Family Recipes

Homemade Marshmallows

2011-12-31T10:50:00.000-08:00

Homemade Marshmallows

1 cup water - divided in 1/2
3 1/4oz envelopes unflavored gelatin (Knox)
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup cornstartch
1/2 cup powdered sugar

also: medium saucepan (1 1/2 q), candy thermometer, stand mixer, 9x13 pan with foil greased well!, pizza cutter, spatula, cling wrap

1.) Line pan with tin foil and grease foil well, set aside.
2.) Pour 1/2 cup water into stand mixer
3.) Sprinkle in the 3 pkg of gelatin, mix slightly then let sit.
4.) In a saucepan heat remaining water, sugar, corn syrup, and salt over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
5.) Increase heat to medium-high and boil about 4 minutes until mixture reaches 248 degrees (just under hard ball). Remove from heat.
6.) Start mixer on low (~1) and slowly add sugar mixture into gelatin mixture in a thin stream. Slowly increase speed to high (~6 or 8) for 12 minutes, or until super-fluffy.
7.) Add vanilla and mix in. Pour into greased pan using a spatula to help.
8.) Wet hands and press into pan evenly. Cover with oiled cling wrap and let sit 3 hrs.
9.) Right before 3 hrs are up, mix together cornstarch and powered sugar in a large bowl.
10.) Turn out marshmallow slab and coat with powdered mixture - slice into 1 1/2 squares (pizza cutter wet works good). Toss each square in powdered mixture until un-sticky.

Store about 2-3wks in a tight container. They melt awesome in hot choco!!! I recommend Burdicks!!

New Year's Cheeseball!

2011-12-31T10:45:00.000-08:00

Mom's Cheeseball - probably from Mickey Babcock!

2 pkg cream cheese - softened and room temp
1 8oz shredded cheese
2 tsp Worcheshire sauce
10 oz can crushed pinapple - drained
1/2 pkg of Onion soup mix
chopped walnuts to cover

1.) combine with hands and divide into 2 balls
2.) roll in chopped walnuts
3.) refrigerate to harden before serving ~1hr

2011-10-28T13:40:00.000-07:00

This was made at a RS meeting - it totally got high praise!! Check it out!

Greek Quinoa and Avocados
from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, 14th edition, with modifications

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
2 roma tomatoes, finely chopped
1 cup shredded spinach
1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped
3 tablespoons lemon juice3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ripe avocados, peeled and diced
1/2 cup crubled feta cheese
optional:about 1 cup chicken, cooked and diced

1. Combine quinoa and water in a saucepan, bring to boiling and simmerfor about 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. (I do this in a ricecooker.) 2. In a medium bowl, combine quinoa, tomatos, spinach, onion, andchicken, if using, and stir to combine. 3. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil and salt,then pour over quinoa mixture and toss to coat. At this stage, thesalad can be stored for about a day in the refrigerator. 4. Before serving, add diced avocados and feta cheese and toss together gently.

Delish Coconut Bars

2011-02-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from our last book club host. These are wonderful!!!!

GOOEY COCONUT BARS

1 box French Vanilla cake mix

2 eggs

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 box (1 lb) powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups coconut

Heat oven to 375. Spray a 13x9 pan.

Mix first three ingredients and press into bottom and 1 inch up sides of pan.

Mix next 6 ingredients and pour over crust.

Bake for 40-45 min, or until golden brown on top.

Cool completely, then cut into small squares.

Mom's Baked Beans

2010-06-09T16:28:00.001-07:00

The first time I had these beans was Thanksgiving 2003. Aaron and I had just started dating and we had dinner with his mom, his Aunt Lynn, and Grandpa Sharpe. I thought these were so excellent and I make them all the time - though maybe I should start making them in the crock-pot - It's too hot to bake something in the oven for an hour here! I keep losing the recipe so I thought I would post it here for easy access!

Calico Baked Beans

1 can white beans or pork and beans

1 can red kidney beans

1 can Butter beans

1/4 cup chopped onions
1 clove garlic minced
1 Tbsp butter

1/2 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 teas dry mustard

1 teas salt

2 Tbsp vinegar

1/2 can water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I'm not sure the specifics of how Mom Adams puts them together, but I rinse the beans in a strainer in the sink first. While they are draining, I saute the onion and garlic in the butter until the onion is soft and clear. Then I pour everything together (beans, onion mixture, and sauce ingredients, and water) in a small casserole dish and combine well. Then I bake them for an hour covered. These are great addition to any BBQ - or any meal really.

Pumpkin Pie Trick

2009-11-24T19:58:00.000-08:00

This is a great way to get a nice consistency - and a way to save a bit of money - with your pumpkin pie this year. Follow the directions for Libby's pumpkin pie - but use powdered milk instead of canned evaporated milk. I use a 2 cup pyrex measurer. Fill the measuring cup to 1 1/2 cup line with powdered milk, then add water until the liquid reaches the same 1 1/2 mark. Mix well - then gradually add to your pie mixture. It seems to combine the pie a little better and keep it at a creamy custardy consistency without any curdling. It works really well for us. Happy Thanksgiving!

