Southwestern Lasagna

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the noodles according to package. In a medium skilled, brown the ground beef. Drain excess fat. Add fajita seasoning and garlic. In a saucepan, over medium heat, warm the spaghetti sauce.

In an 11-by-7-by-2 inch rectangular pan, layer one-third lasagna noodles, one-third sauce and one-third of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers twice, ending with mozzarella.

Top with jalapenos. Bake for 10 minutes.

Lemon Cake

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two 8- or 9-inch layer cake pans.

In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time.

In large mixing bowl, stir together flour, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to batter in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Stir in zest and juice. Pour batter into pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

For the icing:
Allow cake to cool completely. In a medium bowl, cream butter. Add remaining ingredients and beat until well blended; add more sugar or liquid to create desired consistency.

Carne Asada

Squeeze lime juice on both sides of steak. Rub Mexican seasoning on both sides. Place steak in zip-top bag and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes. Heat beans in saucepan. Grill steak to desired doneness. Slice and serve with rice and tortillas on the side. Makes 2 servings.

Quick and Easy Thai

Cook rice according to package directions. I a 4-quart Dutch oven, combine curry paste and coconut milk; bring to a boil. Add meat, bamboo shoots and bay leaves. Simmer mixture over low heat 25 minutes.

Remove bay leaves. Serve curry over rice. Makes 2 servings.

Grandma Garcia's Spanish Rice

Place bacon grease in pot. Add rice and cook on low heat until it turns translucent (about 5 minutes). Add 2 1/4 cups hot water to rice. Add tomato bouillon to rice and bring to boil. Add tomatoes if desired. Cook 20 to 25 minutes, and fluff rice halfway through.

Lobster-Stuffed Filet

Preheat over to 400 degrees. In a skillet, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Place peppers, onions and shallots in pan and sauté 3 to 4 minutes until they begin to lose their firmness. Add lobster meat and cook until lobster turns completely white and is cooked through. Add bread crumbs and water and continue to cook until water is absorbed. Remove stuffing from heat and set aside.

Create a pocket in each filet by slicing lengthwise (without cutting all the way through). Season inside and out with salt and pepper. Spoon one quarter of stuffing into each filet.

Place 2 teaspoons of oil in a new pan. Sear each side of filet over high heat 2 to 3 minutes. Place filets in bake ware and place in oven 10 to 15 minutes until done. Makes 4 servings.

Cocktail Meatballs

Mix sauce, jelly and juice together in a sauce pan and cook until jelly has melted. Put meatballs into a large crockpot and pour over sauce. Cook for 3-4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.

Strawberry Angel Food Cake

Dissolve jello in hot water, add frozen strawberries and cool until syrup. Fold in one-half of cool whip. Break cake into pieces putting strawberry mixture over top. Repeat two times (can be done in angel food pan) or in using a 9 x 13 pan make sure all of the cake pieces are moisten with the strawberry mixture. Top with the rest of the cool whip. Chill in refrigerator.

Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Blend in flour, salt and pepper; gradually stir in milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and mixture begins to boil. Add cheese; stir until cheese is melted. In 3 quart casserole, stir together pasta and cheese sauce. Bake 30 minutes or until bubbly. 8 to 10 servings.