Pasta with Peas and Ham

This is one recipe that I make often. No matter what changes I make to it or what I add to it, it always tastes great.

1 medium chopped onion
4 cloves minced garlic
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Ham
Peas
14 cup butter
1 cup broth
Pasta

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil and butter
Add ham, peas, and broth. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the pasta finishes cooking. Toss onto cooked pasta.

Oat Bread

There's nothing more satisfying or hearty than oat bread. I found this recipe years ago in a decades old cookbook that is no longer in my inventory of cookbooks. Thank goodness I had written it down and kept it. I make this bread whenever I make corn chowder. A taste of the old west in my own kitchen!

1/2 cup boiling water
1 1/4 cup cup oats (steel cut works best but quick oats are fine too)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons yeast

Place oats in a small bowl. Pour boiling water over them. Let set 30 minutes or until water is absorbed and oats are lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water. Place all of the ingredients in the pan of your bread machine in the order suggested by manufacturer.

Worms in the Dirt

There are a ton of variations on this children's dessert. This particular recipe seems to be my family's favourite. It's up to you how or what you want to make and serve it in. Depending on the circumstance, sometimes I make it in individual cups or as a cake. If you're serving lots of really young children, I'd make it in the cups.

Oreo cookies - 20 ounce package
2 3 ounce bars of dark chocolate chopped
1/2 cup butter
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
2 packages chocolate pudding (I often make my own chocolate mouse)
3 cups milk
1 cup whip cream
Gummy worms
Pieces of broken candy

Crush cookies in a food processor or blender, a few at a time to allow them to crush fine for the dirt. Add candy pieces - these are the rocks. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat the pudding and milk until they thicken, about 2 minutes. Fold in the Cool Whip. Then fold in the cream cheese mixture.

In a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan, layer as follows:

Sprinkle 1/3 of the cookie mix in the bottom
Add a few worms
Spread half the pudding mix on top
Sprinkle more cookie mix
Add a few more worms
Add remaining pudding mix
Top with cookie mix to give this the appearance of dirt

Cover the pudding as best as possible and don't flatten. Just sprinkle cookie mix. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Toothpicks can be used to keep topping from being smashed by the plastic wrap.

Lazy Enchiladas

1 lb ground beef
1 onion
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 chopped jalapeno
1 cup corn
1 can kidney beans
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can broccoli and cheddar soup
2 cups salsa (mild or hot)
1 package taco seasoning
A few dashes of Louisiana hot sauce
12 large tortillas
butter
green onion for garnish
cheddar cheese grated
salt and pepper

Brown the ground beef in large skillet. Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Cook the mixture for 3 to 5 minutes or until the onion has softened. Add the beans, broccoli and cheese soup, chicken soup, taco seasoning, corn, and salsa. Add a few dashes of hot sauce. Simmer until warm, about 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Tear the tortillas into large pieces. Grease the bottom of a large casserole dish with butter and then line the bottom with the torn tortilla pieces. Spoon on the ground beef mixture into a thin layer and then add a layer of cheese. Add another layer of tortillas and repeat with the beef mixture, finishing with a layer of cheese on top. Cover the casserole dish with foil to prevent the cheese from burning and place in the oven. Cook for 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, cut slices approximately 2 by 2 inches and serve. Garnish with chopped green onion.

Sukiyaki Beef Bowl

This has been one of my family's favourite recipes for as long as I can remember. It's easy to make, and even if you change vegetables, it always turns out wonderfully.

I have to avoid the mushrooms due to a family alergy so I use frozen peas instead. I often include red peppers too. It's always tasty served on some hot rice and is a good keeper in the fridge.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 pound sirloin steak cut into strips
2 onions coarsely choopped
2 bunches green onion cut in 3 inch pieces
3 stalks celery cut diagonally
1 (15 ounce can water chestnuts, drained and thinly sliced
1/2 pound mushrooms, sloiced
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup soyal sauce
1 cup beef stock

Heat butter in frypan until foamy. Brown beef on both sides. Remove from pan and set aside.

To frypan add onions, green onions, celery, water chestnuts, and mushrooms. Cook stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.

Stir in sugar, soya sauce, and beef broth.

Simmer for 5 minuytes then serve with rice. Makes 3 to 4 servings.

Play Dough

It has been many years since I've had to make play dough. But last week, it was my turn to make the play dough for my grandson's play school, so I dug up my favourite recipe and made up a batch.

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar or alum
food coloring
2 tablespoons mineral oil or vegetable oil



Simply add all the ingredients together in a pot and cook over low heat until the mixture forms a ball. Enjoy!