Cream Cheese Chicken Puffs

2009-11-08T13:55:00.001-08:00

This is a favorite at our house especially with Claire. We serve it with mashed potatoes and broccoli usually.

4 puffs: (I usually double)

1-2 chicken breasts cubed and cooked (1 large one does well for four puffs)
1 8 oz. block of cream cheese (I use neufchatel)
2-3 chopped green onions
2 tbsp salted butter
pepper to taste
1 can of Pillsbury (or store brand) Crescent Roll dough
bread crumbs

gravy:

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 cup milk
1 cup water (maybe more depending on your desired thickness, and richness)
parsley flakes

or

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can (from soup) milk

Puff directions:

I boil the chicken in water in a pot, then shred it or cube it into tiny pieces. Saute the onions in butter for a few minutes, then add your block of cream cheese until it melts together. Add chicken and pepper to cream cheese mixture. In the pan, I separate the mixture into four even parts. Take the Crescent roll dough and piece two triangles together to make a square (I like the new dough sheets you can buy, then you just cut them into four squares)- spoon chicken/cheese mixture in the center of each square - fold the points up to the middle and squeeze sides together to enclose the mixture. Repeat with each puff. Sprinkle your puff with bread crumbs. Place on cookie sheet and bake 375 degrees for about 11-15 minutes (follow directions on the dough can). This makes 4 puffs. I usually double the recipe.

Gravy directions:

Melt butter in pan on medium heat, once bubbling, add flour, mix constantly, it will thicken up, add milk and water very gradually, mixing constantly until you have the gravy, let it come to boiling for approx a minute, add the bouillon and parsley, mix thoroughly. (this takes some practice) You can always get a Hollandaise sauce packet from the grocery store to use or use the cream of chicken soup. This usually makes enough for the 8 puffs.

Hershey's "Especially Dark" Chocolate Cake

2009-05-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, you are going to thank me for this one! YUM YUM YUM! It is the best chocolate cake I have ever had! So much better than a cake mix!

2 cups sugar
1- 3/4 all purpose flour (i used cake flour)
3/4 Hershey's special dark Cocoa powder
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil ( i used canola oil)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9 inch round pans.
Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla, beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 mins. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30 mins or until pick comes out clean. Cool 10mins before removing from pans.

Frost with chocolate frosting:

1/2 cup butter
2/3 Hershey's special dark cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 milk
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistencey. Add small amount of milk if needed. Stir in Vanilla. Then frost that cake!

Enjoy with a tall glass of cold milk.

Mexican Rice

2009-03-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

My Latino friend taught me how to make this rice, so it is authentic. Restaurant taste!

You will need a Teflon coated pan with lid( Glass lid, so you can see inside)and a garlic squeezer.

Ingredients: This will feed family of 4 plus left over.

................................................................................................

1 1/2 cup of rice ( I like Jasmine rice, but long grain is good,too)
1/4-1/2 of Medium size Onion minced

2-3 cloves of garlic ( Use fresh garlic! It taste different.)

1 Table spoon of oil

1/3 -1/2 can of Tomato paste( small Can)

3 3/4 cups of water( the amount of rice times 2.5)

1 cup of frozen corn( optional)

Chicken flavor Bouillon see the picture below,

You have to get this exact powder to make authentic Taste.You can get this at American store. Check the Mexican food section.

Sam's club has a huge bucket by the spice section

It's called "Caldo Con sabor de pollo."
................................................................

1. Heat oil and squeeze the garlic through a garlic squeezer into oil and add onions. Stir them in medium heat until Onion is started to turn brown.

2. Add rice and roast them well in a medium low heat. Take time here!! 5-10 minutes

3. Add water, tomato paste and Bouillon( see the picture below for the amount) and mix well until you don't see lumps of tomato paste and bring it to boil and let it boil for a minute. Keep eye on the bottom and make sure it doesn't burn!

I'm not sure how much bouillon, so I took picture. I use 2 teaspoons full, but you can see,it's mountain of powder. When it's done, you can add it later as needed.

4. Turn down the heat to Lowest setting. Put a lid on and let it cook for a while. about 20 minutes. Try not to open. If you want to see, I recommend using a glass lid. No need to stir!

5. when the water is almost absorbed into rice, open the lid and use fork to fluff the rice. At this point, if you would like to add corn, you may.My friend uses caned corn and put it with water in the beginning. Take your time and fluff bottom up. try not to mush rice.

6.Cover and let it cook for another 3-5 minutes depends on how much water is left. Then turn off the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes. This usually takes care of access water.

........................

Suggestion:

........................

Instead of Tomato paste, you can also use tomato source or diced tomato even fresh cut tomato. Just adjust the amount of water.

You do not need to use any tomato at all. We had corn rice without any tomato product with shish kabobs. Add saffron and now it's the yellow saffron pilaf.

...........................................................................................................

Amount of water and the heat is the most tricky part of cooking rice. My friend uses more water than I do, so you have to try and experiment.

