7-Up Cake

Ingredients

• 5 eggs
• 3 sticks of butter
• 3 cups of sugar
• 3/4 can of 7-Up
• 3 cups cake flour
• 2 tsps vanilla

Directions

1. Mix all ingedients well
2. Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
   

Graham Cracker Crumb Cake

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teasponn salt
• 1 1/2 cups graham-craker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, soda and salt. mix with cumbs set aside.
2. In large bowl cream butter and sugars Beat in eggs one at a time and vanilla: beat until fluffy.
3. Add flour mixture to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating just to blend.
4. Stir in walnuts. Spread in greased 9-inch square baking pan.
5. Bake in preheated 350 oven 40 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Makes 10 servings.

Simple Bar-b-que sauce

Ingredients

• 1 can Onion Soup
• 1 can Tomato Soup
• 2 tbsp Corn Starch
• 2 Large Garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp Brown sugar
• 1 tsbp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 tsp Hot sauce

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and then bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Done.
   

Quick Corn Chowder

Ingredients

• 1 10 1/2 oz can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can whole kernel corn
• 2 cups milk
• 1 small onion
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Dash pepper

Directions

1. Combine soup, corn, milk and onion.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Cook on medium for 12 minutes. Then serve with french bread.
   

Crab & Mushroom Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 3 Strips Bacon
• 1/4 lb Mushrooms
• 1/4 cup chopped Onions
• 1 cup Crab meat
• 1/3 cup mozzarella
• 1/2 cup mayonaise
• 6 English muffins

Directions

1. Cook bacon until crisp.
2. Saute mushrooms, onions in bacon drippings, then cool.
3. Mix crab, cheese, mayonaise, bacon, mushrooms and onions together.
4. Spread on toasted muffins.
5. Sprinkle with paprika and then bake 15 minutes.
   

Citrus Sherbert Salad

Ingredients

• 16 oz Orange gelatin
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup Orange juice
• 1 pt Lemon Sherbert
• 1 cup mandarin oranges

Directions

1. Boil water and dissolve gelatin in hot water & orange juice.
2. Add sherbert and beat with mixer.
3. When almost set add oranges.
   

French Strawberry Pie

Ingredients

• 1 qt strawberries
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp corn starch
• 1 3 oz package softened cream cheese

Directions

1. Wash, drain and hull strawberries.
2. Simmer 1 cup strawberries and 2/3 cup water about 3 minutes. Blend sugar, cornstarch and remaining 1/3 cup water. Add to boiling mixture. Boil 1 minute stirring constantly. Cool.
3. Spread cream cheese over bottom of cooled baked pie shell.
4. Save about 1/2 cup of the best berries. Put remaining berries in pie shell. Cover with cooked mixture.
5. Garnish with 1/2 cup berries. Refregerate until firm, about 2 hrs. Serve with whipped cream or Ice cream.
   

Pecan Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups, butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• One 24-oz. pkg Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Beat until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract: beat until light and fluffy.
3. Gradually blend in flour mixture.
4. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.
5. Drop well rounded tbsp. onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes

Allow to stand 2-3 mins. before removing from coookie sheets. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Pecan-Swirl Pudding Cake

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup very finely chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 package (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
• 1 package (4-serving size) Butter Pecan instant pudding
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/2 pint sour cream

Directions

1. Combine sugar, nuts and cinnamon: set aside.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in large mixer bowl. Blend: then beat at medium speed for 4 minutes.
3. Pour 2/3 of the batter into greased and floured 10-inch pan: sprinkled with sugar-nut mixture, keeping away from sides of pan. Top with remaining batter.
4. Bake at 350 forabout 1 hour or until cake tester inserted comes out clean. Do not underbake.Cool in pan 15 minutes. Remove from pan: finish cooling on rack.

10 Great Tips On Cooking Meals

If you are as busy as most people you are always looking for ways to feed your family in convenient, fast, yet not-too-expensive ways. Try the following suggestions:

1. Cooking several meals for the week at one time. It may take a few hours of your time up front but will pay off in the long run when you come home each evening and have a meal ready to eat in a short amount of time. Try cooking a roast and using part of it as a main meal and then using some for sandwiches, beef stroganoff or as part of a stir-fry. Fry several pounds of hamburger and make a casserole, taco meat and chili to freeze for use later in the week.

2. After you return home from the grocery store clean all the fruits and vegetables you can. When it’s time for a meal all you will have to do is cook them or add them to a salad or soup.

3. Get ideas from the cooking shows on T.V. There are great shows that show you how to make a healthy meal in a short time.

4. Develop a revolving recipe file. If you get bogged down by the idea of having to plan 30 meals a month the recipe file is for you. Let family members choose some of their favorites and put the recipes in a monthly file. Flip to day five or fifteen and there is the meal just waiting to be cooked.

5. Enlist the help of the members of your family. As soon as the kids are old enough divide up the cooking responsibilities. Let everyone take turns with specific tasks or the whole meal. Pair these meals with fruit and veggies that have already been washed and cut-up and you are ready for dinner.

6. Share the cooking with friends or neighbors. I’ve known people who cook four or five of the same meal and then trade with four or five other people. This works best when people share the same basic ideas on what they like and don’t like. It’s a great idea though for a very easy week of evening meals.

