Fill your pie hole

The Easy, and Absolute BEST Cheesecake Ever!

2012-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Recipe for the Best Cheesecake Ever...and the easiest. YUM.

THE CRUST

2 packages of graham crackers
3/4 cup sugar
1 stick of butter melted

Crush graham crackers in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin. Put in a mixing bowl and add the sugar. Mix well with a fork. Add melted butter and mix well. Press into two 9 inch pie plates.

CHEESECAKE

3 8oz packages of cream cheese
4 eggs
1 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Mix well in an electric mixer. Get as smooth as possible, but some lumps are okay. Pour into the 2 prepared pie shells. Bake for 20 minutes at 375. Let cool completely.

TOPPING

2 cups sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c sugar

Mix together well until sugar is melted and put on top of pies. Refrigerate before serving.

Recipe from Ann

Suzanna's Rolls

2009-12-23T08:39:00.000-08:00

These are my sister in laws yummy rolls, and I don't have a picture of them, because they never last long enough to take one! My friend is making them for Christmas though (and you should too, yum!) and I will have her snap a pic if she can and add it here for ya'll.

Here is the recipe;

2c milk-heated for 2 min in microwave
2 TBS yeast
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp salt
5 1/2 TBS softened butter
1 egg
5 1/2-6 cups flour (you want dough to be a little sticky, but not too sticky!)

Heat milk and add yeast to it.
Add sugar, salt, soft butter and egg.
Mix
Add 2 cups of flour at a time, about 2 minutes of kneading each time (we do this in our kitchen aid, but you could also make the dough in your bread maker on dough setting, and take out when done).
Let rise for 45 minutes
Sprinkle flour on clean countertop with measuring cup-never your hands, the less you handle the flour the better your rolls will be.
Roll dough out
Cut into rectangles with pizza cutter, or knife
Roll rolls, into log shapes or crescent shapes
Spray cookie sheet or parchment paper with spray
Cover with dishtowel and let rise for 45 minutes or longer (should about double in size)
Bake at 350 for 10-12 min
Rolls should be slightly brown on top
Brush with melted butter while hot if desired
Eat and enjoy!

Freezer Meals

2009-10-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

Being in school and doing home school, and trying to keep up with everything else in my life as a "single" stay at home mom(Chad is gone like 70 hours a week at the moment, with school and work), is really taking a toll on dinner time.
Chad isn't home for dinner a lot of nights, and the thought of cooking a great meal for three kids who'd rather have Kraft Macaroni and Cheese every night...well let's just say I'm unmotivated.
I made up 5 freezer meals at the end of last month and they have been my sanity!
Each meal can easily feed us for 3 days. I make one and we ALL eat it the first night, when Chad is home.
Then I put all the leftovers in individual size serving containers and put them in the fridge.
I eat them for dinner the next night, when Chad is gone and I feed the kids something that they want.
Chad eats one when he finally does get home and everyone is happy and fed.
It works well, and it has saved us a ton on our grocery bill this month, especially since I did similar ingredients in all of my dishes and had 5 different meals.
One of them was the company casserole below (yum).
One was a Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with broccoli (I just put in a jar of sauce and a half jar of milk with the other ingredients).
And the other 3 were the ones pictured above, recipes posted below.
This is such a great way to know that you always have something yummy on hand, even if you don't feel like cooking.
If only I had a deep freeze, I would cook once a month.
Period.
Of course we would all gain a hundred pounds easily, since all I tend to make in these are comfort food dishes-but whatever! :)

Artichoke Chicken

2009-10-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

This is one of my all time favorites, though it changes a little bit every time anyone ever makes it. It was originally one of my dads recipes, and then my mom perfected it when she added some cream to it. I really like to add asparagus to it and a few more seasonings-but no matter what it is a tangy deliciousness that I can't resist.

One pound of pasta-I prefer penne.
One jar of Artichoke Hearts
One bunch of Asparagus, cooked and chopped
2-3 Chicken Breasts Shredded
Salt and Pepper
1/2 cup of Italian-esque dressing, I used a Sun Dried Tomato Vinegarette.
2 TBS Worchestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. dried mustard
3/4 cup cream

Cook pasta according to package directions
Put the pasta in the bottom of your pan
Layer chicken and cooked asparagus
Pour jar of artichoke hearts and juices over the pasta.
Make a sauce with Italian dressing, Worchestershire sauce, mustard, cream and salt and pepper, and pour over the pasta.
I put some more fresh ground pepper on top and then you just pop that in the 350 degree oven uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring once during cooking.
If frozen, check after 45 minutes, and bake until cooked through.
Enjoy!

Chicken/Cream Cheese Broccoli Bake

2009-10-19T17:11:00.000-07:00

For this dish and all the others I used chicken for, I put a bunch of (like 6 or 7) chicken breasts in the crock pot with some salt and pepper and a few other seasonings, and then shredded it when it was all done and divided it among all the dishes I needed chicken for.