Buttermilk Syrup

2009-02-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

Oh WOW!!! Today I went to a friend's house for lunch and she had pancakes with home-made syrup. It was so wonderful!!!! I will never buy syrup again:

1 stick of butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 Tbsp of corn syrup
3/4 cup buttermilk (1 Tbsp lemon juice - add milk until 3/4 cup)
1 teas baking soda
1 teas vanilla

Combine all but vanilla in soup pot (this bubbles up so you need a bigger pot than you would think). Bring to a boil for approx. 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Stir. Makes about 2 cups. My friend said that she doesn't know how long it keeps because it never lasts long enough to go bad.

Beef Minestrone

2009-02-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

In your pot, brown together:

1/2 lb ground beef
1/3 lb italian sausage
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 zucchini, finely chopped

Once meat has lightly browned (you may want to drain fat if your beef is high in fat content at this point) and onions and zucchini look transparent add:

dash of salt and black pepper
1 teas garlic powder
1 Tbsp of Basil or Italian seasoning
3 cups of chicken or beef broth (we always use water with bouillon)
1 can of diced tomatoes undrained
1 can of red kidney beans

Once this come to a slow boil, add:

1 cup uncooked macaroni

Once macaroni has cooked, about 10 minutes, it is finished and ready to serve. We love this served with garlic bread or fresh rolls.

tip: I've been adding italian sausage to spaghetti sauce for spaghetti and lasagna and as a topping for pizza lately. I buy 1 pounders then cut into thirds and freeze.

Chicken Cheese Steaks and Rosemary Parmesan French Fries

2009-02-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we used our left over fajita meat, onions, and peppers for Chicken Cheese steaks!

Chop up left over meat very fine and heat it up with left over veggies in a skillet.
Put cheese on a roll before filling roll with hot meat and veggies. Put more cheese on top if you desire!

We made french fries as a side. Just cut up a few potatoes length wise and into strips. Oil a cookie sheet with Olive oil and coat the potatoes strips in oil on sheet. Bake for 18-20 mins at 400 degrees. salt while still hot to taste. Cover in rosemary and grated Parmesan cheese for a yummy alternative to ketchup.

Eggplant Parm... yummm!

2009-02-25T17:10:00.001-08:00

For Dinner tonight we had Eggplant Parm. It was so good!

one Med. Eggplant
Spaghetti sauce
Provolone or Mozzarella cheese
Italian Bread Crumbs
Egg wash
One greased pan of your choice (I used a bread pan)

Rinse and skin the Eggplant ( i use a potatoes peeler)
Cut the eggplant length wise and very thin
Bread the eggplant (dip in egg wash then in bread crumbs)
Layer in pan : Eggplant, sauce, cheese and repeat until you get to the top of the pan. Pour remaining sauce over top and then top with grated cheese. Cover with tin foil to keep cheese from burning.

Bake 375 Degrees for 30 mins. Uncover and then bake for an additional 5 mins. Eggplant should melt in your mouth. Serve with pasta of your choice and something green!

Leftovers idea: Make an Eggplant Parm hot sandwich! Yumm! It's better the second day!

Pumpkin Cake

2008-12-15T21:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, Ladies!

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1 small Box of Instant Vanilla Pudding

2 eggs

1 15 oz can of 100% pure pumpkin

1 T. Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 C water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients together and beat with a hand mixer for 3-5 minutes. Pour into a greased jelly pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool.

Topping

1 Pint Whipping Cream

1 T vanilla

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1 8oz Cool Whip

Whip cream, sugar and vanilla until cream has stiff peaks. Fold in Cool Whip and top mixture onto the cake.

Enjoy!

Raspberry Bars!!

2008-11-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

Hey all. Here is a quick and easy dessert that takes just minutes and makes everyone who tastes it an instant fan!

1 Yellow or White Cake Mix

2 1/2 C. of Oatmeal

1 1/2 sticks of butter

1/2-3/4 C of your favorite jam or jelly

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Heat the butter until it is melted, combine with the cake mix and oatmeal. This will be a lumpy, dry consistency. Press 3/4 of the mix in the bottom of a 9x9 inch pan. Then spread the jam/jelly. Top (sprinkle) the remainig mixture on top. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Searve warm or cool. I have found that if you let it cool for 10-15 minutes it serves up better. Although if you are just having one of those days when you need a treat--Serve it hot with ice cream on top!!

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever

2008-08-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

This one is from Kristi, who I visit teach:

My mom clipped this recipe out of a newspaper in like the 20's or something. It's the recipe we have always used and is, in my humble opinion, the best chocolate chip cookie out there (I am sure you all have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe as well).

Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies:

½ cup of white sugar
1 cup shortening
1 t vanilla
1 C brown sugar, well packed
2 eggs
2 ¼ cups of flour
1t baking soda
1 t salt
1 C choc chips

Cream together shortening, sugar, vanilla, eggs. Add salt and soda, mix well. Add 1 ¼ cups of the flour, mix well. Add the last cup of flour and mix by hand, add choc chips and mix by hand. Bake @ 350 for 7-10 minutes. The trick to these cookies is to not over bake them. Pull them out when they first start to crack on top or are just barely turning golden. You will not be disappointed. Well, if you over cook them you might be, so don't.

