Oven Baked Beef Stew...

This is all there is to it..put all the ingredients in the pot, even the uncooked stew meat. Cover and bake....The house will smell so good all afternoon.

Just clean up the kitchen, dinner will be ready in 4-5 hours..and it looks like you were busy all afternoon making this great dinner.

This is how yummy it looks when it's done!

2 lb. stew meat
3 large carrots
5 medium sized potatoes
1 medium chopped onion
3 stalks celery
1-16 ounce can tomatoes, or stewed tomatoes ( I like the petite diced)
1 Tbsp. salt
dash of pepper
3 Tbsp. dry tapioca

1 C. water with teaspoon of beef bouillon

Cut stew meat into bite size pieces; cut potatoes and carrots in chunks. Slice celery.
Mix all ingredients together.
Bake 250 degrees, covered for 5 hours. Do not peek.

I add:
3/4 C. frozen defrosted peas
1 C. green beans

This is so easy to make. You just put it all together and forget about it!

My Favorite Kitchen Tools...

I didn't realize how much easier it was to cook until I bought this good set of knives. They are Henckle Knives and I bought them at Costco a couple of years ago. For Christmas one year my daughter added the set of steak knives. I have seen them sold individually at Target and online..but the best way is to buy the set when you can find them on sale. A good set of knives would be at the top of my list if I had a choice.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake...

I love this cake, it's moist and chewy! It's from one of my old Taste of Home Magazines, the picture is too. My picture didn't do it justice. Make this just once and you'll make it over and over! Enjoy!

1-3/4 cups boiling water
1 cup uncooked oatmeal

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened

3 eggs

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 package (12 ounces) chocolate chips, divided
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl, pour water over oatmeal. Allow to stand 10 minutes.

Add sugars and butter, stirring until the butter melts.

Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Sift flour, soda, cocoa and salt together. Add to batter. Mix well.

Stir in half the chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan.

Sprinkle top of cake with walnuts and remaining chips.

Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes.

Yield: 12 servings.

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin Tops...

3/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs
1-8 oz. lemon yogurt
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel

2 C. flour
1/4 C. poppy seeds
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar together for 15 seconds on low, then 30 seconds on medium.

Add: eggs, yogurt, lemon juice and lemon peel.
Blend on low for 30 seconds.
Then medium for 30 seconds, scraping bowl often.

In separate bowl combine flour, poppy seeds, baking soda and salt.

Add to creamed mixture and blend on low speed.

Drop by heaping Tbsp. on lightly greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.

Bake 15-17 minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove immediately and cool on rack.

Makes 24 muffin tops.

Cool completely.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

My Favorite Kitchen Tools...

This KitchenAid Stand Mixer has to be one of my favorite kitchen tools...I use it all the time. It's worth every penny! I mix ground beef or turkey for meat loaf..breads, you name it!

Spaghetti Pizza Deluxe...

My family always loves this dish. I usually double the recipe and bake it in my lasagna pan. (Pictured above.) I have also used ground turkey. When using the jelly roll pan the spaghetti is thinner and more crust like. I package up any of the leftovers for my husband's lunches. It freezes well. Enjoy!

7 oz. spaghetti
1/2 C. skim milk
1 egg, beaten

1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. pepper

2 C. sliced fresh mushrooms
2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese


Prepare the spaghetti and drain. In medium bowl blend milk, egg and spaghetti, toss to coat.

Spray a 15x10 inch jellyroll pan with Pam. Spread spaghetti mixture evenly in pan..
In a large skillet cook beef, onion, bell pepper and garlic until beef is done

Add tomato sauce and seasonings, simmer 5 minutes.
Spoon meat mixture evenly over spaghetti.

Top with mushrooms and cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Ham Macaroni Salad...

This is a differnt kind of macaroni salad. Chill well for the best taste.My Mom always made it for us when we were kids.

Mix together:
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1/4 C. chopped celery
1/4 C. chopped onion
2 Tbsp. finely chopped bellpepper
1/2 tsp. mustard
dash of tobasco sauce
dash pepper

Stir in:
2 C. cooked macaroni
1 C. diced ham
Chill.

Fumi Salad...

This makes a big bowl of salad and is great for potlucks or picnics.

Mix together:
1 head of cabbage, shredded
1 bunch green onion, chopped

Toast and add to cabbage: I toast mine in a non stick pan until golden.
8 Tbsp. sliced almonds
8 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Blend together and pour over cabbage:
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 C. oil
6 Tbsp. rice vinegar

2 pkgs. of ramen noodles, crushed
Add the noodles right before serving so they will be crisp.

Cherry Jell-O Salad...

1 3 oz. pkg. cherry Jell-O
1 C. boiling water
1 can cherry pie filling

Mix the boiling water with the Jell-O to dissolve and then add the cheery pie filling. Pour into a mold or an 8x11 inch oblong dish. Chill until set.

Mix the following ingredients in another bowl.

1 3 oz. pkg of lemon Jell-O
1 C. boiling water
1 3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 C. salad dressing or mayonnaise (I use mayonnaise)
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, do not drain

Chill until slightly thickened. Pour over the cherry Jell-O and chill until completely set.