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……

1 head cabbage

2 T. oil or meat drippings

1 cup water

salt & pepper seasoned to taste

Quarter or cut up cabbage & place in skillet with other ingredients, cover, heat to boiling reduce heat and simmer 25-30 mins. Serve

2-3 cans whole kernel corn drained

1 (8oz) pkg. Cream Cheese

1/2 cup milk

2 T. butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

Melt butter in saucepan, saute onion, celery, add milk & cream cheese, mix well.  Pour over drained corn in sm. baking pan or dish, cover with foil and bake at 350*F for 30 to 40 mins.  Serve.

While I’m not a big fan of salmon, several of my family members are.

Herbed Salmon
1 lb. salmon fillet, skin removed

1 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1 T. thyme, chopped

3 T. olive oil

Salsa Recipe Follows

Rub salmon with salt & pepper, sprinkle or rub with herbs till coated evenly, let stand covered at room temperature for 30 mins.  Heat skillet over high heat, add oil, cook salmon 4 to 5 mins. per side, till crispy on both sides, about medium cooked, move to individual plates and top with salsa.  Serves 4

Cucumber & Peach Salsa

Remove peel & pits and finely dice 3 ripe firm peaches.  Finely dice cucumber, 1 sm. red onion, 1/4 c. fresh mint leaves.   Combine peaches and other ingreds.  in bowl with juice of 1 lime, 1 orange, 1/2 t. salt & 1/4 t. pepper, cover and refrigerate, till served.

  They can’t grow fast enough for me………..I’m ready for some cherry tomatoes, to put in a good salad……..I have plenty of flowers, so maybe it will give me a bunch of cherry tomatoes, and make me happy.

This is good to serve on a cold day, with crusty bread………..
2 T olive oil

1/2 c. finley diced onion

1/2 c. finely diced turnip

1/2 c. finely diced carrot

2 t. mince garlic

4 c. veg. or chicken stock or canned broth

1.4 c. tomato paste

3 c roasted plum tomatoes with cooking juices

1/4 c. chop fresh basil leaves

1/4 c. chop fresh parsley

Heat oil in lg. saucepan over med. heat, saute onion, turnip,carrot & garlic till soft.  Stir in stock/broth, tomato paste and tomatoes with jusices, cover bring to boil, reduce heat, simmer 30 min.  Stir in basil and parsley, serve in soup bowls.

To Roast Tomatoes:

Pre-heat oven to 325*F.  Cut 24 lg. ripe plum tomatoes in half, crosswise.  Place on lg. roasting pan, drizzle with 2 T. olive oil, sprinkle 1 T. chop basil & 1 T. oregano.  Roast for 45 min., let cool remove skins and cores, & coarsely chop flesh.

Well, as you can tell ………there was plenty of food…..  ….front and center was my dressing……..right next to it on the right sliced turkey and then just to the right of the turkey, Mom’s sliced ham……..above the dressing…….is green onions…..the creamed potatoes and to the right of them is the sweet potatoes, topped with melted, marshmallows……….over on the left is some dishes that my sister left covered that she brought, they kept getting cold for some reason………..Above the potatoes were her deviled eggs and banana pudding, which you can’t see, because they are covered…….too………. she was supposed to bring a fruit salad, which she forgot……..

Oh I kept my giblet gravy on the stove……..since there wasn’t enough room for it on the table and was able to re-heat it ever so often and keep it warm…… 

Hope all of you had a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving…….

4 to 6 potatoes, peeled & cubed
1 stick butter
3/4 c. milk or half & half
salt & pepper to taste
In lg. pot place potatoes, with water to cover, bring to boil, reduce heat & simmer till potatoes are tender. Drain, place in lg. bowl, add butter, salt & pepper, mash together. Add milk and cream together. Serve hot.

For extra flavor you can add 1 sm. tub sour cream & chives.