WhErE cOoKs CoLlIdE

Construction, a Link and Administration Privleges

2010-08-15T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, I was messing around with the WWC template...A big NO NO!  I mess it up every time.  Seriously, why don't I learn?!  I am not techie savvy with bloggys!!  Don't mind the dust, I am sure Stacia will have it fixed in no time!! (sorry Stace).

Also, I wanted to pass a great recipe site on to all of you.  Ellen, my roommate at Snow College is a domestic goddess, and she has created a website where she posts all of her domestic endeavors on.  Check it out!  She has great recipes, I recommend the herb bread, as well as other projects and tips!  Check out Ellen's domestic diary here.

I've added a few more people to the author list (yay!) Our recipe collection just keeps getting better and better.  Also, I have added ALL of you that are already on list as admins.  What that means is:  you can invite all of your friends to post on this blog.  Just go to Design, Settings and Permissions to add their email address to the list and then they can start posting their recipes too!  More info on that here. Thanks so much to our new WWC bloggers!!  Now email all your friends, the more the merrier!  

P.S. Become a Follower!!   

Eating in Season

2010-08-10T17:15:00.001-07:00

Here is a link to an excellent Web site!

http://www.eatseasonably.co.uk/

Homemade Pesto

2010-08-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

1/2 c. pine nuts

4 c. lightly packed fresh basil leaves

1 1/2 tsp. chopped garlic

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil

3 c. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Combine basil, pine nuts, lemon juice, kosher salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor.

Process until ingredients are well incorporated.

Shut off motor and scrape down sides of bowl.

With motor running, slowly add olive oil.

Shut off motor and scrape down sides of bowl.

Add cheese and pulse until mixture comes together and looks like a thick paste.

Pesto will keep for 2 weeks in refrigerator.

Can also be frozen for 2 months without the cheese. When ready to use, add the cheese after defrosting pesto.

(This recipe is very flexible. I don't even measure anything.)

Eat on pasta, pizza, sandwiches,… It’s best with grilled chicken and sun-dried tomatoes :)

AMAZING Lasagna

2010-06-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

I made this tonight for the hubby and he told me that it was honestly the best lasagna he has ever had! I love the PW recipes:) Although I still stand firm with the theory that buying a Stouffers lasagna is cheaper than making one from scratch but it was fun and super yummy!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_lasagn/

Our Best Bites: Snickerdoodle Ice Cream

2010-05-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Our Best Bites: Snickerdoodle Ice Cream

Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango

2010-05-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

1 cup + 3 Tbsp. water
1 cup sticky rice
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla (opt.)
pinch of salt
Sliced ripe mango

We use the microwave method because our hankering for coconut sticky rice usually comes on suddenly and we have no patience for the traditional method of steaming rice. So, to start, put the water and rice in a microwaveable dish and cover with lid or plastic wrap. Let soak for at least 10 minutes!!! Then microwave in three-minute intervals on High power, stirring completely after each, until the rice is cooked (about 9 minutes.) Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the rest of the ingredients at a full boil for three minutes, stirring frequently. After the rice is cooked, pour hot coconut milk mixture on top and let seep for about 3 more minutes, if you have the patience. To serve, add sliced mango on top.

There are lots of types of coconut milks out there, and the only way to ensure you get the right type is if you look at the fat content. The higher the fat content per ounce, the better. (Don't worry too much, coconut is a healthier fat like extra virgin olive oil.) Warning: do not get coconut juice because that is literally the juice in the hollow of the coconut. Coconut milk is actually the flesh that has been boiled down and thinned with water.

I hear that you can purchase sticky rice at any Asian market, but when we went to our local Asian market they had no idea what we were asking for under the name "sticky rice". So we ended up buying sushi rice, and it turned out just fine. It's probably the same thing. I hear that it is sometimes called thai sweet rice, too.

Huarache de Ongo

2010-05-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted a recipe. So here's my deconstruction of Iron Chef Garces' Huarache de Ongo, thanks to a waiter at Distrito who was patient enough to tell us all the details. (For our whole experience at the restaurant, go here.)

Photo taken from MainLine Today

Huarache de Ongo

plain flat bread- slightly toasted

1 can huitlacoche (cooked on stovetop until blackened, then pulsed in blender with 1 Tbsp. olive oil until smooth)

Black Truffle Oil, for drizzling

Shredded Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, and Manchego cheeses (may also substitute other mild melting cheese)

assorted fresh or canned mushrooms (Garces' restaurant uses canned chanterelle and black truffles)

fresh corn

crema, for drizzling

corn shoots (so amazing!)

Just layer everything in order and you will have a taste experience that will leave you speechless.

Reuben Mac n Cheese

2010-02-17T12:13:00.001-08:00

This is totally stolen and adapted from Rachael Ray/FoodNetwork.com

Here's our version:

Ingredients

Salt
1 pound rotini pasta
2 slices rye bread (or wheat bread with 2 tsp. caraway seeds
3 tablespoons butter plus some for buttering toast
A handful fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/4 cup spicy brown deli mustard
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup shredded Gruyere (We actually prefer Smoked Gouda)
1 cup shredded yellow Cheddar
3/4 pound good quality deli corned beef, sliced as thick as bacon, chopped
1 pound sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt water and cook pasta to al dente.

While pasta cooks, toast rye bread in toaster then butter hot bread. Coarsely chop bread and place in food processor. Add parsley and paprika to bread and process into bread crumbs, reserve.

Heat a sauce pot over medium heat. Add butter to pot and melt, whisk in flour 1 minute then milk. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, thicken sauce 5 to 6 minutes then stir in mustard. Melt 2/3 of the combined cheeses into the sauce.

Preheat broiler.

Drain pasta and return to hot pot. Toss hot pasta with chopped meat and sauerkraut to combine, stir in cheese sauce and coat. Transfer mac n cheese to casserole and top with bread crumbs and remaining cheese. Brown under broiler 3 to 4 minutes, serve.

Baked Penne

2010-01-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a Baked Penne recipe that is a REALLY good dinner idea, especially for you pasta lovers. It's made with a creamy marinara sauce (alfredo and marinara) so it makes it especially yummy! Aaron and I added sausage to ours and it was delicious but you can add pretty much whatever meat you want or keep it vegetarian:) Enjoy!

(http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/gtu/story/Baked-Penne/92Dn0PcInEisuMbHoRlM7A.cspx)

Best Banana Muffins EVER!

2010-01-19T15:03:00.000-08:00

These are SO SO moist, rich and dense...pretty much like a dessert! Enjoy:)

BANANA MUFFINS

2 1/4 cups all purpose or white whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 large extra ripe bananas (peeled and mashed)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix the butter and brown sugar. Stir in the eggs, then add the bananas. Stir in the vanilla.

Combine the liquid mixture with the dry ingredients, stirring together only until mixed. Stir in chopped nuts.

Transfer the batter into greased muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.

Bake in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a center comes out clean.

Makes 18 to 20 muffins.

Crockpot chicken and broccoli

2009-09-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

K...I guess I will try this. First of all, Weston is a very picky, hard-to-please eater so when I found that he actually liked this recipe and gave me the go ahead to make it again, I knew it had to be good. Second of all, I am all about easy, so crockpot dinners are my favorite!! I kind of just made this one up...

Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli

3 bonelsess skinless chicken breasts
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
3 tbs spoons of water
A couple cloves of Broccli cut up

Combine in crockpot and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours! Very yummy~~

Zucchini Stroganoff

2009-08-27T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hey I tried this recipe for the first time last night and we loved it!

Zucchini Stroganoff

1/2 lb ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 can mushroom soup
couple tbsp water
1 cup egg noodles
1 cup sliced zucchini
2/3 cup sour cream
favorite seasonings

Cook ground beef and onion in a 10-inch skillet. Season beef as you like. Add soup, water, noodles, and zucchini. Simmer covered until noodles and zucchini are done. Stir in sour cream and warm through. Enjoy! You can substitute your favorite kind of meat. Serves 2.

Spaghetti Pizza

2009-07-21T04:25:00.000-07:00

My mom made this a while back so I decided to make it for Dale and see what he thought. Just an FYI don't use Angel Hair noodles...you can't drain all the water off and it is runny. He loved it!

Boil 10 ounces (about the size of a quarter) of spaghetti noodles (Drain)

Beat one or two egg(s) with 1 cup milk and some garlic salt to taste. Pour over noodles that has been placed in 9 x 13 baking pan.

32 oz. pizza sauce/spaghetti sauce
1/2 lb hamburger and sausage (Browned and drained)
toppings of your choice (mushrooms, peppers, onions, olives, etc.)
2 cups mozzarella cheese (can add other cheese too)
Pour in baking pan in this order.
Cover. Bake 1 hour at 300. Cool for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Cookie Casserole (Dessert)

2009-07-14T06:47:00.000-07:00

1 cup milk or buttermilk
1 large pk vanilla pudding or favorite flavor
8 oz. cool whip

Mix together.

Add:
1 can mandarin oranges
1 can pineapple chunks (optional-I leave out)
Half a package of broken fudge stripes cookies

Refrigerate overnight. Enjoy!

Coffee Cake

2009-07-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

1 cup pancake mix
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted

Mix together and pour into greased eight inch round or square pan. Double for 9x13 pan. Mix below ingredients for topping until crumbly. Sprinkle over top of batter and bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Serve with jam or syrup. Enjoy!

Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour or pancake mix
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter

Grandma Hazel’s Bread (10 loaves)

2009-06-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

4-5 HEAPING cups flour
2 cups sugar
4 TBS salt
1 cup shortening (lard) I use butter
8 cups warm water
2 HEAPING TBS yeast

Combine all ingredients. If the dough is still a little sticky add 1/2 cup or so flour. Let it raise. Put into loaf pans and let it raise again. Cook for 40 minutes at 350. Enjoy!

Baked Chicken Taquitos

2009-06-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

This one came from one of those weekly meal planning websites, but I have adjusted it according to our family's tastes and have sneaked in some veggies for an even healthier version of a traditional chicken taquito. The quantities and baking times are estimates, so you may have to adjust the recipe a bit according to your liking.

Baked Chicken Taquitos

3/4 cup prepared salsa verde
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (cooked, cooled and shredded)
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup shredded colby-jack cheese
1/2 bunch cilantro (around 1/4 cup), chopped fine
20 corn tortillas
cooking spray

Mix salsa and cream cheese together until creamy. Add chicken, carrots, cheese and cilantro. Set aside mixture. Heat corn tortillas all together in a ziplock bag in the microwave for about 1 minute. The hotter the tortillas are, the easier they are to roll, so don't take them out of the microwave until they are piping hot. Place a small amount of the chicken mixture in each one and roll up. (Helpful hint: I keep a cup of cold water nearby so I can dip my fingers in to cool them off after each taquito I roll.) Place seam-side-down on a greased jelly roll pan and finish by spraying each one with cooking spray. Bake at 425 F for 15-20 minutes or until edges start to turn golden. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Chicken Puff Roll Ups/Chicken Cups

2009-06-23T06:44:00.000-07:00

2 c. cooked, cubed chicken
8 oz. cream cheese original or with chives
Pepper
1/4 c. butter or margarine
2/3 c. stuffing mix
Cheddar cheese
Crescent rolls or pop biscuits

Combine chicken cheeses and seasonings in a bowl. In another bowl combine butter and stuffing. Unroll crescent rolls, keep two together. Put a spoonful of chicken mixture on, then bring sides together and dip and roll in stuffing mix. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve with gravy over them and rice.

For variation use pop biscuits instead of crescents rolls. Heat oven to 375. Grease a muffin pan and press the biscuits to cover bottom and sides of muffin cup. Spoon mixture into biscuit cups. Bake 16 to 21 minutes or until edges and deep golden brown. Enjoy!

Skillet Lasagna

2009-06-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

1 lb. hamburger
1 onion
Other veggies optional
4 or 5 lasagna pasta noodles
1 jar spaghetti sauce
Cheese of your choice

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain grease. Break and place lasagna pasta on top of hamburger. Add 2 cups water. Cover and steam 15 minutes. Pour spaghetti sauce over top. Add cheese and simmer. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Chicken (Crockpot)

2009-06-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

2 to 3 chicken breasts
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water
1 can mushrooms

Put chicken in crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper or favorite seasoning. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over the top of the chicken. Back on low for 4 hours. Serve over rice or pasta. Enjoy!

Tator Tot Casserole

2009-06-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

1 lb. hamburger
Diced onion
1 can tomato sauce
Tator tots
1 can green beans
Cheese

Place hamburger in 8x8 pan. Layer onions then green beans then tomato sauce then tator tots then cheese. Cover and cook at 375 for 45 minutes or until the meat is done. Double for a 9x13 pan. Enjoy!

Raspberry Banana Bread

2009-05-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS

. 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

. 1 1/2 cups sugar

. 1 teaspoon baking soda

. 1 teaspoon salt

. 2 eggs

. 1 cup mashed ripe bananas

. 1/2 cup vegetable oil

. 1/3 cup water

. 1 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries

. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine the eggs, bananas, oil and water. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raspberries and walnuts. Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Chicken Roll

2009-03-30T05:21:00.001-07:00

I have never made this, but my friend made it for us last night and it was phenomenal. I'm going to attempt to write down the right proportions, but you may have to adjust according to your taste.

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
3-5 Tbsp hot sauce, add more for more heat
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Prepared pizza dough

Mix shredded chicken and hot sauce together in a large bowl. In a separate frying pan, saute celery and onions together with a little butter and toss into the chicken mixture. Add cheese and mix together. Roll out pizza dough thinly into a rectangular shape and let rise. Pour chicken mixture down the roll lengthwise and roll up like a cinnamon roll. Fold seams down and under roll so mixture doesn't bubble out during cooking. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes, or until browned on top. Slice up and serve.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

2009-01-25T19:56:00.000-08:00

8 skinned chicken thighs
1/2 bottle russian dressing
1/2 jar apricot jam
1 packet onion soup mix

Set chicken in crock pot. Pour ingredients over chicken. Cook on low 5 to 6 hours. Serve over rice or with couscous.

