Homemade Blueberry Muffins

This recipe was so easy to make, and a hit with the lovelies. I prepared it this morning before they woke up so they'd have breakfast ready for them, but it is certainly easy enough to do with them.... next time!

1 3/4 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 c sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 cup blueberries, can be frozen

Preheat oven to 375°. Line 12 muffin cups with baking liners. In a large bowl, combine beat together egg, milk & vegetable oil. Mix in Bisquick, oats and sugar. When all of above ingredients are thoroughly mixed, add blueberries & stir. Scoop batter with an ice cream scoop into cups. Bake in oven for 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Pasta Fazul

In my opinion, this is the best recipe for Pasta Fazul.... thanks, Mom! Its a great use for leftover Bean Soup, and its easy and inexpensive. If you like pasta, there's no doubt you'll like this very thick soup!

1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small can tomato paste
1-2 cups leftover Bean Soup; you can also use 1 can of Bean Soup
salt & pepper to taste
Rotini pasta

Saute garlic in oil on the bottom of a kettle. When garlic is browned, add tomato paste & saute. Add 4 (tomato paste) cans of water. Salt & pepper to taste and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Boil water for pasta. When adding the pasta to the water, add leftover Bean Soup to tomato paste base. Add drained pasta to the soup, stir together and serve.

Serves 4

Tomato & Basil Pizza

Like most American families, mine loves pizza. And since Dayton is not known for fine pizza establishments, we have yet to settle on that must-have pizza. In effort to save money, we've resorted to homemade pizzas, and tonight, I found one my family gobbled up!

Tomato & Basil Pizza

1 Pillsbury pizza crust (refrigerator section)
1 c. pizza sauce
2 Roma tomatoes, cut in 1/4" slices
fresh basil leaves, washed & whole
red onion, diced or in chunks (optional)
1/2-3/4 block Mozzarella cheese cut in chunks

Spread dough onto baking sheet as directed on package. I chose to make a pie, so I had to do a little cut & paste. Spread sauce over dough and top with fresh basil leaves, tomato slices, onions, and Mozzarella slices. Bake @ 450° for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Serves 4


Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce

1-15oz. can tomato sauce
Season as desired with oregano, basil, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, etc.

Cook in a small pan to allow flavors to blend.

I split this in half, using half for one pizza, then freezing the other half to use at a later date.

Chicken Parmesan

I made this one last night and it was a hit! I've never made it before, but it was easy and tasty.

4 chicken breast halves, boneless
2--14oz. cans Italian Stewed Tomatoes, smashed
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. Oregano, crushed
1/4 tsp. hot pepper sauce, optional or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese, grated
spaghetti noodles, cooked

Place chicken in a baking dish. Cover and bake for 15 minutes in a 425° preheated oven; drain. Combine tomatoes, cornstarch, oregano & pepper sauce or crushed red pepper flakes; cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour thickened sauce over chicken; top with cheese. Bake 5 minutes uncovered.

Serve over a bed of spaghetti noodles.

Serves 4

Mexican Pasta Salad

The night I first served this it did not get favorable reviews. I was actually certain I would never make it again, but since I had a bowl full of the stuff, I wasn't going to let it go to waste and had the leftovers for lunch the next day. The girls devoured it and even asked for seconds! It actually tastes like Tortilla Roll-Ups; in some parts of the country they call them Pinwheels.

If you're serving this salad, I highly recommend making it several hours in advance.

1 cup mayonnaise
12-15.5 oz. jar salsa
1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 c. onion, chopped
8 oz. cooked pasta--shell, rotelle, etc.

In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, garlic salt & pepper. Add cooled pasta (rinse well with cold water), salsa & onion. Toss to coat. Add cheese & refrigerate several hours, or overnight before serving.

"Ice Cream" Cake Cones

Whether you're looking for a way to jazz up a kids' birthday party, trick your little sweet tooth, or you want to mix up a fun baking activity, this one's a sure hit!

Cake Cones

1 box cake mix
ice cream cones, flat-bottom cupcake liners for extra batter

In a mini muffin tin arrange cones.
Spoon batter into cones to fill about 3/4 of the way full, and bake according to the directions on the box.
If you still have batter left after filling cones, pour remaining batter into cupcakes.
I found the cones took a little longer to bake, so watch for them to be golden brown on top.
It is okay if the batter bakes over the side of the cone, it offers more surface area for frosting and gives the illusion of a melting cone.

*Hint: Fill empty muffin cups with water to keep cake moist while cooking.

The Best Homemade Frosting

2 c. powdered sugar
2/3 c. Crisco shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. butter flavoring
1 tsp. almond extract (use just a little bit more than 1 tsp.)
1 Tbsp. milk (use a little less to make frosting more stiff)
choice of food coloring

Mix all with a hand mixer until creamed & frost.

Frosts 24 cupcakes or one 9x13 cake.

Garnish as desired with sprinkles, jimmies, crushed candy bars, etc.

Grilled Asparagus

We grilled asparagus last night with our steaks and it was a huge hit, even with the girls. Or should I say, especially with the girls?!

asparagus
olive oil, about 4 Tbsp.
garlic, minced (optional)
salt & pepper or seasoning salt

1.Rinse asparagus, and allow to dry slightly.

2. Trim 2 inches off bottom of stems.

3. Spread asparagus stems out in a shallow baking dish.

4. Drizzle lightly with olive oil & toss with fingers to evenly coat.

5. Season with garlic, salt & pepper or seasoning salt (Mrs. Dash is a good one); toss again.

6.Place on grill for five minutes, turning often for even cooking. When asparagus browns slightly you know its cooked.