Amazing Taco Pie

I was reminded of this recipe recently. My niece who is getting married in November made this for my son the other day and he raved about how yummy it was. I had to make it to see if it was as yummy as he said. It was. Talk about an easy throw together din-din!


4- 10 inch flour tortillas
1 lb ground beef
16 oz red kidney beans
1 onion
1 tsp cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried cilantro leaves
1½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Lettuce, salsa, sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, black olives



Cook ground beef and onion in large skillet until brown; drain grease. Add kidney bean, cumin, cayenne pepper and cilantro leaves; cook until heated.

Cut tortillas into quarters. Place four quarters into pie plate; cover with ¼ of the beef mixture and then ¼ of the cheese. Continue until all tortillas, beef mixture and cheese is used. Top with cheese.

Place in 350º oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with lettuce, tomato, olives, sour cream, guacamole, etc.


© Crackerberries 2009

Another Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie

½ cup old fashion oats
2¼ cups flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup butter flavored Crisco
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup Reese’s pieces
½ cup chopped walnuts


Preheat oven to 375º. Move rack to second highest level in oven (this is the trick to baking a perfect cookie… my sister taught me this).

In medium bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside. In large bowl, combine Crisco, brown sugar, white sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Gradually add flour and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips, Reese’s pieces and walnuts.

Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

You can also spread this mixture into a greased jelly roll pan and bake at 375º for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned and then cool and cut into bars.

© Crackerberries 2009

Impecunious Eggs Benedict

This is a low budget breakfast with high class taste.




1 medium tomato
2 eggs, poached and drained
2 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
¼ cup mayonnaise
1/8 cup milk
½ tsp lemon juice
¼ tsp dry basil
Salt & pepper to taste






Slice tomato and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside. In small sauce pan combine mayonnaise, milk, lemon juice and basil; heat over medium-low heat until bubbly. Keep warm. After toasting bread, place slices of tomato on toast and top with poached egg. Pour sauce over top and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with fresh fruit.



© Crackerberries 2009

Whoo-Whoo-Whoopie Pies

Whoopie pies are traditionally LARGE, but for bake sales and mid-night snacks, the smaller version is a plus in our house. People often ask what is a whoopie pie. Is it like a Moon Pie? Is it like a pie-pie? Nope, neither. It is a sandwich type desert that is typically made with two chocolate cakes and a white frosting. But don’t limit yourself to chocolate and white frosting. I also make a milk chocolate cake with a peanut butter frosting or a pumpkin cake with a cream cheese frosting that is so yummy. Go ahead and be creative …
Chocolate Pies

¾ cup butter or butter flavored Crisco
¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
¾ cup cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp instant coffee
3 cups flour
*1½ cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350º. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease them using cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine butter and brown sugar and beat on medium speed until well blended and smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one.

In separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda and mix well. In liquid measuring cup mix together buttermilk, vanilla and instant coffee until coffee is dissolved (this could take a few minutes of stirring).

· If you do not have buttermilk, you can make your own but combining one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in measuring cup and fill to one cup with milk. Let stand at room temperature for five minutes. Stir and there you have buttermilk.

Add half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well, being sure to scrape sides of bowl. Add half of the buttermilk mixture and mix well until smooth and fluffy. Repeat with remaining flour and buttermilk and mix until smooth. Batter will be thick and slightly springy.

Drop by tablespoons (or more depending on size you want) onto baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each. Bake 11-13 minutes. It will have a spongy cake texture when done. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire racks.




Vanilla Frosting

¾ cup Crisco
1 tsp vanilla extract
2¾ cup confectioner’s sugar
3 cups Marshmallow Fluff

In large mixing bowl combine vanilla and Crisco until creamy and smooth, add half the confectioner’s sugar and mix until smooth. Add remaining sugar and mix again, scraping sides of the bowl. Add marshmallow and mix on medium high for about 3-4 minutes until fluffy.

Spread filling on flat side of one cake and top with the flat side of another cake. Can be wrapped and stored in freezer for up to two months.

© Crackerberries 2009

Gingered Pork Fajita Wraps

So I have leftover stragglers in the fridge … piece of cabbage, a few carrots, a half of an onion in the crisper, a cup of cooked white rice. (Now I know why you get free white rice whenever you buy Chinese food … there’s always so much leftover from when they make the fried rice). It’s too hot for soup and we’ve had our fill on Cole slaw with this and Cole slaw with that. What to do what to do?



1 lb pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
1½ tsp fresh ginger, minced
4 small carrots, shredded
½ small cabbage, shredded
½ onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1-2 Tbsp soy sauce
2-3 flour tortillas
¼ cup Asian sesame dressing
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ tsp fresh ground pepper
1 cup cooked white rice
1 Tbsp oil




In wok, cook pork and ginger in oil until pork is lightly browned and no longer pink. Add carrot and cook 1-2 minutes; add onion, green pepper, cabbage and soy sauce. Cook until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with pepper and add sesame dressing and fold in rice.

