Family Recipe File

It's like your mom's recipe index card box, but digital.

Author: Chef

  • Chicken and Dumplings

    Description
    A very simple chicken and dumplings recipe built with biscuits and broth.

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups water
    • 6 bouillon cubes
    • 1 can biscuits
    • 1 large can chicken or 1 chicken breast cut into pieces

    Instructions

    1. Cook the chicken first if using raw chicken breast.
    2. Cut the biscuits into half pieces.
    3. Bring the water and bouillon to a boil.
    4. Add the chicken and biscuit pieces.
    5. Boil until the biscuits are cooked and the broth thickens to your liking.

    Notes

    • The original note says the longer it boils, the thicker it gets.
  • Taco Soup

    Description
    An easy crockpot taco soup with beans, corn, Rotel, ground beef, and pantry seasonings.

    Ingredients

    • 1 can black beans
    • 1 can pinto beans
    • 1 can ranch style beans
    • 1 small can corn
    • 1 can Rotel
    • 1 pound ground beef, browned
    • 1/2 small onion, diced and sauteed
    • Chopped cilantro
    • Onion powder
    • Garlic powder
    • Taco seasoning
    • Seasoned salt
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 1/2 cup milk

    Instructions

    1. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
    2. Cook on high for about 30 minutes.
    3. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
    4. Serve with tortilla chips.

    Notes

    • The original note says this serves 4 to 8.
  • Pinto Beans

    Description
    Pressure cooker pinto beans with tomatoes and green chile.

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups water
    • 2 pounds pinto beans
    • Fire-roasted diced tomatoes
    • Green chile
    • Salt

    Instructions

    1. Add the water and pinto beans to the pressure cooker.
    2. Add the tomatoes and green chile.
    3. Cook 30 minutes for unsoaked beans or 15 minutes if the beans were soaked first.
    4. Salt at the end to taste.

    Notes

    • The original note does not specify exact tomato or chile amounts, so adjust to taste.
  • Loaded Baked Potato Soup

    Description
    A creamy potato soup topped like a loaded baked potato.

    Ingredients

    • 3 russet potatoes
    • 2 green onions
    • 2 cups milk
    • 1/2 cup bacon bits
    • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
    • 4 tablespoons butter

    Instructions

    1. Cut the potatoes into smaller pieces and boil until soft.
    2. Pour most of the cooking water into a separate pot and save it for later.
    3. Mash the potatoes to your preferred texture.
    4. Add the milk and stir well.
    5. Add a little reserved potato water if needed to thin the soup.
    6. Stir in the green onions, bacon bits, butter, and shredded cheese.
    7. Add more reserved water if needed and serve hot.

    Notes

    • The original note suggests topping each bowl with extra cheese, sour cream, green onion, and bacon bits.
  • Cole Slaw

    Description
    A small-batch slaw with purple cabbage, carrot, mayo, vinegar, and a little honey.

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 head purple cabbage, shredded
    • 1/2 carrot, shaved
    • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 1 honey packet
    • Salt and pepper

    Instructions

    1. Whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.
    2. Add the cabbage and carrot.
    3. Toss to coat and chill until ready to serve if desired.
  • Spicy Corn

    Description
    A quick creamy corn side with green chiles, bacon bits, and cream cheese.

    Ingredients

    • 1 can whole kernel corn
    • 1 can green chiles
    • 6 to 8 ounces bacon bits
    • 1 block cream cheese

    Instructions

    1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan or skillet.
    2. Cook over low to medium-low heat until the cream cheese is melted and everything is hot.
    3. Stir well and serve warm.

    Notes

    • Do not turn the heat up too high.
  • Frito Salad

    Description
    A classic crunchy side made with ranch style beans, cheese, Catalina dressing, and Fritos.

    Ingredients

    • 1 can ranch style beans, drained
    • Shredded cheese
    • Catalina French dressing
    • Fritos

    Instructions

    1. Drain the beans.
    2. Mix the beans, shredded cheese, Catalina dressing, and Fritos together.
    3. Serve right away so the chips stay crunchy.
  • Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers

    Description
    Italian sausage cooked with peppers, onion, tomatoes, and a little broth.

    Ingredients

    • 3 pounds Italian sausage links, cut into 3/4-inch slices
    • 4 medium green peppers, cut into thin strips
    • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced and quartered
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons chicken broth
    • 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 6 plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
    • Hot cooked polenta, optional

    Instructions

    1. In a Dutch oven or large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat until no longer pink, then drain.
    2. Add the peppers, onion, butter, olive oil, chicken broth, parsley, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
    3. Cover and cook 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
    4. Add the tomatoes and heat through.
    5. Serve as is or over hot polenta if desired.
  • Easy One Pot Lasagna

    Description
    A fast skillet pasta that delivers lasagna flavors in a one-pot weeknight format.

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 Italian sausage links, casing removed
    • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
    • 8 ounces farfalle pasta
    • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
    • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

    Instructions

    1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
    3. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper.
    4. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the pasta and 2 cups water.
    5. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 13 to 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked through.
    6. Remove from the heat and stir in the mozzarella and Parmesan.
    7. Top with dollops of ricotta, cover briefly until warmed through, and garnish with parsley.
  • One Pot Andouille Sausage Skillet Pasta

    Description
    Creamy one-pan pasta with andouille sausage, tomatoes, and pepper jack cheese.

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 1 12.8-ounce package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
    • 1/2 cup milk
    • 8 ounces elbow pasta
    • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
    • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

    Instructions

    1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
    2. Add the garlic, onion, and sausage and cook until the sausage is lightly browned.
    3. Stir in the chicken broth, tomatoes, milk, and pasta. Season with salt and pepper.
    4. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 12 to 14 minutes until the pasta is cooked through.
    5. Remove from the heat, top with the cheese, cover briefly, and let the cheese melt before serving.

    Notes

    • The source note appears to have a typo reading 'chicken brown'; this recipe uses chicken broth.