Not Your Lunch Lady's Goulash

Yep...here's another one of Tonya's recipes from 4 little Fergusons.  She makes family-friendly meals because she feeds a family of 6 every day...and feeds them well. Her children have been trained to eat what is before them, and they are not picky eaters at all.  They eat things I wouldn't even eat!

Tonya never cared for goulash growing up, and only ate it at school. 

She was so impressed with this tasty goulash recipe she found at a Weekend Potluck party, that she raved.  

So of course, I had to try it too.  My hubby loves goulash and it had been a long time since I'd made it. Goulash is one of those dishes that tastes better the 'older' it gets. I've never thought to add worchestershire to my goulash before and we loved the flavor boost it gave. 

This is a great recipe for a large family as it serves 8 generous portions. And it's cooked on top of the stove...no oven required. 

NOT YOUR LUNCH LADY'S GOULASH 

2# ground beef (I used lean)

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

8 ozs. sliced fresh mushrooms

(I used a lg. can, drained)

6 garlic cloves

3 c. water

1 - 29 ozs. tomato sauce

1 - 28 ozs. diced tomatoes, undrained

1 TB. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. smokey paprika

1 tsp. sugar

1-1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, optional

garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste

3 Tb. worchestershire sauce

3 c. uncooked elbow macaroni 

shredded cheese of choice to melt over the top

In large stock pot, cook beef over medium high heat, until no longer pink.  Add onion, pepper and mushrooms.  Cook until tender, about 3 - 5 minutes. 

Add garlic, water, tomato sauce, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, sugar, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, pepper and worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat. 

Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.  Add elbow macaroni, stirring well.  Cover and simmer 15 minutes longer, or until macaroni is done. (Check while they cook to see if you need to add more water). If there's already too much, just allow to simmer until it thickens. 

If using cheese, add now. Allow to set covered for 10 minutes before serving. 

Yield: 8 servings

Serve with salad or veggies and rolls and you're all set. 

Linked to Weekend Potluck             Meal Plan Monday

Butterfinger Dessert {Weight Watchers}

This is a very tasty dessert that should satisfy any sweet tooth, especially if you love Butterfinger candy bars like I do!

It's simple (& quick) to make and each serving is only 3 Weight Watchers points!  

Knowing I'm actually eating a REAL candy bar helps satisfy me, especially when I'm trying to eat healthier.  Having it topped with chocolate & caramel syrups makes me happy inside & out!

I have to 'fess up...I was short on the Cool whip, but used what I had and was very pleased.  The end result is normally thicker than in my photo. 

Thanks to Kaylee at Tobins' Tastes for this fabulous recipe. Check out her website as she shares some really yummy WW recipes! I adapted the recipe I found at her site. 

Butterfinger Dessert

{Weight Watchers}

 4 low fat graham cracker sheets

1- 8 ozs. tub fat free Cool Whip

1 Butterfinger candy bar (2 oz), crushed

1/4 c. light Chocolate Syrup

1/4 cup  sugar free Caramel Topping

Lightly spray an 8 x 8” glass dish or pan with non-fat cooking spray (butter flavored is best). Line the bottom with the graham cracker sheets. Mix together the whipped topping with half of the crushed Butterfinger. Spread the cool whip mixture over the graham crackers. Drizzle both the chocolate syrup and caramel syrup on top of the whipped topping. Sprinkle the remaining half of the Butterfinger on top. Freeze for at least 4 hours. Cut into 8 equally sized pieces.

Yield: 8 servings

Per serving = 3 Points 

Linked to Mix it up Monday                 Melt in your Mouth Monday          Weekend Potluck GBP Roundup - Quick & Easy

Gooey Grape Salad & Weekend Potluck #49

WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO WEEKEND POTLUCK!

Thanks so much for joining us at our virtual table this week! 

And....

When I share something worth sharing...again!

This was one of my very first posts...and a definite favorite.

Fresh grapes mixed with cream cheese, sour cream...lightly sweetened..

Keeps up to a week in the fridge! MMM good!

