Lara's Kitchen

Death by Chocolate!

2012-01-31T04:37:00.001-08:00

Death by Chocolate Cake
Amy - amylz

3/4 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 chocolate cake mix
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sour cream, eggs, water and oil together in a large bowl until thoroughly mixed. Add cake mix and pudding mix. Stir in chocolate chips. Place batter in a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake 45-55 minutes, or until a fork inserted into cake comes out clean. While still hot, invert cake onto a serving platter. When cool, sift powdered sugar over top of cake.

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Soup

2012-01-23T15:11:00.001-08:00

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Soup
4-6 chicken breasts
3 large diced carrots
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, diced
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup flour
1 qt. half and half (can do 2 cups milk, 2 cups half and half)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 lb fresh broccoli cut into pieces, or 2 10 oz packages frozen broccoli
1- 16 oz package velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
Boil chicken, carrots, celery, and onions until done. Remove chicken and vegetables and save 3 cups of the broth. Cube the chicken and set aside. Discard the rest of the broth. In a pot melt butter and stir in flour. Slowly add broth and half and half. Heat until thick. Add the velveeta cheese and stir until melted. Add chicken and vegetables. Heat thouroughly and enjoy.

Amish Meatloaf

2012-01-17T04:52:00.001-08:00

2 pounds ground beef
2 1/2 cups crushed butter-flavored crackers
1 small onion, chopped
2 eggs
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 slices bacon
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, mix together ground beef, crushed crackers, onion, eggs, 3/4 cup ketchup, and 1/4 cup brown sugar until well blended. Press into a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Lay the two slices of bacon over the top.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until cooked through. While the loaf bakes, mix together the remaining 1 cup ketchup, vinegar, salt, mustard and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Spread over the top of the meat loaf for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 464 | Total Fat: 21.1g | Cholesterol: 124mg

beef tips over noodles

2012-01-13T13:22:00.001-08:00

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
2 cups water
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (.75 ounce) packet dry brown gravy mix
1 cup water

Directions

In a large skillet heat oil over high heat. Saute the onion until almost translucent.
Add the stew meat and cook on high heat until meat is browned on all sides; about 3 to 5 minutes.
Pour 2 cups water, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet. Stir in garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Meanwhile combine the gravy mix with 1 cup water. Mix thoroughly and stir into the meat mixture. Bring to a boil stirring frequently until slightly thickened.

summer corn fettuccine

2011-09-11T16:12:00.001-07:00

Summer Corn Fettuccine
CindyJ from Rachael Ray Look & Cook

salt
1 pound fettuccine
extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
6 slices smoky bacon, chopped
6 ears corn on the cob, shucked
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
black pepper
1 cup half-and-half or cream
2 T fresh thyme leaves
1/2 cup chicken stock or dry white wine
a few dashes of hot sauce or a pinch or two of cayenne pepper
a couple handfuls of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh sweet basil leaves or 1/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon leaves

Heat a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. Salt the water and cook the pasta to al dente.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet with a drizzle of olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the bacon to the pan and cook for a few minutes to crisp the bacon and render its fat. Place a small bowl inverted in a large bowl, steady the corn cobs on the smaller bowl, and scrape the kernels off the ears. Add three quarters of the kernels and the liquids to the bacon. Add the shallots and bell pepper to the corn mixture and season liberally with salt and pepper. Cook until tender, 5-6 minutes.

Add the remaining corn to the food processor and puree with the cream.

Stir in the thyme and the stock or wine into the corn mixture in the skillet, reduce for a minute, then stir in the corn-cream mixture. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, to thicken. Add the hot sauce or cayenne pepper and adjust the salt and pepper.

Drain the pasta, then toss with the sauce, parsley, and a couple handfuls of cheese, about 1/2 cup. Top with basil or tarragon and pass the remaining cheese at the table.
Serves 4 to 6.

Lara's Special Birthday Cake Recipe

2011-08-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

* 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
* 2 cups sugar
* 4 eggs
* 3 cups sifted self-rising flour
* 1.5 cup milk
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 pkg of instant vanilla pudding mix

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans. Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pudding mix. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4 inches above counter, then dropping it flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely and spread cake layers with your favorite frosting to make a 3-layer cake.

oatmeal cookies

2011-07-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies is my go-to lately but it's not neccessarily my favorite - but it's pretty close.

1 1/4 C flour

1 t baking soda

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t salt

Combine these in their own, small bowl.

1 C softened butter

3/4 C sugar

3/4 C packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 t vanilla extract

Beat together. Gradually add flour mixture.

3 C oats

1 2/3 C butterscotch chips

Stir these into mixture. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto cookie sheet (I prefer greased but it doesn't really matter). Bake 8-10 minutes at 375 then allow to cool on pan for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. BEWARE: You will need milk with these.

cracker chicken

2011-07-06T13:42:00.001-07:00

cracker chicken w/steamed broccoli. Then get a big loaf of french bread, cut it into pieces and butter it, put shredded cheese on top and bake on broil for a few mins.

Cracker ChickenBoneless
skinless chicken (however many pieces of chicken breasts you need for the amount of people, or I use the chicken tenders frz chicken from costco because they cook faster b/c they're smaller and I do about 7 of them with this recipe).

Thaw it out in the microwave and place in a small ziplock bag with some plain yogurt.

1 sleeve ritz crackers, crushed up in a gallon ziplock bag.
Add 1/2 TBSP garlic powder and 1/2 TBSP Lawry's salt.
Add 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and shake bag to mix.

Place yogurt coated chicken in ritz mixture and turn over and press with fork until completely coated.Place on greased cookie sheet and pour melted butter over chicken.

Bake at 350 for 30-40 mins or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle. You can eat it plain or we like to dip the chicken in ranch, bbq sauce, or cotsco has some yummy raspberry chipotle sauce I LOVE to serve with this. Enjoy!

Coleslaw

2011-07-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

Easy Coleslaw

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 cups green cabbage, shredded
1 cup purple cabbage, shredded
1 cup carrots, shredded

Whisk together the first 7 ingredients (sugar through black pepper). Toss cabbage and carrots in a large salad bowl. Pour in the dressing and stir well. Let sit in the fridgeat least 4 hours, preferably 24 hours.

Lemon Cheesecake Crunch Bars

2011-07-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

Lemon Cheesecake Crunch Bars
1 pkg yellow pudding in the mix cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 C vegetable oil
2 - 8oz pkg cream cheese
1 C granulated sugar
3 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350.2. Combine cake mix, 1 egg & oil in large bowl; stir till crumbly. Reserve 1 cup crumb mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture into ungreased 13 x 9 cake pan. Bake 15 min or until golden.3. Combine remaining egg, cream cheese, sugar and lemon juice in medium bowl; beat until smooth. Spread over baked layer. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 15 min. cool in pan on wire rack; cut into bars

Glaze Topping
4 C powder sugar
1/3 C fresh lemon juice
1 lemon zested
3 Tbs veg. oil
3 Tbs water
Whisk together, drizzle over lemon bar and plate...

Zucchini Pancakes

2011-07-01T06:51:00.001-07:00

momonthemove ~Kay~ via Barefoot Contessa at Home
Ingredients
2 medium zucchini (about 3/4 pound)
2 tablespoons grated red onion
2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
6 to 8 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Unsalted butter and vegetable oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Grate the zucchini into a bowl using the large grating side of a box grater. Immediately stir in the onion and eggs. Stir in 6 tablespoons of the flour, the baking powder, salt, and pepper. (If the batter gets too thin from the liquid in the zucchini, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour.)

Heat a large (10 to 12-inch) saute pan over medium heat and melt 1/2 tablespoon butter and 1/2 tablespoon oil together in the pan. When the butter is hot but not smoking, lower the heat to medium-low and drop heaping soup spoons of batter into the pan. Cook the pancakes about 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place the pancakes on a sheet pan and keep warm in the oven. Wipe out the pan with a dry paper towel, add more butter and oil to the pan, and continue to fry the pancakes until all the batter is used. The pancakes can stay warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

2011-07-01T06:44:00.000-07:00

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Summer aka The Skipper Bunch

1 (32oz) bag baby carrots
1/2 tsp salt
1/2c brown sugar
2-3 Tbsp stick butter, cut into pieces
1 Tbsp fresh parsley,chopped (I omit)
1 small onion, chopped opt

---Spray slow cooker with non stick spray. Place carrots in slow cooker. Sprinkle salt, brown sugar and butter over carrots evenly. Cover and cook on high for 4-5hrs or until carrots have reached desired tenderness; stirring after 2 hrs. Remove and sprinkle with parsley. Can be held on low for 1 hr.

Lara's Parmensan Cheese Baked Chicken

2011-06-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of years, I have worked hard on creating and improving this recipe. This isn't exact recipe but it's closest thing to the best ever baked chicken.

