1 Blog and 2 Sides....

Coconut Macaroons

2010-05-24T12:47:00.006-04:00

This recipe is from my good friend, Theresa Preston who lives in Australia. This is the first macaroon recipe I've seen using the whole egg. I believe using the whole egg makes the macaroons taste so much better.

Her recipe is as follows:
1/2 pound coconut - sweetened flaked coconut you buy in the can or the bag
2-3 eggs depending on the size you buy. I always buy large eggs.
1/2 cup granulated sugar
and I added
1 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring

Mix together and either drop onto a greased cookie sheet, parchment paper, or a silicon baking sheet so they are easy to remove. Bake at 300 degrees until golden brown.

I made these for Easter dinner and shaped the macaroons into little nest before baking. You can see they turned out really cute using with Peeps and jelly beans. The next time I make these, I will be making them in small logs and dipping 1/2 of them into chocolate.

Simple Orange Cake

2010-01-15T00:48:00.004-05:00

I was searching the internet for a new recipe a few days ago and ran across this recipe. I found this recipe from Jill McKeever at Simple Daily Recipes. I made it tonight and both Chilly and I really liked it. Jill said it would be so good to get what we wanted and take the rest away because you will want to keep eating it. She is 100% correct.

The recipe is as follows:
1 box of yellow cake mix
1 small box of orange gelatin
1 cup orange juice (the kind you drink
3/4 cup oil (I used canola oil)
4 eggs
2-3 teaspoons orange zest

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease a bundt pan.

Beat cake mix, dry gelatin, orange juice, oil, eggs and zest in a large bowl on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 2 minutes or so. Pour into the bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Meanwhile, mix up the orange glaze for the cake.

Orange Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest

Whisk the powdered sugar, orange juice and zest in a small bowl. After you move the cake to the serving plate and while the cake is still warm, prick the cake with a fork or toothpick. Pour glaze evenly over the cake. Allow the cake to completely cool before serving.

(((We couldn't wait for it to completely cool. We had it while it was warm and it was delicious.)))

Thanks so much for this great recipe Jill. I look forward to trying that Coconut pie too. :-)
Stop in and check out Simple Daily Recipes when you get a chance. :-)

Table Setting Ideas

2009-12-22T17:24:00.001-05:00

This is just a simple idea using table runners, simple Christmas silver and gold decorations in a crystal bowl, candles, greenery and berries for a Christmas Breakfast table setting. I mixed silver and gold so I can enjoy using some of the beautiful things I have.

This is another set of Winter dishes I have. I decided to set everything with Snowmen using burgundy, blues, and greens. I will use this for Christmas time and thru January. There are two different patterns of dishes used with this but they blend together. If I decide not to use the cup and saucers that match the plates, I have mugs to use that match the bread/dessert plates.

400 Sensational Cookies

2009-12-10T14:58:00.000-05:00

Looking for a new cookie recipe for Christmas. Head on over to Mimi's Kitchen and get in on the chance to have a cookbook with 400 recipes for cookies. Also you'll find some great food recipes on her blog.

Just follow this link for 400 Sensational Cookies

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

2009-12-06T20:36:00.001-05:00

This recipe was just recently given to me by my dear friend, Catherine. I made it for the first time today and will be making it again. It is easy and taste delicious.

Pumpkin Crunch Cake
1 yellow cake mix
1 15 ounce can of pumpkin
1 5 oz. can of evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup melted butter
whipped topping (optional)

Grease a 9 X 13 X 2 pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, salt , and pumpkin pie spice together and pour into the cake pan.
Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pumpkin mixture and then nuts on top of the mix. Pour the melted butter over the cake.

Bake for 55 minutes. Can be served warm or cold with or without whipped topping.

Tuna Noodle Salad

2009-11-28T00:54:00.002-05:00

2 cups elbow macaroni (or your choice of macaroni)

2 5oz. Cans Tuna (in water)(if you don't like Tuna, you can use chicken)
1 Can English Peas or Small Green Peas
1 Cup Mayonnaise
3 Eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste
Grated cheese (your choice of cheese)

Cook macaroni as directed on package and boil 3 eggs.
Drain water from macaroni and place macaroni in large bowl.
Now chop Tuna into smaller pieces and add to bowl.
Drain and add peas. Put in 1 cup of mayonnaise. Cut up and add 3 boiled eggs.
Mix all together well.
Add Salt and Pepper to taste.

Once you have put some on plate, I sprinkle the cheese on top. Very tasty on a bed of lettuce and slices of tomatoes on the side.

Fall Table

2009-11-01T13:58:00.003-05:00

Recently, we celebrated my Moms 78th birthday. I prepared a nice homemade dinner and wanted the dinner table to be festive and colorful for the season.
Since her birthday is in the fall, I used the simple fall decorations I already had, a round, gold Tiara platter that I've had for many years, a 45" square of a fall print and table cloth. I divided out the sections between each corner of the square and tucked the ends up under the edge of the plate to make the pattern of the petals. The platter has stems of fruit you can purchase at a craft store, nuts, acorns, and even some napkin rings made like pumpkins and scarecrows.
I think the table turned out very nice. I enjoy decorating and I'm trying to decide how I want to do the table for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

*You can click on images to enlarge them.*

Test post for facebook

2009-10-07T03:21:00.000-04:00

Will delete later....

Betty Crocker's Peanut Butter Cookies

2009-09-30T15:31:00.004-04:00

This is my favorite Peanut Butter Cookie recipe. I've tried many but this is the one I always come back to.

1/2 cup shortening (can use half butter or margarine, softened or can use all softened margarine)
1/2 cup peanut butter (I prefer smooth and creamy)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
*1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
*3/4 teaspoon soda
*1/2 teaspoon baking powder
*1/4 teaspoon salt

* If using self-rising flour, omit soda, baking powder and salt.

Mix thoroughly shortening, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and egg. Blend in flour, soda, baking powder and salt. Cover and chill.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. With fork dipped in flour, flatten in crisscross pattern to 2 inches. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not hard. (I sometimes dip my fork into granulated sugar instead of the flour. It makes the cookies shine even after they are baked).

Makes about 3 dozen cookies. I always double this recipe because they don't last long.

Instead of having a plain peanut butter cookie, I sometimes place a Hershey's Kiss on the top of the cookies or stir in chocolate chips or plain M & M's into the cookie dough. It makes them taste more like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup.

I am Leaving Entrecard

2009-09-27T19:40:00.000-04:00

After much consideration and thought, I am leaving Entrecard along with my husband, Chilly on October 5th.
We do not feel Entrecard is giving enough credit to those who have worked to earn credits to place their widget on our blogs. We also do not agree or like the fact Entrecard can put whatever kind of ad. they want there as well.
All of you, who have placed ads on my blog. will continue to run but I will not be accepting any further new ones. I appreciate all of you visiting my blog and leaving comments to me. I really enjoy coming to all of your blogs as well and will continue to visit. My blog will remain active and I will continue to add new things to it.
Thank you again and I hope to see all of you even after October 5th.

