So I really love to cook- and I am going to use this page to post recipes and quick meals that I like to prepare. Everything Fabulous- Everything Fun- Everything FOOD!!
MOMMA AND ME- MINESTRONE SOUP
This recipe is from the D'Atri's and their cook book "Momma and Me" DELICIOUS real Italian food. I love this cookbook!
1/4 c olive oil
1 large onion diced
1 stalk of celery diced
2 med carrots, peeled and diced
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 large yukon potato or 2 small red chopped
2 small zucchini diced
1 C fresh or frozen peas
2 C fresh spinach, chopped (I used frozen)
4 ripe tomatoes diced or 4 oz can tomatoe sauce
1/4 C fresh basil, chopped (I used dried)
1 1/2 C white beans or pinto beans (I used Kidney)
4 Quarts chicken stock (I used water and chicken boullion cubes)
1 1/2 cup elbow macaroni or broken pieces of pasta
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 C parmesan cheese
In large soup pan saute onions, celery, carrots and garlic in olive oil. Gently brown for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, zucchini, peas, spinach, basil, beans and tomatoes. Add broth, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 1 hour. Add pasta and cook 30 minutes. Serve and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Serves 8-10.
YUMMY CURRIED LENTIL SOUP
I got this recipe from www.finecooking.com It is really easy- and both Ryan & I loved it. I can't wait to try more recipes from their website/magazines!
1 large garlic glove
1/3 " long piece fresh peeled ginger
1/2 small bulb fennel, cored and cut into large chunks OR celery- about 3 large pieces.
1 small carrot peeled and cut into chunks
1 small parsnip peeled and cut into chunks (I used a turnip)
1 large shallot cut into halves
3 T butter
1 C lentils Rinsed and picked over
1 quart low salt chicken or veggie broth
2 t curry powder
salt & pepper
In a food processor, finely chop garlic, ginger, fennel or celery, carrot, parsnip or turnip and shallot. In a pot melt butter and add chopped ingredients. Cook until soft- about 3 minutes over medium to high heat. Add curry and stir until fragrant- about 30 seconds. Add lentils and broth. Cook 25-30 minutes. Then you will want to take about 2 C from pan and place in food process to puree. Place processed soup back in pot, stir and.... ENJOY!!
THE EASIEST YUMMIEST CHICKEN POT PIE EVER
I got this recipe from the foodnetwork. It really is so easy and yummy- I had to post it! Makes enough for 4-5 ppl. Or 1-2 in my family!! lol
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (I buy chicken breast strips and just boiled them til they were cooked- and chopped up)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced (I did NOT put these in)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots (I used canned carrots that were from my garden)
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas
- 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken broth (I dissolved one chicken boullion cube in 1 C water instead)
- Salt and pepper, optional (no salt)
- 1 1/2 cups instant biscuit mix
- 1 cup milk
- 1 stick melted butter (I used 1/2 C of healthy choice butter)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.In a greased 2-quart casserole, layer the chicken, eggs, carrots, and peas. Mix the soup, chicken broth, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Pour over the layers. Stir together the biscuit mix and milk, and pour this over the casserole. Drizzle butter over the topping. Bake until the topping is golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. It took me 15 min longer to cook- most likely because I used a thicker pan that can be used in the oven Vs. a casserole dish.
Seriously- this is SOOO YUMMMY! You'll LOVE it!
MY VERY OWN GOLDEN CORN CHOWDER
Not the healthiest of soups- but ohhhh so tasty! This is winner!
1 pack Bacon (I use John Morrel hardwood smoked maple bacon)
1 yellow medium onion chopped, 3 shallots chopped
*you can use 2 medium onions if you don't have shallots
1/2 C flour
1 t black pepper
1 1/2 t ground turmeric
2 c shredded cheddar cheese
2-3 c half and half
12 c diced potatoes
12 c water
12 chicken boullion cubes
3 cans corn
In a very large pan, cook bacon. Remove and place bacon on plate with paper towels. Bacon will be used later to crumble on soup. In bacon grease, saute onions. Once onions are cooked, add flour, turmeric and pepper (do not drain grease or add salt). This will make a paste. Cook for 5 min, stirring constantly. Then add 12 cup water and the 12 boullion cubes. Cover and Let this low boil for 45 minutes to an hour. Add diced potatoes and continue to cook 20-30 minutes until potatoes are cooked. Once cooked, I use a masher and mash them a little, to make a thicker soup. Add the cheese, half & half (start off with 2 cups and add more if you want) and drained cans of corn. Let simmer about 5 minutes. Viola! Once you dish your bowl- crumble bacon on top. This is good and I mean GOOD!
DINNER IN A PUMPKIN!!
This is so fun and perfect for October. We make it every year and it might look a little spooky on your plate... but its Super Yummy!!!