About 3 chicken breasts
1 lb of noodles, your choice, I think I used a fettuccine type noodle.
1 1/2 packages of cream cheese
1 c. parm cheese
1 bunch broccoli
2 cups milk
salt and pepper
bread crumbs

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and put in your pan.
Layer shredded chicken.
Layer cooked broccoli.
Make a sauce with cream cheese, parm, milk and salt and pepper.
Layer sauce.
Bread crumbs and then more parm layered on top.
Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.

Frozen will take longer obviously. Check it after 45 minutes, and bake until heated through.

Creamy Meatball Pasta

2009-10-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

I am hopefully going to be able to remember everything I did for this dish before I froze it. I just kind of threw it together, but it was super yummy when it came out, I tell you!
Ingredients:

Turkey Italian Style Meatballs
1 lb of pasta-I used a large Penne type noodle
1 jar of alfredo sauce
2 cups of sour cream
1 cup of milk

Cook pasta according to directions on package.
Cook meatballs according to directions on package.
Put pasta and meatballs in your baking dish or freezer dish.
Spoon out alfredo sauce and put over the top of meatballs.
Pour milk into empty alfredo jar and shake to get rest of sauce out of jar and pour over meatballs.
Put spoonfuls of sour cream randomly on top of meatballs.

If you are going to freeze, cover with foil or lid and freeze.
When you go to bake, uncover and cook in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until cooked through stirring once it is all thawed to incorporate sauce.
-
If you are going to bake now, stir it up, and cook it uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, stirring once while baking.

Company Casserole

2009-10-07T11:59:00.001-07:00

I want to name this something else, the name just doesn't do it justice!
My Grandma makes this, and I adore it!

It is so rich, creamy and so not good for you that it is my definition of comfort food.

I changed a few things from the original-but Grandma Betty, you rock!

12 oz. Penne (or any other noodle you like or have on hand
1 lb. Hamburger
3-4 cloves of garlic chopped
15 oz. Tomato Sauce (or 2 regular size cans of Tomato Soup)
8 oz. Cottage Cheese (or 6 ozRicotta if you don't like the Cottage Cheese texture)
8 oz. Cream Cheese-softened
1/2 c. Sour Cream
2 TBS butter-melted
Salt & Pepper, Basil (or any other seasonings you would like to use)

Heat oven to 375
Cook Noodles according to directions, and drain.
Meanwhile-in a hot pan start your garlic-then add beef, salt and pepper, basil and/or other seasonings of your choice. Cook until browned completely.
Stir in Tomato Sauce and simmer for about 10 minutes.
In a seperate bowl combine cottage cheese, cream cheese and sour cream.
In a rectangle baking pan (9x13 is perfect) spread 1/2 the noodles, cover with cheese mixture, then the rest of noodles-drizzle with melted butter, then the meat and sauce goes on top.
Bake uncovered 30 minutes or until heated through.

Serves about 6 hungry adults. Perfect for company-hence the name.

When I make this, I usually double the recipe and freeze one-or bring to someone who just had a baby or something.

Chocolate O cake

2009-09-29T15:55:00.000-07:00

One bite of this cake, and all doubts of what that O stands for will be erased.
Oh yeah, it's that good.
This is a variation of another cake I have on here, and I'm sure most of you have had this, and if not...here are the ingredients, find out what you don't have on hand, go get the ingredients and then come back and make this cake.
You won't be sorry.

One chocolate cake baked in your rectangular baking pan-you can use a mix, or make your favorite chocolate cake-this is one of those recipes that it just doesn't matter-as long it's a good chocolate cake.
1 can of bliss, I mean sweetened condensed milk
Whip cream-and make the whip cream please, don't do the cake shame with Cool Whip or some other fake "whipped topping" blech!
Heath or Skor toffee bits or candy bars chopped into pieces.

Let your cake cool
Poke holes with fork all over the cake
Pour entire can over the cake letting it soak all up into the cake
Spread your homemade whip cream over the top
Sprinkle the toffee bits on top of that
Slice a big old piece for yourself and sit back and eat it
Repeat step 6 until you are completely satisfied

Chicken Cordon Bleu

2009-09-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

While thinking of Creme Brulee, it made me want Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Because I like to talk in a thick french accent, kiss my fingers and say magnifique.
Also it is fun to serve your family something that is fancy like this and then say Bon Apetit in my best Julia Childs accent (who loved that movie by the way, um that would be me!).
Here's the recipe:

4 chicken breast halves
4 slices of prosciutto
4 slices swiss cheese
1 Tbs butter

Place each chicken breast half between two pieces of plastic wrap.
Using the flat side of a meat mallet pound chicken lightly into rectangles about 1/8 inch thick. Remove plastic wrap.
Place a slice of prosciutto and a slice of cheese on each piece of chicken. Fold in side edges, and roll up from the bottom end. Secure with toothpicks.
In a medium skillet cook rolls in hot butter over medium heat for 20-25 minutes until no longer pink (170 degrees), make sure you turn them to brown them evenly. Remove toothpicks before serving.