Texas Sheet Cake

2008-08-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

CAKE

Mix in a large bowl:

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda

In a sauce pan melt:

1 cup butter (2 sticks)
4 Tbsp cocoa
1 cup water

Bring the cocoa mixture to a rapid boil and pour into large bowl over dry ingredients. Mix together with beater. Add:

1 cup buttermilk (you can sub - 1 tbsp lemon juice and then add milk to make a cup)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs beaten

Mix well and put in greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 13 - 15 minutes. Cool.

FROSTING

1/2 cup of softened butter
4 Tbsp cocoa
6 TBSP buttermilk
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
chopped pecans

Mix ingredients (except pecans) with mixer. Frost cooled cake and sprinkle chopped pecans on top. This is always a crowd pleaser and is so easy. Sprinkle nuts only on half if your worried about nut haters. But it's not a true Texas sheet cake without them.

Dump Cake

2008-08-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Dump Cake by Luz L.

1 can cherry pie filling
1 can (14 to 16 oz) crushed pineapple (don't drain)
1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter or margarine (more if needed)

Mix cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple and spread in a 9x13 inch pan (ungreased). Sprinkle dry cake mix over the fruit, covering all of it. Slice the butter in thin slices and place on top of cake until entire surface is covered. If needed, use more butter. Bake at 350 degrees until brown. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Hawaiian Haystacks

2008-08-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

This is an old favorite that we brought back into the mix recently. Easy to double.

1/2 lb diced or shredded chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth (or just a cup of water and one chicken bouillon cube)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare chicken. (I boiled a frozen chicken breast, then shredded). In sauce pan over medium heat melt butter, add flour, mix well, then add broth, mix until thickened, then add soup and milk, salt and pepper and I like to add some parsley flakes. Heat until boiling for about 1 minute, it will thicken as it cools. Serve over steamed rice. Top with favorites. We like to have these various toppings available:

Diced celery
Diced green onion
Diced tomatoes
Diced green peppers
Pineapple tidbits
Shredded coconut
Shredded cheese
Dried chow mien noodles
Soy Sauce

Betsy's BBQ Meatballs w/ Mac and Cheese

2008-08-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from our ward cookbook and we love it.

Mix together:
1 lb (LEAN) hamburger (or ground turkey)
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 eggs (I used just one egg and it turned out fine)
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Shape into meatballs and drop into Greased casserole pan. Pour sauce over meatballs.

Sauce:
1 cup brown sugar ( I used about 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tsp mustard
1/2 bottle BBQ sauce (I used 1/2 cup Sweet Baby Ray's and 1 cup ketchup)
2 tsp worcestershire sauce

Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 30 - 35 minutes. Turn meatballs and bake for another 15 - 20 minutes.

This is great with Mac and cheese as a side. I like this recipe. We eat with steamed veggies and a green salad too to help with the guilt.

Blueberry Cake

2008-08-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a recipe from my mom's grandmother's Grange Cookbook.

Blueberry Cake

Cream:
1/c shortening (I use butter)
1 egg
1 c sugar
1 t vanilla

Add 1 c sour milk (I like to sour it with lemon juice, but you can use vinegar)
Stir in:
1 t baking soda
2 c flour
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 c blueberries (also good with blackberries)

Sprinkle top with cinnamon and sugar

Bake at 350 for 30 min. in a 9x 11 pan.

I always double the recipe and make in my BIG glass pan...I think it is 10x13. Check with inserting knife.

Tortellini Soup

2008-07-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is one I got from a recipe blog that my ward does. I've been kind of preoccupied with it so I haven't been posting to this one at all lately. But it's time to revive the Family Foods blog!

2 Tbsp butter
6 garlic cloves, chopped
4 cups chicken broth (I usually use 4 cups water with 4 bouillon cubes)
2 1/2 cups frozen or dry cheese tortellini
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes (with juice)
6 oz baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped (frozen works too)
1/2 tsp. dried basil
optional: Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute about 1 1/2 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add tortellini and cook about 5 min. Add tomatoes and juice. Bring to boil again, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer about 5 min. Stir in spinach and basil and heat until spinach is wilted. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Ashley Z's Thai Coconut Rice

2008-07-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

We had this at Enrichment night about a month ago and I could not get enough of it. It is a perfect side dish for grilled chicken...

1 Cup uncooked rice (basmati, jasmine or long grain)
1 14 oz can coconut milk
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. turmeric
1/4 tsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
1/4 cup coconut flakes

Cooking Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan.
-Stir well to combine
-cook over medium-high hear, stirring until mixture comes to a low boil.
-Immediately reduce heat to low
-cover and cook for 18 minutes
-fluff with fork.
-cover and let sit for 5 minutes
-garnish rice with additional coconut

Bruschetta

2008-07-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies! Thought I would post since it has been a while for all of us.

Hope your summers are well!

Ingredients:
Two Fresh Plastic Grape or Cherry Tomatoes Containers (You can also use plum tomatoes but I prefer the other)
6 – 10 Fresh Basil Leaves
2 Fresh Crushed Garlic Cloves (you can also garlic from the jar. Just make sure you use the correct amount)
¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar
Coarse Salt to Taste (I use about 1 – 2 teaspoons)
1 Baguette (cut into

Chop tomatoes and basil leaves together in a food processor. Pay attention while doing this, you don’t want to puree the tomatoes. They should still be a little chunky. Pour into a bowl.
Add garlic, olive oil, vinegar and mix.
Add salt to taste.
Allow the mixture to blend flavors for a couple of hours before serving.
Slice the baguette on a diagonal into ½ thick slices.

Temple Bread (Whole Wheat)

2007-10-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

I guess this is the recipe used in the Chicago Temple Cafeteria. I sized it down for two loaves:

2 cups very warm water
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. salt
1 T yeast - I use 2 yeast packets
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 cups white flour

Mix very warm water with honey. Pour yeast packets into water and let dissolve. Add oil and salt. Add three cups of wheat flour. Mix well. Add the rest of four and knead dough. Let dough rise 1 hour. Punch down. Shape into two loaves. Let rise another hour. Bake at 375 degrees for 22 minutes.

The original recipe says to mix the water, honey, oil, salt, and three cups of flour before adding the yeast. I'm too scared to try that... but maybe it would work better that way. I have a way of killing the yeast and I'm afraid that would make it easier for me to do that.

Ham and Corn Chowder

2007-10-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

We had this soup last night to use up some leftover ham and Claire even liked it, so we are sharing... Great with fresh homemade bread or rolls.

2 ribs of celery, diced
1/4 cup diced onions
2 T butter
2 T flour
3 cups milk
2 cups cooked ham, diced
2 cups potatoes, cooked and diced
1 can corn
1 can cream style corn
1 cup diced carrots
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/8 teaspoon red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt

Two ways to make this - on the stove top or in the crock pot. In the crockpot the milk will curdle, but it still tastes great. We didn't have creamed corn and it turned out fine too.

1. In a large sauce pan, saute the onion, celery, and butter until softened.
2. Add flour and stir until well blended, then gradually add the milk.
3. bring to a boil while stirring and it should thicken up.

4. This is where you can either transfer the mixture to the crockpot and add the rest of the ingredients and let it go for 4 hours on low. OR You can add the rest of the ingredients (but you would need to cook the carrots and potatoes ahead of time) and bring to a boil. Then you reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes. I prefer crock-pot way...

easy chicken broccoli casserole

2007-10-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

This is one recipe that makes for an easy dinner. I don't use specific measurements for this one, so I'll estimate. This works perfect if you have left over rice that you don't know what to do with.

1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1/4 cup mayo (you can also use sour cream if your not a mayo fan)
1 T lemon juice
1/2 t curry powder
2 small chicken breasts (cooked and diced)
1 lb of frozen broccoli
2 cups of cooked rice
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
breadcrumbs

Cook rice or use leftover rice. Cook chicken either on stovetop or boil. While waiting for rice and chicken, mix the remaining ingredients except 1/2 cup cheese and breadcrumbs in a 9x9 baking dish. Mix in rice and chicken once ready. It should be creamy and the rice should be well coated. If it seems too dry you can add milk until it's a nice creamy mixture. Top the remaining cheese and bread crumbs. Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cheesy Potatoes

2007-10-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

Also known as Party Potatoes or Funeral Potatoes. This is my version:

7 or 8 medium potatoes diced (or you can buy frozen hash browns - enough to fill a 9x13 inch pan)
12 oz. sour cream
1 can of cream of celery soup (you can also use cream of chicken/mushroom/broccoli, I prefer the celery
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 stick of butter (you can dice or melt)
1/4 cup of finely chopped onions
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup of crushed corn flakes or bread crumbs

1. Dice potatoes and cook in boiling water until tender - about 20 minutes, then drain- or you can just defrost the frozen hash browns
2. In large bow, stir together soup, sour cream, 1 cup of cheese, butter, onion, salt and pepper.
3. Stir in potatoes
4. Pour into 9x13 baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with cornflakes or bread crumbs
5. Bake, covered with foil, for 40 minutes
6. Uncover and bake about 10 more minutes until topping is golden and sides are bubbling.

This goes great with ham or chicken dinners. We love it!

Puffy Oven Pancakes (German pancakes)

2007-10-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

2 T of butter
2 Large eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup milk
1/4 t salt
lemon juice and powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in 9X9 pan in oven. Try not to let the butter brown.
2. Beat eggs and then beat in flour, milk, and salt until smooth, a little lumpy is o.k. but the smoother the better
3. Pour batter into pan over the melted butter and bake for about 20 - 25 minutes.
4. Sprinkle with lemon juice and powdered sugar (optional)

We eat this with maple syrup or jam on top. You can also easily double the recipe and put it into a 13/9 pan.

