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A little pantry cooking

Tricia — Tue, 11 May 2010 01:05:01 +0000

My kids say this is example of me making up words and phrases, but I think I heard this one somewhere before. And not just in my head. I am doing a little pantry cooking. I stock up on so much food sometimes, I forget what is in the freezer and pantry. So I am trying to use what we already for meals. This means getting a little creative and looking for ideas. So right now my focus is elbow macaroni. I have quite a few boxes and want to find some more recipes besides just mac and cheese. Even though my kids love to eat it, I am getting a little tired of making it. So I was sitting here thinking where could I look for some recipes and then it hit me. Creamette has to have a website! Not all of my elbow macaroni is Creamette but it really does not make a difference. Here are a few recipes I found that I think I can tweak a little here and there.

ONE-STEP TACO CHICKEN & ELBOW MACARONI

In large skillet over high heat, heat water and taco seasoning mix to boiling; stir in uncooked pasta. Cook 10 minutes, uncovered, STIRRING OCCASIONALLY or until pasta tastes tender and most liquid is absorbed. Reduce heat; stir in chicken until heated through. Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. 6 servings. Variation: If desired, stir in 2/3 cup (2-1/4 oz. can) drained sliced ripe olives along with chicken.

Ingredients:

5-1/2 cups water
1 pkg. (1.25 oz.) taco seasoning mix
2-1/2 cups (10 oz.) CREAMETTE ELBOW MACARONI, uncooked
2 cups (about 10 oz.) chopped cooked chicken pieces
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese

FRUIT SALAD

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water to cool quickly; drain well. In large bowl, sprinkle lemon juice over apples and bananas; toss lightly. Add cooled pasta, pineapple chunks, cottage cheese and mandarin orange segments; toss gently. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. Serve immediately. 7 servings.

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cups (8 oz.) CREAMETTE ELBOW MACARONI, uncooked
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 cups chopped apples
2 cups sliced bananas
2 cups (20-oz. can) pineapple chunks,well drained
2 cups (16 oz.) lowfat cottage cheese
1-1/2 cups (16-oz. can) mandarin orange segments, well drained
Ground nutmeg

Easy Chili Supper

In 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, brown meat; add green pepper, onion and garlic. Cook until tender, but not brown; drain. Add tomatoes, water, tomato sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling; stir in uncooked pasta. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes or until pasta is tender. 6 to 8 servings.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
3-1/2 cups (two 14-1/2-oz. cans) stewed tomatoes, undrained
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup (8-oz. can) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
3 cups (12 oz.) CREAMETTE ELBOW MACARONI, uncooked

ELBOW MACARONI & Ham Casserole

Preheat oven to 350°. In large bowl, combine cooked macaroni, luncheon meat, soup, milk and sour cream; mix well. Turn into greased 2-quart baking dish. Arrange broccoli on top. Cover and bake 30 to 35 minutes. Uncover; top with cheese and bake 5 minutes longer. Refrigerate leftovers.

Ingredients:

1 (7-ounce) package or 2 cups uncooked CREAMETTE ELBOW MACARONI, cooked as package
directs and drained
1 (12-ounce) can luncheon meat, cubed or 1 ½ cups cubed cooked ham
1 (10 ¾-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken, celery or mushroom soup
½ cup milk
½ cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 (10-ounce) package frozen broccoli spears, thawed
½ cup (2 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese

INDIVIDUAL TACO SALADS

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Toss with oil. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, brown meat; drain. Stir in picante and taco sauces; simmer 5 minutes. Divide lettuce evenly among 6 plates; layer about 1 cup hot pasta and 1/2 cup meat mixture over each. Sprinkle with cheese; garnish with chips. Top with additional taco sauce and sour cream, if desired. Serve immediately. 6 servings (1-1/2 cups ea.).

Ingredients:

3 cups (12 oz.) CREAMETTE ELBOW MACARONI, uncooked
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 cup bottled picante sauce
1 cup bottled taco sauce
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded (about 6 cups)
1-1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips
Dairy sour cream (optional)

TEXAS HERB AND BUTTER TOSS

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile in small saucepan, melt butter; stir in remaining ingredients. Heat until hot. In large bowl, toss hot cooked pasta with butter sauce until evenly combined. 6 servings.

Ingredients:

2 cups (6 oz.) CREAMETTE ELBOW MACARONI, uncooked
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped chives
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

I think they seem pretty easy and would definitely be diffferent. I just really need some new ideas, you know? We are all tired of the same stuff.

I really like slow cookers

Tricia — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:36:14 +0000

While flipping channels this morning I somehow managed to stop on HSN. They were doing a show on slow cookers. I am already a fan of slow cookers. Just yesterday I used ours to make chicken soft tacos. It is was so easy. Frozen, skinless and boneless chicken breasts and taco mix. My kids love it! Well, the one they were showing on HSN was not just a regular slow cooker, but a really nice one that called the Crock Pot Trio.

Crock Pot Trio

I was thinking it looked cool before they started with their demonstations. There are just so many ways you can use this. A main dish, a side and a dessert. All three of the crocks have a seperate temperature setting. You can even do a little dessert bar with it. The host had chocolate topping in one crock, strawberry cake in another and ice cream in the last one. You can not tell me that is not a great idea!! She didn’t “cook” the ice cream in it. She filled it with ice cream and put it in the freezer. Then brought it back out. I am thinking this would work pretty well for our family of 6.

I am keeping my eye on this one. At the Rival site it costs $99. HSN has it for $69.99 before shipping. If anyone comes across it cheaper please let me know.

