Pasta Carbonnara made easy

3/4 lb. thin spaghetti
1/4 lb. bacon
2 eggs
2 tbsp. light cream
2/3 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Black pepper, freshly ground

Cut bacon into one inch lengths and fry until crisp, drain. Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water.
Meanwhile, combine eggs, cream, half the Parmesan cheese, and a generous amount of black pepper.
Drain spaghetti after 10 minutes. Quickly add cheese and egg mixture to spaghetti, stirring quickly. When thoroughly mixed, add bacon and serve.

Mom's Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Everyone has the one dish that must be served at all the family gatherings.  This is mine. 

It just isn't Easter or Christmas unless mom makes these for me.

2 lbs. ground beef

1 cup dry bread crumbs, Italian style

1/2 cup milk

4 tsp finely chopped onions

1 1/2 tsp salt-level

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

2 eggs

Mix ingredients and shape into very small meatballs.

Cover large cookie sheet with foil – lightly spray with oil – bake meatballs for approx 20 minutes at 350

Sauce

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tbs cornstarch

2 cans pineapple chunks

1/2 cup vinegar

2 Tbs soy sauce

1 or 2 green peppers, cut into 1″ chunks

1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice

12-25 cherries cut in half

Drain meatballs well, set aside, mix brown sugar and cornstarch, stir in pineapple (include syrup), vinegar and soy sauce.Heat to boil, stirring constantly – reduce heat, add green peppers, cherries and cherry juice. Stir well.

Add meatballs, stir well again. Remove from heat if saving for later, cool and freeze.

Easy Creamy Mexican Skillet

I have made this several times.  As yummy as it is simple.

Skillet dinners are one of my favorites since they come together so quickly and they always taste so good. I had this one done in under 30 minutes. And everyone cleaned their plates much quicker than that.The other thing I really appreciate with skillet dinners is that they are so versatile.

For this Easy Creamy Mexican Skillet, I stayed pretty basic and bulked up the meal with some veggies on the side. But this could easily be a complete meal in one with the addition of some corn or other veggies.

Easy Creamy Mexican Skillet”

1 lb. ground beef”

1 t. chili powder”

1/2 t. cumin”

1/2 t. garlic powder”

1/2 t. salt”

4 oz. cream cheese”

1/2 c. sour cream”

1 c. salsa”

1/2 – 1 lb. egg noodles, cooked and drained

Brown ground beef with seasonings in a large skillet. Drain. Stir in cream cheese, sour cream and salsa until cream cheese is completely melted.

Add cooked egg noodles to the skillet and toss to coat. Serve and enjoy!

Aloha Burgers

To make these burgers freezer friendly....prepare the hamburgers with the teriyaki sauce and freeze. Then pull them out when needed and proceed with the bbq'ing and makings!

8 pineapple slices

3/4 cup teriyaki sauce

1 pound lean ground beef

1 large sweet onion, sliced

1 tbsp. butter or margarine

4 lettuce leaves

4 onion or sesame seed buns, split and toasted

4 slices Swiss cheese4 bacon strips, cooked

Drain pineapple juice into a small bowl; add teriyaki sauce.  Place 3 tbsp. in a resealable plastic bag.  Add pineapple and rotate to coat; set aside.

Shape beef into four patties; place in an 8-inch square baking pan.  Pour the remaining teriyaki sauce mixture over patties.  Marinate for 5 to 10 minutes, turning once.

In a skillet, saute onion in butter until tender, about 5 minutes. 

Grill or broil burgers until no longer pink.

Place pineapple on grill or under broiler to heat through.Layer lettuce and onion on bottom of buns.  Top with burgers, cheese, pineapple and bacon.  Replace tops; serve immediately.

Kielbasa or smoked sausage skillet casserole

1 pound kielbasa or smoked sausage, cut in 1 inch pieces
5-6 potatoes, scrubbed and sliced in 1 inch slices
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 large onion, sliced thin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and black pepper
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 cup shredded cheese

Cover bottom of oven proof large skillet with olive oil and heat on top of stove.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Add potatoes to skillet and start to brown.

Add all veggies and sprinkle with seasonings.

Stir until bottom of potatoes start to brown. Add sausage and stir.

Cover and cook for 40 minutes; remove from oven and top with cheese.

Place back into oven, uncovered, until cheese melts.

Grilled Sausage with Potatoes and Green Beans

1 lb. Smoked Sausage, cut into 1" pieces
3/4 lb. Fresh Green Beans, trimmed and halved
1/2 lb. Red Potatoes, quartered
1 large Onion, sliced
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Ground Black Pepper
1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
1 tsp. Butter
1/3 c. Water

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. On a large sheet of foil place the sausage, green beans, potatoes and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with oil and butter. Tightly seal foil around the ingredients, leaving a small opening. Pour water into the opening and seal. Place foil packet on the prepared grill. Cook 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, until done.Serves 4.