Kim Can Cook! Quick and Easy Recipes Even I Can Do!

I'm a terrible cook... we're talking pasta-burning terrible. My husband, on the other hand, is a master chef with more than 15 years experience. You can guess who prepares all the meals in our home. Recently, however, the tables have turned and my husband is attempting to teach me some culinary skills... and it hasn't been a complete disaster! I feel I must share these quick and easy recipes with others like me-pasta-burning wives who have no business in the kitchen!

Mom's Meatloaf
Ingredients: 5lbs ground beef, 2 cups uncooked oatmeal, 2 eggs, 1 onion- diced, 1 can diced tomatoes-drained, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Pre-heat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix and mash together with hands. Take your hand-mashed conglomeration and place it in a pot. Form it into the shape of a loaf. Place in oven for 1 hour or until browned. Slice and serve.

Davy Crocket Stew
Ingredients: 1lb ground beef, 2 cans pork & beans, ½ onion- diced, salt and pepper to taste

In a large stew-pot, brown the ground beef with seasonings and onions. Add pork & beans and bring to a simmer. Optional: You may substitute cooked sausage for beef. You may also add a can of stewed tomatoes and/or peppers to "kick it up a notch." Stew may be served in bowls, or on top of rice or mashed potatoes. May also be served Sloppy-Joe style, on a bun with pickles or relish.

Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts- diced, 1 bell-pepper- diced, 1 onion- diced, 2 carrots- chopped, 2 celery sticks- chopped, 1 can stewed tomatoes, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste, red wine, 1 jar tomato sauce

In a large stew pot, cook diced chicken with seasonings. As the seasonings begin to stick to the bottom of the pan, add enough red wine to cover the bottom of the pan. (This is called "deglazing.") Next, throw in carrots, pepper, onion, and tomatoes (don't add the celery until last, because it cooks so quickly.) Cook until carrots are tender. Add celery and tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat. Best served over steamed rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.

Chili-Ghetti
Ingredients: spaghetti, ½ jar tomato sauce, 1 can chili

Cook your pasta- and don't burn it! In a sauce-pot, combine canned chili and any leftover tomato sauce or marinara you've got floating around in your refrigerator. Bring to a simmer. Feel free to add cooked meatballs or sausage! Serve over spaghetti. This is a fun and yummy new twist on the original, boring spaghetti you always serve because it's the only thing you know how to prepare.

All recipes are compliments of my husband, Jack Benson. Enjoy!