Shonk's Green Bean Casserole

 

Makes one large 8 x 10 pan big enough for leftovers

Can half recipe if serving a smaller group

2 cans (10 1/2 oz) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 C milk

2 tsp soy sauce

dash of black pepper

8 cups cooked cut green beans (I like French cut beans from the freezer section)

2 containers French's French Fried Onions

about 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional but makes it yum!)

Step 1:  Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, thawed green beans and cheese in an 8x10 casserole dish.  Cover with aluminum foil.  

Step 2: Bake at 350 degrees for 40ish minutes or until the bean mixture is hot and bubbling.  If halving the recipe, only 25ish minutes are needed for baking.  

Step 3: Uncover.  Add second container of French Fried Onions on top.  Bake for 5 minutes or until the onions are golden brown.  

Recipe source: Campbells.com

Meatballs

I recently made this recipe when our local tiny commissary in South Korea was out of meatballs and I needed them for a baby shower for my friend Diana!  Many people said they liked them and I realized maybe I should make homemade meatballs more often vs buying store bought ones haha!  This recipe is easy and versatile.  Use these for party meatballs, spaghetti and meatballs, meatballs subs, etc. My new go-to meatball recipe!

1 beaten egg 

1/2 c bread crumbs (Garlic & Herb for party meatballs, Italian for spaghetti)

1/4 c finely chopped onion

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp black pepper

8 oz lean ground beef

If putting meatballs in a sauce of some kind, you don't need to add any additional salt.  If you were having them as a stand alone item without any sauce, add a little bit of salt, maybe 1/2 tsp or so.  

Place all items in a big bowl and mix with hands until well combined.  Then form standard sized meatballs (about golf ball sized or a little smaller)  and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  

Recipe Source: Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, page 492 (adapted by me)

Picture Source: I Heart Nap Time

Apple Fritters

 My husband made it for me for Mother's Day and he said that the hardest part was getting the oil temperature right.  They were SO yummy!!


Servings: 35 donut holes
prep time: 13 minutes
cook time: 2 minutes

Fritter Ingredients
1 1/4 c all-purpose flour (scoop and level to measure)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c buttermilk
1/4 c granulated sugar
3 TBS melter butter
1 15 oz can apple pie filling

3-4 C vegetable oil for frying

Glaze for Apple Fritters:
1/4 c whole milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 c powdered sugar

Glaze Instructions:

1. Combine milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan and heat over low heat until warm. Sift confectioners' sugar into milk mixture. Whisk slowly, until well combined. Remove the glaze from the heat and set over a bowl of warm water. Dip doughnuts into the glaze, 1 at a time, and set on a draining rack placed in a half sheet pan for 5 minutes before serving.
2. 
   

FRITTER INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Prepare glaze.  Leave glaze in pot on stove to stay warm.  Cut up apples from apple pie filling.  Set aside.

2.  Pour 1/2 inch oil into a large sauté pan or pot and heat over medium heat to 350-360 degrees, keeping an eye on it as it is heating. Meanwhile, prepare the donut dough.

2.  In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.

3.  Separately whisk together buttermilk and melted butter.  Pour buttermilk mixture into flour mixture and using a fork, stir in dry ingredients and mix just until combined (be careful not to over-work dough).  Add in cut up apple pie filling (the amount of apples you add from the pie filling can is up to you), stirring gently.

4.  Gently roll dough into 1/2 Tbsp balls.  Once the oil has reached 350 degrees F, fry about 1/2 the balls at a time.

5.  Fry until just golden brown on bottom, then flip and cook reverse side until golden brown.

6.  Carefully remove with a spider strainer or metal tongs and drain onto a paper towel lined baking sheet.

7.   While the fritters are still hot, roll them in glaze and set on lined tray.


*If desired, you can leave out the cinnamon and apples and make into regular donut holes.  Roll in sugar after frying if desired instead of glaze.

Glaze Recipe Source: Food Network
Picture Source: Souffle Bombay

Cafe Rio Sweet Pulled Pork

There is more effort in this recipe than others.  Still deciding if its worth it haha!

• Ingredients for Sweet Pulled Pork:

• 2 pounds pork (we use boneless pork rib meat)
• 3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• dash garlic salt
• 1/4 c. water
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 3/4 (10oz) can red enchilada sauce (I use Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness but any will work)
• 1 c. brown sugar

Directions:

Marinade: 

Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.

Crockpot:
Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don’t let it get TOO dry). 

Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

Sauce:

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little. Put shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. That’s it!

Photo Sources:  Carlsbad Cravings

Cilantro Lime Rice

Just like Cafe Rio!  My kids love this rice!

Cilantro Lime Rice
 
1 c. uncooked rice
1 tsp. butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 can (15 oz) chicken broth (about 2 C)
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tsp. sugar
3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

The Stay at Home Chef

Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing

Just like Cafe Rio's!  Sooooo yum!


Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing

3 T salsa verde

1/2 t tabasco sauce

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro

2 small cloves garlic

3/4 c mayo (NOT MIRACLE WHIP)

3/4 c sour cream

juice from one squeezed lime

buttermilk

put ingredients in blender except buttermilk. Blend and add buttermilk until desired consistancy reached. Refrigerate overnight.

Picture Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything

Party Meatballs

A staple at every church potluck or Super bowl Sunday partayyyyy!

Mix and put the following ingredients into crockpot on low:

*Note: half recipe below for family of 5 to 7-ish.  :)

1 can crushed pineapple (with juice)
18 oz bottle BBQ Sauce
18 oz grape jelly
2 small bags meatballs

Serve with rice.


Picture Source: Natasha's Kitchen
** Def want to try the meatball recipe and sauce recipe on the picture source!  It looked awesome!