Its time for a game kids! Name That Kitchen Tool

What are these things called and what do they do? I'm finding all sorts of fun stuff here and haven't the foggiest what to do with them.

Food report #2

I should title these things "Wow, I'm glad this actually turned out ok." or "Cooking improv: whose dish is it anyway?"

I originally had planned enchiladas. We are living with my DH's grandpa who LOVES enchiladas. The tortillas we had in the fridge were too big so he went to the store for me. He brought back super small ones instead. I thought I'd make due, but the darn things kept falling apart every time I rolled them up! So, I ended up ripping them apart and making a sort of Enchilada Casserole. I also found out, much to my dismay, that he has no sour cream. I decided to try cream cheese instead.... you know, it was really good! Who knew?

Soups and Chili

Fall is almost officially here! What are your favorite cool weather dishes in a bowl?

Food report #1

Tonight we were going to have Bowtie Salad but with a different kitchen and not really any knowledge of what's in it, I improvised. Instead of bowties we had regular spaghetti noodles buttered and topped with parmesan. The kids LOVED it! :)

For dessert, we had watermelon.

Just for the heck of it...

I'm going to try to document our dinners for the next few weeks. I'm in hopes that this will inspire me to have healthier meals and eat in more than we have. Feel free to join me in reporting! I'll be starting tomorrow....

Grilled Pizza

Man, we had this for dinner tonight and it was soooo yummy!! Since it cooks on the grill, it's perfect for those hot days when you don't want to heat up the house!

Ingredients:

Dough (frozen or homemade. It doesn't matter)

Pizza toppings

Cheese

Once the dough has raised, divide the dough into 4 balls. Roll the dough into a circle about 1/8 inch thick. Repeat until you have 4 rounds. Place one pizza crust on a clean, oiled and preheated grill. Grill pizza crusts for about 1 min or until the bottom is brown. With tongs, gently flip it over and grill for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from grill and repeat with remaining pizzas. Let cool. Top with favorite toppings and return to a preheated grill for about 2-3 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

For our pizza, I used frozen Rhodes bread dough. I let the dough raise most of the day and divided it into four sections. For our pizzas, we had BBQ Chicken. I spread the crust first with BBQ sauce. Then topped it off with grilled chicken, onion, tomato and Italian cheese. It was delicious and easy. I'm sure any combination of toppings would be great!

Steakhouse bites

10 Crackers Keebler® Town House® Original
4 oz deli roast beef, thinly sliced
10 asparagus spear tips, blanched
2 Tbs prepared horseradish
2 radishes, thinly sliced


Directions

1. Top crackers with roast beef, asparagus tips, horseradish and radish slices. Serve immediately.


I haven't tried these yet, but I'm gonna!

Tip from Macey's

Keep your fresh mushrooms in the refrigerator and cover with paper towel.

Super Moist Corn Bread

Best Cornbread Ever

Description:
moist and delicious!

Directions:
1/2 c butter or margarine
ADD and STIR well: 2/3 c sugar
Blend in: 2 well beaten eggs
Combine and ADD:
1 c buttermilk (1 c milk with 1T vinegar)
1/2 tsp soda
Add and Stir: 1 c cornmeal
1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
Put in greased 8 in square pan. Bake 375 for 30 min.

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!

Description:
My sister gave this to me and now other chip cookies just won't cut it.

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp HOT water
1 tsp soda
2 1/2 cup Flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 pkg Choc Chips
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
cream together shortening, and sugars. Add eggs. To the side add the REALLY HOT water to the baking soda it should bubble-- set aside. Add flour and salt. Then the soda water, chips and vanilla.

12-15 min at 375

Number Of Servings:3-4 doz

Preparation Time:a while

Cheddar Broccoli Soup

Grandma Ruth Stringham's Broccoli Soup:

1 med bunch of broccoli-finely chopped (about 2 cups frozen)

4-5 C diced potatoes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 C margarine

1 C flour

1 C finely chopped onion

(about 1 ½ Tbs dried onion)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 C chicken broth

2 C liquid from broccoli and potatoes

4 C milk or light cream

2 tsp salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

shredded cheddar cheese to taste

1) Cook potatoes and broccoli in salted water until both vegetables are tender. Save the liquid.

