Green Chilli Casserole - thanks CMC!!

My mother got this recipe about 30 years ago, but it used chunks of pork and fried corn tortillas. While I was in Tennessee, I was watching the CMC channel, as they where cooking easy recipes with a Mexican flair. While I do not know if this was ever made in Mexico, I did like the changes. Since then it has become one of my kids favorites.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 cups of milk

1 can of green chillies chopped (I use 2 but I love chillies)
1 lb of shredded cheddar cheese
1 bag of corn chips ( I get the ones that are $2)

In 5 quart pot, brown ground beef and drain. Add soup, milk and cheese, mix well. Crush the chips in the bag, not to small, but pieces smaller than an inch. In a microwavable 10x13 baking dishes, spread a layer of chips, enough to cover the bottom of the pan, but not too thick. Using a ladle, spread a layer of the mix on top of the chips, spread a layer of cheese, alternate each layer two more times. Spread more cheese on top. Cook in the microwave for 5-7 mins.

OPTIONAL: Can bake in the oven at 350* for 20-30 mins or until cheese is melted and bubbling.

Munchie's Beefy Noodle

This is another one for Hamburger Helper to eat there heart out over! This a beef gravy with mushrooms and noodles.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb package cooked noodles drained
3 packages of low sodium brown gravy
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
2 cups water

Brown hamburger and drain, in same pot that you cooked the noodles in mix water, soup and gravy mix. On low heat cook till thickened. Turn off heat, add noodles.

Approx serves 4-6

Approx cost less than 6 dollars - 2.50 hamburger, 1.50 gravy, .90 soup, 1.25 noodles

Grandma's Mac and Tomatoe

Grandma was making one pot GREAT food, long before Hamburger Helper ever thought about it! This is one of Nicholas' favorites.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef

1 lb package macaroni cooked
2-16 oz cans of crushed tomatoes

Optional 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the ground beef, drain. In a 5 qt pot (I use the same one I cooked the macaroni in, then I cook the hamburger in it.) Add tomatoes and cheese. Stir well enjoy.

Approx Cost less that 5 dollars - 1.00 for macaroni, 1.50 for tomatoes, 2.50 for hamburger

Shephard's Pie

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef

2 cans of tomatoe sauce

1 package of frozen mixed vegetables

1 package of Idahoan Instant Potatoes

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350* (optional use microwave see below for directions on putting in dish) Brown ground beef in 5 quart pot, drain. Return meat to pot. Add the cans of tomatoe sauce and vegetables, stir till completely mixed. Make potatoes according to package directions. Stir in cheese. Spoon potatoes on top of meat and vegetables, smooth out like icing on a cake. Bake in oven for 15 minutes.

Microwave directions: Follow directions as above but use a 5 quart microwavable dish. Heat for 5-7 minutes depending on microwave.

This has become one of Erik's favorites after he FINALLY tried this summer.

Looking for a coupon for Idahoan Potatoes: http://www.idahoan.com/

Sausage Gravy aka Biscuits & Gravy

Ingredients

1 lb pork sausage
2 tbs of margarine or butter
1/4 cup of flour
2 cups of milk

1 tsp salt 1 tsp garlic pwd

1/2 tsp pepper 1 tsp onion pwd or 1 med onion chopped up

In medium/large pot, brown sausage and onion in the marg or butter. Add flour, stir till all meat is coated with flour, turn down heat and milk and seasonings. Stir till thickened. Serves approx 4

Serve over Pillsbury Grands Flake Biscuits. I have yet to find a recipe I like as much as these.

Grandma's Old Fashion Mac n Cheese

Ingredients

1 lb package macaroni cooked

1 lb shredded cheddar cheese (I like the mild, Grandma prefered the sharp)

4 cups of milk
6 beaten eggs

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Preheat oven at 350* Mix all ingredients in a 5 quart non-stick cooking pot. Bake for 45 mins, till firm. Servings approx 4

NOTE: I cook this with the meat loaf recipe at the same time. Depending on your oven it may take a little longer.

Grandma's Meat Loaf - Meat Mix

This recipe is used for Meat Loaf, Stuffed Green Peppers, Salisbury Steaks, and Meatballs. My boys have nicked name the salisbury steaks double Ms and the meatballs triple Ms. In reference to the size.

Ingredients - recipe size is using 1 lb of ground beef, serving size listed by recipe.

Meat Mix
1 lb ground lean beef
1 egg
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp sage
1 tsp garlic pwd
1 tsp onion pwd OR 1 small onion chopped

MEAT LOAF

Additional Ingredients for Meat Loaf
2 cups of water

Optional catsup or tomatoe sauce

Preheat oven to 350* Mix meat mixer ingredients. Place in 10x13 backing dish, form into rectangle in the middle of the pan, making it 3 inches across and 2 inches thick. Pour water around the loaf. Pour catsup/tomatoe sauce on top of loaf. Place in oven for 45 mins. Serving size approx 4

MEATBALLS

Preheat oven to 350* Mix meat mixer ingredients. Using a teaspoon or a 1-5/8 inches cookie dough scoop, like the on pictured below. Place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 mins. Use in your favorite mariner sauce or other recipe. Makes approx 12 - 15 meatballs. Serving size approx 4

SALISBURY STEAKS

1 cup of flour
Small bowl

Preheat oven to 350* Mix meat mixer ingredients. Put cup of flour in bowl. Divide into 2-3 balls, using hands, form into oblong patty. Flour on both sides, place in 10x13 backing dish. Bake for 30-35 mins. Server with gravy on top, recipe below. Serving size approx 2-3

Gravy -
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg of brown gravy mix
1 cup of milk or water
1 cup of sliced mushrooms (Optional)

Mix water and soup in medium sauce pan and gravy mix. Heat on medium high till thickened. Add mushrooms, simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Optional serving suggestion - pour over salisbury steaks in baking dish.

STUFFED GREEN PEPPERS

2 green peppers
2 cups of water

Preheat oven to 350* Mix meat mixer ingredients. Slice peppers in half so that you have to equal pieces, clean out the seeds. Divide meat mixer into 4 parts, stuff into green pepper half. Place in 10x13 baking dish meat side up. Pour water around peppers. Bake for 30-35 mins. Serving size approx 2-4

Welcome to Grandma's Kitchen

Growing up my Grandma lived in a very old house, the living room was in fact a log cabin. The house was added on to over the years and the kitchen was a huge room with a wood cook stove it. Although Grandma did not use it any times that I can remember. Even the winter the power was out for a week. We used the coal/wood stove in the living room. Which was fine, because Grandma did not get a furance put in till a few years later.

Grandma's house was a place for great food. My senior year of high school you could always count on Grandma, letting my friends and myself come by at anytime of day for food. Even better was Sunday dinner at there. My favorite was stuffed green peppers and macaroni n cheese.

Grandma passed away 10 years ago, but I still use her recipes all the time and have created a few of my own. Here is a collection of my favorites and more. Enjoy, if you have any questions, need help with recipe or are trying to find one, just ask.

~Chris