Spanish Rice Bake

Thought this was yummy tonight.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper (didn't add this because the hubby doesn't like them, but I bet it would be good)
• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup water
• 3/4 cup uncooked long grain rice (I used regular white rice, and ended up needing to increase water and cooking time a little)
• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp worchestershire sauce
• pinch ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 TBS fresh chopped cilantro

1. Brown ground beef in large skillet and drain grease. Stir in everything except the last two ingredients. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until rice is tender, stirring occasionally. (At this point I added more water and cooked it a little longer) Be sure not to stir it too often, the rice won't cook.
2. While meat mixture is cooking, preheat oven to 375 F. When rice is tender, transfer mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish. Press down firmly and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Mini German Pancakes

This has got to be my favorite breakfast to make for the family. I tend to like the taste of the sweet breakfasts better, but I need something hearty that will see me through for a few hours. This has the best of both worlds. I made this recipe this morning and was suprised to see I hadn't put it up here yet.

• 1 cup milk
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup butter

1. Preheat oven to 400 F
2. In blender, combine milk, eggs, flour, salt, and vanilla. Blend in butter a little at a time.
3. Generously grease muffin tins (18-24)
4. Pour mixture into muffin tins until filled about half way. Bake for approx 15 min. Top with fruit and serve immediately.

For the fruit topping, my FAVORITE topping is this:

• 10 oz bag frozen raspberries
• 20 oz can pineapple tipbits
• 4 bananas
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• whipped cream

Just combine the fruit and brown sugar in a bowl, then top with the whipped cream.
For an easy morning, you can use canned fruit pie filling. We like cherry or apple. Mmmm mmm mmm

This recipe is pictured with a few cans of pears with cinnamon and brown sugar mixed with it. 

Breaded pork chops OR chicken

Here's another pork recipe that I made a few weeks ago but forgot to post. The family really liked it, and it was nice and easy. The recipe I found called for pork, but I've made it with chicken too, and was a hit with the family both ways.

• 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
• garlic salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 4 pork chops or chicken tenderloins
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 F



2. In a shallow bowl combine crushed crackers, garlic salt, and black pepper. In a seperate bowl, beat eggs.



3. Dip pork chops in egg batter, then in cracker mixture. Place the pork chops in a casserole dish and place chunks of butter around the pork chops. Cover and bake for 45 minutes.

Crock Pot Pork Chops

I don't cook pork very often, just not a huge fan of it, but it was on sale a while back, and I decided I needed to use some of what I had in the freezer. This was VERY good, good enough for company, I'd say. So moist it just falls apart, and the flavor soaked all the way through. And all the work is done ahead of time, so when company comes you can have a clean kitchen. Or, with a side of instant mashed potaotes, steam-fresh veggies, and a fruit salad, dinner can be on the table in 10 minutes.

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp seasoning salt
• 4 thick-cut pork chops (I don't think mine were thick-cut)
• 2 TBS olive oil
• 1 (10.5 oz) can chicken and rice soup (this is very different from cream of chicken soup, so don't try a substitution here)

1. Trim fat from pork chops. Combine flour, dry mustard and seasoning salt in bowl or pie pan.
2. Heat oil in skillet. Dredge pork in flour mixture then place them in the skillet and brown on both sides.
3. Place pork chops in slow cooker and pour chicken and rice soup over. Cook on low for 5-8 hours depending on how thick the cut is.