Mashed Sweet Potato and Squash...side dish

Scott's Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Mashers
from: allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Scotts-Sweet-Potato-and-Butternut-Squash-Mashers/Detail.aspx?src=etaf

"Mashed sweet potato and butternut squash. This is a recipe that tastes great with no salt or sugar added and contains lots of fiber." Seriously it is very good!

• 3 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 butternut squash- peeled, seeded and cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 cup sugar free maple flavored syrup

Place the sweet potatoes and butternut squash into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two.

Mash the sweet potatoes and butternut squash, then add cinnamon, nutmeg, and syrup. Mix until smooth.

Tasty Polynesian Dish

Polynesian Dish

from: Kelli Hesse

This is seriously so good and easy. Jon loves it! I actually froze the sausage, onion, and green pepper so it's ready for the next time I want it.

1 lb polish sausage (about 4 or 5)

1 cup sliced onion

1 cup green pepper (about 1/2 large green pepper)

3 TB veg. oil (Kelli uses 1, I used 2)

1 16oz can diced tomatoes

1 20oz can pineapple chunks or tidbits (reserve drained juice in cup)

1 cup beef broth (can use 1 bullion cube dissolved in 1 cup water)

1TB packed brown sugar

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp pepper

2 TB corn starch

Rice

Cook sausage, onion and pepper in oil until onion is tender. Add tomatoes, pineapple, broth, brown sugar, garlic and pepper. Cover and simmer 5-10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Mix cornstarch with reserved pineapple juice. Add to mixture and cook until sauce is thickened. Serve over rice.

Zucchini Bread

Zucchini Bread
from: Kelli Kaufman, who probably got it from her mom! :) Or somewhere else...

Yields: 2 loaves

This is some great zucchini bread. Jon even likes it, so it must be good! Way better than banana bread too!

3 eggs beaten well
1 cup oil
2 cups sugar
2 cups grated zucchini (about 3 zucchini)
3 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
4 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup any of the following: nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips

Mix the first 5 ingredients. Stir dry ingredients together in a separate bowl, then add to the first ingredients and mix. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. (I just grease and it's fine.) Put chocolate chips (or nuts/raisins) on top of batter, and press into the batter.

Bake at 350 for about 1 hour (55-65 mins) depending on loaf size. Bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Pumpkin Cookies

Pumpkin (and Choc Chip) Cookies
from: Ember Marini

Be prepared to either freeze or share these cookies...supposedly it makes 5 dozen, but I made a lot more! They sure are good though!

Ingredients
4cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
2 cups vegetable shortening
2 cups white sugar
1 can (15oz) pure pumpkin
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups raisins or chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and allspice in medium bowl. Beat shortening and sugar in a large mixer bowl. Add pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla beat until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture at low speed until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased baking sheet (don't make your cookies to big or they will be gooey.)

Bake 12-15mins or until edges are golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Freeze Cookies: You can make your cookie balls, flash freeze them on a cookie sheet, then put them into a tupperware/rubbermaid container in the freezer for the next time you want to bake just a few! :)

Delicious Apple Pie (freezer)

Apple Pie
by: Maureen Danielson

I got this recipe from a friend and it is sooo delicious. Basically, every year they do a mass apple pie making day as a family, prepare the filling, and then freeze it until they are ready to make the pies. Soo good, fun, and easy.

7 C sliced and peeled apples (unless you like the peel)
1 C sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1 T flour

Place apples in a ziploc bag. Add dry ingredients to bag and mix. Write on bag and freeze. Pour filling into pie. Bake at 425 for 45-50 mins.

Stuffed Peppers (freezer)

Stuffed Green Peppers
by: girlfriends on the GO!

I've made stuffed peppers before, but really didn't like them. But I think these are great. And the meat mixture alone is great for little ones too-instead of baking it in the peppers, bake it in a muffin pan.

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained
1/3 C minced onion
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
3 8 oz cans tomato sauce
3/4 C water
1/2 C uncooked long grain rice
1 t Worcestershire sauce
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
6 medium green peppers, with tops off and seeds cleaned out

Mix all ingredients except cheese and green peppers together. Cover and simmer 15-20 mins until rice is tender. Spoon mixture into green peppers. If freezing, see below. Otherwise, place in muffin tins and bake at 350 for 30-35 mins. (My peppers are usually too big for a muffin tin, so I just place them in a small casserole dish and they do just fine.)

Freezing Directions: After spooning the meat mixture into the peppers, wrap peppers in foil and place in a freezer bag to freeze. You can also freeze the meat and the peppers separately.

Creamy Meatballs (freezer)

Creamy Meatballs
by: girlfriends on the GO

Hope you enjoy this wonderful, mostly healthy, meal. The meatballs are veggie filled and oh so good. Even Jon liked this.

2 lbs ground beef
2 t salt
1 t pepper
1/2 onion, grated
3 eggs
2 potatoes, grated
4 carrots, grated
3/4 C milk

Sauce:
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can evaporated milk (the normal size, not the small size)

Combine meatball ingredients and form into balls. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 20 mins. Mix sauce; add cooked meatballs. If freezing, see below. Otherwise, place in a 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for 30-45 mins or until bubbly. Serve over rice or noodles. (We used egg noodles and they were good.)

Freezing Directions: Pour sauce over cooked meatballs in a freezer bag. You may want to include a package of rice or noodles with this meal.

Beef and Cheese Quesadillas (freezer)

Beef and Cheese Quesadillas
by: girlfriends on the GO

This is very easy and good. I usually have to double the recipe, but it's still worth it! You can also garnish with other toppings if you desire.

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 C chopped onion
3/4 C chunky salsa
2 C shredded Colby-Jack Cheese
10-12 flour tortillas

Brown ground beef with onion. Drain. Mix in salsa and cheese. If freezing, see directions below. Otherwise, spoon approximately 1/2 cup of meat mixture on one half of tortilla. Fold tortilla in half to close. Arrange quesadillas on baking sheet. Lightly spray tops of tortillas with cooking spray. Bake at 450 for 8 mins or until lightly browned.

Freezing Directions: Place meat mixture in a freezer bag. Include a package of flour tortillas with this meal.

Mexican Corn Chowder (freezer)

Mexican Corn Chowder
by: "Girlfriends on the GO"

This mild, south-of-the-border taste will make your taste buds say "gracias"!

Sooo delicious! I loved it and Caleb even ate it.

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 t garlic powder
3 T butter
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 C hot water
1 t ground cumin
2 C half and half
2 C shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
1 15 oz can creamed corn
1 4oz can chopped green chiles
1/4 t hot sauce (Tabasco)
1 bag tortilla chips

In large saucepan, brown chicken, onion, garlic, and butter. Dissolve bouillon in hot water and add to chicken. Then add cumin and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cook until cheese melts. If freezing, see directions below. Otherwise, serve topped with crushed tortilla chips.

Freezing Directions: Pour into freezer bag and freeze. Include a bag of tortilla chips with this meal.

Apple or Strawberry Fritters

Fritters

I got this recipe from cooks.com and you can use apples, strawberries, or other fruit too I'm sure. You can also add cinnamon to the apple fritters if you want.

1 1/2 c. flour
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs, beaten
2/3 c. milk
1 tbsp. oil
3 c. peeled and chopped apples (or strawberries)

Combine dry ingredients. Then add in other ingredients. Stir until all is moistened. Pour oil for frying into a heavy saucepan to the depth of 1/2 inch; heat to frying temperature. Drop batter by spoonfuls into hot oil and cook until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with powdered sugar or confectioner's sugar. Makes 3 dozen fritters.