1 small - medium pumpkin
1 onion chopped
2 T veg oil
1 1/2 - 2 lbs ground beef
3 T soy sauce
2 T brown sugar (heaping)
1 4 oz can of mushrooms
1 10 oz can Cream of Chicken soup
1 1/2 C cooked rice
1 8 oz drained sliced water chestnuts
Cut out top of pumpkin (being careful so you can place the top back on) and thoroughly clean out. Preheat oven to 350. In large saucepan saute onions in veg oil. Add beef and brown. Drain. Add soy, brown sugar, mushrooms and soup. Stir and simmer 10 minutes. Add rice and water chestnuts. Spoon mixture into pumpkin. Rub the outside of the pumpkin with a little veg oil. Place top of pumpkin back on and Cook for 1 1/2 hours (90 minutes). Pumpkin meat should be tender.
ENJOY!!!
STIR CRAZY CAKE!
We used to make this often when I was a kid. Usually on on a Friday or Saturday night! It's not a super sweet cake but its really moist! Love it!
2 1/2 C Flour
1 1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C Cocoa
2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2/3 C Veg Oil
2 T vinegar
1 T vanilla
2 C cold water or cold coffee
*For top 1/4 C sugar mixed with 1/2 t cinnamon
Mix all dry ingredients into un-greased metal baking pan. 13 x 9 x 2. Form 3 wells. Pour oil in one well. Vinegar in another. And vanilla in 3rd. Pour water or coffee over all and stir with fork. Do not beat. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over top. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. and ENJOY!
PAPA BEAR'S CHILI
2 lb lean ground beef
2 med onions
2 cans kidney beans (drain)
2 cans chili beans (don't drain)
1 48 oz tomato juice
1 clove garlic (mince or finely chop)
1 T chili powder
Chop onions and cook with meat. Drain any grease. Add all other ingredients and simmer 2 hours. That's it! Add any peppers or other spices you would like!
OVERNIGHT PICKLES
Super yummy and Super fresh tasting!!
A couple cucumbers (hopefully from your own garden, right?)
1 clove fresh garlic
Fresh Dill
2 C Water
1/2 C white vinegar
1/2 cider vinegar
1/4 C sugar
1 t salt
red, white, black pepper corns (unground pepper)
In a saucepan- boil water, vinegar, salt and sugar until all dissolved. In a quart jar- slice cucumbers and place in jar. Slice garlic clove into 4ths and add into jar. Add fresh dill. Pour as much as will fit of water/vinegar mixture into jar. Add some pepper. Secure lid and place in fridge. 24 hours later- you have the freshest- yummiest smelling pickles- ever!! You can get creative- the next one I do I am adding szechuan peppers! Have fun and enjoy!!
GERMAN PANCAKES
6 eggs
2 T butter
1 C flour
1 C milk
1 t salt
Heat oven to 400. Melt butter. Spray glass cake pan with cooking spray and pour butter in pan. Mix rest of ingredients in bowl- very well. Pour mixture in glass pan and bake 20 min. Can serve with maple syrup and any fruit syrup. Puffs up- but shrinks when cooled. I love making this on Sunday mornings. :)
HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
NOODLES
2 1/3 C flour
1/2 t salt
2 beaten eggs
1/3 C water
1 t olive oil
In bowl combine 2 C flour and salt. Mix well. In separate bowl combine eggs, water and oil. Add to flour mixture; mix well. On hard surface sprinkle 1/3 C flour and knead 10 min. Dough should be elastic. Cover and let rest 10 min. Roll dough to be about 1/16th" and let stand 20 min. Then cut to desired shapes.
CHICKEN SOUP
4-5 thin chicken breasts
carrots
celery
11 chicken bullion cubes- or chicken broth
corn starch for thickening
Boil chicken in a small pan for 20 min or until completely white. (When I boiled the chicken I boiled it with garlic and onion powder) After chicken is cooked- Cut up the chicken into bite size or smaller pieces. In a larger pan place 12 C chicken broth OR 12 C water with 11 bullion cubes. Bring to boil and add desired amount of chopped carrots, celery and add chicken. Boil until carrots are almost cooked. Add noodles and boil for 10 minutes. Thicken and season as desired... and ENJOY!! ps. it tastes better than the picture makes it look... lol
APPLESAUCE SPICE CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE PECAN FROSTING
2 C flour
1 1/2 C sugar
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t ground ginger
1/4 C buttermilk or sour milk
1/4 C butter- softened
1/4 C shortening
1/2 t vanilla
3 eggs
1 C applesauce
Combine all ingredients except eggs. Mix well and beat on high 2 min. Add eggs and beat 2 more minutes. Bake @ 350 for 30-40 min. Test with toothpick.
FROSTING
4 C powder sugar
1 8 oz softened cream cheese
2 T butter
1 C chopped pecans
In a frying pan melt butter and cook nuts over med-high heat. Stirring almost constantly. When butter is almost gone (about 7 min) - remove from heat and cool. In a bowl mix powder sugar and cream cheese. Beat on high until super creamy. Add cooled nuts. Spread over cooled cakes and ENJOY!
