Food for Thought

Yummy Zucchini Boats

2011-08-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

I can't take any credit for this recipe. My mom and my sister, Annie, created it with all the yummy zucchini they are getting from their garden. Who doesn't have zucchini laying all over your kitchen counters when you have a garden? These are DELICIOUS!! Especially with the big zucchini that you can't do a whole lot with. My sister in law, Shera, took these out of the oven about half to 3/4 of the way done and put them on the grill with her meat to finish cooking. The smokey flavor made them so yummy!!

ZUCCHINI BOATS
2 large zucchini (at least 12 inch if possible)
1/2 onion
Garlic, minced
1 lb turkey or pork sausage
2 medium sized tomatoes
1/4 cup green, red or orange bell pepper (or all three)
Salt/pepper
Olive oil
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (they are also really yummy with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top)
2 eggs
1/2 sleeve ritz crackers
2 Tbs butter

Sauté sausage. Try to break up into really small pieces. Combine with vegetable mixture. In the same pan, after sausage is removed, saute onions and garlic then add sausage back to the pan.

Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and spoon and throw out seeds. Carve out the rest until about 1/2 inch of zucchini is left in the "boat." Make sure to keep this part of the zucchini to put back into the veggie mixture. Rub a small amount of olive oil and salt and pepper and put on a cookie sheet in the oven on 375 degrees while you dice the rest of the veggies.

Dice tomatoes, bell pepper and rest of zucchini. Grate some cheese maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup and add to vegetable mixture. Add sausage, onion and garlic mixture. Whisk 2 to 3 eggs depending on how much vegetable mixture you have. Add in with vegetable/sausage mixture.

Remove boats from the oven and spread mixture evenly into prepared zucchini boats. Top with a little more cheese (cheddar or parmesan).

Lastly, crush ritz crackers in a gallon baggie and combine well with melted butter. Top each boat with these crumbs.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes at 375 degrees or until zucchini boats are fork tender and topping is golden brown.

Pumpkin Pancakes

2011-08-26T18:12:00.000-07:00

My dear, dear friend Mary gave me this recipe for pumpkin pancakes back in West Virginia. I thought it fit to post since fall is quickly approaching and I LOVE anything pumpkin in the fall. Well, I love anything pumpkin any time of the year, but especially in the fall. And these are pretty healthy, too, minus the chocolate chips. But so yummy!!! And it makes a HUGE batch, so half for a smaller family or just keep 'em for leftovers!! Keep in mind this is a recipe for 1 can of pumpkin.

4 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups milk
6 eggs
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
chocolate chips, or anything else you want to add (craisins, raisins, nuts, white chocolate chips, etc)
Whisk everything together except the chocolate chips and then fold them in. Cook on a medium high, buttered griddle and serve with syrup. I have a great cinnamon syrup that is great with these

Poppyseed Chicken

2011-08-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

I honestly have never heard of Poppyseed Chicken until our friends made it for us in the middle of our move. It was SOOOO yummy! I have made it often ever since. Most of the recipes out there are about the same but here's the recipe I have. It's incredibly easy and my kids love it!! And that's important ;)

POPPYSEED CHICKEN
6 chicken breasts (you can get away with 3 or 4 but I like a lot of chicken in mine)
2 cans cream of chicken
2 cups sour cream (I use light)
1 1/2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 rolls Ritz crackers, crushed
2 tbsp poppyseeds
Boil and cube the chicken breasts and place in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Combine cream of chicken and sour cream over stove top in a pan. Pour over chicken. Melt butter and combine with crackers and poppyseeds. Sprinkle on top and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve with rice or over mashed potatoes or with quinoa.

Southern Peach Cobbler

2011-08-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

I subscribed to the local newspaper for the Sunday papers for couponing. It comes all the other days as well. In each newspaper, there's a recipe of the day! I happened upon this one a few days ago and made it last night. LOVE IT!!!! Especially when my sister-in-law gives me free peaches from their peach tree! Thanks Shera!

SOUTHERN PEACH COBBLER
8 fresh peaches-peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp fresh lemon juice (I used the store-bought refrigerated kind)
2 tsp cornstarch

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a 2 qt baking dish, combine first round of ingredients. Toss to coat evenly and bake in oven for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Blend in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined. Remove peaches from oven and drop spoonfuls of flour topping over them. Continue baking for about 20-25 minutes until slightly browned on the top. Let cool or a few minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Lemon Creme Cake

2011-08-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a recipe I tried to make from another I found in the internet. I made it for my lovely niece, Kalina, while she was here visiting. She requested a lemon cake!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lemon anything but I didn't have all the ingredients so I had to improvise. It turned out so yummy and moist, here it is:

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs-separated
1/3 cup oil
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sour cream

Separate the egg yolks from whites. Beat the egg whites in a small bowl until peaks are formed. In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar, yolks, lemon peel, vanilla and oil. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add to wet ingredients. Mix well and add sour cream. Fold in egg whites. Grease and flour a 9X13 glass pan or 2-8 or 9 inch round cake pans. Put batter into pan(s). Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. Allow to cool. Spread lemon frosting or a cream cheese frosting is also yummy!

Lemon frosting
3 tbsp butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp grated lemon peel
1 tbsp milk

Oatmeal Buttermilk Muffins

2011-08-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com but changed it up just a little bit. They are really moist and yummy! I'm sure you could add blueberries, bananas, chocolate or cinnamon chips to change them up a little bit.

Oatmeal Buttermilk Muffins
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup wheat or oat bran (if you don't have this, just use 1 cup oats)
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or cinnamon chips)

The recipe says to soak oats in buttermilk for 15 minutes. It's a little coarser and nuttier if you don't. Add all wet ingredients to buttermilk and oats. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to wet ingredients until moistened. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake at 400 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. Cool in pan for 2 minutes and then remove onto a cooling rack.

The Fluffiest Pancakes EVER!

2011-06-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

These are the yummiest fluffiest pancakes I've ever had. From my sister-in-law, Kira, who got the recipe from another sister-in-law, it's a recipe worth handing down!

Sour Cream Pancakes
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 tbsp (rounded) sour cream
2 tbsp melted, cooled butter
Blend together with a whisk or in the blender until a pretty runny batter forms. Cook on skillet until golden brown and serve hot!

Scalloped Potatoes

2010-04-05T14:20:00.000-07:00

Here's another spectacular recipe that I found on allrecipes.com. I made it for Easter dinner and they were amazing! I changed the recipe a little. There was no cheese in the original recipe. Who makes scalloped potatoes without cheese?! I also forgot the onions, but we aren't huge onion people. The sauce you make could be used for MANY other things: gravy, base for a creamy chicken noodle soup, chicken 'n dumplings. Here's my version of the recipe:

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
7 large baking potatoes
2 cups cheddar cheese (or more if you'd like)
6 tbsp butter (you can use margarine)
1/2 cup flour
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
paprika

Peel and slice potatoes 1/4 inch thick. In a 3 quart baking dish, layer potatoes and cheese making sure you separate potatoes after slicing. In a sauce pan, melt butter on medium high; whisk in flour until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add broth, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 2-4 minutes until smooth and bubbly. Pour over potatoes and slightly stir into pan. Sprinkle desired amount of paprika on top. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375 degrees for at least 1 1/2 hours or until desired tenderness. It may take longer than that depending on your oven. They are SOOO easy and so yummy!!

