It's a Keeper!

Peach Cobbler

2012-02-12T19:45:00.004-07:00

from Kidder, Missourri - Church History Trip
1 quart sliced peaches - drained
1/3 pkg. yellow cake mix (1 cup)
1 1/3 cups oatmeal
1/2 cube butter
Cinnamon to taste

Mix cake mix, oatmeal and cinnamon together and spread over drained peaches. Slice the butter and lay over the top (or crumble into the oatmeal mixture). 9X9 pan - (Triple recipe for a larger pan.) Bake at 350 45 minutes. Serve with peacns, blueberries and ice cream.

Dutch Oven Chicken Cordon Bleu W/Veggies

2012-02-12T19:36:00.004-07:00

from Kidder, Missouri - Church History Trip
I made this in a big oven cooker.
This is 1/2 the original recipe.
3 chicken breasts cup into pieces
3/4 C seasoned bread crumbs
3 cups diced potatoes
2 c. brocolli florets
2 c. cut up carrots
1 c. diced ham
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
sliced swiss cheese
paprika

Roll chicken in bread crumbs to coat. Make 2 layers of meat and veggies in baking pan. Mix soup and sour cream and add pepper to taste. Bake 1 hour at 350 stirring once. When done, top with cheese and paprika. Heat until cheese melts.

Veg-All Chicken Pot Pie

2012-02-12T19:20:00.003-07:00

From Elayne Tuttle
2 cans cream of potato soup
1 16 oz. can Veg-All
2 cups diced chicken (or turkey)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 - 9 inch frozen pie crusts (I like the pillsbury roll out kind)
1 egg (optional - I usually don't do this).
Combine first 6 ingredients. Spoon into pie crusts. Cover top with crust .
Crimp edges and make slits in top with knife.
Brush with beaten egg.
Bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before cutting.

Chicken Salad

2012-02-12T19:16:00.001-07:00

from Diane Kelson
1 C shelled
macaroni – uncooked (cook, drain and cool)
½ C. chopped
green onion
4 C. cubed
cooked chicken
2 - 20 oz
pineapple tidbits (or chunks)
2 C. red
grapes sliced
2 red fuji
apples diced
1 ½ C. slivered
almonds
1 C chopped
celery
1 C. mayo
1 C.
coleslaw dressing
Salt to
taste
Mix together
and refrigerate for several hours. May
need to add more coleslaw dressing.

Chinese Sundae (or Haystack)

2012-01-02T16:00:00.004-07:00

from Kathi Nickell
1 1/2 Cups Rice - measure before cooking - cook in 3 cups water
1 can chow mein noodles
1 chicken boiled and boned cut in bite sized pieces (or turkey or chicken breasts)
2 diced tomatoes
2 cups chopped celery
1 bunch green onions finely chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 16 oz. can crushed pineapple (or tidbits)
1 cup flake coconut
1 cup shredded cheese
Maricino cherries
Cashews if desired
2 cans cream of chicken soup with 1 cup water (heated for gravy)
Serves 8 to 10

Orange Rolls

2012-01-02T15:56:00.001-07:00

From Kathi Nickell
½ cube butter (1/4 cup)
½ cup sugar
1 rounded TBS. orange juice concentrate
Cook until sugar is dissolved stirring constantly.

2 pkgs
Hungry Jack or Pillsbury biscuits (20)
Place rolls in round pan or baking dish, putting them on their side and overlapping a
little. Pour orange mixture over rolls and bake 30 minutes in 350 oven. Turn out immediately and serve.

Banana Split Dessert

2012-01-02T15:22:00.003-07:00

from Elaine Watson
Graham Cracker Crust on bottom of 9X13 Pan
(2-3 Cups graham craker crums and 1/4 cup melted butter)
or use crust from Texas 4-Layer Pie (I like this better - not so crumbly)

Layer with sliced bananas (3 - 5)
Top with 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream (softened and sliced)
Sprinkle with 1 Cup chopped nuts and freeze several hours.

Chocolate Sauce
Melt 1/2 Cup (1 square) butter and 1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Add 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk.
Cook until thickened (about 10 minutes) stirring constantly.
Remove from heat. Add 1 tsp. vanilla. Cool
Put on top of ice cream layer and freeze for several hours.

Top with carton of cool whip and chopped nuts and freeze.
Take out of freezer about 1/2 hour before serving.

Texas 4-Layer Pie

2012-01-02T15:09:00.002-07:00

From Barbara Page
Crust:
1 square butter (softened)
1 Cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Mix together and press into 9X12 Pyrex pan.
Bake at 350 for 13 minutes. Cool

2nd Layer:
Cream together 8 oz. cream cheese and 1 Cup powerdered sugar
Stir in 1/2 Carton Cool Whip (12 oz) I have used 1/2 of the 9 oz if I don't have a 12 oz.
Spread on top of crust.

