Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Michelle found this great recipe for chocolate frosting.  She already posted the cake recipe, which was to die for.  I wanted the frosting recipe on this blog, too, because I use it a lot.  It is really good.

Creamy Chocolate Frosting
2 3/4 cup powdered sugar
6 T. cocoa powder
6 T. butter
5 T. evaporated milk or half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift the sugar and cocoa into a bowl.  In another bowl cream the butter until smooth, then gradually beat in the sugar alternately with the milk.  Then beat in the vanilla.  Beat until very light and fluffy.  You can add more sugar or milk to get the right consistency.

Taco Dinner

When we were raising our children, there were very few meals that everyone liked.  This is one.  Every member of the family enjoyed it, and it was easy and fast. It is a great meal to expand and feed a crowd.

Taco Dinner
1 lb. hamburger
1 onion, chopped
1 or 2 cans tomato sauce (I like 2)
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can red kidney beans, drained
Lettuce, shredded
Tomatoes, chopped
Cheese, grated
Avocado, chopped
Fritos, lots of Fritos (I just made this for grandkids and we consumed an entire large bag!)
Toppings
Salsa, any kind
Sour Cream
Tabasco sauce

Brown the hamburger with the onion.  Add the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and beans.  Put all the ingredients on the table and let people build their own dinner.  Fritos, meat sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and toppings.

Kneaders Copycat Tuna Melt

My friend and I went to lunch at Kneaders.  We both ordered the tuna melt.  It was so delicious that I came home and tried to recreate it at home.  Honestly, I think my version was even better because I made the tuna salad more to my liking. I have since made it many times.  I love this sandwich!  This recipe makes 2 sandwiches.

Tuna Melt
Really good wheat/seed bread
1 can albacore tuna, drained and flaked
1 dill pickle, diced fine
Mayonnaise
Sliced cheese of choice: Kneaders uses cheddar; provolone is good
Whatever else you like in your tuna salad: hard boiled egg, dill, celery, etc.  Kneaders uses a lot of dill
Soft real butter (essential)
1 avocado, smashed and salted
Thin-sliced tomato, optional
Drain and put the tuna into a bowl.  Flake with a fork.  Add the mayonnaise and pickle and whatever else you would like.  Mix well.
Heat a frying pan or a griddle.  Generously butter one side of one bread.(It is very popular these days to use mayonnaise on the outside of the bread on a grilled cheese in place of butter.  I tried it on this and it was NO WHERE NEAR as good as real butter.)  Put it butter side down in the hot pan.  Top with a generous amount of the tuna salad (1 can tuna makes 2 sandwiches.)  Put on the avocado and tomato.  Top with two slices of cheese.  Butter one side of another piece of bread and put it butter side up on the cheese.  Grill until browned.  Turn over and grill the other side until browned and the cheese is melted.  You can also make this in a panini press.