Mexican Rice and Beans

2+ cups beans ( Kidney and Black beans)
1 1/2 cups corn (frozen)
1 jar of salsa
2 1/2 cups V8 juice
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
Shredded cheddar cheese for the top (after cooked)

In a 9×13 inch baking dish place all the ingredients together and stir until mixed.
Cover with foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours or until rice is cooked. Sprinkle your shredded cheese over the top of cooked casserole and place back in oven until melted.

We just had this for the first time tonight and loved it! It's going to become a staple here! :-)

Enjoy! Stacie

Pesto Perfecto!

2 cups fresh basil (thoroughly washed and dried)
4 lg. garlic cloves
1 cup pine nuts or almonds
1 cup olive oil
1 1/4 cups freshly grated Romano cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Place basil, garlic and pine nuts in food processor and chop finely. While food processor is running add olive oil in a steady stream. Add cheese, salt and pepper and mix well. Store in refrigerator or drop by large spoonful(or cookie scoop) onto a wax lined cookie sheet and freeze. After they are frozen solid, place them into a freezer container. Put one or two into spaghetti sauce or thaw and spread on pizza crust before adding other pizza stuff. Spread on bread and grill to serve with grilled meat. Makes a pasta salad delicious!
Makes 3 cups

This pesto is so good!!! I was able to get a big bunch of fresh basil at farmers market for only $3 to make a batch of this. For the cheese, at Sam's I found a four cheese grated blend that is really yummy. Try this pesto to make this sandwich: toasted bread, pesto, sliced mozzarella, sliced tomato, sliced avocado, salt and pepper, fresh basil leaves, more pesto on top slice of bread. A slice of chicken breast would be good too!
Enjoy! Stacie

Easy Peach Jello Jam

Makes 3-4 pints
6 cups mashed fruit (I cut them in very small chunks)
3 cups sugar
2 (3 oz) pkgs peach jello
1 Tbs lemon juice (optional)

Immerse peaches in boiling water for 2 minutes and then rub the skins off under cold water. Cut peaches in small pieces. I even used a potato masher.
Mix fruit and sugar in large pan.
Bring to boil and boil 3 minutes. Stir often so it doesn’t scorch.
Add jello.
Cool and freeze in clean containers. This recipe can be doubled.
Enjoy! Grama Susie

Soft Molasses Cookies

Soft Molasses cookies

½ cup butter, softened
½ c. shortening
1 ½ c. sugar
½ c. molasses
2 eggs
4 c. flour
½ tsp. salt
2 ¼ tsp. baking soda
2 ¼ tsp. ground ginger
1 ½ tsp. ground cloves
1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon

In large mixing bowl, cream together butter, shortening and sugar until light colored and fluffy. Beat in molasses and eggs. Add dry ingredients and blend thoroughly. Roll dough into walnut size balls. Roll in sugar and place 2 ½ inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 11 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool on wire rack. Store in lightly covered container to maintain softness. Yield: about 3 doz.

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato

Homemade Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato

Ingredients* Vanilla Syrup* 2 cups water* 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar* 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract* 1/2 cup fresh espresso* 8 ounces milk, steamed with foam* 3 to 4 tablespoons caramel sauce* 4 small ice cubes and (optional) whipped creamDirections1. You can use vanilla syrup from a bottle or from Starbucks for the drink or make your own vanilla syrup following this Top Secret Recipe:2. HOT Caramel Macchiato3. Simply combine 2 cups water and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then add 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract. Remove from heat and cool. Store in a covered container.4. To make your coffee drink, add two tablespoon of vanilla syrup to a 16-ounce glass. Add 1/2 cup fresh brewed espresso followed by 8 ounces of steamed milk.5. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons caramel sauce to the drink. Stir before drinking.6. NOTE: Iced Caramel Macchiato7. Same ingredients, plus some small ice cubes and (optional) whipped cream:8. In a pint glass or iced tea glass (we're assuming 16 oz), add vanilla syrup and fill about 3/5 of the way with cold milk. Add ice almost to the top and pour espresso (2 shots would be typical) over the top. If you've done it right, the espresso will mix in only about halfway down without stirring. If adding whipped cream, add it here. Drizzle the top with caramel and enjoy.9. Makes one 16-ounce drink (grande size).*Note* You can now pocket the $3.90!!!

Lisa McConnell sent this to me this afternoon. I haven't had a chance to try it, but it sounded so good! Grma Susie

Old Fashioned Colorado Green Chili

This is a simple recipe that can easily be modified to suit your taste.
Ingredients:
2 lbs. cubed pork
1 tbsp. minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1/4 tsp pepper
3 tbsp. flour
2 cups diced fresh tomatoes (you can substitute 1 14 oz can)
1 14.5 oz can chicken broth
1 cup water
2 ½ cups diced green chilies (about 20 chilies)
2 cups diced onion.
Salt & pepper to taste.
Instructions:Brown pork in skillet with garlic and pepper. Add flour and brown as well. In crock pot, mix pork, garlic, tomatoes, water, green chilies and onion. Simmer for at least 2 hours. Water can be added to thin down and flour can be added to thicken.(You can also cook it in a large pot on the stove at low heat.)Hint: Let simmer at least an hour before tasting and modifying by adding chilies, more tomatoes, garlic, etc.This is a very meaty, very slightly thickened chili – thin for Colorado style chili. If you like really thick chili, use 4-5 tbsp. flour rather than 3 and/or reduce the water.Makes approximately 3 quarts. Serves 8-10.

The following is a note from Karen:

I made this recipe yesterday and it went over very well. I doubled it so I had enough for 2 meals and some to freeze. I added 2 pureed jalapenos as it was pretty mild and it turned out about the right spiciness. You could spice it up or down according to your taste. I had frozen some whole tomatoes from the garden last summer that I used instead of the fresh and they worked well. Instead of chicken broth I used bullion cubes. I made it up in the morning and cooked it all day in the crock pot - you wouldn't have to cook it that long. Yesterday we ate it over tortillas with refried beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream and picante sauce. Today we ate like a soup with cheese, sour cream, picante sauce, and tortilla chips/and or tortillas on the side. Both ways it was good.
Karen W's recipe...sent by Grma Susie

Clean Out Your Fridge Quiche

(Makes 2 large pie pans)

12 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheese
1 lb. sausage, browned (or throw in bacon if you prefer)
1/2 cup onion
1 clove garlic, minced
any chopped vegetables of your choice:
spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, red peppers...
salt, pepper, a little but of Lawry's, whatever you like for seasoning
4 cups brown rice, cooked

Grease two pie pans. Press brown rice in pans to make the crust. Saute onion and garlic. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into pie pans.
Bake at 375* for 50-60 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes.

I was just given this recipe by a friend and we LOVE it! I just made half the recipe. She says she makes them both and sticks one in the freezer. Then it's an easy dinner to just thaw and bake!
Enjoy! Stacie