Recipes

I used to REALLY enjoy cooking. In fact, I was a Family Home and Consumer Sciences major (Home-Ec) for 2 years before my mission. I took several cooking classes at BYU-Idaho and loved every one of them. (well, for the most part anyway) I don't really know WHY I stopped cooking and baking, but it's been a long time since I've done much. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my husband is a WHIZ in the kitchen and loves to cook so why bother, right?

Well, this last semester was a really busy one for Austin and since I wasn't working or going to school (I was VERY pregnant and then busy with a new babe), I decided I better start cooking for my hard-working husband. Every Sunday I would have him look through some cook books and tell me what 3 meals he wanted me to make that week. That made my job much easier.

I figured I would share a few of those recipes with you guys. Sorry that these posts may be a little boring to some of you (with no pics and all) but I'll get around to a more "exciting" one soon.

Sweet-and-Sour Meat Loaf
(this is a microwave one. Yeah, I kinda grimmaced too, but it really is great!)
1 egg, lightly beaten
5 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons mustard
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons onion soup ix
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound lean groud beef
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1) In a large bowl, combine the egg, 2 tablespoons ketchup, mustard, bread crumbs, dry soup mix, salt and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into an oval loaf.
2) place in a shallow 1-qt. microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes or until the meat is no longer pinak and a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees; drain.
3) Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the sugars, vinegar and remaining ketchup; drizzle over meat loaf. Cover and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes longer or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
YIELDS 4 servings

We LOVE LOVE LOVE that recipe and it seriously takes me 30 minutes from start to finish! Okay, my baby is screaming so I'll be back with more in a little bit...