3rd Layer:
2 small packages instant pudding (chocolate or butterschotch)
3 cups milk
Pour over cream cheese layer and let set.

4th Layer
Spread on remaining carton of Cool Whip
Sprinkle on chopped nuts (walnuts or cashews) if desired.

Nothing like kids getting along

2011-03-02T14:35:00.001-07:00

Tuesday January 18th, 2011- David and Alyson were dancing playing and just getting along well.

The house is full up hugs and kisses.

January

2011-03-02T14:11:00.004-07:00

January 25th, 2011- I had a dental appointment today. My Mom was sweet and watched my kids. Thanks Mom !!!! These are some of the pictures they took.

David (3 - 1/2) Alyson (1- 1/2)

My Sweet Kids

Our favorite Pizza Recipes

2010-10-29T17:14:00.002-06:00

You can see something fun we did for Halloween with these recipes here: Crazy House Creations

Mom’s Pizza Dough

½ cup warm tap water

2 pkg. yeast (2 ¼ tsp = 1 pkg)

1 tsp sugar

Combine in bowl and set aside.

1 cup scalded milk (90 seconds in my microwave does the trick)

1 tsp. salt

3 Tbl. sugar

½ cube margarine

3 ½ cups flour (I sometimes use 1 cup wheat and the rest white)

Combine milk, salt, sugar and margarine. Add 2 cups flour and mix. Add yeast mix and remaining flour. Mix until dough ball forms. (I usually add some extra flour since it is pretty sticky.)

Spread pizza dough out onto 1 large cookie sheet for a thick crust, or 2 pans for a thin crust. Bake 8 minutes at 425°. Add sauce and toppings. Bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Melissa's Pizza Sauce as I remember it :)

1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
minced garlic (1-2 cloves)
minced onion (to taste)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Muffins

2010-10-29T15:55:00.001-06:00

I've seen the recipe on several blogs and it is really fool proof.

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Muffins

1 box spice cake mix
1 15 oz. can pumpkin (or half of one of those big cans)
Mix together, spoon into muffin cups - greased or paper-lined, and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

I did add a little milk to mine because they seemed a little too thick to spoon out. I also discovered a cookie scoop works wonders for filling the muffin liners neatly and quickly.

Oh, and aren't these little owl papers adorable? I love them! I got mine at Wal-Mart.

Lemon-Coconut Squares

2010-09-09T17:59:00.001-06:00

Lemon-Coconut Squares
(Mom's recipe)

Crust:
1 ½ C flour
½ C margarine (softened)
½ C brown sugar
Mix and pat in 9x13 pan. Bake 10 min at 275°

Filling:
2 beaten eggs
1 ½ C flaked coconut
2 Tbl. flour
¼ tsp. salt
1 C brown sugar
1 C chopped nuts
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. vanilla
Mix and spread on crust. Bake 20 min at 350°

Glaze:
1 Tbl margarine, melted
1 C powdered sugar
Juice of 1 lemon (I usually use RealLemon)
Mix and drizzle over slightly cooled bars. Finish cooling, cut into bars and enjoy!

Chicken/Turkey Enchiladas - Sheri

2010-07-13T13:16:00.003-06:00

1 Can Campbell's cream of chicken soup (I usually rinse out the can with about 1/4 cup of milk and add it, too).
1/2 Cup sour cream
1 tsp. chili powder
1 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
1 can green chiles (optional - I leave them out)
1 medium onion chopped ( I use a few dried onion flakes)
8 flour tortillas
1 cup grated Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

In small bowl mix soup and sour cream.
In another bowl mix onion chili powder, chicken gr. chilies and 2 TBS of soup mixture.
Spread 1/2 cup soup mixture in 9X12 baking dish. Divide meat mixture between the 8 tortillas and roll up and place in baking dish. Spread reamaining soup mixture over the enchiladas.
Bake at 35O 0F for 20 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake 5 - 10 minutes more.

Banana Cake with Burnt Butter Frosting

2010-06-11T08:57:00.004-06:00

This is my new favorite cake recipe. The cake is good, but is really just a vehicle for the icing which is A-mazing! I have made 3 of them already this week as bundt cakes and finally perfected it. The first one I used frozen bananas and it was a little too moist, but tasty. The second one I used fresh over-ripe bananas and 1 1/4 cups wheat flour and 1 cup white flour and cooked it longer and it was too dry, but still tasty. My third cake used 1 cup wheat flour with 1 cup white flour and the fresh over-ripe bananas and was perfect! Thanks Holly for introducing me to this fabulous recipe!

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup shortening
1/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk
2 medium ripe bananas, smashed
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix everything together. Beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour into 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Burnt Butter Frosting

1 cube butter
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
milk to consistency

Melt butter in pan on stove until foam cooks off and the color is a deep caramel. Pour butter over powdered sugar. Add vanilla and milk to the consistency you want. Beat for about one minute.