7. Save coupons for those convenience things at the grocery store. They have entire entrees and dinners either fresh or frozen. Sometimes they are rather pricy but with the coupons they are good to have on hand for an evening when everyone is running in different directions and time is of the essence.

8. It’s O.K. to eat out from time to time. Clip coupons for these occasions and if you have kids keep a look-out for the places that have special prices for children. Some of the fast-food restaurants are trying to offer item choices that are a little more healthy.

9. Many larger cities have businesses that prepare food for the evening meal. They seem expensive at first but are so convenient and available for one person or entire families. There are many menu choices and meals cooked for special diets. When you calculate the groceries you buy and the times you eat out each week, this may work for you.

10. Combine several of the above ideas into a plan that is best for you.

It is possible with a little planning to cook meals that are quick and easy without spending hours in the kitchen every day.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Spicy Blue Cheese Hamburgers

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1/2 cup hot chicken wing sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
• 4 hamburger buns, split

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, blue cheese and onion. Season with Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and pepper. Mix well, using your hands if necessary. Form into four patties, and place on a plate. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Remove the hamburger patties from the refrigerator, and pour enough hot wing sauce over them to cover the top surface. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
3. Place hamburgers on the hot grill, and cook for about 5 minutes per side, until no longer pink. The internal temperature should be at 180 degrees F (85 degrees C) if taken with a meat thermometer. For extra spicy burgers, baste with additional wing sauce while cooking. Serve on buns.
   

Sour Cream Burgers

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, sour cream, onion soup mix, bread crumbs and pepper using your hands. Refrigerate while you heat up the grill so the flavors have a chance to blend.
2. Preheat a grill for medium heat. Form the ground beef into 8 balls, and flatten into patties.
3. Grill the patties for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until well done.
   
   
   

Sizzling Southwest Burgers

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 4 slices pepperjack cheese
• 2 tablespoons salsa
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 6 hamburger buns

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat grill for high heat.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, taco seasoning mix, bell pepper and onion using your hands. Form into 6 patties.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Cook burger patties for 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Place buns cut side down onto the grill to toast during the last minute or so. Top each burger with a slice of cheese before removing from the grill. Serve burgers on toasted buns topped with salsa and sour cream.

Jalapeno-Blue Cheese Burgers

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 6 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 8 ounces crumbled blue cheese
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat a grill for high heat.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, jalapeno peppers, blue cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, tamari and salt. Mix well using your hands. Pat lightly into 4 large fat patties.
3. Place patties on the grill, and cook for about 8 minutes per side, or until well done. Place a slice of cheese on top of each patty, and cover the grill until the cheese melts. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings.

Bronco Burger

INGREDIENTS

• 5 fresh jalapeno peppers
• 4 pounds ground beef
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup steak sauce, (e.g. Heinz 57)
• 1/4 cup minced white onion
• 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (e.g. Tabasco™)
• 1 pinch dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 cup crushed Fritos® corn chips
• 8 large potato hamburger buns
• 8 slices pepperjack cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat a grill for high heat. When the grill is hot, roast the jalapeno peppers until blackened on all sides. Place in a plastic bag to sweat and loosen the blackened skin. Rub the skin off, then seed if desired, and chop.
2. In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together the ground beef, salt, pepper, egg, steak sauce, onion, hot pepper sauce, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt and Fritos®. Divide into 8 balls, and flatten into patties.
3. Grill patties for 10 to 15 minutes, turning once, or until well done. I always drink one beer, then flip, drink another beer, then remove from the grill and place on buns. Top each one with a slice of pepperjack cheese and pig out!

Bacon Wrapped Hamburgers

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground beef
• 6 slices bacon
• 6 hamburger buns, split

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat a grill for high heat.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, onion, egg, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Crumble in the ground beef, and mix together by hand. Form into 6 patties, and wrap a slice of bacon around each one. Secure bacon with toothpicks.
3. Place patties on the grill, and cook for 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Remove toothpicks before serving on hamburger buns.

Tex-Mex Burger with Cajun Mayo

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 1/3 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 cup diced white onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 4 slices pepperjack cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split
• 4 leaves lettuce
• 4 slices tomato

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat grill for medium-high heat. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground sirloin, jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce using your hands. Divide into 4 balls, and flatten into patties.
3. Lightly oil the grilling surface, and place the patties on the grill. Cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until well done. During the last 2 minutes, lay a slice of cheese on top of each patty. Spread the seasoned mayonnaise onto the insides of the buns. Put burgers in the buns, and top with lettuce and tomato to serve.

Crawfish and Corn Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• 4 cups milk
• 2 (15 ounce) cans cream-style corn
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup
• 1/4 teaspoon Creole seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 dash pepper sauce, such as Franks® Red Hot® or Tabasco™
• salt to taste
• 1 pound crawfish, peeled

DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in a large pot over low heat, and stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly to make a light roux, about 5 minutes.
2. Add onions, and cook until wilted. Pour in milk, creamed corn, whole kernel corn, and cream of potato soup. Season with Creole seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, pepper sauce, and salt. Stir to blend, and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. Add the crawfish, and cook for 20 more minutes.

Cheddar Bacon Hamburgers

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup real bacon bits
• 4 hamburger buns

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat grill for high heat.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, Cheddar cheese, horseradish, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and bacon bits using your hands. Shape the mixture into 4 hamburger patties.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place hamburger patties on the grill, and cook for 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Serve on buns.