Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Caramel Popcorn

This recipe is credited to Genevieve Zach... with thanks to her daughter in law for sharing it with me.

Heat the oven to 250 degrees F.

In a sauce pan, heat and stir until it boils:
2 sticks butter or margarine
1/2 cup Karo
2 cups light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Once it boils, turn down the heat allowing it to boil gently for 5 minutes - NO stirring.

Remove from heat.

Stir in:
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

In a very large roaster type pan, pour in:
2 bags of hulless butter popcorn
1 can/jar of nuts of your choice

Pour the warm caramel mixture over it and mix well.

Put in the oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Cool & enjoy.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies

I'm claiming this recipe as my own. I read 3 different recipes for oatmeal cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, and cinnamon chip cookies and combined a little of each to come up with this scrumptious sweet!

1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter softened
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups rolled oats (quick kind)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup cinnamon chips (I use Hershey's)
1/2 cup nuts (0ptional)

Grease cookie sheet or use a baking mat or parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat sugar and butter... add the eggs (no shells please)... now the vanilla... beat for a bit. Add oats and baking soda. Mix a while. Stir in flour/chips/nuts. Place by rounded spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. I like to make 1" balls with my hands and then slightly press the top. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the edges turn light brown.

Cool and enjoy!

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Crockpot Chicken

1/2 pound mini carrots
2 medium onions sliced
2 stalks celery cut in 1" pieces
1 whole frying chicken 3-4 pound
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c chicken broth (water or white wine will also work)
1/2 tsp dried basil

Layer veggies in the bottom of the crockpot. Add broth. After washing and drying your chicken, sprinkle and rub with spices, then place on top of veggies. Cook on low all day long. (8-10 hours)

Be careful - it might be so tender it falls apart, so use the proper tools for dishing it out. Leftover chicken is great for many other yummy treats... pot pie, chicken salad, chicken noodle soup, or casserole!

**The first time I made this I placed left-overs for Keith in the fridge as he was working late that night. He woke me up to tell me it was the best chicken I have ever made!!!**

Coffee Cake

Topping
1/3 c baking mix
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp room cool margarine or butter

Cake
2 c baking mix
2/3 c milk or water
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 egg

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 9" pan. Mix topping until crumbly and set aside. Stir cake ingredients until blended. Spread in pan. Spring on topping. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

2 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 Tbsp flour
2 1/2 cups milk
3/4 pound of processed cheese cubed (I use Velveeta)
1 package frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained. (I like the kind that is mostly tops)
Pepper to taste

Melt butter in saucepan on medium heat. Add onion. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes or until the onion becomes transparent. Add flour. Cook for one minute *stirring constantly* or until bubbly. Stir in milk. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for a minute. Add broccoli and cheese *stir occasionally* and cook until cheese is melted.

Serve with warm Olive bread, Italian bread, or Sourdough.

Crockpot Pot Roast

1/4 c water
4 medium red potatoes cut in quarters
1 medium onion cut in quarters
1 pound of baby carrots
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
3 pound beef roast

Mix onion soup mix with water and pour into crockpot. Layer veggies. Sprinkle and rub salt, pepper, and thyme onto both sides of the roast. Place roast on top of veggies. Cook on low all day long. (8-9 hours)

Mom's Yummy Pie Crust

Makes 2 pieces - top and bottom

2 cups flour
1/2 cup olive oil (or Wesson)
1 tsp salt
5 Tbsp ice water

Mix oil, water, and salt till thick. Pour over flour. Mix well. Roll between 2 sheets of wax paper.