Christmas Morning

Our traditional role in Christmas morning is breakfast. I make a big breakfast and my parents, Jeff's parents, my sister and her significant other and anyone else who wants to, comes over to see what Santa brought the kids.

Most of what I make can be done the day before and refrigerated till morning when they are popped in the oven before everyone gets here. My mom has made these biscuits for years. These yeasty biscuits are even better if they sit in the fridge for a day or 2 before baking, just make sure to cover them well.

Angel Biscuits
2 1/2 c self rising flour
2 T sugar
1/2 c shortening or butter
1 T warm water
1 packet yeast
1 c buttermilk

Mix dry ingredients, cut shortening into dry ingredients until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Dissolve yeast in warm water, stir into buttermilk. Mix liquid into dry ingredients to make a stiff dough. Roll to 1/2 inch thickness on a floured board and cut into 2 inch biscuits.

While mixing biscuits melt 1/2 stick butter in your pan, add biscuits to hot butter, bake at 400 for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Another favorite of ours is Facelift Casserole. I have no idea where the name came from, this is another dish my mom has made for as long as I can remember.

Facelift Casserole

1 dozen eggs, scrambled
1 pound of breakfast sausage, browned, crumbled and drained
1 8 oz package of shredded cheese
2 slices of white bread, cubed
1 t dry mustard
dash pepper

Mix all ingredients well, pour into casserole dish and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 until set and beginning to brown. Yum!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Comfort Food

It is an icy, yucky day. The kids are home from school and I am thinking that something warm and comfortable sounds really good for supper. To me comfort food means one of two dishes, potato soup or chicken and dumplings. Because my husband thinks we should have meat at every meal, chicken and dumplings it is.

I am making these on the stove top today because I am home and don't mind, but all the chicken and seasoning can be dumped in the crock pot before you head out to work if you want.

In a big pot (I use an enormous cast iron stock pot) melt a couple tablespoons of butter, add to that, 1 rib of celery, chopped, 1/2 cup onion, chopped and 1 small carrot, chopped. Let them cook till they start to brown. Add 1 whole chicken, brown on all sides, add 1 gallon water, 2-3 chicken bullion cubes, a couple cloves of garlic, 8 - 10 black peppercorns, 2-3 sprigs rosemary and thyme (about 1 teaspoon of each herb) and cover. Simmer till the chicken is falling off the bone, several hours, stirring occasionally. When the chicken is done, set him aside to cool. Strain the broth, and separate off the fat. Put the broth back in the pot and reduce it by half.

If you want to use canned biscuits for dumplings ( after all that work, the chicken deserves better!) you can, but I will mix 2 cups of self rising flour, 1/2 stick of butter and enough milk to make a biscuit like dough and drop it by spoonfuls into the boiling broth, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. NO PEEKING!

Clean up and chop the chicken meat, add to the dumplings when they are done, stir to combine and serve. If your chicken was very big, you should have plenty for chicken enchiladas or chicken salad tomorrow.

Taco Pie

It is a cold dreary day with ice and snow forecast for tonight. This is a take on a meal I vaguely remember from my childhood, with a few of my own touches thrown in for good measure. It is basically a taco, baked in a crust. I think my kids will like it and I hope you do too.

Mix up a package of corn muffin mix, I added some frozen corn for texture, and spread it in the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 400 until set. While the corn bread bakes, brown and crumple a pound of ground beef and season with a packet of taco seasoning. When the corn bread is done, spread with 1 can of refried beans, 1 can of black beans, the ground beef, and top with a package of shredded cheese. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes. Cut into squares and serve, topped with your favorite taco toppings.

If you make this, let me know what you think. Happy Snow Day!

Feeling Fudgy!

Yesterday I posted a recipe for bourbon balls, they are sitting in my fridge waiting to be dipped in chocolate. Today I am making peanut butter fudge. This recipe can be made with crunchy or creamy peanut butter, depending on your preference. I will have to make two batches because the kids and I like creamy and my husband likes crunchy!

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
2 1/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over confectioners' sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth; pour into an 8x8 inch dish. Chill until firm and cut into squares.

I use real butter, but you can use margarine. As always, if it is raining, this probably won't set up. It has something to do with the humidity in the air, although I have heard that you can reduce the liquid but 1 or 2 tablespoons to make up for this.

Happy Saturday!

Candy Anyone?

I was lazy cooking supper tonight (frozen pizza) because I have been mixing up Christmas candy. I am making bourbon balls, fudge (chocolate and peanut butter) and peanut butter balls. Tonight I will share the recipe for the bourbon balls.

In a container with a lid, mix 1 c chopped nut (I used pecans), 5 T bourbon and let sit overnight. In a separate bowl, mix 1/2 cup softened butter and 1 pound powdered sugar, fold in nut/bourbon mixture. Roll into balls and refrigerate overnight. Melt a package of chocolate chips and dip the bourbon balls into the chocolate, sit on waxed paper to cool, store in the fridge.

The longer they sit, the better they get. Enjoy!

EEEWWW!!! Brussel Sprouts!

Tonight I was lazy! I had some leftover chili in the freezer, thawed it out and made chili dogs, tater tots with bacon and cheese and Brussels sprouts. The sprouts are a favorite of mine (and one child) and I bought a big bag of fresh ones. I guess we will eat them every night until they are gone. Tonight I caramelized them with toasted pecans.

Melt a tablespoon or so of butter in a heavy skillet and add about 1/4 cup chopped onions. Let the onions cook until clear, then add 1/4 cup slivered nuts (I used pecans, but almonds, pistachios, almost anything would work). While the onions caramelize, steam the cleaned and halved sprout (frozen will work fine for this too) til nearly done. When the onions have begun browning and the nuts are toasty, add the sprouts and 2 T sugar, and cook till everything is nicely brown. Finish with about a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and serve. YUM!

Apple and Onion Pork Chops

This is a very seasonal dish. It just seems "fall" to me. I serve it with sweet potatoes and turnips (I am the only one who actually eats the turnips) to round out the seasonal feel.

Start by melting a couple tablespoons of butter in a heavy skillet. Add a couple thick slices of onion (feel free to use more, my husband just isn't a big fan) and cook till starting to brown. Add the pork chops and brown on both sides. Then slice 2 apples, peeled and cored,(or more if your family likes them a lot) over the chops, sprinkle with 1/4 c brown sugar, 1/2 t cinnamon and cover. Simmer on low until the meat is very tender.

The kids and I like the apples and pork together, my picky husband only eats the meat. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. Happy Tuesday!

Crockpot Beef Stew

It is a cold, dreary morning outside and doesn't seem much better in the house. My husband was called in to work on his day off and will be working outside in the cold and wet all day. I think today is a good time to fall back on an easy, comforting favorite, stew.

This recipe is so easy, a can of cream of mushroom soup (cream of celery is good, too) a can of cheddar cheese soup, mixed together, with a packet of onion soup mix. (I like the flavor of the onion soup mix but I have to pour it through a sifter because my husband just can't handle the onions.) Pour the soup mixture in your crock pot, add a package of beef stew meat, and about a pound each peeled and cubed carrots and potatoes. Cook for 8-9 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high. Serve with good bread or biscuits. Super easy and yummy, too.

If you have never tried them, this is a good recipe to use a slow cooker liner. There is no mess, just throw the liner away after supper, wipe out the crock pot and put it away. Happy Saturday.

All Sorts of Yummy, Wrapped Up in an Egg

Tonight we are having omelets. Totally yummy, easy and customizable.

