Cowboy Beans

These beans are great for a cool day, they are even better the second day!

1 lb. dry Great Northern beans, cooked (do not drain)

1/2 lb. ground beef

1 red or yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

salt and pepper to taste

Put the beans in a crock-pot along with the cooking liquid.

Cook the beef, onion and bell pepper in a saucepan until beef is no longer pink and the onions are opaque. Stir the beef mixture into the beans. Add the brown sugar, molasses, salt and pepper to the crock-pot. Stir. Cook on high 4 hours. Serve with hot sauce, if desired and some fresh cornbread.

My kids absolutely love this one and my husband does, too!

Summer Succotash

3 Tablespoons bacon fat

1 cup frozen lima beans, thawed and drained

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 medium onion, chopped

3 Tablespoons pimientos, drained

3 large cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Heat bacon fat in cast iron or non-stick skillet. Add lima beans, corn and onion, cook over med-high heat until onions become opaque. Stir in remaining ingredients and cook, stirring occasionally until all liquid is gone.

Chili Burgers

6 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 chipotle chiles, minced with veins and seeds removed

2 garlic cloves, minced

1Tablespoon chili powder

2 1/4 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon pepper

3/4 teaspoon onion powder

2 1/2 pounds ground beef

6 sliced pepper Jack cheese

6 hamburger buns, split and toasted

Combine Worcestershire sauce, chiles, garlic, chili powder, cumin, pepper and onion powder in a large bowl. Add beef and mix with hands. Form into 6 patties. Grill or fry (grilling is better) until done in the center. Top with cheese and remove from heat after cheese has melted.

Accompaniments: thinly sliced red onion, lettuce leaves, sliced tomato, tortilla chips

Cost: $1.85 per serving. Serves 6

July 26 Menu with Recipes

I don't know about where you live, but it is HOT here... it's been in the upper 90's for quite a while now, so I thought I'd make a dinner that wouldn't heat up the whole house.

First, dessert....

chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting sounds good! :)

All you need is:

1 box of chocolate cake mix

1c. peanut butter

4 tablespoons milk

1c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. finely chopped peanuts

Make cupcakes according to package directions.

Mix peanut butter, milk and powdered sugar and spread on top of cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with chopped nuts! Yum!

Cost: .31 cents each! Serves 18.

Now for dinner, we'll make a summer-perfect Pasta with Tuna and No-Cook Tomato Sauce:

You will need:

2 cans tuna, packed in oil (you need the oil for the sauce, if you only have tuna packed in water, you can add drain the water and add about 3 Tablespoons of olive oil to your recipe.

4 large tomatoes, chopped

1 cup chopped fresh basil, or 2 Tablespoons dried

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

1 (9oz.) pkg. fettuccine pasta

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

Drain tuna, reserving the oil. Mix tuna, tomatoes, basil, onions, oil and garlic in a bowl.

Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Drain well. Stir 1/2 cup of the cheese and the lemon pepper seasoning into the tuna mixture. Add entire mixture into the fettuccine pasta; toss gently and top with remaining cheese.

Cost: $2.18 each serving! Serves 4