Sunday, October 31, 2010
Cheesy Tomato Bread
Cheesy Tomato Bread
From Made Blog
Here are the toppings:
* Mozzarella Cheese
* Fresh Tomatoes (sliced or diced)
* Parmesan Cheese (fancy or plain jane, like mine)
Lightly butter the front and back of your bread. If it's a "let's eat a light lunch since I had 3 cookies last night (and ice cream)" kind of day, I may use spray butter or none at all. But the butter really adds to the toast, so go for it!
Sprinkle the buttered top with tomatoes:
add a little salt and pepper:
Then comes my favorite part: cheese. Bread is really just a vehicle for consuming melty cheesy goodness, right?
Be as liberal as you'd like with cheese over the tomatoes.
Finish it off with Parmesan Cheese and you're ready to toast!
I prefer using the Toaster Oven because it's small and uses less energy for one little piece of bread. If you're making a large batch though use the conventional oven.
Now the KEY here is to first toast the bread and then broil the top (If you just toast, the cheese doesn't brown enough on top. And if you just broil, the bottom of the toast is soggy. So do both).
Toast the bread for the normal time you would toast a slice of bread. Then flip your Toaster Oven to Broil and let the top get bubbly and brown. No time frame here; just broil to your liking. And you're done!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fruit Dip
From the Crafting Chicks Blog
1 (8 oz) container of Cool Whip
1 (6 oz) container of flavored yogurt (Key Lime, Strawberry–whatever is in the fridge)
Mix together and serve with your favorite fruits.
I used to think lemon juice (or the fruit preserve stuff I never remembered to buy) was my only option to keep my apples from turning brown. And the lemon juice is pretty sour.
But you can just dip your bananas and apples in Sprite or 7-Up before arranging on the plate. The citric acid in the pop will take care of the browning, and the mild lemon lime flavor isn’t noticeable. No more puckering when eating an apple!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding
Caramel Apple Bread Pudding
Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Cut into pieces and serve with warm Buttermilk Syrup (and vanilla ice cream if you really want to walk on the wild side.)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
SOFT Worthington Caramel Popcorn
SOFT Worthington Caramel Popcorn
Pop 2-3 bags bags of butter flavored popcorn. Sort out the seeds with your hands.Place the following in a saucepan:
1 stick butter or margarine, 2 cups of brown sugar and 1 cup of Karo syrup. Light Karo is fine.
Cook on MH heat until caramel come to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Turn heat to low and add 1 can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly. Cook until softball stage. In other words, when you put a drop of caramel into a cup of tap water the caramel should feel like chewing gum. Remove from heat and add 1 t. vanilla. Pour over popcorn and mix well. Cool and store in airtight container.
Chicago-Style Garlic and Butter Pizza Crust
Chicago-Style Garlic and Butter Pizza Crust
From Real Mom Kitchen Blog
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
3 1/4 cups flour, plus more for dusting
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 garlic clove, ground to a paste
pizza toppings, your choice
In large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup lukewarm water.
Add 1/4 cup flour and the sugar, stir together.
Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
Stir the remaining 1 cup lukewarm water, 3 cups flour, the cornmeal and salt into the yeast mixture.
Combine the butter and garlic; mix into the dough.
Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until soft and elastic, 10-12 minutes (I let my kitchen aid do this).
Lightly grease a large bowl, add the dough and turn to coat.
Cover and set in a warm place until the dough is doubled in size, 1 hour.
Punch dough down, then knead for 2-3 minutes (again I let the kitchen aid do this part).
Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan (I used glass), then press in dough to cover the bottom and 2 inches up the sides; let rise for 20 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
Top the pizza dough with your favorite toppings.
Lower the oven to 450 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Quick, Crunchy Coffee Cake
I don't know where this recipe came from, though I want to say it was from our backyard neighbors (the O'Briens). I just remember having it quite often growing up. Coffee cake is seriously one of my favorite breakfast foods and this recipe, if done right, is so light and fluffy, without being overwhelmingly sweet (Because who wants to be on sugar overload at breakfast?). Don't get me wrong, it is very sweet, it's just not slathered in sugar and butter. Now, like I said, I've made this many times but the last time I made it it absolutely blew my socks off (and Christian's) and let me tell you what the secret is: a pastry cutter. They cost maybe $3 at Wal-Mart (yes, that's where I got mine).
Quick, Crunchy Coffee Cake
Cake:
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c butter, slightly colder than room temp.
