Friday, June 26, 2009
Shai Ma Irfeh (Cinnamon Tea)
Chai Tea
Lemon Spaghetti
Parmesan Potato Wedges
Eggnog
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Hamburger Chow Mein
1 lb. + ground Chuck (I like to get the stir fry meat mix you sometimes see: 1/2 pork, 1/2 chuck)
3/4 c. chopped onion
1/2 tsp. each of Salt & Pepper
3 tbsp. Soy Sauce
1 can Condensed Tomato Soup
1/3 c. water
1 can Chow Mein Vegetables, drained (can size is one size bigger than a normal Campbell's soup can. . . 16-20 oz.?)
3 c. hot cooked Rice
Crunchy Oriental/Chow Mein Noodles
In a large skillet, cook meat and onions until meat is lightly browned and onion is tender. Add salt, pepper, soy sauce, condensed soup, and water. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes. Add chow mein vegetable and heat thoroughly. Serve over hot rice with crunchy chow mein noodles on top.
Chocolate Banana Bread
Ingredients:
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder (if you only have regular unsweetened cocoa powder, just add 1/8 tsp of baking soda to it)
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 ripe bananas, mashed well
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cups white chocolate chips (I actually prefer to use milk chocolate semi-sweet chips instead)
brown sugar for garnish
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Set aside.
Place the nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients until just combined and batter is thick and chunky. Fold in the nuts and chocolate chips. Scrape batter into prepared pan and sprinkle the top of the bread with coarse brown sugar (optional). Bake until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Chocolate Chip Cake
Ingredients:
Stick of butter (1/2 cup), soft
8 oz package of cream cheese, soft
1 1/4 cup of sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup milk
2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 oz chocolate chips
cinnamon and sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together butter, cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.
3. Mix together all dry ingredients.
4. Add alternately dry ingredients and milk to butter mix.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Pour into a greased bundt pan and top with cinnamon and sugar.
7. Bake for 50 minutes.
8. Cool for 10-15 minutes before turning out of the bundt pan. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar or powdered sugar.
Jenni's Homemade Pizza and Sauce
Makes 2 Pizzas
Crust:
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/2 tsp sugar
3 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp oil
Combine water and yeast, then add sugar, flour, salt, and oil. Mix well with hands and let dough sit, covered in a warm place, for 1 hour. Punch down and form into two pizza crusts on two pans.
Sauce (amounts on the spices are flexible, I often add a little less or even leave out spices I don't like so much, since I think the sauce has plenty of spices!)
16 oz can tomato sauce
6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp chives
1 tsp basil
1 shake thyme
1 shake marjoram
1 1/2 tsp anis seed
1 tsp sugar
This makes a lot more sauce than we ever use on two pizzas so I usually end up freezing up to half and using it the next time I make pizza.
Bake pizzas at 400 degrees for 20 min. Switch the places of the pizzas in the oven and bake for another 10 min until well done. For a crispy crust, take pizzas off the pan for the last 10 min.
Thin Crust:
And if you prefer thin crust, here is a good recipe (I actually prefer this crust to the one above):
| 1 teaspoon(s) | active dry yeast |
| 1 teaspoon(s) | sugar |
| 2 cup(s) | flour |
| 1/2 teaspoon(s) | sea salt |
| 1/4 cup(s) | olive oil |
- Stir the yeast, sugar, and 3/4 cup warm (110 degrees F) water together and set aside for 5 minutes.
- Pulse flour and salt together in a food processor. Stream in the yeast mixture and oil through the feed tube while continuing to pulse until a shaggy dough is formed.
- Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until dough is elastic. Place the dough in a large, oiled bowl. Cover with a dampened towel. Let rise in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
- Punch the dough down to deflate, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes more. For a perfect crust, place risen dough on floured surface. Punch down with knuckles. Flour dough, hands, and rolling pin. Roll dough in long, even strokes. Top with sauce and toppings and bake pizzas at 500 degrees for 15 min.
Partridge Punch
1 can Pineapple Juice
12 oz. frozen Orange Juice
12 oz. frozen Lemonade
1/2 c. Sugar
18 oz. Water (3- 6 oz. cans)
36 oz. Ginger Ale
Freeze above juices, water, and sugar together (an ice cream bucket works well). Break up into slush and add the Ginger Ale. Serve.
Texas Brownies
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
For one 17 1/2 X 11 inch baking pan (48 brownies):
2 c. all-purpose Flour
2 c. Sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) Butter
1/2 c. Shortening
1 c. Water
1/4 c. unsweetened Dark Cocoa
1/2 c. Buttermilk (or 2 tsp. vinegar or lemon juice in 1/2 c. milk)
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
Frosting: (it is important to make the frosting while the brownies are baking)
1/2 c. Butter
2 tbsp. Dark Cocoa
1/4 c. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
3 1/2 c. unsifted Powdered Sugar
In a large bowl, combine flour and sugar. In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, shortening, water, and cocoa. Stir and heat to boiling. Pour boiling mixture over the flour and sugar in bowl. Add the buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Mix well, use a wooden spoon or high speed on a mixer. Pour into a well-buttered 17 1/2 X 11 inch jelly roll pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until a toothpick to the center comes out clean.
While brownies bake, prepare the frosting. In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa, and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring. Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar until frosting is smooth. Pour warm frosting over brownies as soon as you take them out of the oven. Cool. Cut into 48 bars.
*Add the powdered sugar a little at a time (having it pre-measured will help) and stir the frosting constantly. You will need all of those 20 minutes of bake time to get this frosting ready.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sweet Tea
Ingredients:
6 regular sized tea bags (try ones with a hint of orange, lemon or a mild flavor)
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
2 Cups boiling water1-2 Cups white sugar (I usually just use 1)
6 Cups cold watervarious fruit (I like to use strawberries and/or kiwi)
*Place tea bags in glass measuring cup and sprinkle with baking soda.
*Boil water in a teapot and fill measuring cup up to the 2 cup line.
*Let steep 15 minutes. Remove tea bags, being careful not to squeeze them too much.
*Pour tea in 2 quart pitcher, and add sugar. Stir.
*Add 6 cups cold water and add cut up fruit.
*Chill in refrigerator overnight.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Mushroom Stroganoff
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried fettuccine
- 1 8-ounce carton light dairy sour cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 vegetable bouillon cube, crumbled
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 4-1/2 cups (about 12 ounces) sliced mushrooms (such as shiitake [stems removed], button, and/or crimini)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Snipped fresh chives
Directions
1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Drain; keep warm. In a small bowl stir together the sour cream and flour. Stir in the water, bouillon, and pepper. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet cook onions in hot butter about 5 minutes or until onions are tender, stirring frequently. Stir in mushrooms and garlic. Cook and stir about 5 minutes more or until vegetables are tender. Remove mushroom mixture from skillet and add to drained pasta; keep warm.
3. Wipe out skillet. Stir the sour cream mixture into the skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Pour the sour cream mixture over the pasta and mushroom mixture, stirring gently to coat. To serve, sprinkle with chives. Makes 4 servings.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Homemade Pesto
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts
3 garlic cloves, minced
Process basil leaves in a food processor. Add nuts and garlic, and blend some more. Add about 1/3 of the parmesan and blend while slowly adding 1/3 of the olive oil, stopping to scraped the sides as needed. Continue to process until it forms a thick and smooth pasted, and then repeat until all the ingredients are used. Mix all batches together well and serve over pasta
Note: It keeps approximately 1 week in the fridge or for a few months if frozen.
Poppyseed Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar (or regular white vinegar)
3/4 - 1 cup salad oil (I usually use canola oil)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder or garlic salt
Mix salad dressing ingredients together and shake well.
Stir Fry Sauce
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Soy Sauce or Teriyaki
1/4 cup Rice Vinegar
2 tablespoons Szechuan Sauce (also you can use oyster sauce, or a mixture of both)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 tablespoon brown sugar
onion salt (optional)
garlic powder (optional)
pepper (optional)
minced garlic or onion (optional)
Spicy Spaghetti
Ingredients:
1/2 lb spaghetti
7-9 squirts of hot sauce
6-8 tablespoons brown sugar
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and put in large serving bowl (or individual plates). Squirt hot sauce and sprinkle brown sugar onto pasta. Stir with a fork until well mixed.
Christmas Party Punch
Ingredients:
White Grape Juice
Sprite
Rainbow Sherbert
Mix equal parts grape juice and sprite and top with rainbow sherbert.
