Cheeseburger Soup

This Cheeseburger soup recipe is a tried and tested favorite that you can rely on time and time again. Don’t be afraid of chopping and changing a few ingredients around to suit your own tastes.

Ingredients:
1/2 pound ground beef
3 1/2 cups diced potatoes
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped celery stalk
3 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
5 tablespoons butter
8 ounces American cheese / Velveeta, diced
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper

Method:
Sautee the ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet/pan over a medium heat. Mix the beef to prevent it sticking to the pan, cook until its browned all over. Drain and set aside, we will use the same skillet next.
Sauté the chopped celery, chopped carrots, parsley and basil in 2 tablespoon of the butter in the skillet. When the carrots are tender, add the chicken stock and bring to the boil. Now add the diced potatoes and cooked beef and simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
In a separate small skillet melt the remaining butter, stir in the flour and cook through until it combines. Whisk in the milk and cook until the whole mixture thickens and becomes smooth. Add this to the soup and bring to the boil one more time.
Reduce the heat and mix in the cheese and season. When the cheese has melted remove the pot from the heat.

Jiffy Corn Casserole

This has become my favorite corn casserole, the only reason not to make it is that sometimes I cannot get my hands on Jiffy cornbread mix here in Spain!

Ingredients:

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 can creamed corn

2 eggs, beaten

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix

1 stick butter, melted (or 1/2 c. oil)

1 c. sour cream

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. garlic powder (opt.)

Shredded cheese (opt.)

Mix all ingredients except cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top, if desired. Bake in casserole dish or 9"x13" baking dish for 30 to 45 minutes or until fully cooked in center.

Corn Casserole

Ingredients:

1 c. cream sweet corn

1 can kernel corn

1 1/2 c. crushed saltine crackers

1 c. grated Cheddar cheese

3 eggs

2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. sweet milk

Mix all ingredients and bake in a greased casserole dish for 45 minutes at 450 degrees.

Cranberry Sauce from Scratch

Ingredients
· 1 cup (200 g) sugar
· 1 cup (255 mL) water
· 4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries
· Optional Pecans, orange peel, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.

Method
1 Wash and pick over cranberries. In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.
2 At this point you can add all number of optional ingredients. We typically mix in a half a cup of roughly chopped pecans with or without a few strips of orange peel. You can add a cup of raisins or currants. You can add up to a pint of fresh or frozen blueberries for added sweetness. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice can be added too.
3 Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.
Cranberry sauce base makes 2 1/4 cups.

Sweet Potato Casserole

INGREDIENTS
4 cups sweet potato, cubed
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.
In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In medium bowl, mix the sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole From Scratch

2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half

4 cups whole milk

6 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Salt and pepper to taste

1 pound button mushrooms,

sliced Fried onion rings: 2 large yellow onions, sliced into thin rings

Whole milk to cover onions

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Vegetable oil, for frying rings

Heat a pot with plenty of generously salted water. When the water comes to a full rolling boil, add the beans and cook until just tender. Do not crowd the beans or they will turn gray (cook in batches if necessary).

Fill a large bowl with ice water and when beans are done, drain and place in the ice water. Once beans have chilled, remove from the ice water and set aside.

In a medium pot, bring the milk to a boil. While the milk is heating, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan, then add the flour, mixing with a wooden spoon. Cook flour mixture over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly and making sure the flour doesn't brown.

Very gradually pour the boiling milk into the flour mixture, whisking constantly to ensure there are no lumps. Continue to cook the milk mixture, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Heat a large saute pan over high heat. When hot, add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and immediately follow with the sliced mushrooms, even before the butter has completely melted. (This will keep the butter from burning while allowing the pan to stay hot enough so the mushrooms saute.) Saute the mushrooms until lightly browned, and season with salt and pepper. Pour milk mixture into pan with the mushrooms and cook together for a few minutes to meld the flavors.

To make onion rings: Place onion rings in a bowl and cover with milk. Place in refrigerator for at least 10 minutes or up to an hour. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Place enough oil in pot to cover the onion rings (you can fry in batches, if necessary). Heat to 375° F. Strain milk from onions. Coat onion rings with flour mixture, then fry in the hot oil. Once lightly browned, remove from oil and drain on paper towels

To assemble the casserole: Preheat oven to 350° F. In a large mixing bowl, mix the green beans, mushroom mixture and 1 cup of the onion rings. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper, if necessary. Spray nonstick cooking spray into an 8-inch square baking pan or any suitable size that will accommodate the beans. Pour mixture into pan and top with the remaining fried onion rings. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until hot, and serve.

