Recipes

Good Morning! I hope ya'll had a great weekend. Here are two quick and easy recipes, one is for dinner and the other for dessert. I hope you enjoy them!

Beef & Salsa Skillet
1 lb. lean (at least 80%) ground beef
1 jar (16 oz.) chunky-style salsa (2 cups)
1 can (15 oz.) kidney beans, undrained
1 can (7 oz.) whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese (2 oz.), if desired

1. In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain. Stir in salsa, beans, corn, tomato sauce and 1 teaspoon of the chili powder. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low.
2. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, remaining 1 teaspoon chili powder and the water until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 6 spoonfuls onto simmering beef mixture.
3. Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover; cook 8 minutes longer. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover; cook about 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Substitution: Use ground turkey breast instead of ground beef for a lower fat dish with the same great taste.

Chocolate Cherry Cola Cake
1 jar (10 oz.) maraschino cherries, drained, 1/4 cup liquid reserved
1 box devil's food cake mix
1 cup cherry cola carbonated beverage
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 container (12 oz.) whipped white frosting
1 cup marshmallow crème
24 maraschino cherries with stems, well drained, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Chop cherries; set aside.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, cola beverage, oil, eggs and 1/4 cup reserved cherry liquid with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed beat 2 minutes. Stir in chopped cherries. Pour into pan.
3. Bake 35 to 43 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. In small bowl, mix frosting and marshmallow créme until smooth. Frost cake. Top each piece with 2 cherries.

Special Touch: For chocolate-dipped cherries, melt 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in microwave; stir. Dip well-drained cherries with stems into chocolate; refrigerate to set.

We had a pretty good weekend. Friday night we went to a surprise 50th birthday party, which was held at a bowling alley. It was Rylie's first time bowling and she really loved it. We found a little 6 lb. bowling ball and she did pretty good. No bumper pads in the gutter lanes either. AND she even got a strike, all on her own. YAY Rylie! She was so proud of that.

Saturday was our "lazy day" and we spent it just hanging out at the house. Samantha and her boyfriend, Kyle, came over in the evening. Rylie talked them into a game of Hide-N-Seek, lol. The four of us played while Ray was on the computer. Actually it was kind of fun. Hey, it's playing those kind of games with your kids that keeps you young. And besides, I think I was the best hider. LOL

Then Sunday was our family dinner day. I made a ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls and Candy Bar cake. Everything turned out real good, although the cake was a bit rich tasting. Just very chocolaty. Oh, I should give ya'll that recipe too. It's an easy one and something different to try.

Candy Bars Recipe
Ready in: 30-60 minutes
Serves/Makes: 15

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 package devil's food cake mix
1 cup butterscotch chips
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F degrees. In large bowl, cut butter into cake mix with fork or pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over bottom of ungreased 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan; press lightly. Sprinkle with butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts.

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over all ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool 45 minutes or until completely cooled. Cut into bars.

Well, than playing a few games of Apples to Apples with the kids, that was about the extent of our weekend. After the kids and grandbabies left, we sat down to watch the Nascar race (boring Fontana this weekend). That was about it.

Have a good day!
Hugs!
Jill Marie