Stuffed Hamburger & Cheese Rolls

Every year, my mother-in-law and her sisters and sisters-in-law host a two day crafting/sewing/cooking event for all of their daughters and daughters-in-law.  They've been hosting these for the last 10 years and they are always so fun to get together with family, visit, eat, craft, and sew.

My mother-in-law's family, whom I'm so privileged to call my own, is made up of some very incredible women with so many talents.  I look up to each one of them and have learned so much from them.

Last year, many, many, many hours were put into making a family cookbook.  I have been having so much fun going through the recipes and trying so many new things for my little family.  We've definitely found many gems in that cookbook, which is not surprising to me at all, coming from such amazing women and mothers.

The recipe I'm sharing today comes from my husband's cousin's wife, Candria.  She's such a wonderful mother and a really great friend.  A note she added to this recipe says,"Kid and husband approved!"

Well, we had the same approval rate at our house.  In fact, my kids went CRAZY over these rolls.  This recipe makes about 2 dozen little sandwiches and it's a good thing too.  The kids were requesting these for lunch and dinner until they were gone.

And a major bonus is that they're EASY!  The only thing that took much time and effort was hollowing out the rolls and that's not a big deal at all.

Oh, and one more thing...I found a big bag of two dozen potato rolls on clearance in the bakery at our grocery store, so they were super cheap.  And it was no problem that they were a little stale and dry.  Adding the filling made them perfect!

So, thank you, Candria, for sharing this family-loved recipe!

Here's what you'll need:

2 lbs. ground beef

2 Tbsp. dried, chopped onion

2 cans cream of mushroom soup (I used 1 can cream of mushroom and 1 can cream of chicken)

1 1/2 C. grated cheddar cheese

5-6 large rolls or bread bowls (I used 22 dinner-sized potato rolls-the perfect size for little hands to handle)

Brown the hamburger with the onion.  Add soup(s) and cheese and stir until combined.

Cut tops off of rolls and hollow them out.  Fill each with meat mixture and place tops back on.  

Wrap each in tin foul and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  

*Candria likes to use Asaigo Cheese rolls when she can find them.  I liked using the stale potato rolls.*

Egg Salad with Avocado

A while ago, I decided to cook out of my sister's cookbook for an entire month. One of the recipes I tried, we LOVED! But there are two requirements for one to enjoy this recipe: 1. you have to like egg salad, and 2. you have to like avocado. If you fit these requirements, I think you'll love this recipe like we do.

Here's what you'll need:

10 hard boiled eggs

3 T. mayo or Miracle Whip

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 avocado, mashed, and 1/2 avocado, chopped

salt and pepper

lettuce

tomato slices

Using a pastry blender or fork, mash together hard boiled eggs and half an avocado.

Stir in mayo or Miracle Whip, mustard, and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.

Carefully fold in chopped avocado.

Divide egg salad among toasted bread. Top with tomato slices and lettuce.

Yum, yum, yum!!!

B.L.T. w/ A.

I loooooooooooooooooooooove B.L.T.'s!!! I also looooooooooooooooooooove avocados. So, yesterday for lunch, I made B.L.T.'s with avocado and I was in HEAVEN!!!!! It's one of those simple pleasures in life. Enjoy!

Here's what you'll need:

Toasted Multi-Grain bread (or any bread)
cooked bacon slices
washed lettuce leaves
sliced tomato
sliced avocado

Slather your toast on one side with mayo or Miracle Whip. Place bacon on one piece of toast and top with lettuce, tomato, and avocado. If desired, season avocado with a dash or two of salt and pepper. Top with the other piece of toast. Cut in half and devour.

So good!!!

Monte Cristo Sandwiches

The first time I tried a Monte Cristo sandwich was when my friend from home/old roommate, Nicole, and I went out to lunch after we both had gotten married. She told me I had to try this sandwich she had found that was so good. So I did, and it was so yummy! I loved the french toast-like exterior and the melted cheese and ham interior. It was served with raspberry jam on the side for dipping, but I wasn't too fond of that, so I just ate it plain and it was good.


Well, I came across a recipe from The Prepared Pantry for a Honey Ham Monte Cristo sandwich. The fond memories of that yummy sandwich with Nicole came flooding back to me. I decided to try it. The result wasn't quite the same, but still good none-the-less, so my hubby and I thought. My kids, not so much. But this really isn't a kids sandwich.


Give it a try and see what you think.


Here's what you'll need:


8 slices of bread
3 eggs
2 T. milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. white pepper
8 slices of provolone or Swiss cheese
1/2 lb. thinly sliced deli ham (or you can use half ham and half turkey)
1/4 C. honey
2 T. prepared mustard


Mix the eggs, milk, salt, dry mustard, and white pepper together in a shallow bowl. Make the honey spread by mixing the honey and the prepared mustard. Set aside.


Spread honey mustard onto one or two pieces of bread. Top with ham, then cheese, and more ham.
Heat a griddle. Dip each sandwich lightly into the egg mixture on both sides of the sandwich. Place on the griddle and fry as you would french toast or a grilled cheese sandwich, turning when one side is golden brown.


Serve hot. You can serve it with seedless raspberry jam or honey, which is what I ate mine with. Yum!!

Hot Dogs with Mashed Potatoes and Cheese

I am so bad about having a variety of choices for lunch. Almost everyday, the options are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or macaroni and cheese. Whenever I venture out and really make something for the kids, I am so proud of myself. Today's recipe was one of those times I ventured. It's something I grew up on and it's so easy. I don't know why I don't make it more often. My poor kids.

Here's what you'll need:

Hot dogs
Mashed potatoes
Cheese

Make some mashed potatoes. Since I make these for my kids, they don't care if I use the instant mashed potatoes. So that's what I use. Or if you have some left over from dinner the night before, use them.

Slice your hot dogs in half lengthwise.

Top with mashed potatoes and top the taters with cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve with ketchup to dip in.

Make 'em! You're kids will be so happy!!

BBQ Cups

And yet another quick and easy recipe! (Are you beginning to notice the trend in my life right now?) This idea came from a good friend of mine. It's very kid friendly.

Here's what you'll need:

Sloppy Joe mix
2 (10 oz) tubes refrigerated biscuits
cheddar cheese, shredded

Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Flatten and press into bottoms of 2 greased muffin tins. Fill each muffin cup with about 3-4 Tablespoons of sloppy joe mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and return to oven just until cheese is melted. (I forgot about these. Don't do that.)

If you have any muffin cups not filled, just partly fill the empty cup with water to keep it from warping.

Cheese & Tomato Sandwiches

Wowie, it's been a while! I'm so sorry for the absence. Life has just been CRAZY with four little kids. And I know that it won't be letting up, so I will do my best to post new recipes, but I can't make any promises. Though I have a TON of recipes just waiting to be posted!

The first recipe for today is a very simple sandwich that my family, growing up, ate frequently. Quick and easy - LOVE IT!

Here's what you'll need:

sliced bread
favorite cheese
Miracle Whip or Mayo
thickly sliced tomatoes

Place your bread on a baking sheet. Top it with your favorite cheese. Broil it in the oven just until the cheese melts (only a couple of minutes). Take it out and slather with Miracle Whip or mayo. Then top with tomato slices and enjoy!

How easy is that?! Yummy!!!

Swiss Tuna Melts

This recipe is so yummy and WAY easy to make. I usually make it when I have no time left for dinner, but it would be terrific for lunch too! My mom likes it because the cheese is shredded into the tuna mixture and not sliced on top. It's really good!

Here's what you'll need:

2 cans tuna, drained

3/4 C. shredded swiss cheese

1/2 C. sour cream

1/2 C. mayo

1/4 C. sweet pickle relish

pepper to taste

8 slices of bread

In a bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Spread over slices of bread, about 1/4 -1/2 cup per slice. Broil until bread is golden and tuna mixture is warm and bubbly. Watch carefully; it can burn easily!

Or you can make this like a grilled cheese sandwich - butter opposite sides of bread slices and sandwich tuna mixture in between. Cook on a griddle until both sides are golden.

Like I said, EASY! And it's good too, just try it!!

Ham Cordon Bleu Sandwiches

I'm so sorry I haven't posted for so long! I've been out of town visiting family (eating wonderful food, as always with them!); but I am back and I've got another quick and easy recipe I really like to make.

These sandwiches originally came from the Kraft Food and Family magazine, but my son was so excited to have created this in his head before we tried the recipe from the magazine. (And, yes, my kids LOVE to be like chefs and come up with new food ideas themselves. I'm so proud!)

Here's what you'll need:

Multi Grain Bread
Ham shaved deli meat
Turkey shaved deli meat
Sliced Swiss cheese
Miracle Whip
Tomato

I really don't use an exact recipe for this, but you just toast your bread, spread Miracle Whip on both slices. Then add three slices of ham and three slices of turkey and top it with swiss cheese. Microwave until cheese is melty (about 30 seconds in my microwave). Put two thick slices of tomato on it and top it with other piece of toast. Then enjoy!

It really doesn't get much easier than that, my friends!!