Heat tortillas in microwave, wrapped in paper towels for 30 seconds. Scoop mixture into tortillas and top with cheddar cheese. Wrap tightly and voila…din din.

There are plenty of leftovers for the next day’s lunch.

© Crackerberries 2009

Cowboy Wagon Trail Beans

"Beans, beans, the miracle fruit.
The more you eat, the more you toot.
The more you toot, the better you feel.
Then your ready for another meal!"

1 lb dry baby lima beans
6 cups water
2 tsp salt
2-3 cloves garlic
1 lb link sausage
1 large onion, sliced and broke into rings
1 red or green bell pepper, chopped
1 10¾ oz can Campbell’s tomato soup
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
½ tsp thyme
½ cup white wine
½ cup shredded Monterey Jack/Colby cheese

In large kettle soak beans in water for 6 hours; drain. Add more water, garlic and 1 tsp salt and bring beans to a boil; simmer for one hour or until the bean skins pop when you blow on them. Drain beans and remove garlic cloves.

In large skillet, brown sausages. Remove from pan and set aside. Sauté onion rings and pepper in sausage grease until tender.

In 2 quart casserole combine tomato soup, brown sugar, dry mustard, thyme and wine; mix well. Fold in beans, green pepper and ½ of the onion rings. Arrange sausages on top of casserole with remaining onion rings to form wagon wheel spokes. Cover and bake one hour. Remove cover and top with cheese, return to oven just until cheese melts. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.


© Crackerberries 2009

Pizza Improvised

Last night pizza was on the menu. It was 96º outside. Turning the oven on would have made it stifling inside. I put on my thinking cap and turned Marine; did a little improvising.

1 loaf (16 oz) Everything Italian bread (bought on mark down at Wally world on a Friday afternoon and thrown into the freezer for later use)
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
6-7 cherry tomatoes
5 fresh basil leaves
½ tsp garlic powder
1small onion
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
½ cup chopped green pepper
½ cup chopped pepperoni
1 cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp olive oil

Preheat heat grill and set to medium. Split bread lengthwise; brush with olive oil. Place, inside down, on grill for 2-3 minutes, to lightly brown bread. Remove from grill and turn temperature to low.

In food processor or grinder, combine tomatoes, basil leaves, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, and onion and chop/process until a paste is made.

In small bowl mix tomato paste, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and tomato/basil paste together and stir well. Spread on bread halves. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Top with pepperoni and green pepper. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and 1 tsp Italian seasoning.

Place bread halves on aluminum foil and cook on grill, covered for about 15-20 minutes. Be sure to check as some grills cook hotter than others and you don’t want the bottoms of the bread to burn. Remove from grill, slice and serve.



© Crackerberries 2009

Reese's Sweet No-Bake Treat

Tall Cool One likes his sweet treat in the middle of the night… he is the epitome of Cookie Monster. When it is anything over 90º and no air conditioning, who in their right mind wants the oven baking cookies? I made this rice crispy square kind of treat but different.

½ cup sugar
½ cup Reese’s mini pieces
½ cup light corn syrup
½ cup crunchy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups Rice Chex cereal
½ cup cinnamon mini wheat’s, crumbled
½ cup peanuts



Combine sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter in large microwavable bowl. Cook on high one minute, remove from microwave and stir well. Cook on high one minute; add vanilla and stir well.

Fold in rice chex, mini wheat’s and peanuts until well blended. Spread mixture in 9½ x 7 pan lined with wax paper, cover with wax paper and refrigerate for one hour. Cut into 12 bars.

© Crackerberries 2009

Bratty Tortellini

2 Bratwurst Sausages
12 oz Copper Hook
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 cups cooked tortellini
8 small to medium size mushrooms, sliced
2 cups fresh baby spinach
½ cup fresh shredded Asiago cheese

Cook bratwurst in small sauce pan over medium heat in beer for about 30 minutes, turning occasionally. In small bowl combine 1 Tbsp oil, garlic, onion and basil and mix well to form a paste.

In large skillet heat remaining oil and add paste, and cook 1-2 minutes; add mushrooms and cook 3 minutes, stirring often. Add spinach and tortellini and heat just until spinach starts to wilt (1-2 minutes). Slice bratwurst into bite size pieces and add to tortellini. Transfer to serving plate and top with cheese.

© Crackerberries 2009

Ice Cream Spoon Pops

I scream!
You scream!
We all scream for ice cream!
For breakfast!

