Beef Stew

I got this recipe from my mom many years ago when I got married and it is one of our very favorites. It has a lot of red wine vinegar in it. In fact I think I put in more than the recipe calls for. If you aren't a fan of red wine vinegar then you will want to cut the amount down.

This recipe couldn't be easier to put together, requires a crock - pot and a few ingredients and you have a great dinner put together.

Start with the crock- pot, either line it with a slow-cooker liner (my favorite thing) or spray with a cooking spray.

Gather the following ingredients and add to the crock-pot in order.

2 lbs. stew meat
1 package of onion soup mix
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of mushrooms (undrained)
1/2 red wine vinegar

Mix and set to cook on low for eight hours.

Near the end of the cooking time be sure to cook up your favorite noodles. We like the egg wide
noodles the best. Could be served over mashed potatoes.

Serve with bread and a salad and you have dinner.


*computer is not playing fair so I will have to post the picture later.

Did Anyone Say Chocolate??

If you are looking for an easy, chocolately, gooey dessert, this is it.

Chocolate Cobbler

Check out the link for this chocolately goodness.

This recipe is courtesy of Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen
Chocolate Cobbler

Seven Lessons Learned

This past weekend was definitely an adventure in the kitchen. I tried 4 new recipes, homemade granola, maple syrup, blueberry pancakes and pot roast. The last three compliments of a cookbook by Trisha Yearwood. They were all easy and delicious, but along the way I learned seven important things.

• Homemade syrup if not watched carefully will boil over and smoke up your kitchen before you can say "oops."
• I will never win Pancake Cooker of the Year. My technique can use some help.
• Yes, a pot roast can cook on the stove top and turn out delicious.
• Lemon zest and blueberries are simply delicious together.
• Letting homemade granola cool after baking is super important if you don't want it to be a big ball of granola.
• Take pictures of what I make.
• I use the word delicious way to much in this post.

Happy Cooking!

What's For Dinner?

Friday Night's Dinner

Sometimes frozen pizza and a casear salad is what's for dinner at our house.



Valentine's Day Treat

Cherry Chocolate Pie





11 large marshmallows
1/3 cup milk
1 piece (3 ounces) milk chocolate candy bar, chopped
1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided
1 graham cracker crust (10 inches)
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling

In a large saucepan, combine the marshmallows, milk and chocolate. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until smooth. Cool completely.

Fold 3/4 cup whipped topping into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared crust.


Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Top with pie filling and remaining whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

I am making this for Valentine's day tomorrow. I'm using raspberry pie filling instead of cherry because Mike doesn't like cherries. I found this in this month's The Taste of Home Magazine bonus book. It looks very creamy and delicious.





Happy Valentine's Day!!

Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad

Another pasta entry. I really need to get out of my pasta kick. This one is a favorite in our house. I make it at least once a month. I will admit I don't add the mushrooms (Mike isn't a fan) and the pepperoni(I'm not a fan).

When I made this tonight I doubled the sauce, Mike said it was too saucy so it might be better to half the sauce the second go around.

Salad-

2 plum tomatoes, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

8 white button mushrooms, sliced

1 green pepper, chopped

1 pepperoni stick, sliced

1 lb mozzarella cheese, diced

basil

bow - tie pasta

Sauce-

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp oregano leaves

1 tbls tomato paste

2 tbls red wine vinegar

1/3 cup olive oil

black pepper

Combine salad ingredients, basil and cooked pasta. Whisk garlic salt, oregano, tomato paste and vinegar in a small bowl. Stream in olive oil while continuing to whisk. When oil is incorporated, pour dressing over pasta salad. Add black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.

Very delicious!

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Here is another pasta recipe. Pasta is perfect for summer since it doesn't take long or heat up the house. This recipe is at it's best when it's cold and has been made the night before.


16 oz. box rotini
2 boneless chicken breasts
1 bottle Cardini’s original Caesar dressing
1 Tbsp. crushed garlic
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 pint cherry tomatoes
2 Tbsp. Mrs. Dash seasoning
1/3 red onion, chopped

Cook pasta and drain. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and stir-fry in garlic & oil. Mix chicken in with the pasta. Add dressing, onion, and Mrs. Dash. Garnish with cherry tomatoes (optional: cut them in half).