Joe's Hotdish

It's a hot dish, because we're from MN, don’t cha know? 😂 This recipe is so fast and simple, it’s practically a cheat code for those nights when you’re too busy to even find your keys. I used to whip this up for my son when he was little, and he loved it so much, it became known as Joe’s Hotdish—

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (12 to 16-ounce) bag of dried egg noodles
• 2 (10.5 ounces) cans of cream of mushroom soup
• Milk
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon Tony Chacheres spice
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Bring a medium to a large pot of water to a boil and cook the egg noodles according to the package instructions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, breaking up pieces with a meat chopper or wooden spoon.
3. Once the beef is browned, stir in the cream of mushroom soup, milk, onion powder, and garlic powder. NOTE: Use milk to thin out - I don't measure, I just kinda pour it in.  I would start with 1/4 cup and go up from there. 
4. When the noodles are cooked, drain them and add the noodles to the pan. Stir to combine everything and allow to sit for one minute.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

Notes

Yum-A-Setti

16 oz egg noodles
1 TB Olive Oil
1 Onion, large, chopped
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 can Tomato Soup
1 can Mushroom Soup
1 cup Milk
Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
1/2 t Paprika
1/2 t Dried Parsley
Garlic
Tony's Seasoning


How to make it

1.) Preheat the oven to 350 – spray a large oven dish with cooking spray.
2.) Cook the pasta, in a large pot, as per the instructions on the packet.
3.) Meanwhile, saute the Onion in the Olive Oil until soft – add the Ground Beef and cook until done.
4.) As soon as the Pasta is done – drain and return to the pot.
5.) Add the cooked Meat, Tomato and Mushroom Soups and Milk to the Pasta – stir through – season to taste with Salt and Pepper.
6.) Transfer to the prepared oven dish – sprinkle with Paprika and Parsley – bake 25 – 30 minutes.

Amanda's Meatballs

Meatball Ingredients:

• 3 lbs hamburger
• 13 oz can evaporated milk
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 2 cups quick oats
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Sauce:

KC Masterpiece

Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce 

*Equal amounts*

Or you can use your favorite BBQ sauce

Mix all meatball ingredients and roll in small balls. Mix equal amounts of BBQ Sauce.   Bake with sauce for 1 hour at 350.  

Mock White Castle Sliders

• 1 1/2 lbs hamburger
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 package onion soup mix
• 4-6 Tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 packages slider buns

Brown ground beef and drain. Add onion soup mix, cheese, and mayo. Put meat mixture on bottom bun and then a pickle and bun top. Microwave on a microwave-safe plate till heated through. Approximately 30-second intervals.  Great to be made ahead and then can warm up as needed.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pops

We tried this recipe with using crescent rolls also.  I liked them both ways but using biscuits really was easier.  This is a simple and really good supper.  Pair it with salad and you have a great meal for the evening.

Cheeseburger Pops

• 1 can Pillsbury Biscuits (10 biscuits)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• ½ onion, finely chopped
• 3 slices of bacon, chopped
• ⅓ cup cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 5 oz cheddar cheese, chopped into 10 squares
• 1 egg white

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 
2. In a large pan, brown ground beef, bacon and onion until cooked. Drain any grease.
3. Add cream cheese, ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Stir over low heat until cream cheese is melted. Allow to cool.
4. Roll each biscuit out very thin. Place 2 tablespoons beef mixture on each biscuit and add 1 square of cheese. Wrap the biscuit around the beef/cheese and tightly seal the edges.
5. Place biscuits on a parchment lined pan seam side down. Brush with egg white.
6. Bake 13-16 minutes or until lightly browned.
7. Serve warm.

Maid-Rites

If you live in Iowa than you more than likely one time or another had a Maid-Rite.  I grew up in Minnesota and we called them Sloppy Joe's.  I am guessing the difference between a Maid Rite and a Sloppy Joe is a Sloppy Joe you usually have some kind of sauce on them??? So I didn't get to experience a Maid Rite till I moved to Iowa.  I would probably have to say I now enjoy a Maid-Rite more than I do a Sloppy Joe.  There is nothing better than a nice hot Maid Rite on a fresh bun with some pickles and mustard MMMMM.  This recipe makes a pretty big batch with 3 pounds of hamburger, so you should have leftovers which are just as good as the first day.


3 lbs Ground Beef
2 Tbsp Dried Onion or regular onion
1 Beef Bouillon Cube

1 Chicken Bouillon Cube
1 1/2 cups water
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce


Add the first nine ingredients to the crock pot.  Stir together to combine ingredients and break up the ground beef.

Cook on High for 4 hours. Stir occasionally to combine ingredients as they cook and to keep the beef from clumping together.  The smell that emerges from the crock pot each time you stir it is to die for!

Meatloaf

I have been trying meatloaf recipes since we got married.  And that my friend is a LOT of meatloaves.  If I find one I like my husband doesn't like it, but if he likes it than I don't like it.  Isn't that how life works?  Well, the search is over, after 27 years of marriage I think we found a winner.  One that we both agreed was pretty good.  This recipe didn't call for Italian sausage but I had it in refrigerator so what the heck.  I think this is what makes the nice flavor we were always missing.  Hope you enjoy as much as we did!!!

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup ketchup
1 lb ground beef
1 lb Italian sausage
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup oatmeal
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon garlic


Pour oatmeal and milk in separate bowl to soften.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 5 x 9 inch loaf pan. Press the brown sugar in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan and spread the ketchup over the sugar.

In a mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients along with the soften oatmeal, mix thoroughly and shape into a loaf. Place on top of the ketchup. Bake in preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until juices are clear.

Tator Tot Casserole

This is one of my husbands favorite casseroles. I have to confess this really is not my favorite.  I will eat it,  but there is way better casseroles out there lol.  I think this is one of those casseroles that you either hate it or love it.  My son's friends love this recipe.  For their birthdays and for Christmas this is what they ask for.  So I am happy to oblige.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hamburger or ground turkey
• 1 15 oz can veg all
• 1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 bag of Ore-Ida Crispy Crowns Tator Tots (they are the flat ones) or regular tator tots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2.5 quart casserole dish. In a large skillet saute hamburger, season with salt and pepper to taste.  Cook completely and drain.  In a small bowl combine the cream of mushroom soup and veg all, add hamburger. Stir all together.   Put the meat mixture in the bottom of your casserole dish and cover with cheese.  Place tator tots on top to cover the cheese mixture.You can add more Tator tots or less - up to you.  Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until casserole is heated though and tots are nice and crispy. (I like to broil this for just a minute so the tots get nice and crispy) You don't have to but make sure if you do broil to keep a close eye on this as it can burn fast.