Note: I like this cake warm so I make the frosting pourable so I can just pour it on, let it drizzle down the sides and eat it. You can make it thicker and spread it on like a more traditional cake.

Recipe found at: {www.shellyabrown.typepad.com}

Salisbury Steak

2010-03-19T21:14:00.003-06:00

Salisbury Steak

2lb hamburger
1/4 chopped onions
2 eggs
1c canned milk
1 c oatmeal
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 t. salt
Mix and form patties. Brown place in 9x13 pan.

Sauce
3 T. Worcestershire sauce
3 T. sugar
1/2 c. chopped onion
4 1/22 T vinegar
3/3 c. Water
1 1/2 c ketchup
Combined ingredients pour over steak. Bake 35 min @ 325 degrees.

I served then with baked potatoes and a favorite veggie. Bryan says this is a meal to do again.

Got recipe from my fiend Jill W.

Ritzy Poppy seed Chicken

2010-03-18T21:51:00.003-06:00

I got this recipe from a couponing blog. (I think fabulouslyfrugal.com) I can't remember what one for sure but it was a big hit in our family. Every one loved it. I tried it for the 1st time tonight. I thought we would have left overs but because it was so good it got gobbled up. We ate this over rice, but it does not have to be eaten with rice.

Ritzy Poppy Seed Chicken
2-3 Breasts of chicken
1 c sour cream
1 can cram of chicken soup
1tbsp poppy seeds
1/2 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
4-6 tbsp (1/2 stick) butter/margarine, melted
To prepare:
Cook chicken and cube. Mix with sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and poppy seeds. Place in baking dish. Melt butter, combined with crackers, and sprinkle with chicken mixture. Cover with foil and bake at 35o degree for 25 min, uncover and bake additional 5-10 min, or until bubbling.

Coconut cream Pie

2010-03-18T21:14:00.004-06:00

Lauri,
This is the pie recipe you wanted me to post. It is quite good and is quite at busy recipe. If you just want to make a Vanillas cream pie this recipe works you would just omit the coconut.
Coconut cream Pie
Prep.1hr
Bake 25min
Cool 1 hr
Chill 3-6 hrs.
1Recipe Baked pastry shell(will be down below this recipe)
4 eggs
3/4 c sugar
1/4 c cornstarch or 1/2 c all purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 tsp margarine or butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup coconut flakes
Four-egg-White Meringue(See recipe bellow)

1.prepare baked pastry shell. Separate egg yolks from whites, set whites aside for meringue.

2. Meanwhile, for filling, combined sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-high heat till thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 min. more. remove from heat. Slightly beat egg yolks with a rotary beater or fork. Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot filling into the yolks. Pour egg yolk mixture into hot filling in pan. Bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 min more. Remove from heat. Stir in margarine and vanilla & 1 cup coconut flakes. Keep filling warm: prepare margarine and vanilla. Keep filling warm: prepare meringue.
3. Pour warm filling into Baked Pastry shell. Spread meringue over warm filling: seal to edge. Sprinkle 1/3 cup coconut flakes over pie before baking. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 25-30 min or till lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Chill 3-6 hours before serving: cover for longer storage. Makes 8 servings.

Pastry for single-crust Pie
1 1/4 c all purpose flour
1/3 c shortening
4-5 TBS cold water

1. Stir together flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt Using a pastry blender cut in shortening till pieces are pea sized.
2. Sprinkle 1 TBS of the water over part of the mixture: gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Repeat moistening dough, using 1 Tbs of the water at a time, till all the dough is moistened. Form dough into a ball.
3. On lightly floured surface, use you hands t slightly flatten dough. roll dough from center to edges int a circle about 12 inch in diameter.
4. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9 inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate being careful not to stretch pastry.
5. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Do not prick pastry. Bake as directed in individual recipes. Makes 8 servings.

Baked pastry shell: Prepare as above, except generously prick bottom and sides of pastry in pie plate with a fork. Prick all around where bottom and sides meet. line pastry with a double thickness of foil. Bake in a 45o degree oven for 8 min. Remove foil. Bake 5-6 min more or till golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Meringue for pie (No Fat)
4 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 c sugar

1. Allow egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 min. In a large mixing bowl combine egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed about 1 min till soft peaks form.
2. Gradually add sugar, 1 tbs at a time beating on high speed about 4 min more or till mixture forms stiff, gloss peaks and sugar dissolves.
3. Immediately spread meringue over hot pie filling, carefully sealing to edge of pastry to prevent shrinkage. Bake as directed in individual recipes. Makes 8 servings.

Recipes found in the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book limited Edition 1930- 2000 Meredith 11th edition.

