Apple Pie Filling

My Dad has an apple tree. It doesn't usually produce anything much, so I was very surprised to find it full of apples about a week ago. Not only was it full of apples, but those apples were NOT full of worms like in the past. Immediately my mind started going through all the possibilities...apple crisp, apple pie, apple cobbler.

I decided to make a few batches of apple pie filling and can it.I hadn't really canned anything other than than tomatoes before, but I wanted to give it a try

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups white sugar

1 cup cornstarch

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 tsp salt

10 cups water

3 tbls lemon juice

6 lbs apples

Directions:

Core, peel and chop up apples

In a large pan mix sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg together.

Add salt, water and lemon juice. Mix Well.

Bring to a boil, add apples and cook until thick and bubbly

This makes enough for about two 9 inch pies. 

If you want to can it do this:

Boil your lids, rims and jars (or you can run them through the dishwasher) to sanitize

Fill each jar to 1/2 inch from the top

Wipe off top of jar to make a good seal

Put lids and rims on and place in a boiling water bath with water over the top of each jar

Boil for 20 minutes

Lift them out of the bath and place them upside down on a towel to let them seal

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Taco Bake

This recipe is courtesy of my Mother In Law and is SO good!

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can rotel (drained)

1 can of corn (drained)

1 can chili beans (drained)

Shredded cheese

Flour tortillas

Directions:

Brown ground beef and drain

Add taco seasoning and cook

To pan add cream of mushroom, rotel, chili beans and corn

Cook until warm and somewhat thick.

Line bottom of 9x11 baking dish with tortillas cut into 1/4

Pour mixture over tortiallas

Bake at 400 degrees until bubbling

Place more 1/4 tortiallas on top and cover with cheese

Bake until cheese is melted

Serve and Enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas

I think these might be my favorite type of enchiladas!

Ingredients 

(makes 4 enchiladas)

1 large chicken breast boiled and shredded

1/2 medium Velveeta cheese

1/2 packet taco seasoning

4 tortillas

1 can enchilada sauce

shredded cheese

Directions:

Cook and shred chicken

To pan add cubed Velveeta cheese 

Add 1/2 packet taco seasoning

Cook until cheese is melted

Spoon mixture into tortillas, wrap and put in glass baking pan

Cover with enchilada sauce and cheese

Bake at 400 degrees until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling around edges

You can top with lettuce, salsa or sour cream. Serve with rice or other Mexican side.

Serve and Enjoy!

Quiche with Broccoli, Cheese and Asparagus

I made a quiche for the first time yesterday and it turned great!

Ingredients:

1 pie crust (I used The Pioneer Woman crust found here)

2 tbl butter

1 small onion minced

1.5 cup chopped broccoli

1 cup chopped asparagus

1.5 cups shredded cheese

4 eggs beaten

1.5 cups milk

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Make pie crust according to directions here

Spread pie crust out in pie pan

Chop broccoli, asparagus and onion

Add butter to pan and saute vegetables until soft

Add vegetables and cheese to pie crust

Beat eggs and milk together and season with salt and pepper

Add milk mixture to pie crust

Place quiche on baking pan lined with foil to keep it from spilling in the oven

Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until eggs are completely cooked in the center

Serve and Enjoy!

Toasted Ravioli

I was so excited to make this for the first time because this is one of our favorites at any Italian restaurant!

Ingredients:

Frozen ravioli

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

Italian bread crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Heat oil in skillet or deep fryer

Boil ravioli until al dente

Remove and place on napkin to dry

While drying mix egg and milk together

Mix bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese together

When ravioli is cool, dip in egg mixture and then roll in bread crumbs

Place in bottom of pan or deep fryer basket and fry 1 layer at a time

When ravioli is brown and rises to the top, remove

Cook until all are done

Serve with marinara

Serve and Enjoy!

Menu Monday

I'm linking up with Nicki today to let you know what I'll be cooking this week!

Monday: Spiral Pasta Bake

Tuesday: Homemade Pizza

Wednesday: Tacos

Thursday: Chicken Carbonara

Friday: Leftovers

Link up and let us know what you'll be making this week!

Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits

There was a time when I was shocked to find that there were people out there who had never had chocolate gravy. I was even more appalled to find that some people thought it sounded gross. If that's what you think then please try this. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:

3 cups milk

4 tbl cocoa

4 tbl flour

1 cup sugar

1 stick of butter

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in pot

Heat burner medium to medium-high

Stir frequently until gravy is thick

Serve with biscuits

(To make recipe for 2-3 people, cut ingredients by 1/2)

Spiral Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

1/2 box of Piccolini Spiral pasta

1 lb hamburger

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1/2 cup chopped bell pepper

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Pepperoni cut into fourths (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Boil pasta to al dente and drain

Brown hamburger meat and drain

Mix spaghetti sauce, meat, onions and bell peppers together. Cook until vegetables are soft

Spray 8x8 baking pan with non-stick spray

Layer 1/2 pasta on bottom of pan

Pour 1/2 meat mixture

Top with mozzarella cheese

Layer pasta and meat again

Top with Parmesan cheese and Pepperoni 

Bake for 20-25 min or until bubbling around the edges

Serve and Enjoy!

Dijon Chicken

I haven't posted many personal things lately, mainly because we haven't done much. However, I did make this awesome chicken recipe tonight. It's so easy and quick!

Ingredients: 

3-4 medium chicken breasts

4 tbl butter

2 tbl honey Dijon mustard

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2-3 cups bread crumbs

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

Mix melted butter and Dijon mustard together

Mix bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese together

Saturate each chicken breast in the butter mixture and then roll in the bread crumbs.

Place on an open cookie sheet or pan lined with foil

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until lightly brown and the juices run clear

Serve and Enjoy

French Toast

Ingredients:

4 slices bread or texas toast

3-4 medium eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Oil or butter for frying

powdered sugar

syrup

Directions:

Beat eggs, milk and vanilla together

Heat skillet with oil

Dip each piece of bread in egg mixture and place in pan

Cook until brown on both sides

Sprinkle powdered sugar and syrup over the toast

Serve and Enjoy!

Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

Ingredients:

1 pork or beef roast

1 package french onion soup mix

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 bag baby carrots or or whole carrots chopped

4-5 potatoes peeled and chopped

1/2 medium onion chopped

Directions:

Spray slow cooker with non stick spray

Place roast, carrots, potatoes and onions in slow cooker

Pour cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix on top of roast and vegetables

Stir mixture together as much as possible

Cook on low for 8-9 hours

Serve and Enjoy

BBQ Pork Chops-Slow Cooker

This recipe is one of Jordan's favorites and so easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 package boneless center-cut or butterfly pork chops

3/4 bottle BBQ sauce

Directions:

Spray non stick cooking spray in slow cooker to prevent burning

Pour 1/2 BBQ sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker

Place chops in the bottom of dish

Cover with additional BBQ sauce

Cook on low for 6 hours.

Serve and Enjoy

Mexican Chicken Casserole

I love all types of casseroles. I love church pot lucks with a variety of different dishes, that you aren't even sure what some of them are. I know that grosses people out, but I have a recipe for an easy casserole that only has a few ingredients.

Mexican Chicken

Makes one 8x8 or 9x9 pan

Ingredients:

1 can Rotel

2 cans Cream of chicken soup

1/2 small brick of Velveeta chopped

1-2 chicken breasts boiled and shredded

Doritos

Directions:

Spray pan with nonstick cooking spray and preheat oven to 375

Mix Rotel and soup in dish

Add cooked and shredded chicken

Add chopped Velveeta cheese

Add a few handfuls of crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos

Stir together well

Bake in oven for 15-20 or until bubbling around edges

Add a layer of Doritos to the top and place back in oven for 2-4 minutes or until warm

Serve and Enjoy!

Enchiladas

Recipe makes 4 enchiladas

Ingredients:

1 lb. hamburger meat

1 can ranch style beans

1 small box of Velveeta cheese

4 burrito sized tortillas

1 can enchilada sauce

Shredded cheese

Directions:

Brown and drain hamburger meat

Add 1 can ranch style beans and chopped Velveeta

Heat until cheese is melted

Fill 4 tortillas with mixture, roll up and place in baking dish

Pour 1 can enchilada sauce over tortillas in dish and cover with shredded cheese

Bake in oven at 400 degrees until cheese is melted and it's bubbling around the edges