Holly’s Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce

Holly says all her boys LOVE this dish.

Sauce:
1 pound Italian sausage
2 14oz cans of Italian diced tomatoes (juice and all)
1 6oz can tomato paste
1 medium onion finely chopped (I actually use dried onions. They are easier to hide.)
2 Tbs. chopped parsley (I used the spice-not fresh-easier to keep around.)
4 Tbs. sugar (I use Splenda)
1 tsp. basil leaves, crushed
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. pepper

1. Brown the meat
2. Put all the ingredients in slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours. (I like low best...)

Serve over pasta. Makes about 6 cups. I normally double mine.

Meatballs:
3 lbs ground beef
1 1/2 cups Italian breadcrumbs
5 cloves garlic (chopped finely) (I use the minced garlic that comes in a jar.)
2 eggs
Italian bread, soaked in warm water (Use as much or as little Italian bread as you want)
garlic powder
ground black pepper (to taste)
salt
hot oil (for frying)

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground beef, garlic powder, Italian bread crumbs, eggs, chopped garlic, ground black pepper and soaked Italian bread (make sure you drain the water out of bread very well).
2. It's okay to add a little more or less on the bread crumbs.
3. Also make sure that the bread is very soft before you mix it in.
4. Mix all ingredients together well, using hands.
5. Make sure mixture is smooth.
6. Start rolling your meatballs (whatever size you want) I usually make them large.
8. For large meatballs, cook submerged in hot oil for about 5 to 8 minutes.
9. When meatballs are done, take them out of hot oil and place on to paper toweled plate.
10. Serve warm or you can freeze them and warm them up later in the oven at 400 degrees.

from Holly Gundred

Shredded Barbeque Pork Sandwhiches

Pork picnic roast
Favorite barbeque sauce (Bull’s Eye)
Rolls

Place roast in crock pot and cook all day on low or shorter time on high. Remove fat. Shred with a fork. Add barbeque sauce and heat through. Serve on buns. Can also be frozen.

from Roxy Ogden

Café Rio Style Pork

It seems there are two different recipes out there claiming to be the originals from Cafe Rio. They are both really good! This one, used at a RS dinner, is a little easier than the other.

3 to 4 lbs. Country Style boneless pork ribs
1 cup pace picante sauce
1 cup brown sugar

Place pork in crock pot. Pour picante sauce and brown sugar over pork. Cook on high for approximately five hours until pork can be shredded with a fork.

Serve in tacos, on taco salad or use for other Mexican dishes.

Chicken alternative:
Cook chicken with a jar of salsa and a little taco seasoning.

From Louanne Tillman

Cream Cheese Crockpot Chicken

You can start with frozen chicken breasts without having to adjust cooking time.

4 to 6 chicken breasts
1 (8 ounce) bottle Italian-style dressing (you may use fat free)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth
1 (8ounce) package cream cheese
½ tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste

In a slow cooker, combine the chicken breasts and Italian style dressing. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. When chicken is tender, drain most of the dressing and discard. Shred the chicken meat and return to the slow cooker.

Combine the soup, broth, cream cheese, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker and cook for 1 more hour on low.

Serve over pasta or rice.

For Haystacks top with your favorite ingredients, such as: pineapple, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, bananas, sliced almonds, chinese noodles, chopped apples, etc.

from Helen Macfarlane and her friend Allison Routt