Meatloaf With Hidden Veggies

This meatloaf was one of the only ways I could get my daughter to eat her vegetables when she was young. Your kids will have no idea this is good for them! If they can't see it, it isn't there, right?

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup ketchup
3/4 cup Italian-seasoned dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup pureed vegetables, (food processor or blender) (I use 1/2 cup carrots and 1/2 cup broccoli)
1 (6 ounce) can French-fried onions
dash of salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, eggs, 1/4 cup ketchup, bread crumbs, blended vegetables, French-fried onions, salt and pepper.
Shape into loaf and fit into a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
Bake, covered loosely with foil, at 350 degrees F for 50 to 60 minutes.
Remove foil; spread 1/4 cup ketchup over meatloaf and bake additional 15 minutes.

What the kids don't know won't hurt 'em!

Grape and Lemon Make Blue

A layer of blue, another layer of red, topped with white and you have an easy 4th of July dessert.

Ingredients:
1 box (3 ounce) grape gelatin
1 box (3 ounce) lemon jello
2 cups hot water
4 cups strawberries, sliced
8 ounces whipped topping

Directions:
Mix together grape and yellow gelatin with hot water - to make blue.
Pour into a clear glass serving dish.
Refrigerate until firm.
Arrange sliced strawberries over top of gelatin.
Top with whipped topping.

Here's another easy to make 4th of July idea:
4th of July Cupcakes...
Prepare cupcakes using a packaged cake mix.
Mix Wilton blue food coloring paste (end of a toothpick's worth of coloring) into a container of buttercream icing.
Put icing into an icing decorator bag attached with a large star tip and top each cupcake. Sprinkle with red, white and blue candies.

Skillet Noodle Pizza

Kids really love this for dinner!
I've made this skillet dinner from time-to-time for years, but can take no credit for the good taste. The recipe is from Women's Day magazine, 1996. I don't add or take away any ingredients; it's perfect just the way it is. Just wanted to share!

Ingredients:
8 cups water
4 packages Ramen Noodles, any flavor (I use chicken)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup spaghetti sauce
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 cup)
17 slices pepperoni, cut into 1/4- inch strips
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions:
Heat broiler of oven.
Bring water to boil in a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2- quart pot; add noodles and cook, stirring occasionally (3 minutes or until tender); drain in colander.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
When hot, add noodles and press evenly to cover bottom of pan; cook 2 minutes or until underneath is browned.
Spread sauce over noodles, then sprinkle with cheese, pepperoni and oregano.

(if skillet handle is wood or any material that can't hold up to the heat of broiler, wrap it in a double layer of foil to prevent handle from scorching)

Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat source 2 minutes or until top is bubbly and cheese starts to brown.
Let cool about 5 minutes before cutting in wedges to serve.

source: Woman's Day 3/12/96

Making Whipped Cream

I found a nice, simply explained YouTube video on "how to make whipped cream." If you haven't made homemade whipped cream and would like to give it a try, you need to see this video. The demonstrator tells and shows exactly what stage to add your sugar, cocoa powder or extracts.

I suggest trying colored whipped cream. Add colored sugar crystals and vanilla extract to the whipped cream at the right stage - which you will learn in this YouTube.

To make your own sugar crystals:
In a small plastic container, add granulated sugar and a few drops of liquid food coloring. Cover the container and vigorously shake until the sugar is uniformly colored. Easy! Here is the YouTube link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2fFcjwvTWs

How to Grill Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob tastes great any way you cook it, but my absolute favorite is grilling it over hot coals or on a gas grill. Preparation is easy and there is just something special about corn on the cob hot off the grill!

Ingredients:
8 ears of corn
1/3 cup butter, melted
seasoned salt, or garlic salt, to taste

Directions:
Peel back husks on the ears of corn, but DON'T remove; pull out as much of the corn silk as possible; smooth husks back into starting position:)
Soak ears of corn (husks included) in a kettle of water for approximately 2 hours.
Remove from kettle and let drain a few minutes.
Cook over grill for 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.
Check corn for tenderness; cook longer if necessary

Just before serving melt the butter with your choice of salt.
Peel back the husks and drizzle butter over.

Nutella Lovers French Toast

If you love french toast and creamy chocolaty Nutella, put them together for scrumptious french toast sandwiches. Top with maple syrup or your favorite fruit and whipped cream. Everyone loves this breakfast. I like it for dinner too!

Ingredients:
6 slices white bread
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon honey, warmed
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract powdered sugar
Nutella (warm it in microwave to make it easier to drizzle)

Directions: Whisk eggs together with milk; add warmed honey and vanilla extract; whisk again. Melt butter in griddle that has been set to medium heat. Dip each slice of bread (both sides) into the liquid mixture. Fry all six slices of bread on griddle until bottom sides of bread are golden brown. Flip all six slices of bread; drizzle Nutella generously over top of three cooked slices of bread; cover with remaining three cooked slices after all are golden brown underneath.

Now what you have are 3 delicious Nutella French Toast Sandwiches! Mmmm.... top with powdered sugar. If you really want to, you can pour maple syrup over it, or give it a dollop of whipped cream, or spoon sliced strawberries over, but I prefer to drizzle a little extra Nutella over mine.

See recipes for desserts made with fresh lemons!

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1830925/summer_desserts_made_with_fresh_lemons.html

Blue Roast Beef Sandwiches

This is an easy to assemble, make-and-take sandwich, perfect for a picnic in the park!

Ingredients: (4 sandwiches)
8 slices whole wheat bread
mayonnaise
1 pound deli roast beef, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
4 slices mozzarella cheese

Directions:
Spread each slice of bread with mayonnaise. I like about 2 tablespoons on each slice (I'm a condiment lover).
Separate the roast beef and crumbled blue cheese into fourths.
Layer with roast beef - crumbled blue cheese - mozzarella cheese.
Now taste your new favorite sandwich!

Make the Blue Roast Beef Sandwich even better with caramelized onions
http://www.ehow.com/how_5097085_caramelize-onion.html