Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 can chicken gumbo soup
1 can tomato paste
3 TBS ketchup
2 TBS yellow mustard

Brown ground beef and onion then add remaining ingredients. Serve on hamburger buns. We like this with carrot sticks and potato chips.
Notes: I'm not a huge yellow mustard fan so I don't put the full 2 TBS in there and my family doesn't notice or say anything but that's all I can taste if I put the full amount. I also like to put a little fresh garlic in with the hamburger while it's browning. Enjoy!

Lettuce Knife

Who knew! We saw this handy little tool at Taste of Home Cooking School. It's a plastic knife and it's one of those tools that are going to come in real handy this summer. This is what the snippet says about them:
Lettuce Knife

Lettuce won't brown after being cut with this knife. Knife has serrated blade to slice effortlessly, an easy-to-hold wide handle and can be used with your right or left hand. Also can be used for baked goods and breads, and it's safe for use on non-stick bakeware.

Butter Crock

This I have to say is my favorite new thing and I don't even have one. My mom (Queen) bought one in Twin Falls while we were on our girls trip. It's her favorite lime green color and is so fun. Now that she has one I love it. Every time I go to get my butter out of the fridge I think I really need to order me a butter crock or see if I can find one around town. They come in all sorts of fun colors and they keep your butter at room temperature but it's covered so it doesn't go bad or get yucky. You put a little water in the bottom of it and it creates a vacuum seal to keep it sealed up tight. It's on my kitchen must have list.

Caramel Popcorn

1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
30 large marshmallows
popcorn

Melt ingredients (except popcorn) in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring grequently to prevent scorching. Pour over popcorn. Don't expect it to last very long.

Monster Cookies

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 stick margarine (I use butter)
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 1/2 cups oatmeal
2/3 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup m&m's

Mix together in order listed. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before trying to move them.

Chili

1lb Ground Beef
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 1 lb can chopped tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 1lb can kidney beans, drained
1 tsp salt
2 tsp chili powder
1 bay leaf

In large skillet, cook meat, onion, and green pepper until meat is brown and drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for one hour.
Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and corn bread.
This makes a thicker chili that is more like the consistency of Taco Soup.

Lasagna Rolls

1 lb Sausage cooked
11 oz cream cheese
1 bunch green onions
1 bell pepper diced
15 oz jar spaghetti sauce
12 lasagna noodles
1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shreeded

Combine sausage and cream cheese in the same skillet the sausage was browned in. Cook over low heat until cream cheese melts. Stir in onion and bell pepper. Remove from heat. Spread 1/2 of the spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. (I only do enough so the bottom is covered, I like most of it to be on top so the noodles don't dry out while baking.) Cook lasagna noodles according to package. Lay one noodle flat on a cutting board and spoon 2 TBLS sausage mixture on one end. Roll up and place in pan. Continue with remaining noodles. Top with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. If made in advanced and refrigerated increase cooking time until heated through and cheese is melted.