Mom's Sprice Casserole

2010-02-04T16:29:00.001-07:00

Mom’s Sprice Casserole

1 can spam, diced
1 C. cooked rice

Make white/cheese sauce:
2/3 cube margarine
2 ½ Tbl. Flour
2 ½ C. milk
½ lb. grated cheese

Mix in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle some more cheese on top. Bake 30 min. at 350 degrees.
If starting with raw rice, cook in 2 C. water with ½ tsp salt for 10 min.

Aunt Karen's Chicken Thighs

2010-02-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

Aunt Karen’s Chicken Thighs

2 lbs. chicken thighs (skinless)
2/3 C. water
1/3 C. soy sauce
2/3 C. sugar

Mix sauce. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1 ½ hours or until tender. Baste every ½ hour. Can cook in crockpot.

Farmhouse Barbecue Muffins

2010-02-04T16:11:00.000-07:00

Farmhouse Barbecue Muffins
Yield 10 servings – Taste of Home

1 tube refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1 lb. ground beef
½ C. ketchup
3 Tbl. Brown sugar
1 Tbl. Cider vinegar
½ tsp. chili powder
1 C. grated cheddar cheese

Separate dough into 10 biscuits; flatten into 5-in circles. Press each into the bottom and up the sides of a greased muffin cup; set aside. In a skillet, brown ground beef; drain. In a small bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and chili powder. Mix until smooth. Add to meat mixture and mix well. Divide the meat mixture among biscuit lined muffin cups, using about 1.4 C. for each. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 37f degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from tin and serving.

Mom's Taco Soup

2010-02-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Taco Soup

Mix together in big pan:
1 lg. can chili (or two small cans)
1 can or pkg. corn
1 can green beans
1 can kidney beans
1 sm. Can tomato sauce
1 can tomatoes (or pint)
1 chopped onion
1-2 grated potatoes
Taco seasoning
Water, as needed

Heat and serve with grated cheese and tortilla chips. (I leave out the onions and potatoes)

Raised Meatballs or Swedish Meatballs

2010-02-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Raised Meatballs
Orpha Whitlock (great-grandma)

Mix in large bowl:
1 lb. hamburger
2 slices bread, tear into bits
¼ C. hot milk
2 Tbl. Chopped onion (dried)
1 egg
2 tsp. baking powder

Shape into meatballs and brown on cookie sheet in oven, on broil (watch closely).

Put in casserole dish (or crock pot) and cover with 1 can cream of chicken soup mixed with 1 can milk. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve over rice or noodles.

Broccoli Salad

2010-02-04T15:20:00.001-07:00

Broccoli Salad

5 C. broccoli pieces
½ C. craisins or raisins
10 pieces bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 C. sunflower seeds
½ C. grated white cheddar cheese (optional – I use regular cheddar)
Red onion (optional – I don’t use)

Dressing
1 C. mayo
2 Tbl. Sugar
3 Tbl. Vinegar

Mix it up!

Cheddar Ham Chowder

2010-02-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

CHEDDAR HAM CHOWDER
by Tiffany Taylor

Serves 6.

2 cups water
2 cups cubed peeled potatoes
1/2 cup carrots, sliced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 16 oz can whole kernel corn
1 1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

In a large saucepan, bring water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion,
salt, and pepper to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 8 to 10
minutes, until vegetables are just tender. Remove from heat; do not
drain.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Blend in flour. Add milk all at once; cook
until thickened and bubbling. Add cheese; stir until melted. Stir into
vegetables. Return saucepan to heat. Add corn and ham; heat through,
stirring occasionally.

Mom’s Potato Stroganoff Casserole

2010-02-04T15:05:00.001-07:00

Brown:
1 lb. hamburger
2 Tbl. Chopped onion
Salt and pepper

Add:
1 can cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup
½ - ¾ can of mil

Put in bottom of casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes (about 5 potatoes). Cover with grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. If everything is already hot – put under broiler to melt cheese.

I just used my browned ground beef from the freezer, leftover potatoes from Sunday dinner and heat it all up in the microwave.

Donna Wilson's BBQ Pork

2010-02-04T14:55:00.003-07:00

This is from my college roommate's mom. I think she would serve it in a hollowed-out pumpkin during October.

BBQ Pork
6 spare ribs or pork chops (Boneless)

Cook on high with a little water in crock pot all morning, around noon drain and tear apart meat. Reduce to low and add sauce ingredients:

2 (5 oz) cans tomato sauce
2 lemons (juice)
4 Tbl. soy sauce
1/2-1 C. low-cal catalina dressing
onion if desired

Cook on low until supper time.
Serve over rice or on rolls for a sandwich.

Fritos Rock!

