Cheeseburger Turnovers

I got this recipe from the Nelson Family Cookbook (Emily H. McKellar). It was delicious and made great leftovers.

Bread:
2 packages yeast (or 4 1/2 teaspoons)
1/2 cup warm water
3/4 cup warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cup flour

Dissolve yeast in water, milk and sugar. Add shortening, egg, salt and flour. Mix well. Cover and let rise 30 minutes.

Filling:
1 1/2 pounds ground hamburger (I only used 1 lb and it was plenty)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (8-oz) can tomato sauce
2 cups grated cheese

Cook hamburger and onion. Add tomato sauce and cheese. Divide bread dough into 16 balls. Flatten and fill with 3 tablespoons filling. Pinch closed. Place seam side down on baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 8-12 minutes.

The next time we make this we are going to add chopped green peppers, olives and mushrooms to the filling.

Cake Mix Cookies

These are simple, easy, and can be made from any flavor of cake mix. They are a fun project for kids to make.

1 package dry cake mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
frosting (whatever kind you like)

1. Mix dry cake mix with oil and eggs.
2. Bake at 350 for 7-8 minutes.
3. Cool.
4. Frost
5. Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Tortilla Chip Chicken

My sister-in-law Allie sent me this yummy recipe and we loved it. It is so easy, but packed with flavor.

3 Tbsp lime juice (I actually used lemon juice)
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp honey
4 chicken breasts, halved
1 cup finely crushed tortilla chips (I used mostly hint of lime tortilla chips, but threw in some sun chips because I didn't have enough tortilla chips)
1 bottle of chunky salsa
1 cup shredded cheese

1. Combine lime juice, honey and oil.
2. Dip chicken in lime juice mixture then coat with crushed chips.
3. Place in ungreased 9x13 baking dish.
4. Bake uncovered at 350 degress for 30-40 minutes or until juices run clear.
5. Spoon a tablespoon or two of salsa over each piece of chicken and sprinkle with cheese; bake 20 minutes more or until cheese is melted.
6. Serve with guacamole and sour cream or other favorite toppings.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Everybody needs a go-to peanut butter cookie recipe. This is a yummy one. The cookies turn out the perfect texture and taste.

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat the oven to 325.
2. Use a mixer to combine the butter with the sugars until creamy.
3. Add peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
4. Add flour, baking soda, and salt to moist ingredients. Mix the dought until it is smooth and well blended.
5. Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Press the dough flat with a fork.
6. Bake 15 minutes or until edges of the cookes begin to turn light brown.

Blueberry Lemon Bread

This bread is sooo addictive. I have to have people around to share it with when I make it, or I end up eating way too much. (Come from Favorites cookbook)

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 cup milk
1 cup blueberries

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar

1. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat butter with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy in a second bowl.
3. Add eggs one at a time; beat well after each one.
4. Add lemon juice.
5. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour mix.
6. Sprinkle blueberries with small amount of flour to prevent them sinking to the bottom of the bread.
7. Fold blueberries into batter.
8. Spoon batter into greased and floured loaf pan.
9. Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
10. Place on wire rack to cool slightly.
11. Bring lemon juice and 1/3 cup sugar to a boil.
12. Pierce loaf. Spoon mixture over loaf. Let stand in pan 1 hour to cool.

Taco Lasagna

This is good for a crowd.

1 lb ground turkey or beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup water
1 envelope taco seasoning (or 1/4 cup if you are using a big container of taco seasoning)
1 (15-oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (14.5-oz) can Mexican diced tomatoes, undrained
6 flour tortillas
1 (16-oz) can refried beans
3 cups shredded cheese (any kind you like)

1. Cooke the beef and onion. Drain the fat.
2. Add water and taco seasoning; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in black beans and tomatoes. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
4. Place 2 tortillas in a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Spread half of refriend beans over the tortillas. Put half of beef mixture on top of beans. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
5. Repeat layers.
6. Top with remaining tortillas and cheese.
7. Cover and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Pizza Meatballs

These are great served with pasta, rice, on a bun, or as an appetizer. We even served them in tortillas as a wrap. We made a full batch and froze half to use later.

2 pounds ground turkey (you could use beef instead)
2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup diced red onion (or whatever type of onion you have on hand)
1/2 Tablespoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 mozzarella string cheese sticks (or an 8-oz block of mozzarella cheese)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup olive oil
spaghetti sauce

1. Combine the first six ingredients in a bowl just until mixed.
2. Shape into 48 small meatballs.
3. Cut mozzarella into 48 cubes (about 1/2-inch each). Push one cube into the center of each meatball; covering the cheese completely with the meat.
4. Roll meatballs lightly in flour.
5. In a large skillet, cook meatballs in oil until browned; drain.
6. Add spaghetti sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until meatballs are no longer pink.