Top Five Family Dinner Recipes of 2014

For years I have planned out weekly menus for dinner and have about four weeks worth of meals that are rotated around so we are not eating the same thing week in and week out.  Some of the following recipes are fairly new, and others we have had for years and my family has yet to tire of it.  If you want a couple of good resources for great meals that are easy and family pleasers, go to Pioneer Woman or Our Best Bites.  I find these websites to be very reliable and I highly recommend them!  Some of the following recipes I have written out because they are either from friends, or my own creation.  Others have links to click on to lead right to it.
Bon a petite!

1.  Sloppy Joes (I usually double this)
Serves 3-4
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. ketchup
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. white vinegar
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dijon mustard (regular works fine, too)
1 tsp. paprika

Directions:  Brown meat and combine all other ingredients.  Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.  Serve on your favorite hamburger buns.

Note:  I bake up sweet potato fries and plop my sloppy joe meat on a pile of fries.
The best.  Thing.  Ever.

2.  Southwest Chopped Salad

3.  Mom Mac -n- Cheese
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1 box elbow macaroni
1 jar cheddar cheese sauce (we use Ragu)
Your choice of: 1-8 oz bag frozen peas; or 1-8 oz bag frozen broccoli
Your choice of: chopped or diced ham; or sliced hot dogs
*We find the peas go well with the ham or hot dogs, while the broccoli is best suited for the ham

Directions:
Boil macaroni (and peas if using) for 10 minutes in salted water (add olive oil to water as well).  If using broccoli, cook separately from pasta.  Drain well.  Heat hot dogs or ham.  Mix all ingredients together in casserole dish and serve.

4.  Hash
Serve 4-6
Ingredients:
1 bag frozen diced potatoes
Your choice of fresh vegetables (add as many or few as you like):
     -yellow squash
     -zucchini
     -peppers (red, yellow, green....it's all good)
     -mushrooms
     -onions
Your choice of meat (can omit for a vegetarian meal):
     -chopped or diced ham
     -sausage (pre-cook if using raw)
     -bacon
Cheese (for topping)

Directions:
In one skillet, cook potatoes in olive oil, garlic, onion powder, black pepper and salt.  In separate skillet, sauté veggies in olive oil until tender.  Add meat to veggie skillet.  In 10x13 dish, gently combine potatoes, veggies and meat.  Top with cheese and serve.

5.  Cowboy Quesadillas