Homemade Ranch Dressing

This homemade ranch dressing recipe is based on one originally from my childhood best friend's family.  I have tried lots of recipes for ranch over the years, but this remains my very favorite, hands down.  The flavors are complex and lively, but don't overpower the taste of the fresh salad ingredients.  It includes all of my favorite aspects of various recipes, combined into one.

 

Hybridized Slovenian Style Goulash

Back when I was first learning to cook on my own, I conflated two recipes my grandmother made when trying to replicate her goulash.  It wasn't "right", but as often happens, I decided I actually liked this new hybrid recipe even better, and so it is how I have made it ever since.  It has the basis of goulash - a sauce primarily made of cooked down onion and paprika with beef - but then has the addition of some tomato, mushrooms, and peas, making it a bit more interesting to eat.

This recipe is for a large batch; we usually get several 'fresh' meals, as well as several portions to freeze, which it holds up to quite well.  

Slow Cooker Salsa Pepper Beef

This is another of those fabulous super-simple crockpot recipes that will have you going back for seconds.  Rich and flavorful, this Mexican fajita inspired dish pairs beautifully with saffron rice and a little sour cream.  I served it with garlic-buttered Italian green beans, whose calm flavor went quite well with the more lively dish.

(I used a bit too much salsa, and have already adjusted the recipe accordingly; you may prefer more or less than I do.)

Slow Cooker Bacon Ranch Chicken

This was incredibly delicious!  It was a bit on the salty side, though.  I found a recipe for making your own ranch dressing mix, and I am planning to make my own, with much less salt.  In the meantime, I just added more sour cream and that improved the overly saltiness.

Slow Cooker Creamy Beef Stroganoff

In seeking out crockpot recipes, I found several that claimed to be "beef stroganoff".  This is based on the only one that actually sounded like beef stroganoff to me.

As usual, of course, I adjusted the recipe to fit our tastes, and that is what I am sharing with you!

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

When I first found the base for this recipe, I was rather skeptical, as it frankly sounded too simple to really be much good.  But, I gave it a shot.  The smells as it was cooking were amazing.  As I scooped it out, I got skeptical again - it certainly didn't look appetizing.  However...  the taste absolutely won me over!  This is definitely getting added to the regular household menu, especially how easy it is to keep 'on hand'.

Beef and Leeks with Mashed Potatoes

Quick, easy, and oh-so-tasty!  You can't ask for much more from dinner.

Ingredients:

(beef and leeks)

• 1 lb. ground chuck
• 2 large leeks, washed and any 'icky' parts removed
• 1 medium onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• salt and pepper
• 1 Tbs corn starch (optional)

(mashed potatoes)

• 3-5 red potatoes (depending on size)
• 2 Tbs butter
• 1/2 c. sour cream (approx.)

Directions:

1.  Peel potatoes, then cut into 1/2-1 inch cubes.  Place them in a pot, cover with water, and add about 1/2 tsp. salt, then set aside for the moment.


2. Mince onion, slice leeks into rings about 1/4" wide, dice garlic.  



3. In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tsp vegetable oil on medium-low heat (about 4 on most stoves).


4. Add minced onion, and saute until just beginning to turn translucent at the edges.


5. Add 1/2 of the leeks (both white and green parts, but more of the white).  Saute until onion is fully translucent and beginning to brown slightly.

Cheater Microwave Raspberry Cake Recipe

Easy Dessert Recipes Perfect for Dorm or College Food, or Any Time

This easy cake recipe using fruit preserves is quick and simple, but can be modified to fit any taste for sweets.

This super easy cake recipe is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth without lots of preparation and mess, or a lot of technical know-how, as with most baking recipes. This makes it ideal as a beginner college recipe for a young adult just off on their own and living in the dorms, or any time you have limited space or equipment for baking. No oven or specialized equipment is necessary, just a couple of bowls, a glass or ceramic dish, and a microwave. It is also very quick to make, so can be easily used to just throw together if you decide at the last minute that a meal just has to have a dessert, or whenever you don't have the time to deal with the mess that most baking results in.

Try experimenting with different preserves, in addition to the recommended raspberry. Apricot, blackberry, plum, strawberry or even apple would probably be wonderful. Just be sure to use the seedless preserves, not jams with the seeds, nor jellies, as these are likely to give the finished cake undesirable tastes or textures. Above all, have fun with it! Try combining different flavors in the cake and the frosting, like apricot in the cake and plum in the frosting. Or try a triple-berry cake, with raspberry, blackberry and strawberry. With a recipe this easy to put together, it isn't hard to get creative.