2010-02-04T14:51:00.004-07:00

Here are a couple quick Frito recipes:

Frito Taco Salad
Layer on plate -
chopped lettuce, Frito chips, chili, grated cheese and sour cream.

Frito Chili Wraps
Wrap in a flour torilla - chili, Fritos, grated cheese and sour cream.

Cafe Rio Sweet Chicken

2010-02-04T14:46:00.004-07:00

Gina, this one is super yummy! The meat is really easy, but the dressing takes a little work. It's worth it though. Lydia and I love the dressing on a green salad too.

Cafe Rio Sweet Chicken

4 lbs boneless skinless Chicken
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup salsa
1 can cola beverage or root beer

Put everything into the crock pot for 8 hours on low. Remove meat and shred. Skim fat off juices. Put meat back into crock pot and let juices absorb into meat. Works well to make ahead and freeze.

Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
3 T Salsa Verde or green chills

1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
1/2 bunch cilantro (fresh)
2-3 small cloves garlic
3/4 cup mayo
2/3 cup sour cream
Grated lime peel and juice from one lime
Buttermilk to thin to correct consistency

Place all ingredients into blender and mix until smooth.

Assembly for Salad or tacos:

lettuce
chicken
purple onion
corn
diced tomatoes
fresh cilantro chopped
cheese guacamole or avocados chopped
sour cream
salsa
cilantro dressing

serve over tortilla chips or flour tortillas

Can also substitute chicken for pork.

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf

2010-02-04T14:40:00.002-07:00

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf
Denise Bjarnason

1 lb. ground been
1 minced onion or 1 Tbl. Dried minced onion
12 crackers, crushed or ½ C. breadcrumbs
½ tsp. salt
1 egg
1 C. tomato sauce (8 oz. can), divided
2 Tbl. Vinegar
¼ tsp. dried mustard
2 Tbl. Brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray loaf pan. Mix ground beef, onion, crackers, salt, egg and ½ C. tomato sauce. Form loaf and place in greased pan. Mix together ½ C. tomato sauce, vinegar, dried mustard, brown sugar. Pour over and around loaf. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

(I use Ritz crackers)

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

2010-02-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Makes 6 servings

1 2/3 C. frozen mixed vegetables
1 C. cut-up cooked chicken
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 C. Bisquick
½ C. milk
1 egg

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees (425 if high altitude). Stir vegetables, chicken and soup in pie plate or casserole dish (you can add a little milk if you wish)
2. Stir remaining ingredients in separate bowl until just blended. Pour over chicken mixture.
3. Bake about 30 minutes or until golden brown and hot through center.

Some of us like this served with cottage cheese on top.

Awesome Cheeseball

2009-10-03T17:08:00.002-06:00

Awesome Cheeseball!
From Judyanne in NJ

2 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 Tbl. Milk
1-2 Tbl. A1 steak sauce
1-1 ½ C. smoked Gouda cheese, finely grated
salt and pepper (to taste)
chopped walnuts (or sliced almonds)

Soften cream cheese and butter. Mix with other ingredients. Form into ball and roll in nuts to cover. Chill. Serve with crackers.

Raspberry Balsamic Chicken

2009-08-25T22:02:00.003-06:00

Here is our favorite chicken recipe:

1 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 C. chopped red onion
- Saute' for 5 minutes then add chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp. salt
- Sprinkle thyme and salt on chicken (I add pepper too)
- Saute' chicken with onions 6 minutes each side, or until done
- Remove from pan and keep warm

Sauce:
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/3 cup raspberry preserves
2 Tbl. balsamic vinegar
- Over medium heat, combine ingredients and melt preserves. do not let boil
- Serve sauce over chicken

** I don't do the onion part, but just skip straight to saute'ing the chicken in the pan. And I don't measure, just sprinkle each side of the chicken with salt, pepper, and dried thyme. We double the sauce, because we like it so much, but we don't double the pepper in the sauce. You can use seedless or regular raspberry jam - we're cheap so we just use the seedy kind, but we kinda like the crunch of the seeds. We also serve this with plain white rice. Everyone eats it and it is the most requested dish for special occasions.**

Variation on Mom's Pudding Fruit Salad

2009-04-13T13:15:00.003-06:00

I was out of both vanilla and lemon pudding yesterday to make Mom's pudding fruit salad, so we used pistachio pudding instead. (We got the suggestion from a dinner group friend awhile ago.) It was yummy too and the coconut looked a little like Easter grass.

Rice Krispie Treats: Fruity Variation

2009-04-13T13:07:00.002-06:00

THis isn't relaly a recipe, but directions for a tasty adaptation of the traditional Rice Krispie treats. Warning: Eating too many will result in a tummy-ache, and they are addictive (I speak from experience here.)

Use your favorite Rice Krispie treat recipe with the following substitutions:

Instead of regular marshmallows, use the strawberry flavored ones.
(I didn't have strawberry ones, so I just used the regular ones)
Instead of regular Rice Krispies, use Fruity Pebbles.

