Taco Pasta

With a family of 5, I am always on the look for low cost and filling meals. I am on a budget that I have to stick with. We don't eat out for a couple of reasons, 1-we really can't afford it, and 2-I can recreate the meals that we like from restaurants for a lot cheaper. This Taco Pasta is a low cost meal and it makes alot, enough to feed my family and have plenty left over for lunch or dinner, if we choose to do a "fend for yourself" night. If you are a smaller family, you can cut the recipe in half. Enjoy!

Taco Pasta

1 lb ground beef
16 oz small dry pasta. any shape
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups salsa
2 packets taco seasoning
8 oz block cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
salt and pepper
Shredded cheese

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Set aside.

In a large skillet, cook the ground meat and onion over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Once the meat is cooked through, drain off the excess fat and mix in the garlic. Cook the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Mix in the salsa and taco seasoning and let simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta, cream cheese, sour cream and pasta water and continue stirring until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is well blended. Season with salt and pepper. Top with shredded cheese and cover with lid just until the cheese is melted.

Top with sour cream and more salsa, if desired.

Peach Amaretto Jam

A couple of months ago Ball Canning sent me a sample pack of their Small Batch Pectin, I knew right off what I would be making with it. I figured I would make a small batch in case it was just nasty...I know, how could peaches and Amaretto not be good, right? Of course, this is delish and what I now think of as Summer in a jar! Enjoy it on your toast, homemade biscuits (or store bought), thumbprint cookies, or really just from the spoon!

Peach Amaretto Jam

2 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and chopped--I like mine a little chunky
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 package Small Batch Pectin
1/4 cup Amaretto

Mix the peaches and pectin together in a large pot on medium high heat and bring to a full rolling boil. Once to a boil add your sugar and amaretto and bring back to a rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. Ladle into your jars, wipe the rims, put on the lids and rings and process in a water bath for 10 minutes. Remember to start timing with the water returns to a boil in the water bath.

Double Chocolate Coca Cola Cake

Try saying that 3 times fast! The only thing that I can say about this cake is YUM! It was gone overnight in my house. Although, I am not sure about the Cola, you really can't taste it. Maybe it helps with the moistness, not sure but I will be making this over and over again!

Double Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
1 cup Coca-cola
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine
3 Tbsp cocoa
2 cup sugar
2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla


In a saucepan, bring Coca-Cola, oil, margarine and cocoa to a boil; mix
the sugar, flour and salt, Pour in the boiling liquid and beat well. Add
the eggs, buttermilk, soda and vanilla and beat well. Pour into a greased
and floured sheet cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.


Frosting:
1/4 lb. margarine
3 Tbsp cocoa
6 Tbsp cream or milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. confectioners' sugar


In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa and milk and heat until the butter
melts. Beat in the remaining ingredients, and spread on the hot cake. Cool
and cut.

Honey Rolls

I cannot tell you how excited I am that these actually turned out and taste fantastic! One of my personal goals is to make yummy tasting bread that is fluffy and yeasty...these were all of those! These have a hint of sweetness due to the honey you add in the dough and the honey and butter mixture you brush on the top before you bake them, although despite the sweetness, I think this bread would be great as a loaf for your favorite sandwich!

Honey Rolls
Yields 12 rolls

2 tsp active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup honey, plus 1 Tbsp for brushing
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp butter, melted

In a large bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the water and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Add the honey, salt and egg to the yeast mixture and stir until blended. Add 3 cups flour and mix until the dough comes together, it will be sticky. On a lightly floured surface knead the dough until soft and elastic, about 8 minutes, adding more flour to keep the dough from sticking if necessary, being careful not to add too much flour. The dough will become more workable the longer you knead it. If you have a stand mixture, attache the dough hook and knead the dough for 5-7 minutes, or until it becomes elastic.

Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until it doubles in size, about 2 hours.

Punch the dough down and divide into 12 equal portions. Shape into round balls and place in a lightly greased pan. Cover and let rise for another 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and the 1 Tbsp honey. Brush over the rolls and bake 10-13 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Strawberry Mango Salsa

I have been kicking myself all weekend because I did not make this sooner. I saw this recipe about a month ago from Maria and just couldn't get it out of my mind. I knew that I would have to make it so my brain could rest. Just for the record, it has still haunted me because I have ate it all weekend and can't wait to make another batch. It has that sweet/spicy combo that I like and is a great snack (or meal) on these hot days. Make it, you will love it!

Strawberry Mango Salsa
From: Two Peas and Their Pod

1 cup strawberries, hulled and chopped
1 medium mango, peeled and chopped
1/2 half of a large jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1/4 of a purple onion, chopped
1/2 of an avocado, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped

I like my chunks in the salsa on the small size, so chop them how you like them. :)

Mix all the ingredients together and toss to coat with the lime juice. Enjoy!!