Sunday, January 31, 2010

Sweet Salsa

Sweet Salsa

Tomatos chopped in the food processor (as many as you need to use)
Bunch of celery chopped in food processor
Onion finely chopped ( I do it in the food processor too, but you have to be careful not to produce to much onion juice. Just pulse a few times) Use as much onion as you like
1-2 green peppers finely chopped
Jalepeno peppers, as many to make hot as you like it
chopped garlic, as much as you like

Combine all the above items in a large bowl and stir well.

Brine
3 c. vinegar
1/4 c. salt (non-iodized)
2 c. sugar

Heat to dissolve, let cool, then pour over veggies. Cover jars with saran wrap and lid. Keep in refrigerator.

Krunchy Punch by Jen

This is a very good punch recipe!!!!



3 packages of jello (any flavor-this determines the color)
9 cups of boiling water
4 cups of cold water
4 cups of sugar
16 oz. lemon juice
2 - 46 oz pineapple juice
Use a very large pan


1. Dissolve the jello in 9 cups of boiling water.
2. In a separate pan combine sugar with cold water and bring to a quick boil.
3. Add to the jello mixture and cool, add lemon juice and pineapple juice and mix well.
4. Freeze in large plastic container or milk cartons

When ready to use, thaw for three hours and then add 2 large sprite, ginger ale or 7 up.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010


GIANT CHOCOLATE-TOFFEE COOKIES

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups (packed) brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 1.4-ounce chocolate-covered English toffee bars (such as Heath), coarsely chopped
1 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl; whisk to blend. Stir chocolate and butter in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Cool mixture to lukewarm.

Using electric mixer, beat sugar and eggs in bowl until thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, then toffee and nuts. Chill batter until firm, about 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment or waxed paper. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto sheets, spacing 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake just until tops are dry and cracked but cookies are still soft to touch, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheets. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

4th Of July Corn and Bean Salad

First, gather the following ingredients:
1 can of garbanzo beans, drained
1 can of pinto beans, drained
1 can of black beans, drained
1 can of corn, drained
2 cans Ro Tel with cilantro and lime
one leek, sliced
2 Tablespoons Italian Dressing
dashes of chili powder, cumin and garlic powder
1/2 of a fresh lime
fresh cilantro
salt

Open all of the cans, and mix the corn and beans. Add the Ro Tel. Add the spices. Squeeze the juice of half of a lime into the beans. Add the leek and cilantro. Mix well with 2 Tablespoons of dressing and some salt. Marinate overnight. Then, drain most of the juice. Add a little more fresh cilantro, and serve cold.

Fall in LOVE cake:

Chocolate Cake
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 cup oil
3 1/2 cups cocoa
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine flour, sugar, salt, and soda in large bowl.
Bring to a boil water, margarine, shortening, and cocoa, then add to flour mixture.
Let cool a little and then add milk, eggs, and vanilla.
Bake 20 minutes at 350 F or until done (I think it takes closer to 40 minutes).

Coconut Pecan Icing
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated can milk
3 slightly beaten egg yolks (no egg whites)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 1/3 cup coconut (I like a little more coconut than this)
1 cup chopped pecans (Robin likes more pecans than this)
1 teaspoon vanilla (Robin likes a little more vanilla than this)

Mix all together, bring to a boil, then remove from heat while stirring. Be careful not to burn.

Ice the cake and then eat it.

Brunch Recipe

2 cans crescent rolls 1 can chopped green chilies
1 lb. sausage 1 egg
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

Brown sausage & drain. Add cream cheese and stir on top of stove
until melted. Add chopped chilies. Roll out 1 can crescent rolls on
cookie sheet or can use 9 x 13 inch dish. Spread mixture on top.
Roll out 2nd can of crescent rolls and cover mixture. Pinch around
edges so it is sealed tightly. Break egg, beat and brush on top.
Bake @ 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. Cut in squares and serve. Enjoy.
Hopkins County Stew

4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
2 pounds peeled and cubed potatoes
¾ cup of chopped onion
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons chili powder
sprinkle of cayenne pepper (just a tad)
1 ½ teaspoon of salt +/-
1 clove garlic, mince
1 can tomatoes, stewed
1 can cream corn
1 quart or so of water (or the broth the chicken cooked in)
Combine all ingredients and simmer for a few hours and adjust seasonings. I taste and add seasoning until I get to where I like it. If my chili powder has some heat, I don’t add cayenne. Hope you enjoy.

