Cookout Baked Beans

This is a family recipe for baked beans that I love!  I know that you can buy baked beans and cook them straight out of a can, but this is a good basic recipe for seasoning them yourself.

Cookout Baked Beans

1 large can Van Camps pork & beans
3/4 c ketchup
3/4 c white sugar
2 tbsp mustard
6 strips bacon
Mix all ingredients except bacon in large mixing bowl.  Pour into foil lined baking dish.  Top with strips of bacon.  Bake at 350 degrees for two hours.  If you are short on time, you can cook these on the stovetop and skip the bacon.  In a skillet, heat the beans over medium heat until sauce thickens.

Lemon Mint Chicken

This year, I planted mint in my garden.  I didn't know it would grow so easily and so quickly!  I wanted to find some new dishes that used mint.  This sounded like an interesting recipe, so I made it my own.  It ended up being a very fresh, summer meal!

Lemon Mint Chicken

2 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 1/2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup flour (I seasoned the flour with salt, pepper, and a little paprika and red pepper...it gave it a nice bite)
1/3 cup margarine
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
Combine the chicken pieces, garlic, and onion.  Toss with flour and other seasonings.  Allow to sit 5 minutes.  Melt margarine in skillet over medium high heat.  Shake the excess flour from the chicken and add the chicken to the skillet.  Cook until golden brown (about 5-7 minutes).  Add the lemon juice and mint, reduce heat to medium, cover and steam about 5 minutes.  Do not overcook the chicken.  Serve over pasta or rice (I used a butter and herb pasta, it turned out to be really good!)

Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts...just saying the name makes me cringe and think of a little boy sneaking them to his dog under the table.  I never even considered eating them and I don't even think my parents have even tried them.  But, on Valentine's Day, Brent took me to Stella's Southern Bistro.  We both got delicious meals that came with...you guessed it...brussel sprouts.  So, we both tried them for the first time in our 26 years of living.  And they were delicious!  Who knew???  Tonight...I made brussel sprouts.  Aren't you proud, mom?

Brussel Sprouts

10 brussel sprouts (buy small, tight sprouts)
1 beef bouillon cube
salt and pepper, to taste
Put 1 inch of water in a saucepan.  Bring to boil, place beef bouillon and sprouts in water and season.  Cover and steam sprouts about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, allow to steam 5 more minutes.