Warm Spiced Tea

2009-09-11T16:08:00.002-04:00

Now that the cooler weather is approaching, I really enjoy a warm drink in place of my usual glass of iced tea. Below are a couple of recipes I use in the fall and winter. They are wonderful when you have a get together with your family and friends. I really like them when I'm not feeling well.

This recipe can be made up and stored in a air tight container for the whole fall and winter season...if it lasts that long.

Instant Spiced Tea
3/4 cup instant tea with lemon
2 cups Tang
1 package sweetened lemonade KoolAid
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 3/4 cup sugar

Mix together and store in air tight container. To serve, use 2 teaspoons mix for each cup of hot water. If you want it stronger, increase to taste. Serve with a slice of orange or a cinnamon stick.

Instant Hot Chocolate
6 oz. jar powdered cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar or 2 teaspoons Sweet N Low
8 quarts size powdered milk
2 lb. box chocolate drink mix such as Nestle Quik

Mix together and store in air tight container. Use 1/3 cup mix to one cup boiling water. Serve with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Dutch Babies/German Pancakes

2009-08-24T13:48:00.002-04:00

This recipe is from a book of breakfast foods my Mom has. We have been using this recipe for many years so the name of the book is not listed on my copy of the recipe.
Dutch Babies can be made to fit the size family and pan you have. I find it is best baked in a black iron skillet but you can use any large skillet, paella pan, or container you can bake in. The container should not be more than 3 inches deep to make it cook properly.
This pancake is so spectacular when it first comes out of the oven, you will want everyone ready to eat before you bring it to the table.

Pan Size-- 2-3 quart (This is the recipe I use for Chilly and myself.)

1/4 cup butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup plain flour

To make this pancake, place the butter in the pan and set in a 425 degree oven. While the butter melts, mix the batter quickly. You can either use a blender, food processor or mix by hand with a whisk. Put the eggs either in the bowl or processing container and beat for at 1 minute. Gradually pour in the milk and slowly add the flour; continue beating or processing for 30 more seconds.
Remove the pan from the oven and pour in the batter. Place the pan back into the oven approximately 20-25 minutes, until your pancake is well browned and puffy.
After removing the pancake from the pan, you can sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve with syrup. I usually prepare fresh fruit and either bacon or sausage to go along with this pancake.

For larger pans and families, here are the ingredients.
3-4 quart pan 1/3 cup butter, 4 eggs, 1 cup milk, and 1 cup plain flour
4-4 1/2 quart pan 1/2 cup butter, 5 eggs, 1 1/4 cups milk, and 1 1/4 cups plain flour
4 1/2-5 quart pan 1/2 cup butter, 6 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, and 1 1/2 cups plain flour

Olive Gardens Grilled Steak Crostada

2009-08-07T18:29:00.001-04:00

On Monday night, Chilly and I went to dinner at Olive Garden. We had seen advertisements on television of some items they are currently serving for a limited time. One of them was the Grilled Steak Crostada. We both tried it and loved it. Both of us hope it will remain on the menu instead of being for a short time.

This meal had four grilled steak medallions which was cooked to our request. The campanelle pasta had pancetta bacon and a four cheese sauce on it. They served two cheese crostadas (similar to crackers) which were crispy and very tasty along with the pasta and steak. The whole meal was delicious. Of course, we both enjoyed the salad and bread sticks prior to our meal being served too.

If you would like to try something different, try this. If beef is not your thing, they do this meal with grilled chicken as well.. I'm sure it has to be just as delicious.

Betty Crocker's Blueberry Muffins

2009-07-28T23:43:00.004-04:00

Now that blueberries are in season, it's the perfect time for a yummy blueberry muffin recipe. Betty Crocker's is the best that I've found and is very easy.

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup salad oil (I use Canola oil)
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour*

2 teaspoons baking powder*
1/2 teaspoon salt*
1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease bottoms of 12 medium muffin cups (2 3/4 inches in diameter). Beat egg; stir in milk and oil. Mix in remaining ingredients just until flour is moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Fold in 1 cup fresh blueberries or 3/4 cup well-drained frozen blueberries (thawed) into batter.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan.

* If using self-rising flour, omit baking powder and salt. *

Hush Puppies

2009-06-24T19:25:00.003-04:00

These are one of my favorite foods.

A deep fryer or Dutch oven filled with hot canola oil.
1 egg
1 cup self rising corn meal
1/2 cup self rising flour
1 onion chopped in very small pieces
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pour and stir in enough milk to make a moist mixture with all of the ingredients listed above

Mix and drop by tablespoons into the hot canola oil. Fry until golden brown all around. Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain off excess oil.

These are delicious with seafood or barbeque. Also, if you have extra batter, it will stay fresh to cook the next day if it is covered and placed in the refrigerator.

My Kind of Tossed Salad

2009-05-30T18:30:00.003-04:00

I love a fresh homemade salad but Chilly doesn't care too much for them. He will eat one though if I put in the things he likes. This is what I put in this salad:
Iceberg lettuce
Large Romaine lettuce
Baby Romaine lettuce
Diced Roma tomatoes
One slice of American cheese and one slice of Swiss cheese, diced
Diced bell peppers, carrots and celery
Diced ham
Dried cranberries and dried pineapple
Sliced fresh strawberries
Croutons

I mix all of this together and end up with the beautiful salad you see here. I use Italian dressing on the salad. It is a great accompaniment to all of the different flavors in the salad. This mixture makes a delicious salad. Oh, and if you love salad like I do, a glass pie plate makes a wonderful dish to make it in.

Sometimes I add crushed bacon, cucumbers, a boiled egg, or cottage cheese. I also add a few olives and mushrooms to Chillys salad as well.

What do you like in your salad that I haven't tried?

Applewood Farms Apple Fritters

2009-05-29T17:01:00.005-04:00

This recipe came from a apple farm in Sevierville, Tennessee. They had a restaurant there on the property and gave this recipe to the people in their paper when they left the restaurant. These are very good and very light. I always double the recipe when making these because they are eaten so quickly.

Makes about 24 fritters.

Combine in bowl one-half cup of milk, one egg, and two tablespoons margarine. Add grated rind and juice from one-half an orange, one-half cup of chopped apples (skin can be left on), and one-half teaspoon vanilla. Sift together one-and-one-half cups cake flour, one-quarter teaspoon salt and one tablespoon baking powder. Stir in milk mixture with a spoon until blended. Drop batter by spoonfuls into one-half inch hot oil. (I use canola oil for frying). Fry to a golden brown. Drain.

****I made these as you can see from the picture. I did vary the recipe a bit though and liked the fritters even better. I added another 1/2 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg. They were even better. I didn't cook all of the fritters at the same time. After the batter was in the refrigerator for a couple of days, the flavor of the fritters was better yet.****

Betty Crocker's Hamburger Stroganoff

2009-05-07T01:13:00.002-04:00

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt or 1 clove garlic, minced (I prefer the minced garlic)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 can (8 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup dairy sour cream
2 cups hot cooked noodles
Snipped parsley

In a large skillet, cook and stir ground beef and onion in butter until onion is tender. Stir in flour, salt, garlic or garlic salt, pepper and mushrooms; cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Stir in soup; simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream; heat through. Serve over noodles. Sprinkle with snipped parsley.

4 to 6 servings.

****Cherry Coffee Cake Baked in a Jelly Roll Pan

2009-04-29T22:44:00.002-04:00

1 cup shortening such as Crisco
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
Cream together the shortening, sugar, eggs and flavoring until smooth and there are no sugar granules. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk.
Spread about 1/2 of the mixture over the bottom of the jelly roll pan. Spoon a can of cherry pie filling over the top of the batter. Dot the rest of the batter over the pie filling. DO NOT SPREAD. It will spread in baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35 minutes.

****If you don't like cherries, you can use any other type of pie filling. I'll be adding a picture as soon as I get one of these baked.

Easy Lemon Pie

2009-03-23T13:24:00.004-04:00

I thought I had put this recipe on here earlier but after checking again a few minutes ago, I found I hadn't. This is the easiest lemon pie I have ever made. It's delicious too.

1 8 ounce Cool Whip or whipped topping of your choice
1 6 ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate (DO NOT dilute it) (You can use the pink lemonade or limeade. If you want more color to your pie, add a drop of food color).
1 can Sweetened condensed milk
1 graham cracker pie shell or if you prefer a baked shell, it is great too. Just prebake it and let it cool before adding your filling.

Mix the Cool Whip, lemonade, and milk. Pour into the pie shell. Chill until set. I like to top the pie with one thinly cut twisted slice of lemon. Enjoy!
Sometimes, instead of using a crust, I put the filling in parfait glasses with a few sprinkles of vanilla wafers or graham crackers between the layers of filling and some extra cool whip.

Thank YOU, Chilly

2009-03-22T01:45:00.003-04:00

I guess everyone has noticed 1 Blog and 2 Sides has a new look. This is thanks to my wonderful husband. He is so creative and knows how to do all of these beautiful changes. He is also the owner of "On The Bricks".
I've been racking my brain to come up with some different kind of recipes for you. I've been wondering if many of you use your microwave to do any of your cooking? I have some recipes where the microwave is used to prepare some things so much quicker and easier. If you will drop me a note, I would appreciate it.
Thank you again, Sweetie for giving us a new look here at 1 Blog and 2 Sides! I love you!

Hot Pineapple Casserole

2009-02-23T18:33:00.002-05:00

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup plain flour
1 large can of chunk pineapple - drained
1 large can of crushed pineapple - drained
35 Ritz crackers or a butter cracker such as Captains Wafers - crushed
1 stick of margarine

Drain pineapple and then mix with sugar and flour. Place in a greased casserole. Melt margarine and mix with crackers. Place on top of the pineapple mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

This is really delicious with baked ham.

Lemonade Award

2009-02-10T14:15:00.004-05:00

A few days ago, I was awarded the Lemonade Award from Rita, Following 31 and Christy, At the Creek. Thank you both so much for this special award. I follow each of these blogs daily because there is always something interesting for me to read or see.

Here are the instructions I was given for the Lemonade Award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show attitude and/or gratitude.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on a post.
5. Nominate your favorites and link to this blog.

1. A Junk-Foodaholic's Journey
2. Pauls Health Blog
3. Jill's Page - Creative Cafe
4. Stir, Laugh, Repeat
5. Fenced in Family
6. Sew Happy Designs
7. Grandmother's Patternbook
8. More Than Sew So
9. Mom's Cafe Home Cooking
10. Your Fun Family

Each of the above blogs I visit each and every day. There are many more I could put on this list but it said to put 10. Please visit each of these blogs. I'm sure you will find many interesting things there for you too.

Again, thanks Christy and Rita!

Sweet Potato Pie

2009-02-10T13:52:00.035-05:00

3 cups of cooked sweet potatoes mashed
1 can evaporated milk
2 eggs
1-2 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1/4 teaspoon cloves, nutneg and cinnamon
1 stick melted butter or margarine
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 deep dish pastry pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Dock the pie crust using a fork. Docking will prevent a bubble from rising up in the middle of the crust. Bake the pie crust for 6 to 8 minutes...just to set it. Mix all of the ingredients until smooth and pour into the pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.
*** If you have any extra filling, bake it in a corning wear dish. It can be eaten like a pudding. I also do the same thing with the extra pumpkin pie filling. ***

Marie Antoinette Award

2009-01-31T17:09:00.052-05:00

I received this Marie Antionette Award from Kat at Candles, Crafts and Whatnots. Thank you!

So, here are the rules for this award:
1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them.

I am giving this Marie Antoinette Award to the following:
Kristen at My Art and the Mom in Me
Isabella at Bella Casa
Lisa at NY Chica
Mrs. Mecomber at Freaky Frugalite
Dana at Homesteading Housewife
Tina at Mummy Diaries
Susan at A Southern Daydreamer

Thanks again Kat for thinking of me for this award! Have a great weekend.

.

Top Droppers for January

2009-01-31T01:01:00.005-05:00

A Huge thank you to all of the TOP DROPPERS on 1 Blog & 2 Sides in the month of January. Thanks also to all of the other people who have visited my blog and left nice comments this month. I hope all of you will continue to visit.

Dropper	# of drops
The Modern Mom	31
moms..... check nyo	31
Cheapest Airfare	31
BeadedTail	31
The Sewing Mom	30
Septagon Studios Inc News Blog	30
Photography by KML	30
A Simple Life	30
Mommy's Little Corner	30
Juliana's Lair	30

Thank you again. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a February filled with lots of love.

One Bowl Death By Chocolate Cookie

2009-01-23T20:07:00.002-05:00

Here is another great recipe for Valentines!
This recipe is from Baker's Chocolate and is one of the very best cookies I've eaten. Make a double batch from the beginning because the first batch will be gone before you get one.

Death by Chocolate Cookie

2 packages (16 square) Bakers Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, divided
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
1/2 cup plain flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. Coarsely chop 8 squares (1 package) of the chocolate; set aside;
MICROWAVE remaining 8 squares chocolate in large microwavable bowl on HIGH 1-2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder. Stir in reserved chopped chocolate and nuts. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and feel set to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen cookies.

Note: I make my cookies smaller than the 1/4 cupfuls. They are too big for my liking. Adjust the baking time if you adjust the size.

Spinach-Artichoke Dip

2009-01-19T10:51:00.006-05:00

1 cup artichokes hearts, chopped and drained (There is usually 2 cups in the container.)
1/2 cup frozen spinach thawed, chopped and drained (If you use the boxed spinach from the freezer there is 1 cup in it.)
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper
dash black pepper
Boil spinach and artichokes, red pepper flakes, salt, and peppers in 1 cup water until tender (approximately 5 minutes). Drain. Heat cream cheese in microwave for 1 minute. Add spinach, artichokes, and parmesan cheese. Mix well.
Best if served warm either as a dip on bread, tortilla chips, or spread on flat tortillas.

