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!