Simple and Healthy Recipes

I have kept meaning to post these recipes…but never got to it till now 🙂  Here and there, since I have been cooking a lot more, I (a few are from my sister) found recipes here and there (and changed a few ) for those things that people always buy. So, I will post some or all of them here for others who want to save and to cook healthy! (Think of all that unnecessary stuff they put in the canned foods! Yuck!)

 

Instant Vanilla Pudding

Makes the amount of a big box

3/8 C. Sugar

1/8 C Flour

1/4 t. Vanilla

Mix together and it’s ready to use! 

 

Ketchup

A really simple, quick, easy to throw together when you need it!

Makes about 3-1/2 cups

1 can (15 oz.) of tomato sauce

1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste

1 C. sugar

4 t. salt

1/2 C. vinegar

Mix together and it’s ready to use!

 

Uncanned Condensed Soup

Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom, Tomato Soup, Mushroom Celery Soup, Cream of Cheese soup, etc….

Makes one 15 oz. can

3 T. butter or oil

3 T. flour

1/4 t. salt

dash of pepper

1-1/4 C. milk

In a saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour. Add seasonings and cook over medium heat until bubbly. Add milk stirring with a wire whisk until thick.

For Tomato Soup: use tomato juice instead of milk. Add dashes of garlic and onion powder, basil and oregano.

Mushroom/Celery Soup: Sauté 1/4 C. chopped mushrooms or celery and 1 T. minced onion in butter before adding flour.

Cream of Mushroom/Chicken Soup: Sauté mushrooms or chicken in butter before adding flour.

 

Shortcut Refried Beans

Makes 2 (15 oz.) cans

3/4 C. dried pinto beans

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground cumin

1/2 t. chili powder

2-1/2 C. warm water

1/2 C. salsa

Grind pinto beans until fine using a food grinder. Place in a saucepan, and whisk in salt, cumin, chili powder, and warm water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook until thick–about 15 minutes.  When thick, remove from heat and stir in salsa.

 

Chili Seasoning Mix

Makes 6 packages

1-1/8 C. flour

1/3 C. chili powder

2 T. ground cumin

1-1/2 T. minced garlic

2 t. sugar

3/4 C. minced onion

2 T. salt

1 T. hot pepper flakes

Combine and divide into 6 containers.  1 package to 1 pound of hamburger.

 

Alfredo Sauce  

4 servings

1/4 C. butter

1 C. heavy cream

1/4 t. minced garlic

1-1/2 C. parmesan cheese

1/4 C. chopped fresh parsley

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cheese and whisk quickly, heating through. Stir in parsley and serve.

What do you use the Alfredo Sauce for? Try….

Overstuffed Shells

Serves 12

10-oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and drained

2 C. mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 C. cooked ham, diced

2 C. chicken, cooked and shredded

15 oz. container cottage cheese

1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 C. fresh parsley, minced

1-1/2 t. garlic powder

1-1/2 t. onion powder

2 recipes of Alfredo Sauce, divided

12 oz. package jumbo shell pasta, cooked

Garnish: parsley and tomato, chopped

 Mix spinach, 1-1/4 C. mozzarella cheese, ham, chicken, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic and onion powders together; set aside. Spread 2 cups Alfredo Sauce into the bottom of an ungreased 9" X 13" pan and one cup in an ungreased 8" X 8" pan. Spoon about 2 T. of filling into each pasta shell; arrange shells in a single layer on top of Alfredo Sauce. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until sauce starts to bubble; sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts; garnish with parsley and tomato.  Serve with garlic bread.

 

10-Minute Enchilada Sauce

Makes 2 (15 oz.) cans

1/4 C. oil

2 T. flour

1/4 C. chili powder

8 oz. tomato sauce

1-1/2 C. water

1/4 t. ground cumin

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/4 t. salt

Mix all ingredients well, heat, and it’s ready to serve!! 

 

Taco Seasoning Mix

Makes 1 package

2 t. minced onion

2 t. chili powder

1 t. salt

1 t. ground cumin

1/2 t. minced garlic

1/2 t. cornstarch

1/2 t. oregano

1/2 t. basil

Mix all ingredients together. Store in an air-tight container.

When ready to use: Brown one pound of hamburger. Add Taco Seasoning Mix, 2 T. sugar, 1/2 C. water, and 1/4 C. ketchup. Cook until water is evaporated.

 

Sausage

Makes one pound

1 lb. hamburger

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. sage

1/2 t. thyme

1/8 t. cayenne pepper

1 t. salt

Cook all ingredients together. This has been a life saver for those times when I needed sausage and we had none!!!

Veggie Dip

1 C. sourcream, cottage cheese or plain yogurt

1 C. mayonnaise

dash of soy sauce

1 t. dill weed

1/2 t. onion powder

1 t. garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and serve with vegetables.  Very yummy and, in my opion, better than store bought!!

 

French Dressing

 1 C. oil

1/2 C. water

1/2 C. apple cider vinegar

1 C. sugar

2/3 C. ketchup

2 t. salt

2 t. paprika

2 T. mustard

1/4 medium onion

Blend all ingredients together in blender until smooth.

 

 Blender Mayonnaise

Makes 2 cups

2 eggs, at room temperature

2 T. lemon juice

1/2 t. salt

1 t. dry mustard 1-1/4 C. oil

2 T. honey

Combine all ingredients except oil in blender at high speed for 1 minute. Slowly and gradually add oil. Refrigerate in a  non-metal container.

 

Western Dressing

Makes 1 (16 oz.) bottle

2 C. Miracle Whip

1 C. sugar

1/4 C. vineger

1/2 C. ketchup

2 t. mustard

1 t. paprika

4 t. water

1/2 C. oil

1/2 t. salt

Blend all together in blender.

 

~Susannah

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