I like to serve this with honey mustard for dipping...because it's yummy.

Creme Brulee

2009-09-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

Delicious creamy custard with carmelized sugar drizzled on top....is there a more delectable treat out there?
I can't think of one!
Every time I go to a more upscale Italian restaraunt, this is always on the order, I know it's a french dessert-but the Italian know how to make it too, and I am a bigger fan of Italian food than french food.
Lately we haven't been going to many upscale or lowscale for that matter Italian restaraunts so I took matters into my own hands and learned to make it myself, without one of those little torches even!
...anyway, what you came for, the recipe...

1 3/4 cups of half & half or light cream
5 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat your oven to 325.
Get a pot of water boiling.
Place 6 6 ounce custard dishes in a 3 qt rectangluar baking dish.
In a small and heavy saucepan heat the half & half or cream over med-low heat until just bubbly. Remove from heat; set aside.
Meanwhile in a medium bowl combine egg yolks, 1/3 c sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat with whisk until just combined.
Slowly whisk the hot half and half into egg mixture.
Pour custard into the custard dishes evenly.
Place the baking dish in the oven
Pour the boiling water into the pan until it reaches half-way up the custard dish sides.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Remove from water and let cool on wire rack.
Cover and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 8.
Let custards sit at room temp for 20 minutes before serving.
While letting them sit, get out a heavy 8 inch skillet and heat the 1/2 cup sugar over med-high heat until it starts to melt-shaking the pan occasionally to heat evenly. Do not stir.
Once it starts to melt reduce heat to low and cook for about 5 minutes or until it is all melted and golden, stir as needed with wooden spoon.
Quickly drizzle sugar over custards, if the sugar hardens in skillet return to heat and stir until melted again.

So fancy pants!

Frozen Hot Chocolate

2009-09-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

This is a yummy drink that my friend Suzanne makes.
Chad and I have made these a must have on game nights as of late.

King size chocolate bar, we go with Hersheys (7 oz.)
2 tsp. hot chocolate powder
1 1/2 TBS sugar
1 1/2 c. milk
whip cream

Over a double broiler melt about 6 oz. of the chocolate. Add sugar and hot chocolate and stir unitl smooth. Add 1/2 c. milk and stir. Put that mixture in the blender with the rest of the milk and blend with 3 cups of ice.

Shave the rest of the chocolate bar, to put on top of the whip cream you will want to put on top of your delicious drink.

This makes about 3-4 normal size drinks.

Chad and I bought these huge mugs for these and rootbeer floats-this recipe fills both of those.

Divine.

Thanks Suzanne! And thanks Summer for sharing your mom's yumminess!

Easy & Delicious Steak Salad

2009-09-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

This recipe is easy, fast and delicious.

2 sirloin steaks, cut into strips
1 head chopped romaine lettuce
1/2 bottle of sesame ginger marinade
3-4 cloves garlic
1 T sesame oil
1 lime
optional-other salad ingredients such as tomato, wonton strips etc...

Marinade the steaks in the marinade for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.

In hot skillet or Wok, heat oil and garlic.

Add steak and marinade.

Cook for about 7 minutes or until steak is cooked to your desired done-ness (a word?)

Add juice of one lime to lettuce and toss.

Pour steak and all it's glorious sauce still hot over the salad.

Eat!

Hot and Delicious Scones

2009-08-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is not a recipe, but a tip for those who have not tried this.
My family absolutely cannot leave these alone once I start making them, and they are gone lickety split.
You just take Rhodes roll dough, thaw it out a bit, enough to stretch it into flat circles, and fry it in canola oil (or whatever your preference of vegetable oil).
Serve hot with cinnamon & sugar, honey or butter, or better yet honey butter.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce

2009-08-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

I got this off of my bloggin friend Summer's recipe sharing site. Yumm-o.
Peanut butter, lime, cilantro, garlic-be still my heart!
Here is the yummy yummy recipe, I served it with rice a green salad with sesame ginger dressing. Very very tasty.

1/3 c. soy sauce
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
2 t. lime zest
1/4 c. lime juice (I found that my lime that I 'zested' produced just a little more than a 1/4 c., so really you just need one lime).
3 garlic cloves, pressed (I added about 5-more is better is what I always say)
1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used chicken tenders, it's easier to cut them into bite size pieces I find, and less cutting off all the white stringy stuff)
1/3 c. creamy peanut butter
1 T. snipped fresh cilantro (I might have added an extra tablespoon of this too, sue me)

In bowl, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, lime zest and lime juice. Press garlic into soy sauce mixture.

Reserve 1/3 c. soy sauce mixture for peanut dipping sauce and set aside.

Add chicken to remaining soy sauce mixture, (I cut the chicken into bite size pieces for easier eating for my kids, and who I am I kidding I feel like I am eating more if they are all cut up into bite size pieces, so really it's all for my selfish piggy wants)

Cover. Refridgerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400. Bake chicken 18-20 minutes.(I put mine on foil on a cookie sheet for easy clean up)

Add peanut butter and cilantro to reserved soy sauce mixture.

