Stuffed Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 egg

½ cup Ritz cracker crumbs

12 (l inch) cubes cheddar cheese or 3 string cheese each cut into 4 equal pieces

½ cup catsup

½ brown sugar

Salt

Pepper

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl mix together the ground beef, egg, and cracker crumbs, salt and pepper to taste. Roll into 12 equal size meatballs and place in a greased muffin tin. Place a piece of cheese into the center of the meatball and reform them to cover the cheese completely. In a small bowl mix the catsup and brown sugar together. Spoon the sauce evenly over each meatball coating the tops completely. Bake them for 25-30 minutes or until meatballs are fully cooked. Enjoy!

Black Forest Cookies

Ingredients:

1 German Chocolate Cake Mix

1 egg

½ cup oil

¼ cup water

2/3 cup chopped dried cherries

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

1/3 cup roughly chopped pecans

Powdered sugar (optional)

Method:

In a medium bowl combine the cake mix, egg, oil, and water, mix well. Fold in the chopped cherries, chocolate chips, and chopped pecans. Roll into about 2 inch balls, place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-14 minutes. Cool on pans for 5-10 minutes then remove onto cooling racks to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Enjoy!

Potato Skins

Ingredients:

4 medium sized potatoes

2 tablespoons butter

4 pieces of bacon

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Salt

Sour cream for dipping

Method:

Wash potatoes very good. Prick each potato several time with a fork. Place potatoes in microwave at least an inch apart and cook on high 4-6 minutes or until slightly firm, turning in two minute increments. Set aside to cool. Place bacon on a plate between two paper towels, microwave for 2-3 minutes, rotating every minute, until crispy. Cut each potato in half and scoop out the centers leaving about a ¼ inch boarder. Place the potato centers into a small bowl. Once all the potatoes are scooped, mash the centers with butter until smooth, salt to taste. Arrange skins on a plate. Place filling back into skins making them level. Top each with cheese pressing into the filling slightly. Crumble bacon and sprinkle on top. Microwave for 2 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream for dipping. Enjoy! (You can also broil them to melt the cheese if doing a larger quantity). 

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

3 eggs

2 cups shredded zucchini

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¾ cup chopped nuts (Cashews are my favorite, Pecans are good too)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, oil, and eggs, mix until well combined. Add the shredded zucchini, and vanilla, mix together and set aside. In a separate bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder and nuts. Add the dry ingredients into the wet. Mix until well combined. Pour batter into 2 well-greased, large loaf pans, bake for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, let stand in pans for 10 minutes then turn out onto cooling racks to cool completely. Enjoy!

Cheeseburger Macaroni

Ingredients:

1 (7oz) box macaroni and cheese dinner

1 pound ground beef

¼ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1 (10oz) can cream of mushroom soup

¼ cup sour cream

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

(butter and milk for mac and cheese, amount according to package direction)

Method:

Cook macaroni and cheese dinner according to package directions. Meanwhile in a medium skillet over medium high heat cook ground beef, onion powder, and garlic powder, until the ground beef is brown and crumbly, about 8 minutes, drain. Add ground beef, cream of mushroom, sour cream, salt, and pepper to mac and cheese and stir. Pour into a 2-quart microwave safe dish. Microwave on high 3 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!

Puffers (German Potato Pancakes)

Ingredients:

3 medium potatoes (2 large or 5 small)

1 egg

1 tablespoon flour

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon onion powder

Oil for frying

Method:

Wash, peel and cut the potatoes into large chunks. Place in a food processor (or blender), and process until potatoes are finely minced. Add the egg, flour, and salt. Blend until well mixed. In a straight edged skillet heat about ½ inch oil over medium high heat. Once hot add spoonful’s of the batter to the oil and cook until starting to brown on the edges. Carefully flip over and continue cooking until golden brown on the other side. Remove to plate lined with paper towel to drain the grease. Don’t over crowd the pan and add additional oil if it gets too low. Continue until all of the batter is gone. Enjoy!

My great grandma Butler, who taught me this recipe, told me that her dad always served them with applesauce to counteract all of the grease. So that is exactly what I always do!