Note: Any component of this casserole can be done a day or two ahead, and the whole casserole can be assembled a day in advance.

Happy Easter!

Join me as I celebrate my King! He was dead but is now alive!

A man in Amarillo, Texas sculped these scenes from death and ressurrection of Christ. Someone donated the land where it is placed. They are awesome!

For more pictures, go to: http://family.webshots.com/album/559895207XUKbnv

Some food for your thoughts:

Who is Jesus?
HE IS JESUS
WHO IS HE?
IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.
IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION;
IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN;
IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD;
IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS,
IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END;
IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE;
IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM; SO.

WHO IS HE?
HE IS JESUS! JOIN ME AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM;
HE IS WORTHY. THE EYES BEHOLDING THIS MESSAGE SHALL NOT BEHOLD EVIL, THE HAND THAT WILL SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYBODY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN, AND THE MOUTH SAYING AMEN TO THIS PRAYER SHALL SMILE FOREVER. REMAIN IN GOD AND SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. AMEN

IN GOD I'VE FOUND EVERYTHING!

The Greatest Man in History:

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!

Cream Cheese Christmas Tree

Hello, sorry it has been a long time since last entry. We have been busy with life! I have to say we had lots of get together this holiday season, and it is in part the reason for no time to write.

In our gatherings, one of the favorite snacks was this recipe I am sharing with you. I hope you can enjoy it. It does not need to be a Christmas tree so you can still make it ... it is great!

Ingredients:
8 oz Kraft Philadelphia Free Fat-Free Cream Cheese
1/4 cup DiGiorno Basil Pesto Sauce (I made my own!)

1 TBLSP chopped red pepper

10 serving Nabisco Ritz Reduced-fat crackers (50 CRACKERS, 5 EACH) - or other cracker

1 cinnamon stick

Instructions:

CUT block of cream cheese diagonally in half. Place triangles together to resemble Christmas tree on serving plate. Cover with pesto. ADD peppers for the tree ornaments. Insert cinnamon stick at base of triangle for the tree trunk. SERVE as a spread for assorted NABISCO Crackers Size-Wise Savor this tasty festive spread. Each 2-Tbsp. serving goes a long way on flavor

One of my favorite Fall recipe!

Hello Friends!
Christmas is almost here but I could not pass the Fall Season without at least one recipe. This is my very favorite season but Christmas is near and getting the attention already. I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving. We had 3 different celebrations in our apt in Madrid. I counted 70 diffent people came though our home! It was crazy but great! So here is my recipe for you:

HARVEST CHOWDER

Ingredients:
10 slices bacon
1 cup finely chopped carrots
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup fresh chopped mushrooms and/or zucchini
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups water
4 cups mashed potatoes
1 can creamed corn
1 can whole kernal corn, drained
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup half and half (or evaporated milk)
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 large tomato chopped (opt.)

Method:
1. In a large pot, fry bacon until crisp. Drain and crumble, set aside.
2. In the same pot the bacon was fried in, fry carrots, onion, celery, mushrooms and/or zucchini for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with the pepper.
3. Add the 2 cups of water to the pot and simmer vegetables until tender.
4. Add the crumbled bacon and the remaining ingredients and stir well.
5. Cook over low to medium heat until chowder is heated through and the cheese melts. Stir often to prevent scorching and add a little milk or water if chowder becomes to thick.
6. Serve alone or in bread bowls if desired. Serves 10-12. Enjoy!

I am back where I belong!

This may sound crazy as I was born in Brazil and lived in US for many years. Still I feel, in many ways, that I belong to Spain. I have so much history here: I met my husband here, this is the first place I knew outside of Brazil, when I got married we came to live here and my three children were born here!! No wonder I feel the way I do!

I am just happy I get to be here. I love the friends I have, the life I live ... All of these are things I have to thank God for. I do believe that things happen for a reason and life is under the sovereignty of God. I thank Him for allowing me to find pleasure in my life mission.

One of my favorite Bible verses is about God's will being "perfect" and "pleasant". Problems will come, they always do - but then I will think on that other Bible verse, it is "my mourning may last for a night but joy comes in the morning"

As you live your day out, think of the pleasures of your life. Thank God for them. They may be small and simple but the total of them make your life special and unique! Also, be thankful for the obstacles you find. They may be important lessons in disguise.

I just wanted to share with you, my friend, where I am right now. I will be writing more often starting now. Thank you for checking on my blog!