I have 3 kinds of meat, sausage, bacon and ham, plus tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, mushroom, hash browns, and cheese. I like everything, Sabrina wants only cheese, Jeff will only eat the meat and cheese and Stephen wants his wrapped in a tortilla because he doesn't like eggs. I added a can of biscuits (yes, lazy is biscuits in a can), made gravy and called it supper.

Omelets make a great quick supper, ham can be bought chopped, bacon comes in bits, shredded cheese and done. Enjoy your easy Friday night. (They are pretty easy for Saturday morning, too)

It's Been a While . . . ,

I haven't been here in a while, I guess I just fell out of the habit of posting every morning. As some of you may know I have recently gone back to work (outside the home) and that makes the act of planning and cooking supper more of a chore and less of a joy. In an effort to re-inspire myself (and you), I am back at my keyboard, to share my ideas.

Tonight I am making crispy pork over rice. I started with a family sized package of boneless pork ribs, cut into about 1 inch chunks. Toss the pork with 2 t cumin, 2 t Italian seasoning, 1 t garlic powder, 1 t onion powder (I like 1 t red pepper, too, but my kids think that is too hot). Put this in the fridge and go to work, it will marinate while you are gone. When you get home, drizzle about 2 T olive oil in a pan large enough for the meat to lay in one layer, and preheat the pan and the oven to 375. Add to pork and stir every 15 minutes or so until done and crisp (about an hour). Make enough rice to feed your family, set the pork out of the pan, and scrape up all the yummy bits off the bottom, into a pan with a can of beef broth. Simmer til reduced about 1/2. Serve the pork over the rice, with the broth over the top.

I am serving potatoes and Lima beans on the side. Please let me know if you try this and like it.

It's that time of year again

I haven't posted here in quite a long time. I was beginning to feel like I was repeating myself every few days. Now, in honor of my favorite time of year, (football season kicks off tomorrow night) I have been searching for different kinds of finger foods to serve during the game.

I like things I can make in advance and reheat as needed. I also like things that my kids like, because it makes them look forward to game days, too. My youngest asked for mac and cheese, which is far from finger food, but I decided to try and this is what I came up with.

1 box mac and cheese (the type with the sauce, not the powder), prepared as directed
Let the mac and cheese cool, then add 1 T Worchestershire sauce, 1/2 t each onion powder and ground red pepper, mix well. Stir in one beaten egg and 1/2 c bread crumbs. Spoon into a mini muffin pan (well coated with cooking spray), sprinkle with extra breadcrumbs and press into cups. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown like mac and cheese should be.

Let them sit for about 5 minutes to set, then remove from pan. Wow! Mac and Cheese you can eat with your fingers.

Finger Foods!

I have been in a total junk food mood this week, so tonight I am faking it. I have set up a breading station (3 bowls, flour in one, beaten egg in the next, breadcrumbs in the last) and am making food that seems bad for you but isn't. I am making chicken tenders (buffalo sauce is optional), onion rings, squash and zucchini slices, dill pickles, all sorts of yummy stuff, sprayed with oil and baked in a hot oven (425) till GB and D (that is Good Eats speak for golden brown and delicious).

Happy Friday!

Ham Hash!

Everybody loves easy meals. Even people that love to cook want something they can just throw together sometimes. Tonight I am looking for a meal like that. Yesterday I cooked a smoked picnic shoulder in the crock pot. It was fantastic, falling apart tender, and made an amazing ham sandwich for supper last night. Tonight I am going to make "breakfast for supper " with the left overs.

I will start by frying up a bag of frozen hash browns. This is the base for the meal. My darling, picky husband will eat these, the ham chopped up on top and sprinkled with cheese and that is it, but the kids and I like other things on ours.

In a small skillet, melt a bit of butter and saute some chopped sweet onion until brown (or nearly so). Set aside. In the same skillet saute some sliced mushrooms, too. This step can be done together, but I like both and the kids each like one or the other, so I can't mix them. Chop the ham and mix into the finished hash browns. Top with the onions, mushrooms (bell peppers are nice, too) and sprinkle with shredded cheese. When you spoon onto the plate, top each serving with a fried egg.

Add biscuits on the side and you have an easy, quick, "breakfast" for whatever meal you want.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Too Hot to Cook (inside)

The heat index yesterday was 103. Today is supposed to be similar, so we are holed up in a dim house, all the curtains and blinds closed to keep out the heat, pondering what to fix for supper.

My kids have been begging for pizza, so this morning at the grocery I bought a couple pre-baked pizza crusts. When I am ready to fix supper, I will preheat my grill, brush both sides of the crust with olive oil and grill the top for a few minutes (till it has grill marks on it). Turn the crust over and top with sauce, whatever toppings you like (we will have sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, fresh from the garden bell peppers and tomatoes and black olives on ours) and cheese. Turn the heat down to low. Close the grill, but check on the pizza every few minutes. It may not brown quite like a pizza in the oven, but when the cheese is melted and bubbly and everything is hot, it is ready.

Pizza on the grill is a great way to keep from heating up the house on a hot summer day.

I will also grill some squash (just because I have it on hand) to go with this.

As if Hot Dogs Aren't Bad Enough

My kids call these Barbecue Bacon Dogs and they LOVE them. I mean really, can you screw anything up (especially a hot dog) by adding bacon?

For this recipe I like the pre-cooked bacon you can get at the store because it is cooked, but still soft enough to wrap around the hot dog. The bacon will crisp up on the grill. As you grill the hot dogs, baste them with barbecue sauce. When they are nearly done, cut a slit down the length of the dog, and fill with cheese, wrap the dog with bacon and return to the grill until the bacon is done and the cheese is melted. Serve on a but with whatever topping you like. Bratwurst work well for these, too.

I will serve these with fries and grilled veggies (tonight I am cooking some okra I froze last summer and some fresh squash from Daddy's garden.)

Happy Thursday everyone!

Grilled Rosemary Chicken and Veggies

Today you get 2 yummy recipes in one great post! Fresh veggies are starting to overflow from my Dad's garden, squash, zucchini, peppers, cabbage, yum! Hopefully my garden isn't far behind, but for now I must be content harvesting his yummies. This is a recipe for a marinade that is fantastic on chicken and veggies, but don't use it all because it makes a great sauce to serve all this grilled goodness over rice or couscous.

The second recipe is for flatbread, whick my oldest child loves to use to wrap the grilled chicken and veggies and eat it all as a sandwich. I hope you like them both.


Ingredients
1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup ranch dressing, 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste, 1 tablespoon white sugar, 5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into strips

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with about 1/2 the marinade. Add sliced veggies to the other half, I am using squash, zucchini, and mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. . Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken and veggies until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear. Thiis is good as it is or served over rice. Heat the marinade used on the veggies and drizzle over the top. YUM!

Ingredients
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast, 1 cup warm water, 1/4 cup white sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 egg, beaten, 2 teaspoons salt, 4 1/2 cups bread flour, 2 teaspoons minced garlic (optional), 1/4 cup butter.

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes, until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface, or until smooth. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Let it rise 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in volume. Punch down dough, and knead in garlic ( I don't use the garlic in this recipe, I think it is too strong). Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls, and place on a tray. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. During the second rising, preheat grill to high heat. At grill side, roll one ball of dough out into a thin circle. Lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter, and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter, and cook until browned, another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from grill, and continue the process until all the bread has been prepared.

