Chili

2 cans Pinto beans*
1 can Black beans*
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
1 lb. ground beef, lean, cooked**
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. salt
pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and simmer 20 minutes.

*Can substitute dried beans, cooked
**Can substitute other meats: stew meat (cooked), or ground turkey (cooked).

Store: beans, diced tomatoes, ketchup, dried minced onion

Pork Chops and Orange Rice

4-6 loin pork chops, lean
1/4 cup onion, chopped*
2 cups chicken broth**
1 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. thyme
1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
1 can mandarin oranges, drained

Brown chops slowly on both sides; add onion and brown lightly. Add broth, orange juice, salt and thyme and bring to boil. Stir in rice and pour into into a 9X13 dish. Arrange pork chops on top and cover tightly with heavy duty aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until chops and rice are tender. Garnish with mandarin oranges.

*I use 1 Tbsp of dried minced onion; adding to the broth/juice mixture.
**I use 2 chicken bouillon cubes/2 cups water (deleting salt from recipe).

Store: rice, chicken bouillon, mandarin oranges

Notes: When living off of storage, could substitute fried spam instead of pork chops.
I have used the juice from the mandarin oranges for the juice, but it's just not as tasty.

Applesauce Cookies

Cream together:
1 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
Add:
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
Alternately add a cup of each until you've added:
4 cups flour
2 cups (thick*)applesauce (1-15 oz. can will suffice)
Optional:
2 cups chopped nuts
OR
2 cups raisins
OR
2 cups chocolate chips

Drop by teaspoon on a greased cookie sheet and Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

*If your applesauce is very runny you'll have to add more flour.

CAUTION: Because these cookies are not very sweet, you WILL eat a lot of them.:-)
My family of seven could/would consume this entire recipe in ONE DAY!

Meatless Chili-cheese Bake

3 cups cooked rice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 can (15-16 oz) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. creole seasoning
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

In a greased 2 quart dish, combine all ingredients except cheese. Top with 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with remaining cheese, then bake, uncovered 10 minutes longer.

Store: rice, canned green chilies, kidney beans, dried onion.

*I like to eat this with tortilla chips.

Easy Red Beans and Rice

1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces*
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cans (15 oz.) kidney beans or red beans, drained
2 cans (16 oz.) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 tsp. dried whole oregano
1/2 tsp. black pepper
Hot Cooked Rice

Heat sausage over low heat for 5-8 minutes. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic; saute until tender. Add beans, tomatoes, and seasonings; simmer 30-45 minutes. Serve over rice.

*Can serve meatless.

Store: kidney or red beans, diced tomatoes, rice, dried onion and green pepper.

Speedy Bean Soup

2 cans bean and bacon soup, undiluted
1 soup can of water
3 cans great northern beans or navy beans, undrained
1 can jalapeno pinto beans, undrained
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Combine ingredients and simmer 20 minutes. (or put in a crock pot on low until hot.
Yields 3 quarts.
*SPICY

Store: bean and bacon soup, navy or white beans, jalapeno pinto beans, dried onion.

Hamburger Hot Dish

1 lb. ground beef, cooked, salt and pepper to taste.
1 can tomato soup
1 cup water
1 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 TBSP. chili powder
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

In a casserole dish, mix soup, water, and chili powder.
Add macaroni.
Add beans and corn.
Add ground beef.
Cover and bake on 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Before removing from oven, add cheese to top of casserole and bake another 5 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes and serve.

*Option: Leave out ground beef and go meatless.

Store: macaroni, tomato soup, canned corn, kidney beans.

Famous Senate Bean Soup

1 pound dry navy beans, cooked (or 2-3 cans of prepared navy beans)
Add enough water to make a nice soup consistency.
2 cups diced ham, if desired
1 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup celery, chopped
2/3 cup mashed potato flakes
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 bay leaf

Combine ingredients and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

Store: Navy or white beans, dried onion and celery, mashed potato flakes, diced ham.

Pioneer Pancakes

In a blender at high speed for 4 minutes mix:
1 cup milk
3/4 cup wheat kernels

Turn blender to low and add:
2 eggs
2 TBSP. sugar
4 TBSP. oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder

Cook pancakes on a hot griddle or skillet at 400 degrees. Be sure to grease skillet, even a non-stick surface.

Store: wheat, canned or shelf-stable milk, sugar, oil, dried eggs.

Beef with Black Beans

1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies*
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can black beans, drained
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. each cumin, chili powder, oregano, and garlic powder
1 lb. beef stew meat

Combine all ingredients in the crock-pot. Mix well. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (4-5 on high). Serve over hot rice or mashed potatoes.

*You can substitute 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 can diced green chilies.

Store: diced tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, black beans.

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb. lean ground beef, cooked (with onion, if desired) *
2 cups mashed potatoes, prepared **
1 can cut green beans, drained
1 can tomato soup, undiluted
1/2 cup cheese, shredded

In a casserole dish, mix together the ground beef, green beans, and tomato soup.
Spread the mashed potatoes over the top.
Cover and bake 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Last five minutes sprinkle shredded cheese over top.

*Add diced onion and season as desired, i.e, salt, pepper, a little garlic powder or add dried minced onion to the soup mixture.

**Use fresh mashed potatoes, 1 cup potato pearls (prepared), or an envelope of IDAHOAN Mashed Potatoes-4 oz.(prepared).

***For added nutrition and variety, throw 1/2 - 1 cup of cooked black beans to the soup mixture. Or two cups to replace the ground beef and go meatless!

Store: canned green beans, tomato soup, black beans, mashed potatoes.