I like the small baguette bread. I slice it thinly on an angle. Brush the bread with olive oil. Cover the top with dip. I usually add a sprinkle more Parmesan cheese on top and bake at 400 degrees 5-7 minutes...just until the cheese starts to melt.

Enjoy!

Candies to Make for Valentines

2009-01-05T15:51:00.007-05:00

Here are two recipes I made for Christmas but I'm definitely making them again for Valentines. Everyone enjoyed these and both are very simple. In order to give as a gift, I will put these in a decorative container with each candy in a little Valentines paper cup.

Pecan Clusters--Bottom Left of Picture
From: Paula Deen, Food TV

7 ounce jar marshmallow cream
3/4 pound chocolate kisses or chocolate chips (Paula recommended Hershey's but I used milk chocolate chips)
2 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
6 ounce can evaporated milk
1/2 stick butter
2 cups pecan halves

Place marshmallow cream and chocolate into a large bowl. Set aside. Combine sugar, milk, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook for 8 minutes. Pour over marshmallow and chocolate, stirring until well blended. Stir in pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper.

Buckeyes - Bottom Right of Picture
Recipe given to me by my friend, Jean

4 cups powdered sugar
2 cups peanut butter
1 cup softened butter
chocolate for dipping--sometimes called chocolate coating or chocolate bark.

Mix together until smooth. Make mixture into balls about the size of a whole walnut. Place each ball on waxed paper on a sheet pan to refrigerate and just chill. Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and place back on the waxed paper. Let the chocolate harden. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

********* Side note to the photo *********
The candy on the top left is pretzels dipped in the same chocolate as the buckeyes. The cookies are the mincemeat cookies which I have previously given you the recipe. It is listed in the menu.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T11:25:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL of YOU! I hope 2009 brings you much love, happiness, kindness, health and prosperity.

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the great messages. I also appreciate your sharing your blogs with me too. I've enjoyed meeting you through them and learning a lot of great things along the way too.

TAKE CARE!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T23:06:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas to ALL of you!

I will be busy the next couple of days getting ready for Christmas and the gatherings we will be having with friends and family. I may not get to visit and do my Entrecard drops. I will return as soon as I'm able to. Take care.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-12-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose/plain flour
1 to 2 cups chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (if desired)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit. Cream together first 7 ingredients. Mix in remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonsful, 2 inches apart, onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies.

Mincemeat Cookies

2008-12-13T11:51:00.002-05:00

1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup mincemeat
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
4 cups plain/all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped nuts

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs. Add remaining ingredients. Blend well. Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on rack.

Bean and Other Vegetables Dip

2008-12-11T22:09:00.004-05:00

1 can black eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can shoepeg corn (leave in liquid)
1 can Rotel tomatoes (mild)
1 small can chopped black olives
1 small can of chopped jalapenos (I used about 1/2 of the can. You can use as many as you want depending on how hot you want it.)
3/4 - 1 cup of Zesty Italian salad dressing
Mix together and serve with tortilla chips. It taste best if you let it sit for several hours or overnight and then serve.
I like using the Tostitos Scoops so the dip stays on the chip and doesn't fall off.

Bacon & Cheese Fritata

2008-12-04T23:05:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday I wanted something different to eat...other than Thanksgiving leftovers. I was doing recipe searches on Saturday and found something similar to what I made on Sunday. This is what I did.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
I cut about 1/4 pound of country style bacon into pieces about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long and cooked it in a large oven proof skillet. After the bacon was cooked, I removed it from the pan but did not take out the bacon drippings. (There was very little from this bacon.)
I peeled and shredded 6 potatoes. I evenly placed them on the bottom of the skillet. (You can use prepared frozen hashbrown potatoes if you prefer.
Return the bacon to the skillet.
Next I broke and whipped 6 eggs. I added 3/4 cup of sour cream, 1/4 cup milk, and salt and pepper to taste to the eggs. I poured this over the potatoes and bacon.
Last I shredded 2 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese and 2 ounces of swiss cheese and placed it over the egg mixture.
Place the skillet into the oven and bake for 1 hour or until set.

Chilly really enjoyed this. I served it with toast and jelly. It would also be great with fruit or a salad and can be served for any meal of the day.

Classic Cranberry Nut Bread from Ingles Grocery Store

2008-11-27T18:50:00.007-05:00

2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 egg, well beaten
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in orange juice, orange peel, shortening and egg. Mix until well blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Spread evenly in loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely. Wrap and store overnight. Makes 1 loaf (16 slices).

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2008-11-27T08:11:00.000-05:00

Quiche

2008-11-23T18:21:00.003-05:00

This recipe can be made in a variety of ways. Today, I made a Sausage and Cheddar cheese quiche. This is great for any meal of the day. If I am serving it for breakfast, I love to serve a nice bowl of fresh mixed fruit. A nice mixed salad with some mandarin oranges, apples, or strawberries is delicious with this for lunch or dinner.

1 deep dish unbaked pie shell
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups milk (too much milk makes the quiche watery)
3 eggs
1 cup grated cheddar cheese (4 oz.)
dash of cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg
3/4 cup of cooked meat (diced ham, crumbled bacon, or sausage) You can also add some spinach or broccoli to make a variation.

Place the grated cheddar cheese and meat on the bottom of the pie crust or other varieties you decide upon. Mix the eggs, milk, and seasonings and pour into the pie crust. Bake for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees.

The quiche will be puffy when it first comes out of the oven but will fall some when it starts to cool. Enjoy!

Cranberry-Orange Relish

2008-11-18T18:09:00.006-05:00

This is one definite dish we always have especially at our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. I love it with all kinds of turkey, chicken, pork or beef.

3 cups washed and drained whole cranberries
1 whole orange washed
1 cup sugar

Grind the cranberries and whole orange (with the peel and all) in the food processor or blender until it is very small. It should be very small minced pieces. Add the sugar and refrigerate. It can be made up several days ahead and will keep for a couple of weeks stored in sealed containers.

This is delicious!

My Moms Meat Marinade

2008-11-16T16:38:00.004-05:00

Use 1/2 cup of each of the following ingredients:

Brown Sugar - light or dark
Apple cider vinegar
Honey or molasses
Worcestershire sauce
Dash of hot sauce

I pour all of this into a glass jar and shake it until it is all mixed and dissolved. Pour as much as you would like over your meat and store the rest in the jar. It will keep for a couple of months.

***I love this on chicken or pork. I allow the marinade to soak on the meat for at least a couple of hours and then cook the meat very slowly to allow for the flavor to soak in. *** This is not heavy like most barbeque sauces.

