Spicy Beef

This is a tonight and tomorrow meal (two for one). I make a day one with half and a day two with the other half.

Spicy Beef Sloppy Joe, aka my favorite sloppy joe (Day 1)

2 lb. lean ground beef

2 16oz jars salsa

3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (8oz)

1 1/2 cups shredded carrots (3 medium)

1 1/2 finely chopped red and/or green sweet peppers

1/3 cups tomato paste

2 tsp. dried basil, crushed

1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed

1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

4 cloves garlic, minced

6 rolls

1) In a skillet cook beeef over medium heat until brown, stirring to break meat in pieces. Drain fat. In 5 or 6 qt. slow cooker stir together beef and remaining ingredients (except rolls).

2) Cover; cook on high-heat setting 4 to 5 hours or on low-heat 8 to 10 hours.

3) Reserve 5 cups of the meat mixture for Spicy Beef Taco Salad. Serve remaining meat mixture on rolls.

Spicy Beef Taco Salad (Day 2)

5 cups reserved meat mixture from spicy beef sloppy joe

1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 tsp. taco seasoning

1 head iceburg lettuce

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1/3 cup dairy sour cream

assorted tortilla chips

1) In a saucepan stir together meat mixture from spicy beef sloppy joes, beans, and seasoning. Heat to boiling; reduce heat simmer, covered 10 minutes.

2) To serve, place lettuce slices on serving plates. Add meat mixture. Top with cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream. Add tortilla chips.

*Spicy beef mixture can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight before using.

Kid Friendly Sloppy Joe

1 lb (ish) ground beef

1 teaspoon garlic pepper

1 can tomato soup

1 tablespoon mustard

1 package hamburger buns

In large skillet brown beef. Mix all other ingredients into skillet with browned beef, stir until well blended. Serve in buns.

*I love to serve this along with salt and vinegar chips, perfect combination!*

Carrot Cake/Cupcakes

I love this recipe because it is much easier than I thought it would be. Also, I am the worst at making homemade frosting - I can never get the powdered sugar right. I love that with this recipe I could just buy the 1 lb box of powdered sugar and dump it all in. I had frosting leftover, but if you're a fancy froster, you might use it all up.


2 c. sifted flour
2 t. baking soda
1 T. cinnamon
2 c. sugar
2 t. salt
3 c. grated carrots
1 c. nuts
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. oil

Preheat oven to 350*
Sift Dry ingredients into large bowl
Mix 1 cup carrots with 1 egg and 1/2 cup of oil in kitchenaid if you have one (I just used a handmixer)
Repeat twice adding the extra egg and nuts on the last one.
Combine with dry ingredients mixing well.

For cake-
Pour into greased pan. Bake for 50-60 min or until toothpick in center comes out clean.

For cupcakes-
Use cupcake wrappers or grease cupcake pan. Pour only a little over half full.
Bake for 20-25 min. Or until toothpick comes out clean.
Makes about 30 cupcakes.

Frosting-
1/2 c butter (soft)
1 lb. powdered sugar. (to make it easiest, I buy the 1 lb box)
1 8 oz cream cheese (soft)
1 t. vanilla

Cream together butter and cream cheese.
Slowly mix in sugar and vanilla until smooth.

Peanutbutter Banana Sandwich

bread
peanutbutter
thick slices of banana
peanutbutter
bread
gentle squish
cut into four squares

corn on the cob for one

For those nights you are cooking for one- a great side dish I have found is corn on the cob using the microwave. I hate cooking a huge meal if I am the only one home eating and really, re-heating corn is kinda gross.

1 ear of corn; husks removed and washed

Wrap the corn with a paper towel; dampen with water. Place in the microwave for 4-5 minutes. Take out with tongs. Unwrap and add the toppings you want- I use spray butter, garlic salt, and pepper. Lots of pepper.