Baby Back Ribs

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon mustard
2/3 cup light brown sugar
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon liquid smoke flavoring
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
4 racks baby back ribs


Combine all but ribs in a sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until sauce thickens. To make ribs, preheat oven to 300 degrees. Brush sauce over entire surface of ribs. Wrap each rack tightly in aluminum foil and arrange on a baking sheet seam side up. Bake for 2-2 1/2 hours. Remove ribs from foil and grill for 4-8 minutes until they begin to char. Brush ribs with sauce just before being done.

Gizmo Sandwich (State Fair)

1 pound Italian sausage
1 pound ground beef 90% lean
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
30 ounces pizza sauce
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
shredded mozzarella cheese
hot dog buns


In a small pan heat pizza sauce and Italian seasoning, simmer for 15 minutes. In a large pan brown sausage, over medium low heat, until no longer pink. Remove sausage from pan and put into a food processor; pulse until sausage is small crumbles. Add fennel seeds to pan and heat until fragrant. To pan add hamburger, browned sausage and 3/4 cup water. Cook until hamburger is cooked; drain. To make sandwich; spoon meat mixture into hot dog bun; spoon pizza sauce over meat mixture; top with cheese. Broil on low until cheese is browned.

Lasagna

15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
1 1/4 cups grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil leaf, chopped fine
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
9 ounces no boil lasagna noodles
4 cups mozzarella cheese
6 cups spaghetti sauce with meat


Combine the first 7 ingredients, mix well. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Cover the bottom of the pan with one 1 cup of sauce. Smear a 1/4 inch layer of the cheese mixture on the noodles. Arrange the noodles on the sauce cheese mixture facing up, make sure they overlap. Top the cheese covered noodles with 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella, then 1 1/2 cups meat sauce. Repeat. Top with a layer of noodles with out cheese mixture, top with a cup of sauce, a cup of mozzarella and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Cover tightly with foil, and bake for 1 hour at 375 degrees. Remove foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes.

Iowa Ham Balls

           1 pound ground ham
           1 pound ground beef
           1 cup graham cracker crumbs
           1 egg, beaten
           3/4 cup milk
           1 can condensed tomato soup
           1 cup brown sugar
           1/2 cup white vinegar
           1 teaspoon dry mustard

           Preheat oven to 350°
           In a bowl combine the 1st 5 ingredients.  Scoop 1/3
           cup of mixtures and form into a ball.  Place into a 9x13
           baking pan.  Whisk together the last 4 ingredients; pour
           over meatballs.  Bake uncovered for 1 hour baste 2 or 3
           times during cooking.  Cool meatballs for 5 minutes
           before serving.

Mac & Cheese

2 cups macaroni, uncooked
1/4 cup margarine
3 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups Sharp Cheddar freshly grated

Cook macaroni in salted water according to directions, drain.In a pan, over medium heat, melt butter, add flour, cook for 2 minutes.Add milk and cook until slightly thickened.  Add cheese and stir untilmelted. Add macaroni, salt and pepper to taste, mix completely.

Mom's Pizza Dough

1 package yeast
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup oil
3 cups flour


Add yeast to water let sit for 5 minutes. Add rest of the ingredients and knead for 1 minute on a floured board. Put dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until it doubles in size. Punch down and let rest for 5 minutes, form into pizza crusts bake at 425 degrees for 5 minutes before topping. Remove from oven, top with favorite toppings return to oven and bake at until crust is brown and toppings melted.

Maple Country Ribs

3 pounds country style pork ribs
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon


Place ribs in large kettle, cover with water. Bring pot to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, drain. Place ribs in a greased 9x13 pan. Combine remaining ingredients, pour over ribs. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 1 1/2hours, baste every 15 minutes.

Mom's Pork Chop Skillet Supper

4 pork chops, any style
4 large potato, peeled
2 cans creamed corn
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon oil
seasoned salt
salt and pepper


Peel and cut potatoes into large bite size pieces. In a large bowl combine potatoes and corn, salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle pork chops with seasoned salt to taste. In a large skillet over medium high heat melt butter and oil. Add pork chops and brown on both sides. Add potatoes and corn, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 30-40 minutes or until potatoes are tender and the corn has thickened, stirring occasionally.

