New Years Party!

We are planning an all day, kid friendly new years eve. I have an English style menu planned and we are going to try to watch all 6 Harry Potter movies in one sitting. I searched the internet for recipe ideas, to round out a menu of Shepherd's pie and Yorkshire puddings. I found this recipe for butterbeer that we are trying. Let me know what you think.

Ingredients:1 pint real vanilla ice cream, (use a brand that includes vanilla seed specks for best flavor or make your own)1/4 cup real butter, at room temperature, 1/2 teaspoon butterscotch extract, (I couldn't find butterscotch extract so I used a small package of instant butterscotch pudding), 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1 quart apple cider, Apple slices for garnish, optional

Preparation:On medium speed, beat together vanilla ice cream, butter, butterscotch extract, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg until well-combined. Pour into a container and re-freeze.

When ready to serve, gently heat apple cider in a saucepan until steaming hot.

Place 1 scoop of ice cream in a thick soda glass or large mug. Top with steaming apple cider. Garnish with apple slices, if desired.

This looks like it would be good in a cup of hot coffee, too.

Barbecue Sandwiches

Because of the holidays and vacations in my house this week we are taking it pretty easy on the cooking. Today my husband is working in the shop with his brother installing the new toys they got for their trucks for Christmas. I wonder if boys every grow up!

I have put 1/2 a Boston butt roast in the crock pot with the remnants of the honey barbecue sauce left from last night's chicken. After 5 (or so) hours on high, I will set it out to cool, clean as much of the fat off it as I can and shred it for sandwiches tonight.

If I feel energetic I may make potato salad, but it can be served just as easily with chips or fries.

Enjoy your sandwich and your Tuesday!

Game Food!

I haven't been here lately. My husband has been on vacation, the kids are home from school for the Christmas holidays and my normal routine has been scattered to the winds. Tonight we are having a few of "the guys" over to watch a football game. I have made a bunch of appetizers to feed them.

The mini quiches (yes, real men eat quiche) are 5 eggs, 1/2 cup cream (or evaporated milk), 1/2 c shredded cheese and 2 ounces finely chopped ham. Mix well and pour into well greased and floured muffin or mini muffin pans. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes (till they start to brown and a knife in the center comes out clean. Let cool 15 minutes before removing.

Cocktail weenies wrapped in crescent roll dough are pretty self explanatory. Serve with dipping sauces like ketchup, barbecue sauce or honey mustard.

I am also serving chicken bites. I am starting with frozen chicken nuggets, prepared according to the package instructions. I have made a sauce with a couple tablespoons of honey, a tablespoon butter (melted) and a cup (or so) of your favorite barbecue sauce, combine in a pan over medium heat to a boil, then toss the chicken in the sauce. For the hot sauce, I have combined (in a pan over medium heat) a tablespoon of butter, a dash of garlic powder, cumin, paprika, and red and black pepper, a 1/2 c honey and a bottle of hot sauce and bring to a boil, toss with the chicken.

Enjoy the game!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Today we will celebrate Christmas with my in-laws. Because we are so many, we usually all make an appetizer or 2 and munch all night.

Today I am making party pizzas. Start with a loaf of rye cocktail bread, a pound of browned and drained sausage, a pound of Velveeta cheese, 1 t Worcestershire sauce and 1 T ketchup. Mix everything but the bread in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Continue heating and stirring every 30 seconds until the cheese is melted. Place a spoonful of sausage/cheese mixture on each slice of bread, bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes and serve.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with those you love.

Christmas Break!

Just so you all know I haven't forgotten you, I have been so busy with homemade Christmas gifts that I have sworn off cooking until after Christmas. I just can't do everything. Merry Christmas, I will see you again Saturday.

Dishpan Cookies

These are a favorite in my family. I got the recipe from one of Dad's aunts who makes the dough, freezes it, then can have fresh cookies at a moment's notice. They are called Dishpan cookies because the entire recipe makes so much dough you have to have a huge bowl (or dishpan) to make these. I have cut the recipe in half because I don't want to stand in the kitchen baking cookies for DAYS.