Cashew Chicken Salad

2010-01-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

Oh WOW! I had these at a baby shower recently and had to get the recipe. Thanks Kim!=) It's a little bit different than other Chicken Salad I've had. I LOVE the orzo and cashews in it! I put it on small croissants but rolls would probably do fine, too.

Cashew Chicken Salad Sandwiches
2 1/2 cups cooked chicken, finely chopped
1 cup finely chopped celery
2 tbsp finely chopped onion (I don't always put this in)
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Hellman's Light)
salt and pepper (white pepper)
2 cups halved seedless red grapes
1 cup cooked orzo

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix. You can use canned chicken for faster preparation. Enjoy!!! Don't eat TOO many=)

Loaded Baked Potato Chowder

2010-01-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

This is another really simple delicious soup. It's actually a Pampered Chef recipe, which means it's GOTTA be good! If you have a deep dish baker stone with a lid, you can actually make this in the microwave!!! Even better! If not, just cook it in a pan. Just make sure you cook the potatoes slower than in the microwave or you'll burn it (I know from experience=).

Loaded Baked Potato Chowder

2 1/2 lbs potatoes (scrubbed or peeled, whichever you prefer)
3 1/2 cups milk
4 oz cream cheese (I use 1/3 less fat), softened
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup sliced green onions
4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Optional toppings: cooked, chopped bacon, sour cream, steamed broccoli florets, grated cheese for the top, green onions for the top

1. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise; place in Deep Covered Baker. Pour 1/2 cup of the milk over potatoes. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 11 minutes. Remove baker from microwave. Move center potatoes to ends of baker and outer potatoes to center. Cover; microwave on HIGH 8-11 minutes or until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork. Remove baker from microwave. Coarsely mash potatoes with Mix ‘N Chop or pastry blender.

2. Meanwhile, whisk cream cheese until smooth in a medium sized bowl. Slowly add remaining 3 cups milk (I put in microwave for 30 sec-1 min for better blending), whisk until smooth.
Add cream cheese mixture and butter to potatoes. Microwave, covered, on high 3-5 minutes or until mixture is hot.

3. Carefully remove baker from microwave. Add cheddar cheese to chowder and stir until melted. Stir in green onions, salt and pepper. Serve with toppings, if desired.

Yields 6 servings (8 cups)

Cream Cheese/Potato soup

2010-01-25T06:43:00.000-08:00

This recipe is from one of my friends. She made it for us quite a while ago and they have since moved but I've been in a soupy mood lately. I guess that's one thing winter is good for! Try this easy, yummy soup!

Cream Cheese Soup

4 C chicken broth

2 C sliced carrots

1/2 small white onion, finely chopped

4 C potatoes, diced

1/2 t white pepper

16 oz cream cheese, softened

4 C milk

4 T butter

4 T flour

Yummy Cornbread

2009-10-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

This is a recipe from my SIL Nicole and I think she called the recipe yummy cornbread. My HH thought it should be called cornbread cake. So delicious. It's so awesome that you don't even have to smother it with honeybutter (but you still do). It is super easy too. Here goes:

1 Package of Jiffy Cornbread mix

*Add ingredients as directed
1 egg
1/3 C. Milk

1/2 Package of Yellow Cake Mix

*Add 1/2 ingredients as directed

½ C. Water
Half 1/3 C. of Oil
1 egg

Mix well and pour in 9X13 pan and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Devour! Enjoy! If your on a diet...use portion control, but still devour! Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Delight

2009-10-10T20:57:00.000-07:00

This recipe is from one of my friends in Muscatine, Iowa (woot, woot) where we spent the summer for an internship and it may have been the best thing we ate ALL summer. She generously shared some of this with us (she dropped it off while she was dropping off some Gilmore Girls DVDs...feeding my TV and chocolate addictions and forever earning a place in my heart). So when my HH (hot hubby) requested it for his birthday cake I was happy to oblige. She shared the recipe with me and I think she wouldn't mind if I shared it with you. So grab your 9 x 13 pan and let's go!

This recipe is from the magazine Simple & Delicious (may/june 2008) they call it chocolate chip cookie something or other, but I just call it mmm. mmm. goood.

Here are the deets:

1 tube (16 1/2 ounces) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough*
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
3 cups cold milk
1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
chopped nuts and chocolate curls, optional

Let cookie dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. Press into an ungreased 13x9 pan. Bake at 350° for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in 1-3/4 cups whipped topping. Spread over crust.

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Spread over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate curls if desired.

Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight until firm.**

* My friend makes her own cookie dough, but I was lazy and used the pre-made kind. Um. It was better with the homemade cookie dough. Still good, but not as good.
**I haven't gotten a lot of sleep the past few weeks what with one of my kiddos getting 3 (THREE) teeth so I missed the note about making it in advance and we had friends waiting to share it with us...So we just sorta skipped that step and it was still mmm. mmm. goood!! So diet all week and indulge in this on the weekend!

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

2009-10-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

My friend Amy wrote a post about all sorts of dishes made with pumpkin and it got me all drooly and stuff. So I decided to try out some pumpkin muffins because if you call it a muffin it just sounds healthier than a cookie. Although I added so many mini chocolate chips that you'd never guess they were healthy-er than a regular cookie. I found this recipe on www.allrecipes.com and after reading through some of the comments I substitued brown sugar for the white, added extra pumpkin, doubled the spices and threw in some wheat flour for good measure. If you want to see the original recipe go here. They smelled so delish while they were baking I could hardly wait to dig in and I wasn't disappointed. You really should try them today and remember portion control... you may be tempted to eat the whole batch, but you should probably share with your kids! Okay here goes:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. canola oil
2 eggs
1/4 c. water
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 1/2 c. flour (I used 1/2 c. wheat flour)
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cloves
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. mini chocolate chips

* Mix the sugar, oil and eggs.
* Add the pumpkin and water.
* In a another bowl (or not, I really hate getting another bowl dirty) mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt.
* Mix wet and dry ingredients.
* Stir in the chocolate chips.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. I like my muffins a little small so I got 18 muffins instead of 12 and they were done in 15 minutes. Pop them out and devour. My kids loved these and so did I!

Guac Lovers

2009-07-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

For any of you who love avacados and fresh guacamole like I do, here's a recipe for you. My friend, Tiffani, brought it to a triple baby shower at my house and I LOVED it! It's from allrecipes.com. Perfect for a warm summer day or dip at a BBQ. ** remember to leave to pits in it to keep it from browning really quickly!

The BEST Guacamole EVER!

3 avacados- peeled and mashed

1 lime, juiced (or just lime juice)

1 tsp salt (I use kosher or sea salt)

1/2 cup diced onion

3 tbsp chopped FRESH cilantro

2 roma tomatoes, diced

1 tsp minced garlic

1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)

In a medium bowl, mash together avacados. Add lime juice and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes and garlic. Stir in cayenne pepper. Refrigerate 1 hour for best flavor or serve immediately.

Pumpkin Spiced Pancakes

2009-03-10T14:38:00.001-07:00

I found this recipe on another a cooking website called noblepig.com. I LOVE anything pumpkin and I love pancakes so putting them together is SOO yummy. The cinnamon syrup would go well with it. I'll let ya know when I've tried them. Until then, happy trails.