Mom's Spaghetti Sauce

88 ounces tomato sauce
15 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 small bay leaf
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup sugar, to taste
8 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
1 pound hamburger
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
2 egg
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup sauce ( that you just made)


Combines the first 12 ingredients and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.Cook 4-12 hours, stirring often. To make meatballs combine remaining
ingredients and form into balls. Brown in oil then transfer to sauce,
simmer until cooked through, 1 hour.

Pan Pizza

                   1 1/3 cups warm water, 105 degrees
                   1/4 cup non fat dry milk
                   1/2 teaspoon salt
                   4 cups flour
                   1 tablespoon sugar
                   1 package dry yeast
                   2 tablespoons vegetable oil
                   9 ounces vegetable oil, 3 ounces per pan

                   In a large bowl add yeast, sugar, salt and dry milk.
                   Add warm water and mix well.  Allow to sit for 2
                   minutes.  Add oil and stir again.  Add flour and stir
                   until dough forms and flour is absorbed.  Fold out
                   on a flat service and knead for 10 minutes. 

                  Divide dough into 3 balls. In 3-9 inch  pans, put 3 ounces
                  of oil making sure it is spread out evenly.  Roll each
                  dough ball into a 9 inch circle; place in oiled pan.

                  Spray outside of dough with non stick spray.
                  Cover with plate; place in warm spot and allow to rise
                  for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

                  Preheat oven to 475 degrees.  On each pan of dough
                  place pizza sauce, toppings and cheese.

                  Bake for 12 to 16 minutes; until outer crust is brown
                  and cheese is melted.

Monte Cristo Bake

1 can Pillsbury Crescent rolls
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons butter
4 ounces turkey, sliced
4 ounces ham, sliced
3 slices American cheese
3 slices Swiss cheese
1/4 cup raspberry jam
sesame seeds


preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a large baking sheet. Separate dough into 4 rectangles( 2 crescent rolls together) and seal perforations. Place on baking sheet, mix butter and honey and brush over all 4 dough pieces. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until browned. Cool rolls for 10 minutes. Layer sandwich starting with one layer of rolls, turkey, Swiss cheese, another layer of rolls, ham , American cheese, another layer of rolls, jam last roll. Brush the top with honey butter mixture, sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake 10-15 minutes until heated through. Let sit for 5 minutes, cut into 4 slices

Pizza Burgers

1 pound hamburger, browned and drained
7 ounces spam, ground
18 ounces spaghetti sauce
2 cups cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 hamburger buns
2 cups mozzarella cheese


Combine hamburger, spam, spaghetti sauce, cheddar cheese, oregano and sage. If too dry add more sauce. Spoon over hamburger bun halves, top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 375 degrees until cheese is melted 10-15 minutes.

Pronto Pups

1/2 cup corn meal
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 each egg
1 cup milk


Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl. at hot dogs dry with paper towels, dust with flour, brush off excess.  Put hot dogs on sticks, cover with batter. Cook in oil at 375 degrees 3-5 minutes.

Ragu Bolgnese

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups onion, finely chopped
1 cup celery, finely chopped
3/4 cup carrot, finely chopped
6 ounces lean ground beef, 85 %
6 ounces ground veal
3 ounces pancetta, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry red wine
3 cups beef stock, divided
3 tablespoons tomato paste
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup whole milk, warmed
1 pound tagliatelle or fettuccine pasta


Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onions, celery and carrots, sauté 10 minutes until soft. Add beef, veal and pancetta sauté until browned. Add wine; boil 1 minute stirring and scrapping up bits on the bottom. Add 2 1/2 cups stock and tomato paste; reduce heat to very low simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper. Slowly add warm milk. Cover, slightly ajar and simmer for 45 minutes. Add additional broth if too thick.