This can also be cooked in a large skillet, since your grill will be full of chicken and veggies. Fill these flatbreads with the chicken and veggies, roll up and eat.

Happy Tuesday!

leftovers!

Over Mothers Day weekend my husband and I filled up a borrowed smoker with Boston butts so we could feed his family on the holiday. After the party was over we cleaned up the leftover meat, separated it into meal sized portions and froze it for later. Today is later.

I am planning barbecue pork sandwiches for supper. Shred/chop the pork, add enough water to stir, about 1/4 c each Worcestershire sauce and barbecue sauce, simmer till thick and serve on buns with pickles, onions, whatever you like. I am making potato salad and slaw to go with this. If you follow these posts, you will have seen my potato salad recipe before, so here is how I make slaw:

Shred a 1/2 head of cabbage, add 2-3 cored, chopped sweet apples (we like gala), and a couple carrots, shredded. Some people add onion, but we don't like onion so I don't add it. For the dressing, mix 3/4 cup mayo with 3 T sugar, 2 T vinegar and mix well. My daughter likes about 1/4 cup of raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing mixed in. Toss with the cabbage mixture and chill.

Happy Monday!

chicken for . . .

Tonight I am planning to make chicken roll ups, one of my favorites, but I am planning ahead, too. Already cooked, seasoned chicken is a very useful thing to have around.

I have a family size package of split chicken breast (about 6) in the crock pot. They are soaking up the flavor of (1/3-1/3 c)soy sauce, (1 tablespoon each) sugar, vinegar, cayenne pepper, black pepper, (2 teaspoons each) liquid smoke, chili powder, garlic powder, and (1 teaspoon) onion powder, mixed with water to cover the chicken. Let this cook on high for 6-8 hours, the remove the chicken so it can cool enough to handle. Clean up the meat and chop it, layer into a large tortilla with your favorite sandwich toppings, cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado, bacon, whatever, and roll up. I will serve these with fries and slaw, but chips are even easier.

Tomorrow, the rest of the chicken is already seasoned and perfect for enchiladas, nachos, what ever sounds good. Happy Friday!

Banana Bread

This has been a crazy few days, trying to get things ready for a long holiday weekend. Somehow I have forgotten to pack the bananas I bought into the kids lunches, so now, on top of everything else, I need to make banana bread. It is a good thing I have a quick, easy recipe.

3 bananas, mashed, blend in 3/4 c sugar and 1 egg, beaten. Stir in 1/4 c. melted butter, then 2 c. self rising flour. Pour into a loaf pan, bake at 350 for an hour.

I think, because of the running we will be doing this weekend, I will make these into mini-muffins. That way they will be easy, grab and go, finger foods.

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone.

Breakfast Pizza!

Tonight I am feeling lazy after a busy day, so I am planning a pretty easy meal for supper tonight.

Start with a package of hash browns, cooked, then pressed into a heavy skillet. Top with a pound of sausage, browned and drained. Over this, pour 4 eggs, scrambled and 1 cup shredded cheese. Cover the skillet and cook on medium low until the bottom is browned and the eggs are done.

Serve with biscuits and call supper easy and yummy!

Fried Chicken

If you are looking for a healthy alternative to an old fashioned favorite, look somewhere else because this isn't it. I am craving the real deal, homemade fried chicken and since I am the head cook and bottle washer around here, I get to cook what I want.

Out of laziness I am starting with boneless, skinless chicken breasts rather than a whole chicken. The meat is soaking an a bath of milk, lemon juice (2-3 T) and a dash or 2 of red pepper. This will make everything nice and moist. When I am ready to cook, I will heat an inch of vegetable oil in a heavy (read that as cast iron) skillet with a lid. Drain the chicken, dredge in flour, dip in egg wash (1 egg, beaten with 1 T water or milk) the into flour seasoned with onion powder, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper and lay on a plate to rest. Dredge all the chicken before you start to fry, so the batter can rest a bit. It will help the batter stay on the chicken. Fry, covered for about 5 minutes a side, then uncover and let crisp up a bit.

In accordance with tradition, I am serving this with mashed potatoes, biscuits, gravy and green beans. There is nothing healthy about this meal, but it sure is yummy.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Breakfast for Supper!

Have you missed me? This is the first post I have been able to write this week because my modem crashed and I was disconnected all week!!!

Today is a cloudy yucky Friday and I am trying to get my housework caught up for the weekend so tonight is going to be pretty simple, breakfast. To start, I will brown, crumble and drain a pound of sausage. Fry a package of frozen hash brown in a heavy skillet with a little onion, add the sausage, and whatever veggies you like. My kids don't want anything in this but the potatoes and sausage, but I like mushrooms, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, whatever. Sprinkle with cheese, top with a fried egg and serve with biscuits. Quick, easy and yummy. Leftovers re-heat well for tomorrow's breakfast, too.

Happy Friday everyone!!

Chicken and Dumpling Stew

Because I am tackling a major chore today (more like all week) I need an easy supper tonight. I am scrubbing and re-finishing all my cabinet doors. As usual, crock pot to the rescue!

I have a large package of chicken thighs in the crock pot, with water, bullion cubes, rosemary, thyme, garlic and pepper. When the chicken is done I will let it cool, strain and cool the juice it cooked in, then clean up the chicken and chop it. Pour the juice into a large pot, add 3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped, 4-5 potatoes, peeled and cubed, a good handful each of frozen peas and frozen corn, simmer till the veggies are done, reduce heat and add the dumplings (the recipe has been posted here before), a teaspoonful at a time, cover and let cook for 20 minutes (no peeking). Add the chicken, stir to combine, then thicken with a little flour or cornstarch. A whole meal in one bowl!

Happy Monday!

Easy Casserole

This is a dish I make when I just can't get inspired. My kids LOVE it, my husband eats it without complaint and it brings back memories because my mom made it when I was a kid. Brown and drain a pound of ground beef, stir in a can of corn (drained) or 2 cups of frozen corn, a can of cream of something soup (I like mushroom), 1 cup shredded cheese and stir. Dump into a casserole dish, top with a bag of frozen hash browns, bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Supper is finished, with very little fuss. Maybe tomorrow I will be more inspired!

grilling out . . .

It is a beautiful sunshiny day here in the greater metropolitan area of Whitesville and I am planning on grilling my supper tonight. I bought a family sized package of country style spare ribs at the store this week. I have them simmering in a crock pot, seasoned with 1 c barbecue sauce, 1/2 c each Worcestershire sauce and vinegar, 1/4 c brown sugar and a dash or 2 of hot sauce. About an hour before I am ready to grill these, I will remove them from the crock pot and let them cool a bit, so they don't fall apart on the grill. Baste them with the sauce from the crock pot while they grill. YUM!!!

I am probably going to be lazy and bake a bag of fries to go with these, but I also have some corn on the cob I bought fresh this week. Soak it in water for 20 or 30 minutes (in the shuck) and toss it on the grill with the ribs. Now I have a nice, simple supper and we are ready to go play in the yard some more.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Today is my husband's birthday. I am working on a very special supper for him, some of his favorite things. I have a pork tenderloin marinating in a sauce made of teriyaki, bourbon, pineapple juice and hot sauce, loaded baked potatoes, baby Lima beans, and a salad made of fresh lettuce from my dad's garden. After the pork has marinated all day, I will sear it in melted butter in a hot skillet, then grill it. I will caramelize mushrooms and onions in the skillet, then add a little beef broth and red wine to make a pan sauce to serve over the pork.