1 lb chicken breast

1 c of seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 c mayo

1/4 c parmensan cheese, grated

butter

Pound chicken breast until thin but not too thin. I mixed mayo and cheese together. Spread mayo/cheese on one side of the chicken breast and place it faced down onto of the bread crumbs. Now, spread the mayo on the other side of the chicken that's face up towards you. Flip the chicken over and make sure to coat both sides of the chicken. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Place one 1 tbps of butter on top of each chicken breast. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes!

Seriously, the moists chicken ever!!!!! The meat was so tender and yummy plus it wasn't over cooked!

Lara's Special Goulash

2011-05-31T15:37:00.000-07:00

1 lb ground beef
1 onion
1 tsp garlic
1 small can of tomato sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tpbs papika
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp w. sauce
1 C. Mac Noodles
1 C. Water plus more if needed to cook the noodles

1. brown ground beef and chopped onion in pan. Add, tomato sauce plus seasonings. Add noodles plus water and on med heat boil all together for 10 minutes or until noodles are cooked all the way.

bread rolls

2011-05-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Sugarfactory Smokehouse Cinnamon Rolls or Dinner Rolls

2 ½ cups warm water
½ cup oil
¾ cup sugar
3½ Tbsp saf instant yeast (don't use active/dry yeast, it won't work)

Mix together and let sit for 15 minutes.

Then add 2 beaten eggs

Then add: 7 cups of flour
1 Tbsp salt (don't use kosher salt)

Mix in mixer with paddle hook until combined. Then switch to your knead hook and mix for about 3 minutes.

Let them rise for 30 minutes.

Cinnamon Rolls: Pour out on floured counter and roll out into rectangle, about ½ inch thick. Pour ½ cup of melted butter over dough, then sprinkle with cinnamon and white sugar. Roll lengthwise. Cut about 1 inch thick with dental floss. Put in greased cookie sheet and let them rise another 30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Rolls: Pour out on floured counter and divide in 6 equal pieces. Roll out into circle and using a pizza cutter make 8 equal triangles. Roll each into a crescent shape. Put on greased cookie sheet. Let them rise another 30 minutes. Cook at 350 for 15-20 minutes

PW's Pan-Fried Pork Chops

2011-05-19T15:42:00.001-07:00

Recipe: Simple, Pan-Fried Pork Chops
Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 5 Minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 8

Ingredients
7 pieces Or 8 Pieces Breakfast Chops (very Thin Bone-in Pork Chops)
1 cup All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper To Taste
½ cups Canola Oil
1 Tablespoon Butter
Extra Salt And Pepper, To Taste
Preparation Instructions
Rinse pork chops. (Yes, I rinse my pork chops. Please don’t be hatin’.) Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops.
Combine all dry ingredients. Dredge each side of the pork chops in the flour mixture, then set aside on a plate.
Heat canola oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add butter. When butter is melted and butter/oil mixture is hot, cook 3 pork chops at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on the first side; 1 to 2 minutes on the other side. (Make sure no pink juices remain.) Remove to a plate and repeat with remaining porch chops.

Frozen Cookie Dough Cookies

2011-04-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

Frozen Cookie Dough Cookies

1 Cup Butter

1 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 or 2 TPBS Water

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. baking soda

2 Cups Flour

1 bag of chocolate chips

Directions: In a large bowl, first cream your sugars and butter. The mix in your other ingredients, stirring in the chocolate chips last. If your dough is looking a little dry and crumbly, add more water, a few drops at a time, until you get a nice, workable dough.Roll your dough into small balls and put them on a cookie sheet. We were able to make 56 balls, though we probably could have had more but there was quite a bit of sampling going on... Pop them in the freezer until you can't wait any more, then pop them in your mouth!

You can leave them plain, if you like, but we think a little more chocolate makes everything better. We decided to dip our frozen balls of doughy goodness into meted chocolate. Heavenly!

Katie's Cream Soda

2011-03-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

Italian Cream Soda syrup 1/2 and 1/2 club soda sprite ice cubes Step one: mix one part club soda and one part sprite Step two: one or two tbsp of syrup Step three: add one small cup of half and half step four: add ice, but in the beginning

Southwestern Bean Chowder

2011-01-14T14:22:00.001-08:00

Taste of Homes

Super yummy plus really healthily...I did make a couple of changes. I used pinto beans instead of white kidney because that's all that I had on hand. Plus, I only added half of the recommended cumin to the soup. The soup is really creamy but a little on the chunky side so I decided to blend half the soup in the blender to make it more smooth!

Ingredients
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) white kidney or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, divided
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1-1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed
• 1 medium carrot, shredded
• 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 4-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• Minced fresh cilantro and additional shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Directions
• In a small bowl, mash one can beans with a fork; set aside.
•
• In a Dutch oven, saute the onion, celery and pepper in oil until
• tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the mashed beans,
• broth, corn, carrot, chilies, cumin, chili powder and remaining

Teriyaki Pork

2010-12-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

3/4 c. Chicken Broth-divided!
1/3 c. soy sauce
2 tsp Rice Wine Vinegar
2 tsp Honey
2 tsp garlic powder

boneless pork chops
canola oil
1 TBSP flour-to thicken up the sauce

2 TPBS Brown Sugar

Serve with

broccoli
rice

1. In a small bow, combine 1/4c. broth, soy sauce, vineagr, honey, and garlic powder. Pour over pork chops and marinate for two hours.

2. Drain and discard marinade.

3. Chop up pork chops and fry in a pan with some oil.

4. Remake the sauce and pour over pork. Cook it.

5. Add flour to thicken up the sauce...plus don't forget to add the brown sugar at the end!

Serve over rice and broccolli.

Lara's Breaded Dijon Pork Chops

2010-10-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

3/4 C. Panko Crumbs
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp sage
1/4 tsp pepper and salt
Dijon Mustard
pork loin chops-1/2 inch think

1/2 cup of oil

1. In a small bowl, combine the panko crumbs, sage, basil, pepper, and salt. Spread mustard on both sides of the pork chops; coat with crumb mixture.

2. In a large skillet, cook pork chop in oil over med heat for 4-5 minutes until golden brown on each side.

3. Place chops in a pan and bake at 350 degree for 20 minutes or until juice run clear.

Lara's Crocky Crock Pot Roast

2010-10-01T04:30:00.001-07:00

Step 1
1 3-4 lb roast
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly grind pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 TBPS oil

Rub roast with seasonings and add oil to the pan. Proceed to brown each side of the roast until nicely golden brown.

Place roast in crockpot

1 can of cream of celery
2 TBPS Worchestershire sauce
4 cubes of beef bouillon
2 cloves of garlic
1 large onion, sliced thinly
1/4 c. white wine

Step 2

Add the remaining ingredients into the crockpot. Cook on low for 8- 10 hours. Shred all the meat with a fork and mix up all the ingredients. Sauce will be nice and thick serve over rice.

2010-09-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Pam-Cakes

2010-08-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Use a light hand when stirring the batter, overmixing will cause a rubbery texture.

The most amazing pancakes ever. These pancakes come out super fluffy and light. Leroy gave them two thumbs up. Will never go back to packaged pancake mix again.

Lara via Southern Living

Pam-Cakes

1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/4 butter, melted

preparation

1. combine flour and next four ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together buttermilk and eggs. Gradually stir buttermilk minture into flour mixture. Gently stir in butter. Batter will be lumpy.

Lara's Pizza Sauce

2010-06-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

I made this sauce last year but I decided to tweak it a little bit more for the best most amazing pizza sauce. I ended up with a half case of seconds tomatoes from a guy on the side of the road selling produce. The guy gave me all the tomatoes for free plus I had a couple of tomatoes from my garden to add to this sauce. I always make my pizza dough from scratch and it's so nice to be able to open up a jar of sauce that's ready to use.

Lara's Special Pizza Sauce

5-6 pints

25-28 tomatoes or 15 large size tomatoes in 3" diameters
2 large onions, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbps olive oil
2 Tbps lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbps Sugar
4 TBPS fresh parsley, chopped
1 TBPS oregano
1 TBPS basil
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp fennel seed
2 tsp salt
2 8 oz cans of tomato paste

directions:

1. Dice tomatoes and cook tomatoes on med heat for 30 minutes!
2. Puree tomatoes in bender....two cups at a time
3. Mince the onion and garlic
4. Put olive oil in deep pan and saute the onions and garlic until transparent. Add onions and garlic to tomatoe puree and the rest of the ingredients; stir well to blend. Cook on low until mixture is reduced. Keep stirring occasionally for 1.5 or 2 hours.
5. When sauce is done and nicely thickened, ladle into hot pint size jars, clean the rims of the jars, and seal. Process for 25 mintues in water bath or pressure cook for 15 minutes at 10 lbs of pressure.

enjoy!

2010-06-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Olive Garden Italian Dressing

*Sara*
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons romano cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in a blender until well mixed. If this is a little to tart for your own personal tastes please add a little extra sugar.