(It doesn't really matter exact amounts of dressing or jam, it comes out great every time, but I probably use about 1 cup of dressing and 1/2 cup of jam)

SUPER EASY and everyone always loves it

2009-01-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

I got a recipe organizer computer program for Christmas and it has been fun to type in all my recipes. As I come to some of them, I think, YUM, I haven't made this in awhile. This is one of my favorites.

PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH BROWNIES

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup flour
6 tablespoons baking cocoa
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 cups crispy rice cereal

In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Stir in flour, cocoa, vanilla, and salt. Spread in greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Spread marshmallow cream over cooled brownies. In a small saucepan over low heat (or in microwave), melt chocolate chips and peanut butter, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in cereal. Spread over marshmallow layer. Chill one hour before cutting. Store in refrigerator.
YUMMY

Hearty Dip

2008-12-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

This is a great dip to take to any upcoming holiday parties - it's quick, easy, and delicious.

2 packages cream cheese (I use the low fat neuchftal cheese or whatever that is)
1 package ranch seasoning
1 can corn, drained
1 can olives, drained and chopped finely
1 can diced green chilis with as little juice as possible
1 red pepper, chopped

Stir everything together and serve with tortilla chips. Delish.

Chocolate Crackle Cookies

2008-12-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

1/2 C. Shortening

1 2/3 C. Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla

2 Eggs

1/2 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Baking Powder

6 T. Baking Cocoa

1/3 C. Milk

2 C. Flour

Mix all together, will produce a very moist batter. Chill for 2 hours to set the dough. Use cookie scoop and roll into balls. Roll ball through powdered sugar till covered. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degree's for 12-15 minutes.

Makes A LOT if you use a cookie scoop, great for neighbor treats etc!

ENJOY!

Broken Florentine Lasagna Bake

2008-11-22T16:18:00.000-08:00

This is Rachael Ray's recipe and we tried it tonight after I saw it on "The View." It was truely DELISH!

Ingredients

* 4 tablespoons butter
* 4 tablespoons flour
* 3 cups milk
* Salt and pepper
* Nutmeg, to taste
* 1 1/2 cups grated Parmigiano Reggiano, divided
* 2 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* 1 garlic clove, cracked
* 1 bunch green chard, stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
* 2 pounds spinach, stems removed and leaves roughly chopped
* 1 box no-boil lasagna noodles

Yields: 4 servings
Preparation

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Step

Place a medium pot over medium heat and melt the butter. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter and cook for about a minute. Slowly whisk the milk into the butter-flour mixture and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Let it thicken a couple of minutes then stir in about a cup of the Parmigiano. Set the sauce aside.
Step

Place a large, cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Toss in the cracked clove of garlic and cook for a minute or two to release its aroma and flavor. Add in the chard and wilt it down, about 2 minutes, then wilt in the spinach a few handfuls at a time. Season the greens with salt and pepper.
Step

Break the pasta sheets into large pieces. Toss them into the skillet and give them a good stir to incorporate them with the greens. Pour the sauce into the skillet, stirring again to evenly incorporate everything. Smooth the top down and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano over top of the lasagna.

Cover the skillet with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil from the pan and let it finish uncovered for about 15 more minutes to brown the cheese.

Feast Your Eyes

2008-10-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

If I ruled the world all recipe books and blogs would have pictures to accompany the recipe. Recently I was introduced to wonderful world of foodgawker.com. I love it when my faith in the Internet is restored when I find sites like this. I can't wait to try out the many recipes, like Fried quesadillas (Coyoacan style), now just click away!

Brownie Tarts

2008-10-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

(from the kitchen of Kristin Campbell)

For Brownie Cup:
1 Package Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1/2 C. Butter or Margarine
1 Egg

For Filling:
1 small package instant chocolate pudding
1 C. half and half
1 container frozen whipped topping (8 oz. thawed)

For Brownie Cups:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray muffin pans well with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients and mix well with a mixer. It will look really crumbly and first but then it will become gooey very fast. You want to stop mixing right before it gets really gooey. Then scoop the batter into the muffin cups. About 1/2 full. Bake 10-12 min, or until edges are set. Remove pan and press the tops of the brownies in with the top of a pop bottle or water bottle lid. It will kind of look like a cupcake with the center cut out. This allows you to have somewhere to place the filling. Let cool in pan for about 15 min. before taking them out. If you take them out too soon they will break and fall apart. Once they are out of the pan let them cool some more. The cups will be firm.

For Filling:
Mix pudding with the half and half until the pudding is dissolved. Then fold in the whip cream. Sometimes if it looks kind of lumpy I will use a little hand mixer to get it mixed a little better.

Spoon filling into the brownie cups. Store in the refrigerator. They are best served when chilled.

Ideas for dessert add-ins

2008-09-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Dessert Diva:
Sometimes my desserts are too hum-drum. What can I do to impress my friends, without spending a lot of extra time preparing the sweets?

Dear Bothered by Brulee:
Simple additions can go a long way.
For example-

Peanut Butter Cookies-
Cinnamon(enough to make a difference)

Brownies-
Mint Chocolate Chips or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups(broken-up.)

Chocolate Cake-
Crumbled mixture of shredded coconut, nuts, and semi-sweet chocolate chips, for topping.

Cheesecake (plain)-
Raspberry jam, swirled in.

Carrot Cake-
Crushed Pineapple (decrease wet ingredients to compromise.)

S'Mores-
Caramel Sundae Sauce (add after marshmallow is roasted.)

Frozen Bananas-
Roll in Marshmallow Creme, walnuts, and drizzle with hot fudge.

Chicken Chili

2008-08-11T12:13:00.001-07:00

Title: Chicken Chili
Description:Tami's legendary recipe
Ingredients:
2 cans chicken breast chunks w/ juice (or 1-2 cooked and shredded fresh chicken breasts) - ok seriously, doing the fresh chicken takes the EASE out of this which is the whole purpose.
1 med onion chopped and browned (or minced onion)
1 can whole corn (drained)
1 - 28 oz can diced tomatoes w/ juice
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans ranch style beans or kidney beans
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp or less chili powder

Directions:Combine and heat thoroughly. Serve with cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, lettuce, sour cream. You could also cut corn tortillas into strips and add - they soften. Or you could add cheese quesadillas. I use mostly tortilla chips and dip them into it.
Number Of Servings:6+ adult-sized
Preparation Time:5-15 minutes

Apricot Jam!

2008-07-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

Last week my sister gave me a giant bag of apricots and I knew my little family of 3 couldn't eat all of them before they spoiled so I decided to go on-line and search for an Apricot Jam Recipe that doesn't require pectin and is very simple. The following link is the one I found and decided to try.
http://mooseyard.com/Jens/2007/07/apricot-jam-recipe/
My only word of advice is to read the comments before you start ;) Have fun and enjoy!

German Chocolate Cake Frosting

2008-07-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup white sugar
3 egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
1/2 cup margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut

DIRECTIONS
In a large saucepan combine evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, margarine, vanilla and corn starch. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat and stir in pecans and coconut. Spread on cake while still warm.

Delicious Dough

2008-07-17T19:30:00.001-07:00

This is one of the best foods I have ever learned to make: quick rise breadsticks. The reason I love it so much is because it is so versatile and works when I am in a hurry. You can make it with the purpose of baking almost any kind of yeast dough. I have been using a lot for grilled pizza and it has never let me down.