Apple variation:

Make just like above except-- sprinkle 2 T of brown sugar and 1/4 t of cinnamon evenly over melted butter then arrange 1 medium apple sliced over the sugar. Pour batter on top and bake for about 25-30 minutes. Loosen edge with knife and turn upside down onto serving plate to serve.

Easy Pizza Dough

2007-08-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

We have been craving pizza for a while so we finally decided to make our own. This recipe is so easy and quick. We think it tastes better than the take out stuff. It is definitely cheaper if you have the ingredients on hand already.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Ingredients for dough:

1 cup very warm water

1 packet of quickrise yeast

1 teaspoon of sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 1/2 cups flour

In a medium size bowl dissolve sugar in warm water. Pour yeast packet into bowl and let it dissolve on top. If there are lumps after a few seconds its o.k. to mix them in. After that is mixed well, add salt and oil. Add flour gradually until it becomes a soft dough. I like to knead the last 1/2 cup into the dough. Then cover the bowl with a cloth and set on stovetop for 15 minutes to rise. After its risen for 15 minutes, roll out the dough and place on pizza sheet. Spread on sauce (we use 8 oz. can tomato sauce with salt, a little sugar, garlic, and italian seasonings), toppings and cheese and bake on bottom rack of oven for 12-15 minutes. Enjoy!

2007-07-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Quick Jell-O Pie

2 Packs Sugar Free Jell-O-any flavor

2 Containers of low or fat free yogurt-something close to Jell-O flavor

1 Container Cool Whip-low fat

2 Pie crust (or 1 crust and pudding cups)

Empty Jell-O into large bowl. Add just enough hot water to dissolve Jell-O. Whip in yogurt. Add in container of thawed cool-whip. Mix until well blended. Put into pie crust. Cover. Place in fridge.

Set time--One Hour

Coconut Chicken

2007-07-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

So this is one that we adapted from a recipe we found online and actually liked it enough to share. That doesn't always happen. Usually my experiments turn out badly. I just happened to have some coconut milk left over from a different recipe that I didn't want to waste. Lucky for us we have a new favorite dish at our place. It's probably not the most healthy dish, but it tastes pretty good. Serves 4.

2 T white sugar
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 tsp salt
dash of black pepper
dash of paprika
1/2 tsp of garlic powder or fresh garlic if you have
1 T red pepper (or to taste, however spicy you would like it)
2 T peanut butter
1T lime or lemon juice
2 cups of diced chicken
2 T butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup coconut milk (or 1 and 1/2 cups and omit reg milk)
1/2 cup light sour cream

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a medium bowl(will be sticky). Set aside about a tablespoon of the mixture for later. Add chicken pieces and make sure chicken is coated well. You can let this marinate for a while or get cooking. Melt the butter in a large saucepan. On medium to high heat cook the chicken mixture until coating is nice and golden brown. Then add the rest of the peanut butter mixture until it melts and blends in. Then add the milks. Once the milk seems to be warmed up add the sour cream. Mix in well and turn down the heat and let simmer for a few minutes. Served over rice. You can experiment with it too. Maybe you can make it even better.

Dreamy Guacamole

2007-07-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

(This one is from a mission companion of mine who is thinking about joining the blog. I hope she does soon. This looks good! )

Dreamy Guacamole

6 avocados
1 bunch of cilantro
4-6 green onions
2 limes
3-4 roma tomatoes
Garlic salt (to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
White vinegar (1/4-1/2 C)

This is usually the order that I do this in.

Juice of the 2 limes. (if you like more lime taste you could zest it)
Put in the avocados cut up. Mix the 2 together.
Finely chop the cilantro. (Use as much or as little as you like, I tend to like more)
Chop the onions as finely as you can.
De-seed and juice the tomatoes. Roughly chop.
Add the garlic salt, pepper and salt to your liking.
Add ¼ c of white vinegar.

Then depending on how soft the avocadoes are, mash with a potato masher or a pastry cutter until the consistency that you like. If they are not ripe enough, add the other ¼ C of vinegar and continue to mash.

Serve!

Enjoy!

Ally

Double Chocolate Cookies

2007-07-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

1 package (18.25 oz) plain* devil's food cake mix
1/3 cup water
4 Tbl. (1/2 stick) butter, melted (do not substitute margerine or it won't taste the same)
1 large egg
6 oz (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

*Plain cake mix has no added pudding. Duncan Hines brand meets this criterion, and so do some store brands.

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets with solid shortening. Set the pans aside.

2. Place the cake mix, water, melted butter, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat 1 more minute. Cookie dough will be thick. Fold in the chips and nuts.

3. Drop scoops of dough 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Place in oven. If both sheets won't fit on the center rack, place one sheet on top and one in the center and rotate them halfway through the baking time.

4. Bake until set but soft in the center, 10-12 minutes. Remove pans from oven, let cookies rest on the cookie sheets for 1 minute. Remove with a metal spatula to cooling racks, let cool for 20 minutes. (I don't think we have ever had enough self-restraint to let them cool that long.)

