a comment below and if you found a great recipe on Tablespoon.com, let me know about it. If you're already a follower of Simple Cookery, you are automatically entered in this contest; but I'd love a comment anyway! Hurry, the Contest ends Midnight, October 15th.
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This contest has ended. The Winner was Katy. Congratulations Katy!

Golden Graham Spiders

2009-09-30T08:59:00.001-05:00

Golden Graham Spiders
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These spiders may look scary, but they taste delicious. Coconut tinted with black food coloring give the spiders their ‘hairy’ appearance. They make the perfect addition to your Halloween treat table! This is one of the recipes that I submitted to BettyCrocker. For details on how you can submit your own spooky recipes for the chance to appear on the homepage this Halloween or to find other delicious treats, click here.
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Golden Graham Spiders
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1 cup Golden Graham cereal, crushed
8 oz package of chocolate almond bark
2 Tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
½ cup raisins
½ cup rolled oats.
1 cup coconut
Black food coloring
Miniature pretzels, about a half-cup
Writing icing, red
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In a glass bowl, mix coconut with a few drops of black food coloring. Stir until complete coated, adding more if needed. Set aside. Melt almond bark according to package directions. Mix in peanut butter and stir until smooth. Add cereal, raisins, and oats. Drop by tablespoonful onto wax paper, making the candy in an oblong shape. Before candy hardens, top each one with the tinted coconut.. Break pretzels into small pieces reserving the ones that are slightly curved to make your spider legs. Coat each pretzel ‘leg’ with melted chocolate and attach to the spiders side. Someone may be counting, so be sure to use four legs on each side. Reinforce the legs by drizzling a little melted chocolate on each side after they are attached. Sprinkle a little more coconut on top. Take the red writing icing and add two red dots on the front of each spider for eyes.

Simple Cookery Fried Rice

2009-09-29T04:18:00.001-05:00

This is a dish that works well for brunch or for dinner. If you don't like sausage, substitute chicken, ham, beef or even make a vegetarian style. You can also add different veggies to stretch the meal. While the title says 'fried' rice, I don't really fry it. I use Uncle Ben's brown rice because it's ready in under two minutes in the microwave and has no added sodium. If you use one of the flavored blends, taste your dish before you add any salt. You can also use a mixture of brown, white or wild rice.
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Simple Cookery Fried Rice
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2-3 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 pound mild sausage
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
salt to taste (I don't use any)
1 medium onion
1 can mushrooms, drained
1-2 tablespoons soy sauce (to taste)
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Brown sausage with garlic powder and pepper. Add onion and mushrooms. Continue cooking until onions are tender. Drain excess grease. Mix in soy sauce. Toss in rice and continue to cook another 1-2 minutes until well blended.
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Check out more great recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap.

Simple Steak Sauce

2009-09-25T23:04:00.004-05:00

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Steak sauce can be very expensive. Of course, one of my friends would say that a properly cooked steak needs no sauce. That may be true, but I like to use steak sauce on everything from burgers to fries. I came up with this recipe in desperation one night when I was completely out of any 'store-bought' sauce. You can use any type of grilling or steak seasoning, though I prefer Mrs. Dash because there is no added salt. If you prefer a bold sauce, add a few drops of Worcestershire sauce.

Simple Steak Sauce
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1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Grilling Blend
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
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Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving to allow spices to absorb some of the liquid. Refrigerate any leftovers! It isn't necessary to add salt since there is plenty in the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
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Check out more great recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Steel Cut Oats

2009-09-21T01:02:00.000-05:00

I grew up with quick cooking oats. Sometimes we would have rolled oats. I had heard of steel cut oats and was always curious about them. But, I figured they took a long time to cook. I also figured you needed to stand over the stove while cooking them, so I was hesitant to try it. But, in the end, the prospect of an even healthier oatmeal won out.

The oats look kind of dubious when you first open the can. But, they cook up easy and have a delicious nutty flavor. I followed the package directions and only had to stir twice during the twenty minute cooking time. They ended up perfect. I sprinkled mine with a little cinnamon and added some honey.

So, the next time you are searching for oatmeal, try steel cut oats. The brand I tried was a traditional Irish brand, but Quaker sells them too. I've even seen some store brands. And, if you're in a hurry in the mornings, cook a big batch up. It warms up nicely for a quick breakfast.

