WHITE TRASH RAINY AFTERNOON MENU

I have been stuck inside for days now. I've grown bored, and slightly bitter. And hungry, of course. I'm also broke which has limited my menus. I went on a tightly budgeted shopping trip yesterday and came home with ingredients for ranch pretzels, Texas hash, and easy yogurt pie.

EASY YOGURT PIE

My mom always made this for me as a kid.

3 containers of blended yogurt, 6 oz.(I used mixed berries for this one)

1 container of frozen whipped topping, 8 oz. (I use the light stuff)

1 pre-made graham cracker crust ( I was tempted to buy the chocolate cookie crust, maybe next time)

Allow the whipped topping to thaw and then add to the yogurts. Pour into crust and place in freezer for at least 4 hours or overnight. I added some blueberries to this one.

TEXAS HASH

Easy and tasty. I make it as hot as I can stand it.

1 pound of ground chuck, browned
1/2 cup of rice (I use brown rice)
10 oz. bag of frozen corn, or one 14 oz. can of corn
1 14 oz. can of chopped tomatoes
1 green pepper, chopped
3 larges onions, chopped
hot sauce, to taste
chili powder, to taste
freshly ground pepper to taste

After browning the beef, add all ingredients to a crock pot. Cook on high for 3 - 4 hours.

RANCH PRETZELS

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Simple, salty, and good!

1 bag of Snyder's of Hanover sourdough pretzels
1 envelope of ranch dip/dressing mix
1/2 cup of olive oil

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Combine the dip mix with the oil and mix well. Break the pretzels into bite size pieces before placing them on a baking tray. (Don't dump the bag onto the tray. You don't want all the crumbs and extra salt.) Pour the oil/dip mix over the pretzels. Bake for 1 hour, stirring the pretzels every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Another white trash recipe. I've substituted Splenda for the sugar on occasion. I also use sugar-free Jell-O. It actually jells quicker.

2 cups of crushed pretzels (thin)
3/4 cup of melted butter
1/2 cup of sugar

Mix and cover bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Cool completely.

8 oz. of cream cheese
1 cup of sugar
8 or 9 oz container of whipped topping.

Combine cream cheese and sugar. Add whipped topping and spread on cooled pretzel layer.

6 oz of strawberry Jell-O
2 cups of boiling water
20 oz (2 1/2 cups) frozen strawberries (*fresh berries, slightly mashed and sweetened may be used)

Dissolve Jell-O with two cups of boiling water. Add berries, juice and all. Let set until it begins to jell. Gently pour over cream cheese layer and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

No Peek Beef Casserole (Crock pot)

It's a white trash cheap beef recipe, but it's goddamn good.

2 lbs of stewing beef cubes
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz)
1 can of mushrooms, 4 oz size
1/2 cup of red wine

Combine in crock pot. Cook on low 8 - 12 hours, or high 5 - 6 hours.

Serve over noodles or green beans.

Broccoli Salad

I just made this and took it to a Tyndal family celebration. Travels well.

I got this recipe when I worked at the domestic violence shelter. It's easy and everyone always wants the recipe. Thanks, Deb!

Head of broccoli, in bite size pieces
4 - 5 slices of cooked bacon
1 small onion, chopped
1 (8 oz.) pkg of mozzarella cheese

1 cup mayo
½ cup sugar
2 TBS vinegar

Mix these ingredients together to form a sauce. Pour over broccoli, onion, and bacon.