Smoked Pork Butt

8 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons coarse salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
7 pounds bone-in boston pork butt


Combine 1st 8 ingredients into a rub.

Rinse and dry pork well. Cover with rub; wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil and refrigerate overnight.

Set smoker to 225 degrees. Add soaked wood chips and unwrapped pork to smoker; smoke until internal temperature is 145 degrees. Wrap pork in foil and return to smoker. Cook to internal temperature of 205 degrees, no more smoke is needed. Remove pork from smoker wrap in a large bath towel, put into a air tight cooler for 2 hours. Remove from cooler, remove from foil and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Shred and serve with BBQ sauce.

State Fair Corn Dogs

1 cup flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons bacon drippings, or melted butter
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 cups buttermilk, * see note
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 pounds hot dog
vegetable oil
sticks


Heat oil in large pan to 365 degrees. In a large bowl mix together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in bacon drippings(melted butter). In a separate bowl mix egg, buttermilk and baking soda. In flour mixture make a well in the middle, pour in buttermilk mixture, mix until smooth. Put hot dogs on sticks, pat dry, dust with flour brush off excess dip the hot dogs in the batter, allow excess to drip off. Fry in oil until golden brown.

*To make buttermilk add 1 1/4 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice to 1 1/4 cups of milk, let sit for 5 minutes.

Swedish Ham Balls

1 1/2 pounds ham, ground
3/4 pound pork, ground
2 cups bread crumbs
2 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard


Beat eggs, combine with meat, bread crumbs and milk. Form into meatballs and place in a pan, sprayed with a non stick spray, with high sides. Combine remaining ingredients, pour over meatballs and let sit in refrigerator overnight. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. Baste often with sauce.

Three Cheese Manicotti

2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
lasagna noodles, no cook
3 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce with meat


Combine 2 cups mozzarella cheese with the next 8 ingredients; mix well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a 9x13 greased pan pour 1 cup of sauce on bottom. Soak noodles in boiling water until soft, about 10 minutes. Using 1 noodle at a time place 2 tablespoons of cheese mixture and roll up; place in prepared pan. Cover with remaining sauce. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes. Remove foil anyd cover with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and bake another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let rest for 10 minutes.

Swedish Meatballs

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 eggs
1 cup mashed potatoes
1 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ginger
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
flour
2 tablespoons oil
1 pint whipping cream


Combine everything except flour, oil and cream. Form into small meatballs. Dip in flour and brown in oil over medium heat. Transfer to a 3 quart baking dish. Top with cream, bake at 325 degrees for 60 minutes.

Tortilla Lasange

1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
1 cup water
1 package taco seasoning mix
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
4 cups Mexican blend cheese, shredded
12 each flour tortillas, 6 inch
20 ounces salsa
1 can black beans, drained


Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a skillet
heat ground beef, water, taco seasoning,
garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Bring to
a boil reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
In a small bowl combine sour cream and chili
powder. In a greased 9x13 spread 2 tablespoons
of salsa on the bottom. Cover the bottom with 4
tortillas, overlap and cut if needed. Layer half of
the beef, beans, sour cream mixture, 1 cup salsa
and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Repeat layers, cover with
layer of tortillas, and 2 tablespoons salsa. Bake
covered for 40 minutes, top with 1 cup cheese,
bake for 10 more minutes or until cheese is melted.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Verenika

1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 egg white
2 cups cheese curds, dried
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons cream
salt and pepper
1 pound garlic sausage link, cut into 1" pieces
1 pint cream


Mix sour cream, salt, flour and egg white to form a dough. Roll out very thin and cut into 3" circles. Mix cheese, egg yolk, 2 tablespoons cream, salt and pepper. Fill dough circles with cheese mixture, fold over and pinch together. Boil for 10 minutes then pan fry in oil until browned. In a separate pan fry sausage until cooked through. Remove sausage and add pint of cream to pan and cook until slightly thickened. Sauce will be very thin.

Serve fried verenika with sausage covered with sauce