2) Cook onions in margarine until they are transparent.

3) Blend one cup flour into margarine and onions.

4) Add chicken broth, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil.

5) Stir in liquid from broccoli and potatoes, 4 cups milk and salt.

6) Add drained broccoli and potatoes. Stir to boiling.

Yields one gallon of soup. TIP: It is a lot of soup! Put leftovers into freezer bags and lay flat in freezer ( I like to do it per serving) Heat in a sauce pan -NOT microwave- on Low heat.

Gravy Tip

I can make a mean white sauce, but when it comes to the meat gravy, I fall more than short.

the first problem was that my concoction ended up looking like meat jelly (gross). My family makes gravy with corn starch, this is the result. Use flour. SOOOOOOO much better.

The second, is that it gets WAY too lumpy. (Also gross.) So, I called in the big guns, aka G-ma Teasdale.

Her tip is to take a small, clean jar and put your flour in cold water and stir it together. Most people do this and then put it in the broth, but Grandma then puts the lid on the jar and shakes "the living hell out of it." LOL The lumps that are left after stirring go away. I just tried it and I have myself some pretty perfect gravy.

Woo Hoo!

Minnestrone Soup

here goes....

1 lb. Stew meat (the original recipe called for italian sausage)

1 qt. Water

2 celery stalks chopped

2 large carrots diced

2 onions

1½ C. beef broth

2-8 oz cans of tomato sauce

1 large can of tomatoes

Garlic flavor

½ teaspoon basil

1 Tbs. sugar

1 tsp. Oregano

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 C. of spiral noodles (I use wacky mac. The original recipe called for bow ties.)

Combine and simmer three hours in a large pot or stock pot. Then add 1 cup of cooked spiral noodles (I'm lazy and add more water and throw the noodles in dry about 15 min before serving) That's it it's done. Great with rolls. and oh your house will smell amazing

I love this recipe because not only is it tasty, it is a lot of opening and dumping. Not a huge mess and easy.

Taco Soup

Description:
This is really yummy...


Ingredients:
1 pkg taco seasoning (2 T-ish i think)
1 LB ground beef
1 chopped onion
1 46 oz tomato juice
1 8 oz tomato sauce
(i use blended up bottled tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce)
2 cans kidney beans ( i use 1 can chili beans and 1 can black) my kids don't like kidney beans.
1 can canned corn (drained)

Directions:
brown beef and onions add other ingredients and simmer. add more sauce if you like it thinner.
top with fritos chips and grated cheddar cheese.



Number Of Servings:8 servings

Strawberry Lemon Trifle

If you love the taste of lemon and strawberry, you need to try this!  It is the perfect dessert for a hot summer day.  

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup lemon yogurt

2 cups milk

1 pkg. (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix

2 tsps. grated lemon peel

2 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries, divided

1 tbsp. water

1 prepared angel food cake (10 inches)

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and yogurt.  Add the milk, pudding mix and lemon peel; beat until smooth.  In a blender, process 1/2 cup strawberries and water until smooth.  Tear cake into 1 inch pieces; place a third in a trifle bowl or 3 quart serving bowl.  Top with a third of the pudding mixture and half of the remaining strawberries.  Drizzle with half of the strawberry sauce.  Repeat.  Top with remaining cake and pudding mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  

BEST Fruit Dip EVER

(Note... I don't always measure for this recipe- so just make sure you 'eye-ball' it to your desired consistency...)

1-2 packages cream cheese
1 jar marshmallow fluff
cinnamon to taste (optional)

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Blend well until ingredients are incorporated together, and cream cheese is smooth. Mixture should be thick and sticky, yet spreadable.

My kids sometimes like to add a drop or two of food coloring, just to be festive.

This is great for potluck- just take a tray of whatever fruit is in season and bring your dip! My kids especially love to dip grapes or strawberries in it. YUM.

