Dinner in a Pumpkin

We have a special holiday we like to call "Pumpkin Day" and we are just about to leave to go pick out our pumpkin!
Several people have asked about this recipe, so I thought I'd share with anyone who has a pumpkin left after Reformation Day!

1 Medium Pumpkin2 lbs. hamburger, cooked and drained

Diced onions, and celery to taste

1/4 c. soy sauce

2 T. brown sugar

1 4oz. can sliced mushrooms (drained)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 cups hot cooked rice

Preheat oven to 375. Cook rice. Cut a lid for the pumpkin. Using an icecream scoop or large spoon, remove the seeds and pulp. Dice onions and celery. Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, onions, celery, mushrooms and soup in a large bowl. When rice is finished cooking add and the beef to the mixture of soup and veggies. Spoon mixture into the pumpkin, place it in a medum pan or on a cookie sheet. Bake one hour until the pumpkin is tender. Scoop out to serve.

I hope this will be a favorite this year for RG!

1st Birthday Cake

This is a picture of the cake I will be making for Lil'Bob's first birthday!

SALSA!!!

You need:
2 cans tomatoes
lime juice or lime
1 bunch of cilantro (use disgression by your family's tastes)
1-2 onions ( sweet are best)
1tsp. southwest chipotle seasoning (McCormick is one who puts out this type of seasoning)
garlic (about one clove)
1. Cut into chuncks that your family likes or blend in the blender/chopper and mix all ingredients together well. 2. I like to serve this in individual bowls for each family member. 3. Combine with Mission or Tortilla Chips of your liking.

Lasagna

Okay, so here's what you need:

1 lb. of ground beef
1 package of OVEN READY lasagna noodles
shredded cheese
1 large container of cottage cheese

Spaghetti sauce

Brown your meat first! Do NOT cook your noodles. Start layering your pan (9X12 or so) with noodles, then cottage cheese, meat, sauce, shredded cheese... and keep layering until you run out of ingredients. (Mine usually only gets two layers.)

Serve with salad and french bread or whatever you like with your lasagna!

Crazy Salad

You need:

Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Carrots, Celery and any other veggies that you like
Blue cheese, or some other gourmet cheese
Ham or turkey
salad dressing

This makes an easy dinner sometime when you don't want to cook!!!

Crispy Date Balls

When I made these tonight I almost cried because the smell and taste reminded me of my Mama and Daddy and the Christmas parties they used to throw when I was a child. I remember the friends and everyone laughing and having a great time with my friends. Mama always made tons of goodies and we ate and played games and sometimes had dumb skits and then we all went Christmas caroling in our neighborhood. It was the most fun! It was a tradition!

Here's the recipe:

1 stick of butter
1 c. of sugar
1 8oz. package of dates
1 c. chopped pecans
2 c. rice krispies
1 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar

Put butter, sugar and dates in saucepan. Cook 10 min. until mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat, add nuts, krispies and vanilla. Cool. Roll into small balls then roll in the powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunchies

8	cups Chocolate Chex® cereal
3/4	cup packed brown sugar
6	tablespoons butter or margarine
3	tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4	teaspoon baking soda
1/4	cup white vanilla baking chips

1.	Into large microwavable bowl, measure cereal; set aside. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
2.	In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup uncovered on High 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave on High 3 minutes, stirring every minute. Spread on cookie sheet. Cool 10 minutes. Break into bite-size pieces.
3.	In small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on High about 1 minute 30 seconds or until chips can be stirred smooth (bowl will be hot). Drizzle over snack. Refrigerate until set. Store in tightly covered container.