Sloppy Joes

Steph's been waiting for this one for a very long time. Sorry for making you wait.

Makes 24 sandwiches

3 lbs. ground beef

1 lrg. onion coarsely chopped

3/4 c. chopped celery

1 c. BBQ sauce

1 can sloppy joe sauce

24 hamburger buns

Cook beef and onion on stove top, over med heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown, drain.

Mix beef mixture and remaining ingredients except buns in slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting 7 to 9 hours (high heat setting for 3 to 4 hours) or until vegetables are tender.

Uncover and cook on high heat setting until desired consistency. Stir well before serving. Fill buns with beef mixture.

Truffle Brownie Cups

This recipe comes from a Pampered Chef Recipe Collection

Nonstick cooking spray with flour
1+2/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels, divided
2 Tablespoons butter (do not substitute margarine)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Assorted garnishes such as orange zest, maraschino cherries, toasted sliced almonds and whipped topping (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray wells of Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Place 2/3 cup of the chocolate morsels and butter into Classic Batter Bowl (I use my glass liquid measuring bowls). Microwave on HIGH 40-60 seconds or until smooth, stirring after each 20-second interval. Add sugar and egg to batter bowl; mix until blended using Small Mix 'N Scraper. Add flour; mix just until flour is incorporated. Using two teaspoons, divide batter evenly among wells, filling wells about two-thirds full. Using Mini-Tart Shaper, gently tap batter to creat level tops. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are set. (DO NOT OVERBAKE).

2. Meanwhile, pour cream into Easy Read Measuring Cup; microwave on HIGH 1-2 minutes or until hot. Pour cream into clean batter bowl with remaining 1 cup chocolate morsels; whisk until smooth with Stainless Whisk. Place batter bowl into freezer 10-12 minutes or until mixture is cool and starting to thicken, stirring after each 5-minute interval. Spoon ganache into resealable plastic bag.

3. Remove pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack; cool 2 minutes. Press tops of brownies with Mini-Tart Shaper to make indentations. Cool in pan 3 minutes. Carefully remove brownies from pan. Trim corner of bag sing Utility Knife to allow ganache to flow through. Pipe ganache evenly into brownie cups. Garnish as desired.

Yield: 24 servings

Hamburger Green Bean Casserole

Steph asked that I post this recipe. It's so easy & one of our favorites.

Ingredients:
1 # ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cut green beans, drained
8 servings of prepared instant mashed potatoes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
paprika (optional)

Brown the meat and drain. Mix with soup. Spread mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Spread green beans on top, then mashed potatoes, then cheese. Sprinkle paprika on top.

Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Sausage and Summer Squash

This was another recipe that Jami had. It was quick, easy, and really good. Great summer recipe!

Ingredients

* 1/3 to 1/2 cup bottled Italian salad dressing
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 12 oz. cooked Polish sausage links, halved lengthwise, sliced diagonally
* 3 small yellow summer squash and/or zucchini, quartered lengthwise
* 4 wedges Italian flat bread, split
* 1/4 cup sliced green onions
* Fresh oregano leaves
* 1/4 cup coarsely shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat broiler. In small bowl combine dressing and garlic. In extra-large skillet cook sausage and squash in 2 tablespoons of the dressing mixture for 8 to 10 minutes or until sausage is heated through and squash is almost tender, stirring occasionally.

2. Meanwhile, place bread on broiler pan; brush with 1 tablespoon of the dressing mixture. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until lightly toasted.

3. Serve sausage and squash with toasted bread. Drizzle remaining dressing; sprinkle green onions and oregano. Pass Parmesan cheese. Serves 4.


Note: I didn't know what Italian Flat bread was. I used sourdough bread and it tasted great! I think any toast would do. Also, I didn't use fresh oregano leaves (I sprinkled a little of the ground cumin over it. I also used smoked Turkey sausage and it was delicious (a little healthier too).

Prego Skillet Chicken Parmesan

This is another easy recipe and is good for summer (because it's on the stove top).

1/4 c. grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 c. Prego traditional Italian sauce
1 T. olive oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella

1. Stir 3 T. Parmesan cheese into sauce.
2. Heat oil in 12' skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 10 min. or until it's well browned on both sides.
3. Pour sauce mixture into skillet. Turn chicken to coat. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for 10 min. or until chicken is cooked through.
4. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese over chicken. Let stand for 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
5. Serve on top of spaghetti noodles (or linguine)

Tuna Salad

This is another great summer salad! However, it makes a lot (it's intended for a big gathering) so I always half the recipe!

12 oz. elbow or small shell pasta, cooked, drained and cooled.
4 cans tuna, drained
2 c. celery chopped
2 cans olives, sliced or chopped
1/2 red pepper
1/2 green pepper
1 c. cubed cheddar cheese
1-2 c. frozen peas, thawed (depending on how much you want)

Dressing:
1 1/2 c. miracle whip
3/4 c. sour cream
1/2 c. milk
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. basil
1/2 t. dill weed
1/2 t. paprika
1/2 t. onion powder

Sweet and Sour Meatballs over Rice

This is Allison's recipe. I thought it was really good and very easy!

Frozen Meatballs (Allison said she just eyeballs it. I used 1/2 of the big package.)
1 cup brown sugar
3 tsp corn starch
1 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp paprika

Mix together brown sugar & corn starch. Add other ingredients. Heat in the microwave 2-3 minutes. Pour over frozen meatballs. Cook in the crock pot on low 2-4 hours, until meatballs are heated through. Serve over rice.