Calico Cookies Food

CALICO MERINGUES

Steps:

• 1. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy in a small deep bowl. Gradually beat in sugar to make a stiff meringue. Fold in M&M's. Grease and flour a large cookie sheet. Drop meringue mixture by teaspoonsful onto cookie sheet. Garnish each with an M'M. Bake in slow oven (250) for 30 min. or until cookies are firm to touch, but still white. Cool cookies on cookie sheet on wire rack. Remove from sheet with spatula. Store in container with tight cover.

CALICO BEANS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
• Put the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel lined plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the skillet. Add the onion and ground beef and cook, breaking up the beef, until the onion is softened and the beef is crumbled and fully cooked, about 5 minutes. If necessary, drain any excess moisture released from the meat. Add the cooked bacon, kidney beans, navy beans, pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, vinegar and salt. Stir together and then transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Bake until bubbling and caramelized on top, 35 to 40 minutes.

CALICO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook bacon in skillet until crisp, then crumble and set aside.
• Cook beef in skillet until no pink remains. Add onion, sauté just until tender.
• Combine beef, onion, ketchup, salt, brown sugar, mustard and vinegar in a 3 qt baking dish or crock pot. Partially drain all the beans (I don't drain the baked beans) and add to the baking dish or crock pot, stirring gently to mix. Sprinkle with bacon.
• Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes or cook in crock pot until heated through.
• For vegetarian version just sauté onion and add to bean mixture. If using dry tofu crumbles it isn't necessary to rehydrate them first, I just stir them into the mixture. It may require addition of water to the mixture if it gets too thick, I just play it by ear. When using frozen crumbles or gimme lean ground "beef" I heat it up in the pan with the onion before adding to the bean mixture.

CALICO HAM CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cook vegetables, drain.
• Mix flour, seasonings, and 2 cups of the milk.
• Heat remaining milk; add flour mixture and butter. Cook until thick.
• Add onion and cheese; heat until cheese melts.
• Add ham and vegetables.
• Mix crumbs with melted butter; sprinkle over top of casserole.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

CALICO OATMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter with sugars. Add eggs, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat well. Add flour mixed with baking soda cinnamon, ginger and salt. Fold in oatmeal and beat well. Fold in the nuts, chips and bits; mix well. Place teaspoon-sized rounds of dough on foil-lined cookie sheets. Bake 7-8 minutes at 350 degrees. Freezes well.