Whisk until smooth. Serve with chicken. (And your fingers)

Recipe by Summer Andrus

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-08-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 lg. eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. canned pumpkin puree
3 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
2 c. milk chocolate chips
nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions:

Heat oven to 350, spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes (mine only took 10-12 just FYI) or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack with spatula.

Yield: about 60 cookies

Recipe by George Duran

Turkey, Bacon, Avacado Sandwich

2009-08-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

No, you probably don't need a recipe for a sandwich.
But I want to remember this one.
It made me moan and sigh with absolute pleasure.
A sandwich to write home about.
Not kidding.

I started with a whole grain sandwich roll.
I cut some beautiful lettuce and placed it on bottom.
I poured a little bit of pomegranite balsamic vinegar (it didn't have to be pomegranite, it's just what I had on hand).
I cut a ripe off the vine tomato and placed 3 slices on top of that, soaking up some of that vinegar.
I used the salt and pepper grinder on top of these.
I placed some wonderful deli sliced turkey on top, crisp bacon and some creamy avacado.

It was a sandwich.
A delicious heavenly moment of bliss.

Chicken Dijon

2009-08-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to make this, so we had it Tuesday night.
I served it with a baked potato with a yummy sour cream, basil and tomato sauce I made for them. Yum.

The chicken-it is really good. Really, really good.
I just did what felt right to make this taste like I remember.
It might have been even better.

The recipe...
Ingredients for Chicken:

4 pieces of chicken breast
2 eggs beaten with a fork in one bowl
in another bowl mix about 1/2 cup flour
with about 1/8 tsp Bon Apetit' Seasoned Salt
and plenty of course ground pepper

You can see where this is going right?

Dip the chicken into the egg, and then into the flour mixture, coating well.

Cook in a hot skillet with oil or butter, until cooked through and browned on each side.

Ingredients for Dijon Sauce:

2 TBS butter
1 cup heavy cream
3 heaping spoonfuls of Country Dijon Grey Poupon (it needs to be the country dijon!!!)

Whisk in sauce pan over medium heat until it gets to a slow boil, lower heat and let simmer until you are ready to pour over chicken. Make sure to stir it every once in awhile so that it doesn't start to stick together.

After you pour it on, garnish with a slice of cooked bacon and a few slices of avacado. Those add to the flavor even more. Yummmmmm-o!

Yellow Curry with Rice

2009-08-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

It might not be pretty to look at, but it is scrumptious to eat! (Unless of course you are a man in my family-for some reason they are not fond of this yummy spice that lights up my life.)

The recipe:
Start some white cal-rose rice in your rice cooker or on the stove.

2 regular size potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 c sliced carrots

PRE COOK THESE IN A CUP OF BOILING WATER UNTIL THEY ARE AT THE SOFTNESS YOU LIKE

1 lb of chicken tenders cut into cubes (you could also use thigh meat, I just prefer the white meat)

COOK YOUR CHICKEN IN SKILLET WITH 2 TSP SESAME OIL (OR ANY OIL-I JUST LOVE SESAME OIL)

3 T oil (again I prefer sesame, but any cooking oil will work)
2 T yellow curry paste (my Albertsons does not carry this, so I use a T of curry powder and another T of sesame oil to make my own paste, and have not been disappointed in the flavor)

HEAT OIL IN PAN UNTIL HOT, ADD PASTE AND STIR WELL, THEN ADD EACH OF THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS AND STIR WELL IN BETWEEN EACH ONE

2 c coconut milk
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp tumeric powder (this is what gives it the heat, add more if you like it hot, less if you want it super mild-this makes a pretty mild curry though)
Pre-cooked chicken
Pre-cooked veggies
2 T fish sauce
2 1/2 T sugar
1/2 c water

WHEN IT ALL BOILS TOGETHER, THEN TURN DOWN HEAT TO A SIMMER, COVER AND LET FLAVORS ALL MELD TOGETHER

I added my rice at this point and made it into a more thick meal-but you can also just pour your curry soup over rice or just eat it sans rice.

You could also add 1 cup of onion to the soup if you like that sort of thing, as I mentioned before-we are not an onion eating family.

Chocolate Peanut Nummies

2009-06-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

This recipe is super simple.
And super delicious.Ingredients:

1/2 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag of white chocolate chips
2 cups of dry roasted peanuts

Melt chocolate chips over double broiler, add in peanuts, drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

Yep that's it, and they are so delish.

Recipe from Suzanne Stewart

Compromise Pancakes

2009-06-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 TBS sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 TBS cocoa
1 tsp vanilla

Mix dry ingredients in small bowl
Mix wet ingredients in larger bowl
Slowly add dry to wet
Mix until large lumps are gone
Pour individual pancakes onto nonstick griddle or pan

Easy Tilapia Packets

2009-06-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Tilapia filets-one for each person
veggies-frozen or fresh-whatever you have, we have made these with asparagus, and this time we made them with some baby carrots and frozen broccoli
Sauce-we have made these with mayo and cheese for a creamy sauce, you could also use salsa or black beans, tomato, lime and corn-but my personal favorite is coconut milk and thai peanut satay sauce.

