Dont' Knock It Till You Try It, Sweet and Spicy Meatballs

20-ish frozen meatballs (my favorite are the Kirkland brand)

1 cup Grape Jelly

1 cup Salsa

Dump all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low 6 to 8 hours, stir at about 4 hours. I serve over rice as a main dish, but I originally tasted these as and appetizer.

Spanish Chicken Wraps

I pick this little treasure up at a recipe exchange for enrichment a few years back!

2 Chicken breasts, cooked then cubed

1 box/package of spanish rice, cooked by directions

1/2 can of pinto beans, drained

1/2 can of black beans, drained

1/2 can of sweet corn, drained

1/2 cup of shredded mexican cheese

2 tblsp of Macayo's taco sauce (any sauce can be substituted, this is just my favorite)

1 package (8) flour tortilla wrap

1. Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix together.

2. Place mixture in wrap (about 1 cup), fold in ends, then roll outside edges together.

3. Can be refrigerated for several hours and eaten cold or warmed. Serve with more taco sauce, sour cream, or guacamole.

Fruit Pizza

1/2 cup softened butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp cream of tartar

mix and press into un-greased cake pan bake 8-10 mins at 350 degrees

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

mix and spread on top of cookie.

Chill then top with fruit of your liking..

When i made this for the first time i put it on alinium foil... not the best idea. haha It got stuck to it and it was pretty hard to get off... wax paper would probably be a better bet :)

One of my best friends I went to hair school with brought this to class and shared it with me... I have been dyeing to get the recipe from her even since. i just got it from her a couple of weeks ago and I decided I would share it with everyone... Thanks for the recipe Kelli, you are the best!! Hope you enjoy!

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!*

Spinach Salad with Strawberries

This is one I picked up from a friend (Megan Smith). She had us over for dinner served it. I had to get the recipe it was so yummy. I crave it during strawberry season!!!

Salad

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup sugared cashew pieces (I use plain or honey roasted, whatever I can find at the store)

1/3 cup bacon pieces

1 purple onion, Sliced

1 head red leaf lettuce

1 package fresh spinach

Dressing

2 tblsp Red Wine Vinegar

3 tblsp white sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup strawberry jam

Combine all salad ingredients and toss together. Combine dressing ingredients and beat together. Drizzle dressing over salad. Serve and enjoy.

*tip: One of the best ways I have to get the onion smell off my hands when I chopped an onion is to run my metal knife under cool water and using the flat part of the knife rub it back and forth against the metal...I do cut my onions with a big, almost butcher size knife. This gives me lots of metal to rub! It works like a charm every time!

Fake-Baked Ziti

This is a Rachael Ray recipe. It's one of my top 10 favorite recipes! It's a crowd pleaser and even my picky eater Audrey likes this! It makes a large family portion so it works really well for when I want to take a meal to a friend in need.

3 tblsp extra-virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 cans (28 oz) crushed tomatoes

*if you want a chunkier sauce use one can crushed and one can whole tomatoes (which you loosely chop before adding)*

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

A handful of fresh basil leaves, torn (If I don't have that on hand I've substituted dried basil)

1 pound ziti rigate (you can use any pasta but this is my favorite because all the goodness seeps into the wide noodle).

2 tblsp butter

2 tblsp all-purpose flour

A dash or two of nutmeg

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese

1/2 cup shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Put a large pot of water on to boil. Preheat the broiler.

Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat; add oil then garlic. Saute a minute or two; do not let the garlic brown. Add crushed tomatoes and salt and simmer 10 minutes. Add basil and simmer over low heat 10 minutes more.

*If you don't have time/energy to make the home-made Marinara sauce, I've substituted a jar of my favorite tomato basil marinara sauce. If this is the route you go skip the previous step.

When water boils, add salt and pasta and cook 6 minutes, leaving pasta a little chewy.

While pasta cooks, make the bechamel sauce: Melt butter in small pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then salt, pepper, and nutmeg; cook 1 minute. Stir in milk and bring sauce to a bubble. Reduce heat cook 5 minutes.

When pasta is cooked, drain and transfer to a big casserole dish. Pour the tomato and basil sauce over the pasta and turn to coat. Pour the bechamel over pasta - do not mix. Top with Asiago, Parmigiano, and mozzarella. Place the casserole under hot broiler and melt cheese until brown and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. You are only broiling to crust the top, which gives it that cooked all day feel.

Tip: Asiago cheese is a very strong cheese and when I buy it I buy it in bulk, shred it, and freeze it in 1/2 measurements in ziplock baggies. That way I always have it on hand!