Black Bean Pasta Salad

I kinda threw this together to use up things and it was really good!!

8 ounces smallish pasta(I used medium shells)
1/2 cup miracle whip--this was just to use up the last of a jar but could be removed without any effect I think
16 ounces salsa
2 cups cheese--I used half colby jack/monterey jack and half mozzarella
1 can black beans--I used leftover beans from our black bean burrito night

Boil pasta, cool completely then throw the rest in stir and put in the fridge to let the flavors mix.  I left it in an hour but anywhere up to a day would work fine:)

Rachel Ray's Sloppy Joes

These were so good and easy!  I used a cheaper ground beef and cut out the olive oil plus used green bell peppers.  We'll definitely have these again!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 1 1/4 pounds ground beef sirloin
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend, such as McCormick brand Montreal Seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 crusty rolls, split, toasted, and lightly buttered

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted, buttered bun bottoms and cover with bun tops. Serve with your favorite sides or sliced tomatoes seasoned with salt and pepper, dill pickles and Deviled Potato Salad. Have plenty of napkins on hand!

Ham Skillet

This was a great way to use up leftover ham...very different from what we normally have!  I cooked the rice separately because I tripled the recipe and my skillet wasn't big enough.

1/2 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 1/2 cups frozen peas (green, or English peas), about 10 ounces
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham
1 cup long-grain rice, uncooked
3 to 4 cups chicken broth
2 to 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
In a heavy skillet, saute the chopped onion in 2 tablespoons of butter until onion is tender. Add ham and rice; cook over low heat until rice just begins to turn golden brown; add 3 cups chicken broth. Cover and cook, stirring frequently, over low heat for 20 minutes. Add frozen peas and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until rice is tender, adding more chicken broth if necessary. Stir in 1 tablespoon butter and the Parmesan cheese.
Rice and ham skillet recipe serves 4.

Gingerbread Waffles

These were in the Family Fun magazine and I knew I had to make them.  The smell of gingerbread in the house was so warm and comforting!  We ate them without syrup(and with syrup and with only butter and...) and they were delicious!  

Ingredients
4 eggs
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
1 cup buttermilk
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Whipped cream and fruit, optional
Instructions
With an electric mixer, beat the eggs until they're light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar, molasses, and buttermilk and mix until blended, about 1 minute more.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, spices, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in the butter.
Cover and refrigerate the batter overnight or cook immediately in a waffle iron until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve with whipped cream and fruit, if you like. Makes 14.

Potato Bread

I love trying new bread machine recipes.  This one turned out to be a very thick yummy bread!

1-2/3 cups warm tap water
2 tablespoons margarine
4 cups unbleached bread flour or whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons Honey or brown sugar
1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Measure the ingredients into the bread pan in the order listed. Make a well in the flour and sprinkle the yeast into it. Set the machine to it’s Rapid or Quick Cycle. On my machine this lasts for 80 minutes, or 1-1/3 hours. Press Start, and let the machine work it’s magic. Remove the cooked bread from the pan after baking and allow it to cool before slicing.
If you like a fluffier, higher rising loaf, then you make bake this on the Basic Cycle instead of the Rapid Cycle. The bread will be fluffier, and rise much higher. It will still taste very good too.
The texture of this bread reminds me of the crusty homemade loaves you can still find baked in old fashioned wood burning stoves in some hidden portions of the deep south. I like this bread best with margarine and jelly, but it is an excellent all purpose bread. It stays soft a little longer than some machine baked breads. Perfect for lunchbox sandwiches. Makes a 2 lb loaf.

Duggar's oatmeal cookies

This is my official go-to recipe for oatmeal cookies.  These were AWESOME!   These were from Mandi's week on recipechallenge.

DADDY’S FAVORITE OATMEAL COOKIES 
(& Jessa’s favorite cookie dough!)
1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
2 eggs
Cream first four ingredients Together,
Now add:
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 c. flour
3 c. oatmeal (or just a little less)
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips (optional)
Mix. Shape into balls on pan, then flatten with hand.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 min.