Cheesy Corn & Potato Casserole
1 can cream style corn
2 large potatoes, chopped in 1/2 inch cubes and parboiled or 2 cans cubed new potatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup mixed with can milk
1 cup finely grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups French fried onions
salt and pepper to taste
Bake at 325°F in 9x13x2 glass or metal pan for 20 minutes. Sprinkle remaining French fried onions and cheeses on top and bake another 10 minutes.
Ben's Tortilla Omelet
Ingredients:
2 tortillas
3 eggs
butter
salt and pepper
slices of American Cheese (or mozzarella or cheddar works also)
ham slices (optional)
desired spices (oregano, basil, savory etc.)
Parmesan (optional)
Directions:
1.) Grease a frying pan with butter (or cooking spray etc.)
2.) Butter one of the tortillas and place butter side down in the frying pan.
3.) Put in the eggs on top, breaking the yolks. Then add Ham and cheeses, spices, salt and pepper.
4.) Butter the second tortilla and add it to the top. Flip when the bottom is golden brown.
Note: Ben will often sprinkle Parmesan on the buttered parts of the tortilla, which creates a great addition.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Golden Cream of Potato Soup
Serves 9
6 c. peeled cubed Potatoes
2 c. Water
1 c. sliced Celery
1 c. peeled, thinly sliced Carrots
1/2 c. chopped Onions
2 tsp. dried Parsley Flakes
2 Chicken Bouillon cubes
Salt
Pepper
1/4 c. Flour
3 1/4 c. Milk - divided
3/4 lb. Velveeta Cheese, cut into small cubes
Put the potatoes, water, celery, carrots, onions, parsley flakes, chicken bouillon, salt & pepper (to taste) into a large, heavy saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring mixture to a boil. cover and reduce heat to simmer for 8 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
In a small container, combine 1/4 c. each of flour and milk; mix to form a smooth paste. Stir paste into soup together with the remaining milk and 3/4 lb. Velveeta cheese. Cook and stir over medium heat until soup thickens. Enjoy!
Oven Chow Mein
1 lb. ground Beef/Turkey
1 Onion, chopped
1 can condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
2 soup cans of Water
3/4 c. uncooked Rice
3 tbsp. Soy Sauce
1 c. Celery, chopped
Slightly brown ground meat and onion . Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix and bake uncovered for 2 1/2 hours at 350 degrees. More water may be added as needed.
Mom's "Best" Meat Loaf
1 lb. + ground Beef/Turkey
1 Egg, slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 c. Milk
1 1/2 slices of soft Bread, torn into small pieces (do not use dried bread crumbs)
1/4 tsp. each of Onion Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
Mix together all ingredients (don't over-mix as it gets tough). Bake uncovered in a greased loaf pan for 1 hour.
Goes wonderfully with baked potatoes or the Dill Potatoes recipe also included in this blog.
Baked Chicken & Rice
1 can condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can condensed Cream of Celery Soup
1 stick softened/melted Butter (1/2 c.)
1 soup can of Water
1 1/2 c. uncooked Rice
Chicken
Salt & Pepper
Mix together soups and butter. Set 1/4 to 1/3 of mix aside to cover chicken later. To the larger portion of soup mixture, add rice and pour into 9 X 13 baking dish. Place chicken on top of mixture, season with salt and pepper, and cover with remaining soup mixture. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees for 2 hours.
Serves 4+
Stuffed Shells
1/2 pkg. (20 shells) Jumbo Pasta Shells
1 jar Pasta Sauce (use your favorite - we use Prego)
1 Egg
1- 15 oz. container Ricotta Cheese (my mom uses Cottage Cheese)
2 c. shredded Mozzarella
3/4 c. grated Parmesan (divided)
1 1/2 tsp. dried or 2 tbsp. chopped fresh Parsley
Remove half or approx. 20 shells from package. Cook them according to package directions. Rinse thoroughly with cold water and drain. Spray bottom of 9 X 13 X 2 inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of pasta sauce in baking dish. In large bowl, beat egg. Stir in ricotta, 1 3/4 c. of mozzarella, 1/2 c. of parmesan, and parsley. Fill the cooked shells with the ricotta mixture. Arrange filled shells in the baking dish. Top with remaining pasta sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan. Bake, covered with foil, until bubbly, about 45 - 50 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Garlic bread would be a great side for this recipe.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo
1 c. fresh or frozen broccoli florets
2 tbsp. butter
1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, cubed
fresh garlic to taste: 3-4 cloves
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. grated Parmesan
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 to 3/4 c. mozzarella
Cook pasta according to package, add broccoli for the last 4 minutes of cooking time. Drain. Heat butter in skillet. Add chicken, garlic, and salt and cook until brown, stirring often. Add soup, milk, Parmesan cheese, pepper, pasta, and broccoli. Heat thoroughly. Add in 1/2 to 3/4 c. mozzarella cheese.
