Oh. Baby. D-I-V-I-N-E. From a friend of a friend. What do ya know-on this recipe blog here. Here's the recipe, in her words since she's made them so many times.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Oreo Peanut Butter Truffles
orange/pecan/strawberry french toast
Lots of fresh strawberries, sliced
Fresh whipped cream
4 TB. butter
3 TB. honey
2 TB. brown sugar
1 c. chopped pecans
Heat butter, honey, and sugar together in a 9x13 pan in oven until barely melted. Stir together until smooth. Sprinkle pecans over the top.
1 c. heavy cream, whipping cream or half & half
1 c. freshly squeezed orange juice*
4 large eggs
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch allspice
1 tsp. vanilla
2 TB. sugar
note: I usually half this part for our family. Halfed, it is plenty for 6 slices which is all we'll eat.
Whisk ingredients together in bowl. Dip approximately 8 slices white or French bread into the mixture until just soaked. (I use the thick Texas toast.) Arrange bread slices over nuts in pan. Bake at 400 degrees until golden on top, 15-20 minutes. Place the French toast pecan-side-up on a plate. Mound with lots of FRESH strawberries. Top with whipped cream and a few mint leaves or a fanned strawberry (if you're feeling fancy). You can drizzle maple syrup across the top, but it's not needed.
*I used freshly squeezed orange juice once. I don't notice a whole lot of difference just using orange juice from concentrate.... plus it's a whole lot easier.
And I don't think you need maple syrup. It's super sweet and rich as it is.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pizza Crust
Pizza Crust
- 1 1/3 cup warm water
- 1 envelope rapid rise yeast
- 1 tbs sugar
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- Heat oven to 200.
- Combine water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 min. Add oil.
- Mix flour and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet one cup at a time until ball forms.
- Spray the inside of a separate large metal bowl with cooking spray. Put ball of dough inside and cover with plastic wrap (also coated with cooking spray).
- Turn off oven and place metal bowl in oven for 40 min.
- Remove dough and pound down.
- Preheat pizza stone at 450.
- Roll out dough to make crust (makes 2 pizzas).
- Top with favorite pizza toppings and bake 8-10 min. (until crust is golden brown) at 450.
We've also made it with the standard pizza toppings, with alfredo sauce and chicken, and with yummy fresh tomato and fresh basil from our garden.
Cream Puffs
Cream Puffs
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 eggs
Add flour and salt.
Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball and leaves sides of pan.
Cook about 2 minutes more until very dry.
Cool slightly.
Add eggs one at a time, beating after each until smooth.
Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheet.
Bake at 450 for 15 min, THEN turn the oven to 325 and bake for 25 min.
When cool, cut off tops and remove dough centers. Replace tops.
Makes 12 small puffs or 8 large ones.
Cream Filling
1 3oz pkg vanilla instant pudding...prepared and mixed with a tub of cool whip
Fill inside of cream puffs and replace tops.
(There is usually leftover filling.)
Chocolate Topping
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1 Tbs butter
1/4 cup butter
Melt together (microwave 1 minute). Add more milk if needed.
Drizzle over top of cream puffs.
Candy Popcorn
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup sugar
Boil together then add one 3 oz pkg Jello (any flavor)
Pour over 2 bags of popped popcorn (use less popcorn if you like it really sweet and gooey)
It also makes great popcorn balls. Because Jello comes in every color these days, you can use it to celebrate ANY holiday...blue and red for 4th of July, red and green for Christmas, green for St. Patrick's day, whatever.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
fruit pizza
1 (18-oz.) roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/4 sugar (I used powdered sugar)
1 (8-oz.) container Cool Whip
fruit of your choosing (I used strawberries, nectarines, kiwi, and blueberries)
1. Preheat oven to 350. Press cookie dough onto bottom and up sides of an 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 12-inch pizza pan. Bake for 11-15 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
2. In mixing bowl beat cream cheese and sugar until cheese is softened. Gently stir in whipped topping until combined. Spread in baked tart shell. Chill for 2 hours.
3. To serve, arrange fruit over cheese layer. Serve immediately or cover and chill for up to 3 hours. Cut into wedges to serve.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos...
Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos
Bacon
Jalapenos
Cream Cheese
Cut a jalapeno in half. Remove all seeds and membranes. Fill each half generously with cream cheese. Cut a slice of bacon in half. Wrap one half around each jalapeno and put a tooth pick through to keep in tact. Place them on a pan with a rack so the grease can escape (I used a cookie rack with a baking sheet). Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes!
***The pioneer woman uses 1/3 of a piece of bacon for each jalapeno half..I used 1/2.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Best Lasagne Ever!!
Sauce
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 lb. Jimmy Dean hot breakfast sausage
2 cloves minced garlic
2 14.5 oz cans whole tomatos
2 6 oz cans tomato paste
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 teaspoons salt
Cheese Mixture
3 cups lowfat cottage cheese
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon salt
Other Ingredients
lasagne noodles (I used oven ready)
1 lb. sliced mozzarella cheese
Brown beef, sausage, and garlic until browned. Drain half of the fat. Add tomatos,paste,parsley,basil, and salt. Mix and simmer uncovered 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile mix the cottage cheese and eggs together. Add parmesan, parsley, and salt. Mix well.
In a 9x13 pan. Layer 4 lasagne noodles. Top with half of cottage cheese mixture. Top with 1/2 lb. mozzarella. Evenly spread a little less than half of sause mixture over mozzarella. Layer 4 more noodles, the rest of the cottage cheese mixture, the rest of the mozzarella and then the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
****If any questions, the pioneer woman website shows pictures step by step!
****the pioneer woman used regualar noodles. I used oven ready, I cooked it for 40
minutes to make sure they were cooked through!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Penne a la Betsy!
- 1 pound of extra large shrimp. It should already be peeled and deveined.
- butter
- olive oil
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 8 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- parsley
- basil
- salt
- pepper
- 3/4 lb. penne pasta
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Honey BBQ Chicken- Crockpot
Instructions:
1-2 chickens, cut up or approx. 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Dip chicken pieces in flour to coat.
Place a small amount of oil in pan and brown chicken (just a few minutes on each side)
Place chicken in crockpot and pour sauce over chicken.
Cook on low 4 hours- turn to high the last 1/2 hour to thicken. Serve with rice.
Sauce:
3 TBSP oil (I use EVOO)
2 TBSP honey
2 TBSP sugar (white or brown)
2 TBSP water
1/4 cup ketchup
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
(We prefer to make this with extra sauce, so I always double the sauce- that way you have a little extra to drizzle over chicken and rice. However, when doubling: don't double oil or salt.)
Enjoy!!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Strawberry Pie
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Barbequed Chinese Lettuce Wraps
Or I will also write it out if you don't want to go to the page.
Barbecued Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show:
30 Minute Meals
Episode:
Low-Carb, Not No-Carb
2 cups, 4 handfuls, fresh shiitake mushrooms
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 pounds thin cut chicken breast or chicken tenders
2 tablespoons light colored oil, such as vegetable oil or peanut oil
Coarse salt and coarse black pepper
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 inch ginger root, finely chopped or grated, optional
1 orange, zested(if you choose to do this, don't use but a little bit of zest, it is very strong)
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
small 1 small tin, 6 to 8 ounces, sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
3 scallions, chopped
3 tablespoons hoisin, Chinese barbecue sauce, available on Asian foods aisle of market
1/2 large head iceberg lettuce, core removed, head
quartered Wedges of navel orange -- platter garnish
Remove tough stems from mushrooms and brush with damp towel to clean, Slice mushrooms. Chop chicken into small pieces.
Preheat a large skillet or wok to high.
Add oil to hot pan. Add chicken to the pan and sear meat by stir frying a minute or 2. Add mushrooms and cook another minute or two. Add salt and pepper to season, then garlic and ginger. Cook a minute more. Grate zest into pan, add bell pepper bits, chopped water chestnuts and scallions. Cook another minute, continuing to stir fry mixture. Add hoisin Chinese barbecue sauce and toss to coat the mixture evenly. Transfer the hot chopped barbecued chicken to serving platter and pile the quartered wedges of crisp iceberg lettuce along side. Add wedged oranges to platter to garnish. To eat, pile spoonfuls into lettuce leaves, wrapping lettuce around fillings and squeeze an orange wedge over.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Pasta Chicken Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Spinach and Bacon
Thanks to the food blog My Kitchen Cafe, I have another great recipe. The reason I enjoyed this recipe is that it was 1)super easy 2)very light but filling 3)TASTY!!!!
