Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 2 tbl olive or vegetable oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp dried thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp. ground thyme)
• 1 tsp dried tarragon leaves (opt.)
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 2 medium yams or dark orange sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 8 pieces
• 1 large onion (cut into 8 wedges)
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 4 chicken breasts (bone-in) or 1 whole chicken cut up

Directions

Heat oven to 425. In large bowl, mix broth, oil, salt, thyme, tarragon and pepper. Add vegetables and garlic. Toss to coat. Remove vegetables with slotted spoon to ungreased 15x10x1 inch ungreased pan.
Add chicken pieces to remaining broth mixture, turning to coat all sides. Place chicken pieces skin side down next to vegetables in pan. Drizzle any remaining broth mixture over chicken.
Bake 30 minutes. Stir vegetables and turn chicken pieces. Bake 30-40 min longer or until vegetables are tender and juice of chicken is clear.

Chili Cheese Grits

Ingredients

• 1 c. grits
• 4 c. water
• 1 lb. Velveeta Cheese cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 4-5 chopped green chilis (or 1-2 cans chopped chilis, do it to your taste)

Directions

Cook 1 cup of grits in 4 cups of boiling water until thick.
Add:

• 1 lb. Velveeta Cheese cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tsp. seasoned salt
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 4-5 chopped green chilis (or 1-2 cans chopped chilis, do it to your taste)

Pour into a 9x13 pan.
Bake at 275 for 2 hours.

Italian Chicken Soup

Another recipe from mom's kitchen.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts cut into 1" pieces
• 2 tsp. oil
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 2 c. water
• 4 chicken boullion cubes
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 c. frozen corn
• 1/3 c. uncooked thin spaghetti (broken into 2" lengths)
• Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Heat oil in saucepan.
2. Stir-fry chicken pieces until lightly browned.
3. Add onion and cook until tender.
4. Stir in basil, pepper, water, cubes, and tomatoes, bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 5 minutes.
6. Stir in corn and spaghetti. Cover and simmer 10 minutes until all is tender.
7. Garnish each serving with parmesan cheese.

Makes 4 - 1.5 c. servings.

Chili, Beef, and Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 1 - 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 2 large potatoes peeled and diced
• 3 boullion cubes
• 3 c. water
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
• 1 small can chopped green chilis

Directions

1. Brown meat and onion in pot. Drain fat.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients.
3. Cover and cook until potatoes are tender (about 15 minutes).
4. Serve topped with crushed tortilla chips and grated cheese.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

My mom got this recipe from a vietnamese friend of hers.

Ingredients

• 1.5 c. sugar
• 2 c. water
• 1 c. vinegar
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 onion
• 1 c. catsup
• 2 tbsp. corn starch

Directions

1. Cook vegetables together in medium sauce pan.
2. Stir in sugar, water, vinegar, and catsup.
3. Add corn starch and cook until good consistency.

For a nice meal bread and fry some chicken pieces and serve over fried rice.

Goulash

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 onion
• 2 c. macaroni noodles
• 1-10 oz. tomato soup
• 2-8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 2 c. water
• 1 tbsp chili powder

Directions

1. Brown meet and onion in skillet or frying pan. Drain grease.
2. Add rest of ingredients, mix, and bring to a boil.
3. Simmer covered for 15-20 mins.

Feeds 4 people.

Mom's Brownies

Another yummy treat that brings back memories.

Ingredients

• 2 sticks butter (melted)
• 2 c. white sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 c. cocoa
• 1.5 c. flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
2. There's no real order to the rest as I remember. Mix thoroughly and pour into 9 x 13 greased baking dish.
3. Cook for 20-25 min.

As options add pecans, chocolate chips, and dust with powdered sugar.

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the cookies mom made every Friday (most Friday's) for an after school treat!

Ingredients

• 3/4 c. white sugar
• 3/4 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. butter/margerine
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2.25 c. flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Blend butter and sugars.
3. Mix in eggs.
4. Mix in vanilla.
5. Add remaining dry ingredients.
6. Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes (just keep an eye on them)

For a variation spread all the dough evenly into a 9" x 13" baking dish and cook for 20-25 minutes for cookie bars (my personal favorite).

Sloppy Joe's

Though the recipe doesn't call for BBQ sauce, it is still very good and very easy (you're basically making your own BBQ sauce).

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 onion
• 1/4 green bell pepper
• 8 oz. tomato sauce
• 1/4 c. catsup
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• salt, pepper, and chili powder to taste

Directions

1. Sautee onions and peppers and brown meat.
2. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
3. Simmer for 20 min. covered.
4. Serve on hamburger buns.