Recipe Ideas!

I just wanted to briefly share 2 recipes that I have tried out on my family with rave reviews.

The first is a sure fire hit in most big families. Known to many as the "Tatter Tot Casserole". It is really quite easy and very tasty. I added my own little flare to it. The original recipe is:

1 pound beef or turkey ground and browned.
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
salt/pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups tatter tots
1/2 - 3/4 cup grated cheese

First brown your meat, then layer the bottom of a casserole dish with the meat following the tatter tots. Then pour over the tatter tots and meat the soup already mixed with the milk and the salt and pepper. Sprinkle the cheese over top and bake @ 350 for 20-30 minutes.

My variation I made a double batch b/c I knew my family would probably like it. I also added Durkee onions over the cheese since I had about 1 cup or more. This gave the casserole a bit more flavor and crisp taste. I served it with a side of green beans. If and when I make this again I will probably get a bigger casserole dish and put the frozen green beans on the bottom. Then use an extra can of soup and mix soup over top the green beans and then over top the meat with tatter tots. Then add the cheese and onions, making it a complete casserole. I have other casseroles similar but with out the tatter tots.

The second recipe is a muffin recipe. It is really easy and very similar to the muffins you can purchase at the warehouse stores. Those really giant muffins that are kinda pricey. If you like them like we do and can not afford to buy them then find a way to make them.

First take a regular cake mix. I used a Pillsbury cake mix that costs $ 0.99. Any flavor b/c you can create your own variations. I like the chocolate muffin variation:

Chocolate cake mix
2 Tbsp flour
3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 cups chocolate chips

Mix everything together except the chocolate chips and then add them when the batter is smooth. Pour into muffin cups and bake @ 350 for 12-15 minutes. Just touch the top and if it springs back after touching then remove from the oven. Makes about 2 or 2 1/2 dozen.

Other variations; blueberry muffins using the white cake mix and basic in ingredients. Substiute the choc. chips for blueberries frozen is what I used. I even chopped mine up to increase the portion with out using up too many.(Plus mine were rather large blueberries.)

Poppy seed; just use a yellow cake mix and poppy seeds from the grocery store.( You could also add a little bit of lemon juice or almond extract to give the muffins a different taste. Do not use both. Just one or the other.)

I tried a butterscotch one but the butterscotch chips sank to the bottom and stuck in a few of the muffins to the pan. (I did not use paper cups for these.) If you use paper cups they would probably be fine. Use a yellow cake mix and 1/2 a bag of butterscotch chips.

I am going to try the blueberry one and use cranberries instead. I'll tell you how they turn out.

I hope you find these to be very enjoyable and that your families find them to be very Yummy!