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.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Toasted Cheese Sandwich

This is one of my faves.

Toast two pieces of whole wheat bread (or whatever you like). As soon as the toaster pops, hit it with 2 slices of cheese and assemble as a sandwich. Wait 2 minutes and the cheese has melted. YUM-O

I also like to add miracle whip light and/or pickles to switch it up a smidge.

Sandwiches

  • Grilled Cheese
  • Toasted Cheese
  • Ham and Cheese
  • Grilled Ham and Cheese
  • Pickle
  • Toasted Tomato

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Coq-Au-Vin-Rosettes

Scribbit has a recipe that sounds DELICIOUS!

Pasta

  • Spaghetti
  • Mac n' cheese
  • Linguini
  • Ravioli
  • Tortellini

Sunday, April 15, 2007

TIME SAVERS

  • Cook a pound or more of bacon at a time. I make mine in a sauce pan or larger. Cut the bacon into thirds. Package it in baggies or storage containers. Great for use on sandwiches, with breakfast, or a snack. Or crumble and freeze for other recipes and salads or just simply pack away for later use.
  • When chopping onion - chop the entire onion, even when the recipe only calls for a small portion of it. Freeze the rest. Great for omlets, chilies, stuffing, or other recipes.
  • Chop celery as soon as you buy it. Reserve the inside stalks and tops - chop and freeze for other recipes later. Cut the remaining stalks into pieces a few inches long. Use for snacks, or chop as needed later for recipes.
  • Chop leftover ham and freeze. Great for omlets or fritatas.
  • Make a whole box/bag of rice at one time. Freeze in portions for use later.

PORK

  • Boneless Chops (with BBQ)
  • Boneless Chops Marinated
  • Boneless Chops Seasoned
  • Boneless Roast
  • Pork Butt Roast w/ Saurkraut
  • Spareribs
  • Boneless ribs
  • Pulled Pork
  • Sausage Cheese Muffins

GROUND BEEF IDEAS

  • Meatloaf
  • Meatballs (sandwiches, scud-balls, or for spaghetti)
  • Hamburgers/Cheeseburger
  • Cheeseburger Pie
  • Shepherd's Pie
  • Gulash
  • Burger & Rice
  • Chili
  • Vegetable Soup with Burger bites
  • Tacos or Taco Salad
  • Quesadillas
  • Taco Casserole
  • Cheeseburger Casserole

CHICKEN IDEAS

  • Chicken Casserole with noodles
  • Chicken Casserole without noodles
  • Chicken Stir Fry
  • Whole roasted chicken
  • Fried Chicken
  • Marinated Chicken Tenders
  • Chicken Salad
  • Chicken Parmasan
  • Chicken with salsa and dijon mustard
  • Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Chicken Tacos
  • Chicken Quesadillas
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Grilled Chicken Salad
  • Chicken Shake & Bake
  • Chicken Wings
  • Chicken Broccoli Bake
  • Chicken Pizza
  • Chicken Broccoli Braid
  • Stuffed Chicken Breast
  • Chicken Lasagna
  • Chicken Stuffed Shells
  • Chicken Curry
  • Chicken & Rice
  • Chicken & Stuffing Bake
  • Chinese Chicken Salad
  • Chicken Pot Pie
  • Crockpot Chicken

Inspiration

Take a look at Julie's blog post about meal planning. This is my inspiration for this blog.