Mexican Lasagne

I was looking thru a cookbook the other day and a recipe written on paper fell out. It was from a few years back and it sounded interesting so we tried it. very simple but really yummy!

1 lb lean ground beef
1 can re fried beans
3 large tortillas
2 cups salsa
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon chili powder

Brown the beef and add salsa and chili powder
place 1 tortilla in bottom of casserole dish
spread about half the can of re fried beans
spread a meat layer, cheese layer, soft tortilla
repeat 2 more times, end with cheese and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Old World Manicotti

Another one of Maddie's faves.

12 Large Manicotti Shells ( or 1 1/2 boxes of oven ready cannelloni ) 

4 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

2 cups ricotta cheese

6 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 Tablespoons dried basil

Spaghetti sauce, ( My Testa dura sauce works here )

1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.

Cook manicotti to package directions, drain, set on a plate.( if oven ready, just stuff the uncooked manicotti ) 

For filling: in medium bowl, stir together 3 cups mozzarella, ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmesan and basil. Using a teaspoon, carefully stuff manicottis.

Spoon 2 cups sauce into baking dish, arrange manicottis and pour remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese on top.

Bake for 15 minutes,in 350 oven.

Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese, cook 15 more minutes. Serve.

Flax Bread

Our favorite recipe for the bread machine.

3/4 Cup Water
4 Teaspoon honey
4 Teaspoon vegetable oil
1 Teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cup flour
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
3 Tablespoon flax seeds
4 Teaspoons sesame seeds
2 Teaspoons poppy seeds
1 1/4 Teaspoon yeast

Put all ingredients into the inner pot. Set to Whole wheat. Cook and enjoy.

Home Made Eggnog

One of the yummiest Eggnogs EVER!



I use a punch bowl for this recipe.

6 egg whites
1 cup of sugar
6 egg yolks
2 cups of whipping cream
4 cups of milk
freshly grated nutmeg

In a large mixer bowl beat egg whites til soft peaks form ( tips curl )
Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar beating til stiff peaks form ( tips stand straight )
Set Aside

In a small mixer bowl beat egg yolks till thick and lemon colored
Gradually beat in remaining sugar
Fold egg yolk mixture into beaten egg whites. Stir in whipping cream, and milk.

Cover and chill

Before serving, sprinkle with nutmeg

Spicy Christmas Coffee

I'm not a coffee connoisseur, but my wonderful Husband is,
and he says " This is great Coffee" so I'll take his word for it,
you try it, and let me know what you think!

* Warning * you need to start this coffee a month before Christmas to let the flavours blend!!

Buy a bag of coffee, something not too strong. You can either grind beans or buy already ground. ( Most coffee shops will grind it for you, so why not take advantage of the freshest coffee?)

ok... so take a pound of coffee and put it in an airtight container.

add about 18 ( 1 package ) cinnamon sticks, broken up but not crushed.

add a tablespoon of cloves

add about 4 - 5 vanilla beans, sliced down the side and cut into 1 inch pieces

add a few slices of dried Mandarin orange peals

Put everything in container, shake it up and store in the fridge. Shake it up every now and then, serve at Christmas time, ( maybe with your favorite Bailey's?)

It takes about 3 weeks.

Pasta Fagioli

It's that time of year when soup is considered 'good food" here is one of my fave's.

1 pound ground beef

can of pinto or mixed lentils

1 carrots, diced small or shredded

1 celery stalks, cut into very small slices

1/8 cup olive oil

1  cups chopped onions

3 tablespoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon crushed chili's

3/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

3 bay leaves

1/3 can tomato paste 

1 can tomatoes diced( 28 oz )

4 cups water

4 cups chicken broth ( or litre container ) 

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups orzo or other small pasta

freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish.

Heat oil in large soup pot and brown the meat. Drain excess fat out.  Add the onions, celery, and carrots. Cook over low heat until onions are soft about 10 - 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the tomatoes, and tomato paste to the ground beef.

Stir in the water; cover partially with lid and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.

Add the beans without draining them and all spices. Add salt and pepper. 

Add the orzo and bring to boil, reduce heat, continue to simmer until the pasta is tender, about 10 minutes depending on pasta choice. Stir in the parsley.

Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Serve with some red wine and snuggle by the fire!

Bean Salad

Maddie's second favorite salad is Bean Salad,
so again now she can check the right ingredients :-)


1 can of lentils ( mixed beans ) this also works on any bean, green, yellow or canned asparagus!

drain and rinse beans

pour red wine vinegar and Olive oil once around the bowl

sprinkle garlic salt, salt and pepper

dash of lemon juice

and if I have onions on hand already cut up I'll add a teaspoon to the mix.

Mix it up, serve at room temperature, the longer it sits the better it is.