2 c brown sugar
2 c white sugar
1 c oil or butter
4 eggs
2 t vanilla
4 c SR flour
1 c coconut
1 cup quick oats
1 c chopped pecans
1 bag chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugars, add eggs and mix well. Add remaining ingredients, mixing well after each addition. Drop by spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. YUM!

Spaghetti Bake

Last night I cooked an elaborate meal for friends and we celebrated Christmas. Tonight I am looking forward to an easy meal shared with my family.

I will start out with a box of pasta (spaghetti, even shells or macaroni works well for this), cooked according to package directions. Mix with marinara sauce, a tub of ricotta, browned and drained sausage, pepperoni slices, whatever you like on your pizza. Pour into a casserole dish, top with a little more sauce, and lots of mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve with garlic bread or rolls and a salad and you have a yummy pizza pasta you can eat with a fork.

Happy Christmas Week!

Heavenly Yeast Bread

This is a total favorite around here. I don't make it often because it is a little trouble (too much dough for the bread machine) but it does make a lot so I can freeze some for later. Make sure you have time for this, it takes a while to knead and rise. It can also be cut in half for fewer loaves

2 packages yeast
1 c warm water
1 c boiling water
1/3 c sugar
1/3 c shortening
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
2 1/2 c cold water
4 -4 1/2 pounds self rising flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water, set aside. In a large bowl, stir together boiling water, sugar, shortening until shortening melts. Add milk, cold water and yeast mixture (make sure the yeast goes in last). Stir in 4 cups flour and beat until smooth. Add enough additional flour to make a stiff dough. On a floured surface, knead until smooth, 8-10 minutes. Divide dough, placing 1/2 in each of 2 greased bowls. cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Punch dough down, knead lightly and shape into 5 loaves. Place in greased loaf pan, cover with a damp towel and let rise until double. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

If you want to freeze some of these, separate into 5 equal portions and wrap what you want to freeze. You can also freeze them in greased foil loaf pans. When you are ready for them, let them thaw, then rise till double and bake. Enjoy!

Chocolate Pie

My dear husband is going Christmas shopping with they guys tonight. I think the kids and I will have an easy supper (maybe something from the quesadilla maker) but today I am making a pie for the teachers luncheon at school. This is an easy, never-fail chocolate creme pie. I will list the recipe as given to me by my mother and I will list my changes at the end.

1 1/4 c sugar
3/4 c SF flour
3 T cocoa powder
3 eggs, separated
2 1/2 c milk
2 T butter
2 t vanilla
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/2 c sugar

Mix first 3 ingredients in a saucepan and set aside. In a bowl combine egg yolks and milk, mix well. Add to sugar mixture, mix well, add butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick (really thick, like wallpaper paste). Remove from heat and add vanilla, mix well. Pour into a pie crust (unbaked) and set aside. In a cold metal bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and sugar on high until stiff peaks form. Spread over chocolate filling and bake at 325 for 25-28 minutes.

Now, I usually use chocolate chips (about a cup) or baker's chocolate squares (3) instead of cocoa. We like our chocolate really dark, so I use unsweetened or semi-sweet chocolate squares. If you use chocolate instead of cocoa you can omit the butter.

Enjoy the pie while it is warm.

Easy Party Sandwiches

My aunts, uncles and cousins gathered last weekend to celebrate Christmas. My mom brought this dish and the recipe has been repeatedly requested, so I thought I would share. One important thing, when it says butter, it means the real thing, margarine is just too watery for this. These are great on game day, or for a potluck, or just an easy supper.

