Key Lime Pie

CRUST:
1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs (about one package of crackers)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 c butter, melted

 Mix the ingredients together. Press into a 9-inch pie tin. Bake at 325 for about 15 minutes. Let cool.

LIME:
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (12 to 15 key limes or 3 to 4 common limes)
4 teaspoons grated lime zest
4 egg yolks (I used the whites for omelets for dinner so it worked out, but I did see some recipes that used 2 whole eggs instead so you could probably try that...it just might not be as rich and custardy)
1 - 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Whisk the zest and the egg yolks together until they turn greenish - about two minutes (mine never really turned green, but that's what the recipe said). Beat in milk then juice. Pour into crust. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes or until center is set but still wiggles when shaken.Chill for at least 3 hours.

TOPPING:
3/4 c sour cream
2 Tbsp powdered sugar

Mix together and spread on top. You could also do a whipped cream topping, a meringue topping, or just leave it without a topping.

This was GOOD! Of course it was, look at the ingredients! So, if you ever see limes on sale (and sweetened condensed milk and graham crackers), buy them and make this. You won't be sorry.  

And, so that I wouldn't waste any lime, I made Jasher lick all the juice out of them that I couldn't squeeze. Actually, he did it on his own free will and he LIKED it! Crazy kid...

Dilled Noodles

1 1/2 c noodles (the recipe says egg noodles, but I didn't have any so I used shells)
1/2 c cottage cheese
1-2 tsp dill weed
1/4 tsp salt
Dash of pepper

Cook noodles. Meanwhile mix other ingredients. Drain noodles and mix into cottage cheese mixture.

This was super easy and a little more fun than plain rice or noodles as a side dish. You could probably turn it into a meal if you added some chicken or vegetables or something.  If you don't like dill, you could probably use some other seasoning. I kind of liked the shells because sometimes a little cottage cheese would get inside of it and made it like a mini manicotti or something.

Super Ramen

This is a very cheap easy recipe I picked up in Korea.  I ate it way too often before we got married.

1 Package of ramen
1 Potato
1/2 Carrot
1/2 Onion
1/2 Clove Garlic
1 tsp Gochukaru (maybe try chilli powder or some type of pepper or just leave it out)
Meat, sometimes I used hot dogs, Koreans used spam, usually I left it out

Directions:
Peel carrot, cut potato and carrot into cubes
Boil the potato and carrot chunks for a few minutes (maybe about 10 or 15)
Add ramen, onion, garlic, and pepper/meat if you have it

Baked Potato Wedges

4 large baking potatoes, unpeeled
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. ground pepper
1 tsp. minced fresh garlic
1 tsp. fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 400.  Cut scrubbed potatoes lengthwise to make 6 even wedges.  Toss wedges with rest of ingredients on a sheet pan.  Spread in a single layer with 1 cut side down.  Bake 30-35 min, turning after 20 minutes to other cut side.  Bake until lightly brown an crispy.

Summertime Chicken Salad

2 C Mayo
1/4 C Lemon Juice
1/2 C Sugar
Mix these together then add ingredients:

1 Bag Chicken (Cooked and Cubed)
5-6 Stalks Celery (Sliced)
2-3 Granny Smith Apples (or any apples- I prefer half green and half red)

Optional add-ins:
*Craisins*
Coconut
Almonds

Put into Bouillon Rolls (or any other rolls but Bouillon are so delicious!)

Oatmeal Waffles

4 cups oats
4 cups milk
1/4 cup oil
2 tsp salt

Let ingredients stand overnight.  Beat with wire whisk to make it batter like.  Cook in a waffle maker like normal waffles.  They take a little bit longer to cook than normal ones and tend to stick a bit more but they are so DELICIOUS!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Butter
2 Eggs
1.5 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
3 Cups Flour
Chocolate Chips ( I like using Dark, Milk, and White)

Cream sugars and butter (butter should be firm but not hard) and then add the rest of the ingredients.  Refridgerate for a few hours or freeze for about 15-20 minutes.   Bake at 375 for 10-12 min.

Vegetarian Taco Casserole

1 can black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can ranchero style pinto beans, with liquid
1 c. salsa
1/2 c. sour cream
2 tsp. chili powder
3 c. crushed tortilla chips (or you could probably use tortillas, it just wouldn't be as crunchy)
2 c. grated lettuce
2 c. shredded cheese
1 tomato, diced

Mix beans, salsa, sour cream, chili powder. Layer beans, chips, cheese. Repeat. Bake 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve with lettuce and tomato.