Homemade Hamburger Helper

 

Thinking of Hamburger Helper makes me think of spending summers at my dad’s house.  He always had Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper ready to serve up. 

As I learned to cook for myself and to read nutrition labels, I started to stay away from boxed meals and make things from scratch when I could.  I found this recipe on www.farmgirlgourmet.com. 

Talk about easy and delicious.  Seriously…..it didn’t take me any longer to make it from scratch than it did from a box.  You just have to do your own measuring.  No powdered cheese mix here folks.

We devoured this and sadly, there were no leftovers to send with my husband for lunch. 

Homemade Hamburger Helper

1 lb ground beef

2 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups hot water

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

1 Tbsp cornstarch

1 Tbsp chili powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

pinch crushed red pepper

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef.  Drain fat and return to pan.

2. Add the pasta, milk, water, and spices.  Stir to combine.

3. Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to a simmer.  Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes until noodles are al dente.

4. Add the cheese and stir to combine.  Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Calico Beans

 

This is the perfect side dish for any bbq or family gathering.  In fact, we like it so much, I am known to make it as the main dish and serve it with cornbread and a salad.

These are not your grandmas baked beans.  These are over the top.  They are filling, rich, and leave you wanting more.  Don’t me scared off by the lima beans.  Normally, I wont go near lima beans, but they are a whole other creature in this dish.

Gather all your friends and family for a summer BBQ potluck.  Wow them with these beans.

Crock Pot Calico Beans

*Recipe courtesy of my Grammy*

1 lb ground beef

1/2 lb chopped bacon ( I use precooked from Costco)

1 cup chopped yellow onion

1 1/2 cup katchup

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 lb can lima beans, drained

1 lb can kidney beans, drained

2 cans (1 lb each) pork and beans *not drained*

1. Brown ground beef and onion.  Drain and add to crock pot. *if you are using raw bacon, brown it with the beef*

2. Add remaining ingredients and stir well.  Cook on low all day.

Enjoy!!

CopyCat Passion Tea Lemonade

 

I LOVE the Tazo Passion Tea Lemonade from Starbucks.  When I am not pregnant, I usually get an iced latte or a refresher.  But, now that I am keeping the caffeine at bay and save my daily intake for my morning cup of coffee, I was wanting a substitute.  This drink is amazing!  And even better, I can make it at home for a fraction of the cost! 

You only need 4 things for this drink.  Lemonade, Tazo Passion Tea, Ice, and a sweetener of your choice.

It is simple to make this and have it ready on hand.  I boil 8 oz of water in the microwave and then steep 2 bags of tea for 15 minutes.  While it is still warm, I stir in 2 spoons of sugar (you can use any sweetener and as much or as little as you want)  I give it a taste to make sure it is nice and sweet and then stick it in the fridge.

When you are ready for a glass, just fill your cup with ice, and pour in the tea and lemonade.  I like a ratio of 1 part tea to two parts lemonade.  That is how they make it at Starbucks.  You can play with it as much as you like.

*I normally use Simply Lemonade, but the store was sold out.  This was a great substitute if you don’t mind a tiny bit of artificial sweetener.  I will continue to use Simply Lemonade in the future although this tasted exactly the same*

Enjoy your icy drink and the sunshine!!

Mississippi Mudd Cake

 

Just like all around the country, it is scorching here.  For us that means dinner is BBQ, cold sandwiches, or a trip to eat out.  However, yesterday we got a wonderful afternoon thunderstorm and the temperature dropped 30 degrees in 30 minutes.  That is the beauty of living in the mountains.  So, I had time to make a cake!

I found this recipe on Pinterest a few weeks ago but while morning sickness was raging, sweets were NOT my thing.  Ask Clint’s co-workers….he was asked more than once why he had not been bringing treats lately.

This is a VERY sweet treat.  I cut it in to small bars and served it with a tall glass of ice cold milk.  The frosting is amazing and the nuts in the cake make it perfect. 

Mississippi Mudd Cake

1 cup melted butter

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/8 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

10.5 oz bag miniature marshmallows

Chocolate Frosting

16oz powdered sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Whisk together melted butter and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. 

2. Stir in flour and chopped pecans

3. Pour in to foil lined and greased 15X10 inch jelly roll pan.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until center is done.

5. Remove cake from oven and sprinkle marshmallows on top.  Return to oven and bake for 5 minutes.

6. Drizzle Chocolate Frosting over warm cake. 

*These must cool completely before cutting in to squares *

ENJOY!!