1 cup warm water
1 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp sugar
-------------mix together until yeast and sugar dissolve-----------
then add:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2-3 cups bread flour (if using all-purpose, add more until it isn't sticky.)

Knead and let sit for 10 minutes. Punch down and form into breadsticks (or whatever you are making it into,) and let rise for another 10 minutes. (If you are making grilled pizza dough, don't let rise the second time, just stick it straight onto the grill.) Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

*If you are making breadsticks, brush with a mixture of melted butter, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 Tbsp. dried parsley, and 2 tsp. garlic powder before letting them rise the second time.

For a really good grilled pizza recipe, go here. Also, if you want to adapt this calzone recipe to a pizza recipe, it's easy and soooooo yummy.

Cookbook:

2008-06-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

I bought this on Saturday and have to endorse it:

This is for diet-eers like me who can't give up good food. Seriously, it's the perfect cookbook! We didn't go with the accompanying pill because the lady at GNC said that her friends who just used the cookbook without the pill lost just as much, if not more, weight than those who did use it. It gives you good, balanced meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) in generous portions, without cutting flavor, and comes complete with nutrition facts. The best part: there's a three-week meal schedule for every calorie range. I LOVE IT!

...okay, I lied, there's another best part: the meals are super fast to prepare. We're talking 15-20 minutes, people!

Curry

2008-06-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Due to popular demand:

First things first: find a local international foods market that carries curry paste. Usually there are different kinds of pastes (Massaman, Yellow, Red, etc.) We like the way each one tastes, so there's no going wrong, but the safest are Massaman and Yellow. Go Authentic! You know it is authentic if either 1.) the label doesn't include a single English word, or 2.) you can read the label, but the grammar is totally off.

What you need:

1/2 to 1 can of curry paste, depending on how brave you are (the cans are smaller than a can of tuna, but are very concentrated.)
2 cans coconut milk
5 potatoes
4 carrots
1 red pepper
1 onion
1 Tbs. peanut oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

What you do:

Simmer curry paste and coconut milk together on low until thick (about 15 min.) Meanwhile, chop all vegetables into 1" pieces. Boil potatoes first in salty water until soft. Set aside potatoes. Sautee all other veggies in oil until tender. Combine everything into one pot and let simmer for about 20 minutes until the curry is infused into the vegetables. Enjoy over white rice. Makes a small country's-worth of servings.

Thanksgiving in the Summer

2008-06-01T17:44:00.001-07:00

This is a famous sandwich at Capriottis called "The Bobby", and to-date my FAVORITE sandwich ever! It consists of Thanksgiving meal left-overs, but I am making it year-round.

Here goes:

Hero rolls (or any hoagie buns)
Mayo (spread on both sides of the parted buns)
Turkey (or chicken), shredded (pile it on!)
Cranberry sauce (be generous with it)
Stuffing, prepared (if using chicken, get the chicken-flavored stuffing) (...this is my favorite part of the sandwich, so I squeeze it in as much as I can into the bun.)

Make it like you would a normal sandwich. Believe me, you're going to love it and the good part is that more-than-likely, you're going to be making enough for leftovers.

Flan

2008-05-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

It's been over four months without chocolate for Mom and I, so to combat this "fast" I have been whipping up some chocolate-free sweets to satisfy our crave for sugar. A few weeks ago I attempted flan for the first time. Following is the recipe I used.

Brazilian-Style Flan

1 cup sugar (for the caramel)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Equal volume of regular milk (use the can to measure)

3 eggs

1 8-inch ring mold
Fresh or canned sliced peaches (The peach slices were a perfect compliment to the creamy, rich flan. It was also fun to create a pretty design with them on top.)

Place 1 to 2 inches of water in a roasting pan. Place the pan in the oven and preheat to 325°.

Put the sugar in the ring mold. Place the mold directly over medium heat. Keep turning the mold until the sugar melts into a golden brown caramel and spoon it up the sides of the mold. Be careful not to burn the sugar and yourself. Use an oven mitt to hold the mold in your left hand and a large spoon for the sugar in your right hand. This way you can keep turning the mold and spooning the sugar. Let the mold cool.

Combine the condensed milk, regular milk and eggs in a blender. Whip until smooth. Pour this mixture into the mold and place it in the center of the roasting pan with water. Bake for about 1 hour. It will turn golden brown on top and start separating from the sides of the mold. Let it cool to room temperature and place in refrigerator, preferably overnight (at least 6 hours).

Just before serving, run the tip of a knife around the inside of the mold. Place a deep platter over the mold and invert: it should slide out easily. If not, give the mold a firm but careful shake. Spoon the caramel sauce on top and arrange peach slices on top also. It's ready to eat! Serves about 10.

I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do while making this dessert. First, while making the caramel, use the "wet" method (not how I did it) because it's easier and you have a less chance of burning the sugar. Don't let it get too dark or the caramel will taste bitter and burnt. Second, a flan made with sweetened condensed milk (like mine) will be slightly denser than one made with milk or cream. Likewise, flan made with milk rather than cream will be slightly lighter than a cream-based custard. So it's up to your own preference on how you make the flan. Third, the water bath is more crucial than I thought. The water insulates the custard and keeps it from cooking too fast, which causes cracks in the finished flan and a rubbery texture. One tip I found suggests to lay a dishtowel on the bottom of a roasting pan, place the flan dish or dishes on top of the towel, and then fill the pan with boiling water about halfway up the sides of the custard cups. And fourth, if the flan is still liquid, it needs more time in the oven, and in my case, that meant another 45 minutes.
Okay, so this post is getting really long, but one more thing about flan and I'll be done. I found dozens of different recipes for flan including orange and lime, coconut, sweet potato, pumpkin, flan de chocolate, espresso, artichoke, asparagus, roasted garlic and goat cheese, caramelized apple, and red pepper. Yikes! Check out the recipes at foodnetwork.com. What are some of your favorite recipes for flan???

Homemade Oreo Cookies

2008-05-05T15:53:00.001-07:00

Cookies:
1 pkg. of Devils Food Cake Mix
1/4 C flour
1/2 C oil
2 eggs

Mix until the cake is just moistened. Roll into 1 inch balls and bake for 9-10 minutes at 350 degrees. Once the cookies are cooled, load them up with some cream cheese icing.

Frosting:
8 oz. Cream cheese
5 Tbs Butter
1 tsp Vanilla
2 C Powdered Sugar

Cream together cream cheese and butter. Mix in vanilla and then gradually stir in the powdered sugar.

(I think the cookies taste best cold, so I put mine in a plastic bag and put them in the fridge before eating...I don't know if that's weird...anyway, enjoy!

I got this recipes from Tori Hallow's bridal shower...it is her brother Landon's favorite!

A Really Good Salad

2008-05-05T15:48:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:
-Baby Spinach
-1 Red onion, thinly sliced
-Mushrooms, thinly sliced
-16 oz. can Mandarin Oranges, drained
-Bacon, cooked and crumbled
-1 cup grated swiss cheese
-1/2 cup slivered almonds

Dressing:
-1 tsp dried mustard
-1 tsp salt
-1 1/2 Tbs poppy seeds
-1/3 C red wine vinegar
-1 C vegatable oil

Directions:
Toss ingredients together. Mix dressing well and pour over salad just before serving.