Mixing it up this year for Thanksgiving

Tricia — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:44:04 +0000

Ok, I am not completely done with my meal shopping yet. I know, I know. My dad actually picked up everything that my grandmother is cooking days ago. I am so last minute. But I do have part of a plan. For Thanksgiving we usually eat at my in laws and I cook a little something. Some ham, dressing, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, corn, sweet potato pie and chocolate cake. This year I am making:

Spiral Honey Ham
Cornbread Dressing w/ smoked turkey pieces mixed in
Mac and Cheese (three types of cheese)
Sweet Potatoes
Mixed Greens ( I don’t know how to make my own so I use Glory Foods!)
Pumpkin Tarts (tried at Nestle and they were so good)
Chocolate Cake
Apple Pie
Sweet Potato Pie ( I am not sure yet, but I just might make some)

Not too bad
Cranberry Sauce
Crescent Rolls

I actually had fun

Tricia — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:44:37 +0000

Well yesterday was the big reveal of the Cookie Challenge and I honestly had fun. I did not think I could do it! Thank you for all the nice comments that everyone has left me. For those of you who have stopped by via Southern Plate thank you I hope if you have not had the chance to visit Southern Plate you take a sec and visit. There are some great recipes over there. I may just be making some more videos. Christy has awakened the cook in me, lol. Here are some of the pictures my daughter took while I was making the cookies. She could not believe that I was actually giving chocolate chip cookies another try!

All the tools courtesy of Southern Plate and Walmart!

This was the first time we actually used a oven thermometer. Sorry it is fuzzy, it was the heat from the oven.

Grating the almond bark

Almond bark grated

Pouring the white sugar

Correctly measuring flour

the brown sugar

The finished product!!!

To get the recipe remember to stop by www.southernplate.com

So, was I able to make the cookies?

Tricia — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:48:16 +0000

I will be adding the pictures later on today. I want you guys to see the video I was able to make with my Flip camcorder.
Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Try not to be too hard on me!

Tomorrow Is the Big Day

Tricia — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:27:30 +0000

Friday December 12, 2008 is the big Cookie Challenge Video reveal. Thanks to Christy at Southern Plate I just may learn how to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Southern Plate has generously sent me a Walmart giftcard to get a WearEver cooking sheet,a oven thermometer and the ingredients to make Mrs. Field’s $250 Cookies.
I am so thankful that Christy is nice enough to take the time out to show me how to make these cookies. I had the chance to talk to her over the phone and she is just as sweet as can be. I love her Southern accent too! Check out Christy’s Cookie Challenge Video below and tune in tomorrow to see how my cookies turn out!

The Cookie Challenge

Tricia — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:27:16 +0000

Progresso Broth

Tricia — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:44:20 +0000

For holidays meals I tend to cook a lot. I like to have leftovers so I won’t have to cook for a few days. For Thanksgiving and Christmas I make cornbread dressing with chicken breasts mixed in, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fried corn, greens, honey baked ham, sweet potato pie, biscuits, chocolate pecan pie and german chocolate cake. Now I learned how to cook from my grandmother. This is the main reason why I only know how to make sweet potato pie three at a time. She doesn’t use recipes so I never figured out how to break it down to just make one. When she taught me how to make dressing she used chicken broth. Not the kind in the can but the actual seasoned broth you get when you boil chicken pieces and vegetable. I adopted that way at first. Then I started to put my chicken in a slow cooker before putting it in the dressing I would not have enough broth. So I switched to canned broth. I still had to season it and I always ended up wasting some which I hated. So when I got the Progresso Broth in the mail I could not wait to try it out. A big plus was no can. I don’t have long fingernails so I could never open the cans. And no more wasted broth in the garbage which is always good.
Progresso Broth is now available in a 32 ounce reclosable carton. The carton fit in my hand comfortably and made a big difference while cooking. I was able to measure how much I needed with no spilling. I was happy to find out that Progresso Broth has a nice flavor to it. Usually I would have to add my own seasoning to get the taste just right but not this time. Progresso Broth is not just available in the Chicken flavor. You can also choose from low sodium Chicken and the Beef flavor. I will not being using the cans anymore. Progresso has become a pantry staple for my family. If you need any recipe ideas The Progresso website has so delicous and unique recipes to try.

The Pioneer Woman helped me out of my rut!

Tricia — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:38:19 +0000

Lately I have not been looking forward to cooking. I was having some type of block and could not think of new things to cook. We were all tired of the same old food day in and day out. Somehow I stumbled across The Pioneer Woman and have never left! Her site is not just about food but that is what I have become obsessed with. Her recipes are so simple and she takes pictures every step of the way. I just love it. She writes in such a way, I feel like I am in her kitchen watching her cook. I have already made her apple dumplings. I used Mello Yello instead of Mountain Dew and my kids love it. Thursday I made her Fresh Corn Casserole and could not stop eating it! I used 10 ears of corn, black pepper, seasoning salt and a small container of heavy whipping cream. It was absolutely delicious! I have never had corn that tasted so good. Tomorrow I will be trying her Dump Cake. It looks super easy to make and I think my family will enjoy it. I may even make her Onion Strings. My hubby went to get the buttermilk but forgot the onion. I really think she helped me to get out of my rut. I am now on the lookout for more recipes that are quick and easy. So if you have any suggestions let me know

Make ahead cooking

Tricia — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:45:24 +0000

I have been putting this off but one day soon I hope to jump in feet first. Here are some of the recipes I have found online:

Chicken Biscuit Casserole

Pork Chop Grill Packets

Ham omlettes

Pizza

Sloppy Joes

Spaghetti Sauce with Meat

Bacon rollups

Some people may be ready to start cooking meals ahead of time but are not sure where to start. This site gives step by step instructions.