Napa Salad

2 Bags Coleslaw mix

2 Bunches green onions sliced into thin rounds

Saute in a pan

1/4-1/2 cup butter

2 pkgs broken up Ramon noodles

1/2 cup sesame seeds

1 small pkg sliced almonds

Dressing:

1 cup oil

1 1/2 tbl soy sauce

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

Combine all in a large bowl and refrigerate for an hour or more before serving. This recipe holds well in the fridge so it can be done the night before if needed. It also makes a very large batch so feel free to cut as needed or keep for left overs :-)

Pot Luck Dishes

With summer here, and all the many gatherings approaching us. In need of some new pot luck dishes (main dish and side dishes) to take to these fun gatherings that won't spoil in the sun. Any receipe suggestions from you great ladies :) Thanks!

Costco Lettuce wraps...

We got these at Costco. They come in a twin pack and my goodness they
are cheap and tasty. Even better? The kids love them and
well, take a gander at the Nutrition chart...

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 113g ( 2 wraps)

Amount per Serving
Calories 150 Calories from Fat 25
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2.5g	4%
Saturated Fat 0.5g	2%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 35mg	12%
Sodium 640mg	27%
Total Carbohydrate 16g	5%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Sugars 9g
Protein 14g	28%

Vitamin A	2%
Vitamin C	0%
Calcium	0%
Iron	6%

---

Est. Percent of Calories from:

Fat 15.0% Carbs 42.7%

Protein 37.3%

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

I'm sure everyone has their own variation on these, and our family has been making them for as long as I remember. SO quick and SO yummy.

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter or margarine (1 stick)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oats

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients, except peanut butter and oatmeal. Bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. When peanut butter is melted, add oats and mix well. (If the mixture looks really runny after a minute, add in a few more oats.) Drop by tablespoonful on wax paper. Cool completely. Eat.

Asparagus

I received this recipe from another family in our ward. Since that time, this is the only way we eat asparagus. My kids always ask for more. Hope you all enjoy it too :)

Ingredients:

extra virgin olive oil
Italian seasoning
asparagus
Parmesean cheese

Directions:
1. coat bottom of baking dish with the extra olive oil and liberally sprinkle Italian Seasoning in oil...place in oven as you heat it to 400 degrees (heating gets the seasoning infused into the oil)

Meanwhile snap the asparagus at the breaking point (discard the tougher lower ends)

2. Take pan out of oven and roll asaragus in flavored oil so it is well coated on all sides (thin asparagus works best) Place in heated oven and let roast for 7-8 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove from oven and sprinkle liberally with Parmesean cheese.

Soda Can Chicken

1 whole chicken (base the size on your family needs and the size of your grill. If you need more than a single soda can is able to handle try two small birds.)

1 bottle hard cider

1 soda can

foil

Preferred spice rub (exp poultry seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, S&P, cumin & paprika)

Preheat grill - medium high heat. Clean chicken, remove internal fat and giblets and cover with spice rub. Fill empty soda can 3/4 full with hard cider. Create a drip pan with the foil to set the chicken on top of once on the grill, this will prevent flare ups. Place the chicken upright onto the soda can and cook over medium high heat until the outside is golden brown and the juices run clear (approx 1.25 hrs for a 4lb bird). Use indirect heat if possible.

I have made this for many parties and the spice rub always changes to match the rest of the dishes so go with what you like best. If you want to try something really impressive but really easy for a party try... clean the chicken and use your fingers to lift the skin covering the breast of the chicken. Stuff the cavity between the meat and skin with thinly sliced lemons and apples and pull the skin tight over the top securing with a toothpick if necessary. Then follow directions as above. The fruit gives the chicken a wonderful intense flavor and really impresses a crowd but only takes about 2 more minutes.

Roller Ice Cream

1 cup cream
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
flavoring of your choice (vanilla, almond, lemon, chocolate, etc)

Mix well and pour into 1lb coffee can (tape lid closed). Place 1lb can into 3 lb coffee can and fill the cavity with ice and salt. Tape lid on for security and roll for 15 min.

This is my moms recipe and we used to love helping make this as kids. She'd set everything up and we'd roll them back and forth between two of us in the back yard. She always used coffee cans because they were readily available to her but they can be substituted with any other metal cans approx the same size.

