Mama's Veggie Casserole

This is a must have for family dinners and holidays.

 Ingredients:
4 oz Velveeta cheese cubed, not melted
1-2 cans cream of chicken or cheese soup
2-3 bags mixed veggies (your choice, I use corn, carrot and green bean)
3 sticks butter
1 loaf of bread 

Directions:
1. Cook veggies as directed and drain
2. Add soup to veggies and stir
3. Pour into 9X11 baking dish
4. Add cubed cheese, mix
5. In a bowl, melt butter
6. Tear bread into pieces and add to the top of the veggie mix
7. Pour melted butter over the bread
8. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until bread is golden brown

Southwestern Asian Salmon Tacos

These are absolutely delicious, simple and healthy! You can't beat that.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground salmon browned
8 oz cabbage or cole slaw mix
1 can black beans 1
1 pkg brown basamati rice cooked
1 cup pico de gallo
1 tsp lime juice
1/4 cup salsa to hold everything together

Directions:
Brown the salmon and mix all ingredients together. Please feel free to adjust based on your personal tastes. Spread on a flour or corn tortilla or throw it in a bowl. Enjoy!

Baked Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients

1 1/2 - 2 lbs uncooked chicken breast cut into strips
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 white onion
2 tbsp oil
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1 can Rotel tomatoes
flour tortillas
sour cream, cheese, salsa if desired

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Cut chicken into slices and lay in a greased baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl mix spices and oil. Pour over chicken and stir well to coat each piece.
4. Add sliced peppers and onion, stir.
5. Bake uncovered at 400 for 25-40 minutes until chicken in done.
6. Enjoy with tortillas and your favorite toppings!

Baked Mac & Cheese

This is super easy and very, very good.


Ingredients

* 1 pound(s) rotini or cavatappi
* 2 cup(s) whole milk
* 8 ounce(s) cream cheese
* 3 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
* 1 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
* 1 1/2 cup(s) grated sharp Cheddar
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 1/2 cup(s) (about 6 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda or Monterrey Jack


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook the pasta following package directions. Strain the pasta, rinse with cold water to cool and prevent clumping, drain well, and transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine the milk, cream cheese, butter, pepper, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter and cream cheese have melted -- about 10 minutes.
3. Toss the Cheddar, Parmesan and Gouda (or Monterrey Jack) with the reserved pasta. Add the hot milk mixture and stir until well combined. Transfer pasta to a 3-quart baking dish and bake until the macaroni is set and the top is golden brown -- about 30 minutes. Divide macaroni and cheese among 8 plates and serve hot. You can also bake this in ramekins.

Black Bean Salsa

This dish is so simple yet amazing. You can make it for parties or dinner. (Yes, my daughter and I just consumed the entire thing for dinner, sad I know.)



Ingredients

1 large can black beans, drained
1 can white shoepeg corn, drained
1 can petite diced tomatoes, drained (optional)
the leaves of 1 bunch of cilantro, finely chopped
juice of two limes
half a red onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp pepper

Directions:

Mix all ingredients and serve with chips. I highly recommend Tostito Scoops so you get more goodness with every bite! Enjoy!!! (Thanks Candace Anderson for the first taste)

Penne a la Betsy

This is a favorite at my house. The original recipe comes from the Pioneer Woman.

Ingredients:
3/4 - 1 pound penne pasta
1 pound shrimp
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic
1 small white onion
1/2 cup white wine (if you prefer low sodium chicken broth)
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp basil
2 tbsp parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cook pasta according to the package directions.

Peel, devein and rinse shrimp. Heat 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. Add the shrimp and cook until opaque. This only takes a couple of minutes. Put the cooked shrimp on a cutting board to cut into smaller pieces. Set them aside.

In a large skillet heat 2 tbsp butter and 2 tbsp olive oil. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Simmer stirring occasionally. Add white wine. Let the wine evaporate, stirring occasionally. Add the tomato sauce and stir well. Add the heavy cream and stir well. Turn heat to low and simmer. Add basil, parsley, salt and pepper.

Add the shrimp back into the sauce and stir well. Add the pasta and toss.

This goes great with steamed broccoli and zucchini and of course, homemade garlic bread.

Chocolate Butter Cookies

These are simple but you need to refrigerate the dough for about two hours before baking.

Ingredients:
8oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 stick butter at room temperature
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 box chocolate cake mix
Powered sugar

Directions:
In a large bowl mix the cream cheese and the butter with an electric mixer. Blend in the egg. Blend in the vanilla. Add the cake mix and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Roll the batter into teaspoon size balls then roll in powdered sugar. Place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (greatest invention). Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Cookies will still be gooey looking. Cool completely and sprinkle with more powdered sugar if desired.