MEATLOAF AND MASH
This is a really yummy Meatloaf and Mash. The Mash I got from my friend Jen's blog http://jlhphotomom.blogspot.com
Meatloaf:
1 T Butter
2 Cloves Garlic- finely chopped
1 1/2 t salt and pepper
2 lbs extra lean ground meat
3 slices or 1 C bread crumbs
7 ritz crackers- crumbled
1 egg- slightly beaten
3 1/2 T sour cream
1 1/2 T Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 t onion powder
1 15 oz tomato sauce (for sauce)
3 T Ketchup (for sauce)
a few T Sugar (for sauce)
Melt butter- cook garlic 3 min. Heat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix all ingredients except for sauce. Mix well. Place in loaf pan and form. Cook for 40 min. After 40 min- kick up the heat to 400 and cook for 15 min. Mix sauce and just add sugar until to you liking. Pour over meatloaf and cook another 10 min.
MASH
4 potatoes - 2 carrots. Peel, boil and mash. Add 1/4 C butter, milk and 1 t garlic salt. YUMMMM
FLUFFERS OR SCONES? I SAY- SCUFFERS!
My favorite way to eat these fried bread contraptions is either super hot with melted butter dripping off all sides- or slightly warmed with my homemade apricot-pineapple jam. However you like; here is a wonderful bread recipe that I got from my Mom's Mom. This is from my Grandma Nielsen's bread recipe.
*side note- I only made a half batch and I got about 25 good sized scuffers.
3 T Crisco
8 Heaping T Sugar
4 T Salt
4 C Hot Water.
Combine and dissolve on very low heat. In another bowl, combine 2 C Warm water, 1 T sugar & 1 and a half T yeast. Once the yeast has risen- mix in with the dissolved ingredients. Add 2 C cold water. Now add enough flour to make into a stiff dough. About 18 C. Mix with hands until good dough consistency. Let rise until doubled. Beat down with hands- let rise again. After 2nd rise, make dough balls and fry in hot veg oil. IF you want to make bread- place dough in bread pan- let rise further. Place in 350 degree oven for 45-60 minutes. ENJOY!
SUPER EASY SPICY CHICKEN with COWBOY STYLE MASHED POTATOES
This is such an easy way to make a chicken dinner. I take chicken strips (they cook faster) and sprinkle Durkee's Grill Creations "Kansas City Style" Chicken Seasoning Spicy, all over the chicken. This spice has a robust combination of garlic, onion, orange peel, red pepper, green bell peppers and black pepper. I do a generous coating on Both sides. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes and flip. Depending on thickness of chicken I will cook another 10 - 15 minutes. In the meantime, I am boiling diced potatoes. I cook them cowboy style which means I leave the skins on when I mash. Because of the spicy chicken I threw in some sour cream with the mashed potatoes. Helps cool it down a little- especially for kids. Heat some green beans and you got, Dinner!! So easy, a cave Woman can do it!! ha!
HOMEMADE MAC and CHEESE
This takes about 45 minutes with prep and cooking time. It's probably one of the easier homemade Mac and Cheese because of the Velveeta. It's a lot of cheese and butter and pasta but It's yummy and is always a hit when I make it :) Enjoy!
1/2 C Flour
1 stick butter
1/2 C shredded cheese
3 C milk
1 lb Velveeta
5 C Cooked shells
12 Ritz Crackers
Melt 6 T butter and wisk in flour. Cook stirring constantly 2 min. Add milk. Stir constantly and bring to boil. Boil 3 minutes. Add Velveeta (I cut the lb up into 6 - 8 blocks or so). Stir until melted. Pour over cooked shells and stir well. Pour into glass pan 9x13, lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Top with shredded cheese. Take remaining butter, melt. Crumble the Ritz crackers and add to melted butter. Stir and top macaroni. Cook 20 min @ 350
JEMPUT-JEMPUT PISANG
I got this recipe from my amazing & talented friend Jen in California. She is the one that gave me the idea to post recipes and cooking stuff. You should really follow her blog if you want good deals and amazing recipes!! Here is a link to her blog:
http://jlhphotomom.blogspot.com http://jlhphotomom.blogspot.com
The only change I made is I added a little more nutmeg. Here is my picture and her recipe!
"So this is a Malaysian recipe called Jemput-jemput pisang. Its basically fried mashed bananas balls.
4 ripe mashed bananas
1 cup sugar
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
oil for frying
Combine all ingredients (except oil of course) so they are mixed well. Heat oil and test with water. When oil snaps at you, its ready! Drop half spoonfuls of mixture in oil using spoons sitting in water. It may not look like much on the spoon, but the dough will expand while frying. Fry til golden brown and sprinkle with powder sugar!! "
TIP- I have made this twice and the first time I used a processor to mix ingredients. The 2nd time it was hand mixed. With the hand mix process it leaves small pieces of banana which stays mushy even after its cooked. My daughter preferred having the small pieces in the balls- but, I almost felt like the texture was too soft, like it wasn't cooked. Just an FYI...
