Giant Oven Pancakes/Yorkshire Pudding

3 T butter
1 C milk
1 C flour
1/4 t salt
4-6 eggs

Preheat oven to 450, melt butter in 9x13 pan.  Mix milk, flour, salt, and eggs in blender.  Bake for 10-15 min, until top looks brown so it is done in the middle.

Growing up, it was a treat to have Giant Oven Pancakes for dinner.  We would put jam, powdered sugar, butter, and even lemon juice on them.  Since they weren't Dad's favorite, we mainly got this meal when he wasn't going to be home for dinner.  When I got to college, I learned that this dish had many other names:  German Pancakes or Dutch Babies (and of course no one else called them GIANT oven pancakes :)  When I got married, I learned some more shocking news.  Keith's family ate them with gravy!  That's different.  In fact, Yorkshire pudding was a side dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.  Now when I make them, I make some brown gravy for Keith and get out the powdered sugar for myself.  Yum!

Grandma's Casserole

1 C macaroni noodles
4 C water
2 cans tomato sauce
Italian seasoning
1 lb ground beef
1 can corn (or 1 1/2 C frozen corn)
1 C grated cheddar cheese

In a big pot, cook macaroni noodles in water.  In a separate pan, brown ground beef.  Drain macaroni and add cooked ground beef to pot.  Over med-lo heat, mix in tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and corn.  Top with cheese and cover. Cook until casserole is headed thoroughly and cheese is melted.
Optional add-in: sliced zucchini.

Although the title of this recipe seems very generic, it has special meaning to the Loftus family.  When Calais was born, Grandma Call brought over dinner.  We called it Grandma's Casserole because we didn't know what else to call it!  It has become a staple in our family.  A quick and delicious meal that has already touched 4 generations.

Bulgogi

1 lb beef cut into strips
1 bunch green onions sliced
1 C soy sauce

Marinade beef in green onions and soy sauce.  Grill, pan fry or broil beef.  Serve with rice. 

There are a couple things that I remember when Uncle Greg returned home from his mission to Japan.  First he gave all of his nieces a CTR ring in Japanese.  He also shared a recipe he loved from his mission:  Bulgogi.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I grew up thinking this is where Bulgogi came from.  Mom made this Asian dish every couple of months and I always looked forward to it.  The recipe is simple and so delicious.

Fin and Hattie

In separate pots, boil fin and hattie fillets and cubed potatoes. 
Prepare lemon butter sauce by slowly heating butter and lemon juice on stove. 
Heat peas in the microwave.
Serve all ingredients in large bowls and pour on lemon butter sauce.

Every Christmas, Grandpa Jule comes down from Washington to spend some time with his grandkids.  He also brings with him a special Norwegian tradition that we all love.  Its a special holiday dinner called Fin and Hattie.  We use our big shallow bowls and load up on boiled potatoes, boiled fin and hattie, and peas, and then smother it all in drawn butter.  Delicious!  Thanks Grandpa for passing on the tradition.