Baked Beans

This one is my original. It started simply because I wanted baked beans for a BBQ gathering with friends but didn't have baked beans on hand. I used whatever beans I had and started adding seasoning...then, Viola! My 5-year-old loves them.

Ingredients:
- 3 cans/pints of beans (Great Northern, Black beans, Red Kidney beans, Black Eye, etc.), rinsed and drained
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 lb. bacon, sliced to 1/4 inch strips
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped (or about 1 Tbsp chopped garlic in a jar)
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup KC masterpiece BBQ sauce (I tried others, but KC does the best job)
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp real maple syrup
- salt and pepper to taste

Heat about 1 Tbsp of oil in a medium size pan over medium heat. Cook bacon strips for about 5 minutes to get grease out. Add garlic and onion. Cook another 5 minutes till onions are translucent. Add the rest of ingredients. Bring to boil. Turn the heat down to low, and simmer for about 45 minutes or till beans are tender and liquids are thickened. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Tabouli

Ingredients:

1 large cucumbers, cubed

2 roma tomatoes, cubed

1 bunch (8) green onions, sliced

1/2 bunch flat parsley, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

1/4 bunch mint, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)

2 cans garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

2 oz. Feta cheese, drained and crumbled

Couscous, made by following direction to 4 cups, cooled down

Dressing:

1/2 cup lemon juice (if using fresh lemon, about 2 lemons)

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2-1 tsp honey

1-2 tsp salt or to taste

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Make couscous by following direction on the box, cool. In a meanwhile, prepare all the vegetables, beans, and feta cheese, and place them in a large bowl. Add cooled couscous, mix well. Whisk ingredients for dressing, pour over the vegetable mix. Stir well. Chill over night for better flavor.

Tator Tots Casserole

I am not a big fan of casserole nor canned green beans, but this turned out good. I just simply can't follow recipe exactly. I have to tweak it. So this one is tweaked version of my sister-in-law's (actually, her mother-in-law). It's a simple quick meal. My super picky 3-year-old ate a lot of it!

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 can French style green beans, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/3 cup milk
2 tsp soy sauce
dash of ground pepper
1-1/2 cup french fried onions
About 2 cups tator tots, frozen

Preheat oven at 350 degree F. In a medium bowl, mix ground beef, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, ground pepper, and 1 cup of french fried onions. Spread the mixture in an oven-safe 2 qt size pan or 8x8 pan. Fill the top with tator tots. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle the rest of french fried onions, and bake additional 5 minutes till french onions are crispy. It makes about 4 servings.