2011 is almost here and Venison Casserole.

Lets start with Venison Casserole.

Here is the original recipe which I found online...

1 1/2 lbs. ground venison (may substitute ground beef)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 tbsp. butter
1 (16 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 tsp. sugar
8 oz. pkg. noodles
1 c. cottage cheese
3 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. chopped green onion
1/4 c. chopped green pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese

Brown venison and onions in butter. Stir in tomato sauce and sugar; set aside. Boil noodles according to package directions; drain.
Combine cheeses, sour cream, green onions, green pepper, salt, pepper and garlic powder and set aside. Butter a 3 quart casserole dish; pour in half the mixture, layer half of the noodles, cover with all of the cheese mixture.
Top with remaining noodles; pour melted butter over casserole. Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.


OK the only thing I did differently was, I didn't put the cottage cheese and sour cream in. Only because not everyone around here likes those particular items. It still turned out good. Although, it calls for 8 oz of cream cheese and Wes and I both think that it is way to much. It was like every bite had a mouthful of cream cheese. We love cream cheese but not that much. Not really much to say about the casserole.

2010 is coming to an end. Allot has happened this year. I think everything that has happened to me has been good. Especially my move to Ohio. I needed to get away from New Mexico and be around my people. I do still have friends who I need to visit. When the time is right it will happen. So in 2011 all I can hope for is a healthy family and happiness for everyone. Happy New Year Everybody!!!!!!!

Venison Meatloaf

Yes, I am still making my venison casserole, but today I decided to make meatloaf instead.

So the onions I have been buying lately have been making my eyes water and burn so bad. Wes is always calling into the kitchen or popping up behind me asking me if I'm alright. He hears me sniffling and cursing at the onions because they are so strong. The things that we go through to make something taste good. Well I get the onion chopped and everything ready to put into the meatloaf pan. Well, there is no meatloaf pan. Good grief, I know that we had one in New Mexico and that is something I wouldn't have given away. I went through every cupboard in that kitchen and a few other places it might possibly be hiding. It wasn't anywhere. So, I'm standing in the middle of the kitchen thinking what pan I could use then, for some unknown reason I pull out the drawer under the oven and look behind it and there it was. It had fallen out of the back of the drawer and was now under the drawer that is under the oven. So here I am trying to get the stupid meatloaf pan out from under everything. Meanwhile, Wes is taking a nap so I'm trying to stay quiet, oh and I have a 14 month old little boy next to me trying to help. I do eventually get the pan out with the broom. Now I have to wash it cause who takes out the drawer under their oven and cleans. I get the meatloaf in the oven and it turns out pretty good. It could have used some more seasonings I think. My brother Jason had come over. He and Wes both liked it so that makes me happy. I think meatloaf is another one of those dishes that could be different every time. There are some many different things that you can put in meatloaf. So I will be experimenting.
        Well that was my evening. Even though I had a fight with the meatloaf pan it all turned out pretty well in the end. :)

Chili is the topic today.

        My most recent dish that I have cooked was chili. Chili is not a hard dish to make. Like my dear G-G (Grandma) always says, seasonings, seasoning, seasonings. She definitely has a point. If you don't season your food, it will taste bland and just no good. When you make chili it usually will never taste the same twice. At least mine never does. I also don't make my chili from any recipe. I just "wing it" as some would say.  So in this chili that I made I put Kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes and some chili beans. Oh and of course hamburger. I Seasoned the hamburger before I put it in the chili then I seasoned the chili. I put all kinds of seasonings in my chili. I just season it till it tastes good. That is the most important thing when cooking anything, always taste your food. How are you going to know if it tastes good if you don't taste it? Trust me, if it looks good that doesn't mean its going to taste good. Always, always, always taste your food before serving it. Something as simple as chili is so much fun for me to make. I have such joy when I cook. My mind just wonders and I just go off into my own little land. I may have said that before. I just love cooking.
       Well we are getting paid again so I will be getting some more ingredients for a venison casserole. I'm very excited to make it and see how it comes out. I'll be keeping you posted. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!!!!!