Roasted Potatoes with Garlic

4 1/2 lbs of red potatoes...or any potato washed but unpeeled (I sometimes just partially peel them) and cut into quarters.
2-3 med red onions...each onion cut into 6 wedges ( like sections of an orange)
1/4 cup of olive3 oil
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 1/4 tsp. Salt
1.2 tsp black pepper
3 cloves of garlic...put through a garlic press....or minced.


Preheat the oven to 425 (this is important!) Cut up the potatoes and onions and toss together in a large bowl with the olive oil, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic. Pour into a buttered large roasting pan...cleaning out the bowl with a rubber spatula so that all the garlic bits get into the pan. Place the pan on the upper middle level of the oven. Roast...turning occasionally with a metal spatula...for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Sometimes I add a little butter half way through the cooking process (about 3 Tbs) this helps with the browning and adds a little more flavor. Cook until golden brown and fork-tender.

Caramel Bread Pudding

6 slices day-old bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 cup hot water
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups warm milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt

1. Place bread in a greased 2 qt baking dish. Combine water and brown sugar; pour over bread. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over bread. Bake at 350 for 50 to 60 min or until a knife inserted near the canter comes out clean.

I topped this with whipping cream with cinnamon and sugar mixed in...YUMMY

Easy Slow Cooker Pot-Roasted Steak

1 1/2 lb boneless beef top round steak (1 inch thick)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup julienne cut carrots
1 jar (4.5 oz) Green Giant sliced mushrooms, undrained
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 Tbs dry onion soup mix

1. Spray 3- 3 1/2 quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Sprinkle beef with paprika nd pepper; cut into 4 serving pieces. place in slow cooker.

2. In a med bowl, mix carrots, mushrooms, soup and soup mix; pour over beef.

3. Cover; cook on low heat setting 5 to 6 hours.

4. Serve steak topped with gravy and vegetables.

Mashed Potatoes...Deluxe

12-15 Yukon gold ... or ordinary potatoes...peeled and quartered. (Yukon Gold....makes the best tasting and best looking mashed potatoes.) If your potatoes are not uniform in size...try to make the cut up pieces pretty uniform in size so that they will all get done at the same time.

5-10 cloves of garlic...peeled and cut in half
3 tbs. sour cream
1 bar of butter
1/4 cup whole milk
1 tsp salt...add more if necessary

1. In a large pot...cover the potatoes with about 2 inches of water and add to this your garlic cloves...each one cut in half. Add to the water several Tbs of salt. Bring the water to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender...45 min to 1 hour...(if you are the coast or at sea level...this will only take about 30 min) Drain all the water.

2. Pace the cooked potatoes and garlic in a bowl and add the sour cream , butter, milk and salt....( a little salt at first until it is right for you) You can then beat with a mixer or mash by hand with a potato masher... until the potatoes are smooth. Once they are done... you can place them in the oven until the rest of the meal is ready so that they will stay warm.

Meat loaf

I know that meat loaf isn't the most glamorous of meals....but it is a family favorite. And this recipe is easy and de-lish if you like a good old fashioned meat loaf.....topped with ketchup and all.

1 lb lean ground beef
1 clove garlic or 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small onion
2 slices bread with crust
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp chopped fresh or 1/4 tsp dried sage leaves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
1/3 cup ketchup, chili sauce or barbecue sauce

1. Heat oven to 350. Break up the beef into small pieces in a large bowl, using a fork or spoon.

2. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Peel the onion, and chop enough of the onion into small pieces to measure 3 Tbs. Add the garlic and onion to the beef.

3. Tear the bread into small pieces and add to beef mixture.

4. Add the milk, Worcestershire sauce, sage, salt, mustard, pepper and egg to the beef mixture. Mix with a fork, large spoon or your hands until the ingredients are well mixed.

5. Place the beef mixture in the ungreased baking pan. Almost any size pan will work: just be sure the pan has sides on it to catch the juices that will accumulate while the meat loaf bakes. Shape the mixture into the 8x4 inch loaf and spread ketchup over the top.

6. Bake uncovered 50 or 60 min or until beef in center of loaf is no longer pink. A meat thermometer inserted in the center of the loaf should read 160. Let the loaf stand 5 min, so it will be easier to remove from the pan. Cut the loaf into slices.