While supper will be yummy by itself, what is a birthday dinner without a special dessert? Jeff's favorite is pecan pie, so that is what he gets. I will cheat and use a frozen pie crust, but the rest is from scratch.

4 eggs, 1 c packed brown sugar, 3/4 c light corn syrup, 5 T melted butter, 1 t vanilla, all mixed well, 2 cups pecans, stirred in, pour into the crust and bake at 375 40-45 minutes, let cool 1 - 1 1/2 hours before slicing. If it is still a little warm when you cut it, it may run a little, but it will also melt the vanilla ice cream you scoop on top.

Happy Wednesday everyone, Happy Birthday, Jeff.

Mothers Day

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. We will enjoy a nice lunch at my grandmother's house with her, my parents, several aunts, uncles and cousins, then we will come home to CHAOS! My wonderful husband's family is coming over for supper. All of them, his parents, his sister and her husband and their 2 boys, his brother, his wife and their 3 boys. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but it will seem like a lot when they get here and bring their drama with them. To make it easier, we are loading up a wood fired smoker today for the main dish for tomorrow. I have 2 Boston butts, a rack of ribs and a beef brisket ready to go. They are all rubbed with a spice blend I put together, then smoked for several hours on a low fire while several beers are consumed. They will be basted with a sauce consisting of vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and other things, but the secret is in the rub, which I am happy to share with you.

ingredients
1 c brown sugar
1/2 cup paprika
3 tablespoons chili powder
5 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons garlic salt
3 tablespoons onion powder
2 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 1/2 tablespoons dried thyme

Rub into meat and cook. This can be used on the grill or a smoker, it is a little spicy, so reduce the black pepper if you wish. Happy Saturday everyone.

Cinco de Mayo

It is traditional in my house to coordinate the meal with the day. For example, we eat corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. Today is Cinco de Mayo, which is Independence Day for Mexico. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, we are having tacos (chicken and beef) tonight. My family has a picky eater, she will only eat chicken tacos, she has to have a certain kind of cheese, and she want guacamole, but it has to be homemade. So today I am making homemade guacamole.

I start with 1 avocado, which I have let sit out overnight to soften. After scooping the avocado out of the skin, I mash it well, add a dash of onion powder, a dash of garlic salt, 2 finely chopped jalapeno pepper rings (no seeds) and about a teaspoon of lime juice. If I have fresh tomatoes (which I don't) I will finely chop a small tomato into the mix, but tonight I will add a spoonful of well drained mild salsa. Mix everything well, spoon onto a piece of plastic wrap and wrap well, try to remove all the air, or the guacamole will turn brown before you eat it. Serve with chips or on your taco.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Beer Chicken

I tried this recipe last night, and it was really good. My picky eater ate a whole chicken breast.

Melt 1/2 stick butter, add 1 beer, 1 teaspoon each thyme and rosemary, 1 clove garlic, crushed and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer and pour over chicken breasts in a shallow pan. I let them marinate for about an hour, then basted them with the marinade as they grilled. The chicken was very tender and juicy, not dry at all.

I served these with cheesy ranch potatoes (a bag of hash browns, mixed with 1 c ranch dressing and 1 c shredded cheese, bakes at 400 for 35-40 minutes) and green beans. Look Mom, no leftovers!

Happy Tuesday!

Beans and Taters!

One of my husband's favorite meals is bean soup and cornbread. Because he has to work this rainy, dreary Sunday, while the kids and I are being lazy, I am making this for him tonight for supper. After soaking a pound of great northern beans overnight, I put them in the crock pot with a can of chicken broth, a chicken bullion cube, a slice of onion, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and black pepper, a dash of liquid smoke, 4 carrots, chopped, 4-5 potatoes, peeled and cubed, a slice of country ham and 4 cups of water. (Keep an eye on it, you may need to add more water) I will let this all simmer on high in the crock pot all day. Before serving, remove the slice of ham, trim to remove any fat or bone, then finely chop the meat and return to the beans. Serve with cornbread.

When he comes in from work tonight he will peek into the crock pot and say the same thing he always does when I fix this. I think he just likes to watch me roll my eyes at him, "What a meal, beans and taters!"

Happy Sunday everyone!

Ribs!

My son has been craving ribs for some time. He has asked for them repeatedly and I just haven't had time. I found a big slab of St. Louis style ribs on sale at the grocery this week and am cooking them for him tonight. I will start out with a rub made by combining about a cup of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon each thyme, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Rub this into the ribs and put them in the crock pot with just a little water in the bottom. Let them cook on high for about 5 hours. Then set them out of the crock pot and let cool a bit. I like to finish them on the grill for the flavor. Of course, any bottled barbecue sauce would be wonderful on these, but I have a recipe for a homemade sauce that we like.

1 c ketchup, 1 c red wine (or cider) vinegar, 1/2 c brown sugar, 1/4 c molasses (I use sorghum but honey works too)1 1/2 t liquid smoke, 1/4 t pepper, 1/4 t garlic powder, 1/4 t onion powder. Combine all ingredients in a pan over high heat, whisk until smooth, bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and let cook 30-40 minutes, until thick. Use like you would any barbecue sauce. Happy grilling!

Weather or Not?

I have planned supper, grilled pork chops (with a fabulous glaze), mashed potatoes and green beans, but the weatherman seems to think I won't be able to grill tonight. I guess if the storms come in like the news said, I will just have to fix this tomorrow night.

For the glaze, in a saucepan, mix 1 c water, 1 c brown sugar, 1 slice onion, 3/4 c pineapple juice (or 1/2 c crushed pineapple), 1/2 t ground red pepper, 1 clove garlic (crushed), and 1/2 c teriyaki sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer til reduced by at least half. It will be very thick. Baste the chops (or whatever you are grilling) with the sauce when almost done. Turn and baste again. The sauce is also good for dipping.

We like this glaze on everything, pork, chicken, steak, even burgers. Enjoy.

Chicken Pot Pie

Today is going to be crazy! I have a doctor's appointment this morning and I have to report to jury duty this afternoon. Not to mention the usual craziness of my life.

To take some of the hectic out of the day, I have put a package of chicken thighs in the crock pot. Seasoned with a few herbs from the garden outside my kitchen (oregano, thyme and rosemary), these will make a basis for supper. When I get home, I will pick the chicken meat off the bones, chop it, add a can of mixed veggies, a can of cream of chicken soup (or a jar of chicken gravy), maybe a handful of shredded cheese and dump it all in a frozen pie crust. Top with another crust (don't forget to cut a few slits in the top crust to vent the steam) and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

Now, if I had time I would peel, cut up and cook my own veggies to go in this, potatoes, carrots, corn and peas, but today I just don't think I will be able to do it all. Happy Tuesday everyone!

Calzones!

My kids want pizza for every meal. Sometimes, I feel the need to do something a little different.

Tonight I am making calzones, which are basically just giant pizza rolls. I have pizza crust making in my bread machine, but you can use canned pizza crust, frozen bread dough, even canned biscuits will work. Roll the dough out into a circle, fill with your favorite pizza toppings (minus sauce) fold over and seal. Cut a slit or two into the top and bake at 375 until very brown. Serve with a side a sauce. The kids love these and everyone gets the toppings they want.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Hello Dolly Bars

I was given this recipe by a friend of my husband. This is his favorite cookie and he wanted to make sure I knew how to make them. If you are familiar with "Magic Cookie Bars", these are similar.

