SUM YUM!

Kick off those muddy boots and chow!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Lb. 85% Hamburger

  • 1 Small can Mrs. Grimes kidney beans – (RINSE Beans)

  • 1 Small can Mrs. Grimes black beans – (RINSE Beans)

  • 1 Large can Mrs. Grimes chili beans – (NO RINSE)

  • 1 giant can of tomato juice

  • Chili powder to taste

  • 1 small Onion (chopped)

  • 1 Orange bell pepper (chopped)

  • 1 Package Mushrooms (any variety, sliced)

  • Lotsa fresh Tomatoes (hulled & quartered). * I never peel my tomatoes! Or potatoes for that matter…

  • 1 small jar banana peppers (optional)

  • 1 small bunch Fresh cilantro (not optional)

  • Sundried Tomatoes (optional)

  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Ann’s Chili - (Thank you, Mrs. Grimes!)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Salt hamburger & brown until a tiny bit of pink is left.

  2. Add half of the Bell Pepper, Shrooms & Onion. Saute 2 – 3 minutes. Drain out grease.

  3. Add 3 cans of beans, gently stir.

  4. Add  tomato juice (toss in a few sun-dried tomatoes).

  5. Turn on medium heat and fold ingredients together.

  6. Add chili seasoning to taste (I usually use a lot). Fold into soup.

  7. Add all remaining veggies.

  8. Slow simmer 3 hours-ish.

  9. An hour before eating add chopped cilantro and additional chili seasoning if needed.

*If you want to double the batch to freeze for lunches, only double the meat and tomato juice & spices to taste.

White Chili

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Rotissery Chicken (pull meat and chop)

  • 3 cans Garbanzo Beans OR Great Northern Beans

  • 2 cans Chicken Broth

  • 2 cans Rotel Original tomatoes

  • 1 can chopped green Chilies

  • 2 cups shredded Monteray Jack Cheese

  • 1 cup chopped Cilantro or Celery Leaves (or some of both)

  • 1 tablespoon garlic (chopped)

  • 1 small red Onion (chopped)

DIRECTIONS

  1. In soup pan combine beans, broth, tomatoes, chilies & garlic, cook on medium for 45 minutes.

  2. Add chopped chicken & cilantro, cook about 10 more minutes.

  3. Turn off heat and add the Cheese s-l-o-w-l-y, then S&P to taste.

Chickpea Soup

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cans Garbanzo Beans (chick peas) Drained.

  • 1 can of H20

  • 6 fresh Tomatoes

  • 6 Potatoes

  • 2 Green Bell peppers

  • 1 Onion

  • About 5 strips of bacon (half pkg) – or if you really Love Bacon then use the whole package.

  • 1 Ham Hock

  • A heaping teaspoon each of Basil, Oregano, Parsley & Chili Powder

  • S&P to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. Bake bacon till crispy, pat dry & let cool.

  2. Saute chopped green peppers & onion.

  3. In dutch oven or giant soup pan, combine all ingredients + sauteed veggies.

  4. Snap bacon into half-inch chunks if possible, add to the soup.

  5. Salt & Pepper to taste. Simmer a couple – 3 hours.

Mom’s Potato Soup - (and her mom’s, and her mom’s…)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Peel (I partially peel them so sum yummy skin is in the soup) the Potatoes. Quarter & put into soup pan.

  2. Fill the pan with water till just above the potato line. Heavy salt. Bring to a boil.

  3. While waiting chop veggies.

  4. Once you can start to break potatoes with a fork, saute veg for 3 minutes in a little butter, salt & pepper.

  5. Add sauteed celery & onion to potato soup. Break up potatoes into large chunks & turn to low/med-low heat.

  6. Add evaporated milk & stir well.

  7. Add cheese a 3rd at a time & stir well.

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 Potatoes (quartered)

  • 2 or 3 stalks of Celery * Use the centers with the leafy tops!

  • 1 small Yellow Onion

  • 1 can Carnation evaporated milk

  • 3/4 cup Velveeta or shredded Cheddar cheese (a mild, meltable variety)

  • 1 Tablespoon butter

  • S&P to taste

VARIATIONS

*For CHOWDER AFFECT add frozen corn, frozen green beans, carrots, bacon pieces and/or diced ham prior to the milk & cheese steps.

*For OYSTER STEW AFFECT add 1 quart Fresh Oysters (undrained)  + 1 jar (2 oz.) diced pimiento after breaking up the potatoes.