Gone All Afternoon Stew

2007-07-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

Gone All Afternoon Stew from Mums

1 lb. lean round steak, trimmed of fat and cubed
1 Tbl. dry tapioca
5 medium carrots, cut in chunks
3 large ribs celery, thickly sliced
1 onion, cut in chunks
4 medium potatoes, cut in chunks (I scrub them but do not peel them)
1 can tomato soup
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. Italian seasoning or equivalent (I just throw in basil, a little oregano, and thyme)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 cup frozen peas

Layer all ingredients except peas in a heavy roaster or casserole dish. No need to brown the meat first. Cover tightly, use foil if your pan doesn't have a lid.

Bake at 275 degrees for 5 hours. Stir in peas just before serving.

Spicy Chicken and Rice Bake

2007-07-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

This is a delicious dish that has a ton of flavor and just enough spice. Left overs are great too because the rice only gets better the next day!

1 to 2 Pounds meaty chicken pieces (I like to use 4 chicken breasts)
1/2 chopped onion (medium)
1/2 chopped sweet green pepper
2 cloves garlic,minced
1 Tble olive oil (or other cooking oil)
1 15 ounce can Black beans rinsed and drained
1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup Chicken stock (add more if you think mixure needs more liquid)
1/2 cup Tomato juice
1 cup frozen corn, or 1 reg. size can of sweet corn
2/3 cup of uncooked long grain rice
1 tsp. Chili powder
1 tsp. Cumin
1/4 tsp. paprika
salt to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional, I think everything is better with cheese)

1. Skin Chicken and set aside.
2. In a large sausepan cook onion, sweet pepper, and garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in Black beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato juice, chicken stock, corn, Cumin, chili powder, rice, and salt. Bring to boil. Transfer rice mixture to a 3 quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange chicken pieces on top of rice mixture. Sprinkle chicken with paprika.
3. Bake covered in a oven heated to 375 degrees for 40 mins, then uncover and sprinkle cheese over the chicken and rice if desired and cook until chicken is no longer pink and rice is tender. Then enjoy.

Gyoza/Pot Stickers

2007-07-08T19:49:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
One pack of pot sticker wrap round shape. No square

(filling) It doesn't has to be exact amount of things.

1 lbs. ground pork

1 egg

1/4 c Nira/Chinese Chive minced

1 c Napa Cabbage minced

1 clove of garlic

2 T soy sauce

2 T sesame oil

salt & pepper

some options:

Green onion, cabbege, shiitake mushrooms, leak, bok choy, ginger

(dipping sauce)

If you can find the dumpling sauce at the Chinese market, it's the best.

3 T soy sauce

1 T vinegar

some drops of chili oil

If you like white rice to go with gyoza, start making rice now.

Mince all the Vegetables by hand or use food processor.
Size of Ants!
Put all the filling ingredients in one bowl and need by hand.

You shouldn't see any grains of pork

Scoop one teaspoonful of filling onto one wrap
and put water around half circle.
water is for glueing.
If it's too much fillings adjust the amount.

Fold in half .

Make three fold at the curve
You shouldn't taste at this moment, so cook one in the boiling
water until it's done and try it.
Add more soy sauce if the filling needs more taste.

Stand them up on the well-floured Tupperware.
They should not touch each other.
They stick together easily when they sweat.
The folded edge should be on top.
I made about 85 gyoza, but still had some left over wraps.
I usually freeze some.The cooking instruction is the same for frozen gyoza.

~use non stick pan! ~

Heat the pan and add 3 Tablespoonfuls of oil.
They will stick to the pan if you don't put enough,
so add little more than usual.
Line Gyoza in the pan.
The folded edge should be standing.
Then, add water up to 1/3 of the gyoza's height and cover.
Steam for 5-8 minutes at medium heat.

Open the lid and evaporate the water and
brown the bottom.
You can tell the bottom color by looking at
residue on the pan. Some Gyoza will be connected with this residue at the bottom, but it's easy to separate when you eat.
The bottom should be brown but not burned.
Be careful not to break the skin when you take out of the pan.
When you serve, the bottoms of the Gyoza should be up.
That way, those gyoza will stay crunchy longer.

For less calories, I boil them instead of pan fry just like ravioli.
Sometimes I put some in soup.
You can also deep fry them.

Filling can be easily changed. It's not the end of the world if you cannot find some veggies. I had Mexican style goyza with ground chicken and cilantro filling. Also Italian gyoza with pork, basil and parmesean cheese. Dipping sauce is another fun thing to play around. Have some fun and invent the new potstickers and dips.

Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

2007-06-29T12:33:00.001-07:00

I made this the other night and it turned out really nicely. Much easier than rolling each individual tortilla. I only used one large chicken breast and it turned out fine. This recipe serves a small family, so you need to double if you are having company (I like using cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken when doubling). This is from memory so hopefully it works out allright.