Heavenly Chicken Enchiladas

2008-05-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
-1 lb boneless, skinless chicken
-1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
-1 small onion, diced
-1 small green pepper, diced
-1 4 oz. jar green chiles, diced
-3 C mexican cheese, shredded
-1 pkg. tortillas
-1 10 oz can enchilada sauce

Directions:
Cut chicken into bite size pieces and cook in oil or butter in skillet. Next, saute the onion, green pepper and chiles in butter. Add onion mixture to chicken. Ass cream cheese and heat until melted. Spoon mixture into flour tortillas (1-2 spoonfuls). Roll up and put in a greased 9x13-inch pan. Repeat until chicken mixture is all gone. Pour enchilada sauce over enchiladas. Top with shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until bubbly. Garnish with sour cream, guacamole, salsa, lettuce, olives, tomotoes and green onions.

Serve with tortilla chips and refried beans.

MANICOTTI

2008-04-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is my neighbor's family favorite, and now one of my family's favorite too.

1 package manicotti shells

FILLING:
1 cup chopped spinach
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened (I actually used ricotta and it was delicious)
1 egg
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated (reserve a little for the topping)
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated (I just used the canned kind)

SAUCE:
1 lb Italian sausage, browned and drained
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1/4 jar water

Boil manicotti noodles according to package directions. Lay out on foil to cool. In the meantime, prepare sauce in a saucepan on the stove. Combine filling ingredients in a large bowl. Stuff manicotti noodles with filling. Use a knife to fill them, or a pastry bag with a large tip. Put a little sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Place stuffed manicotti shells in dish, and cover with remaining sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, uncovered. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake 5 more minutes. (My family thought they would have liked more cheese on top, so next time I will probably use another 1/2 cup of mozzarella on the top instead of just saving a little out. But EVERYONE loved this)

Sandwich Maker Food

2008-03-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

Do you have a sandwich maker that never gets used? So did I in college, but all it took was a late night, a hungry stomach, not much in the fridge, and an urge to use the sandwich maker to come up with this:

Bisquick (prepared into pancake batter)
grated cheddar cheese
1/2 can of Cream of [anything] soup
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
leftover cooked chicken, shredded

Heat sandwich maker. Pour in a little batter (it doesn't take a lot.) Sprinkle with cheese. Mix soup and sour cream together and season with salt and pepper (and anything else you want to try.) Put a dollop of the mixture on top of the cheese, and spread a little chicken on top of that. Top off with more pancake batter and close the sandwich maker. This is where patience is necessary... wait until it is golden brown. Believe me, the light will come on before it really is ready, but if you wait a little longer, your patience will be rewarded. The golden crust is delicious! The outcome is something like a crepe and a Hot Pocket, and oh, so good.

Girl Scout Cookies Anyone?

2008-03-14T20:23:00.001-07:00

Homemade Samoas (a.k.a. Caramel de-Lites)
Cookies
1 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
up to 2 tbsp milk

Preheat oven to 350F.In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt at a low speed, followed by the vanilla and milk, adding in the milk as needed to make the dough come together without being sticky (it's possible you might not need to add milk at all). The dough should come together into a soft, not-too-sticky ball. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough is very sticky.Roll the dough (working in two or three batches) out between pieces of wax paper to about 1/4-inch thickness (or slightly less) and use a 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make rounds. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and use a knife, or the end of a wide straw, to cut a smaller center hole. Repeat with remaining dough. Alternatively, use scant tablespoons of dough and press into an even layer in a mini donut pan to form the rounds.Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are set. If using a mini donut pan, bake for only about 10 minutes, until edges are light gold.Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Topping
3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
12-oz good-quality chewy caramels
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
8 oz. dark or semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips are ok)

Preheat oven to 300. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet (preferably one with sides) and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.Using the spatula or a small offset spatula, spread topping on cooled cookies, using about 2-3 tsp per cookie. Reheat caramel for a few seconds in the microwave if it gets too firm to work with.

While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate (or melt a bit of additional chocolate, if necessary) into a piping bag or a zip lock bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate.Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Makes about 3 1/2-4 dozen cookies.

(We found that dipping them in chocolate and drizzling it made the chocolate too dominate, so we will probably use milk chocolate next time and not use quite as much.)

2008-03-11T12:05:00.001-07:00

Apple Hill Apple Cake
serves 10-12

Combine:

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
-----------------------

Add:

4 cups apples, peeled and diced
-----------------------

Combine in separate bowl:

2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
-----------------------

Fold everything in together. Bake in greased pan at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes (but periodically check because some apples will carry more moisture than others and will require longer cooking times.) Will appear very brown, but don't worry, it's not burnt (unless you really messed it up.) ;^) Oh, it's so good!!!!

(Nope, it's not my own! Recipe taken from the Sweet Endings Creative Cookbook. 2007)

2008-03-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN (Daniel's favorite)

6 - 8 skinned chicken thighs
1/2 bottle Russian dressing (about 1 cup)
1/2 bottle apricot jam (about 1/2 to 1 cup)
1 packet onion soup mix

Set chicken in crockpot. Pour other ingredients over chicken. Cook on low 5-6 hours. Serve over rice or couscous. (The beauty of this recipe is that you don't really need to measure the dressing or the jam, just pour it in and it turns out great!)

Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Garlic, Zucchini, and Tomato

2008-03-03T20:07:00.000-08:00

Whole wheat spaghetti

3 tablespoons olive oil

course salt and pepper

small red onion cut into thick slices

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 large zucchini cut lengthwise into sticks

2 plum tomatoes cut lengthwise into strips

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Boil noodles in salted water. Sautee 3 garlic cloves in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for 3 minutes. Add zucchini and 1/2 cup water. Let sit on medium heat for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, onions and 1 tablespoon of oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Add cheese. Enjoy!

Beef Chimichanga’s

2008-03-01T18:11:00.001-08:00

6 (12- to 14- inch) flour tortillas
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
½ cup red chili sauce or enchilada sauce
Salt and black pepper to taste
Vegetable oil
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
2 cups chopped green onions
Chopped tomatoes (optional)
Guacamole (optional)
Sliced black olives (optional)

Microwave tortillas to warm. In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, brown beef; drain, leaving beef in the pan. Add onion, chile or enchilada sauce, salt, and pepper; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until onions are transparent.
In the center of each warm tortilla, spoon 1/6 of meat filling. Fold tortilla, tucking in the ends to make a secure fat tube.
In large pot or deep fryer over medium heat, add at least 4 inches of vegetable oil. Heat oil to 375 to 400 degrees. Fry the chimichangas, 1 or 2 at a time, 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oil, drain and place on serving plates. Top with cheddar cheese, lettuce, green onions, and any additional ingredients that you prefer. Makes 6 chimichangas.

Cream of Potato Soup

2008-03-01T18:09:00.002-08:00

6 potatoes pealed and crushed
2 medium onions-chopped
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup shredded or grated carrots
4 chicken bullion cubes
1 Tbsp parsley
6 cups water
½ cup butter
1 Tbsp salt
½ tsp pepper

Cook above ingredients in a crock pot for 7 hours then add 1 can evaporated milk and cook 1 more hour. Before serving add shredded cheese and bacon bits.