Italian Summer Corn

4 whole corn cooked and cut off cob
2-4 tbls butter
1/2-1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
S&P

Cook the corn through on the grill or via boiling water. Cut kernels off into large bowl and add butter, cheese and S&P to hot corn. Combine and allow butter and cheese to melt into corn. Serve warm. (some of the measurements vary depending on size of corn and family preference)

Apple Coleslaw

Dressing:
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1 cup mayo
1/3 cup poppy seeds
1/3 cup honey
2 tsp S&P

Slaw Mix:
1 medium cabbage shredded
2 large carrots julienne cut (or shredded)
1 bunch scallions thinly sliced
4 Fuji apples peeled and julienne cut

Combine dressing first and allow to sit and combine. If buying and shredding your own cabbage I recommend half a purple and half a green, the flavors and colors work very well together. Combine all ingred, dredge with dressing and allow to sit in fridge for a few hours before serving for best flavor. If tight on time, use a store bought bag of pre-shredded slaw mix (found in the super market near the bags of spinach etc) and cut the dressing recipe, carrots, apples and scallions in half.

Grannie Mya's Baked Beans

2 qts great northern beans
1 lb brown sugar
1 lb bacon (diced)
1 btl ketchup (16oz)
1 onion minced

Brown off bacon in the bottom of the pot. Add all ingred. Simmer for 6hrs. This makes a load and takes some time but is so wonderful, once you try it you wont care how long it takes. It's great for summer BBQ's. Invite the whole block :-)

Summer Recipes

What are your favorite Summer recipes?

Salads, BBQ, fun stuff for the 4th?

I'm hankerin' for something summery, and I'm tired of my own standbys.

Tried it - loved it!

Thanks to everyone posting, this blog has become my go to at BL&D when I'm not sure what to make or simply when I want to try something new (which is nearly everyday lately:-). Especially thanks to Carrie for setting it up!! The picture above is the chicken enchiladas recipe posted by "Those Crazy Aliens" we love it (although we leave out the bell peppers) and I can make it on the grill as shown here (which is a blessing as my oven is broken). Thanks again - Lexi and Jeff

Cucumber,Tomato, Onion Salad

Dressing:
Equal parts water & vinegar to two parts oil.
S&P

1 yellow onion sliced thin
1-2 cucumbers sliced thin
2-4 large tomatoes sliced thin

Combine everything in a Tupperware and shake vigorously. Allow to sit in fridge a few hours before serving for best flavor.

Pot Roast with Vegetables

1 (3-4 lb) beef chuck roast
S&P
3 tbs olive oil
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 cup water or stock
1 yellow onion halved
2 garlic cloves shopped
1 bunch baby carrots
2 celery stalks (sliced)
1 cup button mushrooms (halved)
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

Place all in the slow cooker the night before or morning of, cook until tender.

Slow Cooker Chicken ala Gramma H

Chicken pieces (canned, leftovers, or ...)
Thin sliced onion on top
Cream of whatever soup (celery, mushroom chicken) do not dilute
S&P
15 or so min before serving add 1/4 cup white wine
Serve over you favorite noodles.

Swiss Steak - ala my Gramma Heinzeroth

Roll and pound steak with flour & S&P.
Brown in olive oil and butter.
Put in slow cooker, add onion, celery, green pepper (sliced eggplant optional).
Top with a can of stewed tomatoes and cook until tender.

Thank you!

Ladies, I am loving the activity on here. Thank you all for your recipes and tips. :)

Cherry Chocolate Cake

My sister Janice passed this recipe along to me. One word: yum.
1 pkg. Devil's food cake mix
1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling
1 tsp. Almond extract
2 beaten eggs

Frosting:
1 c. powder sugar
1/3 c. milk
5 Tbsp. Butter
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350. Grease & flour 13x9 baking dish. In large bowl, mix all bar ingredients until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 20-30 min. until done in the center.
In small saucepan, combine sugar, milk & butter. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Boil 1 min. Remove from heat. Blend in choc. chips. Let cool to spreading consistency. Spread over cooled cake. Cut when complete cooled.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

1 can chicken (or you can boil and shred/dice some)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 small can green chilies
fresh cilantro to taste
1-2 tsp garlic powder/salt to taste

Mix above ingredients in a bowl. No need to heat through. Our family loves cilantro, so we use a lot, but it is optional, and you could use dried or completely leave it out if you prefer.

