Sloppy Joe's

I got this recipe from my friend Sara. Her family made these for her surprise birthday party and they were the best I've ever had!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce
• salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook beef until browned. Drain fat. Add onion, ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, Country Bob's sauce, salt & pepper; simmer for about one hour.

Serve on buns.

Beans

I got this recipe from my friend Christy. These are better than just getting those baked beans out of a can. Super easy too!

Ingredients:

• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can butter beans
• 1 can pork and beans
  
  Drain the beans.
  
• 1/2 lb bacon
• 1/2 hamburger
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions:

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees in a 9x13 pan.

Taco Tartlets

Erin S made this a long time ago as well. She also thought this might be good in a 8x8 pan and use it as a dip. Crumble the meat, rather than press it. Just for a different twist on it :)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning mix
• 2 Tablespoons ice water
• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar cheese
  
  Tortilla Chip Filling:
• 1 Cup sour cream
• 2 Tablespoons taco sauce
• 2 ounces black olives, chopped
• 3/4 Cup coarsely crushed tortilla chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425º. In medium bowl, mix beef, taco seasoning mix and ice water with hands. Press into bottom and up sides of mini-muffin pan, using tart shaper. Prepare tortilla chip filling by mixing all ingredients in small bowl. Place a spoonful of filling into each shell, mounding slightly.

Sprinkle cheddar cheese over tops. Bake 7-8 minutes. Remove tartlets from pan with tip of knife (or spoon). Serve immediately or cool and freeze.

Yield: 30-36

Pizza Spread

Erin S made this dip a very long time ago. I'm sure you could put whatever pizza toppings you would like into it to suit your tastes.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
• 4-6 mushrooms
• 8 black olives
• 2/3 c mayonnaise
• 2/3 c turkey pepperoni
• crackers

Directions:

Mix shredded Swiss cheese, sliced mushrooms, chopped olives, mayonnaise and chopped turkey pepperoni together and place in a 8x8' baking dish. Bake in a preheated 400 oven for 15 minutes.

Serve with crackers.

Creamy Layered Fruit Sensation

Erin made this for the May 2007 get together. She is such a whiz at desserts! :)

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg (9oz) angel food cake or 1/2 of baked boxed cake
• 3 Tbls orange juice
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 2 pkg (4-serving size each) vanilla instant pudding
• 1 1/2 cups thawed Cool whip
• 2 pkg. (12 oz each) frozen mixed berries, thawed, well drained (about 4 cups frozen or 2 1/2 cups thawed)
  

Directions:

cut cake into cubes. Place in large bowl. Combine orange juice and extract. Drizzle over cake; toss lightly.

Pour milk into another large bowl. Add pudding mixes, beat with wire whisk
2 min. gently stir in 1 cup of the cool whip.

Layer half the cake in bottom of 2 qt. glass bowl. Reserve a few berries for garnish. Top with layers of half of berries and half of pudding.
Repeat layers. cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2-6 hours before serving. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cool whip and reserved berries just before serving.

Makes 16 servings, 1/2 cup each

Honey Bun Cake

Erin made this for our August 2008 get together. I've been sorting through old emails where I was sent some recipes so be prepared for some flashbacks :)

Preheat oven to 350º. Spray 9x13 with cooking spray (no flour).

Ingredients:
Cake:
1 plain yellow cake mix
1 C sour cream
3/4 C vegetable oil
4 large eggs

Filling:
1/3 C Honey
1/3 C Brown Sugar
1-2 Tbs cinnamon (to taste)
1/2 C finely chopped pecans (optional)

Glaze:
2 Cups sifted confectioners sugar (I did not sift)
1/3 C milk
1 Tsp vanilla

Directions:

Place oven rack in the center of the oven. Mix cake mix, sour cream, oil, and eggs on low for 1 minute. Scrape bowl and mix for 2 minutes. Batter should be thick and well mixed. Pour into pan. Sprinkle top with filling mix. After drizzling top of batter with honey and nuts, swirl with table knife.

Bake 38-40 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool slightly. Mix glaze and pour over hot cake, spread glaze to edges. Cool 20 minutes before serving.