Sweet & Sour Meatballs

This is officially the weirdest recipe I've ever tried. I cannot begin to fathom the creative process that put sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, and spaghetti sauce together. It is totally beyond my comprehension. In fact, it was so strange, I just had to try it. The result? It's delicious. Really - but don't take my word for it. You really should give this a try.

Besides being utterly yummy, it's unbelievably easy to put together - toss a few ingredients in the crockpot and go away. I'm all for anything that involves less work! I served this with rice and came away quite satisfied. Give it a shot - I promise the flavors work better than you would ever believe.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

2-3 lb. frozen cooked meatballs
1 15-oz can sauerkraut (do not drain)
1 15-oz can cranberry sauce
1 small jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar

Put frozen meatballs in crockpot set to low. In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over meatballs and cook for 3-4 hours, or until heated through. Serve with rice.

Fiesta Skillet Dinner

I am a big fan of one-pot meals, so we eat a lot of casseroles and skillet dinners. This one reminded me somewhat of a chicken recipe that came from my roommate, and I was not at all disappointed in the results. I did a little tweaking to add vegetables. I also added about 2 cups of water to make it saucier and served it over crushed tortilla chips.

Fiesta Skillet Dinner

1 lb. ground turkey or beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 package taco seasoning
1 1/2 c. water
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
1 c. frozen corn
1 1/2 c. uncooked instant rice
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered (optional)
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet, cook turkey and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain if necessary. Stir in taco seasoning, water, zucchini, tomatoes, and corn. Bring to a boil; add rice. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

Stir in tomatoes and cheese, just until cheese melts.

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Shepherd's Inn Breakfast Casserole

I have a special place in my heart for breakfast casseroles - the kind that include meat, potatoes or rice, cheese, eggs, and lots of flavor. It's a versatile class of food, the kind that can be eaten any time of the day and on any occasion. When I tried this recipe from the Taste of Home Casserole Cookbook, I knew I had a winner. Jeff confirmed my assessment by eating half the casserole in one sitting! It really couldn't be yummier. To reduce calories and fat, use low-fat turkey sausage, reduced-fat cheese, and egg substitute.

Shepherd's Inn Breakfast Casserole

1 1/2 lbs. bulk sausage
26-oz bag frozen tater tots
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
4 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
salt & pepper to taste
sliced tomatoes

Brown sausage and drain. Transfer to greased 9x13 casserole dish. Cover with tater tots. Sprinkle cheese over tots. In a medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, and seasonings. Pour over cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 25 minutes more, until heated through. Garnish with tomatoes.

Chicken Spaghetti Toss

It's unbelievable how much flavor comes from a recipe so simple. While it's best fresh, the leftovers are still quite yummy. I tripled the amount of lemon, since I like the tartness.

Chicken Spaghetti Toss

1/2 small yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp. butter or margarine
2 tbsp. olive oil
1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
3 tbsp. lemon juice
3 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1 tsp. freshly ground sea salt
1/4 tsp. dried lemon peel
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
7 oz. angel hair spaghetti

In a large skillet, saute onion and garlic in butter and oil until tender. Stir in chicken, lemon juice, parsley, salt, lemon peel, and black pepper. Saute for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear.

Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Add to chicken mixture and toss to coat.

Adapted from Quick Cooking Annual Recipes 2003