Squash Casserole

2008-10-26T21:54:00.004-04:00

2 pounds (6 cups) yellow summer squash or green zucchini squash, sliced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup dairy sour cream
1 cup shredded carrots
1 small jar pimentos
1 8 ounce package herb-seasoned stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Cook sliced squash, chopped onions and carrots in boiling salted water for 5 minutes; drain. Combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, pimentos. Fold in drained squash, onion, 3/4 of the cheese, melted margarine and stuffing mix. Spoon the vegetable mixture into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

2008-10-26T00:12:00.000-04:00

2 cups sugar
1 stick margarine or butter
1/2 cup milk
4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup peanut butter (I prefer smooth peanut butter)
3 cups quick cook oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine sugar, margarine, milk, and cocoa and place into a saucepan or boiler. Bring to a brisk boil and boil for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the peanut butter, oatmeal and vanilla. Mix well. Drop by tablespoons onto wax paper. The cookie will harden up after it is cooled.

Easy Old Fashioned Tea Cakes

2008-10-12T09:00:00.004-04:00

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup shortening (I prefer Crisco)
2 eggs
1 stick margarine or butter at room temperature
3 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Roll into small balls about the size of a walnut. Flatten with the bottom of a glass. (If you have a *SILPAT sheet, they are wonderful to bake your cookies on). If you don't have a *SILPAT, grease or spray your pan with a cooking spray so they don't stick. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.

A *SILPAT is a silicon baking sheet that is used as a liner for your cookie sheets. I use them for all of my cookie baking so they don't stick or brown too much on the bottom of the cookie.

Strawberry OR Cherry Butter Pretzel Salad

2008-09-27T17:00:00.003-04:00

This salad is great with just about any kind of meat or chicken. I sometimes eat it myself as a dessert.

2 cups crushed butter pretzels (This is the secret to this recipe and Snyders of Hanover are the best pretzels we have here. These butter pretzels taste like pecans in the crust).
3/4 cup melted butter or margarine
3 Tablespoons granulated sugar

Stir together and press onto bottom of 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

2 packages (3 oz.) cream cheese at room temperature
9 ounces Cool Whip or equivalent whipped topping
3/4 cup granulated sugar

Combine cream cheese and sugar, mix well. Fold in the Cool Whip. Spread over the pretzel crust, sealing the edges well. Chill at least 1 hour.

1 (6 ounce) package strawberry Jello
2 cups boiling water
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries

Dissolve the Jello in water. Stir in the frozen strawberries until thawed. Chill until almost set. Pour the Jello mixture over cheese mixture. Chill several hours before serving. Cut into squares. Yields 20 servings.

I tried a variation to this recipe for Thanksgiving. I used cherry Jello and 1 and 1/2 jars of sliced cold Maraschino cherries instead of the strawberries. I also added the juice from the one cherry jar since my cherries were not frozen. This was also delicious.

This is my oldest nieces favorite salad. She request that I make it each time she comes to my house for dinner or the family get togethers. I also had this requested to be served at a bridal shower since it is one of the brides favorites.

Toffee Graham Crackers

2008-09-23T00:00:00.004-04:00

1 stack graham crackers broken into 1/4ths
2 sticks (1/2 pound) butter or margarine
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup very finely chopped nuts (I use pecans)
1 jelly roll pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix the above ingredients in a small boiler. Bring to a rolling boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring.

Place the graham crackers flat on the jelly roll pan. Pour the liquid mixture over them. Place the pan in the oven and bake 5-8 minutes. Remove them from the pan after they are cooled.

Brunswick Stew

2008-09-22T15:04:00.001-04:00

2 1/2 cups each of cooked chicken, pork, and beef which has been chopped or ground finely. (We use chicken that has been boiled or roasted, roast beef, and pork left over from a roast or pork chops. If you boil the chicken, use the broth from the chicken for the moisture in the stew.)
3 potatoes diced very small
3 cups fresh frozen whole kernel corn or 2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 onions diced very small
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 medium can chopped tomatoes
1 large can tomato juice
1 can tomato soup
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
(If you don't want to use Rotel tomatoes, add an additional can of tomatoes and a dash of hot sauce and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes.)

Mix all together and cook on medium heat. Turn the heat down and simmer like you would spaghetti sauce--at least a couple of hours.

This is great to freeze in containers that can be microwaved. I serve it with crackers.

Wedding Cakes

2008-09-19T21:55:00.003-04:00

Instead of adding another recipe today, I decided I would share a picture of our bride and grooms cakes from our wedding two years ago. I made both of them and wanted both of them to be something completely different from anything I had ever done before. I did an uncommon thing on the bride and grooms on each cake. Instead of the bride and groom standing next to each other, the brides cake has the bride carrying the groom. On the grooms cake, the groom is carrying the bride.

Orange Salad

2008-09-14T23:36:00.001-04:00

1 large box dry orange jello
1 large (9 oz.) Cool Whip
1 12 oz. cottage cheese
2 small cans crushed pineapple

Mix Cool Whip and cottage cheese. Put in drained pineapple. Pour dry Jello over and mix well. Chill until set up...at least 1 hour.

***This is a great salad or can even be used as a dessert. Strawberry Jello or lime Jello can be used instead of the orange Jello.

Sausage-Cheese Balls

2008-09-14T19:51:00.002-04:00

10 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 lb sausage (any flavor you like)
3 cups baking mix
water

Mix ingredients with just enough water to hold together. Roll into balls about the size of a ping pong ball or golf ball. Bake 1" apart on a cookie sheet 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

***I like to make these ahead to prepare for breakfast or parties. I roll the balls and place them on a cookie sheet. The cookie sheet goes into the freezer just until they are frozen. Remove them from the freezer and place the frozen balls into a freezer safe plastic bag or container. Take out as many of the sausage balls as you would like to cook each time. They are great to take with you to work for break or for kids breakfast.***

Easy Italian Biscuits

2008-09-09T12:32:00.002-04:00

2 cups self-rising flour plus a little extra for dusting cutting board
1/3 cup canola oil
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon parsley
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Mix all ingredients together with your hands or spoon until it forms a ball. Sprinkle the extra flour onto a cutting board or bread board and place the dough. Knead the dough 10-15 times. (The more you knead it, the more your biscuits rise). Roll the dough until it is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into desired shape. (You can use shapes for the seasons but be careful not to have too many edges. The biscuits will get hard and crisp). The leftover dough can be kneaded together again but don't add more flour to it. It will dry the dough out. This recipe makes approximately 12 biscuits.
Bake until biscuits are golden brown. Melt 1/2 stick butter or margarine with 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder. Brush the biscuits after they are done with this mixture. Best served hot.

Vegetable Casserole

2008-09-09T11:24:00.003-04:00

2 14.5 ounce canned and drained French style green beans
2 15.25 ounce fresh frozen or canned and drained whole kernel corn (yellow or white)
1 16 ounce sour cream
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup

Saute the chopped onion in 1 tablespoon onion and cool. Mix other ingredients and add the onion. Pour into a 9 x 13 container which has been sprayed with a cooking spray.

