Recipes To Die For!

1 (28-ounce) jar of your favorite type spaghetti sauce
     1 cup water
     1 ½ pounds low fat ground beef
     8 ounce uncooked manicotti shells (12 - 14 shells)
     2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
     1 cup finely chopped onion
     3 tablespoons Gun Powder Seasoning (recipe follows), or
     1 pack taco seasoning

In a bowl, mix ground beef, onion and Gun Powder Seasoning. Heat oven to
350 degrees. In another bowl, mix spaghetti sauce and water. Spread about
1/3 of the sauce mix in a un-greased 13 X 9 inch (3 quart) glass baking dish.
Load uncooked manicotti shells with ground beef mix. Place shells on sauce
in the baking dish. Pour remaining sauce evenly over shells. Cover tightly
with foil. Bake about 1 hour or until shells are tender. Sprinkle with
cheese. Bake uncovered about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Makes 4 servings: Ground beef can be replaced with 1 ½ pounds of chicken tenders (not breaded) split, 14 total. Move onions to sauce mix.

GUN POWDER SEASONING
By Steve Elke

3 tablespoons Chili Powder
2 ½ tablespoons Paprika
2 tablespoons Salt
2 tablespoons Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon Ground Black Pepper
1 tablespoon Onion Powder
1 tablespoon Ground Cayenne Pepper
1 tablespoon Ground Chipotle Chili Pepper
1 tablespoon Ground Oregano
1 tablespoon Ground Thyme

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Store in a air tight container up to a
year. Use as a seasoning rub, or in a stew, soups or chili. Add some to
your Mac & Cheese to keep it warm. Makes about a cup.

"PULLED-PORK BARBECUE" RECIPE FROM STEVE ELKE

4 Cups Onions, cut and separated into rings
3-4 Pounds boneless Pork Roast
4 ounces Coke
1 (16 ounce) bottle Barbecue Sauce
8 Hamburger Buns

Place onion rings in the bottom of the slow cooker, top with pork roast. Add Coke and cover and cook on low for (8-10) hours, or (4-5) on high, till meat is falling apart. Remove meat to a large bowl. Drain liquid from slow cooker saving the onions, discard any fat. With folks, shred, (PULL) pork into coarse shreds, discarding any fat. Return pulled pork and onions to slow cooker. Add barbecue sauce and mix well. Cover and cook on low for one hour or until hot. Serve on toasted buns. Makes 8 Big sandwiches.

APPLE BUTTER

5 pounds apples peeled, corded and chopped
3 Teaspoons ground cinnamon

In a slow cooker combine apples and cinnamon. Cover and cook on low for 9 to 10 hours. Using a stick blender, blend apple butter until smooth. Uncover the slow cooker and cook another hour if the butter is to thin. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving ½-inch head space. Cover and refrigerate or freeze. Yields about 5 cups. If apple butter is on the tart side add some sugar or Splenda before putting in containers.

Each month, PITA will select a winner from shooters who have submitted recipes for this contest. The winner will have his/her photo taken and included with the winning recipe. Each winner will be awarded a "really kewl" chef's apron - just like the one in the photo below. When you see someone wearing one of these aprons around the camping grounds - show them reverence for their culinary talents - they are an official "12 GAUGE GOURMET"!