1/2 box vanilla wafers, crushed (the blender works well for this)
1 stick butter, melted
1 small bag coconut
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1/2 bag butterscotch chips
1 can sweetened, condensed milk

Mix the butter and cookie crumbs and spread into a greased 9x13 pan, this is your crust. Sprinkle evenly with first the coconut, then the chips. Drizzle the can of milk evenly over the top and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Let cool, cut and eat.

The original recipe calls for 1 c chopped pecans, but my kid don't like pecans so I leave them out or replace them with almonds. A graham cracker crumb crust tastes a little different, but is good, too, so is an Oreo crumb crust. Be creative, use a bag of M & M's, This is a really good recipe to change things up with. Enjoy!

Springtime Salads

This is the time of year that makes me crave fresh veggies, anything that doesn't come in a can. I found broccoli on sale this week and made a big bowl of fabulous salad. The kids (well, one of them, anyway) love it and I can make it once and serve it for as long as it last. My daughter even takes it in her lunch to school.

1 large head of broccoli, chopped, 1 c raisins, 4-5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, 1 small package sliced almonds, 1 c cheese crumbles, mixed well in a large bowl. 1 c mayonnaise, 1/2 c sugar and 2 T cider vinegar, mixed together and stirred into the veggies, chill and serve. YUM!

The original recipe called for red onions and cherry tomatoes, too. We don't like onions and I didn't have the tomatoes, but we like this like it is. I think you could use cauliflower in place of some of the broccoli, sunflower seeds for the almonds, the possibilities are endless. Happy cooking!

Not Quite Supper . . .

I know when you read these posts you are looking for something good to eat. The recipe I am posting today has nothing to do with supper ( or any meal for that matter), but it was given to me by a friend and I loved it. If you have ever used a sugar scrub in the shower, you know how nice they feel. Now you can make your own with things you probably have in your kitchen. This one was MUCH better than any I have ever bought and smelled like chocolate brownie batter. I hope you enjoy it.

1/2 c raw sugar, 1/4 c olive oil and 1 T cocoa powder. Mix the cocoa powder and sugar together first, then add the olive oil and mix well. Use as a scrub in the shower.

Lazy Sunday

It is a beautiful day, we have been to church, to walmart, stopped at McDonald's for breakfast and are back home curled up on the couch. I suspect this will a be a lay around in the sun and be lazy kind of day. To take advantage of the nice weather, I think I will grill out tonight. The kids like brats, so I will fix those and fries, along with a head of cauliflower I have in the fridge. I will steam it a little in the microwave, sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper, wrap in foil and finish up on the grill. Would you believe my kids love the stuff? I don't know how I got so lucky to have the only kids I know who LIKE their veggies! Have a happy, sunny Sunday everyone.

Chess Bars

It is a beautiful sunshiny day here in the greater metropolitan area of Whitesville and I am thinking it would be a good day to get outside and do some yard work, maybe start cleaning up the area where my vegetable garden will soon be. The kids have already requested spaghetti for supper tonight and since that is SO easy I will spare you the details. However, I made chess bars to send to work with my wonderful husband today, so I will share that recipe with you. They taste like lots of work went into them, but they aren't that hard.

Start with 1 box white cake mix, 1 stick butter, melted, 2 eggs. Mix well, it will be very thick. Spread in a 9 x 13 cake pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Now mix 1 8 ounce block cream cheese, softened, 1 egg, 1/2 stick butter, melted and 2 cups powdered sugar, until smooth. Spread this over the cake mix batter, almost to the edges. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes, let cool before slicing. YUMMY!

Happy Saturday!

If My 7 Year Old Can Do This, You Can, Too!

Today my seven year old daughter wants to fix supper. We have planned a menu of fairly easy things to make for side dishes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, dinner rolls from the freezer, but for the entree, she has requested one of her favorites, Crockpot Chicken Cordon Blue. It is not difficult, rather it is a kind of a dump it all in the crock pot and let it cook meal, but it seems ambitious for a first attempt. We will see how it goes, maybe she has the makings of a great chef.

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 cup milk, 4 ounces sliced ham, 4 ounces sliced Swiss cheese, 1 (8 ounce) package herbed dry bread stuffing mix, 1/4 cup butter, melted.

Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a slow cooker to cover the bottom. Layer chicken breasts over the sauce. Cover with slices of ham and then Swiss cheese. Pour the remaining soup over the layers, stirring a little to distribute between layers. Sprinkle the stuffing on top, and drizzle butter over stuffing. Cover, and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours, or 2 to 3 hours on High.

We are headed to the grocery for her to do the shopping. Happy cooking everyone!

Pizza Casserole

If your kids are like mine, they LOVE pizza. This casserole tastes like pizza, but is a one dish, easy to make (and easy to freeze if you want) kid pleaser. My husband likes it too. These ingredients are mostly suggestions, just use whatever pizza toppings your family likes. A loaf of garlic bread and a tossed salad make this casserole a meal.

You will need 1 (12 ounce) package uncooked pasta (whatever shape, we like rotini, 1/2 pound mild sausage, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1 (14 ounce) can pizza sauce, 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 (3.25 ounce) package sliced pepperoni, cut in half, 1/4 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, 1/4 cup chopped Canadian bacon, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Stir in macaroni, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage and onion until sausage is evenly brown and onion is tender. Drain grease. In a bowl, mix the pizza sauce, tomato sauce. Stir in the pizza toppings. Gently mix in the cooked macaroni until evenly coated. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Cover, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove cover, top with cheese, and continue baking 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Enjoy your pizza and have a Happy Tuesday!

Monday again!

It is Monday, spring break and the NCAA championship game. My husband has the type of head cold that makes you crave something spicy because you can't taste anything else. I haven't done game food in a while and it seems appropriate tonight.

My kids have been asking for chicken nuggets, so I will make those ( boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks and tossed in shake n bake). For the grown ups I will make a spicy, sauce for the chicken. Melt a couple T butter, add a dash of garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper, 1/2 c hot sauce, 1/4 c honey or molasses and 1/4 barbecue sauce. Bring to a boil and toss with the chicken.

For a buffalo type sauce, leave out the honey and the barbecue sauce. I will make fries to go with this, maybe some veggies (carrot sticks, celery sticks, etc.) If you are in a time crunch, you can use frozen chicken nuggets or tenders.

Happy Monday everyone!

THE Chocolate Cake

Yesterday I promised you the recipe for the best chocolate cake ever. This recipe came from the 'other' grandmother of one of my many cousins. It is often request my my husband's family and referred to simply as "that cake you make" If is more work than a box cake mix and a can of icing, but it is so much better that it is so worth the extra effort.

-mix together 2 c each sugar, self rising flour and 1 t cinnamon
-in a pan melt 2 sticks butter, add 4 T cocoa and bring to a boil.
_Pour cocoa mixture over flour and sugar mixture and mix well (it will not be enough liquid to blend completely
-add 2 eggs, 1/2 c milk, mix well. Pour into 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Icing

in a pan, bring 1 stick butter, 4 T cocoa and 6 T milk to a boil, remove from heat. Add 3 1/2 c powdered sugar (more or less, you are looking for a thick but still pourable consistency), and 1 t vanilla. Pour over cake while cake is still warm.

Enjoy the cake and Happy Easter.