Topping
1 sleeve crushed Ritz crackers
1 stick melted butter or margarine

Mix together and put on top of vegetable mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Italian Chicken

2008-08-20T21:33:00.001-04:00

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chopped dried basil or 2 tablespoons fresh basil
1/4 cup Italian dressing (I used Kraft Zesty Italian)
1 1/2 cup shredded Mozarella cheese
1 1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Marinate the chicken breast in the Italian dressing for at least 1 hour. While the chicken is marinating, mix together the tomatoes, garlic powder and basil. Heat the skillet with olive oil. Remove the chicken and pour the marinade into a skillet and cook for 10 minutes. Cover the bottom of a casserole dish with about 1/2 of the tomato mixture. Place the chicken on top. Cover the chicken with the remaining tomato mixture and place in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until chicken is done. After chicken is done, spread the cheese on top of the chicken and tomatoes. Leave in oven just long enough for the cheese to melt.

I served this on a bed of rice.

No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

2008-08-12T23:34:00.004-04:00

2 cups peanut butter, divided
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups or 12 oz. milk chocolate chips

Beat 1 1/4 cup of peanut butter and butter together. Gradually add the sugar, graham crackers, and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Firmly press the mixture into a 9 x 13 inch pan. Melt the remaining peanut butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Place the icing on the bars while hot. After icing is spread, place in the refrigerator to firm up for a couple of hours. Cut into small squares.
This taste very close to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Hershey Bar Pie

2008-08-12T23:17:00.003-04:00

1 8 oz. Cool Whip at room temperature
1 8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
1 7 oz. milk chocolate Hershey Bar
1 chocolate cookie crust

Cream together the Cool Whip and cream cheese. (It's okay if a few lumps of cream cheese remain. It makes it tasty.) Melt chocolate in microwave safe bowl just long enough to melt the chocolate. Add the chocolate to the cool whip and cream cheese. Pour mixture into the chocolate crust and place into freezer for a couple of hours or a couple of days ahead. Remove pie from freezer prior to serving but do not let it get to room temperature. It is best cold. After serving, place remaining pie back in the refrigerator, not the freezer.
This is beautiful with a few chocolate curls on top.

Sausage Squares

2008-06-06T21:57:00.008-04:00

2 cans crescent rolls
2 pounds breakfast sausage (not links and any flavor you prefer). I prefer hot sausage.
8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick melted butter
1 Onion chopped (if you want)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, Melt a tablespoon of butter or margarine in a skillet. Add onion, then saute over medium heat until tender then add and cook the sausage and drain any grease from it. Stir in the cream cheese until melted. Press in the bottom of a 9x13x2 dish with 1 can of the crescent rolls, pressing together to make a crust.
After the sausage is cooked and cream cheese melted, place over the bottom crust. Lay the remaining can of crescent rolls over the top of the meat mixture as close as possible to make a top crust. Drizzle melted butter over the top of the casserole. Bake at 350 degrees until the rolls have turned golden brown. This will be approximately 25-35 minutes.

Serve in squares. Great for breakfast, but this is delicious for any meal of the day. Great served with eggs on the side. :-)

Black Bean and Charred Corn Salsa.

2008-05-20T21:57:00.004-04:00

4 ears corn, roasted or grilled
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup jalapeno pepper, seeds and ribs removed
1 medium tomato, chopped, seeds removed
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Juice of one lime
Salt and pepper, to taste.

Cut corn off ears when done cooking. Combine all ingredients, chill and serve.

Mexican Skewers.

2008-05-20T21:54:00.002-04:00

1 petite shoulder tender (8 oz)
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoon Cointreau
2 tablespoon Tequila
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1 medium jalapeno, seeded
2 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cut petite tender into one inch cubes, set aside. In a food processor, combine remaining ingredients processing until smooth.

Add beef cubes to marinade and refrigerate
30 minutes to overnight. Drain marinade; discard. Place marinated beef cubes on a five-inch wooden skewer. Grill to medium doneness.

Sauteed Steaks w/Red Wine and Peppers.

2008-05-11T13:18:00.002-04:00

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, sliced thin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1 green bell pepper, sliced thin
4 top chuck steaks (about 2 pounds in all), pounded to 1/2-inch thick
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
3/4 cup red wine

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium frying pan over moderately low heat. Stir in the onion, oregano, garlic, and bell peppers. Cook, covered, until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes.

In a large stainless-steel frying pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately high heat. Season the steaks with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Put the steaks in the hot pan and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and cook until done to medium rare, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Remove.

Add the bell-pepper mixture, the wine, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper to the large frying pan. Boil until the wine is completely absorbed, about 5 minutes. Serve the steak topped with the vegetables.

Pounding Meat:
Pounding tenderizes meat and also makes it thinner so it will cook more quickly. Cover the meat with a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper and then flatten the steak with a traditional meat pounder or the bottom of a heavy frying pan. Or, ask your butcher to pound the meat for you.

******************************************
Chuck steaks have a full beefy flavor and stay remarkably tender when cooked to a rosy medium rare. If you like steaks well done, though, choose a different cut or the meat will be chewy. The red wine is meant to flavor the onion and peppers, not to make a sauce. Boil it until it's completely absorbed by the vegetables.

WINE RECOMMENDATION:
With these steaks, you need a richly flavored, full-bodied red. Take a break from the same old cabernet sauvignon and try a refosco, a robust yet surprisingly sophisticated wine from the extreme northeast corner of Italy.

Mollys Cheese Muffins

2008-05-05T23:03:00.003-04:00

2 sticks room temperature margarine or butter
1 cup sour cream
2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Add ingredients in order, hand stirring after each into a large bowl. This mixture will be stiff. Spoon 3/4 full into miniature muffin cups.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

***Cheese may be omitted or add cooked ham, bacon, or sausage along with the cheese for a great breakfast.***

Banana Nut Muffins

2008-05-05T22:47:00.005-04:00

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter or margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2-3 large ripened bananas, mashed (the blacker the banana, the sweeter the muffin)
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease 12 standard size muffin pan cups.
Beat together butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas until smooth.
Alternately stir flour and buttermilk into egg mixture until dry ingredients are just moistened. Stir in vanilla and nuts. Do not over mix batter. It should not be completely smooth.
Spoon batter into prepared pan, filling 2/3 full. Bake until lightly golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Turn out on wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm with butter or cream cheese.

(This recipe can also be baked in a loaf pan or in tea muffins. Baking time has to be adjusted accordingly.)

Mexican Dip

2008-05-05T22:41:00.004-04:00

2 - 8 ounce blocks of softened cream cheese
1 can original Rotel tomatoes undrained
1 can drained Mexican corn
1 package dry Ranch dressing mix
1 can chopped black olives

Mix ingredients together and let sit for at least 6 hours. Serve with Fritos or tortilla chips.