Lasagna
1 onion
2 lbs. ground beef/turkey
1- 29 oz. can of tomato sauce
2 packets Lawry spaghetti sauce (or 1 large packet)
2 c. water
mushrooms
lasagna noodles (uncooked-they cook while baking)
shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses
Brown onion, meat and mushrooms. Add tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, and 2 cups water. Simmer 10 minutes.
Layering (in a 9 X 13 pan): a little sauce in bottom to start, noodles, sauce, cheeses, noodles, sauce, cheese (usually 2-3 layers of noodles). End with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Let set for 15 minutes before cutting.
Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies
3/4 c. real butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp. water
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 boxes Andes mints
Mix butter, brown sugar, and water. Microwave to melt mixture. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Let it cool for 10 minutes. Add eggs one at a time and blend in mixer at a high speed. Reduce speed to low and blend well. Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Chill for 2 hours. Roll into balls and put them on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes until cookies have a cracked appearance. Remove from oven and immediately place 1/2 of an Andes mint on top of each cookie. Let melt and swirl with your finger to frost. Makes 3 dozen cookies.
Peanut Butter Pie
1/2 c. crunchy peanut butter
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 graham cracker pie crust
1 large package (or 2 small) instant vanilla pudding
1/2 container (reg. size) Cool Whip
Blend peanut butter and powdered sugar until crumbly. Spread 1/2 of the mixture in the pie crust. Mix pudding according to package and pour into pie crust. Cover with the Cool Whip and sprinkle the rest of the PB mix over the top.
*Pie History: The associate pastor of my home church (who had known my dad most of his life) asked him if he would make him his own special pie to take home from the Thanksgiving Pie Social at church. My dad decided that he needed to be humbled and, as it so happened, he was building our house at the time. On the day of the pie social, my dad was pouring concrete and had the great idea to fill the pie with that instead of pudding and cover it with Cool Whip and the PB topping.
Well, my sister carried it to the pastor who stuck his finger into it just deep enough to get only Cool Whip (whew!), declared it to be delicious and asked my sister to put it in his car (which was for the best cuz it weighed more than a pie should). He didn't realize it was made of concrete until days later! He thought he couldn't cut through it because it was frozen and left it out on the counter to thaw . . . for days! Ha ha! Good memories!
Apple Crumb Pie
5 c. peeled baking apples (mix varieties)
1/2 c. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 unbaked pie shell
Topping:
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. butter or margarine
In a bowl, combine first five ingredients. Spoon into pie shell.
Topping: combine sugar and flour. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over pie. Bake for 40 - 50 minutes until apples are tender and crumbs are golden.
Bean Juice
4-5 tbsp. Half & Half
Salt & Pepper
maybe Butter (I put butter in it)
Cassie would like to add that she'd probably cook/steam the veggies in question before adding the juice.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 c. Shortening (pref. butter flavored)
1 c. Sugar
2 c. Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 Eggs
4 3/4 c. Flour
2 c. Chocolate Chips
Mix it all together and make cookies. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Makes over 4 dozen (Grandmas don't make small quantities). Just to warn you, these are the best cookies ever.
Vegetable Salad
1 large Cauliflower
1 bunch Broccoli
1 c. Celery
Carrots
2 bunches green onions
1 small bottle Wishbone Italian Dressing
Dressing:
1 1/2 c. Mayonnaise
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Dill Weed
4 tbsp. Heinz Chili Sauce
2 tbsp. Lemon Juice
Cut all veggies into bite-size pieces (celery and onions more thinly sliced). Marinate 24 hours with a small bottle of Wishbone Italian Dressing. Drain - add dressing. Refrigerate 3-4 hours before serving.