Gooey Grape Salad or Dessert

Now, let's take a quick peek back at last week...

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

My Top 10 Skinny Recipes by Skinny Kitchen

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Magic Turtle Bars by Chocolate, Chocolate and More

Spinach and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups by Taste of August

And, a personal favorite ~

Cheesey Chicken & Black Bean Enchiladas  by Thriving Home 

<a href="www.thebetterbaker.blogspot.com" ><img border="0" src="http://www.meetpenny.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/I-was-Featured-Button-150.jpg" width="125"/></a> Your hostesses ~

• The Country Cook~ Brandie
• Mommy Time Party ~ Tabitha
• The Better Baker ~ Marsha
• Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie
• 4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya

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<a href="www.thebetterbaker.blogspot.com" ><img border="0" src="http://www.meetpenny.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/weekend-potluck-buttong.jpg" width="125"/></a>

Angelic Macaroons

When my daughter-in-love, Lyn, and I were talking about the kinds of cookies we wanted to make for our annual cookie baking/candy making night in December, she mentioned she loves macaroons, but can never make them right. 

I love them too, but hadn't been able to find the 'perfect' recipe to make.

We've both tried using the recipe for combining sweetened condensed milk and coconut - we know others who have success with that one, but neither of us have. 

Imagine my excitement when I found the great recipe using an angel food cake mix....just the day before our scheduled kitchen time together. 

These yummy cookies are fat free!  You could always use unsweetened coconut in this recipe. There is some fat in the coconut, but I did check online and these cookies only have 79 calories each. That's not bad for such a tasty cookie. 

I loved the crunchy outside...soft inside.  And the flavor was magnificent!

It's definitely a recipe I will make again and again. 
(I did cut the baking time from original recipe) 

I don't want to forget to share where I got the cookbook where I found this special recipe....CAKE MIX MAGIC. 

My sweet blogging buddy, Angie, from A'lil Country Sugar kindly sent me the book along with several other lovely items she had for a giveaway.  The person whose name was drawn never contacted her with mailing info, so my sweet friend chose me.  How precious is that???  Thanks again Ang, for the lovely package of goodies I received! I am going to have SUCH a great time with this new cookbook.
I rarely EVER make a cake from a cake mix...this is my 'cup of tea'. 

Onto the tasty recipe...

ANGELIC MACAROONS

1 (16 ozs) pkg. angel food cake mix

1/2 c. cold water

1 tsp. almond extract

1 (14 ozs) sweetened flaked coconut, divided

1/2 c. slivered almonds, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 325. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Beat cake mix, water and almond extract in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add half of coconut (I stirred by hand at this point); beat until blended. Add remaining coconut and almonds.  Beat until smooth. Drop dough by heaping tablespoonsful 2" apart onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake 18 - 20 minutes or until golden brown.  (Check them at 18) Cool on cookie sheets 3 minutes.  Remove to wire racks; cool completely. 

Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen cookies 

Linked to Foodie Friends Friday           Weekend Potluck

A Few Favorite {Healthy} Oatmeal Dishes

I really should buy stock in Quaker Oats!  I LOVE eating and using oatmeal in recipes.  It's good for you, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite ways to enjoy it....

Man oh man!! (or WOman!=) I just can't tell you HOW GOOD this cake is....it can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacktime! You soak the oats overnight and the recipe has no refined sugar.  I'm wild about having dessert for breakfast! 

Overnight Oatmeal (Cake)

(dairy, egg, gluten and sugar free options)

This has been a very popular recipe adding oatmeal for fiber.  You can't even tell it's there, but it's good for you. Substitute peanut butter for nutella if you so desire. 

Nutella Banana Oatmeal Smoothie




This is my version of No Bake Cookie Oatmeal...MMM good! 
Simple & quick...made in the microwave if you prefer. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Breakfast




These little cookies are amazingly wonderful. Only 2 Weight Watchers points each...Using sugar free butterscotch pudding makes them so easy!
I keep mine in the freezer and they don't freeze hard.  Ready to pop in my mouth
anytime! 

No Bake Butterscotch Cookies