Sunny Lemon Bars

Summer is made for berry and citrus desserts! This is easy to make and always a hit when I make it. I found this recipe on Betty Crocker a few years back. I've seen a few renditions of it before, but this is the easiest one I've found thus far.

Sunny Lemon Bars
Ingredients:
Crust
1 pouch sugar cookie mix (I use the Betty Crocker brand)
1/2 c butter (softened)
Filling
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2 c granulated sugar (that's the regular sugar ;))
1/4 c flour
1 T grated lemon peal
1/4 c lemon juice
2 T powdered sugar


Directions:
Heat over to 350
Beat crust ingredients on low until crumbly
In 13x9 pan, press mix evenly
Bake 20 minutes - then cool for 10 minutes


Stir filling ingredients except lemon juice
Stir in lemon juice
Pour over crust
Bake 25-30 minutes until top is light golden brown
Cool for 1 hour
Sprinkle with powdered sugar


I'm honestly not sure why it tells you to stir all of the filling ingredients except lemon juice at first. I believe once I forgot that I wasn't supposed to add it right away, and I think it turned out fine. I'm sure the almighty cooking powers know better than I.

Pork Tips and Rice

Pork chops are often buy one get one free. I found a recipe on Pinterest (of course) and thought I would give it a shot. We do not generally eat pork...not because of some anti-pig diet, but simply because we've never really had a love for it. We even use turkey bacon. One of J's favorite comfort foods is beef tips and rice. When I set out to cook this recipe I didn't know that it would leave a nice little gravy with the pork chops. Once it cooked rice was the perfect thing to pair with it. I also over cooked the chops because I was running errands. All this caused was for the pork chops to fall apart, which was just right for what I was making! It was super easy and a nice comfort meal indeed. I also had some mixed veggies with mine, but that was a step too far for J :).


Pork Tips and Rice
Ingredients:
4 boneless pork chops
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can water
1 packet ranch powder


Directions:
Mix soup, water, and powder in crock pot
Place pork chops in mixture
Cook on low 4-6 hours


See! Super easy!!! I can even remember the ingredients off the top of my head. Very convenient when list making and shopping.

Roast

Simple. Classic. Delicious.

Roast
Ingredients:
2-5 lb pot roast (any kind)
1 packet ranch dressing powder
1 packet Italian dressing powder
1 packet brown gravy mix
Potatoes
Carrots
1-1 1/2 c water

Directions:
Place veggies at bottom of crockpot
Put roast on top of veggies
Sprinkle all 3 spice packets on top
Add water
Cook on low for 6-10 hours until tender and veggies cooked through

Strawberry Cookies

These are dangerous. I could have ate the entire batch the evening I made them. Alas, I showed self control and refrained from devouring them. J stated they may be his new favorite kind of cookies and this man knows his cookies :). I think strawberry and lemon desserts are perfect for summer and these are super easy. Also, a dessert that it is easy to have on hand for last minute occasions or unexpected company.


Strawberry Cookies
Ingredients:
1 box strawberry cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c vegetable oil


Directions:
Mix eggs and oil
Stir in cake mix
Drop teaspoon fulls onto greased cookie sheet
Cook on 350 for 8-10 minutes


Voila! You have semi-homemade cookies!

Minestrone

I honestly haven't had this recipe. I was at my mom's house for a Thirty-One party and I had put this in the crockpot so J would have a meal when he got home. He then took what was left throughout the week to work for lunch. He's a picky eater and he loved it. I believe he said, "This is my favorite meal with spinach in it so far." Victory in my book. He also said once it cooked it was thick enough so he didn't add the pasta...DOUBLE VICTORY! He ate a soup that contained only vegetables! He is certainly not the man I married...getting better with age I suppose ;)


Minestrone
Ingredients:
1/2 onion, chopped
1 c carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
28 oz. diced tomatoes
15 oz navy bean, rinse/drain (or any white bean)
3 c chicken broth
1 oz Parmesan cheese
1 rosemary sprig (I just eyeballed some dried rosemary)
2 bay leaves
2 T basil
1 T minced garlic
1/4 c fresh parsley (Just eyeballed dried parsley as well)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 c zucchini, chopped
2 c spinach, thaw/drain
2 c cooked pasta


Directions:
Combine broth, beans, carrots, celery, onion, seasonings, Parmesan
Cook in crockpot on low 6-8 hours
40 minutes before done add zucchini and spinach
Add cooked pasta just before serving


Makes 6, 1 1/2 cup servings

Taco Bake

Not sure of the true name of this dish, but I keep calling it Taco Bake...so Taco Bake it shall be called! This meal is SUPER easy and one you can whip up when plans change or you forgot to plan ahead. Tastes just like a taco but with out all the up and down to prep or falling apart taco as you eat. You could add sour cream and lettuce once baked if you wanted.
*I wanted to get more out of the meal so I made some changes. I used 18 taco shells instead of 12 and I added black beans. You could also use refried beans as well!

Taco Bake
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 c salsa
3/4 c water
4 oz diced chilies
1 pack taco seasoning
18 taco shells
1 can black beans
2 c cheese

Directions:
Heat oven to 375
Greese a 13x9 pan
Cook beef and onion together, drain
Stir in salsa, water, chilies, and seasoning, mix well
Cook about 4 minutes on stove top
Layer shells, meat mix, and cheese
Bake 20-25 minutes

Grilled Cajun Ranch

I was brave and cooked a brand new recipe while having guests over. Fortunately it turned out to be delicious and certainly something I will be cooking again in the near future.
With all the ingredients it sounds complicated, but it's really simple and even tastier!


Grilled Cajun Ranch

Chicken Marinade Ingredients:
1/2 c olive oil
1/2 c ranch dressing
3 T Worcestershire
3 T Cajun seasoning (I used creole)
2 t salt
1 t lemon juice
1 t white vinegar
1/4 t black pepper
1 T white sugar
4 chicken breast
Directions:
Stir chicken seasoning and let stand 5 minutes
Thin out chicken
Put in Ziploc bag and coat
Refrigerate for 2 hours
Grill chicken then serve with 16 oz pasta of your choice


Sauce:
2 1/2 c heavy whipping cream (or evaporated milk)
3 clove crushed garlic
1 T pepper
2 t Cajun seasoning (once again I used creole)
1/4 c butter
1/2 c Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Mix ingredients over medium-low heat in a sauce pan
Cook for 5-6 minutes