*For MEXICALI AFFECT delete cheese from potato soup. After breaking apart potatoes: Add 1 pkg frozen corn, 1 sliced red bell pepper, 1 can Mrs. Grimes black beans (rinsed & drained) then 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes … & freshly chopped tomatoes if you dig… Simmer. The kicker if you desire a protein is Spanish-spiced chicken: Rough-chop chicken & cook on stovetop according to seasoning packet directions. (I use HyVee taco seasoning).  Once chicken has had 10 minutes to cook then  simmer, soaking up seasoning, add to soup at the end. Serve in bowls with shredded cheese & tortilla strips for topping.

Sangria

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 bottle Burgundy wine or other dry red wine (chilled)

  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice

  • 1/2 cup Sugar

  • 1/4 cup Brandy

  • 1 small Lemon (sliced)

  • 1 small Orange (sliced)

  • 1/2 cup Strawberries, hulled & cut in half

  • 1 10-oz bottle Club Soda (chilled)

  • 16 Ice Cubes

DIRECTIONS

  1. Stir wine, juices, sugar & brandy in large pitcher till sugar is dissolved.

  2. Stir in Lemon & Orange slices and refrigerate.

  3. Just before serving, add strawberries, club soda and around 16 cubes; stir & pour into glasses. (Glass highlights the groovy colors of the fruit slices.)

  4. Make wine coolers early in the day or as little as 15 minutes before serving.

The Best Quac

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 ripe Avacados (peeled & pitted)

  • Juice of 1 Lime

  • 1 small-med Tomato

  • 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro (finely chopped)

  • 1/4 cup Red onion (finely chopped)

  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

  • 4 dashes Hot Sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon Sugar

  • Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mash the avacados in a bowl with a fork until slightly lumpy.

  2. Stir in the lime juice, tomato, cilantro, red onion & garlic. Mix well.

  3. Add the hot sauce; stir in the cumin, salt & sugar. Once blended, sample and add seasoning to taste.

  4. Cover the bowl and chill – or you can leave at room temp for up to an hour to blend flavors.

Helscher Hamballs

DIRECTIONS

  1. Form meat mixture into golf-ball sized balls, place in non-stick baking dish

  2. Coat hamballs with the glaze. Baste with glaze every 15 minutes.

  3. Bake at 350 for 1-and-1/2 hours, or until done.

  4. Serve plain or on a bed of plain Greek yogurt & spinach. Sprinkle with finely shredded Parmesan.

INGREDIENTS

MIX TOGETHER:

  • 1-and-1/2 pounds of ground Ham

  • 1 pound of ground pork

  • Good dash black pepper

  • 1/2 cup of diced, canned Tomatoes (drained

  • 1 cup saltine cracker crumbs

BOIL TOGETHER FOR 2 MINUTES:

  • 1 cup of Brown sugar

  • 1/3 cup vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons yellow Mustard

  • 1 cup of Water

Chicken Divan - it’s actually Divine

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 boneless, skinless chix breasts

  • 11 cup Mayo

  • 1 8-oz. Sour cream

  • 1 teaspoon Curry powder (I like more - to taste)

  • 1/4 cup chicken Broth

  • 1 large pkg frozen Broccoli cuts

  • 1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

  1. In large pot, boil the chicken breasts until mostly cooked (15-20 minutes)

  2. In separate smaller pot, cook the broccoli until tender. Drain.

  3. Mix mayo, sour cream, curry powder, chicken broth & cheese in a bowl.

  4. In 9x12 pan or dutch oven, layer the broccoli then the chicken on top.

  5. Pour the cheese mixture over the top of the chix. Add cheese or dollops of sour cream on top if you wish. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Popcorn Salad

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup Green Onion (sliced thin)

  • 1 cup Celery (diced)

  • 3/4 cup Mayo

  • 3/4 cup chopped, crisp bacon (I bake it and dry, cool)

  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

  • 3/4 cup Water Chestnuts

  • 6 cups Popcorn

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine all ingredients EXCEPT popcorn, small parts of cheese & bacon.

  2. Gently stir in the popcorn.

  3. Garnish top by sprinkling with a little cheese & bacon.

  4. Chill for 3-4 hours, then serve.

Barrowz Biscotti

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt

  • 3 eggs

  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla

  • 1/2 teaspoon Almond extract

  • 2-and-3/4 cup of flour

  • 1 cup slivered almonds (or any kind of nutz)

  • 1 beaten Egg

  • 1 teaspoon H2O

DIRECTIONS

  1. In large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, baking soda & salt. Stir in 3 eggs, vanilla & almond extract. Stir in the flour & chopped nutz.