Fresh Strawberry Cake

COMBINE AND BLEND IN MIXER.
SPOON INTO A PREPARED BUNDT PAN:

4 EGGS
1/2 CUP OIL
1 TEASPOON VANILLA
1/2 CUP 7-UP (I USED SIERRA MIST THAT I HAD)
1 (3 OZ) PACKAGE STRAWBERRY JELLO
2 TABLESPOONS FLOUR
1 (18 1/4 OZ) PACKAGE WHITE CAKE MIX
1 1/4 CUP CHOPPED STRAWBERRIES (I CUISINARTED THEM)

BAKE 325 DEGREES FOR 50 MINUTES

COOL AND PUT ON CAKE PLATE

GLAZE

1/2 STICK BUTTER
3 CUPS POWDERED SUGAR
1/2 CUP CHOPPED STRAWBERRIES
1/4 CUP 7-UP (OR LESS)

WHIP BUTTER TIL CREAMY IN MIXER. ADD POWDERED SUGAR AND STRAWBERRIES. ADD 7-UP IF NEEDED. DRIZZLE ON CAKE WHEN CAKE IS COOL OR SLIGHTLY WARM.
Mississippi Mudcake

Cake: 2 sticks margarine, 2 cups sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 can coconut (or small bag), 1 cup pecans, 4 eggs beaten.

Frosting: 7 ounces marshmallow creme, 3/4 stick margarine melted, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 box confectioner's sugar, 1 teaspoom vanilla

To prepare cake: Preheat oven 350 degrees. Melt the margarine. In a bowl combine sugar cocoa, flour, coconut, pecans, and eggs. Pour Margarine in the bowl. Mix well. Pour batter in greased 9x13x2 inch pan and bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until done.

To prepare frosting: Spread the marshmallow creme over the cake while cake is still hot. Mix the margarine, cocoa, milk, sugar, and vanilla together and spread mixture over the creme. Swirl.

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars

Frosted pumpkin bars are made in the microwave oven. INGREDIENTS: 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 cups sugar 1 can (15oz) pumpkin 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg . Frosting: 6 ounces cream cheese 1/3 cup butter 1 tablespoon cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 4 cups confectioners' sugar PREPARATION:
Blend first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Divide batter between 2 8-inch glass baking dishes. Microwave (one at a time) for 5 minutes on HIGH (100% power). Cool and frost.
Frosting: Microwave cream cheese and butter for 1 or 2 minutes on LOW until soft, not melted. Stir in cream and vanilla. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat well

Taco Dip

Taco Dip

All done in layers: One can of refried beans mixed with taco seasoning (any kind. I use lawry's)on the bottom of a pyrex dish, one cup of sour cream on top, pace hot sauce to cover for the next layer, layer of cheddar cheese (or any kind you want) a layer of green onions, layer of black sliced olives, layer of cut up tomato. Serve with chips. (can add layer of guacamole

Jalapenio Poppers

Jalapenio Poppers

1 pkg of cream cheese, 1- 1 1/2c of shredded cheese, 3-4T real bacon bits, 1T of garlic powder. Mix in a blender or by hand real good. Slice 12-20 peppers in half. De-seed and de-vein them. Might want to wear gloves for this. In a pyrex dish fill pepper cavity with mixture. In a small bowl crumble some crakers up and dip the pepper into it. Just the cream cheese part. Cook 350 for 30 minutes.

Best Ever Bean Dip

Bean Dip

1/4 cup of pace picante sauce, small sour cream, 1 large can refried beans, 1 dry onion soup mix, 1 block of cream cheese

8x8 pyrez dish. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.
Serve with chips. Great Super Bowl treat!

Green Bean Bundles

Green Bean Bundles:

2 (14.5 oz) cans white green beans, 1 lb. bacon cut in half, 1 stick butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 clove garlic (pressed), salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350. Grease the bottom of a 9x11 baking dish. Wrap approx. 7-9 green beans in 1/2 slice of back and stick with a toothpick to hold. Combine melted butter, brown sugar and garlic cloves and pour over bundles. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover dish with foil and make for 40 min. Uncover and broil for 5-10 minutes to crisp the bacon.

Asian Coleslaw

Asian coleslaw:
1 bag coleslaw, 3/4 cup slivered almonds, 1 pkg. chicken ramen, 1/2 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp vinegar, 3 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp butter
Melt Butter with almonds and crushed ramen noodles in sauce pan. Combine olive oil, vinegar, sugar & seasoning packet. Pour over slaw and butter mixture. Serve immediately

Ewy Gewy Cake

Ewy Gewy Cake:

1 German chocolate cake mix, 14 oz. condensed milk, I reg. tub cool whip, 3 2oz. Heath bars, caramel Prepare cake mix, bake in 9x13 dish, remove from oven, poke holes in cake, drizzle with caramel, crumble heath bars and add, chill, add cool whip, drizzle caramel, add remaining heath bar

