Ham & Potato Bake

It has been a long day at work, a lot of x-rays, patients, doctors and digitizing.  After being on my feet all day the last thing I want to do is cook supper.....but, I have two kids expecting food and a husband that will be home late tonight after a week of being on the road, he will want something home-cooked that he can  'heat & eat'.
My solution?....Ham & Potato Bake!
This casserole is so easy, just throw it together and bake!  It will take about an hour to cook, so in the meantime I can sit and relax....well, maybe...
Refrigerate leftovers, they are even better the next day....makes a great breakfast! 

 Ham & Potato Bake
1 pkg Southern Style Hash-browns, thawed
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
8 oz Sour Cream
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
2-3 cups Diced Ham
3-4 green onions, sliced (optional)
Salt/Pepper to taste
 Topping
3-4 cups Corn Flakes, crushed
1/4 cup Butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350°F

In a 9x13 casserole dish mix the first 6 ingredients, along with seasonings, and flatten out.
Crunch corn flakes evenly on top of casserole, drizzle evenly with melted butter.
Bake uncovered at 350°F for 1 hour, until corn flakes are golden brown.

Mix in casserole dish

Ready for the Oven

Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad

My favorite macaroni salad!  I learned how to make this from a friend about 16 years ago, it is my all- time favorite.  Before now I had never measured the ingredients, to tell you the truth it kind of scared me....I usually just 'dump'.....but it turned out great!

Ham & Cheese Macaroni Salad

1 16 oz pkg Elbow Noodles
2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cubed
1 bunch Green Onions, chopped(use green onions only)
2 cups cooked Ham, cubed
2 1/2 cups Mayonnaise (mayo only, no Miracle Whip)
1 cup Milk
2 tbs Sugar
Garlic Salt/Pepper to taste

Boil elbow noodles according to package instructions.  Drain and rinse with cold water.

In large serving bowl combine Mayo, milk, sugar, garlic salt & pepper.  Whisk until smooth.

Add green onions, ham and cheese to mayo mixture and stir.

Now add the macaroni noodles, stir until everything is well coated.  Eat now or refrigerate until later.

Give it a taste test to see if you need any more seasoning, I don't measure, I just give it a taste test.

If the salad has been refrigerated for a few hours I add a little milk before serving to make it creamier.

Chopped green onion

Cubed Cheese

Cubed Ham

All three

Mayo Mixture, will be runny

Added veggies and ham to Mayo

Then added the noodles

Upside Down German Chocolate Cake

I got this recipe from a potluck we had at work one year.  It's very good...and rich!

Upside Down German Chocolate Cake
1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 1/2 cups sweetened Coconut Flakes
2 cups chopped Pecans
1 8 oz package Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup Butter, melted
3 cups Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 340°F, grease a 9x13 pan

Make cake mix according to directions, set aside.
In a small bowl combine cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar.  Beat on medium until well mixed and set aside.
Sprinkle coconut evenly the on bottom of a cake pan followed by the pecans, then pour the prepared cake mix over top.
Drop cream cheese mixture by spoonfuls on top of cake.  Using a butter knife, gently swirl the cream cheese into the cake mixture.
Bake at 340°F for 1 hour.

Ready to pour the batter

                                    I put pecans on only half because my son can't eat pecans

Ready for the Oven

Breakfast Burritos

Happy Mother's Day!  I made Breakfast Burritos for breakfast this morning...yes, I know it IS Mother's Day and I shouldn't be cooking but if it were up to my husband to make breakfast I would be having cold cereal....ewwww!  Well, he did make the coffee :)

Breakfast Burritos
Breakfast meat of your choice(bacon, sausage, chorizo)
Eggs
Cheese, shredded
Salsa
Tortillas

Cook the breakfast meat of your choice. Then scramble your eggs and warm the tortillas.

Assemble your burrito:
Put warm tortilla on a plate
Sprinkle with shredded cheese
Lay down 2 pieces of bacon, or sprinkle with other meat
Scrambled eggs (about 2)
More cheese
Top with salsa
Roll up and enjoy
(Don't load your tortilla up too much, it will be too fat to roll.)

Fry breakfast meat

Tortillas

Layer of cheese then bacon

Eggs and salsa added

Taco Casserole

I'm getting into the Cinco De Mayo mood.  This yummy casserole tastes even better the second day!

Taco Casserole
1 to 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
1 can Pinto Beans
1 can Rotel Tomatoes, drained
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup(or cream of mushroom)
1/2 cup Sour Cream

1 small can Black Olives, sliced (optional)
2 cups shredded Cheese, divided
1 bag of Doritos, crunched into large pieces 

Preheat oven to 350°F

Brown ground beef until no longer pink, drain.  Season with 1 pkg Taco Seasoning.  Add pinto beans and Rotel tomatoes, stir and simmer until ready to use.

In a bowl combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and olives, mix well. 

Cover the bottom of a 9x13in pan with a 1/2 bag of crunched Doritos.  Next, cover Doritos with the beef mixture.  Spread the sour cream mixture a top the beef and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheese.  Cover with the second half of crunched Doritos (or less to your liking), then top with remaining cheese.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 25-30mn, until cheese is melted.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if you like.

Meat Mixture

Bottom layer of chips

Meat Layer

Sour Cream layer

Add Cheese

Chips and another cheese layer

Out of the Oven

Creamy Lemon Bars

I had a lemon laying around so I thought I'd put it to use.  This is a creamy, lemony dessert.

Creamy Lemon Bars
1 14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup Lemon Juice
1 tsp Lemon Zest
1 cup Flour
1 cup Rolled Oats
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375°F, coat 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.


Combine sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice and lemon zest, mix well and set aside.

In another bowl combine the rest of the ingredients.  Mix until crumbly.

In a 8x8 baking dish press half of the oat mixture.  Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes.

Pour the lemon mixture over baked crust.  Sprinkle the rest of the oat mixture on the lemon mixture and press lightly.  Bake at 375°F for about 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.

Let cool completely before cutting.

Lemon mixture

Oat mixture

Pressed oat mixture

Lemony layer

With top crumb layer

Out of the Oven