Summer Pasta Salad

2010-06-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

Created by Me (Lara):

1 box of bowtie pasta

6-8 slices of bacon and crumbled
two carrots shredded
1/2 cup of peas
2 stalks of celery diced
half of red onion-diced
1 cup of cherry tomatoes cut in half

dressing
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
3 tbps of fresh parsley
2 shakes of ms. dash
1 tsp salt and pepper too taste
1 tsp or more of garlic salt

Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate

2010-06-02T10:30:00.001-07:00

from Kitchen Simplicity

Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate - inspired by Martha Stewart
3/4 cup strawberry puree (below)
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup lemon juice (approximately 4 lemons)
Mix ingredients together and use immediately or freeze in a small storage container.
To serve: Add 5 cups cold water and stir to combine. Add additional sugar if needed.*
Makes: 6 cups juice

Tips
*Every fruit has a different level of sugar and every person has a different personal preference. That is why you may need to add more sugar. It's better to not have enough the first time and have to add more then to have too much and not be able to take any out.

*I like to use sparkling water for an even more refreshing taste.

* To store flat: line a large mug with a resealable plastic bag and pour in concentrate, remove excess air and seal tightly. This way you can stack them on top of each other in the freezer and they don't take up as much space.

* You may need to thaw it a bit before using. To do this quickly, place under hot running tap water.

Strawberry puree
2 cups strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
2 tsp. sugar
Blend until smooth. Strain through sieve to remove seeds.
*This makes a little more then needed in the above recipe. Any extra puree can be frozen, in tablespoon portions, in ice cube trays, for later use.

2010-05-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

Cheesy Mac and BeefChristine0120

1 lb ground beef chuck
1 (14.5-oz) can beef broth
1 cup water 8 oz
elbow macaroni (2 cups)
1 (12-oz) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup processed cheese sauce
8 oz shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Preheat large sauté pan (or electric skillet) on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place ground beef in pan; cook 5–7 minutes, stirring to crumble meat, or until beef is brown and no pink remains. Stir in broth, water, and macaroni; bring to a boil. Cook 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until liquid is mostly absorbed and macaroni is soft and tender. Stir milk into pasta; remove from heat (or turn heat off). Stir in both cheeses until smooth and melted. Serve.

Best Meatloaf with Tomato and Brown Sugar Glaze

2010-05-18T05:19:00.001-07:00

2 lbs ground beef (or 1 pound of ground beef and 1/2 pound each of ground pork and ground veal)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk or yogurt
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp dried thyme flakes
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup fresh breadcrumbs, oatmeal, or crushed saltine crackers

For glaze:
1/2 cup ketchup or chili sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cider or white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium skillet sauté onions and garlic until onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool while assembling meatloaf. Whisk together eggs, milk, thyme, mustard, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Add to meat along with bread crumbs or oatmeal, onions and garlic, and combine gently but thoroughly (don't mush meatloaf too much or it will be tough). Shape into a 9x5 inch loaf. (I like to line a loaf pan with parchment or plastic wrap and put the meat in the loaf pan and then invert it back into the baking dish and remove the parchment- that way you get a uniform loaf shape that bakes evenly). And place into a foil-lined shallow baking dish. Combine ingredients for the glaze and brush half of the glaze on the meatloaf before baking. Brush the remaining glaze on the meatloaf about 15 minutes before it comes out of the oven. Bake about 1 hour or until internal temperature reads at 160 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Allow to rest at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Chicken Tuscany

2010-05-13T13:33:00.001-07:00

Chicken Tuscany (4kowboys)
3-4 chicken breasts, cubed
1 can tomato sauce
1 medium red pepper
1 packet golden onion soup mix
1 small can mushrooms
1/2 cup orange juice
2 Tbls. Brown Sugar

Preheat oven 350 degrees. In 13x9 baking dish layer chicken, red peppers and mushrooms. In bowl mix OJ, Onion soup Mix, brown sugar and tomato sauce. Pour over chicken. Bake 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve over white Rice.

Absolutely Fabulous Greek/House Dressing

2010-04-30T13:45:00.001-07:00

Gabrielle ~ Golden*Girl via Allrecipes.com
Servings: 10
1/2 cup olive oil
1-1/4 teaspoons garlic powder
1-1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1-1/4 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
2/3 cup red wine vinegar
Mix together the olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, pepper, salt, onion powder, and Dijon-style mustard. Pour in the vinegar, and mix vigorously until well blended. Store tightly covered at room temperature.

crockpot sloppy joes

2010-04-30T05:20:00.001-07:00

Crockpot Sloppy JoesTheBadWitch
3lbs. ground beef or turkey
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 bottle of chili sauce
3 Tblsp Worcestershire sauce
3 Tblsp brown sugar
1 small can tomato paste
Brown meat with onion and pepper. Drain. Mix with other ingredients in the crockpot. Cook on low at least 4 hours for best results. Stir occasionally.

orange chicken

2010-03-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Orange Chicken: 1 1/2 lb boneless chicken cut into 2 inch chunks, 1/2 c flour, olive oil for browning chicken, 1 tbsp kosher salt, 6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate (no pulp), 3 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp balsalmic vinegar, 3 tbsp Ketchup. Cut chicken into chunks, coat in flour, and brown in hot olive oil. Put chicken in crockpot. Mix everything else and pour over chicken. Cook high 4 hrs, low 7-8, and serve with rice.

bacon cheeseburger rice

2010-03-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

I also made the Bacon Cheeseburger Rice (which is funny that I had it on my menu before it was reviewed, lol) My family liked it. Another mock hamburger helper deal. I don't think I can go wrong with this for my family.

Bacon Cheeseburger Rice

(luckymommy2boys)

Ingredients
2 cups Cooked rice
1 lb. Ground meat
4-6 slices Bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1 can Condensed tomato soup (10 3/4 oz)
3 tablespoons Onion soup mix
2 cups Shredded cheddar cheese

Preparation

brown and drain beef. while beef is cooking mix together soup, onion soup mix, bacon pieces and cheese. add tobrowned ground beef. simmer on low until cheese is just melted. add rice and mix well. Serve immediatlyCook's Notes*freezable; let cool and freeze. To serve: thaw overnight in fridge and reheat on stovetop.
*Rachel's Notes: I made this a one pot dish. I browned the meat, added in everything else, then added the 1 cup dry rice and 1 2/3 cup water, covered and simmered until the rice was tender, and then added 1 cup of cheese.

creamy ham and white bean soup

2010-03-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Creamy Ham and White Bean Soup (4kowboys)

3 tbls. butter, melted
3 tbls. flour
3 cans chicken broth
2 cups water
1 cup milk (or cream or half and half
)2 stalks celery, chopped3 carrots, chopped or shredded
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup white beans (I used Great Northern)
1 1/2 cups cooked cubed ham
1 can white Hominy
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. rosemarry
1/2 tsp. black pepper

In crockpot, combine melted butter and flour, whisk. Add 2 cups water and continue to whisk until no lumps are found. add remaining ingredients except milk. Cook on low 6 hours. 30 minutes before serving, add milk. Taste great served with crusty bread to soap up the juice. I would also think that you could add some frozen spinach (thawed), too.

blender pie

2010-03-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

Coconut Blender Pie (4kowboys)

4 eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cup coconut
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine in blender in order. Blend 1 minute exactly. Pour into well greased & floured 10 in. pie pan. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Makes its own crust.

Meat-and-Potato Casserole~*~

2010-03-07T13:10:00.000-08:00

Prep: 10 min. Bake: 45 min.
Ingredients: 4 cups thinly sliced peeled potatoes
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound ground beef
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
1/3 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Minced fresh parsley, optional
Directions: Toss potatoes with butter and salt; arrange on the bottom and up the sides of a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are almost tender.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Sprinkle beef and corn over potatoes. Combine the soup, milk, garlic powder, pepper, onion and 1/2 cup cheese; pour over beef mixture.
Bake uncovered at 400° for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 2-3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

christmas jam

2010-02-19T15:48:00.000-08:00

Strawberry Kiwi Christmas Jam
I make this jam with the little fuzzless hardy kiwi I grow in my garden. I call it Christmas jam because you can make it two-tone red and green if you make each fruit separately and then pour in layers. You can also easily mix the two together. So if you want to do it separately, divide everything in half (half of the sugar to each pot etc) or just mix it all. You can use regular store bought brown kiwi if you don’t grow or can’t find the smaller green hardy kiwi, but peel them.

1.5 pounds hardy kiwi, stems removed
.1.5 pounds strawberries, cleaned and green bits cut off.
4 cups of sugar
1 packet of “Ball’s No Sugar Needed Pectin”
3 tablespoons lemon juice.

Cook fruit and juice together until liquid and boiling, mash with potato masher, cook a few minutes more, add sugar and pectin, stir frequently until everything has combined. Check taste with spoon, smile, it is good.
Prepare your jars for canning as above, ladle and process as above. Makes about 10 jars.