2/3 c milk
1 egg
Topping:
4 Tbl flour
6 Tbl granulated sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbl butter, softened to room temp.
Preheat oven to 350*. Spray a loaf pan, 8x8 pan, or bundt pan (my fave) with non-stick spray. For the cake, sift dry ingredients together into a medium mixing bowl. Cut slightly chilled butter into dry ingredients. Don't be a perfectionist here. Your dough should be like pearl-sized chunks. The butter will fluff up and make the lightest cake. If you mix it too much, it will be flat and dense. Mix milk and egg together. Make a small well in the middle of butter mixture and pour egg and milk in. Mix just until incorporated. Pour into prepared pan. Combine first 3 ingred. of topping mixture in small bowl. Cut in the butter until it forms a crumb topping. With a spoon, distribute evenly over the cake batter (there will be plenty to form a good crumb layer). Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out relatively clean (some crumbs will come up).
*The original recipe said to heat the oven to 375 but I've found that's a little too hot. So, I usually preheat the oven to 375, then decrease the temp. to 350 when I put the cake in. Watch carefully because baking times can vary.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Maple Meatballs
Maple Meatballs
From Real Mom Kitchen blog
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 teaspoons dried chives (or 2 tablespoons fresh chives)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
26 (1 pound) frozen, fully cooked meatballs, thawed
In a saucepan, combine syrup, chili sauce, chives, soy sauce,and ground mustard. Bring to a low boil. Add meatballs and then return to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until meatballs are thoroughly heated. Serve as an appetizer with toothpicks or over hot cooked rice (I made 1 1/2 recipes of the sauce if I’m doing this). Makes 5-6 servings.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Big, Fat, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Almond Caramel Popcorn
Chocolate Almond Caramel Popcorn
12 cups popcorn, popped
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. Baking soda
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 cup almonds, slivered and broiled (toasted) *optional
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Heat oven to 250. Spray two 9x13 pans with non-stick spray. Divide popcorn between pans. In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, sugar, butter, and corn syrup. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until full boil (7-9 minutes). Reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking without stirring until thermometer reaches 234 degrees (about 4-6 minutes).
left out this step
, so the picture above shows less chocolate than it should). Stir it all to coat popcorn. Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread popcorn out on wax paper and sprinkle evenly with remaining chocolate chips. Cool.
Ham Fried Rice
Ham Fried Rice
Combine the following ingredients into a large frying pan. Saute veggies until brownish and sizzling on one side of pan.
2T butter
1/2 green pepper
1/2 onion
While you are sauteing the veggies, scramble about 3-5 eggs (to taste, I like 5) and scramble on the other side of the pan.
Once veggies are soft and eggs are scrambled, put the following ingredients into the pan with eggs and veggies.
6oz. diced sandwich ham
4-5 cups cooked and refrigerated rice (the refrigeration dries it out and makes for great ham fried rice)
1/3 c. soy sauce or to taste (My husband like a ton...but he can always add more on his own)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Aunt Kathy's Roast
Aunt Kathy's Roast (You don't have to make gravy)
1 3-5 lb. rump roast (this recipe is lenient...I have used a million different cuts it just needs to say "roast")
Brown thoroughly on all sides, really brown. In other words put your roast on your biggest frying pan and turn the heat to MH and flip until all sides are brown.
Mix the following ingredients and pour over roast (I usually make the gravy first in a sauce pan and then put everything in with the gravy so it's all mixed together):
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
1 can beef gravy (I use 2 c. water, 1/2 c. flour and beef bullion instead)
1/4 c brown sugar
3 T vinegar
2T soy sauce
Cover and cook in crock pot on high for a minimum of six hours. YOU CANNOT cook this too long but you can cook this too short. Trust me. I usually put it in around 8 a.m. and then we eat at 5 p.m. I put diced potatoes and carrots in too, then its a whole meal and you can really nap. :) This makes a delicious gravy. I use a slotted spoon and separate the carrots and potatoes (like in the pic) and then put the gravy in a gravy boat. YUM!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cheesy Chicken Lasagna
Cheesy Chicken Lasagna
From Real Mom Kitchen Blog
2 cans (12 oz) evaporated milk (not fat-free)
1 (1 oz) pkg. dry Ranch dressing mix
3 C. cubed, cooked, chicken
1/8 tsp pepper
1 (16oz) lasagna noodles, cooked (I recommend reducing it to 8 oz to 12 oz)
1 1/2 to 2 C cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/2 to 2 C mozzarella cheese, grated
Cook the chicken and noodles first at the same time. Once noodles are done–rinse in cold water and set aside (it keeps them from sticking together). Combine evaporated milk (don’t use fat-free version) and Ranch dressing in a 3 quart heavy saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently until dry ingredients are dissolved. Stir in chicken and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, 25 minutes (don’t do any less), stirring frequently. Layer half of lasagna noodles, poultry sauce, and cheese in well-buttered 9×13 pan. Repeat layers again. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Nieman Marcus Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Neiman Marcus Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 c butter
2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1 c sugar
2 1/2 c blended oatmeal (measure oatmeal and then put into a blender until it is a fine powder)
12 oz chocolate chips
1 c b sugar
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1 t baking powder
1/2 Hershey's bar (4oz)grated (optional- I didn't use b/c I didn't have it on hand)
Chopped nuts to taste (optional- I didn't use)
Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, powder, & soda. Add chocolate chips. Spoon onto cookie sheet. Or in my case (and I seriously hope yours too), I have a new love affair with my cookie scooper thing....LOVE.LOVE.LOVE. It makes them all look so uniform and pretty. Bake for ten minutes at 350. Makes about 4 dozen.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Chicken Pot Pie
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup potatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup sliced celery
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
- 2/3 cup milk (I used Fat Free)
- 4 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts (I used Pet-Ritz frozen variety)
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Rub egg white onto one pie crust and cook in oven for 8-10 minutes, or until desired golden-brown. Remove and set aside. In a saucepan combine carrots, potatoes, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside. In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions and garlic in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed, and frozen or thawed (cooked) chicken. Stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium heat until thick- about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Place half the veggie mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour 1/2 hot liquid chicken mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape. Repeat with second pie. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 2 pies.