After you have stirred the marshmallows and krispies together and the marshmallows are mostly melted, add some of the little fruit-flavored marshmallows. (I just added a couple of handfuls or until it looked like a good amount.) You don't really want these marshmallows to melt, but they add another gooey, fruity dimension to the treats.

Good luck and enjoy!

Lemon Jello Salad

2009-03-11T17:47:00.002-06:00

Mom requested that I put this one on the blog...it's easy and pretty yummy.

1 small can crushed pineapple
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 small package lemon jello
1 cup miniature marshmallows
3 bananas cut up
1 8-oz tub of Cool Whip

Boil pineapple and sugar together for 3 minutes. Boil 1 cup water and dissolve jello into it. Stir both mixtures together. Let set partially in fridge. Add marshmallows and bananas and fold cool whip into mixture. Refrigerate for 2-3 more hours.

Crescent Rolls

2009-03-01T20:48:00.003-07:00

2 1/2 cups warm milk with 2 TBS dry yeast
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup oil
1 Tbs. salt (I use a about 2 tsp. )
Stir together and add 2 beaten eggs. Add 6 1/2 cups flour. (I usually have to add more flour). Knead. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Divide into 4 batches.
Roll into circle and brush with butter. Cut into 12 . Roll each section up. Repeat for other 3 batches.
Let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
Makes 4 dozen.

This is the recipe I got from Madge Rich in the 16th Ward and have used for ages.
When I do this in my bread maker I use 1/2 a recipe and put the yeast in last in a little crater in the flour. I can get 2 dozen on one large cookie sheet.

Caramel Pretzels

2009-02-07T21:33:00.003-07:00

Put mini pretzels on a baking sheet.

Put a Rollo on each one.

Bake for 2 minutes at 350 degrees.

Press a walnut piece or M& M into each Rollo

Let cool. You can store these in a plastic bag. Yummy!

A teacher at school (Carol Buckles) brought them to school this week.

Devil's Food Pound Cake

2009-01-31T14:49:00.003-07:00

This is quick and easy and from the side of the Duncan Hines Devil's Food cake mix. It's my new favorite to take to dinners for a dessert assignment.

1 pkg. Devil's Food cake mix
1 pkg. (4 serving size) chocolate instant pudding
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
(a handful chocolate chips - optional)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour bundt or tube pan. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake at 350 for 50 - 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 25 minutes. Invert onto heat resistant serving plate. Cool completely.

For glaze I just use the chocolate glaze recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

4 squares (4 ounces)semisweet chocolate, cut up
3 Tbl. margarine or butter
1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar.

In small saucepan melt chocoolate and butter over low heat. stirring frequesntly. Remove form heat; stir in powdered sugar and 3 Tbl. HOT water (add more hot water if needed) to make of drizzling consistency. Spoon over cake allowing excess to drip down sides. Glazes top of a 10 inch tube cake or tops of 2 8 or 9 inch cake layers.

Easy Fruit Salad

2009-01-20T18:21:00.003-07:00

2 cans (15 0z) fruit cocktail (Drained)
1 can (20 oz) pineapple tidbits (juice, too)
1 small pkg. vanilla or lemon instant pudding mix
1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)
Mix well and refrigerate at least 1 hour
Add sliced bananas before serving (optional)

Bread sticks

2009-01-06T19:48:00.004-07:00

Quick and easy Bread sticks:

Makes 30-40 bread sticks I think. You can also cut the recipe in half if you want.

3 c warm water
2 TBS yeast
3 TBS sugar
1 tsp salt
Approximately 6 c flower

Directions:
Let ingredients raise for 10 min.
Roll out into rectangle.
Make strips. Twist or roll into long sticks fold in half and twist.
Let it raise in a 9x13 pan for 1/2 hr.
Cover bread sticks with a 1/2 cube of Melted butter.
Sprinkle garlic or Parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 min.

Given to me by Heather Hochhalter

Apple Muffins

2009-01-06T19:38:00.003-07:00

I finally have some recipes I think are worth posting.
Prep time: 30 min.
Cook time: 30min
Ready in 1 hr 30 min
Yields: 12
Apple Muffins

Ingredients:
2c all purpose flour
1/2 c white sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c apple juice
1/3 c vegetable oil or ( for healthier muffins substitute apple sauce)
1 egg
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 c apples-peeled, cored and finely diced.

Directions:
1. heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups.
2. In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt: mix well. In a small bowl, combined apple juice, oil, and egg: blend well. Add dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be lumpy.) Stir in chopped apples.
3. Fill cups 2/3 full. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 1 minute before removing from pan. Serve warm.