Preheat oven: 350 dregees

Ingredients:

2-3 chicken breasts
8 -10 small corn tortillas, broken up
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 small can of green chiles
8 oz. sour cream
1-2 cups shredded cheese (mild cheddar or colby mix)
1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional)
1/4 cup chopped olives (optional)

1. Boil chicken breasts or chop them and cook in olive oil. If you boil, you can shred the chicken after it has cooled and it goes much further.
2. Mix soup, chiles, sour cream, and cooked chopped/shredded chicken in a bowl.
3. Grease 8x8 pan, layer bottom with small amount of soup mixture, 1/3 of tortillas, then 1/3 of soup/chicken mixture, and 1/3 of cheese.
4. Continue to layer until you are out of ingredients, finish with cheese on top, garnish top with green onions and olives.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, or until sides are bubbling and cheese is melted.

We usually put lettuce and salsa on top. Enjoy!

Banana Bread

2007-06-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

1 cup Shortening
2 cups sugar
6 bananas
4 eggs
4 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup nut chopped

Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs one at a time and mix. Add mashed bananas and mix well. Add flour, baking soda, salt and nuts. Mix well.

Bake 350 degrees in 2 well greased and floured loaf pans for 1 hour and 15mins.

Yo' Mama's Simple Bread

2007-06-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Great for Cinnamon Rolls and Dough Dodgers

2 1/2 cups warm (hot) water
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 packages yeast

Let yeast activate then add:

1/2 cup powered milk
1/3 cup oil
1 Tbsp. salt

Add 7 cups of flour one cup at a time mixing after each cup. Turn out onto counter and knead.
Let rise until double the size- about 1 hour (skip to cinnamon rolls and dough dodgers directions from here if desired)
Punch down, roll into loaves, put into loaf pans. Let rise again -1hour.
Bake 350-375 degrees-35mins

OR for Cinnamon rolls

Roll out dough, add butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Roll up and slice for cinnamon rolls, let rise and bake for 20-25 mins.

OR for Dough Dodgers

Pull off pieces and shape into small balls. Flatten the balls and cook in hot oil. Great with Soup.

Adams Family Spinach Salad

2007-06-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
1 bag of spinach
1 cup of chopped tomato or Cherry tomato (more if you like )
6 slices of Bacon cooked and cut into bite size pieces
1/4 medium Onions chopped (if you don't like onions, put less, but make sure to add . It is part of flavoring)

Dressing
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 T Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Dry mustard
2 T Lemon juice
1 T Ketchup
3 T Olive oil

Instructions:

Mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl, heat 5-10 seconds in the microwave if the dry ingredients need to be dissolved.
Prepare the salad in a large bowl by putting spinach, tomato, onion and bacon.
Right before eating , mix dressing into the Salad and hand toss.

Picture of this salad coming soon!

Black Bean Salsa

2007-06-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

4 medium tomatoes, seeded & chopped
1/2 C green onion - some tops included
4 T fresh cilantro, snipped
2 garlic clove, pressed
4 T lime juice
1 can (15oz) black beans, **RINSED & drained **
1 can S&W Carribean black beans
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground lack pepper

Instructions:

Chop and seed tomatoes. Chop green onions. Coasrsely snip cilantro using kitchen shears.
Combine tomatoes, green onions and cilantro in 2 qt. bowl.
press garlic and add lime juice to the mixture. Add beans ( make sure to rinse the black beans), salt and pepper; mix gently. Cover and refrigerate 1-2hours to blend flavors.
Serve with warm chips, crackers

Servings:6 cups
Recipe provided by Jan

Slow Cooker Lasagna

2007-06-24T18:08:00.001-07:00

This may not look all that appetizing, but it's very tasty. It tastes just like baked lasagna. I can put this together during Claire's nap and I don't have to worry about it again until it's time to eat. Makes about 4 to 6 servings depending how hungry you are.

1/2 to 1 lb of Ground Beef or Turkey

1/4 cup of diced onions

1/4 cup of diced green peppers

12 oz. of Ricotta or cottage cheese

1 egg

1 and 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese (more or less, depending how cheesy you are :)

28 oz jar of prepared spaghetti sauce

1/2 to 1 cup water

9 uncooked lasagna noodles broken up in pieces to fit

1. Brown beef or Turkey and cook with onion and green pepper in a skillet

2. Add sauce and water.

3. Mix egg and ricotta/cottage with one cup of mozzarella in separate bowl

3. Spread 1/4th of meat sauce on bottom of greased crock pot

4. Break 1/3 of noodles to cover meat sauce

5. Cover meat sauce with 1/3 cheese mixture

6. Continue to layer and end with rest of meat sauce on top.

7. Cover and cook on low for about 3-4 hours. During last 1/2 hour cover with remaining mozzarella cheese.

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

2007-06-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

These sugar cookies are perfect for Christmas or whenever you need an excuse to get out the Cookie Cutters (Fourth of July, maybe)!

1/2 Butter (One Stick)

1 Cup White Sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/2 cup sour cream

3 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp nutmeg

Chill dough at least an hour. Roll out 1/2 inch thick. Bake 400 degrees, 8-12 min.