Pumpkin Spiced Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1-3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg, separated
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

In a large bowl, flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

In a medium bowl, lightly beat egg yolk with a fork. Add milk, pumpkin puree and vanilla; mix well. Add melted butter. If the butter is hot, add it slowly or you will cook your egg yolk. Stir this mixture into dry ingredients, just until combined.

In another bowl, beat egg white until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg white into batter.

Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat and grease lightly with vegetable oil. For each pancake, spoon about 1/4 cup batter onto the hot griddle. Cook until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges look dry. Turn over and cook until golden brown. Serve immediately with cinnamon syrup or transfer pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in a 200 degree oven.

Creamy Cinnamon Pancake Syrup

2009-03-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

I had a recent request for this recipe. I thought it was already on my blog, but I guess it wasn't. It's so yummy, almost like eating caramel on your pancakes. Great on waffles, crepes, pancakes, anything. It's almost too good to be called breakfast!! I've heard they're really yummy with pumpkin pancakes (never tried it, but I will soon) if you like pumpkin like I do.

Creamy Cinnamon Pancake Syrup

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 tbsp karo syrup (I've done it without this and it turns out fine)

Melt in a saucepan and then add the following ingredients:

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

splash of vanilla

Hello, Brownies and Cheesecake!

2009-02-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

Well, I tried this recipe I got from my friend, Kim, for the first time. I don't think she knew it but the recipe comes straight from Kraftfoods.com. When I made it, it ended up being brownie "batter" bottom Cheesecake-but who doesn't like brownie batter?! They were absolutely TO DIE for. I have an extreme weakness for any kind of cheesecake. Mix chocolate brownies in the picture and you have a really awesome dessert! (The picture does NOT give it justice). My friend, Kim, used the chocolate topping to write Happy Birthday.

Brownie Bottom Cheesecake bars

1 pkg (13x9 inch size) brownie mix

4 pkg- 8oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup sour cream

3 eggs

2 squares semi-sweet baking squares (or 1/3 cup or so of semi-sweet chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9x13 with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan for handles to pull out cheesecake when done. Grease foil and set aside. Prepare brownie batter as directed on package; pour into prepared pan. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until top of brownie is shiny and center is almost set. It is IMPORTANT to make sure center is ALMOST set or you will have brownie "BATTER" bottom cheesecake!

Meanwhile, beat softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, one at a atime, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Spread over partially baked brownie batter in pan. (Filling will come almost to the top of pan.)

Bake for 40 minutes or until center is almost set; immediately after pulling out of oven, scrape sides of pan with knife to separate cheesecake from sides. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Lift cheesecake from pan, using foil handles. Microwave semi-sweet chocolate just until melted and drizzle on top. Let stand until chocolate is firm. Cut into 16 bars to serve. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Oatmeal Scotchies

2009-02-22T14:58:00.001-08:00

These cookies are TO DIE for. I love love love them. I got this recipe from my friend, Lydia, here in West Virginia. You definitely can't just eat one or two of these babies. They're addicting and just plain delicious, especially if you like oatmeal cookies and craisins. You can make 'em with white chocolate chips instead of craisins if you're the kind of folk that doesn't eat their fruit shriveled.

Oatmeal Scotchies

2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups quick oats

1 cup flour

2/3 cup butterscotch chips

2/3 cup craisins (or white chocolate chips)

Cream wet ingredients (sugar, butter, shortening, eggs, vanilla) in large bowl. Sift dry ingredients in medium bowl. Add to wet mix and combine. Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes on ungreased baking sheet. Take off cookie sheet and place on cooling rack immediately. Enjoy.

Fool Proof Crescent Rolls

2009-02-22T14:31:00.000-08:00

I was always intimidated by rolls. They were so time consuming and difficult to make. I happened upon this recipe from a friend while we were living in Orem. It is so yummy and SO incredibly easy. I NEVER made rolls before I got this recipe and now I feel like I can make great rolls! They're simple and fool proof.

Easy Crescent Rolls

3/4 cup milk

1 cube margarine or butter

1/4 cup warm water

1 tbsp yeast

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

3/4 tsp salt

4 cups flour

Scald milk in microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes. Add margarine or butter and cook 2 more minutes. Let stand until warm. Completely dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, eggs and salt. Mix together and add milk mixture while stirring. Add 1 cup flour and mix. Continue adding flour while mixing. Knead 12-15 times. Let rise, covered, until doubled (about 45 minutes to 1 hour). Take half of the dough and roll into a circle (like pizza dough) on lightly floured surface. Brush melted butter or margarine over dough with pastry brush. Cut into pizza shaped wedges with a pizza cutter and roll from large to small side to creat croissant-like rolls. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet in croissant shape. One batch should fill 1 jelly-roll pan. Let rise 1/2 hour or so, or until desired. Bake 15 minutes until golden brown at 375 degrees.

*Can be doubled or tripled

**You can freeze after you roll into the croissant and before rising the second time when ready to use, place on baking sheet and let rise 5 hours. Then bake the same as above.

Lemon Lush

2009-02-11T14:07:00.001-08:00

I LOVE lemon. I love it in drinks, food, lotions, soap, smelly sprays, desserts. You name it, I LOVE lemon. I've brought you this new recipe straight from my sister-in-law, Lindsey. It's similar to a lemon bar, but just so different- in an OH-SO-GOOD way! It's so easy and you can change it up with ANY kind of pudding (lime, lemon, chocolate, pistachio, the sky is the limit!!!) If chocolate is your thang, make it into Chocolate Lush Bars. Whatever you wanna do.

Lemon (or Chocolate) Lush

Crust:

2 cups flour

1 cup butter

Combine with pastry cutter until it forms a ball. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool completely.

Next layer:

2-8 oz cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

Whip together and spread over the cooled crust.

Next layer:

2 pkg 3.4 oz instant pudding (any kind of pudding, just make sure they are the same)

3 1/2 cups milk

Whisk together for 3-5 minutes and spread over cream cheese. Chill until set and then add whipped cream for the top layer and ENJOY!!

Pumpkin Oat Streusel Muffins

2009-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, Lindsey. She made them for us when we visited them. If you are a fan of anything pumpkin like I am, you will absolutely LOVE these:

Pumpkin Oat Streusel Muffins

Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 tablespoon brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Muffins:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 400° F. Line twelve medium muffin cups with baking cups or spray with cooking spray.
For Streusel: Combine all ingredients in small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
For Muffins: Combine flour, oats, sugar, nuts, if desired, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in large bowl; mix well. Combine pumpkin, milk, oil and egg in medium bowl; blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir until dry ingredients are moistened.
Fill muffin cups almost full. Sprinkle with reserved streusel, patting gently.
Bake for about 16 minutes or until just barely golden brown at the edges. Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm.

Makes 1 dozen muffins.

Peanut Butter Fingers

2009-01-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

This has been a recent request, since I made them for birthday Sunday for Young Women's. Eat your heart out, they're delicious! I got this recipe from my friend Jen in Utah while we were serving in Young Women's together

Peanut Butter Fingers

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)

2 cups flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Mix wet ingredients in large bowl. Sift dry ingredients in medium bowl. Add to wet ingredients. Spread on greased cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) and bake on 350 degrees for 15 minutes. It won't look done but take it out. Sprinkle a whole bag of chocolate chips on evenly and stick back in the oven until chocolate is melted. Take out and spread. Let cool. Add frosting:

Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup milk

Spread over cooled chocolate chips and ENJOY!!!!

