Coney Dog Sauce

• 1 pound ground chuck
• 1 medium onion
• 2 ribs celery
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• 1 dash lite soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons yellow prepared mustard
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 eight ounce can tomato sauce

1. Brown and constantly stir the ground beef in a skillet in about ½ cup of water. This will help steam it and break it into fine pieces.
2. Cool the browned beef 15 minutes and place in a food processor. Pulse about 4 times to further break it apart. You want really small pieces but you don't want to turn it into a paste.
3. Return the meat to skillet.
4. Put the onion and celery in the food processor and pulse until the are in fine pieces.
5. Add onion and celery to skilled and sweat them for about 5 minutes. Stir often.
6. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
7. Add the vinegar and dry spices. Add about ½ cup water to help the spices distribute well and also it will continue to steam the mixture.
8. Add the Worcestershire sauce, lite soy sauce, and yellow prepared mustard.
9. Add the brown sugar. Stir until dissolved.
10. Cook on very low heat for a half hour, stirring often.
11. Add the tomato sauce, continue stirring often, and simmer for 15 minutes more.
12. Serve on hotdogs in buns.
13. Enjoy.

Ham Balls

• ½ pound ground ham
• ½ pound ground sausage
• ½ cup gingersnaps, ground fine in a blender
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon mustard powder
• 1 tablespoon pineapple juice
• ½ cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten

1. Combine ground gingersnaps, salt, pepper, mustard powder, pineapple juice, milk and beaten egg in a blender and blend about 30 seconds.
2. Add the ground ham and mix.
3. Use a large scoop to make 6 large meatballs.
4. Place on a parchment lined 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, basting every ten minutes with the glaze below.  

      Glaze:

• ½ cup pineapple juice
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons ketchup
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder

     Mix all the ingredients and baste the meatballs every ten minutes.

     You may also do the final basting with barbecue sauce if you prefer.

Orange and Grape Salad

• 4 Cuties, peeled and separated into wedges
• ½ cup grapes, washed and stemmed
• 1 small container Yoplait Greek Tropical Fruit Yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey

1. Mix all ingredients.
2. Serve and enjoy.  

Ham, Veggie and Rice Soup

I often use this soup to use leftovers from Easter dinner.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 1 cup ham, chopped
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon crystals (or 8 cubes)
• 8 cups water
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 cup royal blend rice
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons flour, mixed with enough water to make a slurry
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

1. In a Dutch oven, saute chopped red onion in the olive oil.
2. Add the chopped ham and cook for a minute, stirring often.
3. Add chopped celery and chopped carrots.
4. Add the chicken bouillon crystals and water.
5. Add both kinds of rice and black pepper
6. Stir often and cook on medium heat for 1 hour.
7. Add the milk, the slurry, and heat 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
8. Add the shredded cheddar and stir until it melts and thickens the liquid.
9. Serve and enjoy.