Homemade Baked fries

Everybody loves fries, but we all try to stay away from fried foods as much as possible. So why not make your on and bake them.  They are just as good and much better for you.

3 lbs. potatoes
sea salt
pepper
paprika
onion powder
garlic powder

Wash and dice potatoes. Place on baking sheet and bake. Sprinkle sea salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder on the potatoes and bake at  400 for  20 to 30 minutes. Get you some ketchup and dig in..

Hamburgers

You have got to have a burger if you are making homemade fries. The weather has been nice and its time to break out the grill and enjoy the outdoors. Especially since we just did all that yard work last weekend and my plants look so good..


2 lbs ground beef. 20-80 is best for burgers
1 teas. Garlic powder
1 teas. Onion powder
1 teas. Salt
1 teas. White pepper


Mix all the ingredients together and pat out unto patties.  Grill burgers 25 minutes on low heat so that they don't loose juices.  Add cheese to tops and let melt. Put burger on a bun and add toppings of choice and enjoy your meal..

Lime Bars

These are a must when the weather gets warm. I think of a tropical island when I make these.. They are so good and refreshing.


Bottom layer:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter

Top layer:
2 eggs
2 tablespoon fresh lime juice (1 large lime)
1/2 teas. grated lime zest (opt)
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoon all purpose flour
4 to 5 drops green food coloring


For bottom layer:
Mix together the flour and powdered sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly and clings together. Press dough in a 8x8 baking pan. Bake 325 for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Top layer:
In a bowl beat the eggs and add lime juice,zest, sugar, flour and food coloring. Mix well and pour over the baked crust while hot. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 325. Remove from over and sprinkle powdered sugar on top and let cool and cut squares..  If you want to double this recipe use a 9x13 pan..

Cooking tip for the week

 To make Self rising flour...

Take 1 cup all purpose flour and 1/4 teas. baking soda, 1/4 teas. salt.

Thought of the day

Life isn't complicated; love isn't complicated; people are.

Coming Wednesday

Hamburgers
Baked homemade fries
Lime bars
Cooking tip of the week
Pantry staples list and pictures of my pantry

Thought of the day

Forget it enough to get over it, remember it enough so it doesn't happen again.....

Pineapple Coconut Bars

These are two of my favorite things in a dessert. So when I found this recipe I was so excited to make these. They are awesome.



3 1/2 cups all purpose flour divided
1 cup coconut
1 cup brown sugar packed
1 teas. baking soda
1 cup butter divided
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple drained


Combine 2 1/2 cups flour, coconut, brown sugar and baking soda. Use a pastry blender and cut in 1/2 cup butter until mixture is crumbly.  Press crumb mixture in to a 9x13 baking dish. Bake 10 minutes. In medium bowl beat 1/2 cup butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each. Add 1 cup flour gradually stir in pineapple and spread evenly over baked layer. Bake 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting bars. Top with extra coconut and let brown just a few seconds. Enjoy....

Homemade Hamburger Helper

This is what my kids call this dish. I came up with it one day when I was pushed for time and needed a quick meal... They loved it so much, that It is a must have around our house... This is a meal that if you have your pantry staples on hand, (that I am going to post soon) you will have these items for this meal.

1 lb. ground beef
1 box macaroni and cheese
1 pk. taco seasoning


Brown and drain the ground beef and add taco seasoning pack. Cook the macaroni in a sauce pot and drain. Add cheese to macaroni and stir together until creamy. Pour the macaroni in the meat mixture and make a nice salad and dinner is served..

Coming Tuesday

Homemade Hamburger Helper
Pineapple Coconut Bars

Coming this week

Pantry staples list
Pictures of my pantry


This will be a list of items to keep on hand in your pantry.This will make it easier for you to have go to meals and ideas quickly.  You can have a varity of meal ideas by keeping these things on hand. I will share my list of these items with you to help you at.. I will also share healthy snack ideas staples for you to keep on hand for your kids and you....

Mexican Meatloaf

As I am sure that all of you have figured out by now, I love mexican food..... I have found ways to mix it in with our regular meals so that the family don't get tired of it.  This is a great dish....

2 lbs. ground beef

2 cups tortilla chips crushed

1 can rotel

1 can black beans

1 egg

1 pk. taco seasoning

salsa ( I use my recipe for salsa) 

2 cups mexican 4 cheese blend

Mix the ground beef, rotel, black beans, egg, taco season, 1/4 cup salsa and 1 cup cheese blend together and put in a deep pan. 

Bake for 40 minutes at 350. Take out and pour another cup of salsa on top and spread 1 cup of the  cheese all over and bake for another 20 minutes and then enjoy....  You will love this..... You can make the mexican rice with this instead of the potatoes if you like...  

Roasted Potatoes

I came up with this a few years ago for a party we were having.  I was making roasted chicken and I wanted potatoes to go with it and this is what I came up with. I love them with pretty much now with anything...


3 to 5 lbs red potatoes cubed
2 tablespoon basil
1 tablespoon rosemary
2 tables dill
2 table thyme
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
morton season salt taste


Cube potatoes and sprinkle basil, rosemary, dill, thyme, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and morton season salt.  Pour oil over them and with your hands mix all these together to coat the potatoes good. Bake at 350 for 30 to 45 minutes. Will depend on how many pounds you have. You can even use real herbs but in the I really like the dried ones best...