3 Down, 4 to Go

In the weeks since we last posted a lot has happened. Jaime had conferences, which, for the most part went well from what I understand. The dogs received a good bill of health from the vet. Eli Manning ruined professional football. We climbed North Mountain, another of the "Seven Summits" of Phoenix. Business has been slow at Sears. Its that time of year though. People have to pay for all the xmas gifts they gave, then they will be able to get their cars fixed again. Things should start picking up when the refund checks start showing up.

Since the launch of the site much has been added. Many new pictures are viewable in the gallery. Most notable of which are the pictures from our trip to the Grand Canyon. We have also added a cookbook section. This area contains all (not all all but all that we've had time to put up) of our favorite recipes. We plan to keep adding pictures and recipes so come back often.

Down Home Macaroni and Cheese

Once heralded as "Dave's Famous Macaroni" this recipe is not an original, it came from All Recipes.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter or margarine, divided


• ¼ cup flour


• 1 tsp salt


• 2 cups milk


• ¼ pound Velveeta, cut up


• 2 cups shredded Cheddar, divided


• 2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked, drained


• 2 tablespoons seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions

1. Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in large saucepan on low heat. Blend in flour and salt; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add prepared cheese product and 1-1/2 cups of the shredded cheese; stir until melted. Stir in macaroni.


2. Pour into lightly greased 1-1/2-quart casserole. Melt remaining 1 Tablespoon butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle casserole with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bread crumb mixture.


3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Curry Chicken Sandwich

A southern style chicken sandwich Dave came up with. This recipe makes 2 sandwiches.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil


• 1/4 cup diced onion


• 1 boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced


• curry


• chili powder


• 4 slices bread


• Colby Jack cheese, sliced


• ranch dressing


• lettuce


• tomato, sliced

Directions

1. In frying pan sauté onion in oil until translucent.


2. Add chicken and brown one side. Flip and season with curry and chili powder.


3. Toast bread and assemble sandwich. (We assemble it bread, chicken, cheese, tomato, lettuce, bread with the ranch spread on the top piece of bread.)

Holiday Sugar Cookies

This recipe came from Dave's Grandma Larson and is a Larson family Christmas tradition.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup shortening


• 1/4 cup butter


• 1 cup powdered sugar


• 2 tsp vanilla


• 1 1/4 cup flour


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1 cup rolled oats


• colored sugar

Directions

1. Mix together shortening, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.


2. Add flour, salt and rolled oats.


3. Shape into two rolls. Roll rolls in colored sugar. Chill for 2 hours.


4. Slice 1/4 inch think and bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until they are done.

Oma's Soup

This is an old favorite from Dave's Grandma DeVries.

Ingredients

• 2 packages of Lipton Noodle Soup


• 1 package of Knorr Vegetable Recipe Mix


• 1 lb ground beef


• 1 tbsp nutmeg


• 10-15 saltines, crushed


• 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. Prepare noodle soup according to package. (Take out one of yellow salt mixes if you want to live.)


2. Add dry vegetable soup and reduce heat to low.


3. Combine crushed saltines, eggs, nutmeg, and ground beef and form into 3/4 inch meatballs.


4. Add meatballs to soup and cook on low for about 30 minutes.

Souperior Meat Loaf

This one can be found on the back of a box of Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef


• 1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix


• 5 slices of bread, cubed


• 2 eggs


• 3/4 cup water


• 1/3 cup ketchup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


2. In large bowl, combine all ingredients.


3. Place in loaf pan.


4. Bake for 1 hour or until done. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Fiesta Rice

Changed slightly from the Campbells cheddar soup can recipe, this rice goes great with any Mexican food.

Ingredients

• 1 cup salsa


• 1 cup water


• 1 chicken bouillon cube


• 2 cups Minute Rice

Directions

1. Bring salsa, water and bouillon to a boil


2. Stir in rice, cover, remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes.

Fruit Pizza

There isnt ever a slice of this delicious dessert left no matter how big the gathering. This tasty treat was found on All Recipes. We like to top it with fresh strawberries, grapes and kiwi.

Ingredients

• 18 ounce package refrigerated sugar cookie dough


• 7 oz jar marshmallow cream


• 8 oz package cream cheese, softened


• Sliced fruit

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F


2. On an ungreased medium baking sheet, smooth the refrigerated sugar cookie dough into a single layer approximately ¼ inch thick.


3. Bake for 10 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned and center is no longer doughy.


4. In a medium bowl, blend the marshmallow cream and cream cheese.


5. Spread the mixture over the baked crust


6. Cover with sliced fruit and chill in refrigerator.

Banana Bread

This recipe came from Dave's Grandma Larson.

Ingredients

• 2 Eggs


• ½ Cup Shortening


• 2/3 Cup Sugar


• 3 Bananas


• ½ tsp Baking Soda


• 2 tsp Baking Powder


• ½ tsp Salt


• 1 ¾ Cups Flour

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased loaf pans


2. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour at 350 degrees

Homemade Chili

After many, many, many tries, this is Dave's final recipe for his homemade chili.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp butter


• 2 garlic cloves, pressed


• 1 large onion, chopped


• 2 lbs ground beef


• 2 cans stewed tomatoes, Italian recipe


• 1 can tomato paste


• 4 oz can diced green chilies


• 2 bell peppers, seeded and chopped


• 1 tbsp chili powder


• 1/2 cup red wine

Directions

1. In a large skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic and onion until onion is translucent. Add ground beef and cook until brown. Drain.


2. In a large pot or crock pot mix all ingredients and cook on low to medium low for 2 hours.

Dog Food Dip

A Super Bowl favorite, Dog Food Dip will satisfy any tortilla chip dipping fan.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef


• 1 can Manwich


• 1 pound Mexican Velveeta cheese


• 1 can refried beans


• 8 oz diced green chilies


• hot sauce to taste

Directions

1. Brown and drain ground beef.


2. Mix all ingredients and cook on low heat until heated through.