Directions:

Place your tilapia on a square piece of tinfoil or waxpaper
Put a spoonful of sauce over the fish-if using coconut milk-just pour enough to cover filet-not enough to pour out the sides
Add veggies (picture before wrapped up)
Make packets by folding up the edges and sealing by rolling the ends up-if using wax paper, you might want to staple the folded up edges to keep them together just until the steam from the fish and veggies seals it up
Place in the oven at about 350 and cook until fish flakes with a fork usually about 20 minutes-check one after 15
Let your family open the packets and dig in. Yum and delish! (Your kids are more likely to eat something they helped prepare, and this is something healthy and delicious that your kids will love to make and eat-and it's all wrapped up-which any kid will like. All a win win!)

Spaghetti Pie (Fritata)

2009-06-14T19:55:00.001-07:00

2 cups cooked spaghetti
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
6 eggs
1/4 cup milk
4 slices Bacon, cooked, drained and chopped (about 1/4 cup)
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
1 large tomato, cut into thin slices

PREHEAT oven to 350ºF.
Toss spaghetti and peas with dressing in 9-inch pie plate.
BEAT eggs and milk until well blended; pour over spaghetti mixture.
Sprinkle with bacon and cheese; top with tomatoes.
BAKE 40 to 45 min. or until center is set and top is golden brown.
Let stand 10 min. before cutting into wedges to serve.

Recipe adapted from a Kraft Foods recipe

Whole Grain Waffles

2009-06-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Waffle Mix

6 cups whole wheat flour (you can just do 4 and add 2 of all purpose flour if you choose)
1 cup of toasted wheat germ (Bob's red mill makes a good one-to toast, just pour the amount you need on a cookie sheet and pop it in the oven at about 350, and let it get toasty-move it around a little bit so it doesn't burn, and as soon as it starts to brown, it's good).
1 cup toasted oat bran (I toast the wheat germ and the oat bran together)
3 TB baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
optional: 3 TB buttermilk blend powder (If you can find this in your grocery store, it will save you from having to add buttermilk when you make the waffles).

Combine all the above ingredients and you can store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 months. I keep mine in an old oatmeal container and made a label with what you need to add to the mix when you make the waffles.

To make the waffles:

2 cups mix
2 eggs
1 cup water (if you used the dry buttermilk, otherwise, use 1/4 cup buttermilk and 3/4 cup water)
2 TBS canola oil
2 TBS honey
optional 1 tsp vanilla

Stir just until moistened, bake in a preheated waffle iron until golden brown.

Yield: Mix makes 8 1/2 cups which makes 4 batches of the waffles, each batch makes about 5 large waffles.

Original Post

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

Egg Nog Cupcakes

2009-05-26T00:26:00.000-07:00

4 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Egg nog
1/4 cup oil
1 TBS apple cider vinegar

Mix these ingredients together with a whisk in one bowl and then in another bowl combine the following ingredients.

1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Combine wet and dry ingredients and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes

Frosting:

1/4 cup softened butter
3 TBS eggnog
1/4 tsp vanilla
pinch of nutmeg
2 cups confectioners sugar

Mix it up and frost I sprinkled mine with a cinnamon/sugar mix and stuck a cinnamon stick in for garnish-but not necessary.

Original post

Peanut Butter Cup-cakes

2009-05-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line cupcake pans with liners; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Add the eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; mix batter until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.
Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about one-third full.
Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Frosting

1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
About 2 tablespoons milk, or as needed
Mix butter and peanut butter together till creamed, add powdered sugar and continue mixing. If frosting gets too stiff add a little milk until frosting is fluffy

I cut a miniature Reeses in half and stuck it in top.

Original Post

Chocolate Malt Cupcake

2009-05-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

2 eggs room temp
1/2 c. milk room temp
4 T Butter, melted then cooled
1 t. vanilla

Mix together and set aside

1 2/3 c. flour
2/3 c. malted milk
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/8 c. cocoa
2 t. baking powder

Whisk together and then stir in milk mixture

Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate Malt Frosting

1 3/4 c confectioners sugar
1/4 c cocoa
1/4 c malted milk
1/2 c butter room temp
3 T milk

Mix milk and malt together and then beat in rest until smooth.

Original Post

Pumpkin Cupcakes

2009-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

2 c all purpose flour
2tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt

Sift ingredients in a seperate bowl

1/c veggie oil
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin

Mix wet ingredients until smooth and then add dry ingredients.

Pour into cupcake liners 2/3 full

Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes-check with toothpick, until it comes out clean.