Confirmation Potatoes
2 lbs. frozen hash browns - thawed
1 can Cream of Celery Soup
1 can Cream of Potato Soup
1 can Milk
1- 8 oz. carton Sour Cream
1 large bag Cheddar Cheese
Mix above ingredients together (except cheese) in a 9 X 13 cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle 1 large bag of grated cheddar cheese (approx. 4 cups) over top. Bake for an additional 30 minutes.
Yummy!
Dill Potatoes
Potatoes (two per person)
1 stick butter (1/2 c. or use less and also use olive oil)
Salt
Garlic Powder
Dill Weed
Pepper
Slice potatoes to desired thickness. Melt butter and drizzle over each layer, seasoning each layer with the above ingredients as well. Bake 1 hour.
Gulliver's Corn
2- 10 oz. bags frozen corn
8 oz. milk
8 oz. whipping cream
White Pepper (to taste)
Salt (to taste)
Thickening:
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
Bring it all to a gentle boil - remove from heat and add thickening.
Broccoli & Cheese Casserole
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3 pkgs. frozen broccoli (approx. 30 oz.) (chopped finely)
2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup
1- 8 oz. block of Velveeta Cheese
1 medium onion (I use onion powder)
1 c. uncooked rice (2 c. water . . . cook separately)
1 tbsp. butter
Saute onion and butter until onion is clear. Add cheese and mushroom soup. Mix until cheese is melted and smooth. Keep mixing, add in rice and chopped broccoli. Pour into baking dish. Bake until brown, approximately 15-20 minutes.
Caramel Rolls
Serves 6-8
2 loaves frozen bread dough
3/4 c. softened vanilla ice cream
3/4 c. butter
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
Thaw bread dough (can still be a little frozen, but not much). Cut each loaf into 8 pieces. Place the slices into a 9 X 13 ungreased cake pan. Mix the ice cream, melted butter, and the sugars in a bowl. Microwave until mixed if necessary . . . no lumps. Pour the mixture over the bread dough. Cover with foil (NOT saran wrap). Place the pan in the refrigerator overnight. The following day, preheat oven to 325-350 degrees and bake the rolls for about 25 minutes. Check to make sure they are completely baked (I stick a fork into a center roll and rip it open to make sure its done). Flip over onto a jelly roll pan with sides on it. CAREFUL . . . the caramel mixture is very hot!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Rice Meatballs
1 c. Minute Rice
1 lb. Ground Beef/Turkey
1 Egg
2 1/2 c. Tomato Juice
2 tsp. Salt
1/8 tsp. Marjoram (I use a little less of Oregano as a substitute, since some website said they were similar)
Dash of Pepper
1/2 tsp. Sugar
Combine Minute Rice, meat, egg, salt, marjoram, pepper, and 1/2 cup of tomato juice. Shape into approx. 18 balls (to cover the bottom of pan) and place in skillet. Add sugar to the 2 c. remaining tomato juice and pour over meatballs. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
Sweet Milk Dinner Rolls
1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp)
2 cups warm milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp salt
4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add sugar, butter, salt and 3 cups flour; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (I often end up using even more than 5 cups for this recipe)
Turn onto a floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into 16 pieces. Shape each into a ball. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Parmesan Bread
1 1/4 cups warm water
3 cups bread flour
2 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter, soft
3-6 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
4 tsp Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp yeast
Directions:
Combine ingredients (yeast last). Mix and knead 8 minutes. Cover with a cloth and let rise about one hour or until doubled. Punch down. Put on a pan and shape into a loaf. Cover and let rise again (not too much). Bake at 350 for 25 plus minutes, until golden brown.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients
1-2 pounds shredded, cooked chicken
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil
Directions
Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.
Tips:
-I usually just put two raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock-pot, and then shred it 30-40 minutes before the soup is finished cooking. Being in the crock-pot all day gives the chicken plenty of time to cook, and this saves me the step of cooking the chicken beforehand.
-I like to add some canned black beans, drained and rinsed. I also usually add extra corn.
-I usually serve the soup with sour cream, shredded cheese, chunks of avocado, and cilantro. Sometimes I make the tortilla strips, but sometimes I just buy tortilla chips to serve with the soup instead.
Baked Rigatoni
1 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
16 ounces rigatoni
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan
Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees F
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, red pepper, oregano, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes. Stir in cream and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan.