  2. On a well-floured surface, knead the dough 8-10 times. Divide in half. On a lightly floured surface shape each half into a log about 9 inches long.

  3. Place logs about 4 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Pat each log into a flattened loaf about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide.

  4. Stir together the beaten egg and water; brush over the loaves. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 for 30 minutes.

  5. Cool biscotti on rack. Cut each loaf diagonally into 2” thick slices. Place sides, cut-side down, on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 for 5 minutes.

  6. Turn slices over and bake 5-8 more minutes… until dry and crisp. Remove biscotti from pan and cool on rack. Various frostings can be applied.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 box Strawberry or Raspberry Jello

  • 1 small carton KoolWhip

  • 1 cup Strawberries (quartered)

  • 1 carton 4% small curd Cottage cheese

Aunt Audrey’s Pink Junk

DIRECTIONS

  1. Shmear toast with your favorite hummus

  2. Grate eggs over the toast with a cheese grater

  3. S&P to taste.

  4. Additional yummy ingredients: salmon, roasted tomato, avocado

INGREDIENTS

  • Hamburger or turkeyburger sloppies

  • Bread & butter

  • Melty Cheese

For my daughter, Sally Grace:

AnnWiches

DIRECTIONS

  1. Make your favorite Sloppy Joe mixture on the stovetop.

  2. After meat is browned & sauce is added, prepare grilled cheese sandwiches.

  3. After meat has simmered in sauce and grilled cheeses are golden brown on both sides, remove the grilled cheese sandwiches.

  4. Carefully open each grilled cheese & set on individual plates. Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture on top of one side of the grilled cheese - then lay the top of sandwich back on to finish melting the cheese.

INGREDIENTS

  • Whole wheat toast (a couple of slices)

  • 2 hard-boiled eggs

  • Favorite hummus

  • S&P to taste

Hummus-Snob Toast

DIRECTIONS

  1. Hard boil eggs, season with S&P

  2. Shmear your favorite hummus on toasted bread

  3. Grate eggs over hummus with a cheese grater

  4. Additional toppings: salmon, roasted tomato, avocado, freshly-chopped chives

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tsp Olive Oil

  • 1/4 cup red or Orange bell pepper, finely chopped

  • 1/4 cup scallion (minced)

  • 1 lb. grilled or leftover protein, cubed

  • 1/2 cup frozen corn

  • 1/2 cup black beans, drained & rinsed

  • 1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed & squeezed to remove liquid

  • 1 tsp Cumin

  • 1 tsp Chili powder

  • 1 cup shredded cheese

  • Dollup of Greek yogurt or tzatziki on top (optional)

  • S&P to taste

  • Lettuce: Use lettuce leaves that are large & firm enough to hold the filling, Iceberg & Romaine work well..

Santa Fe Lettuce Wraps

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat the oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper & scallion & saute till tender.

  2. Add the diced meat, corn, black beans, spinach & spices. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring well so the spinach is mixed will with other ingredients.

  3. Place heaping spoonful in the center of each lettuce leaf. Top with cheese & other tasties as desired.

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 oz. Orange Juice concentrate

  • 1/2 cup Sugar

  • 1 cup Milk

  • 1 cup OJ - or - Peach Schnapps

  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla

  • 12 ice cubes

    MIX IN A BLENDER & SERVE

Orange Jewels

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup of Bulgur

  • 2 sliced cucumbers

  • 1 can garbanzo beans (drained & rinsed)

  • 1/4 cup red onion (minced) *Jennifer soaked the onion for 10 minutes in cold water to nullify bad breath

  • 2 Tbsp fresh, chopped parsley

  • 1 Tbsp fresh, chopped mint

  • 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese

  • 1/2 cup shelled pistachios

  • No dressing needed, halved grapes optional

    FUN FRIENDS FACT: Rachel, Phoebe & Monica joined Jennifer for this lunch on set. Daily!

Jennifer Aniston Salad

STEP-BY-STEPS

  • “To begin with, melt 1/4 cup margarine in 2 cups of milk.

  • 4 minutes in the microwave. Beat in 2 eggs.

  • Then tear up 4 cups of bread cubes. Put 1/2 cup of brown sugar over the top.

  • Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon over the top. Raisins optional.

  • Pour milk mixture over bread.

  • 9-12 minutes in microwave, then I put cinnamon sugar mixture on top.”

Grandma’s Bread Pudding