Taco Casserole

2009-09-18T00:51:00.001-05:00

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This is just one of those thrown together casseroles that ended up tasting great. I had some leftover ground beef and cooked noodles and needed something for dinner. You could add your own favorite ingredients or use part of a taco seasoning packet instead of the spices I've used.
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Taco Casserole
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1/2 pound ground beef
1 small onion chopped
8 ounces noodles, cooked according to package
1 cup medium salsa
1/8 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Season ground beef with cumin, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Brown ground beef and onion over medium heat. Drain. Combine beef mixture, noodles and salsa. Pour into shallow casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake 20-30 minutes or until bubbly.

For more great recipes, visit this week's The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Chicken & Dumplings

2009-09-15T00:40:00.000-05:00

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Growing up, I never thought I liked chicken and dumplings. Grandma always ended up leaving some bones in the pot no matter how careful she was in cooking. One day, Mom made this version and I discovered that I loved them! There is something warm and satisfying about a pot simmering on the stove. I used canned biscuits, but you could make your own dumplings. A friend of mine uses flour tortillas cut into strips, and that version is delisious too. This is a great way to use leftover chicken. The chicken I used was from a leftover deli chicken, so I didn't add any salt to my dish.
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Chicken & Dumplings
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3-4 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 can biscuits, 8 count
2 cups chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups water
salt & pepper to taste
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Combine chicken, broth, water and soup in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Cut biscuits into quarters & drop into pot. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Halloween 'Boo' Bags

2009-09-08T20:57:00.003-05:00

I was given a wonderful opportunity to submit a Halloween recipe to BettyCrocker.com for possible publication on their website. I actually came up with two recipes and will be posting the next one closer to Halloween. If you're interested in submitting your own recipe, click here. Their website also has great recipes, contests, coupons and much more. These little Halloween ‘Boo’ Bags are not only cute, but they are completely edible right down to the handle. The chocolate covered bars stand up to look like bags filled with Halloween treats.
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Halloween ‘Boo’ Bags
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Ingredients for the bars
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10 oz bag of large marshmallows
3 Tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
3 cups Trix cereal
1 cup Cheerios
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
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Butter an 8x8 pan and set aside. Combine Trix, Cheerios, pecans and cranberries in bowl and set aside. In a heavy sauce pan, over low heat, melt butter. Add marshmallows and stir until melted and blended with butter. Add cinnamon and vanilla. Stir well. Add cereal mixture. Pour into 8x8 pan. Smooth down top with the back of a buttered spoon on spatula. Allow to cool at room temperature.

When mixture is cooled, cut into 9 equal size bars. The bars will still be a little soft, so you can mold them, if needed, so they will stand up right. Place bars in the freezer for ten minutes.
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Ingredients for decorating the bars
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16 oz almond bark
Writing icing
Candy corn for decorating
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While bars are chilling, melt almond bark according to package directions. Remove bars from freezer. Dip each bar in the chocolate, leaving about half an inch uncovered, and stand upright on wax paper. Once chocolate is hardened, apply the handles. Coat the inside first inch of each licorice stick with the melted chocolate. Apply each end to the side of a bag and hold in place until the chocolate hardens, about 20 to 30 seconds. You can reinforce the handle by adding a little melted chocolate around the seams.
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To make signs for your bags, put wax paper on a cutting board. Spread a thin layer of melted chocolate on wax paper. Make the area large enough to write all of the words you want on your bag. With writing icing, spell out the words you want, like RIP or Boo. You can even use names if you want. Leave enough room between each word to cut out signs. With a sharp knife, cut around your words. Lift the wax paper and remove each sign. Put a little melted chocolate on the back of the sign and place it on the front of the treat bag. The chocolate will harden and hold the sign in place.
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Store in air tight container overnight. If you are not serving the bags the next day, refrigerate them until ready to serve.

Hamburger Noodle Casserole

2009-09-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

This casserole has always been a family favorite and one of the first ones Mom taught me to make. I updated it to use whole wheat noodles and ground sirloin instead of ground beef. We always liked the noodles a little 'crunchy' on top. But, if you don't, just cover the casserole dish before baking.
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Hamburger Noodle Casserole
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1 pound ground sirloin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1 pkg wide noodles (8 oz)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
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Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook noodles according to package directions. In medium skillet, brown ground sirloin, pepper, salt and garlic powder. Add onion and green pepper and cook an additional 2 minutes. Mix milk and soup in a large bowl. Add ground beef, noodles and cheese. Pour into deep casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly.