Meanwhile, cook the rigatoni according to the package directions. Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce and toss to coat. Transfer to a 2-quart casserole and top with the remaining grated Parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Cucumbers in Sauce
Cucumbers (2-3)
Approx. 1 cup Miracle Whip (DO NOT use Mayo, its gross in this)
Milk (added a splash at a time)
White Sugar (start with 1/2 tsp.)
Vinegar (start with 1 tsp.)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Peel and slice cucumbers. Soak in cold salted water while preparing dressing.
Mix the remaining ingredients listed above and taste to see if you like it. If it is too runny, add more Miracle Whip. Too tart, add a little sugar, etc. Play with the ingredients until you like the flavor.
Drain the cucumbers and rinse them thoroughly. Combine with sauce and test flavor again. If you still like the taste, chill in the fridge until you're ready to eat them. I'm a fan of the dressing, so I serve it in a bowl with a spoon.
Hamburger/Potato/Carrot Hot Dish
Serves 4+
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1 lb. ground beef/turkey
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1-2 potatoes per person (depending on size)
A portion of a can of water (save potato water if possible)
Cut carrots and potatoes into bite-sized pieces and parboil them (pref. in separate pots as they cook at different rates). Brown meat in a skillet or in an oven safe pot. When veggies are ready, drain and add to the meat. Add the soup and mix together add enough water to juice things up a bit (not enough to become soupy). Cover and bake for 20-25 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.
I like to serve it with brown and serve rolls or dinner roll bread and butter. If you don't have an oven or don't want to bake it, that's okay. My mom says it melds the flavors, but it is fully cooked and ready to eat without being baked. I'd probably simmer it for a couple of minutes, though, to heat it through and 'meld' those flavors. :)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
1/2 lb. spaghetti, uncooked
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced crosswise
2 cups spaghetti sauce
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream Cheese, cubed
Directions:
1. Cook spaghetti as directed on package.
2. Heat Italian dressing in a large pan on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 2 min. Add zucchini; cook an additional 2 min., stirring frequently. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Bring just to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min. or until chicken is cooked through. Add cream cheese; cook 1 min. or until cheese is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring occasionally.
3. Serve the chicken mixture over the spaghetti noodles.
ELM
Ingredients:
-1 1/2 cups penne pasta
-2 Tbsp. olive oil
-one lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into one-inch pieces (I often do less than one pound, usually just one chicken breast, whatever size it happens to be!)
-one zucchini, cut lengthwise and crosswise in half, then cut into thin slices
-one red pepper, cut into strips, halved
-1/4 cup Italian dressing
-2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan
-red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. Cook pasta as directed on package
2. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for three or four minutes. Add zucchini and red pepper. Cook for a few more minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are crisp-tender.
3.Drain pasta and add to chicken and vegetable mixture. Add the dressing and Parmesan and mix. Add red pepper flakes, sale and pepper, to taste.
This recipe is obviously pretty flexible. Sometimes I add a bit of chopped onion with the other veggies if I have some on hand that needs to be used up. If you need to make a bigger batch it could be yummy adding another pepper that's a different color. We often experiment with different seasonings to spice it up a bit.
Roasting Vegetables
Vegetable Categories:
*lighter-density veg. such as tomatoes, summer squash, green beans, and eggplant take the least amount of time
*medium-density veg. such as onions, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, and turnips take a little bit longer
*high-density veg. such as potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, and sweet potatoes take the longest to cook
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425º and cut vegetables into fairly large chunks. Toss with olive oil.
-Spread out vegetables in heavy jelly roll pan or roasting pan that is lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick spray. (Heavier pans are designed to withstand high heat; they help keep veggies from burning.)
-About halfway through (25-30 min.), turn veggies over with spatula and continue to cook until tender and browned on edges (about 20 min. longer).
- add salt, pepper and choice of seasonings
Tips (Here are a few suggestions to try, just don't try them all at once):
*try adding nuts and seeds (toasted pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pine nuts, and sunflower kernels)
*try adding cheeses (goat cheese, blue cheese, feta cheese)
*try adding butter with herbs and spices
*try adding juices like fresh lemon, lime, OJ, or grapefruit
*try adding sauces or dressings (vinaigrettes, curry)
Applesauce
*4 strips of lemon peel
*juice of one lemon (lemon juice really helps to bring out the flavor of the apples)
*1 3-in. cinnamon stick
*1/4 Cup brown sugar
*1/4 to 1/2 Cup white sugar
*1 Cup water
*1/2 teaspoon salt
-Cut and peel apples.