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 onion, grated
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons prepared Dijon-style mustard
2 (12 ounce) packages white party rolls (Kings Hawaiian rolls are really good for these, too)
1/2 pound sliced cooked ham
5 ounces sliced Swiss cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a pan, mix together butter, poppy seeds, onion, Worcestershire sauce and prepared Dijon-style mustard and bring to a boil, remove from heat. Slice rolls in half horizontally and set aside tops. Leave rolls connected in a sheet. Top with ham and Swiss cheese. Replace tops. Arrange rolls in a single layer in a medium baking dish. Pour butter mixture evenly over the tops. Bake in the preheated oven 10 to 12 minutes, until rolls are lightly browned and cheese is melted. Cut apart and serve.

Chicken and Dumplings

I didn't post anything yesterday because I just could get inspired. I just didn't care what we had for supper. Today, however, I am on top of things. I have a chicken in the crock pot, with a can of broth, pepper, garlic, rosemary, thyme and onion. After it cooks on high for 5-6 hours or low for 8-10 hours I will clean up the meat and set 1/2 of it aside for a casserole for tomorrow. The other half I will chop fine and use with my dumplings.

For the dumplings I will mix flour, a dash of sugar, butter, milk and an egg to get a sticky dough. Drop into the boiling broth you cooked the chicken in a cover. Simmer for 20 minutes, add the chicken and enjoy supper. Happy Tuesday!

Potato Soup

This is a cold, rainy Sunday and I am thinking a big pot of potato chowder would be fabulous for supper tonight.

I will begin by sauteing 6 slices of bacon, finely chopped, until crisp. Set the bacon aside to drain. Saute a 1/4 cup chopped onion in the same pan until soft, drain. In a large pot, boil 2 pounds of peeled, cubed potatoes and 2-3 chopped carrots till tender in 3 cans of chicken broth. Add a can of sweet corn, a cup chopped ham, the sauteed onion, a 1/2 t celery seed (I like broccoli in mine, but no one else here does so I will leave that out). Bring to a boil. Add a can of cream of chicken soup, reduce heat to a bare simmer and add a packaged of shredded Velveeta cheese and a healthy spoonful of sour cream. Stir over very low heat, until the cheese melts and the chowder is creamy.

Serve with fresh hot bread and enjoy your Sunday.

Gnocchi

After many years of watching entirely too many cooking shows, and wondering what on earth gnocchi even were, I finally managed to teach myself to make them. They are actually quite easy and my kids love them.

Tonight I am starting with some left-over mashed potatoes from earlier in the week. I will add an egg, some seasoned salt, a little shredded cheese and enough flour to make a workable dough. Working with small amounts, knead, then roll into a "snake". Cut into 1 inch peices and roll into balls. Refridgerate. When you are ready to cook them, bring a pan of broth ( or water and bullion) to a boil, drop the gnocchi in a few at a time, and remove when they float.

These can be served with a variety of sauce, but we like them plain, as a side dish. Be creative. Happy Friday.

Winter! (That Means Cold!)

As I write this, it is 19 degrees outside. That is just entirely too cold. My dog won't even go outside. I planned for this.

I have a crock pot full of white beans, that will be bean soup by suppertime. I used dried beans that I soaked overnight (but you can use canned beans, just rinse them well). To the beans I added a clove of garlic, a slice of onion, a package of pre-cubed ham, a couple carrots, shredded, a couple potatoes, cubed, a can of chicken broth and a couple cups of water. I also added a dash of liquid smoke because we like that smoky flavor. If you use canned beans, you only need to cook this until the veggies are tender. I have mine in the crock pot on low for 8-10 hours.

Mix up a package of cornbread muffin mix and you have a warm, yummy home-cooked meal for a cold, miserable night.

Happy Thursday!

Pork Chops

The weather is nasty and windy today, so I am planning a meal for supper that I can make entirely on the stove top if I need to, because my lights keep flickering and if the power goes out I can't use my oven.

I have a package of center cut pork loin chops, seasoned with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic and rosemary. Sear these in a hot skillet on both sides, then reduce the heat and cover. A little water or broth will help keep these tender and moist. While they cook I will prepare according to the package a box of pork flavored stuffing mix. Round out the meal with mashed potatoes and green beans and supper is ready.