Submitted by: Jenn Hall

Dogfood

2008-12-22T13:42:00.002-07:00

Dad requested that I post this one.
I got it from Pam Simmonds (music teacher at Cole)

Brown 1 pound ground beef & a little chopped onion.
Add and let cook with cover on:
2 to 3 carrots - peeled and diced
4 potatoes - peeled and diced
1 can corn (drained) or frozen corn
When vegetables are cooked (not mushy but firm) add 1 can evaporated milk and simmer (without lid) until thickened a little.

Swedish Farmer's Omelette

2008-11-30T17:12:00.002-07:00

From Linda Christensen
Mix in 9X12 pan sprayed with Pam:
1 pkg. shredded potatoes (Simply Shreds, etc.)
1 medium diced onion (or less)
2 cups diced ham
1 cup grated cheese (cheddar/jack, etc.)
Mix together in a bowl:
12 eggs
2 tsp. dried dill weed
1 cup milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Pour over potato mixture (Can set like this overnight).
Bake at 35O0 for about an hour.
Top the omelette with slices of tomato and pepper and then cover with cheese. Return to the oven until cheese has melted.

Pumpkin Pie Squares

2008-11-30T16:58:00.003-07:00

From Ann Crandall
Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cub oatmeal
1/2 cup firmley packed brouwn sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Mix until crumbly. Press into 9X12 pan. Bake at 35O0 for 15 minutes.
Filling:
1 (1 lb) can pumpkin (2 cups)
1 (13 1/2 oz) can evaporated milk
2 eggs
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsps. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
Mix well. Pour over crust and bake at 35O0 for 20 minutes
Topping:
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 Tbs. butter
Combine and sprinkle over pumpkin filling. Return to over 15 to 20 minutes longer.
Cool. Cut into squares. Serve with whipped cream.

Rachael Ray's Mac and Cheese Lorraine

2008-11-24T14:36:00.005-07:00

We had this for dinner this week and it was yummy! I actually burned the onions (I only used 1/2 of an onion anyway), so we left those out and we used shells for the pasta. Oh, and I just used some extra chicken stock instead of dry white wine. The Gruyere was yummy, but took a few bites for me to get used to. I'm sure you could use cheddar if you wanted too. It warmed up well for leftovers too. I stored the bacon separate. The recipe is from Rachael Ray's Just in Time cookbook and is a 30 minute meal.

Salt
1 pound gemelli pasta or other short cut pasta
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/2 pound bacon, chopped
2 onions, quartered and thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup whole milk
Black pepper
2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese
A little freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
1 rounded tablespoon Dijon mustard

Preparation
Heat water for pasta, salt water and cook pasta to al dente.
While pasta water comes to boil, heat the EVOO, one turn of the pan, in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. When EVOO is hot, add bacon and crisp, 5-6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain off some of the fat if you have more than 2-3 tablespoons. Add onions and cook for 10 minutes, until soft and beginning to caramelize. Add wine and cook out, 1 minute.
While onions cook, heat a saucepot over medium heat. Add butter, melt, then whisk in flour. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in chicken stock and milk and bring to a bubble. Thicken for a few minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Melt in cheese, stirring it in a figure eight motion with wooden spoon. Add nutmeg and mustard and adjust salt and pepper.
Drain pasta, toss with onions and stir in cheese sauce to coat. Top with crispy bacon and serve.

2008-11-19T16:39:00.001-07:00

Speaking of dinner, I better go start it. I'm glad you two are willing to participate! I'm excited to get some new recipes (and clean out my files in the process).

Buttermilk Syrup

2008-11-19T16:30:00.003-07:00

Oh, this syrup is soooo good. It is too sweet for our chocolate chip pancakes, but we really like it on French toast. We got it from Shawn's grandma when we visited her in Spokane.

Buttermilk Sauce for pancakes
Betty Thurber

1 cube butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk or soured milk (add 1/2 Tbl. vinegar or lemon juice to milk and let set for a minute.)
bring to a boil and boil for one minute.
Remove from heat and add
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda.
It will foam up. Let it sit for a few minutes and it is great.

Spinach lasagna

2008-11-19T16:26:00.003-07:00

We like this one at our house. It's a good meatless lasagna. I'm too lazy to type it all out so I'm linking it! Yay for being lazy! This will give all the nutrition info, too.
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/spinach-lasagna-51636.aspx

Best Zucchini bread ever!

2008-11-19T16:24:00.002-07:00

I got this from a blog too - sorry, don't remember which one. But it is the best ever! Is David allergic to coconut too?

Zucchini Coconut Bread
3 Eggs
3/4 C. Oil
1 1/2 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 C. Grated zucchini
2 1/3 C. Flour
1/4 tsp. Soda
1/4 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 sm. Pkg. Pistachio pudding
1 C. Coconut (optional)

Beat together eggs, oil, and sugar. Add the vanilla and zucchini. Mix all dry ingredients together and add to the other mixture. Pour into 2 greased bread pans.Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes.