Enchiladas

I am sitting in the dark living room before 7:00 a.m., listening to the rain through the open windows. I love springtime. My husband had to work today, but the kids and I will be dyeing Easter eggs and cleaning house to get ready for the big holiday tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be posting a recipe for the best chocolate cake you ever ate, but today I will stick with supper.

I have a package of beef stew meat I am going to simmer in a packet of taco seasoning mix in the crock pot all day. Ground beef, browned, drained and seasoned for tacos works as well. Shred the meat, and spoon about 1/4 cup in a line on a large flour tortilla, top with cheese, fold in both ends and roll up. Place seam side down in a 9 x 13 pan and repeat until you are out of meat. Top with Enchilada sauce (it comes canned or in a packet. I have never tried to make it homemade). Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

I usually serve this with salsa rice (substitute 1/2 the water with salsa, cook according to the directions, sprinkle with cheese) and refried beans.

Happy Saturday in the rain.

Salmon Patties

Friday night, Good Friday, as a cradle catholic, there is no choice but to have fish tonight. My husband and I both like salmon patties, the kids, not so much. They will eat them, but not often.

I start with 2 cans of salmon, with the bones picked out. Add an egg, a teaspoon of dill, a tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs, and a heavy dash of black pepper. Mix well, shape into patties and brown in hot oil till done.

I like to serve these with mashed potatoes and green beans. My kids like the salmon patties better if I make a cheese sauce to go on top. Happy Easter weekend everyone.

chicken?

Yesterday my husband brought home a barbecued chicken that he bought at a local church. It will make a great supper tonight. I am making my favorite potato salad and baked beans to go with it. The recipe for the beans has been posted here (several times), so today I am posting my potato salad recipe. I am sure you have seen it before, but it is so good it is worth repeating.

2 pounds of potatoes, peeled, cubed, boiled and drained, 5 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled, 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped, 1 c shredded cheese, 1 t horseradish, 1 T yellow mustard, 1/2 c sour cream and 1/2 c (or more) mayonnaise. Mix all ingredients well, add additional mayonnaise if needed, serve immediately. YUM!

I like chopped chives on mine, but no one else here does, so I do that separately. Happy Sunday everyone!

Breakfast Pizza!

Today has all the makings of another crazy day. I volunteer in my daughter's class on Thursday, today I am also making an industrial size batch of chocolate chip cookies (see the post titled "Dishpan Cookies" and multiply by 8) for tomorrow's 5th grade field trip. The buses leave before daylight (way before) so I have to have lunches packed and entertainment ready before bedtime tonight. Therefore, supper is going to be easy!

Start with a can of biscuit ( the big biscuits), and press them into the bottom of a pizza pan, mine is a 15 inch stone, with high sides. Top with already cooked shredded potatoes (or hash brown patties), scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon and sliced Lil Smokies, cover all this with cheese and bake according to the directions on the biscuits. Of course, this works well for breakfast, too. Enjoy!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Yesterday I cooked a Boston butt in the crockpot. We had it with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. It was delicious. Tonight I am taking the leftover pork, shredding it and mixing in a YUMMY homemade sauce and serving it on buns. If you have a favorite barbecue sauce, you can use it in a pinch, but this recipe is better, I promise. You can double the recipe and put some in a container in the fridge for another time, too.

1 c ketchup, 1 c vinegar ( I like balsamic but cider works well, too), 1/2 c brown sugar, 1/4 c molasses (I have used honey too), 1 1/2 t liquid smoke, 1/4 t black pepper, 1/4 t garlic powder, 1/4 t onion powder, and 1/2 t cayenne (optional), mix well, whisk till smooth, bring to a boil and simmer about 45 minutes, until thick. It is fantastic! Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Pork Roast

Today I am thinking ahead! I have supper for to night going in the crock pot and supper for tomorrow night planned. Tonight we have a Boston butt, seasoned as a pork roast, onion, garlic, red pepper, salt, Italian seasoning, and a couple beef bullion cubes. I will serve this with mashed potatoes and green beans. After supper I will clean and shred the meat for barbecue pork sandwiches tomorrow night. I will post my barbecue sauce recipe tomorrow. Happy Tuesday!

What a Day!

My son has an academic team meet about 40 miles away so we will be gone all day. Because I know we will all be exhausted when we get home, I am planning on easy tonight. I have a take and bake pizza from Wal-mart and a bag of frozen fries. It doesn't get much easier. I am always amazed at how tiring it can be to sit all day and watch these kids strain their brains. Good luck to them and Happy Saturday to you.

It is Friday Again!

It is Friday in Lent, are you getting tired of fish yet? Several Fridays is a row we have had fish sticks and fries, but tonight I am going to work a little harder. I saw this recipe on tv, and after a few modifications to make it easier, it has become a favorite around here. I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients

• 1 whole tail piece fresh halibut (1 1/4 inches thick, by about 1 foot long), usually I use frozen fish (halibut or cod) that comes in serving size pieces.
• 1 all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups Italian style bread crumbs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 package hoagie rolls (or if you are using the whole piece, a loaf of french bread, slice in half lengthwise)
  

Directions

heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Put a large sheet tray in oven and heat it for 1/2 hour.

Begin by patting the halibut fillet dry. If you have a tail end piece cut the fillet down the middle so you can invert the 2 pieces next to each other to form a nice rectangular shape that matches the bread. Set up a breading station with flour, beaten egg and milk, and bread crumbs in separate containers. Season with salt and pepper. Dip each fillet into the flour, egg mixture, and then breadcrumbs. Set aside on a tray at room temperature to let the coating set.

Pull out sheet tray from oven, spray with oil or cooking spray and transfer breaded fish to tray. Sprinkle with olive oil. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Construct the sandwich with your favorite toppings, enjoy, Lent is only a few more weeks.

Chicken Wraps

This is one of my favorite meals, and it is easy! These are very similar to the Chicken Fajita Roll Ups at a popular restaurant.

Marinade

2 c water, 1/3 c soy sauce, 3 T sugar, 2 T vinegar, 1 1/2 t cayenne pepper, 2 t liquid smoke, 2 t paprika, 2 t garlic powder, 1 t onion powder, 1 t pepper.

Marinate 4 boneless skinless chicken breast in this for about 2 hours and grill. You can also cook the chicken in this in the crock pot on low all day, then shred. Build a sandwich in a large tortilla with the chicken, shredded cheese and lettuce, roll up like a burrito and serve with salsa or pico de gallo and mexi ranch dipping sauce. (recipe follows).

Dipping sauce

1/2 c mayo or sour cream, I use fat free, 2 T minced onion, 2 T minced tomato, 1 T vinegar, 2 t cilantro, 1 t chopped green chilies, 3/4 t paprika, 1/2 t sugar, a pinch each dill, cumin and cayenne. Mix well and let sit in the fridge for several hours so flavors can blend. YUM!

St. Patrick's Day

I love holidays that lend themselves to planning a meal. I try to use these days as opportunities to teach my kids about other cultures. We celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Fat Tuesday, and others. Today, as the luck of the Irish would have it, we are having corned beef and cabbage.

A corned beef is so easy. It is already seasoned and comes with it's own spice pack. Into the crock pot with the beef, spice pack and 5-6 cups of water and it will be ready when you are. I will use the liquid the beef cooks in to boil my cabbage. Add boiled potatoes and stewed apples and you have a traditional (not really) Irish meal.

