Chili for a Crowd

1 10# size can diced tomatoes
1 10# size can tomato sauce
4 lbs. cooked ground beef
4 16 oz. cans kidney beans
1 large onion, diced and sauted
10 peeled and seeded roasted green chilis
1/4 cup chili powder
2 T cumin
2 T garlic salt

Combine in giant pot or roaster and cooked on very low all day. Makes approx. 24 cups of chili ... I kind of lost count while serving and packaging for the freezer. Mmmmmmm .....

Pizza Crust

1 package dry yeast
1 t sugar
1 1/3 cup warm water
3 1/3 cup flour
1 1/4 t salt
1 T olive oil

Place warm water, yeast and sugar in large bowl or food processor. Let set until yeast dissolves and bubbles. Add flour, salt and olive oil and knead for a long time ... or as long as you can stand it ... maybe 5 or 10 minutes. Let rest while you prepare your pan, make your sauce, get all your ingredients ready and then gently, slowly stretch around pizza pan. Top with goodies and bake at 400 degrees until golden brown and all the cheese is golden.

I've frozen this and have been disappointed as the middle of the pizza is soggy. I think I need to thoroughly thaw before baking and maybe even bake the crust slightly before freezing.

Sometimes I use part whole wheat flour but honestly on pizza night we all just want a good, white flour, nutrient depleted, nitrate saturated, dairy smothered pizza.

Mediterrean Lentils

I have not tried this yet but am dying to. My word processor won't work so I'm saving it here ... I'll let you know ... Mediterranean Lentils
Serves/Yields: 12 Prep. Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Category: Salads, Main Dishes, Side Dishes, Vegetables, Vegan, Beans, Gluten-free Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
1 lb dried green lentils, (you want to end up with 2 cups cooked) water 3oz canned/jar roasted bell peppers (or you can roast yourself), chopped 1 finely minced onion 4 medium cloves garlic, pressed at least 6 fresh basil leaves, cut into strips scant 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 3 TBS balsamic vinegar juice from 1/2 fresh lemon a good drizzle extra virgin olive oil * optional: young dandelion leaves, arugula,or fresh spinach chopped salt & cracked black pepper to taste
Directions
Wash lentils, remove any foreign matter, and drain. Combine lentils, water, onion, garlic in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and cook at low temperature for about 20 minutes, or until lentils are cooked but still firm. Cook gently so lentils don't get mushy. When done, drain any excess water, and lightly rinse under cold water. Continue to drain excess water. Place lentils in a bowl and add peppers, basil, walnuts, vinegar and 2 TBS olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Marinate for at least 1 hour before serving. Toss dandelion or arugula, or spinach with olive oil and vinegar, salt and pepper. Serve as a cold dish on top of salad greens, or as a hot dish with cooked rice.

Green Bean Casserole - Sour Cream

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandmas-Green-Bean-Casserole/Detail.aspx

Someone gave us a 6 lb. can of green beans so I made this for a little something different. It was really tasty. I left out the shredded cheese though ... still very good.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1630,151169-244196,00.html

Whipping Cream Biscuits

Combine:

8 cups flour (I use 3 parts white and 1 part freshly ground wheat)
1/4 cup baking powder
2 t salt

Stir In:
4 cups whipping cream

Add extra whipping cream 1 Tablespoon at a time until dough holds together.
Dump onto floured board and press 1 inch thick. Use biscuit cutter and place biscuits on baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Or put cut dough on baking sheets and freeze until needed. Simply bake frozen biscuits longer.

Laundry Soap

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!