Down Home Kitchen

1 lb. hamburger meat

1 med. onion chopped

1 pkg. Doritos

1 can Rotel

1 can Ranch Style beans

1 can cream of chicken soup

8 oz. grated cheese

Brown meat with onion and drain fat.  Place mix in casserole dish, then layer doritos, rotel, beans and soup with doritos to be the last.  Cover with foil and bake at 350*F for 45 mins, adding cheese during the last 15 mins. and returning to oven to melt cheese.

Large Fritos can be substituted……

Here they are……the green tomatoes, that you can fry up with cornmeal and have a tasty delight.  

Then if that’s not to your flavor, you can fry up some summer yellow squash……there are several ways, to fix these babies……..     Now for the “gran-daddy” of all vegetables……the wonderful fresh cabbage that is so easy grown, in a garden……..hey, slaw, or steamed ……cabbage is great and chocked full of  and good nutrients.   

I found this article on Glycemic levels, and thought it was a good idea to note it for my readers.  I believe that many are obese, because they eat the wrong carbs and done watch their intake.
Keep an eye on G.I. levels. Glycemic Index were the buzzwords of the last year. The Glycemic Index chart ranks carbohydrates based on their effect on blood sugar levels. Carbs that break down fast and lead to blood sugar spikes are given a high value while carbs that move through the body slow are assigned a low value. The more low G.I. foods you consume the better for your blood sugar. For example, a doughnut has a G.I. of 76. Yogurt, on the other hand, has a G.I. value of 14.

1 lb. hot pork sausage

1 med. onion chopped

3 ribs celery, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped

3 green onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 c. rice

1 (16 oz.)can cream of chicken soup

1 c. water

1 T. red pepper, crushed

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. basil

salt & pepper to taste

In skillet, brown sausage & drain. Add onions, celery,bell peppers, green onions & garlic. Cook till vegetables tender, add water, soup, seasonings & rice and simmer till rice is cooked. Toss & serve warm.

4 to 6 pork chops

1/2 c. rice

2 carrots, cleaned & sliced

1 sm. onion, sliced & separated

2 ribs celery, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, sliced thin

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. basil

1 c. mushroom soup

1/2 c. water

salt & pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350*. Spray baking dish, with vegetable spray, layer rice & pork chops, sprinkle with dry seasonings, place vegetables on top, cover with soup and pour in water. Cover dish with aluminum foil, bake for 30 min.

There are two types of carbohydrates – simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are usually sweet and can include cakes, candies and other sugary foods. Some foods such as peaches, melons and apples are simple carbs. Complex carbs include whole grain pasta, brown rice, oats, vegetables and whole grain cereals. For the most part, try to stick with complex carbs which take longer to digest and are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Make your food complex. as in carbohydrates. White bread, cookies, pasta and other highly-processed foods give carbs a bad name.

Have you ever got to feeling good enough to fix a dish from “scratch?” Well, it’s actually fun, if you know what your doing. It’s fun if you get things all set up ahead of time. Going looking for something, when your in the middle of mixing doesn’t make for a good outcome. I’ve been in a hurry many times, grab for things, mix them together, and what a mess. You’ve been there, I’m sure. It’s just not going to work, if the eggs aren’t beaten, or the butter and sugar haven’t been creamed. Imagine that! They all go in the same bowl, mixed together, so why can’t they work right, just this time?

It’s very nice to have a food dish, turn out right. Especially, when you work so hard to make it from “scratch”. You hope that it tastes as good, complementing your efforts. But those biscuits, can get really hard, can’t they?  I swear, I could knock someone out with mine. Just can’t seem to get it right.

I have had times that I threw something together, and it came out wonderful.  I keep thinking back wondering just how I did it? Maybe if I could remember I could do it again. Ha, ha………the jokes’ on me, it will never happen again.

So, it’s back to the conventional way and reading the recipe the right way.

I’m sure your asking me what I’m doing writing this type of post. Just imagine, how much more fun your baby can have eating the food your eating.

If you can eat it, your baby can. At least the babies, that are already eating “baby food” will be able to. Rather than pay all those expensive prices for baby food, just pop some of the meat or veggies in the blender, with a couple of teaspoons milk and puree. They can enjoy the same food your eating and develop a better sense of taste.

Sure you can have the jar baby food to take with you when you aren’t at home, but use that as a substitute. Cooking at home for the family, gives the special pleasures of smelling the aroma’s. If your baby associates the smells with eating, then it will be all too ready, when the food is offered.

Pureeing the food, gives it the smooth texture of regular baby food. So, why not let your baby enjoy a meal right along with the rest of the family? It’s a good way to interact and give your baby the same pleasures, you get from sitting down to a good meal.

1 lb. hamburger meat

1 sm. onion, chopped

1 box Rice-A-Roni Beef flavor

1/2 c. salsa

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. pepper

salt to taste

1 med. tomato, chopped

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 c. tortilla chips, crushed

lettuce, shredded

whole tortilla chips for serving.

In lg. skillet, brown beef & onion, drain, remove, set aside..In same skillet prepare Rice-A-Roni as directed on box.  Stir in meat, salsa, salt, pepper & chili powder, simmer for 3 to 4 mins.  Pour in lg. serving bowl, arrange whole chips around mixture, top the center with crushed chips, lettuce, tomato and cheese & serve.

2 c. instant rice or cooked rice

1 bag frozen broccoli or

1 head fresh broccoli, broken into flowerettes

1 stick butter

1 sm. onion sliced

1 (16oz) can mushroom soup

3 ribs celery, sliced

1 c. milk

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. garlic powder

salt & pepper to taste

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded

Heat oven to 350*F.  Spray baking dish with Pam or grease with butter.  Layer rice on the bottom, broccoli, onion, celery, seasons.  Pour in milk and spread soup over the top. Cover with aluminum foil & bake for 1 hour, remove &  sprinkle cheese on top, return to oven, uncovered for 10 mins., till cheese melts. Serve hot.