Optional additional add-ins:
Corn
Peas

Katy’s Oatmeal Cookies

2008-03-01T18:09:00.001-08:00

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp milk
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet. Beat shortening and sugars until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla and milk; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to shortening mixture; mix well. Stir in oatmeal and additions if desired. Using round tablespoons, spoon drops of dough onto prepared cookie sheet, placing 2 inches apart. Bake 10 min or until edges are light brown.
Additions: chocolate chips

Watergate Salad

2008-03-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

1 pkg pistachio pudding mix
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
1 Cup vanilla yogurt
2 Cups thawed cool whip topping

Stir dry pudding mix, pineapple with juice and yogurt in large bowl until well blended. Gently stir in 2 cups of the whipped topping; cover. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Chex Mix

2008-03-01T18:07:00.002-08:00

MELT:
2 Cubes (1 Cup) butter or margarine
1 Cup Karo/Corn syrup
1 Cup Sugar

Additions:
Cashew halves
Peanuts
Pretzels
M&Ms

Mix 16 oz rice chex cereal (or half rice, half corn chex) with the desired additions and pour the melted mixture over it and stir it till the cereal is covered.

Shepherds pie

2008-03-01T18:06:00.001-08:00

1 pound hamburger (browned)
Peel and cut potatoes (boil and mash)
1 can tomato sauce
1 can green beans
Shredded cheese

Mix tomato sauce and green beans with hamburger. Put into a casserole dish. Cover meat mixture with mashed potatoes and top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

2008-03-01T18:05:00.001-08:00

1 can (10 ¾ oz) cream of chicken
1 1/3 C. water
¾ cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 C. fresh or frozen vegetables
½ Tsp. onion powder
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
½ C. shredded cheddar cheese

Stir the soup, water, rice, vegetables and onion powder in a 12”x8” shallow baking dish.
Top with chicken. Season chicken as desired. Cover.Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Top with cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Taco Soup

2008-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

1 lb. Ground beef
1 medium onion (chopped)
½ pkg mild taco seasoning mix
1 (16 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 (28 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
Tortilla chips
Grated Cheese

Brown ground beef in pot with onions. Add taco seasoning, corn, beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips, grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

Chicken Puffs

2008-03-01T17:49:00.001-08:00

1 package refrigerator crescent rolls
4 oz. cream cheese
1 lg. chicken breast (cooked and shredded)
Salt and pepper to taste
Onion (optional)

Fill crescent rolls with mixture. Make sure to pinch edges closed. Cook according to crescent rolls package directions.

*if desired you can roll in butter and then smashed corn flakes or croutons
*You can also substitute one small can of chicken
*You can also use bisquits

Banana Bread

2008-03-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to ¾ cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cup of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

German Pancakes

2008-03-01T17:45:00.001-08:00

6 eggs
1 c. flour
4 tbsp butter or margarine
1 c. milk
¼ tsp. salt

In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, flour, and salt; beat until fluffy and smooth. Put 2 tbsp. butter in each of two pie pans; as oven preheats. Pour half of batter in each pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 min. Serve with syrup, warm jam or fruit.

Waikiki Meatballs

2008-03-01T17:36:00.000-08:00

For Meatballs:
1 ½ lbs. ground beef
2/3 c. cracker crumbs
1/3 c. minced onions
1 egg
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp ginger
¼ c. milk
(I most often use pre-made frozen meatballs)

For Sauce:
2 tbsp corn starch
½ c. brown sugar
1 13 oz. can pineapple tidbits
1/3 c. vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/3 c. chopped green pepper

Instructions:
Mix beef, crumbs, onion, egg, salt, ginger, and milk. Shape mixture by rounding tsps. Into balls. Brown meatballs. Mix cornstarch and sugar. Stir in reserved pineapple syrup, vinegar, soy sauce until smooth. Pour into pan, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir one minute. Add meatballs, pineapple tidbits and green pepper. Heat through.

Snow Ice Cream

2008-02-28T19:25:00.000-08:00

This recipe (courtesy of Paula Dean,) is for all y'all in the country who can find good, clean snow. For your next cabin outing, try this. (Now, I've never tasted it, but the idea sure sounds yummy.)

Snow (clean, of course)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
A "jooge" of vanilla extract

Mix it all together and eat before the snow melts.

(Oh, and for those of you who try this, leave a comment and let us all know how it turns out.)

Balsamic Gorgonzola and Fig Salad

2008-02-28T14:59:00.001-08:00

Really fancy, but really simple. Just combine the following:

Figs, cut and quartered (we used dried figs.)
Spinach leaves
Prosciutto
Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Balsamic vinegar
Olive Oil
Cracked Black Pepper

Fajitas

2008-02-26T18:04:00.000-08:00

1 lb of Chicken or Steak
2 Tbsp cooking oil
Fajita seasoning envelope (found by the gravy envelopes and other seasonings in the spice aisle)
1/4 C H2O
1 Green pepper
1/2 white onion
Small flour tortillas

Cut the meat into 1/2 inch strips. Cook the meat in the oil til it's not pink. Cut the pepper and onion into strips as well and add to meat when it is not pink. Cook on med-high for about 3 minutes (so the veggies are cooked a little but still a little crunchy). Add about a 1/4 cup of H2O and 1/2 of the fajita seasoning envelope and continue cooking for another 3 minutes till the sauce thickens.
Serve on a warm flour tortilla and garnish with your choice of guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese or whatever else you like.
We serve tortilla chips and refried beans on the side. It is so easy, fast and delicious! Enjoy!

Spanish Lentejas

2008-02-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

By the way, I forgot to mention the cook who created this recipe: Andrea Golding. She's always coming up with amazing recipes. Check out her cheese bread here.

Before you all start freakin' out and say, "Gross, I see "lentils" in the recipe!" hear me out:

This has got to be one of the EASIEST and TASTIEST cold-weather-day dinners ever invented! You don't even have to measure the ingredients and it will turn out JUST RIGHT.

Ingredients:

Lentils (I use about 3 cups. Oh, and don't worry about soaking them first.)
Potatoes (cubed)
Carrots (cut into bite-size pieces)
Onions (sliced)
Pepperoni stick (cut into bite-size pieces)
Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Directions:

Throw it all together in a big pot. Fill with water or broth until covered. Bring to a boil and cook until lentils are soft (about 45 minutes.) It's toooooo yummy and it's guaranteed to warm you up!

Homemade Caramel

2008-02-08T13:20:00.000-08:00

Caramel for Apples, Ice Cream, Toast, etc.

3/4 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 Cup margarine
1 Cup whipping cream

Put 1/2 cup cream and all ingredients except vanilla in big pan. Cook over medium heat to soft ball stage. Add other 1/2 cup cream. Cook to soft ball stage again. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Enjoy! This goes so fast at my house that I usually double it ;)

Juan's Loco Fish Tacos

2008-02-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

For those of you who hate fish, have no fear! You can eat these tacos and never even know they have fish in them. The best drink to have with them: homemade limeade... now that's Mexican!

Fish recipe:

1 lb. any white fish, cubed (use tilapia fillets if you don't want the "fishy" flavor.)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder

couple dashes of the following:

cumin
cayenne
pepper
oregano
garlic salt
black pepper
red pepper flakes
ground coriander (cilantro seed)
paprika

Combine all together and dip fish cubes in batter. Fry in 350 F oil until slightly golden brown.