3 Envelope Roast
3 Envelope Roast
From Real Mom Kitchen Blog
3 pound beef roast (such as chuck roast)
1 envelope of dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 envelope of dry ranch salad dressing mix
1 envelope of dry brown gravy mix
2 cups water
Put the water in a measuring cup that is larger then the amount of water you are using. Now add and mix all three envelopes of dry salad dressings to the water. Mix until blended completely. Brown the roast (if desired). Add the meat to your cooker. Pour the water, salad dressing mixture over the roast. In the slow cooker cook it on high for about 4 hours on low about 8 hours.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Crepes Ensenada
Crepes Ensenada
From Real Mom Kitchen blog
12 thin slices of ham
12 flour tortillas (10 inch)
1 lb. of Monterrey jack cheese cut into 12 piece (like string cheese)
1 (7 oz. can) diced green chilies
Cheese Sauce (recipe below)
Paprika
Heat tortillas in the microwave to soften. About 30 seconds for 6 tortillas. On each tortilla place in the center 1 piece of ham, 1 piece of cheese, and a little of the green chilies. Fold in sides and roll. Place in greased baking dishes. I use one 9×13 and one 8 x8 dish. Pour cheese sauce over crepes to cover. Sprinkle with paprika and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
Cheese Sauce
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1/2 tsp salt
Melt butter, blend in flour. Slowly add milk till thickened. Add remaining ingredients and cook until smooth.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Honey Mustard Chicken
I have a list of dishes that I always have the ingredients for, no matter how many days (or weeks) it's been since I've been to the grocery store. This is on that list and every time I make it, I fall back in love with it because it's so easy AND so delicious. It's sweet, tangy, a little creamy, and perfect over rice or mashed potatoes, with a side of steamed veggies.
Honey Mustard Chicken
from My Kitchen Cafe
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thawed and tenderized slightly (if they are overly thick, slice them in half)
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup honey
2 Tablespoons mustard (I used the basic yellow mustard, though the original recipe called for Dijon)
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pre-heat oven to 350. Place chicken in shallow baking pan. In a small bowl, combine butter, honey, mustard and salt and whisk well. Pour over chicken. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, basting every 15 minutes. Serve by itself or over your favorite starch.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Scotcheroos
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies or Special K cereal
1 cup semi-sweet {or milk} chocolate morsels
1 cup butterscotch chips
Melt chocolate and butterscotch chips in microwave by heating 30 seconds and stirring till melted. It will melt eventually, do not over microwave chocolate or it will dry out and clump. Spread evenly over cereal mixture. Let stand until firm, or eat when warm, gooey and delicious. Makes 24 bars.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Snickers Salad
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Cake-y Corn Bread
I love corn bread!! But, the way mom made it was the best. Adding some cake mix to the cornbread mix is more of a dessert but you can get away with it because technically it's "corn bread". Guilty pleasure.
Cake-y Corn Bread
From Favorite Family Recipes Blog1 yellow box cake mix
1 corn bread mix
3 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1 cube + 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into a greased 9x13 glass dish. Bake @ 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes or until you can put a knife or a toothpick in the middle and it comes out clean. Serve with butter and honey. Goes GREAT with chili!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Tasty Turkey Subs
Ingredients
1 pound lean deli turkey, sliced into strips
1 green pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 pound provolone cheese
4 sub-style buns
teriyaki sauce, to taste
mayo, to taste
Directions
- Heat griddle or large skillet to medium-high heat
- Spray pan with olive oil
- Add the onions, green peppers and turkey until veggies are softened and turkey is slightly brown, about 5 minutes
- Reduce heat to medium-low
- Separate the veggies and meat into individual sandwiches (on the griddle/pan), squirt with teriyaki sauce and lay 1-2 slices of provolone over each pile of yumminess
- Cook until cheese starts to melt
- Apply a thin coat of mayo (or to taste) on each of the sub rolls