Lemon Lime Punch

This is a great punch - sweet and yellow! Most punches are pink and strawberry based...making this punch a hit! (No pun intended!)

Lemon Lime Punch

3 pkgs lemonade (unsweetened)

1 1/2 cups pineapple juice

2 1/2 to 3 cups sugar (add to taste)

water (add to taste)

1 sliced lemon

1 sliced lime

Mix lemonade, pineapple juice, and sugar in punch bowl.

Add water to desired consistency and taste.

When ready to serve, add sliced lemon and lime. They will float at the top of the punch!

*To fill the container in the picture I doubled the recipe.

*I always freeze part of the punch and add it to the container at the party.

Banana Nut Bread

Every true Southern lady must have a staple Banana Bread recipe. It is perfect for hostessing, loving on your family, and taking to a friend. When I was a new bride I remember stressing about living up to my Mom's bread. I was living at my PaPaw's house at the time and wanted to use up the yucky bananas. So, I got a cookbook that was a wedding present and saw that I had all the ingredients. My PaPaw said it was some of the best that he'd ever had and that it reminded him of old-fashioned cake. So, since it was good enough for him, it would be forever more! And, I've stopped looking for another Banana Bread recipe!

I also call this "Poor Man's Banana Bread" - because the ingredients are simple. My Mom's calls for sour cream, making it "Rich Man's Banana Bread." On to the recipe...

Banana Nut Bread

3 cups sugar

1 cup oil

4 eggs

2 to 3 very ripe bananas

2/3 cups water

1 cup chopped nuts

3 1/2 cups self-rising flour

2 tsp cinnamon

Cream sugar and oil. Add eggs and bananas. Mix well.

Stir together flour and cinnamon and add this to sugar/egg mixture, alternating with water.

Stir in nuts.

Pour into two well-greased bread pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

*This will make your home smell divine! I've heard that making this (and making your home smell wonderfully) is a great tip for selling your home!

*The loaves also freeze very well.

PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps

This is the MOST delicious meal! If you're in a rut of same-ole, same-ole...this recipe has flavors that are refreshing! Plus, they make a whole meal versus the appetizer (that costs as much as an entree) at PF Chang's.

Lettuce Wraps

2 lbs ground turkey

5 cloves minced garlic

1/2 chopped onion

1 can water chestnuts (optional)

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup white wine

1/2 tsp ginger

dash of all spice

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 head of lettuce

Plum Sauce (at WalMart in Asian section)

Place turkey in crock pot. Dump onions, garlic, and water chestnuts on top of turkey.

Mix liquids and spices. Pour over turkey and vegetables.

Cover and cook 4-6 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low. Stir occassionally.

Serve over lettuce leaves.

*I've used purple onion and made it without allspice.

*For an American kick...add cheese and sour cream.

*You can also top with green onions.

BBQ Beef

I currently have this in my crock pot. It smells divine! I'll update the post with comments after we eat tonight!
Ok, yes! It is super good! I was a bit skeptical...but the meat was so tender and shredded easily! Perfect with cole slaw and lemonade!

BBQ Beef

3 lbs beef stew meat
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped green pepper
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
6 oz can tomato paste
sandwich buns

In slow cooker combine all ingredients except buns. Cook on low setting 8-10 hours or until meat is tender.
With wire whisk stir BBQ to break up meat pieces. Serve on buns.

*To prepare in oven, place all ingredients except buns in Dutch oven or large casserole. Cover; bake at 325 degrees for 4 hours
*I didn't have onion, green peppers, or dry mustard. I sprinkled in mustard seed.
*Instead of ground beef, I used round steak (for those with meat from the farm: 1 pkg of round steak)

Beef Stroganoff

Nothing says "Mom" like a meal that warms your insides! My Mom makes great stroganoff...and while at her house last week, I browed one of her cookbooks (Pots, Pans, and Pioneers - love the name!) and saw "good" written beside the stroganoff recipe. So, I made it. Sorry, no pictures...it was consumed as soon as it was made!

Beef Stroganoff

1 cup minced onion
1/4 tsp minced garlic
1/2 cup butter
2 lbs ground beef
4 Tbsp flour
4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can mushroom soup
2 cups sour cream
Egg noodles, cooked

Brown onion and garlic over medium heat, add beef and brown. Do not drain.
Add flour, salt, pepper, and soup. Cook 5 minutes, then simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
Stir in sour cream. Heat through and serve over noodles.

*Since you don't drain the beef, use lean meet, or use less butter.
*I made this with 1/2 beef and 1/2 turkey.
*For color, top with green onions.
*This recipe is dynamic on top of a baked potato, add cheese (of course!).