Jalapeno Corn Casserole

Jalapeno Corn Casserole
2 cans shoepeg corn, 6 oz. cream cheese, 1/4 c. milk, 1 stick of butter, dash of garlic salt & 1/2-1 jalapeno
Combine milk, cheese, butter & garlic salt in a saucepan on low. Heat until all is melted and blended. Drain corn and add to chopped jalapenos. Butter an 8x8 pan. Combine corn & cream cheese mixture. Bake @ 350 25-30 min. until bubbling

Spinach Dip

spinach dip


1 pkg of frozen chopped spinach, thaw and drain
1 pkg of cream cheese(soften)
1 pkg of Monterey Jack Cheese (2 cups)
I can of Rotel
Garlic powder to taste
Heat oven to 350
Combine all ingredients in a dish, cook for 30 minutes

Pasta Fagoli Soup

Pasta Fagoli Soup (just like Olive Garden)
Ingredients
1 (46 ounce) can V8 vegetable juice
1 (15 ounce) can chopped tomatoes with garlic
1 (15 ounce) can great northern beans
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons italian seasoning
1 teaspoon oregano
1 lb ground beef
8 ounces uncooked small pasta noodles
Directions
Combine first 9 ingredients in a large pot.
Bring to a boil, then turn heat down and simmer for 30 minutes.
While soup is simmering, boil pasta according to package directions.
While pasta is cooking, brown ground beef in skillet until done.
Drain any grease.
Add pasta and ground beef to soup.
Enjoy!

My Mom's cake (My fave!)

Appy's Apple Cake

1 1/4c oil
2 c sugar
3 eggs
3 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp soda
3 c chopped fine apples (fuji is what she uses) (3-4 apples) peal them and cut into small chunks
1 c pecans chopped
1 c coconut

Mix eggs. Add sugar and oil. Add dry ingredients. Add apples, pecans, and coconuts. Mix.
Bake in 2 loaf pans. Spray Pam on the pans first. Then bake for one hour (if using a smaller pan then bake 40 minutes. If you cook it less than an hour or 40 minutes it will not be done and will be gooey inside) at 325 degrees. Let it set for a bit and then turn them out. Enjoy!

Taco Soup

TACO SOUP:

1 pound of hamburger meat cooked, 1 can of chopped green chillis, 1 can of stewed tomotoes, 1 can of pinto beans (or black), 1 can of corn, 1/2 package of Ranch dressing dry mix. Stir together and simmer till flavors mix.
So easy and good!

Swiss Chicken Casserole

Swiss Chicken Casserole

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 slices (4x4) Swiss cheese
1 can cr. of mush soup
1/2 soup can milk
2 c. dry herb stuffing (stove top is what I use)
1/2 c. melted butter or margarine
Spray Pam in your crockpot. Place breasts in crockpot, place cheese on top. Mix soup and milk, pour on top. Add stuffing on top, then drizzle with butter. Cook on high 8 hours or low 6 hours. It was really very yummy

Another version of it:

Swiss Chicken:
8 boneless chicken breasts, 8 slices swiss or mvenster cheese, 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup milk, 1.4 cup butter, 1 cup Pepperidge Farm herbed stuffing mix
Arrange chicken in a baking dish and top each piece with a slice of cheese. Wisk together soup and milk, then spread on top of chicken. Top with stuffing mix. Drizzle butter over all. Refrigerate 1 hr. or overnight. Cover and bake for 45 min in 350 oven. Uncover and bake 15 min. Serve with noodles

Two Recipes from a good friend who brought this over when our son was in the hospital.

Angel Chicken Pasta


6- skinless, boneless thin chicken breast
1/2cup butter
2- (.7oz) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix
1cup- white wine
2- (10.75 oz) can condensed golden mushroom soup
8oz- cream cheese with chives
8oz- fresh sliced mushrooms
1- pound angel hair pasta

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the packages of dressing mix. Blend in wine and golden mushroom soups. Mix in cream cheese and stir until smooth. Heat through, but do not boil. Arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over.
Bake for 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Twenty minutes before the chicken is done, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain. Serve chicken and sauce over pasta.


Chocolate Chip Cake


1- box Yellow Cake Mix with pudding
1- small box instant chocolate pudding
3/4cup- oil
3/4cup- water
4- large Eggs - 1 at a time
1- 8oz carton sour cream
6 oz- package chocolate chips
(Sifted powdered sugar - optional)

Combine first 2 ingredients stirring with a wire whisk to remove lumps - add oil and next 3 ingredients - stir until smooth.

Stir in chocolate morsels - pour batter into a greased and floured 12 cup bundt pan

Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean

Cool cake in pan on a wire rack

Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar if desired.