Condiments:

Mayo
chopped fresh cilantro
hot sauce
pico de gallo (or any salsa)
freshly squeezed lime juice
salt to taste
chopped scallions

Dumplin' Noodle Soup

2008-02-02T16:19:00.000-08:00

2 beaten eggs
1 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
* Mix the above and cut into fairly large noodles (will double in size)

1 whole chicken or 3-4 chicken breasts
2 qt. water
1 tsp. celery salt
1 tsp. onion salt
(chicken boulion if needed for added flavor)
* Boil the above for 1 1/2 hours; debone chicken, and skim fat

Add the following to chicken broth:
2 diced celery stalks
2 carrots, diced
1/2 to 1 onion, diced
noodles
* Boil 20 minutes

Cream sauce:
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour
1 qt. milk
* Melt butter and add flour. Mix together and slowly add milk. Stir until thickened. Add to chicken soup mixture.

This is a delcious and creamy soup -- it tastes great on cold nights! Simple and easy to make, and it freezes good too.

Cafe Rio Recipes

2008-01-31T20:29:00.000-08:00

Penny emailed this to me the other day so I thought I would throw it on here for all to enjoy.
CAFÉ RIO STYLE CHICKEN SALAD

It makes 8 servings; it’s brand specific for weight watchers fans, if followed exactly each serving is 6 points. Enjoy!!!

LIME RICE:
1 cup dry rice cooked in 2 cups Swanson’s 100% fat free Chicken Broth
1 minced garlic clove
1 tsp. finely grated lime zest
2 tbsp. lime juice
½ tsp. kosher salt
Combine all ingredients and cook in Rice cooker.
2 tbsp. minced cilantro (optional, add after cooking)
(yields 8 (1/4 cup) servings)

CHICKEN:
4 chicken breasts
1 yellow onion, sliced
2 cans diced green chilies
1 can (small) green enchilada sauce
1 tsp. cumin
Kosher salt to taste
Combine in slow cooker and cook on low 10-12 hours (meat will shred itself from the moisture)
(yields 8 (1/2 cup) servings)

BLACK BEANS:
2 15.5 OZ. cans Great Value black beans
1 tomato chopped
½ onion, chopped
½ bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic minced
½ tsp. kosher salt
Combine and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes
(yields 8 (1/2 cup) servings)

LETTUCE:
16 cups, chopped (or shredded)

PICO DE GALLO:
2 tomatoes
½ onion
¼ to ½ green bell pepper
A few springs of cilantro
Kosher salt to taste
Chop all, mix together, and refrigerate at least 1 hour
Option add lime, garlic salt and salt

DRESSING:
1 (8 oz.) bottle hidden Valley fat free ranch dressing/ or hidden valley dry packet (it needs to be made)
1 tbsp. lime juice
3 to 4 tomatillos (quartered)
1 to 2 crushed garlic cloves
¼ to ½ cup un-chopped fresh cilantro
Combine in blender. Blend until smooth, refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.
(8 servings, 2 tbsp)

TO SERVE:
Layer 2 cups lettuce, ¼ cup rice, ½ cup Chicken, ½ cup beans, and 2 tbsp. Pico de Gallo. Top with 2-3 tbsp. of dressing and enjoy!

Basic Breakfast Crepes

2008-01-27T19:33:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

I also add about an 1/8 cup of sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla to sweeten them up a little. The vanilla in the batter makes a yummy aroma at breakfast time!

Toppings....This is where you get to be creative! Here are some things we have tried:
Maple Syrup
Smuckers Boysenberry and Strawberry Syrup with whip cream
Butter and powdered sugar (put butter on crepe while its hot so it can dissolve the powdered sugar)
Banana Pudding, Whip Cream, Banana slices (tastes like Banana Cream pie)
Peaches, Strawberries and Blueberries

When we were in France here are some of the crepes we tried:
Nutella
Nutella and Bananas
butter and regular sugar
egg, ham and cheese (breakfast sandwich)

You can also make crepes as a dessert...they are yummy with ice cream in them with chocolate and caramel drizzled over.
If you try any other ideas that are yummy, be sure to comment and let the rest of us know!

Know any good recipe sites???

2008-01-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

Share!!! Let us know where you go to find good recipe ideas, cooking tips, etc. I will post the links to the sites you all suggest on the sidebar so the rest of us can easily access them. And if you have any great recipes that you have found from your site, share those too! I will start....I find myself going to allrecipes.com for good recipes. One of my favorite recipes from this site is a breakfast crepe recipe that I will post next. Matt and I used this recipe on Christmas morning this year to make crepes for his family and they all loved them too.

Buffalo Chicken Chili Macaroni

2008-01-26T11:15:00.000-08:00

This recipe is really easy to make and yummy! It's from Rachel Ray!

(It calls for 1/4-1/2 cup hot sauce but I suggest only using 1/4 cup...it's really spicy)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds (about 4 to 6, depending on size) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small bits
1 large carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, finely chopped
5 large cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 to 1/2 cup hot sauce, depending on how hot you like it
1 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 pound whole wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 cup pepper jack cheese
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 scallions, root ends removed and thinly sliced

yields: 6 servings
Preparation
To make cutting the chicken easier, place it into the freezer for about 15 minutes until it firms up slightly but isn’t frozen through. This will let you cut it up quickly into small pieces.
Preheat broiler and place a large pot of salted water over high heat to bring up to a boil for the whole wheat elbow macaroni.

Place a large pot over medium-high heat and add 2 turns of the pan of Olive Oil, about 2 tablespoons. Add the chicken bits and brown them, about 5-6 minutes. Add the carrot, onion, celery, garlic, paprika, bay leaf and some salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook the veggies, stirring frequently, until tender, 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the hot sauce and crushed tomatoes, and bring up to a bubble. Simmer the chili for 8-10 minutes to let the flavors come together and thicken it slightly.

While the chili is simmering, toss the pasta into the boiling salted water and cook until al dente according to package directions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and toss it into the chili, then transfer everything to a casserole dish. Sprinkle the cheeses evenly over the top and place it under the broiler until the cheeses have melted and the top is golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped scallions over the top!

Chocolate Orange Drrrrizzle

2008-01-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

We've eaten this with vanilla ice cream balls rolled in crushed graham crackers and also on top of layered chocolate cake. The semi-sweet chips and orange juice give it a small hint of bitterness to compliment any sweet dessert.

(These measurements are estimates, so in the words of Rachel Ray, "Just eyeball it!")

1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 tsp. bourbon vanilla extract (regular would work fine)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 cup cold milk
pinch of salt

Reduce orange juice and vanilla over high heat for about 10 minutes. Add chips and stir until melted. In small bowl, combine cornstarch with cold milk, then add to the chocolate mixture. Add salt. Stir over low heat until thickened. You can serve this sauce either warm or cold. Makes about 2 cups.