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup salsa
1/2 small can tomato sauce

Mix above three ingredients in separate bowl. You don't want the bean mixture really soupy- just moistened through.

6 tortillas, cut into bite size squares
3-4 cups grated cheese

Take a knife or your pizza roller and cut all the tortilla into bite size pieces. You need about 2 tortilla per layer, so you might choose to cut them 2 at a time.

Lightly spray a 9 x 11 baking dish. Spread a thin layer of chicken/soup mixture on the bottom to prevent sticking and burning. Layer two cut up tortillas over this. Follow layering pattern below.

From the bottom, layer in this manner:

Chicken/Soup mixture
Tortilla Bites
Chicken/Soup Mixture
Cheese
Tortilla Bites
Bean/Salsa Mixture (use all of it)
Cheese
Tortilla Bites
Chicken/Soup
Cheese

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Serve with salad or rice.

I have also sprayed my crock pot insert and layered this casserole inside and heated through, 3-4 hours. It works fine, too...

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug(MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. 
Add the egg and mix thoroughly. 
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.. 
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. 
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. 
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! 
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired

This recipe was sent to me in an e-mail from my sister Tori. Ever the skeptic I had to try it out before passing it along. the top picture is the cake turned out right out of the microwave about 7 minutes total time. The second is the cake dressed up for a dinner party or romantic night which took me approx 10-15 min start to finish. I couldn't believe it, and it's good! Never fear a last minute dinner party again, dessert is only 10 minutes away!

Peanut Butter Jumbos

Anyone that is a fan of peanut butter should try these!  They are SO good.  Interesting enough, this recipe doesn't call for flour.  They are definitely worth a try.  Have a BIG glass of milk on hand as well.

1 1/2 c. peanut butter

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

2 tsps. baking soda

1 cup  miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup M&M's miniature baking bits

In a large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine oats and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips and baking bits.

Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes or until edges are browned.  Remove to wire racks.  Yield: 9 dozen.

Note: Reduced-fat or generic brands of peanut butter are not recommended for this recipe.

Fast and Easy Chicken Noodle "Stoup"

1 Can Chicken Chunks
1 Can cream of chicken and a can of water
1 Can Chicken Broth
Onion, carrots, and celery
3 tbsp Bisquick

Heat and stir

1 cup cooked noodles

Feeds 3-4 time to cook about 15-20 min.
Always good in a pinch, goes great with dumplings

Chicken Pot Pie

Home-made chicken pot pie

2 cooked and cut up chicken breasts (I grilled the chicken)
4 peeled, diced, and cooked potatoes (you can use 1 can of diced potatoes)
1-2 cans cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup onion chopped
1 bag frozen vegetables
Seasonings (I used salt, pepper and garlic)
2 pie crusts (I used the pillsbury pie crusts)

Boil potatoes until they are soft but not mushy
Mix chicken, potatoes, onions, cream soup, frozen vegetables and seasonings together in a bowl
Put one pie crust in a pie pan and the fill your pie - then put the other pie crust on top, fold top crust under bottom pie crust and pinch
cut slots with a knife on the top pie crust.
Bake the pie in a 400 degree oven, for 30 to 40 minutes until the crust looks done!

Dishpan Cookies – Grandma Spang

10-12 dozen
Bake at 375

Cream Together:
2 cups shortening
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar

Add and beat until fluffy
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla

Stir in:
5 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 ½ cups flour

Mix well and add 1 cup each: raisins, nuts, coconut and chocolate chips. Drop onto lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 9-11 min.

Artichoke Dip

Bake at 350

14 oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped (use either plain or marinated)
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
8 oz. package cream cheese
1 large clove garlic, minced

Mix together mayo and cream cheese. Stir in parm and garlic. Fold in artichokes. Bake for 20-25 min until bubbly and lightly browned. Careful not to bake too long, the oils in the mayo and cheese will separate. Garnish with chopped tomatoes and green onions if ya like.

Spice it up a little with a small can of chopped green chilies.
orFold in a small box of frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained) with the artichokes.