More Southwestern goodness

2008-12-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

I borrowed this recipe from a new friend here in town, Suz. It is SOO delicious and great as leftovers, too. Super easy and fast with hardly any prep, just take the chicken straight from the freezer. Try it! You can put it between two tortillas and grill it, use it as dip, roll it up into southwestern egg rolls, whatever you want.

Southwestern Goodness in the Crock-pot

3-4 boneless chicken breasts or thighs

1/2 pkg taco seasoning

1 cup salsa (or more if you'd like)

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1-8 oz pkg cream cheese

Place frozen chicken breasts in a crock-pot and sprinkle taco seasoning atop. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or until chicken falls apart. Shred and add salsa, corn, beans and cream cheese. Cook on low for another 30 minutes to an hour to melt the cheese.

IDEAS:

Wrap in tortillas

Use for chicken quesadillas

Stuff tortillas for chicken enchiladas

Eat with chips

Eat on rice

Top with tomatoes, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, etc for a salad.

It's even good as a dip with chips

The possibilities are ENDLESS!

Southwestern Corn dip

2008-12-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

This is going to sound really weird and corny (he he he) but this recipe is soooo addicting if you like dips as much as I do. It's simple and YUMMY.

Southwestern Corn Dip
2 cups of corn or fiesta corn, drained (you can add more if you'd like)
2-8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 small jar of jalepenos (you can use RoTel, too)
Fritos (scoops)

Mix all ingredients together. You can add as much or little of the jalepenos. You can even add a little of the juice to give it a little kick. Serve with Frito scoops.

Ham and Cheese Quiche

2008-10-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook but I have changed it a little bit. My in-laws ate this while they were visiting and she requested that I post it for her. We LOVE this. Even the kids eat it and Derrel usually doesn't like quiche but he rants and raves about this one!

Ham and Cheese Quiche
1 recipe for single crust pie
4 beaten eggs
1 1/4 cups half and half or milk
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Dash of ground nutmeg
3/4 cup chopped cooked ham, turkey
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded Swiss, cheddar, Monterrey Jack or Harvarti cheese (I use Monterrey Jack)
1 tbsp flour

Prepare and roll out pie crust. I use store bought (it's easier). When I am feeling like cooking more healthily, I make whole wheat pie crust (just substitute whole wheat flour for all purpose flour). It's AWESOME! Poke holes in pie crust with a fork and bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes. I fold a square piece of aluminum foil in fourths and rip a circle a quarter of the size of the pie in the middle corner. When opened, it forms a circle which you can cover your pie crust with so it won't get too brown. Reduce oven to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir eggs, milk, green onions, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in meat. In a small bowl, toss together the cheese and flour. Add to egg mixture and mix well.

Pour egg mixture into hot, baked pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean. If you are baking more than one at the same time, it will take longer! Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting.

Outback Steakhouse Rub

2008-10-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Oh heavens! This is gooooooooood! Jon Jackson gave the recipe to us and I have been using it very frequently. Try it out, you'll love it. I've made steak and grilled shrimp with it. I'm sure it would be good on whatever you do-veggies, chicken, etc. Ummmm mmm good.

Steak Rub
4 steaks (see below)
4 tsp salt (kosher if desired)
4 tsp paprika
2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2-1 tsp cayenne pepper (I'd go with 1/2 if you can't stand much spiciness)
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric

The best steaks to use are top sirloin, ribeye or filet steaks (or whatever suites your fancy- my favorite is NY strip or ribeye). I even rub and sear pork tenderloin and bake it in the oven in foil. So tasty! You don't want to get too lean or it will dry out. You need a little marbling in your steak. Rub the steaks how you like 'em. Derrel likes just a sprinkle, I like my drenched in spices. In a large frying pan, sear steaks on medium high and then place on grill. ONLY FLIP ONCE. Remember that steak still cooks a little bit after you take it off the grill. Grill to desired pinkness and then eat immediately! SOOOO yummy.

Cafe Rio en su casa. . . . . (is that grammatically correct?)

2008-08-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

So, for any of you out there that LOVE Cafe Rio but have no access to it's deliciousness, boy do I have a recipe for you. Yes, you can make Cafe Rio at home. Check it out. Many of our friends out here have introduced us to this and it's the next best thang, I tell ya! I made a 6 lb roast for it and we had dinner for a week. I don't usually like leftovers, but I ate it all up. I'm totally addicted. BTW, it freezes well, too.

Cafe Rio Pork
6 lb pork roast
20 oz coco cola
12 oz La Victoria Red Taco Sauce (mild)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp cumin
Cook the pork roast in crock pot for 12 hours on low, filling pot half way with water. Drain water and add remaining ingredients. Cook for 2-4 more hours. Shred in crock pot and cook for 2 more hours.

Layer salad as follows:
Tortilla
Green Chili Rice
Black Beans
Pork meat
Chopped romaine lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Cheese (any kind that suits your fancy)
Chip strips
A little parmesan cheese
Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
Feel free to glob some guacamole and sour cream on the side!
ENJOY!

Green Chili Rice (for Cafe Rio)

2008-08-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

This rice goes along with the Cafe Rio pork salad. It's super easy and adds so much to the salad.

Green Chili Rice
3 cups minute rice
3 cups water
1 tbsp butter
3 tsp chicken bouillon
1 tsp salt
4 tsp minced garlic
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 tsp cumin
1 can green chilies
1/2 cup chopped onion
In a saucepan, saute butter, garlic and onions. In a pan, bring water to a boil and add rice. Boil until tender and add the rest of the ingredients. I have always had to add a little bit more water so it didn't dry out. Cover and simmer for a while.

Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing (for Cafe Rio)

2008-08-22T10:51:00.000-07:00

This dressing is meant to go on top of the Cafe Rio pork salad. If you don't know what a tomatillo is, it looks like a green tomato in some kind of a thin shell (see picture). You can find it in the produce section of most grocery stores around the jalepeno peppers.

Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
1 pkg hidden valley ranch dressing (unmade)
1 cup mayo
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 cloves Garlic
3 tomatillos
1/2 cup buttermilk (I make my own)
1/2 tsp chili powder

Mix all ingredients in a blender. I cut the tomatillos into fourths. Makes 3 cups.

Fresh Peach Pie

2008-08-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

Every year the WVU farm sells peaches. This year, you had to stand in line and get there early enough to get some. I heard there was even a riot this year at the farm. Sheesh! I was fortunate enough to get a few bags to freeze and make a pie with. This is a recipe I looked up on allrecipes.com. It was easy as "pie!!!" SOOOO yummy. You can make a double recipe of dough and cover the pie or just leave it open. I left mine open and it was delicious! I could have eaten the whole thing myself.

Fresh Peach Pie
10 fresh peaches, pitted and sliced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch single or double crust

Mix flour, sugar and butter into crumb stage. Place one crust in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate. Line the shell with some sliced peaches. Sprinkle some of the butter mixture on top of the peaches, then put more peaches on top of the the crumb mixture. Continue layering until both the peaches and crumbs are gone. Top with lattice strips of pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes, or until crust is golden. Allow pie to cool before slicing. Best when eaten fresh.

