Sherry & Jesse's Kitchen

HAM ALFREDO CASSEROLE It's been awhile, hasn't it?  We bought a new house and moved at the end of June. It's been a VERY hectic summer with moving and Jaqi returning home from her year of service in Americorps.  Things are just now starting to settle down allowing time for posting something new. This originated with my sister and her husband, Michel.  I'm no longer really sure how I originally made it.  The kids always loved it, though.  However, through the years, Jesse and I got bored with it.  When Jaqi returned in August she really wanted me to make it so I did, but decided to try adding some more flavor to it.  It worked!  We all really enjoyed the new version and now I am making it again for a great Sunday meal! Ingredients: 1 lb package egg noodles 2 jars alfredo sauce 1 lb thin sliced ham 1 onion (diced) minced garlic shredded mozzarella cheese shredded cheddar cheese Parmesan, Romano & Asiago Cheese White wine (about 1/4 cup) Olive Oil Sal

HAMBURGER GRAVY Being a gloomy Saturday, Jesse & I were too lazy to go out to the grocery store, so had to come up with a dinner with what we had on hand.  This is a favorite and is made often in our household.  So easy to make, but very tasty.  I never make this recipe the same way twice because I use whatever I have on hand.  The basics are ground beef, browned with onions and minced garlic.  Add some kind of liquid: beef broth, milk, cream of mushroom (with milk added), etc. Get it simmering and add a thickening agent.  This time we had no beef broth or bouillon, so used a brown gravy packet mixed with water and added a little chicken broth to that.  Also added some milk.  When you use just broth, it is a lighter gravy.  If you add milk and/or cream of mushroom, it is a little creamier.  You can even add a little sour cream and make it a little more like stroganoff.  Serve over egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, toast or even saltines (never tried this one, but have read abo

BEEF TIPS I love Beef Tips, especially Texas Roadhouse's Beef Tips.  So, of course I had to look it up on Pinterest and see if I could find a recipe.  I based this recipe loosely on the two recipes below. Texas Roadhouse Legendary Sirloin Beef Tips: http://www.desktopcookbook.com/recipe/83825/Texas-Roadhouse-Legendary-Sirloin-Beef-Tips.htm Texas Roadhouse Steak Tips Knock Off: http://www.welivedhappilyeverafter.com/2012/04/texas-roadhouse-steak-tipps-knok-off.html I actually made these last Sunday, but am just getting around to posting it now.  It also made great leftovers! Ingredients: 1 lb steak, cut into cubes 1 onion, diced 1 tub mushrooms, sliced 1 cup milk 1 cup beef broth 1/3 cup white wine 1/2 cup flour 2 tbsp butter 1/4 cup water Minced garlic Salt Pepper Garlic Salt Garlic Powder Onion Powder Egg Noodles Olive Oil Prepare the egg noodles per package directions.  Drain, stir with olive oil and set aside. Cut up steak, onion and mushr

SUMMER SPAGHETTI SALAD It's a beautiful Sunday in Minnesota!  60 degrees for the first time since October!  Still snow on the ground, but everyone is getting out of the house and firing up the grills and making summer-like foods.  This is an old classic from my sister.  Usually, I use spaghetti noodles, but today tried linguine noodles.  Also added ranch seasoning, something new.  It's a nice refreshing pasta salad. Ingredients: 1 lb Spaghetti (or linguine) 1 lb bag California mix frozen veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots) 1 can black olives, sliced 4 Roma tomatoes, chunked or diced (or about 1 cup of whatever tomatoes you want to use) Approx 1/4 cup Italian Dressing Approx 1/2 cup Mayo Approx 1/2 cup Miracle Whip Approx 2 tbsp dry Ranch Dressing mix Appox 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese Salt,  Pepper,  Lawry's Seasoning Salt,  Garlic Salt,  Onion Powder &  Garlic Powder, to taste Seasonings and vegetables can be changed/adjusted per personal preferences.

LASAGNA ROLLS JJ mentioned having Lasagna Rolls at school and thought "I want to try that".  Here is my recipe thrown together with ideas from recipes I found on Pinterest. Ingredients: 1 lb lasagna noodles, cooked, drained and cooled 1 jar Prego (or your favorite) spaghetti sauce 1 lb hamburger 1 onion 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 (small) can mushrooms 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese 1 egg 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp parsley flakes 1/8 tsp pepper 1 tsp garlic salt 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided (1 1/2 cup for filling, 1/2 cup on top) Olive Oil Ground Oregano Oregano Flakes Parsley Flakes Garlic Salt Garlic Powder Pepper Salt Instructions: Preheat over to 350 degrees. Cook lasagna noodles per package directions.  Do not over cook.  I left my al dente because they would be cooked more in the oven. Drain noodles, cool, sprinkle with olive oil and set aside. For sauce: Add olive oil, ground beef, minced garli

SIMPLE SAUTEED ASPARAGUS My brother taught me how to cook asparagus like this.  I almost always use this recipe because it's simple, quick and delicious. Ingredients: Asparagus Minced Garlic Butter Salt Pepper Instructions: 1. Melt butter in a pan.  Add minced garlic (approx 1 tbsp). 2. Add trimmed & cleaned asparagus.  To trim, take each spear in hand and place gentle pressure on the end (about 1/3 way up).  Let the spear decide where it wants to break. 3. Saute on medium high heat about five minutes.  You will know it's done when it's bright green.  Serve immediately.  It's still good if it sits, it just looks more wilted and the bright green goes away. SIMPLE, yet DELICIOUS!

SHERRY'S SHRIMP CARBONARA I was looking at my pins on Pinterest this morning thinking of making Three Cheese Ziti because I haven't made it in awhile.  I started looking at other pasta recipes I had pinned and found some great looking Carbonara recipes.  I decided that I wanted to make that instead, but couldn't find the perfect recipe for me.  Some had cream, so didn't.  Some had wine, some didn't.  One had diced tomatoes (yum).  One was chicken, most were shrimp.  Some just had way too many ingredients and steps - I wanted simple with quality ingredients. I decided I should just make up my own because nothing fit me just right.  So, that is what I did.  What is below is my own recipe, ideas gleaned from multiple recipes out there.  One thing I wanted to use was wine.  However, I forgot to add it while cooking-LOL! Thankfully, it's absolutely WONDERFUL without it!  Next time will still use the wine, though.  It could only make it better, right? Of cour