Tuesday, May 24, 2016

JOHN MARZETTI




Made by my Mom, she got the recipe from the school cafeteria,
many many years ago and I made it for my family as well. It's 
an oldie. You can add to or delete what you don't like. Cheese, 
green pepper, onions can be omitted and you can substitute 
shell macaroni for the elbow. Here's my version, easy and 
economical.


Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef cooked and drained of grease
1 small onion diced
8 ounces of elbow macaroni cooked per package directions, I
   sprinkle a little salt in the water.
1 can 14.5 ounces tomatoes with sweet onions (Hunts)
1 can 6.5 ounces tomato paste
1 can 4-6 ounces tomato sauce (Hunts)
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
4-6 ounces sharp packaged cheddar cheese
Optional: add green pepper diced, 1/4 to 1/2 cup


Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
I cook my hamburger and onion together, using the
   microwave, then drain off grease
Place hamburger in a 2 quart casserole dish, add the
   spices, the tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste. 
   Stir to combine.
Add cooked macaroni and stir gently.
Taste, add more salt if needed or a little bit of red pepper 
   flakes for a kick if desired.
Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top
Cover and bake for 20 minutes or till hot. You're just
   heating it up and melting the cheese.
Refrigerate the leftovers.



Wednesday, May 4, 2016

BEANS AND FRANKS





This dish goes back to my childhood. My Mom's recipe has
stood the test of time. I fixed it for my family too. I tweaked 
it a little, now use canned baked beans. Mom used plain
old pork and beans. Daughter Shakira doesn't count this as 
a favorite but son Ben loves it. Minus the hot dogs, add 
bacon it becomes baked beans. Easy, economical, give it a try.


Ingredients:


2  28 ounce cans of Bush's Homestyle Baked Beans, 
    drain the liquid
6  wieners, sliced thin
1/2  of a small onion diced fine
1/2 cup ketsup
1 level Tbsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/2 cup packed heaping of brown sugar


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Using a 2 quart casserole dish, add the drained beans, 
  hot dogs, and onion. Stir gently.
Add the remaining ingredients. ( with the brown sugar
  I sprinkle in the 1/2 cup with my hand to avoid the lumps)
Stir gently to combine.
Cover with lid or foil and bake about 40 minutes or until
  bubbly and heated through. 
Stir and let sit uncovered for about an hour.  It will
  thicken.
Always better the next day. 
Refrigerate leftovers.