These chops could also be baked or grilled, seasoned just like this. I might bake them on top of the prepared stuffing if I can.

Hopefully the wind will stop blowing and the lights will stay on. Happy Wednesday.

Pasta!

Before I sent my babies out the door this morning, my baby girl said "Mom, can we have sketti, tonight?" How could I deny a request like that? So tonight we are having spaghetti. (Supper is so much easier if someone else plans it)

I am starting with a couple jars of spaghetti sauce, a pound of ground beef (browned and drained), a little extra garlic, oregano, basil and a dash of red wine. I like to let it all simmer for an hour or two, but don't worry about it if you don't have time. When I serve it, my kids like a slice of Velveeta cheese on top of the pasta, under the sauce. It will melt and make the sauce very creamy. Sprinkle a little mozzarrella and some parm on top.

I am planning to make a side salad and a loaf of garlic bread to go with it. YUM!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Game Food (again)

This is another cold Sunday. My husband is working today and will be getting home late. I want to have something warming to feed him when he gets here. I have some split chicken breasts that I have boned, and cut into strips (like chicken tenders) soaking in buttermilk spiked with crushed red pepper and a dash or 2 of hot sauce. I will dredge it in a mixture of flour, salt,pepper, red pepper, paprika and chili powder, then into egg, then cornmeal, then bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes. I will serve these with fries, and some sausage won tons. ( I just received the recipe for these and they look really good.)

1 package ranch dressing mix
2 pounds hot sausage, browned and drained
8 ounces sour cream
2 package shredded cheese
1 package won ton wraps

Put won tons in a mini muffin pan (use a shot glass to form won tons) bake 5 minutes at 350, let cool. Mix sausage, sour cream, dressing mix and cheese. Fill won tons and cook 5 more minutes. Place a layer in a crock pot, cover with wax paper, and repeat till you have all won tons in crock pot. Set crock pot to keep won tons warm and moist.

Crazy Day

Today is a crazy busy day. My 10 year old has a Robotics competition so I have to run with him today. Usually I would plan ahead and out something in my crock pot, but I think I will take the easy (lazy) way out today. Before I head home later, I will pick up a pizza, yummy! Happy Saturday!

Roast Beef Sandwiches

I don't know where my mind has been, unless the approaching holiday is making me crazy. You would think after 6 months of doing this every day, it would be habit, but I almost forgot today. I guess that is OK, I did just start supper right now.

I melted a little butter in a heavy skillet, added a slice of onion and a handful of chopped celery. When the veggies get tender, I will brown a chuck roast on both sided, then add a can of beef broth and cover. Simmer on low for several hours. When the roast is tender, shred it, add a little barbecue sauce and serve on a bun, with pickles and onions.

Add baked potatoes and cole slaw and you have supper. Easy as pie.

Normally I would cook the beef in the crock pot, but my husband's work had a potluck today and I sent baked beans to work in my crock pot. I think they owe me something for making my supper harder to fix, don't you?

Lazy, Rainy Day

It is cold and dreary outside, so today I am focusing on non-cooking projects I have been working on, Christmas ornaments, picture frames, etc. That means supper is going to be a quick, low-mess affair tonight.

I am making sandwiches. I will start with Kings Hawaiian bread, sliced, some of them will have honey mustard, turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese, others will be identical except I will use pesto instead of the honey mustard. Assemble the sandwiches, then grill them in a hot skillet or a press. Serve with a salad and fries or baked potatoes and you have a quick easy meal.

Happy Rainy Day!

Chili, again . . .

Last night, we had chili. Tonight, leftover chili. We love chili dogs. They are so easy, grill a package of hot dogs, reheat the chili, top the dogs with chili, pickle relish, cheese, chopped onions, mustard, what ever. Fries or baked potato, and you have a yummy satisfying supper with almost no work. Happy Chili Day