Coconut Glaze
1/2 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Water
1 T. Butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. Coconut extract (or almond)

Bring sugar, water, and butter to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add extract. Pour over warm bread and let it cool completely before removing from pans.

Hawaiian Haystacks

2008-11-19T16:04:00.002-07:00

Here's a list of possible toppings for this great "Pile-Upon" meal. I ususally saute cubed chicken in oil with some garlic powder, then add the cream of chicken soup and a little milk to make a gravy. The toppings we usually add are in the first group.

chicken "sauce" (chopped chicken and cream of mushroom soup)
almonds
Chinese noodles
pineapple
coconut
cheese
peas

green onions
bell peppers (saute)
raisins
sunflower seeds
creamed mushrooms
tuna
sweet corn
ham
carrots (shredded, saute, etc)
chicken or meat mixture
fresh chopped tomatoes
celery
cashews
mandarin oranges
broccoli
water chestnuts
sunflower seeds
peanuts
sweet and sour sauce
bamboo shoots
grapes
dried cranberries
olives
pecans
Maraschino cherries (this is what Shawn remembers growing up)
julienne zucchini (sauté or steam lightly)
summer squash (sauté)onions (sauté)

CORNFLAKE CANDY SURPRISE

2008-11-19T15:58:00.002-07:00

This would be a no-no at Gina's house (little man has peanut allergies), but I love the coconut in it!

6 Cups Cornflakes,
3/4 Cup Light corn syrup,
3/4 Cup Peanut Butter
3/4 Cup Brown sugar
1 Cup Coconut.

Use a large pan melt the corn syrup and sugar-bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the peanut butter & stir in the corn flakes and coconut. Press into 9x11 pan. Store in an air tight container, you can also add nuts, chocolate chips or raisins. Note: if you need a double batch just make it twice, for some reason it just doesn't turn out as well if you try to double it.

3 Can Soup

2008-11-19T15:56:00.002-07:00

Made this a long time ago, but I seem to recall it was super easy and yummy. Kind of like a tortilla soup. You could add tortilla chips and grated cheese when you serve it too.

3 Can Soup

1 can corn
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

Combine in a pot and heat. It's that simple! Add a cheese quesadilla and dinner is served. Easily serves 4. Sprinkle cheese on top if desired. Can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.

Drain leftovers, wrap in a tortilla with some cheese and microwave for a quick lunch the next day!

Heavenly Chili

2008-11-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

Here's the recipe for Heavenly Chili again...

White Chicken Chili or Heavenly Chili
Karen Meeker - BYU

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken, cubed
1 med onion, chopped (or dried, minced onion)
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 Tbl. Vegetable oil
3 cans (15 ½ oz.) Great Northern Beans, drained
1 can (14 ½ oz) chicken broth
1 sm. can chopped green chilies
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. pepper
1 cup sour cream
½ cup whipping cream (or evaporated milk)

Saute chicken in oil. When well cooked, add the spices, green chilies and broth and bring to a boil. Add the beans and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes. Remove form heat and stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Serve immediately for rave reviews!

Thirst Quenching Drinks

2008-11-19T15:46:00.002-07:00

Here are some drink recipes that are perfect for parties. I got them from the girls at the Over the Tipsy-Top Design blog.

LEMON WATER
1 Tbsp. Citric Acid
1 Tbsp. Lemon Extract
2 1/2 Cups Sugar
5 Qts. Ice Water
*Mix together and add a few lemon slices.

CRANBERRY COOLER
1 Liter No-Name Brand Diet Sprite
1 Can Cran-Raspberry Concentrate
1 Can White Grape Juice Concentrate
*Mix and add ice (Sonic is the best of course, we just buy it by the bag full) Add some berries for a fun flare.

BRAZILIAN LIME-AID
3 Cups Water
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Lime - cut into fourths
* Blend in a blender using the "PULSE" button, pulse 10 times (Do NOT blend more then this or it will leave a rind taste.
Then add:1 Tbs. Sweetened Condensed Milk- Pulse 2 more times. To remove large pieces of lime pour through a strainer and serve over ice. ( Note: I had to make 3 or 4 batches to fill a punch bowl.)

It's a Keeper

2008-11-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

My 2 sisters-in-law and I have been emailing about recipes and meal planning this week and I thought it might be fun to start a blog where we can share our tried and true recipes. It will also give me an opportunity to learn a few more tricks of the blogging world - like adding labels (categories) and multiple participants on one blog-site.

The title comes from the question I ask my family each time I try a new recipe - "Is it a keeper, or not?" I am by no means an incredible cook, but after 11 years of marriage, we've found a few "keepers."

So, we'll see how this goes.