Pillsbury Cheeseburger Pot Pie

2009-09-04T06:34:00.001-05:00

Pillsbury sent me this great little cookbook full of recipes for Pot Pies & Casseroles. When I saw the Cheeseburger Pot Pie recipe, I had to try it. I pretty much followed the recipe with two exceptions. Instead of using ketchup, I substituted Manwich Sloppy Joe sauce. Also, I sprinkled some seasoned salt on top of the pie crust. Check out the full recipe - Pillsbury Cheeseburger Pot Pie.

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Check out more great recipes at this weeks Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap!

Tuna & Vegetable Casserole

2009-09-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to follow the recipe I had on hand for a tuna casserole, but I was lacking some of the major ingredients. So, I came up with this dish instead. It's a great way to use up some leftover rice and vegetables. Or, you can substitute your favorite ingredients.
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Tuna & Vegetable Casserole
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2 cups cooked brown & wild rice (I used Uncle Ben's)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can albacore tuna, drained (6 oz)
1 can mushrooms slices, drained (4 oz)
Frozen mixed vegetables (16 oz pkg of broccoli, cauliflower & carrot blend)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup French's onions
1/2 cup water
salt & pepper to taste
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Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook vegetables according to package directions or re-heat leftover vegetables. Combine rice, soup, water, tuna, mushrooms. Add vegetables, cheese, salt & pepper. Cook covered at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Top with onions, reduce heat to 350 degrees, and cook an addition 8-10 minutes until onions are browned. (Note: I did not add any salt or pepper to the dish because the leftover rice I used was an herb blend and well-seasoned.) Here's a picture before the topping is added.

Guest Recipe - Corn Dip

2009-08-30T06:27:00.001-05:00

Here's another great recipe from Leslie just in time for football season! This goes perfect with corn chips.
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Corn Dip
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One 8 oz package of cream cheese
2 cans white shoepeg corn
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1/2 stick of butter
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Drain all cans, mix together and cook in microwave for 5 minutes to start. Mix 1/2 way thru cooking time.

Guest Recipe - Grape Salad

2009-08-28T21:22:00.004-05:00

Leslie sent me this great recipe for Grape Salad. I've tried it before at potlucks and never dreamed it was so easy to make! Thanks Leslie!

Grape Salad
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8 cups of grapes
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 8oz container of sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 ounces of chopped pecans
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
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Wash and dry grapes. In large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla and white sugar. Add grapes and mix until evenly incorporated. Sprinkle w/ brown sugar and pecans, mix again and refrigerate until serving. Good to make it the night before and chill over night.
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Check out more great recipes at The Grocery Cart Challenge.

Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Back to School Shape Sugar Cookies

2009-08-24T07:00:00.002-05:00

MyBlogSpark recently sent me another new product to try - Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!TM Back to School Shape® sugar cookies! They also sent this cute Pillsbury Back to School gift basket. It included great school supplies like a pencil case, ruler, and pencil sharpener. But, of course, the best part is always the sugar cookie! These sugar cookies, with their little yellow bus, are so cute and delicious! They come with all the quality you've come to expect from Pillsbury. Can't you just imagine greeting your child with a plate of these fresh cookies when they come home from school?
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Well, thanks to MyBlogSpark, I have a Pillsbury Back to School gift basket to give away to one of my blog readers. Just leave a comment below and share how you help making going back to school fun for your children, grandchildren, or other little ones in your life. And, if you've got a big kid that loves little school bus cookies, tell me about that too! This contest ends August, 31, 2009 at midnight, and winners will be announced September 1, 2009. If you're already a follower of this blog, you are automatically entered in the contest, but feel free to comment also!
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This contest has ended. The winner is Patsdal! Congrats Patsdal! Please e-mail me your mailing address so that I can send you your prize.

Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt

2009-08-23T12:04:00.003-05:00

I love to try new products. I especially love to try new products when I have a great coupon. So, I was very excited to try Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt recently. If you've tried some of the new yogurts on the market that include fiber or digestive aids, you may have noticed they are usually higher in calorie content. Yoplait Fiber One has come out with a 50 calorie cup that has zero grams of fat and includes 5 grams of fiber. I tried the Strawberry flavor and it was delicious. Other flavors include Vanilla, Peach and Key Lime Pie. It's the perfect, guilt-free snack and I'd love for you to be able to try it also. Just e-mail me at simplecookery@aol.com with your name and address. I'll send you a coupon for $1.35 good for any flavor Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt Multipacks - and they don't expire until 1/20/2010. Please hurry though because this offer is open to the first five e-mails that I receive and will end August 31, 2009.