Food Processor Pie Crust

2008-08-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

This recipe came from allrecipes.com, as source of many of my recipes. It was so easy to make in my food processor. I'm all about easy. I am actually going to try it today with whole wheat flour and see how it turns out. Wish me luck! (it makes 1 crust) I also used 8 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp shortening just because it was already cold. It worked great.

Pie Crust (single)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
5 tablespoons shortening
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons ice water

Measure the flour into the processor with the regular blade attached. Add the unsalted butter, cut into cubes, and shortening, cut into cubes. (Your fat should be frozen or very cold. You may vary the proportions, or use some lard, but the total should be 9 tablespoons.) Add salt. Pulse three times with three counts per pulse to lightly mix the ingredients.

With the motor running, pour ice water into the workbowl just until the dough just starts to get noticeably crumbly. Don't wait until it is a big clump or it will be way too wet and will turn out tough.

Stop the machine, dump the crumbly dough into a bowl, and gather the dough into a ball with your hand. you can squeeze it a bit to make it stick together. If it just won't form a ball, add a tiny bit more water. (Note that if you are making crust in the food processor, you will use less water than most recipes call for.)

Wrap your dough ball in wax paper or plastic wrap and chill it about 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Roll it out on a cool surface if you can. Then follow your pie recipe for baking.

Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies

2008-04-10T10:48:00.001-07:00

This is my (Jami Jackson's) debut on Kim's food blog so I thought I'd start out with a sure hit! These cookies have never let me down in a crowd and although I think I make them too much, people tell me they never get sick of them. There's just something about the Andes Mint on top that makes you want to eat 3 or 4 (or 9 or 10). I got the recipe from my Grandma. Hint: I think they turn out better the smaller you make them and I cut my Andes Mints in half to make them last longer. Enjoy!

Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies
3/4 cup margarine (I've used butter too)
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp water
12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 packages Andes Mints
Melt margarine, brown sugar, and water in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add chocolate chips until partially melted. Remove from heat and chips will melt all the way. Pour in bowl and let cool for 10 minutes. Oh high speed mixer, add eggs one at a time. Reduce mixer to low speed and add all dry ingredients. Chill dough 30 minutes in freezer or overnight in fridge. Line cookie sheet with foil. Roll dough in balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Add an Andes Mint (or half of one) on top of each cookies as they come out of the oven. Swirl with a knife when melted. Let set in freezer for 10 minutes.
-Jami Jackson

Yummy Tomato Soup

2008-04-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

My sister gave me this recipe and she found it on allrecipes.com. It's a homemade tomato soup and very easy to make. I made it in about 25 minutes. Yummy with grilled cheese sandwiches or crackers. Rachael Ray says that if you use San Marzano tomatoes in the can, they aren't as acidic. I found a large can at Kroger but I couldn't find it at Wal-mart. Enjoy!

Rich and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
1- 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, drained and seeded
4 cups tomato juice
14 leaves FRESH basil
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup butter
salt and pepper to taste
Place tomato juice in a large saucepan. Before adding tomatoes, squeeze seeds out if desired. Simmer (DO NOT BOIL) for a few minutes just until heated through. Pour into blender and puree adding the basil leaves to blend also. Return the puree to the saucepan. Place the pan over medium heat and stir in the heavy whipping cream and butter. Season with salt and pepper to desired taste. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Remember: DO NOT BOIL. It will make the tomatoes more acidic! Sprinkle a little cheese on top, it's yummy!

Buttery Dinner Rolls

2008-03-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I have two really great recipes for rolls. One is for yummy crescent rolls. You don't have to have a breadmaker for them. Then there are these rolls. Probably the best rolls I've ever had but you have to have a breadmaker for the dough. My sister, Amy, introduced the recipe to me. They are so incredible easy to make, as long as you have the breadmaker.

Buttery Dinner Rolls
1 1/8 cup warm water
6 Tbsp butter (softened)
1 egg (don't beat)
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 cups bread flour (again, no substitutions)
2 Tbsp powdered milk
1/3 cup potato flakes (no potato pearls)
1 1/2 tsp yeast
Put in breadmaker in order with yeast on top so it doesn't touch liquid. Turn on breadmaker to dough cycle. Butter 11X14 pan (or 9X13) and when dough is done, turn out onto counter and butter fingers. Make 20 balls the same size (a little bigger than golf balls). Rise until ready to bake. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown. I brush butter on top when I take them out. Take out of pan after a minute or two.

Pizza Dough

2008-03-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

I know you were really excited about this just by the title but you HAVE to have a breadmaker for the dough to work right. I'm sorry if you don't have one, but if you do, go ahead and brush off the thick layer of dust that it has on it and bust it out. I have some new dough recipes for the breadmaker! I used to HATE making pizza. Now I do it every Friday (I bought a breadmaker just to make this dough). Hope you enjoy. This recipe came from a great friend here- Sharleen! Thanks Shar!

Pizza Dough
**Make sure you put everything into the breadmaker in this order and the yeast in a little hole you make in the flour at the top so it doesn't touch the water.
1 cup & 2 Tbsp warm water
2 Tbsp olive oil (any oil will probably do-Sharleen uses vegetable)
3 cups BREAD flour (ABSOLUTELY NO SUBSTITUTIONS!)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp yeast
Place all ingredients in breadmaker and push dough cycle. Mine takes 1 hr 30 min.
Bake at 400 degrees on LOWEST rack possible (middle if you have a bottom coil in your oven).
Place on stone or pan, whatever you have. This recipe makes 2 med/lg pizzas or one large with really thick crust. Add pizza sauce not spaghetti sauce and toppings. Bake for 18-23 minutes or until you like it!!

Orange Fluffy Stuff

2008-03-20T13:17:00.001-07:00

This recipe came from my sister, Amy. It's a yummy side dish jello salad. Very creamy, but don't make it if you don't like oranges, OK?

Orange Jell-O Fluff
20 large marshmallows
1 cup milk
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 small package orange Jell-O powder
8 oz. tub Cool Whip
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
Melt marshmallows in milk in a saucepan. While melting, in a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and Jell-O powder. Add marshmallow/milk mixture to cream cheese mixture. Add tub of Cool Whip and fruit. Let chill AT LEAST 1 hour covered with plastic wrap until firm.

Savory Spinach Salad

2008-03-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not one to delve into a salad (unless I'm pregnant) but this salad, whether I'm pregnant or not, is AWESOME! It is so yummy anytime, anywhere. I got the recipe from a good friend in Provo, Kari.

Spinach Salad
Baby spinach

Craisins

Diced Pears

Candied sliced almonds (cook in a pan with 2 tbsp sugar until carmelized STIRRING CONSTANTLY! Spread out on parchment paper or foil to cool)

SECRET INGREDIENT:

Brianna's Poppyseed Dressing

Mint Brownies

2008-03-15T14:55:00.001-07:00

So I admit that I haven't made these yet. The problem is Derrel doesn't like mint. So if I make a whole pan, I will eat the whole pan. So I have to wait until I can make it for a function I can share it with LOTS of other people. It comes from the Cooking Light Magazine. I wouldn't exactly call them "light" but I guess they could be worse, right?

Chocolate Mint Bars

Ingredients

Bottom layer:
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, beaten
1 (16 oz) can chocolate syrup

Mint layer:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 drops green food coloring

Glaze:
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To prepare bottom layer, lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and salt; stir with a whisk. Combine granulated sugar, egg substitute, 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons water, vanilla, eggs, and chocolate syrup in a medium bowl; stir until smooth. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring until blended. Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 23 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

3. To prepare mint layer, combine powdered sugar, 1/4 cup melted butter, and next 3 ingredients (through food coloring) in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth. Spread mint mixture over cooled cake.

