Corn Dog Muffins

Corn Dog Muffins
2 pkgs (8 1/2 oz each) corn bread/muffin mix (Jiffy is a good, low cost option)
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk (you can use regular or fat free)
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn, drained (if all you have on hand is creamed corn (14 oz, undrained), add 5-7 min. cook time)
5 hot dogs, chopped (I use turkey dogs)

In a bowl, combine corn bread mix and brown sugar. Combine eggs and milk; stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Stir in corn and hot dogs (batter will be thin). Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake @ 400 for 14-18 min. (or add 5-7 min.) or until golden brown. Serve immediately and be sure to refrigerate any leftovers. Yield: 18 muffins

Corn Dog Muffins







Our whole family likes these muffins for either lunch or dinner; pair it with some fresh fruit and you've got a well balanced meal that's KID FRIENDLY!

My Crock Pot Chili Recipe (Turkey or Beef)

Turkey Chili (or Beef)

1 lb. lean ground turkey (or 93% lean ground beef)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 - 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 - 15 oz. can dark red kidney beans; drained & rinsed!
3 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp pepper

Tip: if you're doubling the recipe, only use 5 tsp of chili powder and double everything else.

In a large saucepan cook ground turkey (or beef), onion, bell pepper, and garlic until meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain fat. In your crock pot, combine meat mixture, and all the rest of the ingredients. Cover; cook on LOW setting for 6-8 hrs. Makes about 4 main-dish servings.

Turkey Chili

Check out my recipe for cornbread too! It's under the "Recipes" tab.

Our Homemade Pizza Recipe

Pizza Sauce (Double Batch) - Use 1/2 now and freeze 1/2 for use later
2 - 8oz. can Tomato Sauce
1 - 14.5 oz. can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
2 tbsp Dried Basil
2 tsp Dried Oregano
2 tsp Sugar
4 Garlice Cloves, minced
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Pepper

Before you begin, puree the tomatoes (do not drain). In a small saucepan, combine tomato sauce, pureed tomatoes and the remaining ingredients. Simmer on the stovetop, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. Pour 15 oz. into a freezer container and save for future use. Set aside the remaining 15 oz. for immediate use. See below for dough recipe...

Pizza Dough Recipe
3 cups All Purpose Flour
1 pkg Active Dry Yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp from jar)
1/4 tsp Garlic Salt
1 cup Warm Water (120 to 130 degrees
2 tbsp Olive Oil

What I do is while the sauce is cooking, I make the dough... In a large mixing bowl combine 1 1/4 cups flour, yeast and garlic salt. Add water and oil. Beat w/ electric mixer on low for 30 seconds, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl. Stir in the remaining flour. Knead the dough four about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic texture. Divide in half, cover and let rise for 10 min. (Just in time for the sauce to be ready)

Toppings
This is the fun part! You can let your kids pick the toppings, or moms you can bring back to life some leftovers from dinners earlier in the week...proteins, veggies, cheese...whatever you want!

Preheat oven to 425. Roll out one dough ball into either a rectangle or square depending on your pan of choice. We use a cookie sheet because we don't have pizza pans so we go for the rectangle shape. Place on greased pan, repeat for 2nd pan (makes 2 pizzas). Prick w/ fork all around dough so you don't end up w/ bubbles. Bake about 10 min. or until starting to get golden brown. Bring out of oven and spread sauce evenly on both pizzas, put your toppings on and bake again for about another 10-12 min. or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Our kids have come to love helping make our homemade pizza...it's our own recipe developed from tweeking what we liked and wanted to change from other recipes we've tried. My daughter is almost 2 and she stands on a chair in the kitchen and helps make the sauce before I put it on the stove...my boys (6 & 10) alternate who gets to help roll out dough and who helps put on toppings. It makes it that much more special and another way to spend time together.



Turkey Pepperoni



Leftover Beef Barbecue

 


So, from my kitchen to yours...I hope you try it out! Let me know how it goes!