Not Yo Mommas Lemonade Food

NOT YO' MOMMA'S LEMONADE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except garnish in a pitcher that holds 45 ozs.
• Place in freezer overnight.
• Run for 10 seconds in a blender at high speed to serve.
• Garnish each glass with lemon slice and mint sprig skewered with a cocktail stick.

NOT YO' MAMMA'S RED BEANS

Steps:

• Day 1: Rinse beans, place in a medium bowl and add enough water to cover by 3 or 4 inches. Soak overnight in the refrigerator. As the beans absorb the water, they will more than double in volume.
• Day 2: Combine the first 9 ingredients in a small bowl. Drain and rinse the beans. Drain again and set aside.
• Preheat a heavy 5-quart pot, preferably nonstick, over high heat for about 4 minutes. (If using a lighter pot, use lower heat.) Add 2 cups of the onions, bell pepper, celery and 1 tablespoon of the seasoning mix. Stir and cook until vegetables start to brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the chicken stock, scrape the bottom of the pot to clear all browned bits, and cook 3 minutes.
• Add the remaining onions, stir, and cook 5 minutes. Add the drained beans, 5 cups of the stock, and the remaining seasoning mix.
• Stir and cook for 45 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pot occasionally to check for sticking and reducing heat if mixture is boiling too rapidly. Add 1 cup grape juice and continue to cook for 25 minutes. Caution: At this point, the starches in the beans start to break down and sticking will occur more often. It is therefore important to check and clear the bottom of the pot frequently. Add the remaining stock and grape juice, turn the heat to medium, and cook until the beans are tender, and the liquid is thick and begins to look creamy, about 30-35 minutes.
• Serve over rice.

NOT YO' MOMMA'S PORCUPINES

Steps:

• You will need to first break the ramen noodles into small pieces. Clean fingertips do the job well. The pieces should be less than 1/2 inch and there should be about 1/2 cup of them.
• Next combine the beef, egg, milk or water, carrots, red bell pepper, ramen noodle pieces, entire ramen seasoning packet, and salt. Even though the ramen seasoning has a lot of sodium in it, the porcupines need a little salt for best flavor. Mix very well then make 18-20 uniformly sized (about one heaping tablespoonful each) meatballs.
• Note: If you're feeling especially economical, the meatballs may be individually quick frozen at this point. Once frozen dump them together in a freezer bag and keep frozen on hand for those times when there's just no time to spare.
• Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet or electric fry pan. Sautee the garlic for about 1 minute then add the tomatoes and tomato sauce (swish a little water inside the 2 just emptied cans and pour that in too) along with the seasonings. Stir, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Carefully place porcupines over the simmering sauce then place cover onto pan. Set your timer for 25 minutes.
• Now is the time to put those feet up and maybe surf 'zaar awhile while you wait for your delicious budget meal to cook itself.
• When the timer goes off, stir the sauce and turn each meatball. Place cover back on pan and set timer for 15 minutes. Now is the time to cook that pasta and maybe whip out a quick green salad.
• When the timer goes off again, stir the sauce and serve it and your porcupines over hot pasta. Top with parmesan and congratulate yourself for all the time, effort and money you saved by cooking such a cent$ible meal. Momma would be proud!

NOT YO MAMA'S LIMA BEANS!

Steps:

• CROCK POT: Put all ingredients into a large crock pot and cook for 5-6 hours until beans are soft.
• OVEN: Mix together all ingredients and bake covered at 325 degrees until beans are soft.
• STOVE TOP: Put all ingredients into a dutch oven or stock pot and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until beans are soft. If there is too much liquid, cook uncovered for about another hour to evaporate the liquid.
• **Water should be enough to almost cover the neckbones, but not completely submerge them.
• **Adjust seasonings to taste!