Hidden Valley Ranch Oyster Crackers

2008-05-05T22:30:00.003-04:00

1 package (1.0 oz.) Hidden Valley Dry Ranch Milk Recipe Salad Dressing Mix
1/2 teaspoon dill weed
3/4 cup canola oil
5 cups (11 ounces) plain oyster crackers
Additional options....1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper and/or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine dressing mix with the dill weed and oil. Pour over crackers; stir to coat.
Place in a warm oven (250 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir gently halfway through baking.

Baked Lemon Chicken Poupon

2008-05-04T22:38:00.005-04:00

1/4 cup Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (2 1/2 to 3 lb. chicken) I prefer boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste

Mix mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil in small bowl. Place chicken in baking pan or corning ware. Brush on the mustard mixture. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or until done.

( I usually cook this in a large piece of corning ware with aluminum foil on the top for the
first 20 minutes to keep the chicken moist.)

***The broth that cooks off of the chicken with the mustard sauce is delicious with rice. ***

Peanut Butter Bar

2008-05-02T17:22:00.005-04:00

1 1/4 cup self rising flour.
1 cup of sugar.
1 cup of brown sugar.
1/2 cup of peanut butter.
1/2 cup of crisco.
4 eggs.
1 tablespoon of vanilla.
1 0z. semi-sweet chocolate chips. (optional)

Cream eggs, sugar, crisco, and peanut butter together.
Add flour until becomes creamy.
Add vanilla.
Stir in chocolate chips if desired.
Pam a 10x14 clear casserole dish and pour in. (I use a big dish so NOT TO FILL TO TOP because it will rise and run over! and oh boy, what a mess it is.)
Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes.

Cooking Time: Depends on how the temp works on your oven. I've found cooking time to be different on different ovens. You can check with toothpick. If toothpick comes out dry, it's done.

If you love peanut butter, you will want to hide this all to yourself. ;)

Old Fashioned Fudge Pie

2008-04-30T10:12:00.005-04:00

2 Squares (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the chocolate together in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sugar, then eggs, beat well. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 25 minutes or until just set. Serve warm or cold, with ice cream or whipped cream.

Easy Chicken Supreme

2008-04-22T14:27:00.002-04:00

2 boxes of Stove Top Stuffing prepared by directions
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup or Cream of Mushroom (undiluted)
1 cup sour cream
3 cups coarsley chopped chicken

Combine chicken, soup, and sour cream. Pam the casserole dish you are using. Put half of the stuffing mix in the bottom of a 8x8x2 casserole dish. Put the chicken mixture on the top of the stuffing mix. Place the remaining half of the stuffing mix on top of the chicken mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

This is delicious along with a fruit salad.

Potato Surprise

2008-04-14T20:17:00.005-04:00

10 medium-large baking potatoes
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups ground cooked meat
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or
1 teaspoon dry parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon ground sweet paprika
2 cups gravy or Mushroom Sauce

Cook whole potatoes in water to cover, over medium-high heat 15 minutes. Remove potatoes from water, then discard water. Let potatoes cool, then peel.
Lengthwise, cut top 1/5 off each potato, then reserve tops. Carefully hollow out each potato, leaving a 1/2 inch-thick shell; reserve potato flesh for other use.
Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Grease a shallow baking dish.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine in a medium skillet. Add onion, then saute over medium heat until tender. Blend in meat, egg, parsley, salt and pepper.
Stuff potatoes with meat mixture, then replace tops. Arrange potatoes in greased baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 15 minutes. Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine; stir in paprika. Brush mixture lightly over potatoes.
Bake 45 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.

Serve hot with gravy or Mushroom Sauce poured on top, if desired.

One dish meal

2008-03-25T14:06:00.003-04:00

1 large onion, diced.
1 1/2 lb. ground beef.
1 cup water.
1/2 cup flour.
2 tablespoons oil.
8 oz. grated Colby cheese.
3 cups mixed vegetables, cooked.
Mashed potatoes.

In small bowl, whisk the flour and water until it forms a paste. Set to side for now.
In a skillet, heat the oil. When oil is hot, add the onion and saute until softened. Now put it to side for now.
Put ground beef in a skillet and saute, breaking up large chunks with spatula, until browned. Drain grease. Stir in onion and mixed vegetables. Stir in the flour and water mixture. This will thicken the juices to form a sauce. When meat is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened, add salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
In a flat 10in x 10in x 2in casserole dish, (spray w/pam) Put the ground beef mixture in bottom. Then cover all with mashed potatoes. Put in oven uncovered for 30 minutes to get hot. Then cover all with grated cheese. Put back into oven until all cheese is melted.
Now you have your meat, taters and veggies all in one meal. :)

*Note: This is not the recipe to get creative with your mashed potatoes. A little milk, maybe some butter, mash with a potato masher.

Tomato Soup Cake

2008-03-22T10:29:00.002-04:00

3 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
2 teaspoon of baking powder
2 teaspoon of baking soda
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon of nutmeg
2 teaspoon of cloves

mix that together and then add the following:

2 eggs
1/2 cup butter
2 cans tomato soup

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes in a 13X9 pan

Blog Awards

2008-03-20T19:18:00.005-04:00

Italian Sausage Casserole

2008-03-16T18:19:00.004-04:00

2	lbs Italian sausage, hot or mild
4	potatoes, cut in chunks
1	green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
2	cloves minced garlic
1	small onion, diced
1 (28	ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1	teaspoon dried basil
	salt and pepper

Brown sausage in saute pan, then place in 9x13 baking dish.
Place potatoes, peppers, onion and garlic on top of sausage.
Pour crushed tomatoes over and sprinkle with basil, salt and pepper to taste.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until done.
Remove cover and bake 20 minutes more.

Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and Feta Cheese

2008-03-12T03:24:00.002-04:00

1 (9-ounce) package refrigerated fresh linguine
3/4 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves, drained
1/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves
2 tablespoons slivered almonds
2 tablespoons preshredded fresh Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain through a sieve over a bowl, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta to pan.

While pasta cooks, place tomatoes and next 6 ingredients (through black pepper) in a food processor; process until finely chopped.

Combine tomato mixture and the reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, stirring with a whisk. Add to pasta; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with feta.