Frost with Butter-Cream Cheese Frosting.
1 brick cream cheese
1 stick of butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 c. sifted confectioners sugar
Combine all ingredients and let chill at least 30 min. before frosting
I added some yellow and red food coloring to make orange and on the kids cupcakes-I let them use some chocolate chips to make pumpkin faces
Original Post

Oreo Madness Cupcake

2009-05-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

Start by lining your cupcake tins and adding 1/2 an Oreo cookie to the bottom of each and then add a caramel to the top of those. Then you make brownies-use your own favorite recipe or box mix

Pour brownie mix over caramel and oreos

Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes
Top with spray whip cream and a drizzle of hot fudge.

Original Post

S'more Cupcakes

2009-05-25T23:49:00.000-07:00

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line cupcake pans with liners; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Add the eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla;
Mix batter until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.
Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about one-third full.
Bake until tops spring back when touched, about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Marshmallow Frosting

1 1/2 stick butter, room temperature

1 cup confectioner's sugar

1/4 tsp. vanilla

7 oz. jar of marshmallow cream

Directions: Cream all together with mixer, pipe onto cupcakes if desired. I just cut a hole in the tip of sandwich bag.

Sprinkle crushed graham on top and put a square of hershey in the middle.
Chocolate cupcake recipe by Martha Stewart

Yield about 24

Original Post

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2009-05-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

For this recipe you will need:
2 1/2 c. All-purpose flour
1 1/2 c. Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 c. Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 c. Vegetable Oil
1 c. Buttermilk
2 lg. Eggs
1 Tbsp. Red Food Coloring
1 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tsp. Vanilla
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Line muffin tins with cupcake paper-preferably the foil kind
In a med. mixing bowl, sift together; flour, sugar, baking soda, salt & cocoa powder
In a lg. mixing bowl beat or whip together well; oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar & vanilla. Add dry ingredients until smooth. Do not overwork batter or your cupcakes will be stiff.
Divide batter into tins about 3/4 of the way full
Bake at 22-25 minutes.
Cool completely before frosting with delicious frosting below
Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
1 brick cream cheese
1 stick of butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 c. sifted confectioners sugar
Combine all ingredients and let chill at least 30 min. before frosting.

Original post

yield: about 24

Recipe created by: Ana Cabrera,

Artichoke Dip

2009-05-25T23:45:00.000-07:00

I will post a picture when I make this next!

Ingredients:
1 sm. jar diced Marinated Artichoke Hearts
1 box Cream Cheese
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 regular size package of Shredded Parmesean Cheese (not the canister-it needs to be shredded)
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 TBS. Dill

Heat all ingredients together until cheese melts, I usually do this in a mini crockpot because I can keep it warm as long as I need to, but you can heat it on the stove and transfer to dish if that's easier.
Serve with crackers, tortilla chips, veggies or whatever else sounds good.
Original post

Crockpot Zucchini Chicken

2009-05-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

I don't have a picture of zucchini chicken, I will post one, next time we make it! :)

1 can chicken broth
1 pound boneless chicken, either thighs, breasts or tenders.

Put these in the crockpot

Top with

2 sliced zucchini

In a medium bowl mix,

1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder (or minced garlic)
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. oregano
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup

Pour over chicken and zucchini.

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
After cooking, stir and serve over rice.

Original post

Sweet Pork

2009-05-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Sweet Pork-

Pork loin (around 3 lbs)
1 can of coke
1 bottle of red taco sauce (mild or medium)
1 tbs of cumin (use 1/2, if you don't want it too spicy)
1 cup brown sugar

Cook pork in crockpot with some water on low for around 6 hours.
Empty liquid and pull pork apart with fork.
Add the ingredients above and cook for an additional 3 hours.
Serve with tortillas and what ever else! Rice, beans, guac, salsa, etc....

Original Post

Football Stew

2009-05-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

1 lb. cooked Ground Beef of Browned Stew Meat
2 cups Cubed Potatoes

2 cups Baby Carrots

2 cans cream of mushroom soup (fat free, does not take away from flavor)

2 cans cream of chicken soup(fat free, does not take away from flavor)

1 soup can full of water

1 pkg onion soup mix

Combine all ingredients together in crock pot and cook on low all day (like 6 to 8 hrs) or on high for 3-4.

Original Post

Crock Pot Tilapia

2009-05-25T23:21:00.000-07:00

-- 3 or 4 filets of Tilapia (or other favorite white fish)
--1/4 cup mayonnaise
--1/2 cup shredded cheese (parmesan is best, but any cheese you have on hand will do)
--juice of 2 lemons
--4 chopped garlic cloves
--pinch each of salt and black pepper
The Directions:
--mix all ingredients except fish
--rub mixture on both sides of fish
--wrap each piece of fish in it's own foil packet
--put all the packets in the crockpot
--cook on low 2-4 hours, the fish should flake easily with a fork

Recipe from crockpot365.blogspot.com

Better than you know what cake

2009-05-25T23:18:00.000-07:00

To make this cake you will need:

A box of white cake mix (and everything you need to make that like oil and eggs)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can coconut milk
About a cup of heavy whipping cream
About a Tablespoon of white sugar

Directions:

Make cake according to directions on box...
Let cool, if you are impatient like me, about 10 minutes should suffice.
Mix sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk together.
Poke holes in cake, I used the handle of a spoon-it worked great
Pour coconut mixture into the holes
Make whip cream with the cream and sugar-spread on top of cake like frosting

Steamers

2009-05-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

1 cup milk
1 TBS & 1/2 of Toriani flavored syrup (pumpkin, gingerbread, peppermint, eggnog, caramel...some of our favorites.)

