Who doesn’t love a warm, home cooked meal? But after a long day at work, many do not have the time (or patience). Making heartwarming, home cooked meals doesn’t have to be a lengthy, or expensive, endeavor. I am frequently asked by friends and co-workers for easy but elegant food ideas, and these are usually at the top of my list. The following recipes were “staples” in my family’s house when I was a young girl growing up. Long before I discovered Martha Stewart, it was sometimes my responsibility to prepare these meals for the family, and I frequently still do to this day. (Big nod to Mom). These are also perfect if you have adolescents that want to help out with the evening meal. What could be better on a cold, mid-winter day than to make your family home cooked, comfort foods that give them that ‘ummm, that’s good” feeling? Try them and let me know what you think.
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| Crock Pot Roast |
2 lbs chuck roast
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 lb potatoes, peeled and halved
1 lb carrots, peeled and very roughly chopped
2 onions, peeled and quartered
Put meat in crock pot. Cover with vegetables and top with soup. Cover and cook on low for 8 – 10 hrs.
Meatloaf
1 lb hamburger
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
4 oz can tomato sauce
1/3 c breadcrumbs
1 egg
Mix all together and bake in loaf pan 35 – 40 min. at 350 degrees.
Stuffed Scallops
1 – 1 ½ lbs bay scallops
Juice of 1 lemon
1 ½ c breadcrumbs
½ stick butter, melted
¼ c white wine, optional
2 T grated parmesan cheese
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
Pour lemon juice in small casserole dish. Spread scallops over juice. Combine remaining ingredients and spread over top. Bake for 20 min. at 350 degrees.
Don't time for dessert? You only need 30 min. (baking time only) for these! Here are two, 2 ingredient desserts. You'll want to keep these ingredients on hand for when you need to whip up something super fast and don't have time to think about what to make, let alone to spend the time making it. Now, what can be more simple than that??
Angel's Delight: 1 pkg. Angel food cake mix, 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple
Pumpkin Squares: 1 pkg. carrot cake mix, 1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin puree
Mix in a bowl and bake in a greased 13 x 9 pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
You can serve whipped cream and strawberries with the angel food cake, and frost the pumpkin squares with cream cheese frosting, but both are delightfully good without them.