Most people think corned beef is an Irish tradition, but in reality, the Irish were too poor to eat beef. Usually for special meals they ate lamb. That is your useless fact for the day (my husband doesn't call me the Queen of Useless Knowledge for nothing!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Pot Roast

I knew that today would be a busy day. I did not know I would spend 2 hours on the phone with my internet provider trying to resolve a virus/spamming issue. I am so glad I started out early with my crock pot.

I have 2 small beef roasts in the crock pot(about 2 pounds each), with about 6 cups of water, a rib of celery, a slice or 2 of onion, 2 beef bullion cubes, a tablespoon of Italian seasoning and a dash or red pepper, and a package of baby carrots. These will simmer all day, then closer to supper time I will make mashed potatoes. To go with the potatoes, I will take about 4 cups of the liquid in the crock pot, strain it to get the solids out and simmer till reduced by about half. Then add a package of brown gravy mix and cook according to the package directions.

Mashed potatoes and gravy, roast beef and carrots will make a yummy meal tonight and I will use the leftover roast and gravy as a foundation for beef stew tomorrow night.

Springtime?

Is there anyone out there who still wants winter weather? I am SO tired of it. Today looks like it could be a FABULOUS day and I am looking forward to grilling outside for supper tonight.

The kids have asked for bratwurst, so I have 2 packages of brats simmering in a crock pot with a beer, some thinly sliced onion and green pepper. A dash of garlic powder and a little red pepper are good, too. After these have cooked on low (or on the keep warm setting) today I will grill them. The onions, peppers and cooking liquid can be reduced down to top the brats, although most of my family likes them with mustard and relish and nothing else. These can be served with just fries or tots, but I am planning on going to the store today to see what else I can find to grill with them. I am thinking grape tomatoes, button mushrooms, maybe some zucchini, all marinated in Italian dressing and grilled, too.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Boys/Girls Night

Today my husband's family is gathering to celebrate. Nothing in particular, just to celebrate. The women (my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law's wife, me and my 7 year old girl) are meeting here to scrapbook and the men (my father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law's husband, my husband and son, and the other 6 cousins) are going to my in-law's farm to shoot skeet and drive golf balls. Everyone is meeting here tonight for supper. The menu for this afternoon included buffalo chicken dip and sausage bites. Tonight I am making chili.

The chicken dip is 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened, 1/2 c blue cheese or ranch dressing, 1/2 cup hot sauce, 1/2 c blue cheese, crumbled or other shredded cheese, 2 cans of chicken ( I cooked a chicken earlier this week and used that). Mix everything well, bake for 20 minutes, stir before serving. Serve with crackers, corn chips or veggie dippers.

The chili is a pound of ground beef, browned and drained, 6 cans of chili beans (yes that is a lot, we like beans in our chili), a quart of tomato juice, a can of tomato paste, a beer, a small box of pasta ( whatever shape you prefer, today I am using spirals), and a package of Carroll Shelby's Original Texas Brand Chili Kit. Everything in the crock pot, supper will be ready later.

Tonight the chili is being served with hot dogs, but usually I make corn bread.

For those of you that like a margarita every now and then, I have these in the freezer for this afternoon. 4 1/2 cups of water, 1 1/2 cups of tequila, 1 12 ounce can of frozen limeade (thawed), 1/2 cup triple sec ( or orange juice). Mix everything in a freezer proof container with a lid, I used a milk jug, and freeze about 24 hours. Let thaw till you can our it and enjoy.

Birthday Dinner

I haven't been on here in quite a while. I guess I fell out of the habit over the holidays and the cold dreary weather has made me a little blah. No blahs today!

My baby turns 7 today and it is warm and sunny, relatively. She wants mini hamburgers. I have mixed a pound of ground beef with breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, a little extra rosemary, a couple tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, a dash of liquid smoke. I measured them out into 1/4 cup size and refrigerated them until I am ready to grill. They are the perfect size to the little Hawaiian rolls.

Fries, slaw and birthday cake makes a meal fit for a princess (or someone who thinks she is). Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Beer Braised Pork

Another snow day! I am afraid we will be going to school all summer. On this cold, snowy day I am (once again) dragging out my crock pot. I found this recipe on a website and my husband loves it. Below is the actual recipe, but I have altered it a bit and my alterations are at the bottom. Enjoy the pork.


ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 pinch dried marjoram
1 pinch dried basil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (5 pound) boneless pork loin roast
2 onions, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups light beer

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Combine salt, marjoram, basil, pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over the pork roast. Place roast in roasting pan, and surround with onions. Pour beer into pan, and cover. Roast pork for 30 minutes in preheated oven. Uncover, and turn meat over. Continue to roast, checking for doneness every 30 minutes; add additional liquid if pan runs dry. Roast until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees, approximately 2 hours.

I used a Boston butt in place of the loin roast because it was what I had in the freezer. If you don't have marjoram, you can substitute Italian seasoning for the marjoram and basil. I also didn't use nearly as many onions, just a slice or two. No one here is going to eat them and you get plenty of flavor from just a little. I put everything in the crock pot, set it on low and in 8-10 hours it will be done. Serve with mashed potatoes and a green veggie. Happy snow day!

WOW!

As I have prepared finger foods for the afternoon's football games, the kids have run in and out of the kitchen yelling "Mom, I'm hungry." One child fussed because I didn't have anything cheesy to eat. After telling him he was the cheesiest thing I could think of, I searched through my cookbooks and found a recipe for cheese puffs.

In a saucepan, bring 1 c water and 1/2 c butter to a boil. Add 1 c flour and stir till smooth. Move to a large bowl, Stir in 1 cup shredded cheese. Add 4 eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each egg. Drop on a greased cookie sheet in small amounts, about a teaspoon each. Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes. YUM!

The kids tried them and said "Mom, you are the awesomest!" Is there anything better than the praise of your children?

blah!

For those of you who look for this regularly, I didn't post anything yesterday because the grilled chicken and baked potatoes didn't really excite me. Today it is rainy and yucky outside and the possibilities of supper again seem rather boring.

I am thinking, though, about a big pot of vegetable soup. Most nights I try to save my leftovers in a gallon baggie in the freezer, potatoes, peas, green beans, a bit of roast, a pork chop, whatever. Today I will dump the leftovers into a soup pot, add a can of beef broth and a quart of tomato juice and simmer till everything is thawed. Once that happens, you can stir it around and see what else you need. If you need more meat, add a pound of ground beef, browned and drained. If you need more veggies, add your own, or a can of veg-all works too.

This soup is great with cornbread, but my kids love grilled cheese sandwiches with it. I love it because it is quick, easy, cheap and delicious. Have a happy rainy day!

Game Time Party!

Here we are again, another playoff Saturday. Have I mentioned I love football? Along with some of my standard finger foods, tonight I am making mini quiches to go with the game. I know people think quiche is not "guy" food, but my guys love these.

I start by finely chopping 1/2 c of ham, add the same amount of shredded cheese and drop by teaspoon fulls into a mini muffin pan (or mini philo shells). Beat 3 eggs with 1/4 c evaporated milk, 1/2 t pepper and 1 t Italian seasoning and pour over ham and cheese. Bake at 375 until lightly browned and a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let cool and remove from pan. These can be serve warm or cold, and can be made in a bigger muffin tin if you wish.

Enjoy the game!

Warmer?

It is supposed to be warmer today that it has been in a while. Maybe it is time to break out my grill again.

Hamburgers, loaded baked potatoes, maybe a little of last summer's okra on the grill, YUM! For the burgers, I will mix a pound of ground beef, 1/2 pound of sausage, a teaspoon (more or less) of rosemary and thyme, bread crumbs, and egg, combine well and patty out. Freeze for a bit before they go on the grill, it helps them hold together.