Beef and Broccoli

2010-01-28T16:53:00.001-08:00

1/3 cup oyster sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1/3 cup beef borth
1 tsp soy sauce
2 TBPS brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1 pound steask, 1/8-inch thick strips
3 tbps olive oil
1 clove of garlic
1 pound of broccoli

1. Whisk together the oyster sauce, sesame oil, sherry, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Place the steak pieces into a shallow bowl, pour the oyster sauce mixture over the meat, stir to coat well, and marinate for at least 30 minutes in refrigerator.

2. Heat vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, garlic. Let them sizzle in the hot oil for about 1 minute to flavor the oil, then remove and discard. Stir in the broccoli, and toss and stir in the hot oil until bright green and almost tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the broccoli from the wok, and set aside.

3. Pour a little more oil into the wok, if needed, and stir and toss the beef with the marinade until the sauce forms a glaze on the beef, and the meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Return the cooked broccoli to the wok, and stir until the meat and broccoli are heated through, about 3 minutes.

Lara's Famous Hamburger Soup

2010-01-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 beef bouillon cubes
3-4 cups of water
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes or one quart of my homemade stewed tomatoes
1 can of tomato sauce or 1 pint of homemade canned tomato sauce
2 med. size red potatoes, diced 1 inch cubes
4 carrots, sliced
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon worcestershire Sauce

1. Brown beef, onions, and bell peppers.
2. Put all of the ingredients into the crockpot.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours~!

Lara's French Onion Soup

2010-01-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

This is my recipe:

1/2 c. butter
4 large sweet onions, sliced thinly
1/2 c. sugar
2 TPBS flour
2 cans Beef Borth 14.5 oz each
2 cans Condensed French Onion Soup
2 cups water
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
french bread sliced
mozzarella cheese

In a dutch oven over med-high heat, melt butter. Add onions: saute until tender. Add sugar: cook and stir until lightly brown. Stir in flour until blended: gradually add the broth, soup, and water. Bring to a boil. Reduced heat and cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in Parmensan cheese.

Melt cheese ontop of bread slices in the oven. It should take 2 minutes.

baked ziti

2010-01-15T10:36:00.001-08:00

Baked Ziti
adapted from Cook's Illustrated

1 pound 1% cottage cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 ounces grated parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 pound ziti or other similar pasta (like penne)
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 medium garlic cloves, finely minced (about 5 teaspoons)
1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil (use 1/2 cup fresh basil if you have it but add it to the sauce after it has simmered and you take it off the heat)
1 teaspoon sugar
Black pepper
3/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup heavy cream (or substitute whole milk but increase the amount of cornstarch to 2 teaspoons and the cooking time in step 3 by 1 to 2 minutes)
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk the cottage cheese, eggs and 1 cup of the paremsan cheese together in a medium bowl; set aside. Bring 4 quarts of water to boil in a large pot over high heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and pasta; cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta begins to soften but is not yet cooked through, about 7 minutes (the pasta will finish cooking in the oven). Drain pasta and leave in colander. Do not wash the large pot.

While the pasta is cooking, heat oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, sugar, basil and oregano; simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Take off heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir cornstarch into heavy cream and transfer mixture to the now-empty large pot the pasta cooked in. Set the pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup tomato sauce, and 3/4 cup mozzarella, then stir to combine. Add pasta and stir to coat thoroughly with sauce.

Transfer mixture to a 9X13-inch baking dish and spread remaining tomato sauce evenly over pasta. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese over the top. Cover the baking dish with foil that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and continue to cook until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown, about 30 minutes longer. Cool for 10 minutes. Serve.

*Freezable Meal: Prepare recipe right up until the baking step and then cover with a double layer of aluminum foil. Freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. To bake, increase baking time to about 1 hour. If baking from frozen, bake covered for 1 hour and 30 minutes, uncover and bake 30 minutes longer.

French Bread

2010-01-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

3 hours 2½ hours prep
SERVES 30 , 15 slices per loaf
2 packages active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups water (105F to 115 F)
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon melted margarine or butter
7 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 egg white
1 tablespoon cold water
Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed mixer bowl.
Add salt, butter, and flour.
Attach bowl& dough hook to mixer, turn to Speed 2 and mix about 1 minute or until well blended.
Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.
Dough will be sticky.
Put dough in large greased bowl, turning to coat.
Cover and let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.
Punch dough down and divide in half.
Roll each half into 12" x 15" rectangle.
Roll dough tightly, from longest side, tapering ends, if needed/wanted.
Put loaves on greased baking sheets that have been dusted with cornmeal.
Cover and let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.
With sharp knife, make 4 diagonal cuts on top of each loaf.
Bake at 450F for 25 minutes, then remove from oven.
Beat egg white and water together and brush each loaf with this mix.
Return to the oven and bake 5 minutes longer.
Immediately remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.
Serve with your favorite spread such as herbed butter, garlic bread topping, etc

Dinner Menu

2010-01-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

1. Coconut Chicken Curry served over rice

2. Glazed mini meatloafs served with oven roasted potatoes

3. Classic baked ziti served with homemade french bread

4. Ham and pasta skillet dinner

5. Leftovers

6. Chicken stirfry

7. Leftovers

2010-01-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

This is a copycat recipe from Olive Garden and I think it tastes just like theirs! I've made this quite a few times and it always turns out great.

Pasta E Fagiol
i3 teaspoons oil
2 lbs ground beef
14 ounces carrots, slivered
12 ounces onions, chopped
14 ounces celery, diced
48 ounces diced canned tomatoes
2 cups red kidney beans
2 cups white kidney beans
88 ounces beef stock
3 teaspoons oregano
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons pepper
5 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
11/2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
48 ounces spaghetti sauce
8 ounces dry pasta shell macaroni, cooked as directed

Sauté beef in oil in large 10 quart pot until beef starts to brown.Add onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes.Drain and rinse beans and add to pot. Also add beef stock, oregano, rosemary, garlic, pepper, Tabasco and spaghetti sauce.Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 minutes.Add pasta about 10 minutes before serving.Grate fresh Romano or Parmesan cheese onto soup before serving.This recipe makes 9 quarts! You could half the ingredients and still have enough for a family, but it freezes very well, so I always freeze half of it.

homemade bisquick mix

2010-01-10T14:04:00.001-08:00

Homemade Baking Mix
Ingredients:
9 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of salt
2/3 cup dry milk
1 cup shortening
3 teaspoons baking powder

Directions: Mix flour and other dry ingredients. Cut in shortening/margarine. Use a mixer on low to cut in the shortening to save time. Store in an airtight container up to 6 months.
( *) Refrigerate mix if using butter. If you only use shortening, you won't need to refrigerate this.
Source: Living on a Dime.

baked creamy chicken taquitos

2010-01-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

4kowboys via Recipe by OurBestBites.com

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken
1 C grated pepperjack cheese

small corn tortillas
kosher salt

cooking spray
Heat oven to 425.

Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge. Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or come unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. Then roll it up as tight as you can.Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top. Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.Dip 'em in salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or this dressing.

meatballs

2010-01-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Sweet and Sour Meatballs IIjojobee81 via allrecipes
PREP TIME 5 MinCOOK TIME 15 MinREADY IN 20 Min
INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground beef1 egg1 onion, chopped1 cup dry bread crumbssalt and pepper to taste1 cup water1/2 cup cider vinegar1/2 cup ketchup2 tablespoons cornstarch1 cup brown sugar2 tablespoons soy sauce
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, combine beef, egg, onion, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Roll into meatballs about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size.
In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the meatballs until browned on all sides.
In a separate medium bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, sugar and soy sauce. Pour over the meatballs, and allow sauce to thicken. Continue to heat until the sauce just starts to bubble.

broccoli ham omelet

2009-12-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

Broccoli Ham Omelet ~*~Sandy~*~
2T margarine
2 cups ham, diced (or one ham steak)
1 onion, diced
2 cups broccoli, chopped (1 small head broccoli)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
12 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese,
shredded 1/4 cup fresh basil (optional)

Melt margarine in a large skillet. Add ham, onion, broccoli, salt and pepper and sauté for about 5 minutes. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, sour cream, and baking powder on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Pour ham mixture into a baking dish and pour egg mixture over ham mixture. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle cheese and basil, if desired, over top. Bake about 10 minutes longer or until set and cheese is melted.

sloppy joes

2009-12-29T09:10:00.000-08:00

Sloppy Joes II
By: Tamara
"This is the recipe my mother used for sloppy joes, and it always gets compliments!"
Rate and Review

Zinfandel
Prep Time:10 Min
Cook Time:30 Min
Ready In:40 Min
Servings (Help) US Metric Calculate
Original Recipe Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
Directions
In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Weekly Meal Menu

2009-12-27T18:20:00.001-08:00

monday Scrimp Scampi-recipe in my kitchen binder

tuesday Spehard's Pie-allrecipes

wedsenday Chicken Stir Fry over rice-recipe in kitchen binder

thursday homemade pizza

friday mexican food at mil's house-no cooking

saturday parmensan chicken

sunday meatloaf on a bed of potatoes-recipe in my kitchen binder

alteratives: carnberry roast, baked pork chops and mashpotatoes!