Mama Leone’s Caesar Salad

Soak 24 hours
1 cove garlic crushed
¾ cup olive oil


2 cups bread cubes
2 lbs. romaine
½ teaspoon salt
2 eggs cooked 1 min.
3 tablespoons lemon juice
½ cup grated parmesian cheese

Sauté bread cubes in ¼ cup olive oil and garlic. Clean romaine and break into bite sized pieces. Grind on plenty of black pepper and add ½ cup olive oil. Toss well. Place shelled eggs in center of salad, add lemon juice and toss. Add cheese and bread cubes, toss and serve.

Grammie’s Corn Soup

3 cups chicken stock
8 ears sweet corn, kernels removed – save cobs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoons butter
½ sup onion, chopped
½ teaspoon nutmeg
4 drops Tabasco sauce
4 teaspoons minced chives
salt and pepper

Boil chicken stock add corn cobs and milk, simmer 5 min.
Remove and discard cobs. In another pan melt butter and sauté onions until soft. Add corn and nutmeg, toss and sauté 5 min. – Do not brown. Add to stock mixture along with Tabasco, salt and pepper. Simmer gently 20 min. puree 1/3 to ¼ of the soup until smooth. Stir puree back in and serve, or chill and serve cold.
The secret of this is using very sweet corn.

Cinnamon Apple Upside-Down Cake

1 box regular yellow cake mix
1 large Granny Smith Apple or 2 small Season Tart green apples
Palm full Cinnamon
Pinch Nutmeg
Palm full Brown sugar

Parchment paper
1 Deep round cake dish

~Follow box instructions for Yellow Cake
~add a few healthy dashes of cinnamon to batter.
~Remove the skins and cores from the apples
~Slice ¾ of the apples into thin half moon shapes.
~Dice the remaining 1/3 apple into small pieces and set aside.

~Toss apple slices with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg (these ingred should be to taste, none should overpower any other).
~Use parchment paper to line your baking pan (this will allow you to turn out your cake perfectly after baking).
~Layer spiced apple slices along bottom of baking dish
~pour in yellow cake batter and then sprinkle remaining diced apples over the top.

~Bake per the directions on the boxcheck the cake with a tooth pick to ensure the cake is fully cooked before removing from oven.

The small diced apples will have floated to the center of the cake. You should now be able to turn out your cake to reveal your lovely half moon apple slices on the top of your cake

Serving Suggestion:Drizzle with warmed caramel and serve along side of French vanilla ice cream, OR enjoy warm right out of the oven no extra additives needed.

Limoncello Reduction

1 cup limoncello (reduced over medium heat to ½ cup)
1 cup mascarpone cheese (softened)
1 cup non sweetened heavy whipping cream ( whipped to stiff peaks)
Optional:
1 small handful mint minced fine
1 tbsp lemon zest

~Slowly whisk the limoncello into the mascarpone cheese.
~Mix Well.
~Fold in the heavy whipping cream. (Use as few strokes as possible to combine in order to keep the light and airy nature of the whipped cream.)

This mixture makes an almost custard like dessert and should be served with fruit, angel food cake or alongside raspberry gelato.
Limoncello is an Italian liqueur. It is used in Italy to freshen and cleans the palate. You do not need to spend an exurbanite amount to get a good bottle, but you do want to get one good enough that you feel comfortable drinking it with the meal too.

Eclair Cake

In my opinion, a dessert that costs less than $5.00 to make is very frugal!  Especially, if you have the ingredients on hand.  I usually have most of the ingredients on hand for this simple and delicious dessert.

This is the next best thing to the real eclair!!

3 packages of graham crackers

2 small packages instant french vanilla pudding

8 oz. cool whip

chocolate frosting

Layer bottom of 9x13 pan with whole graham crackers.  Then add layer of pudding,  mixed according to package directions with cool whip.  Layer another layer of crackers, pudding and finally a layer of crackers.  Frost.  Refrigerate at least 6 hours.  I prefer overnight.

So Easy and so delicious!!! 

Bagel Sandwiches

1 Plain Bagel
cream cheese (aka Schmear LOL)
2-4 slices of deli ham

You get how to build it, right? Then nuke it till it hot (in my microwave that's about 30 seconds.)

Mmmmmm..... and easy.