Tomato & Basil Bruschetta

2008-01-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

9 grape tomatoes, cut in 1/2
4 cloves of garlic, pressed
1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp chopped basil
3/4 tsp salt
3/8 tsp fresh cracked pepper
Fresh grated parmesan cheese
French Bread - Baguette

Whisk together pressed garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper and basil.
When combined, slowly drizzle in the olive oil.
Add the tomatoes and let sit for 20 minutes at room temp.
Place the bread on a cookie sheet with the Bruschetta spread on it and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Put it under the broiler til the cheese melts. Serve immediately.

Manicotti

2008-01-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

1 box Manicotti noodles (12 pack)
2 jars of traditional red pasta sauce
4 cups mozzarella cheese
1 15oz container of ricotta cheese
1 egg
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, egg and salt and pepper (to taste). Pour 1 jar of pasta sauce in 9x13 pan. Stuff the cheese mixture in uncooked manicotti noodles. Lay shells in pan in the sauce. Pour the second jar over the noodles and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with tin foil. Bake for 45 minutes then remove foil and bake til the cheese melts.
This is great with a salad and some baguettes.

Quick and Easy Recipe

2008-01-23T17:39:00.000-08:00

My recipe:

Pick up keys
Get in car
Drive to fast food joint
Order
Pay
Eat

Thats the best recipe that I can think of ;) Love you all! I will post something, sometime I promise!

Chocolate Chip Cookies for Tay!

2008-01-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

Tatum got me hooked on oatmeal cookies during college (not good for the Fresh 15!); this recipe is great because it is a cross between oatmeal and your good ol' regular chocolate chip cookie.

Ingredients:
1 C. Butter
1 C. White Sugar
1 C. Brown Sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 C. Flour
1 tsp. Soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 C. Oatmeal, ground in a blender
4 oz. grated Hershey bar
1 1/2 C. chocolate chips
1 C. nuts (opt.)

Directions:
Cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda. Stir in chocolate chips, grated chocolate (optional) and nuts. Roll into balls. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Best Ginger Cookies Ever!

2008-01-22T19:22:00.000-08:00

Cream: (seriously cream for about 5-7 min until creamy white color, the culinary student who gave me this recipe gave me this tip and I found it makes such a big difference when baking)
12 oz. Butter
7 oz. Sugar
4 oz. Brown Sugar

Add:
2 egg yolks
2 tsp. Vanilla
8 oz. Molasses

Sift together and add to wet:
4 1/2 C. Flour
1 T. Ginger
2 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Allspice
1 tsp. Ground Mustard
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. White Pepper

Mix together just until comined. Form small balls, roll into sugar, push w/ two fingers to just flatten the top. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
Cool and keep airtight.

Greek Pasta Salad

2008-01-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
8 oz. Orzo Pasta, cooked
1/2 C. Feta cheese
1/4 C. chopped fresh rosemary
2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/4 C. Olive Oil
1/2 C. Toasted pine nuts
juice of one lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together, serve.

Chicken and Bowtie Pasta

2008-01-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

2 cloves garlic
1/2 lb chicken, cooked & cut into bite-size pieces
1/4 C. virigin olive oil
1/2 C. baby carrots (opt.)
1/2 C. asparagus (opt.)
1/2 C. broccoli
Sauteed fresh mushrooms (opt.)
3/4 C. soaked, chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1 tsp. dried sweet basil
2 pinches crushed red pepper
1/4 C. sparkling apple cider
3/4 C. chicken broth
1 T. butter
1/2 pkg. bowtie pasta, cooked

Add all ingredients but pasta to chicken. Stir, cover and simmer 4-5 minutes. Add pasta and toss with lots of parmesan.

Pizza Rolls

2008-01-22T06:01:00.000-08:00

Description:Super easy and yummy!

Ingredients:
-Rhoades Frozen Bread Loaves
-pepperoni
-cheese (I use mostly mozzarella, but any for pizza will do)
-olive oil
-parsley flakes
-garlic powder
-freshly grated parmesan cheese (found by sour cream etc.)

Directions:
Let bread loaves rise (I usually take mine out of the freezer in the morning and cover them with plastic and by the time dinner comes they are ready.) Roll out bread loaf into a large rectangle. Take pepperoni and put in a row hot dog style down the bread. I usually do 2 rows and then one row on the top but any combo works. Add mozz cheese on top of pepperoni. Take sides of bread and fold to meet each other, completely covering all ingredients inside. Seal by pressing bread together making sure that especially the end are tight. Place on greased cookie sheet seam side down. Brush olive oil on the top, sprinkle parsley, garlic powder, and parmesan. Place in oven at 350 for 20-25 minutes until bread is golden brown. The parmesan cheese will get darker - don't think it's burning. Also, I have made this with canadian bacon and pineapple - doesn't work. Any combos that you try that work let me know. Serve with Prego or real pizza sauce and/or ranch, I like to dip my slices in it. Great with a yummy salad!

Number Of Servings:1 roll - 2-3 adults
Preparation Time:15 minutes

Rosemary Chicken Pasta

2008-01-22T05:36:00.000-08:00

Title: Rosemary Chicken Pasta
Description: alfredo type dish that is super yummy

Ingredients:
3-4 chicken breasts
1/4 c fresh rosemary, chopped very fine (you get this in the produce section of the store and it looks like pine needles, pull those needles off the stem and chop those only)
1-2 tsp garlic salt
1 pint cream
1 TB corn starch
bow tie pasta, cooked (1 16 oz box)
fresh parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
Cook the chicken in a small amount of oil and cut into chunks. Add garlic salt and rosemary to the chicken chunks. Cook for a few more minutes. Add 1/2 pint cream, and put the other half in the blender with the corn starch. Blend just long enough to make it smooth, add to the chicken. This will thicken the sauce. Heat through. (If the sauce isn't as thick as you want it, you can just cook it longer and it will get thicker.) Stir into hot pasta, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Number Of Servings:4-6
Preparation Time:45 minutes

Zucchini Bread

2008-01-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

3 C Flour
3 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
Mix the above in a bowl.

Mix the following in your mixer til it's creamy.
3 eggs
2 C sugar
1 Tbs vanilla
1 c oil

Combine both mixtures and ad 2 cups of shredded zuccini.
Bake at 325 for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Chicken Salsa Tacos

2008-01-21T23:53:00.000-08:00

Here is an easy crock pot dinner!
Put a jar of salsa in the crock pot with a couple of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Turn up the heat and let it cook for a few hours.
It is done when the chicken is cooked thoroughly and easily shreds.
We put the chicken mix in warmed fajita size flour tortillas and garish with the following.

diced tomatoes,
avocado
sour cream
salsa
refried beans
shredded cheese

It is so easy and really yummy! Enjoy!

Chocolate Rolo Cookies

2008-01-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

1 C Sugar
1 C Brown Sugar
1 C Butter
2 1/2 C Flour
3/4 C Cocoa
2 tsp Vanilla
2 Eggs
1 tsp Baking Soda
4-8 rolos

Combine butter, sugar and brown sugar together (cream together well).
Add vanilla and eggs (mix well).
In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa and soda (mix together) add flour mix to butter and sugar mix.
Flour your hands. Take 1 Tbs of dough and form around rolo. (make sure dough is completely formed around the rolo in the shape of a ball and roll the ball in sugar).
Set oven at 375. Bake on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake 7-10 minutes or until cookies are slightly cracked and set
Cool on cookie sheets for a couple of minutes before removing.