These are good with your basic burger toppings, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, whatever you like. We can close out eyes and pretend it's summertime! Enjoy.

White Chili

It is supposed to be the warmest day of the year, 37 degrees! I am still using up the turkey I cooked Sunday and thought a batch of white chili would be a good way to finish it off.

I found a white chili seasoning mix at the grocery, made by a company whose regular chili mix I like, so I am trying that today. I added a pound of great northern beans, and the rest of the turkey, chopped (about 2 cups). Pour in about 6 cups of water and 2 chicken bullion cubes and turn the crock pot on low. In 8-10 hours I will have supper. This is very good garnished with cheese and sour cream.

I think Mexican cornbread will go with this well, so I will mix 2 cups of self rising corn meal, 1/2 cup self rising flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 T oil, 1/2 c sour cream, 1 egg, a can of creamed corn, 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped, and enough milk to make a thick batter. Preheat the oven to 425, oil a cast iron skillet and let it preheat in the oven. When the oven is hot, pour 1/2 the batter into the pan, sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese on the batter, then top with the remaining batter. Bake for about 25 minutes, until very brown. Enjoy.

Hot Brown!

I cooked a turkey Sunday and it was yummy Sunday night. Tonight I am making hot browns with the leftover turkey. I have some crusty Italian bread that will stand up to the turkey and gravy to use as a base.

Shred the turkey and heat in a pan with a jar of turkey gravy. Spoon over toast, top with crisp bacon and shredded cheese. My family likes these served with mashed potatoes.

If you are in a hurry, these can be made with sliced turkey from your deli. They are still great. Happy Tuesday!

Turkey Week

A few weeks ago my husband won a turkey at a turkey shoot. I thought today would be a good day to cook it, then have leftovers throughout the week. My original plan was to cook the turkey in the crock pot, but it was too big, and I couldn't get the top on so I had to change plans.

I made a rub of finely chopped oregano, basil, rosemary, garlic and season salt and rubbed this under the skin of the turkey. After an hour or 2 in the oven, I will add some honey and melted butter, also under the skin. Bake it at 325 for 3 1/2 hours or so, turning or covering if it gets too brown.

Tonight I will serve it with green beans and mashed potatoes, as the week progresses I may have to get more creative. Happy Sunday

Italian Beef Sanwiches

It is once again a cold gloomy day. It is snowing again. This dreary day does have redeeming qualities, though, it is wild-card Saturday, which means football playoff season has begun. I am excited because it means the Super Bowl is right around the corner. The rest of my family is excited because it means the football season is almost over. I have a round steak simmering in my crock pot for sandwiches and I have homemade bread dough thawing on my counter for rolls.

When the dough thaws, I will pull off egg sized pieces, roll and let rise again, brush with an egg wash and bake at 350 till golden brown. These will be the basis for my sandwiches.

The beef has been seasoned with a packet of Italian salad dressing mix, a cup of fat free Italian salad dressing, 1/2 cup of sliced pepperoncini peppers (and juice), and a can of beef broth and will simmer on high for 6 - 8 hours. Remove the meat and shred it, strain the solids from the broth and return the meat to the crock pot with enough broth to just keep moist.

Slice your rolls, (store bought hoagie rolls work well, too, I just don't have any) top with beef, mayo, cheese (I like provolone or mozzarella), pepperoncini slices, whatever sound good and enjoy. I will serve these as an entree, with finger foods to enjoy during the games.

Happy Saturday!

Hash!

It is another snowday, bitterly cold and gloomy. I have music playing loudly in the background and the kids helping me with the housework.

Yesterday I cooked a corned beef brisket in the crock pot. I served it with boil potatoes and cabbage. Tonight I am making hash with the leftovers. Slice the potatoes and fry them in oil with a slice of onion. Shred the beef and stir in with the fried potatoes.

Top with sauted mushrooms and onions, a little shredded cheese and serve with fried eggs and biscuits. You have an easy meal and you have done away with a few leftovers.

Happy Friday!

Corned Beef

Today I am making one of those things that we eat here and no one else eats. This is a favorite of my kids (and me) with cabbage that has been cooked in the juice from the beef. YUM! My poor husband tolerates this because he loves us, but he would prefer a ham sandwich.

This is easy! I bought a packaged, pre-seasoned corned beef brisket. Drop it in the crock pot, cover with water and let it cook. Longer is better. 8-10 hours on low. I like potatoes cooked in the juice with it, but again, this isn't my hubby's favorite so I won't do that today. Serve this with mashed potatoes and cabbage, or slice it and make sandwiches, or eat it with your fingers straight from the crock pot. It is comfort food to me, and it smells so good cooking!

Happy Snow Day, everyone!

What Fun!

Today I am working on one of those joyful chores that don't have to be done often (thankfully), but from time to time MUST be done. I am painting my kitchen/dining room, ceiling and all.

Because of this, I am planning a supper the kids can fix because I will be exhausted by time to fix supper. I have already browned a pound of ground beef and a 1/2 pound of italian sausage. When the kids are ready, they can mix the meat in with a couple jars of spaghetti sauce, boil some angel hair pasta and bake a loaf of frozen garlic bread. Easy supper for a tired mom. (and leftovers for lunch for that snow day they are predicting.)

Maybe by tomorrow night I will be done painting!

Hoppin' John

Last weekend, Mom made Hoppin' John soup to ring in the new year. That one bowl just wasn't enough, so today I am making more.

Here is an interesting tidbit for those of you who are trivia minded (like me). Basically the name hoppin’ john originated in the south. The creole french in Louisiana called black eyed peas pois pigeon, which they would cook up and serve to the slaves. the slaves would hear them called pois pigeon (pronounced pwahpeeJON) and it just evolved through the dialect to Hoppin’ John. There is your lesson in useless knowledge for the day, here is my recipe for Hoppin' John.

1 pound of sausage, browned and drained, a pound (or 2 cans) black eyed peas, I like the frozen, but the canned are fine if you rinse them well, 1 - 1 1/2 cup rice, 3 cans chicken broth, 1 teaspoon thyme, 2 bay leaves, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Just mix everything in a big pot, bring to a boil and let simmer for an hour or 2, all day in the crock pot works well, too.

We like this with cornbread, but crackers or rolls are fine. It can be made vegetarian easily by doubling the spices and leaving out the sausage. The leftovers also freeze well for another meal another night. Enjoy (and stay warm).

BRRRRR!

It is bitterly cold outside. We are planning on staying inside all day. Except of course for my dear husband who will be outside in the shop. He is one of those people who just can't sit still at all. For him, I am making a pot of chili to take the chill off when he comes in for the night.

In a heavy pan, brown a pound of ground beef, drain and rinse. To the ground beef, in a large pot, (I am using a 5 quart dutch oven) add chili beans (as many as your family likes, I use 4 cans), a large can of tomato juice or a quart of homemade juice, a can of tomato paste, 4 T chili powder, 2 1/2 t coriander, 2 1/2 t cumin, 1 1/2 t garlic powder, 1 t oregano, and cayenne to taste. Mix well and simmer for about an hour, adding water (or beer) if extra liquid is needed. About 20 minutes before serving, add about 4 ounces of pasta (I use spaghetti, broken up small, but whatever shape you like is fine). Sprinkle with cheese and serve with cornbread or crackers.

Happy New year to you all.