4. To prepare the glaze, combine the chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until melted, stirring after 30 seconds. Let stand 2 minutes. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over top. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cut into 20 pieces.

Banana Heaven

2008-02-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

Got rotten bananas? I just got this yummy recipe from allrecipes.com! It is so easy and so fluffy and yummy. Forget the banana bread. It takes forever to cook and these are just perfect for on the go or freezing! You can make 'em big or small. Ummm Ummm good! **(My sister-in-law added a little chocolate chips, vanilla and cinnamon to them and said they were great!)
Banana Muffins
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 large bananas (ripened)
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans. Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 15 to 20 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped.

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

2008-02-19T06:29:00.000-08:00

This recipe came from my friend, April, who made me dinner right after I had my first child. It was SO good that I had to get the recipe from her and I have made it quite often ever since. I know there are a lot of recipes out there for this, but I don't particularly like curry and most of them have curry in them. This one doesn't, hence it's in my recipe box. Just another idea for an easy yummy dinner.

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Casserole
2-3 boneless chicken breasts
1 bag (12 oz) frozen broccoli florets
1 cup cheese (cheddar or colby jack)
2 cups cooked rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can milk
~Cut up chicken and cook in skillet with seasoned salt.
~Heat soup and milk in small saucepan or in microwave.
~Layer casserole as follows in a 9x13:
spread rice on bottom
sprinkle broccoli
sprinkle chicken
pour soup/milk sauce on top
sprinkle with cheese
~Bake at 375 degrees until hot and cheese is melted, approximately 20-25 minutes or so. You can cover with foil if cheese is getting too brown.

Divine Sugar Cookies

2008-02-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

This recipe is from my good friend, Mary, who made sugar cookies for us for Christmas. If you make them thick, they are so soft and so delicious. I haven't made them yet, but she says they are super easy-you don't have to refrigerate the dough! Try 'em out.

Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 1/2 tsp vanilla
6 cups flour
8 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Blend butter, sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add sour cream and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and stir. Add dry ingredients to wet. Add more flour if dough is too sticky, but if you can, heavily flour a pastry mat and rolling pin, it's better. Roll out to 1/2" thick and cut shapes. These cookies bake best on an insulated cookie sheet. Use parchment paper or spray cookie sheet with Pam. Bake at 375-400 degrees for 9-10 minutes. **Cookies should NOT change color!** Enjoy!

Famous

2008-02-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

I like to pretend that my food is famous, or in turn, I am famous. Well, I'm really not but these have had some really great reviews. I won't lie to ya, they ain't the easiest things to make, but what cinnamon rolls are? Just make sure you let me know how you like 'em, alright? Just so you know, this recipe makes a pretty big batch of rolls.

The Best Cinnamon Rolls
5 cups hot water
3/4 oil
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup nonfat dry milk
3/4 cup instant potato flakes or pearls (NOT prepared)
3 tsp salt
2 heaping tbsp yeast
2 eggs
9-10 cups flour
Mix first 6 ingredients together. Add 6 cups flour and beat well until stretchy and very elastic (I use my Bosch). Add eggs and beat well. Add yeast. Ad the rest of the flour (3-4 cups) to make soft dough. Turn onto well floured counter (it will be pretty runny), turn to coat all sides, and place in greased bowl. It'll be very, very soft. Cover with hot damp cloth and let rise until double. Remove and divide in half; roll out 1/2 at a time into a rectangle. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Roll in jellyroll style. Slice to make pinwheels (I use fishing line or dental floss) and place on greased cookie sheet. Repeat with other dough. Let rise until slightly doubled. Bake 10-15 minutes at 375 degrees. Frost while hot.
Frosting:
1 stick butter
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
Mix and spread.

Chocolate Caramel Bars

2008-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

This recipe comes from a favorite sister-in-law ;) that made them for our family a few years back. She didn't have any eggs at the time and it was Sunday, so she needed a recipe without eggs and this is what she came up with. It has been a favorite of many people for a long time since. I really don't know what they're officially called, so I just call 'em:

Chocolate Caramel Bars
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup melted margarine, butter
about 1/2-3/4 bag of chocolate chips
1/2 cup caramel sauce (you know, any kind you would put on an ice cream sundae)
**My very favorite caramel is Mrs. Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel Topping- Yum Yum!
Mix flour, oats, sugar, salt and baking soda in a bowl. Melt butter and add to flour mixture. Stir until combined. Pat down 3/4 of the mixture in a 9x13 and bake at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes (it won't look done). Drizzle caramel on top while hot. If you want more caramel, go for it! Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly on top of caramel. Crumble the rest of mixture on top and bake at the same temperature for 15 minutes or so. Allow to cool completely for easiest cutting. Oh so gooey and yummy!!
**I don't suggest that you use any stoneware for this recipe. It takes a lot longer to cook and it's just not as accurate for this recipe.

Fast and fun

2008-02-01T07:57:00.001-08:00

This is a fast family favorite of ours. I love it because I can make it in about 20 minutes, unless I have to make the chili. But you can use canned chili and it's just as good.

Frito Pie
Rice
Chili
Cheese
Fritos (corn chips of any variety)
On top of a pile of Fritos, drop hot rice and pour as much chili as you want on top. Top with cheese and enjoy.

Homemade Maple Syrup

2008-02-01T07:39:00.001-08:00

There's nothin' like hot homemade maple syrup. I don't even buy store bought syrup anymore. It just doesn't taste the same. This recipe is actually from my Mom.

Homemade Maple Syrup
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp maple flavoring (I actually use vanilla and it's almost the same unless you really like that maple flavor)
Boil all ingredients. As soon as it comes to a full boil, remove from heat so it won't crystalize in the refrigerator. Keep in tupperware of sorts until you want some more and just microwave for a minute or two for more hot homemade syrup.

German Pancakes

2008-02-01T07:32:00.001-08:00

These are a little different version than plain ol' pancakes. Slather them with homemade syrup, top with fresh strawberries or just sprinkle powdered sugar over them. Anyway you do it, they're delicious and make for great breakfast variety.

German Pancakes
4-6 tbsp butter
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
7 eggs
1 tsp salt (I like to use Kosher salt)
Place butter in pats in a 9x13 and place in hot oven at 400 degrees. Mix flour, milk, eggs and salt in blender or in a bowl. Sometimes I add shredded cheese, ham, bacon, etc to make them more like a yummy omelet. As soon as the butter is bubbling ( I wait until it's browned a little) open the oven and just pour the batter in. Cook for about 20 minutes and serve hot how you like it.

BBQ Chicken

2008-02-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

You want an EXCELLENT marinade for chicken? Well, you're in luck because this one is absolutely fantastic and quick & easy. It's from a friend in a ward from Orem, UT. Try it, you''ll LOVE it!

Savory BBQ Chicken Marinade
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup oil
2 cups Sprite or 7-up
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp horseradish powder or sauce
Mix together. I use a big ziplock baggie and then add the meat. Mariate for 3-4 hours. Baste meat while grilling (I'm sure you don't HAVE to grill it). Just make sure you don't overcook your meat. SO YUMMY!