Warm milk on stove while whisking it, to make it frothy (or microwave, but you won't have that whipped taste, but it is faster!)
Add syrup and stir in till mixed well
Top with whipped cream and you can dust it with cocoa or chocolate shavings if wanted

Lettuce Wraps

2009-05-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

1 lb ground turkey
1 shredded carrot
1 shredded zucchini
1 sm. can of chopped water chestnuts
1/4 cup of chopped cashews
teaspoon of Chinese 5-spice
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
optional: (well it's all kind of optional-I have done it without the cashews and water chestnuts and added coconut, or pineapple or a sechzuan seasoning to give it a kick, or chopped scallions-my mom puts in a broccoli slaw mix instead of the shredded carrot and zucchini-be creative)

Brown turkey in large skillet
Add other ingredients and cook through
Spoon mixture into lettuce leaves, and serve with rice

Recipe adapted from April Appah

Yum Yum Rolls

2009-05-25T22:42:00.001-07:00

Rhodes frozen roll dough----Thaw for about 30 minutes or until just soft
3/4 c. parmesan
2 t. garlic powder
2 T. parsley

Roll dough in melted butter then in mixture of parm, garlic and parsley.
Let rise.
Bake as directed.

Recipe from Suzanne Stewart

Pictured, the rolls were doubled and baked in a muffin tin, you can also do them any other way the package tells you to bake them.

Vanilla Cupcake and Buttercream Frosting

2009-05-24T15:36:00.000-07:00

1 1/2 c all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/3 tsp salt

Sift the above ingredients together and set aside

6 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. Sugar

Beat above ingredients together until pale and fluffy (about 2 minutes on med-high speed)

2 lg eggs added to fluffy butter mix one at a time, mixing well
1 tsp vanilla added after the eggs (turn speed down to medium at this point)
3/4 cup of milk added alternatively in 2 batches to 3 batches of flour mixture

Turn beaters back up to med-high and mix well for about 30 seconds.

Put 1/4 cup batter per cupcake liner and bake for about 17 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven. Allow to cool before frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

A little tip-chill the bowl in the fridge before hand to keep frosting at a perfect temp.

2 sticks unsalted butter softened
3 cups confectioners sugar sifted
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt-(teeny tiny-just a small dash)

Beat butter on med high until pale and creamy for about 2 minutes

Reduce speed to medium and add sugar 1/2 cup at a time mixing well each time. Add vanilla and salt, raise speed up to med-high and beat until smooth.

Pumpkin Soup

2009-05-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

1 lg. can of pumpkin
2 cans of chicken broth
4 tsp curry powder
2 dashes tumeric
2 dashes nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cube butter
1/2 c sugar

Whisk ingredients over medium heat until all smooth and hot.
You can serve over rice for a more filling soup-we just sprinkled some parmesean cheese on top and a spoonful of sour cream.

Coffee Cake Cupcake

2009-05-23T22:55:00.000-07:00

2 1/2 c all purpose flour-divided
1/2 c light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon-divided
14 T unsalted butter, cut into pieces-divided
1 T Baking powder
1/2 t salt
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 lg eggs room temp.
1/2 tsp vanilla
Powdered sugar

First make the streussel with 1/2 c of the flour, brown sugar, 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon-
cut in 4 T of the butter with a pastry blender, (I don't have one, I need one-but I just used a potato masher and it worked just fine). Set aside.

Sift together remaining flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.

Mix sugar and butter until creamed. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add flour and milk alternately. Mix until smooth. Add in vanila.

Pour into cupcake liners 2/3 way full and then sprinkle streussel evenly on them.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Let cool a little before dusting with powdered sugar.

Gingerbread Pancakes

2009-05-23T22:26:00.000-07:00

2 1/2 c flour
5 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 c molasses
2 c milk
2 eggs
6 T butter melted

Mix it up, and make pancakes. Easy and yummy!

Garlic Chicken Farfale

2009-05-23T22:21:00.000-07:00

16 oz. Farfalle (bow-tie) Pasta
1 c Heavy whipping cream
3-4 chicken breasts-boneless, skinless
Spoonful of crushed garlic (approx 3-4 cloves)
1 TBS black pepper
1/2 c butter
1 lb bacon
1/2 c shredded parmesan cheese
1 bottle of Lawry's mesquite with lime juice marinade

Crock pot chicken with marinade on low for 6 hours-shred and set aside

Cook bacon and crumble

About 1/2 hour before serving, boil the pasta.

In a small saucepan melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, parm cheese and crumbled bacon. Whisk together on low for 3-4 minutes.