-Put all the ingredients in a medium sized pot, cover, and bring to a boil.
-Let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
-Remove from heat and remove cinnamon stick and lemon peels. Mash.
Baked Spaghetti
1 Jar Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce or your favorite
1 Jar Alfredo Sauce
Pepperoni
Mozzarella Cheese
1 Package Thick Spaghetti (serves 8)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Heat sauces together in a saucepan (cuts down baking time and moisture loss). At the same time, boil pasta according to package to al dente. Drain and return to pot. Add the sauces to the pasta.
*If you have individual serving dishes that are safe to use in the oven, they would be perfect for this recipe. Otherwise, use a 9 x 13 baking pan and make separate piles of pasta.
Use tongs or a spaghetti spoon to make layers of pasta and sauce and pepperoni. When you run out of ingredients, top each serving with mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is golden.
(I usually make half of this recipe for just my husband and myself)
Sloppy Joes
½ of an Onion (I use onion powder)
1 can Tomato Soup (condensed)
1 Tbsp. Vinegar
1 heaping Tbsp. Mustard
1 Tbsp. White Sugar
3 Tbsp. Ketchup
Brown the ground meat and onion. Add other ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes.
How easy is that?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Teriyaki Marinade
Ingredients:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup cooking sherry
1/4 cup oil
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp ginger
1 clove garlic
Marinade in the fridge for several hours. I like the chicken best on the grill, but since we don't have a grill I usually just cook it on the stove.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Crust Ingredients:
· 1 ¾ Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
· 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
· ½ cup butter or margarine, melted
Filling Ingredients:
· ¼ Cup all-purpose flour
· 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
· 2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
· 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin filling
· 4 packages (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
· 1 cup packed brown sugar
· 2/3 cup granulated sugar
· 5 eggs
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 325°F. Grease 9-inch springform pan with shortening.
2. In small bowl, mix cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and the melted butter. Press crumb mixture in bottom of pan. Wrap foil around outside of pan to prevent drips. Bake crust 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes at room temperature. Refrigerate about 5 minutes or until completely cooled.
3. Meanwhile, in another small bowl, mix flour, pumpkin pie spice, brandy and pumpkin; set aside. In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in brown sugar and 2/3 cup granulated sugar until smooth. On low speed, beat in 1 egg at a time just until blended. Gradually beat in pumpkin mixture until smooth.
4. Pour filling over crust. Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes or until set but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool in pan on wire rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.
5. To serve, run knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Carefully remove side of pan before cutting cheesecake. Store covered in refrigerator.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Decrease butter for crust to 1/4 cup. Before heating oven, place small baking pan filled with 1 to 2 cups water on oven rack below center rack to help prevent cheesecake from cracking (leave pan in oven while cooling cheesecake). Heat oven to 350°F.
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Glazed Pork Chops
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cornstarch1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon butter OR margarine
6 pork chops, 3/4" thick (Sometimes I'll just make 4 pork chops without adjusting the rest of the proportions, and just have a little extra glaze.)
1 can Campbell's® Condensed French Onion Soup
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
Directions:
MIX cornstarch and water. MELT butter in skillet. Add chops and cook until browned. ADD soup and sugar. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 10 min. or until done. REMOVE chops and keep warm. Add cornstarch mixture. Cook and stir until mixture boils and thickens. Serve over chops.
Lemonade
The secret to this recipe is the sugar syrup, also known as "simple syrup." Dissolving the sugar in hot water effectively disperses the sugar in the lemonade, instead of having the sugar sink to the bottom.
You should reduce the amount of sugar, if you are using Meyer lemons which are naturally much sweeter.
1 Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved completely. 2 While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4 to 6 lemons, enough for one cup of juice. 3 Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher. Add 3 to 4 cups of cold water, more or less to the desired strength. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it. (If it is too sour, I often just add a little more water to it, and that works fine too.) Serve with ice, sliced lemons. Serves 6.INGREDIENTS
METHOD
Monday, June 1, 2009
Introduction
I suggest the following format:
1.) input your recipe and give it a title
2.) input one of the labels from food category and one of the labels from the name category, and if you want one of the optional ones from the optional category
3.) submit
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