The REAL thang

2008-02-01T07:01:00.000-08:00

This recipe comes to you straight from the source: TEXAS. So, don't use any other recipe for Texas Sheet Cake! It came from a ward cookbook in Houston where I grew up so, trust me, it's awesome!

Texas Sheet Cake
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup butter
4 tbsp cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk (or buttermilk, I use just milk)
1 tsp baking soda
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon ( I DON'T add this)
Grease and flour a jelly roll pan. Sift together sugar and flour. In a saucepan, bring to a rapid boil the butter, cocoa and water. Pour over sugar and flour and mix well, then add milk. Don't clean that saucepan yet. Use it for frosting. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Pour into jelly roll pan and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. While still hot, pour icing over cake.

ICING:
3 tbsp cocoa
1 stick butter
1 tsp vanilla
6 tbsp milk
4 cups powdered sugar (helps to sift)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional, I usually don't add this either)
In same saucepan, bring cocoa, butter and milk to rapid boil; remove from heat. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and nuts. Beat and spread on hot cake. I actually use a mixer to beat all the lumps out of it.

Scotcheroos

2008-02-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

These are a personal all-time favorite of mine. Beware, they are REALLY rich and it's really easy to eat too many! The recipe came from a good friend in a ward in Orem, UT. They're simple and very yummy.

Scotcheroos
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup white sugar
~bring to a full boil and IMMEDIATELY remove from heat! (if you boil to long, the end product will be hard as a rock!) Add:
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
~stir until melted and mixed. pour over 6 cups Rice Krispies. Spread into a 9x13. Then melt:
6 oz chocolate chips
12 oz butterscotch chips
Pour and spread over Rice Krispies. Let sit until chocolate is set.

Biscuits

2008-01-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone has to have a good, simple recipe for biscuits. Here's a great one I found that's every bit as good a Grands- better because they're homemade! It's out of a ward cookbook from Boise, ID. Top with gravy; slice open and add egg, cheese and ham; add shredded cheddar cheese to go with soups and salads. There are so many things you can do with biscuits!

Biscuits
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)
3/4 cup milk
Combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter; add milk. Knead 7-10 times; pat out to about 1 inch thick or so and cut into circles. You can also make drop biscuits which is what I do when I put cheddar cheese in them. Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 mintues. Eat hot.

"Green" Salsa

2008-01-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

This recipe is from my sister (she has a food blog, too, if you're interested). My family makes this dip a lot since she found it. It's a green salsa that tends to get pretty spicy, but extremely yummy!!! A little technical with the tomatillos and chilies but SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it!!!

Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa
1 pound tomatillos, husks removed
3 avocados
4-5 serrano chilies, roasted, peeled and seeded
4 garlic cloves, roasted and minced
2 tbs cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large pot two-thirds full of boiling water, add tomatillos, return to a boil and cook until tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain and cool to touch, 20 minutes. In a food processor, combine tomatillos, avocados, chilies, garlic and cilantro; process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Mom's Famous Salsa

2008-01-25T16:16:00.000-08:00

My mom has been making this recipe for salsa as long as I remember. For all I know she was feeding it to me in a bottle. Maybe that's why I have a high tolerance for spicy foods, hmmmm. Anyway, every time I make this for someone new, they comment on how fresh it takes but in fact all of the ingredients are from a can. It's always a hit! Try it. You can make it as hot or mild as you like.

Mom's Famous Salsa
1-10 oz can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chilies) you can get this mild, reg or hot
1-28 oz diced or whole tomatoes, drained
1-2 tsp cumin
1-2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dried onions (if desired)
You can add peppers if you'd like-they make it pretty spicy. Put all ingredients in a blender. Blend to desired consistency. If it needs to be a little thicker, you can add a little bit of tomato paste. Refrigerate leftovers for up to a week or so.
2 drops vinegar

2008-01-25T16:07:00.001-08:00

Yes, it's from another sister-in-law. This is some AWESOME stuff. Holy cow, it's divine. Great with chips, crackers, diced bread, fingers, toes, or shovels. It's just plain yummy!

Spinach Artichoke Dip
1/2 cup butter
1-8 oz cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
10 oz frozen spinach, thawed
small bottle of marinated artichokes, chopped but not drained
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 cup parmesan cheese
In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cream cheese, sour cream and spinach. Cook until hot and combined. Add the rest of ingredients. Cook a little longer. Pour into glass baking dish and bake uncovered for 25-40 minutes. I like to cook it until it browns at the top and is all bubbly. It may take a little longer. Serve hot.

PB Bliss

2008-01-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

Here's another great recipe from a great sister-in-law. They are sooooo tasty. It makes a pretty measly sized batch so you may want to double or triple it=). Hope you enjoy them.

Peanut Butter Cookies
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 bag peanut butter chips (like choc chips but peanut butter, in case you didn't know)
sugar to roll in
Beat butter and peanut butter. Add 1/2 cup flour, sugars, egg, soda, powder and vanilla. Then add the rest of the flour. Add peanut butter chips. Roll into balls and roll into sugar. Squish with fingers or fork and bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes. Place on cooling rack. Mmmm mmm good!

Cookies, anyone?

2008-01-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

Well, this recipe actually came from my "ex-brother-in-law" and when he gave me the recipe I had to promise that I wouldn't give the recipe out. Well, needless to say, he isn't my brother-in-law anymore so all ties and promises have been dissolved. That's why I bring this recipe to you, straight from my heart because it is about the best recipe for chocolate chip cookies (and dough) on the face of this earth, AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THE RECIPE TO THE T!! Good luck and if you don't get it right the first time, don't give up, it'll be worth it!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup Butter Flavored Crisco (no substitutions!)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour

1/4 cup flour (yes this is separate from the flour above)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1-12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
HAND MIX ONLY! Cream together sugars, Crisco, eggs and vanilla. Add flour and mix only until combined. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup flour, baking soda, salt. Add to dough and mix only until combined. Add 3/4 of the bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. The best pans to use are the cookie sheets that are for jelly rolls that look like this:

Place on pan by spoonfuls and cook in oven at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes depending on your oven.
**Now here's the tricky part!
Take the cookies out when the sides are lightly brown and the middle still looks a little undone, not too undone though. It's a science, this making cookies. Take out and allow to cool and cook a little longer on the pan for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy. They're AWESOME when they're warm!
*** You can also make this recipe into a cookie cake, just take into account a little room for growth if you use a stone with no sides, or you'll have drippings ALL OVER your oven=).

Kim's Chili

2008-01-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a recipe I actually made up all by myself (shocking, I know). Try it and see for yourself, just don't forget to rate it at the bottom of the post!

Kim's Chili
1 lb ground beef
1/4 cup onions if desired
1-14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (I puree it in the blender)
1 can kidney beans (drained just a bit)
1 can pinto beans (drained just a bit)
1-8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2-6 oz can tomato paste
2 tsp chili powder
2 1/2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
pinch of sugar
OK, I'm going off of memory here but I think that's right. Brown onions and then add meat. Add sauces and beans and rest of ingredients. Allow to simmer for as long as you want. We love to add rice, cheese and Frito's to make Frito Pie.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

2008-01-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

I know most people have a recipe for this, but these are exceptional. The recipe is from another sister-in-law, of course and they are fantastic. Definitely not low fat!

