Black Lagoon Punch

This one came from AllRecipes it comes out brownish, but will look darker in a colored serving bowl. This one is particularly effective for showing off ice molds.

1 (.13 ounce) envelope unsweetened grape soft drink mix
1 (.13 ounce) envelope unsweetened orange soft drink mix
2 cups white sugar
3 quarts cold water
1 liter ginger ale

Beef Stroganoff

Brown 1 lb ground beef and saute 1/2 cup onion.  Sprinkle with 2 Tbs flour, heat for 3-5 minutes.

Mix together and simmer:
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can beef broth

Add 1/2 cup sour cream, mix with beef & onion, and serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Ice Cream Cooke Pie

Oh Betty, you know how to make life sweet.  Check out this recipe:


2        pints mint chocolate chip ice cream, slightly softened
1        package (6 ounces) ready-to-use chocolate-flavored pie crust
1 1/4  cups crushed chocolate-covered mint cookies
1        cup chocolate fudge topping


Spread 1 pint of the ice cream in pie crust. Sprinkle 1 cup of the crushed cookies over ice cream. Cover and freeze 1 hour.


Spread remaining pint of ice cream over cookies. Cover and freeze about 3 hours or until firm.
Let stand at room temperature about 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with fudge topping; sprinkle with remaining cookies. Cover and freeze any remaining pie.


Variation: S’mores Ice-Cream Pie!
Put a spin on this ice-cream pie by using a graham cracker crust, chocolate ice cream and chocolate-coated marshmallow cookies.


*Is your ice cream too hard to scoop? Soften it in a flash by heating it in the microwave on Low for about 20 seconds.

Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 345 (Calories from Fat 180 ); Total Fat 20 g (Saturated Fat 8 g); Cholesterol 30 mg; Sodium 200 mg; Total Carbohydrate 38 g (Dietary Fiber 1 g); Protein 4 g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4 %; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 10 %; Iron 6 % Exchanges: 
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Tropical Fluff Salad

1 (8 oz) tub of whipped topping, thawed

1 ½ - 16 oz containers of cottage cheese

1 can crushed pineapple, drained

1 small (3 oz) package Tropical Fusion Jell-o *

Fold together in a bowl, refrigerate a few hours or overnight - this allows the Jello to dissolve and flavors to blend. 

* This salad is good with a variety of other flavors, including pineapple or lime.

Teriyaki Chicken

½ cup soy sauce
1 ½ tsp ginger
4 Tbs brown sugar
3 Tbs honey
2 tsp oil
1 clove garlic
2-3 lbs raw chicken, cut up

Mix ingredients and add chicken. Marinate in refrigerator-the longer the tastier! Cook on grill or in frying pan.

Special Dietary Needs

I have more and more friends and family members discovering they have Celiac disease, lactose intolerance, egg allergies, etc.  I have done lots of searches for specialty recipes I can take to get-togethers that will be safe for everyone to eat.   I will use this post as a place to collect links to good recipes & resources.  Please, let me know of any good sites I am missing.


http://www.gicare.com/diets/gluten-free.aspx has a great list of things that do, may, and do not contain gluten.

Sloppy Joes

{This recipe is a work in progress. It is good as is, but I am always tweaking things for more oomph. let me know if you make it, I love suggestions}


1 lb beef
1/2 large onion, chopped
1/2-1 tsp minced garlic - to taste
1 can tomato sauce
1/3 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp season salt

optional:
1/2 cup water
3 Tbs quick cook oatmeal
(I am going to try a new filler next time I make this recipe, using 1-3 cups finely shredded cabbage. Inspired by this recipe, which received RAVE reviews. )

Brown beef. Add onions and garlic to pan and saute until translucent
Mix in remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve on buns and enjoy.