ThriftyFun Recipes - May 1, 2006

Does anyone have a really good homemade spaghetti sauce recipe that they would like to share. Could you also include the amounts used of everything (including spices or herbs), and how much sauce it makes?

Thanks for all replies!
P.J. from Delaware

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Preparing Fresh Spinach

Does anybody have a good way to make fresh spinach? I want to make it like how they serve it in the restaurants. Do I just boil it or what? Mine never quite turns out like the pro's make it.

Thanks!
Peggygv from San Antonio, TX

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Today's Recipes

Ranch Taco Chicken Salad

Ingredients

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 Tbsp. each oil and chili powder
1 package salad greens
1 jar salsa
1 cup Fat-Free Ranch dressing (Garlic Ranch is yummy, too)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup l crushed baked tortilla chips

Directions

Cook chicken, oil and chili powder in nonstick skillet 8 minutes. Toss chicken mixture, greens, salsa, dressing and cheese in large bowl. Top with crushed chips before serving. Makes 6 servings.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Thousand Island Tuna Salad

Ingredients

2 cans tuna in water, drained and flaked
1/2 cup Thousand Island dressing (Fat-Free preferred)
2 Tbsp. chopped green onion
4 cups torn mixed greens

Directions

Mix all ingredients except greens. Refrigerate. Spoon tuna mixture over greens. Makes 4 servings.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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3 Meat Pasta Sauce (Freezer Meal)
By Cynthia Smith

Say goodbye to generic jarred pasta sauces and experience your own restaurant quality meaty pasta sauce any day of the week. Prepare large batches in advance, freeze and enjoy with every pasta meal.

1 pound of ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 cup of chopped onion
1 can (28 ounces) of crushed tomatoes
2 cans (6 ounces each) of tomato paste
3 cups of water
2 jars (4 1/2 ounces each) of sliced mushrooms, drained
1 cup of chopped pepperoni
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning (can substitute oregano, basil and parsley)
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon dries parsley flakes
1 teaspoon crushed pepper

In a large saucepan (Dutch oven), cook the beef, sausage and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are tender. Drain the excess fat. Stir in the tomatoes, water, tomato paste, mushrooms, pepperoni, Parmesan cheese, sugar and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. Cool the sauce before freezing in serving sized portions.

To use the frozen spaghetti sauce, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, heat it in a saucepan and serve it over your favorite dish.

This recipe yields 11 1/2 cups of sauce.

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Breakfast Casserole Recipes

Breakfast Casserole I

Ingredients:

8 slices bread
6 eggs
2 cups skim milk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
salt and pepper
1 lb. sausage

Directions:

Cook and drain sausage. Cut bread into chunks. Beat eggs and milk together. Add all ingredients. Pour into 9x13 inch pan. Set in refrigerator overnight, covered with foil. Bake 45 minutes at 375 degrees.

By Robin

Breakfast Casserole II

Ingredients

1 lb. bulk sausage
4 hard boiled eggs
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
1 can creamed corn
1 cup soft bread crumbs
6 oz. grated Swiss cheese
1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Brown sausage and drain. Make white sauce with butter, flour, milk, Worcestershire, and corn and simmer about 5 minutes. Add sausage, stir to blend. Slice eggs. Layer eggs, sauce mixture, and cheese in a sprayed casserole dish. Top with bread crumbs and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Best if you let set overnight in refrigerator before baking.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Ranch House Roast Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients

4 large kaiser buns
12 oz. thinly sliced roast beef
8 thin slices red onion
8 slices tomato
2 cups shredded lettuce
1/4 cup Horseradish-Ranch Dressing

Directions

Slice rolls into halves. Evenly distribute roast beef on bottom half of rolls. Drizzle salad dressing over beef. Layer with onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. Cover with roll tops and secure with toothpicks. Makes 4 servings.

Horseradish-Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

1 cup ranch salad dressing
8 tsp. prepared horseradish
4 tsp. finely chopped parsley
4 tsp. finely chopped sweet red pepper

Directions

In a small bowl combine all ingredients. Refrigerate. Serve with Ranch House Roast Beef Sandwich and other robust sandwiches.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Crustless Quiche from Leftovers

Directions

I often make a crustless quiche to use up leftovers or veggies that I over bought. In a pie pan (deep dish works best), sprayed heavily with Pam, place choice of veggies, pre-cooked, a handful or so of cheese, any kind-shredded, cubes or slices-whatever is handy, an additional protein source, like shrimp, diced chicken, or crumbled bacon. Beat together 4 eggs (or egg substitute) and 1/4 cup flour or biscuit mix. Add a little salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture into pie pan over other ingredients and bake at 350 degrees F for about 25-30 min. This warms up by the slice in micro really well, and it can be frozen once baked. If I wind up with lots of stuff I often make 2.

By Linda from Vista, CA

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Dip For Tostados or Taco Chips

Spread in thin layers in order on large glass plate. Dip up with chips.

Refried beans mixed with taco sauce
Mashed avocado
Sliced black olives
Sour cream
Shredded lettuce
Chopped green peppers, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, and grated cheddar cheese

By Robin from Washington, IA

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Cool No Bake Cake for Mom

Ingredients

1 (10 3/4 oz) pound cake
1 (3 oz) box instant pudding
1 cup cool whip
fruit (I use 2 bananas and 4 large strawberries)
chilled chocolate syrup

Directions

Slice pound cake into several slices about an inch thick. Prepare pudding according to directions. Mix pudding with cool whip. Chop fruit (into slices.)

Layer cake, fruit and a little less than 1/2 of pudding into a loaf pan. Then top cake with remaining pudding.

Place in fridge for about 2 hours. (When chilled, decorate if desired.) I top mine with trimmed strawberries in each of the corners and a few mint sprigs underneath the strawberry.

Use the chilled chocolate syrup to write a message on top of the cake. This is a great cake for dad and the kids to make for mom or vise versa.

By IMAQT1962 from ILLINOIS

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