Cafe Rio Pork Salad

Cafe Rio is a Mexican restaurant here in my state.  Oh man, it has the best food!!  It doesn't help that it is right across the street from my house either ;)  When my friend gave me this copy cat version of their pork salad.  I knew I had to try it!  We tried it once and got hooked!!

There are three parts to the salad: the rice, the pork and the dressing.

Lime-Cilantro Rice

2 tbsp. oil

4 c. long grain rice

6 cups water

1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

juice of 2 limes

2 tsp crushed garlic

Heat the oil in a large skillet.  Add the rice, cilantro and garlic.  Saute 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add water and lime juice.  Bring to boil.  Then reduce heat and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice (about 20 minutes)

Cafe Rio Pork

1 (16oz) bottle of salsa

1 can coke

2 c. brown sugar

4-5 lb. pork roast

Place pork in crock-pot and fill it half way up with water.  Cook roast on high for 5 hours.  Drain off water.  Cut pork in thirds.  Put back into crock-pot.  Mix together salsa, coke and brown sugar.  Pour over the top of pork.  Cook an additional 3 hours on high.  Shred pork with forks.  Leave it on low until ready to serve.

Note: I have used chicken as a substitute (It is pictured above)  It is just as good this way, as well.

Creamy Tomatilla Salad Dressing

1 pkg. hidden valley ranch buttermilk dressing

1 c. buttermilk

1 c. mayo or sour cream

2-3 tomatillas (peel off outer leaf/shell)

1 tsp. crushed garlic

3/4 bunch fresh cilantro

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

juice from 1 lime (2 tsp)

Salt and pepper

Blend all ingredients in blender.  Refrigerate.

Assembly: Put a tortilla on a plate.  Then put rice, pork, some chopped lettuce and the dressing.  (You can add beans as well) 

Finally, garnish salad with cheese, tomato, crushed tortilla chips, sliced avocados,etc.

Note: I strongly prefer the uncooked tortillas over regular old packaged tortillas.  Check the refrigerated section of your local grocery store.  Our Costco carries them too.  Just throw tortilla in a pan over the stove top, give it a few flips and it's cooked.

You can also serve this burrito style.  My kids like it a little bit better this way.  

Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

This is not a dish I grew up eating, but it's one of the few things my husband remembers his mom making--so it has sentimental value. I've found my absolute favorite recipe, which has a lot more flavor and actually makes me feel like I'm creating a meal rather than opening a can and throwing together a sloppy sandwich. Here it is:

Sloppy Joes

Brown:

2.5 lbs ground beef

2 lg onions, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Sprinkle in 1 Tbsp flour and stir.

Add:

1 pt ketchup

1 pt water

1 1/2 t curry powder

2 bay leaves

2 T Worcestershire sauce

· Simmer 1 1/2 hours, serve on deli rolls (not hamburger buns) and top meat with finely grated cheddar cheese, carmelized red onions, and crispy fried onions. Serve with homemade french fries or sweet potato fries and a green salad.

Meatball Stew

2 can chicken broth
2 cans diced tomato (or tomato sauce)
1-2 cups sliced carrot
1-2 cups sliced celery
1/2 chopped onion (optional)
20-25 frozen meatballs (more or less depending on size of your family)
1 1/2 cups dried pasta (any kind) (I really don't measure, this is a guess...)
Italian seasoning (probably 2-3 tablespoons) to taste
Garlic clove (or Garlic powder) to taste
olive oil

Pour a few tablespoons olive oil directly into your soup pot. Add raw diced vegetables. Saute until veggies are tender.

Add chicken broth and tomatoes. ( I normally used diced tomatoes and puree them before adding, but you could use sauce as well.) Bring to a boil. Season to your taste. (think similar to spaghetti sauce flavor)

Add frozen meatballs. Bring up to a boil again.

Add pasta directly into pot. This is a great time to use up little bits of whatever you have in the cabinet. Mini bowties, rotini, elbows, or shells work great. If you use spaghetti or fettucini noodles, just break them up into one inch sections.

Simmer until pasta is cooked through. (If it absorbs too much moisture, you can add more chicken broth or water.)

We serve it with grated cheese on top.

The picture above was taken after dinner was served and the noodles had absorbed some of the liquid. When I reheat, I will probably add more broth to return to soup-like consistency. Although it tastes fine as is, too...