From Grandma's Recipe Box

Tonight I was in a cooking/baking/cleaning mood.  Since I don't think you have any interest in my adventures with the vacuum cleaner, I will share with you what I was baking. 

For dinner, I made spicy mac and beef.  It is super easy to make and a spin on a favorite stand by meal.  First, you brown one pound of hamburger.  To conserve pans, I brown mine in a tall pot.  Once your hamburger is browned, you drain all the grease off.  Put the hamburger back in the pan then add one 10 oz. can of condensed beef broth and 1 1/3 cup of water.  I always add a little more water because I feel like it is never enough.  Bring that to a boil and then add two cups uncooked medium shells.  Cook for about 10 minutes, make sure the noodles don't boil dry.  Once the noodles are cooked the way you like them,  add 1 can cheddar cheese soup and one cup of salsa.  I use mild, but if you like spicy stuff, you could certainly add medium or hot salsa. 

Spicy Beef and Mac

After I made dinner, I decided it was time to make the Lemon Poppy Seed bread I have been telling Andrew I would make since right after we moved.  I don't know why I haven't made it yet, it is super easy to make. 

This recipe comes from my Grandma's recipe box.  If you asked me what one thing I will always remember my grandma for, I would say her amazing cooking.  Man do I miss her peach pies.  They were a slice of heaven!  Along with that, I miss her homemade cinnamon rolls, her chicken and noodles, homemade noodles... you get the idea.  Now, don't ever ask me to pick one thing I will remember about my grandma, because there are too many things to name.   Tonight, I will share with you one of her recipes though. 

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

1 Box Lemon Supreme Cake Mix

1 Box (smaller size) Instant Vanilla Pudding

2 Tbs. Poppy Seeds

4 Eggs

1/2 C. Oil (do NOT use olive oil, it makes the flavor funky)

Mix everything together in a bowl, pour into a greased loaf pan, bake at 350 in the oven for 1 hour.  If you take the bread out after an hour and a toothpick in the center of the loaf doesn't come out clean, put it in for 5 minute increments until a toothpick put in the center comes out clean.  Our oven now takes a little longer than our last one. 

There you have it, a little piece of my grandma's kitchen.  Now, if you will excuse me I am going to go slice my fresh out of the over bread and enjoy with a glass of wine!