Dinner in a Pumpkin

This is our FAVORITE Halloween Recipe!!

(I think I got this from my SIL Lynnel)

1~ 3 to 4 lb. pumpkin (that stands up well)
3 TBLSP. Butter
Cooking spray
1 lb hamburger

½ chop celery
½ c. onion
2 c. cooked rice
2 cans cream of chicken soup
¼ c. soy sauce
3 TBLSP. Brown sugar
Salt and Pepper

Carve the top of the pumpkin off, take the insides out of the Pumpkin and spread 3 TBLSP of butter inside. (I use a paper towel to spread it with.) Bake at 375* for 30 mins. (Pumpkin and lid) on a cookie sheet.
Brown hamburger and drain add celery, onions, salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 mins
To hamburger mixture add soup, cooked rice, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Stir together well. Spray the outside of the pumpkin with cooking spray. Put mixture into the Pumpkin and bake on 350* for an hour or until the inside of the pumpkin is tender. Serve right out of the Pumpkin!!! We scoop the side of the pumpkin and it's like eating squash with it.

Cajun Chicken & Pasta

4-6 chicken thighs, cut in strips or cubes
1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/2 pint heavy cream
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning
2-3 cloves garlic
salt & pepper to taste
4 oz cooked fettuccine
parmesan cheese, optional

Place chicken & Cajun seasoning in bag or bowl. Seal & shake to coat. In large skillet, cook chicken in butter until cooked through. Reduce heat. Add cream & remaining ingredients except fettuccine. Heat through. Add pasta & toss. Top with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Shredded Beef Chimichangas

2 lb chuck roast
4 TB red wine vinegar
4 TB chili powder
1 TB red crushed chili peppers
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 c beef broth + 1/4 c water (or 2 bouillon cubes & 1 3/4 c water)

I did mine in the crock pot & just let it slow cook all day. Then drain out with a slotted spoon & shred beef. Warm flour tortillas & spoon meat into tortilla & fold over & roll like a closed burrito.

You can deep fry them or brush them with melted butter & bake them in a 450 degree oven until golden brown.

Top with shredded cheese & microwave long enough to melt cheese. Top with preferred toppings: sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, salsa.....

For a bit more kick, double chili powder & crushed peppers

*Submitted by Audra Bennett

Golden Chicken

6 chicken thighs
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz reduced fat sour cream
1 packet onion soup mix
Instant or prepared mashed potatoes

Place chicken in bottom of crock pot
Mix remaining 4 ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Pour over chicken.
Cook on low 4-6 hours until chicken is cooked & tender.
Serve over mashed potatoes.

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll-Up

1 lb. lean ground beef
4 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 lb (8 oz) Velveeta (I used canned cheese sauce)
1 pkg (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza crust

Preheat oven to 400.
Cook ground beef, bacon & onions until beef is evenly browned, stirring occasionally. Drain.
Return meat mixture to skillet. Add Velveeta, cook until completely melted, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat; set aside.

Unroll pizza dough onto baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.
Press into 15x8" rectangle. Top evenly with meat mixture.
Roll up dough, starting at one of the long sides.
Rearrange, if necessary, so roll is seam-side down on baking sheet.
Bake 20-25 min or until golden brown.
Cut diagonally into 6 slices to serve.

Jazz it up: Serve with your favorite condiments, such as dill pickle slices, grey poupon mustard, ketchup, tomatoes, salsa, etc.

*Original recipe from KraftRecipes

7 Layer Ground Beef Casserole

1 cup uncooked rice (minute or regular)
1 cup corn
salt & pepper
2 cups tomato sauce
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper (I left this out)
1 cup cooked or canned green beans (I used frozen spinach this time)
3/4 pound ground beef
4 slices bacon, cooked & chopped
Put rice & corn in backing dish.
Sprinkle with salt & pepper
Cheese, optional

Mix tomato sauce & water. Pour half over corn & rice.
Add layers of onion, green pepper, green beans, & beef.
Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Add remaining tomato mixture.
Top with bacon.
Cover tightly with foil.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Uncover; cook 30 minutes more for regular rice, 0-5 more minutes for minute rice. (Top with optional cheese the last 5 minutes.)

**Note, if making tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes, it might be a little liquidy. I added an additional 1 cup corn and a can of tomato paste mixed with a little more water to thicken the sauce a bit & poured over the top.