Light Crisp Waffles

2009-12-25T06:38:00.000-08:00

I just made these waffles for xmas breakfast...yummy...the best waffle ever. I'm never going back to my old recipe. It's a little bit of work but well worth it.

Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup milk
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg yolk
1 egg white
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Preheat your waffle iron.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Combine the milk, buttermilk and oil in a measuring cup. Whisk in the egg yolk with a fork, and set aside. In a small bowl, beat egg white with an electric mixer until almost soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar, while continuing to whip until thick and glossy. Stir in vanilla.
Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients, and whisk just until blended. Fold in the egg white using a spatula.
Pour batter onto the hot waffle iron in the recommended amount for your iron. My waffle iron takes a generous 1/2 cup. Close the iron, and cook until golden brown. A good indication that it is getting close is that the steam will stop coming out of the iron. Keep finished waffles in the warm oven directly on the rack. Do not stack, or they will become soggy.

dinner menu

2009-12-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

chicken hashbrown casserole
taco soup
Spiral ham, green beans, pumpkin pie, and rhodes rolls
homemade pizza

chicken hasbrown casserole

2009-12-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

Chicken Casserole Recipes Recipe Crock Pot Crockpot Soup Potato Meal Cheese Potato
This super simple and delicious recipe is perfect to freeze ahead of time, then thaw and bake on nights when you just can't face the kitchen.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Ingredients:
10 oz. can condensed reduced fat and sodium cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1-1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3-1/2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1-1/2 cups frozen peppers and onions, thawed
1-1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups crushed potato chips
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine soup, sour cream, milk, chicken and 1-1/4 cups cheese. Spread three-quarters of this mixture in a greased 2-quart baking dish.
Sprinkle hash browns and peppers and onions over the top of the casserole and press down lightly, then top vegetables with remaining soup mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and potato chips.
Bake casserole, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. 8 servings
To freeze, assemble casserole as directed, except do not thaw potatoes, peppers, or onions and do not sprinkle with potato chips. Wrap casserole in freezer wrap or heavy duty foil and freeze. Reserve potato chips in pantry. To thaw and bake, let thaw overnight in refrigerator. Uncover and bake at 350 degrees F for 60-70 minutes until bubbly. Then top with crushed potato chips and bake 5-10 minutes longer.

Sour Cream Twist

2009-12-20T14:27:00.001-08:00

This is a family tradition...

1/4 cup warm water
1 pkg yeast
Stir in 3/4 cup sour cream (lukewarm)
3 T. sugar
1/8 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 large egg
2 T. soft butter
3 cups flour

Turn dough onto lightly floured board, knead until smooth, roll into a oblong shape, spread with soft butter, sprinkle with mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon. Fold dough in half (press edges together) and cut into 1 inch wide strips. Hold strips at both ends and twist in opposite directions and place on greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until double. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake until light brown, 12-15 minutes.
While warm, frost with icing made from the remaining sour cream and powdered sugar (add powdered sugar to sour cream until right consistency)

hot chocolate mix

2009-12-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

Soccer Team Hot Chocolate Mix

2 Pound Box of Nestle Quick

8 quart box of Powdered Milk

1 Pound of Powdered Sugar

1 Jar of dry Coffee Creamer – 22 oz.

Mix well and store in air tight containers.

Use 1/3 cup of mix to each mug of Hot Water. Add more or less to suit your taste buds! I usually use a 1/3 cup measuring cup as my scoop and then I do NOT level it off!

*Notes

*Do not use any substitute for Regular Nestle Quick!

*I have found it best to use good quality Powdered Milk and Creamer

*Freezes well

*This makes a lot! Great for Christmas gifts!

*Someone told me that they made Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix by adding cinnamon and nutmeg – I have not tried it. But, here’s the recipe for 3 mugs:

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup of Hot Chocolate Mix

buttery cayenne cashew crunch

2009-11-30T05:20:00.001-08:00

Buttery Cayenne Cashew Crunch (Maggie via Bon App)
2 c. salted cashews (Planters works best)
10 T. unsalted butter (1 1/4 sticks)
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. packed golden brown sugar
1 T. light corn syrup
1 tsp. cayenne pepper (or more if you prefer)1/4 tsp. salt

Butter a nonstick cookie sheet.

Combine all ingredients, except cashews, in a nonstick skillet.
Stir over low heat until butter & sugar dissolves.
Increase heat to medium, add cashews and boil, stirring constantly, until golden brown, thickens and begins to mass together. **Use a candy thermometer, cooking until "hard crack"**
Pour on sheet & cool completely. Then break up into pieces.
**Maggie's notes: once you add the cashews, you have to stir constantly to keep the cashews from burning. Also, Walmart sells cans Planters Cashew pieces for real cheap. If you don't cook to a high enough heat (hard crack), then the brittle tastes stale.

chicken broccoli casserole

2009-11-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

Chicken broccoli Casserole
LuvMyMonkeyMunch
1.2-2 lbs boneless cup up chicken
2, 6 oz pkg stove top stuffing
2, 16 oz pkgs frozen broccoli florets
10 slices american cheese
3 cans cream of mushroom soup

Boil or saute chicken til done, pull apart to bite sized pieces and set aside. Prepare stuffing according to package, then brocoli accordingly. Then mix together the soup, chicken, and broccoli. Layer in an 9 by 15in baking dish in order of: chicken mixture, then cheese slices, and then the cooked stuffing. Heat oven 350* and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Lara's Molasses Cookies

2009-11-21T05:27:00.000-08:00

3/4 C. Butter
1 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Molasses
1 Egg
2 C. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger

1. cream butter and sugar. Beat in molasses and egg. Combine dry ingredients: gradually add to creamed mixture. Chill for one hour.
2. shape into one inch balls. Roll balls of dough in sugar.
3. Bake 375 degrees on a Greased baking sheet for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned.

baked pasta

2009-11-12T07:12:00.001-08:00

Quick Baked Pasta Family Style
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground beef, lean
2 cloves garlic -- crushed
1/2 cup half and half
3/4 cup marinara sauce
3/4 pound penne pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese -- grated
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
salt and pepper -- to taste
1 cup mozzarella cheese -- grated OR swiss cheese -- for topping

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Heat a large frying pan and add oil, beef and garlic. Saute until the meat is tender and then drain excess fat. Add all remaining ingredients except the Mozzarella cheese and pasta. Simmer the mixture while pasta cooks until al dente. Drain pasta and mix it with the sauce. Pour all into a 3 quart baking dish and top with the remaining cheese. Bake uncovered at 350F for 25 minutes or until bubbly hot.

Creamy chicken rice soup

2009-11-09T06:10:00.001-08:00

Creamy Chicken Rice Soup
Lou – CallMeLou from allrecipes.com

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 30 Minutes
Servings: 6

1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 (14.5 ounce) cans reduced sodium chicken broth
2 cups cooked long-grain rice
1 cup cubed cooked chicken
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup 2% milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine

In a large saucepan, saute the carrot, onion and celery in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually stir in broth. Add the rice, chicken, salt, pepper and garlic powder; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the milk, lemon juice and wine if desired. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until heated through.

broccoli cheddar soup

2009-11-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar Soup

1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken stock or bouillon
1/2 lb. fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ozs. grated sharp cheddar

Sauté onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half (this is called making a roux). Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree. Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve

butter baked chicken

2009-11-04T09:53:00.001-08:00

Butter Baked Chicken

8 tablespoons butter or margarine you can use as little as 2 tblspoons
2 eggs beaten
Ritz Crackers
1 tsp garlic salt
Pepper to taste
1 tsp parsley optional

boneless chicken breasts

Heat oven to 350

In a 13 x 9 baking dish spray with pam or cooking sprayCrush crackers until fine add the garlic, pepper and parsley (any seasonings really)Wash and prepare the chickenDip the chicken in the eggs then in the crackers then lay in the panOnce all chicken is in the pan cut the butter into little chunks and place all around the chickenPlace in the oven and bake for about 30 to 45 minutes or until the crumbs are golden and the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

2009-11-03T06:11:00.000-08:00

Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread

INGREDIENTS

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Christine's Notes-sub 1/2 cup vegtable oil with unsweetened applesauce. Sub 1 cup brown sugar for white. Mine baked for 65 minutes.

curried coconut chicken

2009-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Prep Time:20 Min
Cook Time:50 Min
Ready In:1 Hr 10 Min
Servings (Help) US Metric Calculate
Original Recipe Yield 6 servings

Ingredients
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 teaspoon salt and pepper, or to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed, diced tomatoes
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
Heat oil and curry powder in a large skillet over medium-high heat for two minutes. Stir in onions and garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Add chicken, tossing lightly to coat with curry oil. Reduce heat to medium, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center and juices run clear.
Pour coconut milk, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar into the pan, and stir to combine. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, approximately 30 to 40

Meatloaf on a Bed of Potatoes

2009-10-25T19:00:00.001-07:00

- Crockpot -- I'm going to try my luck with this one tonight!