Okay… so I’m getting a little carried away. But on those wicked hot mornings, what better way to start the day than with an ice cream? Add a little yogurt and fruit and it’s not only cool and refreshing, but if you add a piece of toast it's breakfast. I used peaches because that’s what I have the most of … but you could try strawberries and strawberry yogurt, blueberries and blueberry yogurt. Get your creative juices flowing and whip up a spoon pop!

2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 cup peach preserves
6 oz peach yogurt

Combine all three ingredients in blender and mix well. Pour into plastic cups. Place a plastic spoon in the center of each cup and cover with plastic wrap. Carefully cut hole in top of plastic wrap to accommodate spoon handle. Place in freezer for about 4 hours.

Enjoy for breakfast or a healthy snack on those hot, humid, hazy dog days.


© Crackerberries 2009

Love My Husband Taco Salad

Show your husband how much you love him even when you throw the simplest things together for din-din! :)

16 oz red kidney beans
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp paprika
1 Tbsp dried cilantro leaves
1 tsp chili powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp black pepper
8 oz can tomatoes
Cornstarch for thicken (optional)
1½ cup sour cream
2 cups shredded lettuce
½ cup chopped onion
¼ cup slice black olives
1 cup chopped tomatoes
½ cup shredded cheddar
6 6-inch corn tortillas
Oil for cooking


Cut corn tortillas in quarters to make chips or if you want to get really amorous you can take kitchen scissors and cut heart shapes out of the tortillas. Heat oil over medium high heat and cook the tortillas 1-2 minutes per side. Remove and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with seasoning salt (if desired). I mixed a combination of celery salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and paprika to sprinkle on mine. Cover cooked tortillas with a paper towel and set aside.

In large skillet brown the ground beef and drain grease. Add tomatoes with juice, cumin, paprika, cilantro, cayenne, black pepper and stir well. Bring to a slow simmer. Thicken with cornstarch if needed. Only use ½ tsp at a time as it will thicken fast.

Gently fold in beans. (Most people would say drain the juice from the beans…I keep it because I use my homemade beans and I think it adds more flavor.) Cook for about 5 more minutes or until heated through.

Spread chili bean mixture on bottom of glass pie plate. Top with sour cream. Cover with shredded lettuce, onion, tomatoes, shredded cheddar and olives. Serve with homemade tortillas, a side of guacamole and salsa.



© Crackerberries 2009

Recycled Macaroni Salad

After cooking for teen-agers … (boy, can’t they put the food away?) sometimes I still find myself cooking to feed an army. Sometimes the ideas I come up with to do with the leftovers are a disaster … other times they turn out to be a blessing. I remember when I told my mother about this one, she said, “UGH, that’s just gross!” The truth of the matter is it didn’t really sound too appetizing, but I have to say, once we tried it, it was a definite keeper!




4 cups leftover macaroni salad


(I make my macaroni salad with a combo of mayo, Miracle Whip, chopped sweet pickles, green peppers, onions, green olives, peas, tuna fish and onion and a bunch of different spices)


2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 small onion, finely chopped
¼ tsp pepper
2½ cups milk
1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
6 slices American cheese
¾ cups crushed potato chips



In a medium sauce pan cook the onion in the butter over medium heat until tender. Add flour and pepper to create paste. Add milk stirring constantly; cook and stir constantly over medium heat, until slightly thickened and bubbly. Add cheeses and stir until melted. Combine with macaroni salad and transfer to a 2-qt. casserole dish. Sprinkle with crushed potato chips. Bake at 350º for 30-45 minutes until bubbly and heated through. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.


© Crackerberries 2009

Saucy Salsa

Tall Cool One makes fun of the way I say salsa…he says I say “SELTZA”. I don’t hear it come out that way. “Salsa, Seltza” … it’s all the same to me. You put it on a lime tortilla and yum; you got yourself a healthy nutritious and delicious snack. The good thing about this recipe, you can make it as hot or as mild as you like. Tall Cool One just whipped up a recipe and put a handful of chopped Chile peppers in … I don’t think I can eat it. Feel free to add more or less on the garlic and the jalapeño peppers or you may want to even try different peppers.

8 cups coarsely chopped tomatoes
2 cups coarsely chopped onions (2 Vidalia + 1 red)
1 cup coarsely chopped green pepper
1 cup finely chopped seeded jalapeño
1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
6 large cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp ground coriander
2/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp coarse salt (canning salt)
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
6 oz tomato paste (optional)

Combine all ingredients except the tomato paste in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring often for 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Add tomato paste, if desired (this just thickens the mixture a little and adds a little more red color to it…works well if some of the tomatoes you are using are green). Ladle the salsa into hot sterilized jars, leave ½ inch head space. Wipe the rims clean, add covers. Process the jars for 20 minutes in boiling water bath. Quantity: 5 pints.


Crackerberries 2009