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
3-4 chicken breasts (shredded)
8-12 tortillas (burrito size)
1 1/2 cans cream chicken soup
2 cups sour cream (16 oz)
4 oz. can green chilies (blended in a blender or food processor-goes over better with the kids)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 cup chopped onion (I don't use this!)
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
I think the chicken is best if you cook in a crock pot with a 1-1 1/2 cups water for 3 hours on high. It's tender and yummy and shreds so easily. I put it in frozen! Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Place large spoonful on warm tortillas and wrap. Place in 9x13. In separate small bowl make sauce for top:
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1/2 can cream of chicken soup
Spread sauce on top and sprinkle with cheese. It's also yummy if you add sliced olives on top of the cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes until bubbly.

Try this healthy snack, but don't eat more than 2!

2008-01-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

This recipe makes a LOT of muffins but they are great to freeze. You just take one out and microwave it for 30 seconds and it's just like having one out of the oven. Great for quick breakfasts or snacks on the go! I get my bran really cheap at a health foods store in bulk for about $.39/lb (and a pound of bran is a lot of bran). You can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tbsp lemon juice in the each cup of milk (so 4 cups needs 1/4 cup of lemon juice).
This is also a little secret to my little family's ability to be "regular." If anyone shows signs of being stopped up, this cures it within an hour or two--NO JOKE!!

Bran Muffins
3 cups wheat flour
2 cups white flour
2 1/4 cups sugar
5 tsp baking soda
3 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil
4 cups buttermilk
4 beaten eggs
3 cups bran (wheat or oat)

Mix all dry ingredients (except bran) in a huge bowl with a whisk. Add wet and mix stirring bran in last. Bake in muffin tins at 400 degrees for about 13-15 minutes. This bran mix will last in the fridge for about 3-4 weeks. Makes about 3 dozen.

Cheddar Loaves

2008-01-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe from another sister-in-law (what a great family to marry into). It's been a hit every time I make it whether it's for guests or just my little family. SOOOOO TASTY!

Cheddar Loaves
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheese (I use Colby Jack or Cheddar)
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1 lb. ground beef
Mix all ingredients but the meat. Mix in meat and make into egg shaped loaves. Glaze the top of loaves with this sauce:
1 cup ketchup
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/4 tsp mustard
Bake loaves at 350 for about 40 minutes uncovered or until no longer pink in the middle. Great served with mashed potatoes or rice.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

2008-01-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

This recipe is from my sister-in-law who used to make it when we went to their house for dinner. It's so simple and yummy! It's great at the end of a cold day and makes a lot of leftovers.

6 chicken bouillon cubes
3 quarts water
1-16 oz bag frozen broccoli (or fresh)
3-4 large carrots, sliced, grated or chopped
1 cup diced potatoes

Boil the water and bouillon cubes. Add vegetables. Simmer until desired tenderness of vegetables is reached.

Melt:
1 cube butter
1/2 cup flour

Stir into pot with a whisk. After it thickens a bit, add 16 oz Velveeta (1/2 of a huge block) and allow to melt. If it's still a little too thin for your liking, add a little more butter/flour mixture.

Joppy Sloes

2007-12-10T06:52:00.000-08:00

I found a sloppy joe recipe on allrecipes.com that turned out great. It's a simple and quick dinner. We eat them opened faced with a fork so they're not so schloppy! Here's the recipe:

Sloppy Joes

2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery (I didn't put celery)
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
8 hamburger buns

Place ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until evenly browned, stirring to crumble. I like to use a potato masher to even out the lumps. Add onion and celery, cover the pan, and cook until tender and transparent, about 5 minutes. Drain off any grease.
Stir the tomato soup (undiluted), ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce into the beef mixture. Season with salt and garlic powder. Heat to a simmer over low heat, and cook until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently to prevent it from burning on the bottom.
Spoon the hot beef mixture onto buns, which may be toasted first, and serve.

A little piece of heaven

2007-12-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here's the recipe for yummy, simple fudge I made for a cookie exchange this year. (I got it out of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook) I've NEVER attempted real fudge before and this was a piece of cake.

Happy Holidays!

Simple Fudge
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk (NOT sweetened condensed milk)
1/2 cup butter
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1. Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with foil extending it over sides. Butter the foil. Set aside.
2. Butter the sides of a 2 quart heavy saucepan. In saucepan, combine sugar, milk and butter. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils (about 10 minutes). Reduce heat to medium; continue cooking, stirring constantly for 6 more minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add marshmallows, chocolate chips, vanilla and optional walnuts. Stir until evenly melted. Beat by hand for 1 minutes. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Cover and chill for 2-3 hours or until firm. When firm, use foil to lift out of pan and cut into 1 inch squares. Store tightly covered in refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Crepes

2007-12-01T09:51:00.001-08:00

So, my sister came for Thanksgiving this year. I have NEVER in my life had the desire to make crepes but finally did. I decided to try out my new Pampered Chef 8" Saute Pan from the Executive Collection. Oh, wow. It specifically tells you NOT to use any oils or sprays and boy do they mean it. I literally poured the batter in and rolled it around to cover the entire bottom of the pan. It slid right out of the pan when it was done. We made this recipe and it was absolutely delicious:

Crepes
1 cup flour
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
2 cups milk
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
Sift flour, sugar and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs and milk with a mixer. Beat in flour and then add butter and vanilla. Heat a lightly oiled frying pan (unless using the saute pan) over medium heat. Pour about 1/4 cup (depending on the size of your pan). Tip and rotate pan to spread as thin as possible. Brown both sides. This is what we put inside:
crushed strawberries, from frozen
Topping:
1/2 tub cool whip
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 oz. cream cheese

Thanksgiving eats and treats

2007-11-20T11:12:00.002-08:00

This is almost like dessert, it's so good. It's a recipe from my sister-in-law. If you're not looking for something really healthy, TRY IT this year. It's awesome!
Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes
2-29 oz. canned yams
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs
Whip well and put into a 9x13 pan.
Melt and put on top:
5-6 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup packed brown sugar
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

2007-11-20T11:12:00.001-08:00

I don't even like cranberry sauce and I love this stuff. It's my mom's special recipe.
Cranberry Sauce
1 lb. fresh cranberries
4 cups chopped apples with skin
1 cup crushed pineapple
2 packages cherry Jello-O (or substitute on package for Cranberry Jell-O)
1 1/2 cups sugar (a little more if desired to help taste)
1/2 pound walnuts
Chop cranberries, apples and walnuts separately in a food processor until semi-fine. Mix all ingredients well in a bowl and chill. Makes about 2 quarts (a pretty big batch).

2007-11-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a pie if you want to try something new. It's definitely southern. I got the recipe in Nashville while visiting family.
Chess Pie
1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tbsp vinegar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Mix and put in an uncooked pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 min. Shake to see if somewhat firm. Let cool completely!

Happy Thanksgiving

Bowl of Cherries

2007-11-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well, so this is my new blog, all about cooking, recipes, tips, thoughts about life, etc. I hope I can shed a little light on your world as I learn new things. I'll share some of my favorite recipes, old and new, in hopes that you will share, too!

Can I just start by saying how much I love FRESH cherries!

"Life is just a bowl of cherries, don't take it serious, its mysterious. Life is just a bowl of cherries, so live and laugh and laugh at love, love a laugh, laugh and love."
~Bob Fosse