American Goulash

1 lb ground beef (I use 1/4-1/2 lb)
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlice, minced
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
3 C water
1/4 C green pepper, chopped
4 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1 Tbsp Soy sauce
1 bay leaf
salt/pepper
2 C uncooked macaroni

Brown meat. Drain. Cook onions, meat, garlic till tender.  Add everything else and bring to a boil.  Add macaroni and cook till macaroni is done.

What...I left meat out of goulash? Yes, tried it and it was okay but it likes a little meat :)

Italian Sausage Soup

• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup barley (can use beans)
• 2 small zucchini, cubed
• 1-2 cups spinach (frozen works good)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Cook the sausage, drain...add everything :)

PS I have used different sausage and way, way less of it...

Crockpot Soup Stroganoff

Yeah...that is my own title cause it tells me what it is and what it is not... :)

2 cans cream of cream of mushroom soup
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/4 - 1/2 cup italian dressing
1 small package mushrooms, sliced
milk (how ever much you want to make the consistancy you want)

I put the onions, mushrooms and dressing in the crockpot on high for awhile till they are cooked. Add the rest and turn to low or simmer. You can easily make it on the stove. Serve over noodles or rice.

Quinoa Butternut Squash Soup

1 tablespoon butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or fresh oregano (also used some fresh rosemary)
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
4 cups chicken broth/vegetable broth
1 can (14-oz) stewed tomatoes
2-3 cups chopped butternut squash
2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 cups chopped fresh spinach (you don't have to have the spinach although we like it)


Saute chopped onions, oregano, and garlic in butter. Add the broth and bring to a boil.
Add the tomatoes, butternut squash, and quinoa. Simmer for 15 minutes until the squash is tender and quinoa is cooked. Add pepper and more flavor if needed. Stir in the spinach. Cook 1-2 minutes until the spinach is wilted.

PS Sometimes I have added a link or two of turkey sausage but if your broth is flavorful you don't need the meat...

Sweet Lemonade

I have been working on this one for awhile. It is sort of a take on Asian lemonade/drinks I would have in Korea. The basic recipe was given to me by a friend. These amounts are not set in stone...I just finally measured what I was putting in to give approximate amounts...

7 C water
1 C sugar
1/8 C pineapple juice
1/3 C sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp citric acid
1 tsp lemon extract

This is beyond delicious. I put mine in a blender and pulse it two or three times just to get the milk mixed in well...

Orange Butter

1/2 C butter, softened
1/4 C honey
1/8 C grated orange zest

Spring Pasta

1 onion, diced
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp butter
2 C asparagus, cut in 1 in
1 C peas
about 12 - 15 oz fettuccine, cooked
1/2 C chicken/veg broth
1 1/2 C milk
8 oz cream cheese
1/8 - 1/4 C parmigiano-reggiano
dash of pepper
1 Tbsp tarragon

In big saute pan, saute onion and garlic in butter. Boil asparagus and peas for 2-3 minutes. Add milk, cream cheese, broth to onion mixture and cook until melted and creamy. Add asparagus, peas, pasta, spices, and parm cheese.