2 T olive oil
3 large russets, cut into 1 to 1-1/2” chunks
2 lb ground sirloin
2 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup crushed saltine crackers
3/4 cup ketchup
2 T dehydrated onions (optional)
1 tsp salt & pepper to taste

Topping
3/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Combine oil and potatoes in crock pot, toss to coat. Spread in an even layer on the bottom of the crock.In a large bowl, combine beef, eggs, crumbs, ketchup, onion, salt and pepper. Mix gently, do not compact. Shape into oval or round, place on top of potatoes. Spread with topping.Cover and cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and continue to cook for 6-7 hours, or until a meat thermometer reads 160º to 165ºF.Can also use plain ketchup for the topping. To make the meatloaf easier to remove: Take two long pieces of foil and fold them into two strips. Place them across each other over the potatoes and set the meatloaf on top. Use as handles to remove when the meatloaf is done.

Crockpot Rotisserie Chicken

2009-10-25T18:45:00.001-07:00

1 whole chicken
olive oil cooking spray
Lawry's seasoned salt
aluminum foil

Clean chicken inside and out.
Spray with olive oil spray. Sprinkle with Lawry's.Spray inside of crock with cooking spray (Note: Do not put any water in the crock). Roll some wads of aluminum foil into balls and put them in the bottom of the crock. The chicken is going to sit on these. Put chicken back side down in crock on top of aluminum balls. Cook on High (will not come out the same on low), 4-6 hours

ham and swiss cheese bake

2009-10-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

ham and swiss cheese bake (4kowboys)
2 cups bisquick
1/3 cup honey mustard
1/2 cup milk
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
4 medium green onions chopped
1/4 cup bell pepper chopped
1/4 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
oven 450 degrees. in bowl stire bisquick, mustard, and milk until dough forms; press into 13x9 baking dish. Bake 8-10 minutes until set in middle. meanwhile, mix ham, onion, bell pepper and sour cream together. spread over crust and sprinkle with cheese. bake uncovered 5-6 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

risotto

2009-10-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Sour Cream Chicken Risotto
~Bettyinthekitchen Busy Cooks

True risotto is made from Arborio rice, slowly cooked with homemade chicken stock until creamy. This shortcut recipe tastes wonderful too, and is much, much easier.

1 large chicken breast (9 oz), cut into small chunks
2 10 oz pkg garlic rice and vermicelli mix
1/2 cup water
1 cups frozen baby peas
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Sauté the chicken in a large skillet wit a little olive oil, set aside. In the same skillet prepare the rice mix according to package instructions, adding an additional 1/2 cup water. Five minutes before the rice is done, stir in the chicken and peas. Cook until rice and pasta are tender, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream and cheese. Cover and let stand 5 minutes before serving. 4 servings Sandy’s Note: You can skip the step of cooking your own chicken and simply add a 9 oz pkg frozen diced fully cooked chicken. I couldn’t find 10 oz package of rice, so I sub’d two 4 oz boxes.

pumkin pie bars

2009-09-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Pie Squares

1 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup butter

Mix the above ingredients until crumbly. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 pan. Bake in 350 oven for 15 minutes.

2 cups pumpkin
1 large can evaporated milk
2 eggs
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Mix the above ingredients thoroughly. Pour onto crust. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.1/2 cup chopped pecans1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed2 TBSP. butterCombine the above ingredients, sprinkle over pumpkin filling. Return to oven and bake for and additional 15 to 20 minutes or until filling is set. Cool in pan on a cooling rack. Cut into squares and serve with whipped cream.

Honey Garlic Chicken

2009-09-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
1 onion, sliced
1 large package of cut up chicken pieces
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda

DIRECTIONS
Place onion on bottom of crock pot. Place chicken on top of onion. In a large bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and brown sugar. Stir until honey and sugar are completely dissolved, then stir in the baking soda. The mixture will begin to foam. Pour over chicken and cook on low until done (I used split chicken breasts and my crock pot cooks hot so they were done in about four hours, on low).
NOTE: I turned the chicken about halfway through to make sure both sides were covered with the sauce.

Tilapia in Aluminum Foil

2009-09-12T15:12:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:
-- 3 or 4 filets of Tilapia (or other favorite white fish)
--1/4 cup mayonnaise
--1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used cheddar. I've made it before with Parmesan and it was amazing. If I was planning a trip to the store specifically to get ingredients for this dish I would pick Parmesan.)
--juice of 2 lemons
--4 chopped garlic cloves
--pinch each of salt and black pepper
The Directions:
--mix all ingredients (except for the fish. definitely not the fish.) in a bowl
--lay out a piece of foil--rub sauce mixture on both sides of fish
--fold foil over and make a little packet for the fish
--put all the packets into the crockpot

--cook on LOW for 2-4 hours; fish should flake easily with a fork
PLEASE take care when taking the packet out of the crockpot and when opening it. It will be hot.
Tiffany's Notes: I used 4 smallish size fillets. I subbed sour cream for mayo since I didn't have any. I used grated parmesean from the shaker and forgot to put in the garlic. My crockpot cooks hot so I put them in for 4 hours on low and they were perfect.
I hope I formatted this correctly, if not, let me know and I will do better next time!

2009-08-26T06:31:00.001-07:00

HEARTY HAM CASSEROLE
2 c. cooked cubed potatoes
2 c. cooked cubed ham
1 fifteen ounce can of whole kernel golden corn, drained
1/4 c. fresh parsley (optional)
1/4 c. butter
1 T. chopped onion or green onion or leeks

SAUCE1/3 c. all purpose flour1-3/4 c. milk1/8 t. black pepper4 oz. shredded cheese, preferably yellowBoil your potatoes until they are ALMOST done, they still have to cook in the oven for a while longer.Drain off the water, add in the ham, corn, parsley, butter and green onions. Mix well.

rice crispy treats

2009-08-26T05:35:00.001-07:00

This classic treat is a favorite for many twins and multiples. The treats are easy to prepare and the process offers many opportunities for little helpers to lend a hand.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
Melt 3 tablespoons of margarine in a large saucepan.
Add marshmallows -- about 40 regualar sizes marshmallows (a 10 oz. bag) or 4 cups of mini marshmallows.
Stir until marshmallows are completely melted.
Remove from heat and add 6 cups of crispy rice cereal (such as Kellogg's Rice Krispies).
Stir until cereal is coated.
Lightly coat a 9"-x-13" pan with cooking spray.
Press mixture into prepared pan, using a buttered spoon to compress.
When cool, cut into squares.
Tips:
Best served within one day.
You can melt the butter and marshmallows in the microwave by heating on HIGH for 2 - 3 minutes, stopping occasionally to stir.
Use a pizza wheel cutter to cut into bars.
What You Need:
saucepan
butter or margaine
marshmallows
crispy rice cereal
9"-x-13" pan

Herb Focaccia

2009-08-25T07:57:00.001-07:00

- Ok, don't let the instructions scare you. These are step by step instructions if you were going to make this by hand. And really, the instructions are quite good so if you're new to bread making, you may want to try this. I didn't have time to make this by hand so I threw it all in my bread machine on the dough cycle. Then I pulled it out and stretched it out about as big as a pizza pan and baked it. This was really good. I even threw the garlic and herbs right in the bread machine and I loved that it was all through the bread. I did halve the recipe because I only wanted one loaf. The only "bad" thing was I stored the bread in my bread container which also had some bran muffins in it and the next morning the muffins tasted like garlic. It was really intense too. So, I had to toss those. The bread was still good though!

Herb FocacciaAmy – amylzFamily Fun 2 cups lukewarm water 1 tspn. sugar 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons) 1 1/2 tspns. salt 4 1/2 to 5 cups unbleached flour 5 tbsps. (for dough) plus 1/3 cup (for herb drizzle) olive oil Cornmeal, for dusting 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves Coarse salt (optional) Step 1 Pour the water into a large mixing bowl and stir in the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and set it aside for 5 minutes to dissolve. Note: If the yeast doesn't begin to bubble within 5 minutes, repeat the process with fresh ingredients. Step 2 Add the salt, 3 cups of the flour, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the yeast mixture and beat the ingredients with a wooden spoon for 100 strokes. Set the dough mixture aside for 10 minutes. Step 3 Add the remaining flour about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough is too stiff to be stirred, turn it out onto a well-floured surface. Using floured hands, knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, using more flour as necessary to keep the dough from sticking. Step 4 Pour 1 tablespoon of the olive oil into the bottom of a large mixing bowl, roll the dough around in the oil to coat it, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Set the dough aside in a warm spot until it doubles in size, about 1 hour. Step 5 When the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and turn it out onto a floured surface. Knead it for 1 minute, then cut the dough in half and knead each half into a rectangle. Flatten each one and set them aside on a floured surface to rest for 10 minutes. Step 6 While the dough is resting, lightly oil a large baking sheet, then sprinkle on a light coating of cornmeal. Step 7 Transfer the dough to the baking sheet. Press and stretch it into oblong shapes, about 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick, leaving 2 inches between the loaves. Brush the tops of the loaves with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Set the dough aside to rise for 15 minutes. Heat the oven to 400° F. Step 8 In a measuring cup, combine the 1/3 cup of olive oil with the garlic, rosemary, and thyme, and stir. Step 9 Dimple the loaves with your fingertips, then spoon the oil-and-herb mixture over them, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle the loaves lightly with coarse salt, if you like. Step 10 Bake the focaccia on the center oven rack until the tops are golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer the loaves to a wire rack. To slice them for sandwiches, cut each loaf into quarters, then slice the pieces horizontally. Makes enough bread for 8 sandwiches. Step 11 Tip for foolproof proofing: Proofing, or getting dough to rise, happens best when the dough is left in a warm (80° to 90° F), humid, draft-free spot. To use your oven for this purpose, set it to "proof" or heat it at 200° F for 4 to 5 minutes, then shut it off. Place the plastic-covered bowl of dough on the center rack and close the door. To use a microwave for proofing, boil a cup of water in it, then place the dough inside as well and close the door, leaving the microwave off.

sloppy Joe Turnovers

2009-08-24T06:22:00.001-07:00

Sloppy Joe Turnovers

Sandy~Bettyinthekitchen
1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
1/4 cup chopped onion (or onion powder)
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup sour cream (lite)
1/2 t salt
1/4 t garlic powder
10-oz can Hungry Jack Flaky Biscuits (10 biscuits)

Preheat oven to 375.Brown the ground beef and onion, drain. Add the ketchup, sour cream, salt and garlic powder, stir to combine. Roll out dough to 4 round. Place 1/4 cup (or so) meat mixture in center and fold over top. Seal edges firmly with fork. Bake 15 minutes.Sandys notes: I use ground turkey, light sour cream, and reduced fat biscuits (when I can find them). Turn it into a casserole by using two cans of refrigerated pizza dough. Press one can of dough into bottom of casserole dish, spread meat mixture on top. Carefully lay the second piece of dough on top and stretch to cover casserole. Pinch together any tears. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Make sure center is done. If not, cover with foil and put on bottom rack for another 5-10 minutes. Cut into squares. To freeze: Whenever I make this recipe I double the filling, and freeze half of it. Then when ready, thaw the filling and make the individual turnovers (or a casserole) with fresh dough. Also makes an excellent pizza topping, with grated cheddar sprinkled on top.Muffin tin variation: Grease muffin tins and press in biscuits. Fill with 3-4 tablespoons meat. Top with cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

Wonderful Salsa

2009-08-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

This makes the best tasting salsa ever. I did reduce the amount of jalapeno peppers. I only add 3/4 cup of jalapeno peppers. Yummy! I would describe this salsa as sweet and spicy!

Wonderful Salsa
8 cups tomatoes, chopped
2 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 1/2 cups green peppers
1 cup chopped Jalapeno peppers, more if want hotter
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons black pepper
1/8 cup canning salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce or tomato juice
1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste
Mix all together and bring to a slow boil for 10-15 minutes. Ladle into sterile jars leaving 1/2 headspace. Wipe rims and place on lids. Place in water bath and process for 10 minutes, adjusting for you altitude. This is a medium salsa. This is also a chunky salsa, so if you want a smoother salsa cut your vegetables into smaller pieces. Makes approx. 3 Quarts or 6 pints.
Enjoy!

Nancy's Salsa

2009-08-20T12:58:00.000-07:00

20 c. tomatoes
10 c. green peppers
5 c. onions
1/2 c. jalepenos
4 anaheim peppers with seeds
2 hot bananas or wax peppers
1/4 c. canning salt
2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 c vinegar
1 c. sugar
36 oz. tomato paste
36 oz. tomate sauce

Mix all together and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to med and cook for 1-2 hours stirring every 15-20 minutes.

When salsa gets tot he right consistency you want, heat your jars, put the salsa in the jars, boil your lids and seal the jars. Water bath the salsa for 20 minutes.

Parmesan Potato Soup

2009-08-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry, not the greatest picture. This is the most amazing soup. I can't wait for Fall to get here. I came across this recipe in my taste of homes magazine. I had to try it. I love that it doesn't call for any cream of soups. The soup is awesome. I did ended up adding some green onions and bacon at the end of the cooking time. I also made my homemade bread to go along with it. Yummy! It's a little bit on the labor intense side but worth it.

Parmesan Potato Soup
From Country Woman
Meet the Cook: Even my husband, who's not much of a soup eater, likes this. Our two boys - ages 5 and 2 - do, too. With homemade bread and a salad, it's a satisfying meal. -Tami Walters, Kingsport, Tennessee
SERVINGS
10-12
CATEGORY
Soup
PREP
40 min.
COOK
20 min.
TOTAL
60 min.
INGREDIENTS
4 medium baking potatoes (about 2 pounds)
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
4-1/2 cups chicken broth
6 cups milk
3/4 to 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
DIRECTIONS
Pierce potatoes with a fork; bake at 375° for 40-60 minutes until tender. Cool, peel and cube; set aside. In a large Dutch oven or soup kettle, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour and seasonings until blended. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add potatoes; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add milk and cheese; heat through. Stir in bacon. Yield: 10-12 servings.

Nutrition Facts
One serving:
(1 cup)
Calories:
280
Fat:
16 g
Saturated Fat:
9 g
Cholesterol:
45 mg
Sodium:
800 mg
Carbohydrate:
24 g
Fiber:
2 g
Protein:
11 g

chicken Parmigiana

2009-08-17T11:49:00.001-07:00

I just finished making this for dinner tonight. Excellant and very easy to make. You can't screw up this recipe. Enjoy!

Chicken Parmigiana
Light & Tasty Try a FREE ISSUE of Healthy Cooking!
A nicely seasoned breading coats the tender chicken breasts in this attractive entree. When I have extra time, I make my own herbed tomato sauce instead of using prepared spaghetti sauce. —Rhonda Schiel of Magnolia, Texas
SERVINGS: 4
CATEGORY: Main Dish
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 10 min. Bake: 35 min.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup egg substitute
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
1 jar (26 ounces) meatless spaghetti sauce
3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions: In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt. In another bowl, beat egg substitute. Dip chicken in egg substitute, then roll in crumbs. Place in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 10 minutes. Turn chicken; bake for 10 minutes. Pour spaghetti sauce over chicken; bake for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses; bake 10 minutes longer or until chicken juices run clear. Yield: 4 servings.

sweet and sour chicken

2009-08-16T18:51:00.001-07:00

Sweet and Sour Chicken
from Brown Eyed Baker
adapted by FreyMomma05
Serves: 3-4
For the Chicken:3-4 boneless,skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunksSalt and pepper, to taste1 cup cornstarch2 eggs, slightly beaten¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
For the Sauce:¾ cup sugar4 tablespoons ketchup½ cup vinegar (preferably rice or white)1 tablespoon soy sauce1 teaspoon garlic powder
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
3. Working in two batches, toss the chicken pieces in cornstarch and then coat with the egg. Heat the oil over medium-high heat and again in two batches, brown the chicken, turning it so that all sides are browned.
4. Place the chicken in a single layer in a 9×13 baking dish.
5. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and pour evenly over the chicken. Turn the chicken to ensure each piece is coated.
6. Bake for 1 hour, turning the chicken every 15 minutes.

I follow the recipe to a T. And I just serve it with white rice. It is fabulous and my house smells so good!!

Fruit Of Our Labors

2009-08-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

Gourmet Mushroom Risotto

2009-08-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

After seeing the movie Julie and Julia, I decided to attempt to make my first risotto. It turned out sooooo good and it was soooo easy. I don't even like mushrooms but this dish is excellant. I'm going to try to make some more complex dishes and try to improve myself.

Gourmet Mushroom Risotto
SUBMITTED BY: MYLEEN PHOTO BY: cookin'mama "Authentic Italian-style risotto cooked the slow and painful way, but oh so worth it. Complements grilled meats and chicken dishes very well. Check the rice by biting into it. It should be slightly al dente (or resist slightly to the tooth but not be hard in the center)."

RECIPE RATING:Read Reviews (412)
Review/Rate This Recipe
PREP TIME
20 Min
COOK TIME
30 Min
READY IN
50 Min
SERVINGS (Help)

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
6 cups chicken broth, divided
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 pound portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced (lara's note: I just used the mushrooms already sliced up and they come in 8 oz packages)
1 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 shallots, diced
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, warm the broth over low heat.
Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove mushrooms and their liquid, and set aside.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, and stir in the shallots. Cook 1 minute. Add rice, stirring to coat with oil, about 2 minutes. When the rice has taken on a pale, golden color, pour in wine, stirring constantly until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth to the rice, and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from heat, and stir in mushrooms with their liquid, butter, chives, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

chicken taco fettunccine

2009-08-12T05:52:00.001-07:00

Chicken Taco FettuccineCyndy

(MyPB&Jelly)
8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
3 to 4-1/2 teaspoons taco seasoning
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook fettuccine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the chicken and garlic in oil for 4-5 minutes over medium heat or until heated through. Whisk in cream and taco seasoning until blended. Cook and stir until heated through (do not boil). Stir in Parmesan cheese. Drain fettuccine; toss with chicken mixture. Yield: 4 servings.

julie's chicken

2009-08-12T05:47:00.000-07:00

Julie's Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 sm. bottle of Wishbone Russian Salad dressing (must be that brand ofdressing)
1 jar apricot preserves

Heat oven to 425°.Place chicken in baking dish.In a med. bowl, mix together dry soup mix; salad dressing & preserves.Pour over chicken & bake for 40 minutes.* Amy’s notes: I doubled the sauce mixture, used 7 breasts, added ¼ cup water, and cooked in the crockpot for 5-6 hours. I then shredded the chicken, cooked 3 cups of rice (6 servings), and mixed it all together.

Topsy-Turvy Lasagna

2009-08-12T05:18:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:
· ¾ lb ground beef
· 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
· 5 c. cooked egg noodles
· 1 cup cottage cheese
· 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)

Directions:
· Brown ground beef in a skillet; drain.
· Stir in spaghetti sauce; simmer for 10 minutes. In a lightly greased 2 quart casserole dish, combine noodles, ground beef, cottage cheese and one cup mozzarella cheese.
· Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
· Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

** This is a family favorite! Super easy & tastes like lasagna that took you all day!
Mushrooms are a great add in.

Supreme Beef Casserole

2009-08-11T17:08:00.001-07:00

1 lb ground beef
1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
2 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (5 oz) package egg noodles
1 c. sour cream
1 (3 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened
6 green onions, chopped with tops
1 c. grated Parmesan

Brown beef in skillet, stirring to break into pieces. Drain off fat and return meat to skillet. Add tomatoes, sauce, salt, sugar, and garlic. Simmer for 5- 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook noodles and drain. In a bowl, combine sour cream, cream cheese, onions, and noodles. In a greased 2 quart casserole dish, pour a small amount of meat sauce. Cover with a layer of noodle mixture and then Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, topping with meat sauce. Bake in 350 oven for 35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Tostado Casserole

2009-08-11T17:04:00.001-07:00

Jen (Aubreysmomma06)
1 lb hamburger
1/2 C chopped onion
15 oz can Tomato Sauce
1 can Refried Beans
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
1 Can sliced Olives
1 can Green Chiles
1 bag Fritos
Shredded Cheese

Brown meat and onion. Add 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce, taco seasoning, olives and chiles. Crush 2 cups of chips, put in bottom on 9x13 pan. Pour meat mixture over chips. Mix remaining tomato sauce and beans together and pour over meat. Bake at 350 for 25 mins. Sprinkle with more chips and shredded cheese and bake until cheese is melted.

chicken Jersualem

2009-08-11T16:53:00.001-07:00

Chicken Jerusalem
Amy-Aclark234
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 package cream cheese
1/2 package dry Ranch dressing mix
1 1/4 cup white wine
1 package linguine noodles
Preheat oven to 350. Place chicken in 9x13 dish. In blender combine soup, cream cheese, ranch mix and wine. Blend until smooth and pour over chicken. Cook one hour and serve over a bed of linguine. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Baked Honey Chicken

2009-08-10T15:32:00.001-07:00

Baked Honey Chicken

1 chicken, cut up
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
(I only use 2 tablespoons)1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt (I only use 1/2 teaspoon salt)
1 teaspoon curry powder

Wash chicken, pat dry.

Melt butter in shallow baking pan. Stir in rest of ingredients. Roll chicken pieces in baking mixture to coat both sides. Arrange meaty side up in dish.
Bake 375 for 1 hour or until tender and glazed. Turn once and baste frequently.

Creamy White Chili

2009-08-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

Creamy White Chili

1 pound chicken breast cut into cubes
1 onion chopped
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbps oil
2 cans great northern beans, drained
1 can chicken broth
1 cans 4 oz each green chilis
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
one cup half and half

Directions
in a large kettle saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until no longer pink. Add beans, borhter, chilis and seasonings.
Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmmer, uncovered for 30 minutes!
Remove from heat: stir in sour cream and half and half. Serve Immediately!

Hint: be sure to have soup off the heat before adding the creams or the stuff will curdle.

2009-07-27T19:04:00.003-07:00

Title: Jewel's Favorite Soup Jill Makes

Description:This recipe is from Woman's Day magazine. I made this for dinner and everyone loved it. It takes less than 30 minutes from prep time to the dinner table!

Ingredients:2 Tbsp olive oil1 onion, chopped2 rib celery, chopped4 ripe tomatoes, diced1 tsp kosher salt6 cups of chicken broth or stock!3 cans cannellini beans-I used great white northern beans2 cloves of garlic chopped1/4 C. fresh parsley choppedserved with: grated parmesan

Directions:1. Heat oil in large pot over med-heat! Add onion and celery and saute for 5-6 minutes! Add tomatoes and salt, and saute for 3 minutes.2. Add broth, beans, and garlic and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for flavors to blend, adding hte parsley during the last 5 minutes. Serve with grated parmesan.

Shoyu Chicken

2009-07-13T17:19:00.001-07:00

SHOYU CHICKEN
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teas. wine
1 piece ginger (crushed)
2 large cloves of garlic (mashed)

3 pounds - skinless chicken thighs - cut in half or thirds (boneless)

Mix above ingredients well, add chicken. Bring to a boil and lower to simmer. Cook slowly until chicken is TENDER.

2009-07-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Fried Green Tomatoes (squash, zuchini, fish, or just about anything)

(tattoedmomma aka Leda)
flour
cornmealsalt
pepper
buttermilk
eggs

-sift the cornmeal and flour, salt and pepper together in a large bowl
-beat the eggs with the buttermilk
-dip whatever you are frying in the eggwash, then flour mixture, then eggwash, then flour mixture again
-drop into very hot skillet of oil/other frying aparatus

Lara's Famous Chili

2009-07-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

1 lbs lean ground beef
2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup each diced celery, carrots, bell pepper, and one large onion
1/4 ground black pepper
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cups tomato sauce
1-1/4 cup beef broth
2 TBSP bbq sauce
1 can Red Kidney Beans
1 can Butter Beans
1 tbsp dried cilantro
1 tsp salt
2 tsp honey
1 tsp liquid smoke
1 tsp Montreal steak seasonings
1 tsp wosherishire sauce

exta-if you want it spicy
1 tbsp chli poweder
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin

Directions:

Cook beef and garlic in a cast iron pan over medium heat until fully cooked. Stir in celery, pepper, and onions. Cook and stir 3 minutes, or until veggies begin to soften.

Stir in spices. Cook for one more minute. Add undrained tomatoes, beans, beef broth, and bbq sauce.

Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

lemon bars

2009-06-29T14:29:00.001-07:00

Lemon Bars
Bakerella

Crust:
1 cup butter
1 3/4 cup flour
2/3 cup confectioner's sugar (plus more for dusting)

Topping:
1 1/2 cup plain sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan
To make crust:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and confectioner's sugar
Cut in butter until combined and crumbly.
Press mixture into bottom of pan.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

To make topping:
While crust is baking, prepare topping
In a larger bowl, add sugar, flour, and baking powder
Then add slightly beaten eggs and lemon juice
Mix well and pour on top of warm baked crust

Bake for 20-25 minutes
When cool, dust with confectioner's sugar and refrigerate
Cut into bars and enjoy them cold!

skillet Mac and Beef

2009-06-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

Skillet Macaroni & Beef

One Pot Meals
1 ½ lbs ground beef
2 c elbow macaroni, uncooked
½ c onion, minced
½ c green pepper, chopped
2 8-oz cans tomato sauce
1 c water
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Lightly brown beef in skillet; drain. Stir in macaroni, onion and green pepper; heat until onion is soft. Add remaining ingredients. Lower heat; cover and simmer 25 minutes or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Serves 6 to 8.

Italian Peas

2009-06-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

SUBMITTED BY: WORSHIPWARRIORMT PHOTO BY: Cookies "This is my mom's recipe. Let's just say, you'll never look at peas the same way again...they are sooo good."

RECIPE RATING:Read Reviews (124)
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PREP TIME
5 Min
COOK TIME
15 Min
READY IN
20 Min

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
16 ounces frozen green peas
1 tablespoon chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic; cook about 5 minutes. Add frozen peas, and stir in stock. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, and cook until the peas are tender, about 10 minutes.

German Pancake

2009-06-19T15:35:00.001-07:00

Puff Up Pancake
1/2 C butter
5 eggs
1 1/4 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 C flour
Melt butter in 9 x 13 pan in oven while oven is preheating to 425 degrees. Mix eggs, flour and milk with wire whisk or use blender. Add batter to dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve with fruit, powdered sugar and lemon juice