In a large bowl pour sauce over cooked, drained pasta, add chicken and stir.

Sprinkle parm cheese on top-we have also done toasted pine nuts or thrown in some cherry or diced tomatoes.

Yield: A lot! Can easily feed a couple families or bring to your next potluck.

Recipe from Becky Higgins

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2009-05-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

1 egg
1/3 c oil
3/4 c sugar
3 med ripe bananas mashed

Beat all this till smooth, then in a seperate bowl combine;

2 c flour
1/2 c old fashioned oats
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt

Add this to mixture and stir until just moistened and then add;

1 c chocolate chips

Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 the way full.

Bake at 375, mine took 15 minutes-they might take a little longer depending on your kind of pan and your altitude-but they are done when a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool for 5 minutes before moving them to wire rack to cool completely

Yield 1 dozen

Recipe adapted by a Taste of Home Recipe

Rootbeer Cupcake

2009-05-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

1 c Rootbeer
1 t apple cider vinegar
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c canola oil
1/2 t vanilla
2 t rootbeer extract
1 1/3 c flour
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
pinch of salt-combine dry ing. and gently introduce to mix. Do not over mix.

Combine rootbeer and vinegar and let stand for a few minutes
Add sugar and oil and whisk until frothy
Integrate extracts
Combine dry ingredients in a seperate bowl
Gently introduce them to the mix, ("Dry ingredients meet wet ingredients, wet ingredients meet dry ingredients, you're about to make something wonderful together, don't get too excited, just take it slow and my wire whisk will make sure you all enjoy yourselves") do not over mix.
Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes. (Cupcake tins should be at about 2/3 way full)

I could not find a recipe for vanilla frosting that I thought would taste enough like vanilla ice cream and finally it dawned on me to just use vanilla ice cream. I beat the ice cream until it was smooth enough to frost the cupcakes and then served. Yum.

Cupake Recipe from Project Cupcake

No Bake cookies

2009-05-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

3 c. oatmeal
1 t. vanilla
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. butter

In seperate bowl combine oatmeal and vanilla
In heavy saucepan combine the remaining ingredients, stirring until just melted
Stir hot mixture into oats and vanilla mixture
Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper
Refrigerate until cool.

Special K-ookies

2009-05-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

2 sticks butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
MIX AND CREAM WELL
SIFT DRY INGREDIENTS
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
MIX THAT IN
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cup Special K cereal (it adds this crunch that makes them yummmazing!)
chocolate chips
BAKE AT 400 FOR 8 MINUTES, (or just eat the dough if you like to live on the edge)

Italian yum-yum sub

2009-05-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Long loaf of take and bake Italian bread
1 8oz box of neufatchel or cream cheese
2 Tbs butter
Poppy Seeds
1 lb. sausage
canadian bacon
provolone or other sliced white cheese of your choice

Cut bread lengthwise in half leaving hinge
Brown sausage
In small bowl mix together melted butter, softened cream cheese and poppy seeds (I just put in as much as looks good-maybe about a tablespoon?)
Spread cream cheese mixture on both halves
On top half, place your cheese all the way across
On bottom half, place your canadian bacon all the way across
Pour the sausage in the middle all the way across
Wrap entire sandwich in heavy duty foil
Bake sandwich in oven at about 350 for about a half hour or until bread is crusty and cheese is all melty
Cut into 2-4 inch sections, and wrap bottom half of each section with the foil that the sandwich was baked in-then you don't need plates!

Yield: 6-8 servings

Tin Can Ice Cream

2009-05-23T19:03:00.001-07:00

2 cans of different sizes, one large, one small with tight fitting lids, (we used a hot chocolate can and a formula can-a #10 can would have worked better for the bigger can-and if you drink coffee-the best sizes are a 1 lb can and a 3 lb can).
1 c. milk
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1/3 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
crushed ice
rock salt
optional add ins (fruit, candy, chocolate-use your imagination!)

In the smaller can, pour milk, cream, sugar and vanilla. Put the lid on tight.
Place smaller can inside larger can and pack with ice. Sprinkle with a good dose of rock salt.
Then roll can, back and forth for about 10 minutes. (This is a great job for kids)
Dump the water and what's left of the ice
Open the smaller can, scrape the sides and close it back up.
Repeat ice and rock salt and roll it again! For about 5 minutes this time.
Open smaller can and serve-it should be about milkshake consistency.

Yield: 3 cups of delicious ice cream

Seafoam

2009-05-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

2 teaspoons butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening

Directions:

Line a 13-in. x 9-in. pan with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside.
In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and vinegar. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
Bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage).
Remove from the heat; stir in baking soda.
Immediately pour into prepared pan.
Do not spread candy. Cool.
Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Gently peel off foil; break candy into pieces.
In a microwave, melt chips and shortening; stir until smooth.
Dip candies in the chocolate mixture, allowing excess to drip off.
Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

Yield: 2 pounds.

Recipe from Taste of Home online under mine run candy

See my original post about this candy here.