Cheesecake

2008-03-12T03:13:00.005-04:00

Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs,
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
2 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vanilla paste or extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
Berries, optional
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.
For the crust: Melt the butter, covered in the microwave, in a medium microwave safe bowl, or a saucepan. Brush a 9-inch springform pan with some of the butter. Stir the remaining butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom of the pan, taking care to get the crust evenly into the edges. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. Wrap the bottom and up the sides of the pan with foil and put in a roasting pan.
For the filling: Beat the cream cheese on medium speed with a hand-held mixer until smooth. Add 1 1/4 cups sugar and beat just until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed. Slowly beat in 3/4 cup sour cream, then eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla and both citrus zests; take care not to over whip. Pour into the cooled crust.
Bring a medium saucepan or kettle of water to a boil. Gently place the roasting pan in the oven (don't pull the rack out of the oven). Pour in enough hot water to come about halfway up the side of the springform pan. Bake the cheesecake for 1 hour and 10 minutes---the outside of the cake will set but the center will still be loose.
Meanwhile, stir together the remaining sour cream, sugar and vanilla paste. Spread over the top of the cooked cheesecake and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Turn the oven off, cook the cheesecake in the residual heat in the oven for 1 hour. This gentle finish minimizes the risk of the dreaded crack in your cheese cake.
Remove cheesecake from the roasting pan to a rack. Run a knife around the edges and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Bring cheesecake to room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Remove the springform ring. Dip a knife in warm water, wipe dry before slicing each piece. Serve with berries, if desired.

Chicken Monterey

2008-03-12T02:57:00.003-04:00

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 1 1/2 Ibs. total
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup bottled barbecue sauce
4-8 slices cooked bacon, according to your taste preference
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 scallions, trimmed and sliced
1 small tomato, chopped

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350°.
2. Place chicken in a single layer in a greased baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spoon on the barbecue sauce.
4. Bake in 350° oven for 25 minutes, or until all pink is gone.
5. Top each breast half with 1 or 2 slices of cooked bacon. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
6. Bake in oven 5 more minutes.
7. Top each breast half with fresh scallions and tomatoes just before serving.

Spaghetti Sauce

2008-03-08T17:42:00.001-05:00

Get 1 pound stew beef or any kind of steak and 1 pound hot or sweet Italian Sausage
3- large cans of Italian Tomatoes
1- large can of Italian Tomato Paste
1/2 of a small onion
2- small cloves of garlic
olive oil
In a heavy pot, put in Olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan and then a little more. Heat slightly and put in your beef and sausage and fry slowly until it is good and brown. Then take the meat out and put it aside and put the garlic and onion (cut up) and brown that good but don’t burn it as it browns easily. Then add the can of tomato paste to the onion and garlic in the pan and keep frying until the paste turns a little brown. (again, watch it as it browns easily). When nice and brown, crush your tomatoes and add to the paste and cook at a low heat adding your meat back in. Cook slowly for 4 hours or to desired thickness.

Italian Meat Balls

2008-03-08T17:41:00.001-05:00

1- pound ground beef (1/2 pork and 1/2 beef)
1- cup of Italian Bread Crumbs
3/4 Cup of Grated Italian Cheese
1- Clove garlic cut up small
2- eggs beaten
salt and pepper to your taste
Mix all together, add about three tablespoons of water to mixture to make it soft. Mix well. Form into small balls and fry in olive oil until nice and brown. About ten or fifteen minutes on each side.

Lasagna

2008-03-08T17:38:00.001-05:00

1- batch of spaghetti sauce (I do cheat some and used jar sauce)
1- box jumbo lasagna
Italian Spaghetti cheese
1- package of Mozzarella cheese
1- large (3 pound) container of whole milk ricotta cheese
1- pound sweet or hot sausage
1- pround of meat ball mix (ground beef and pork)
eggs
From the above, you will get two large baking pans.
1. Make your sauce the day before and cook the sausage in the sauce unless you use jar sauce
2. Take the meat ball mix and put in a fry pan without any grease. Break it up and fry it intil it is done. Pour the grease off and put it in a dish
3. The ricotta youhave to put in a bowl, add eggs, at least six and mix well, add a little black pepper. If it does not spreak easily, add more eggs, one at a time until right spreading consisistency.
4. The sauce that was cooked has to be cut up into small pieces
5. Need your spaghetti cheese
6. Cook lasagna and strain (not too soft)
Now you put it together:
1. Put spaghetti sauce on bottom of pan. Just a thin layer. Not too much.
2. Layer of Lasagna
3. Thin layer of ricotta mixture
4. Grated Mozzarella Cheese (I like to use a lot )
5. Sprinkle pieces of broken fried sausage on
6. Sprinkle fried meat ball mixture on
7. Add another thin layer of sauce and alternate the steps to 3 layers are done.
On top of last layer (Lasagna), just put sauce, spaghettti cheese and grated mozzarella cheese
Bake in 350 oven for about an hour or until Mozzarella cheese melts. Don’t overcook.

Rye Bread dip

2008-03-08T17:36:00.001-05:00

2- cup Mayo
2- cup Sour Cream
2-3 ounces CHipped Beef or COrned Beef (If you use Chipped Beef, be sure to rinse all the salt off it)
3- tablespoons Parsley Flakes
2- 1/2 tablespoons minced Onion
1- large Rye Bread
Mix all ingredients together and hollow out the rye bread and cut what you remove into chunks to dip it I usually buy a second to just cut up because I use more bread

Cheesesteak

2008-03-08T17:35:00.002-05:00

Start with good beef. Pat’s uses sliced rib-eye. Jim’s uses USDA choice top round western steer beef.
Shave the beef very thin so it cooks quickly and remains tender.
Use a fresh high quality Italian roll - Amoroso’s is a favorite.
Decide if you want your steak with or without fried onions.
Decide if you want a steak or a cheesesteak. If you elect a cheesesteak you need to decide on American cheese, provolone or the Philly favorite “cheez whiz.”
Any add-ons? Mushrooms, peppers, pizza sauce, tomatoes? You decide. It’s your sandwich.
Start to cook. Sauté the onions, peppers and mushrooms until soft.
Fry your steak until brown but not crispy or burned. You can mix in the fried vegetables now or add them at the end.
If you elect American cheese or provolone place the cheese on the meat until slightly melted. If you choose Cheez Whiz just smear it on the roll.
Place the roll over the meat/cheese/vegetables and scoop it into the sandwich.
Garnish your sandwich with pizza sauce, hot or sweet peppers or pickles as you choose.
Enjoy your Philadelphia cheesesteak.
Tips:
Using the best beef available is the key.
Don’t overcook the ingredients.

Mac-n-Cheese

2008-03-08T17:31:00.001-05:00

1/4 cup Chopped onion
2- Tbl.Butter or Marg.
1- Can Tomato Soup
1/2 cup water
1- Cup Shredded Chedder Cheese
2- Cups cooked Macaroni
2- Tbl. Buttered Bread Crumbs
In Saucepan cook Onion in Butter until tender.
Stir in soup and cheese heat until cheese melts.
Blend sauce with macaroni. Then pour into a 1 1/2 Qt. Casserole dish.
Sprinkle more cheese and Breadcrumbs on top.
Bake at 350 for 30 Mins.

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

2008-03-08T17:18:00.000-05:00

1- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1- stick butter, room temperature
1- egg
1- tsp. vanilla extract
1- 18 oz. box moist German Chocolate cake mix
Confectioners’ suger for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into teaspoon sized balls and rolled them in confectioners sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and “gooey”. Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners’ sugar, if desired.

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2008-03-08T13:20:00.001-05:00

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