Barbecue Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs (I have never used fresh)
1 onion, diced
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
3 tablespoons vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (mustard powder is what I normally use)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup water, to thin sauce if necessary (I have never needed the water)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix together the beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Form this mixture into a loaf and place it in a shallow pan.
Stir together the remaining tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, mustard, Worcestershire and the water (if too thick).
Pour this sauce over the meatloaf.
Bake for 1 hour

Always a big hit easy to make the recipe bigger too.

Quick and Spicy Tomato Soup

This is a great soup! It's fast and really good! If making for the kids, you might want to go easy on the red pepper flakes. It's a little on the spicy side for them. I think its a great lunch or dinner, it's got protein, starch, and a little veggie.

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (26-ounce) jar marinara sauce, use your fav. (I use one with a little basil in it!)
2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Warm the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.
Add the carrots and onion, saute until soft about 5 mins. then and garlic , about 1 minutes.
Add the jar of marinara sauce, chicken broth, cannellini beans, red pepper flakes, pasta, salt and pepper.
Simmer for 10 minutes.
Ladle into bowls and serve.

Lazy Taco Soup

Start with a crockpot.
Throw a frozen hunk of uncooked low fat ground beef in it.
One pound works.
Add some frozen corn.
One or two cans of beans, any kind.
One or two cans of chicken stock
One or two cans of chopped tomatoes (blended or not)
Tiny can of chopped green chilies.
1/2 A jar of salsa.
T's and t's of cumin, red pepper, garlic seasoning and chili powder.
If your chicken stock isn't salted then you will need to add salt.
Cook on low, breaking up the hamburger as it thaws, until you're ready to eat.
Serve with corn chips, grated cheese, sour cream.

Very easy and very yummy!

Oven Chicken Fingers

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese (I always use a little more)
1 garlic clove minced (baby spoon size already minced from store)
6 boneless chicken breasts
In large plastic bag combine bread crumbs and cheese
In small bowl combine garlic and oil
Cut chicken into strips
Dip strips into oil then place in bag a coat
Place on greased (or lined with tinfoil) cookie sheet
Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes