Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless sirloin steak
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil, divided (or you can use canola oil)
• 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger (or you can use dried ginger- l tsp or 1/2 tsp)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 2 1/2 cups sliced onion (about 1)
• 1 cup thinly sliced carrot
• 6 cups hot cooked quick-cooking brown rice (or white rice)

Preparation

1. Trim fat from steak. Cut beef diagonally across grain into very thin slices.
2. Combine broth, soy sauce, and cornstarch in a small bowl; stir with a whisk until blended.
3. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat. Add ginger and garlic; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add beef; stir-fry 5 minutes. Remove mixture from pan; keep warm. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oil; add broccoli, onion, and carrot. Sauté 7 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Return beef mixture to pan, and stir in cornstarch mixture; sauté 2 minutes or until thick and bubbly. Serve over rice.

Rachel made this recipe for dinner the other day and it was delicious. She used stew meat that she sliced thinly instead of top sirloin steak. She got the recipe from here. This is one of the reviews from the recipe webpage source: My family loves this dish. Make sure not to overcook the steak (approx. four minutes is enough) and I prefer a little less ginger in mine, but it is very good. You can substitute any veggies you wish and it still works well.

Layered Hamburger Bake....

...(or "Suzanne's Casserole" since I got it from my college roommate, Suzanne)

6 oz. medium noodles

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 15 oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 t. salt

1/8 t. garlic salt

1/8 t. pepper

1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. sour cream

1/4 c. milk

1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, cooked & drained

cheddar cheese

Cook noodles. Brown hamburger & onion. Drain off fat. Stir in tomato sauce, salt, garlic, pepper & cooked noodles,; set aside. Stir together cream cheese, sour cream & milk. In 12 x 7 1/2" baking dish layer half the beef-noodle mixture, half the cream cheese mixture, all the spinach,and remaining ground beef mixture. Bake uncovered, in 350 degree oven, about 30 minutes. Uncover, spread remaining cream cheese, sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake 10 more minutes.

The above is the actual recipe that I got from Suzanne. I use a little more noodles and 2 8oz cans of tomato sauce. I use a 9x13 pan. I layer everything, cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Also, I don't just drain the spinach,I literally squeeze the liquid from the spinach. ~April

April Steimle sent me this recipe after she served it at the dinner we attended together. It was sooo good. After reading what was in the recipe I know why it was so good.....sour cream and cream cheese. Yum!

Puppy Love Hot Dog

Ingredients

• hot-dog
• piece of uncooked linguini
• cheese

Instructions

1. Cut the ends from a hot-dog at a diagonal and place the cut edges together as shown.
2. Spear the heart with a length of uncooked linguini.
3. Add pieces of cheese trimmed to resemble the ends of an arrow.

Too bad I discovered this "recipe" after Valentine's Day. I know it is a snack that EVERY kid would love because what kid doesn't like hotdogs! I found this Valentine snack on Family Fun.com here.

Banana Bars

Beat together:

½ cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

3 bananas, mashed

Add to above:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

Bake on greased cookie sheet (with sides) 25 - 30 min at 350 degrees.

Frost when cool with:

3 oz cream cheese, softened

¼ cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

Dash of salt

2 cups powdered sugar or till desired consistency

(To save money and calories when I make the frosting,I don't add the cream cheese.  I'll add about 1tablespoon of milk instead)

I attended a pot luck dessert Valentine's party on Saturday. Pilar Fonbuena brought these delicious banana bars. I asked Pilar for a copy of the recipe. She said she got the recipe from Alpine 11th Ward 2005 recipe book. Pilar's granddaughter compiled the cookbook for her laurel project.