Chicken Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Spinach and Bacon
5 strips bacon, fried and chopped into bite-sized pieces
3-4 green onions, chopped
1 lb tube pasta (I used Cellentani), cooked, drained and cooled to room temperature
1 lb chicken, cooked and shredded (I used ½ of a rotisserie chicken)
4 cups fresh spinach leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (I used oil-packed, if using dry, plump them in hot water before using)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Place the mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. Whisk well. In a large bowl, combine pasta, bacon, green onions, shredded chicken, spinach leaves and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss lightly. Add about ½ to ¾ of the mayonnaise and vinegar mixture. Toss to combine. Add more dressing if the salad seems dry.
****We thought it needed a little somethin' somethin' so we put parmesan cheese on it and it was exactly what it needed! I served it with garlic bread. I also let it chill for about 1/2 hour before serving.
Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
Makes 12
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup shredded coconut, plus more for garnish
8 ounces bar cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
DIRECTIONS
2. Stir in baking powder, baking soda, allspice, and salt. Add flour; mix. Stir in carrots, walnuts, and coconut.
3. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 25 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
4. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
5. Frost cupcakes, and garnish with shredded coconut.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Calvert Sandwich...OH SO YUMMY!!!
Who doesnt love anything with avocado and bacon??? This recipe is off of the food network and is so tasty!! My sister gave me this recipe and we are so glad she did. I didnt use so much cheese. I also couldnt find focaccia rolls but used focaccia bread instead. To make balsamic mayonnaise, just mix some mayonnaise with balsamic vinegar. I also didnt use a panini grill. It was tasty!!!
- 2 tablespoons balsamic mayonnaise
1 (5-inch) round rosemary focaccia
5 slices Monterey Jack cheese
4 ounces oven-roasted turkey, sliced
2 pieces applewood smoked bacon, cooked until crisp
1/2 avocado, sliced into thin strips
Spread the balsamic mayonnaise on the inside of top and bottom of focaccia. Place with mayonnaise sides facing up on a flat top grill at 350 degrees F. Drape 2 slices of cheese over top and 2 slices over bottom of roll so as to cover the entire surface area. Place dome over focaccia to facilitate melting and even heat. While cheese is melting, place turkey on grill to warm. Place bacon in an "x" over the turkey. Cover with avocado and remaining cheese. Once cheese is melted all around (focaccia and turkey) assemble the grilled cheese and close. Place finished sandwich in a panini grill until roll is crisp and has added squishiness! EAT!!!
Mom's Banana Bread
Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
1/2 cup stick butter or margarine, softened.
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla. combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture just until combined. Stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups half full. Bake at 350 deg. for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Makes about 2 dozen.
Banana Bread
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup stick margarine or butter, softenend
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts (if desired)
1) move rack to low position so that tops of the pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350 deg. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans ( 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2) or 1 loaf pan (9X5X3) with shortening.
2) mix sugar and margarine in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in the nuts. Pour into pans.
3) Bake 8 in. loaves about 1 hour or 9 in loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pans on wire rack. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; removed from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Going Bananas
Monday, May 5, 2008
Apple Berry Salsa
(Bottom left)
I didn't make the cinnamon chips. Instead we bought the Tostito's multigrain chips -I thought it was the perfect blend of salty and sweet. I'm sure you could modify this recipe and use any fruit you want. It doesn't tell you how finely to chop the fruit which bothered me...I just made everything about 1/2 inch.
Cinnamon Chips
4 (7") Flour tortillas
1 T granulated sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Salsa
2 medium Granny Smith apples
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 kiwi, peeled and chopped
1 small orange-before peeling, zest the peel
2 T packed brown sugar
2 T apple jelly
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
For cinnamon chips, lightly spray tortillas with water.
Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over tortillas.
Using a pizza cutter, cut each tortilla into 8 wedges; Place in single layer On round baking stone.
Bake 8-10 min.
Or until lightly browned and crisp.
Remove and cool completely.
For salsa, peel, core, and slice apples.
Cut apples into quarters and chop with chopper.
Slice strawberries.
Chop kiwi.
Place fruit in bowl.
Zest orange and juice orange.
Add orange zest, orange juice, brown Sugar, and apple jelly to fruit mixture, stir gently.
Serve with cinnamon chips (or Tostino's multigrain chips!)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Sweet N Sour Chicken....
- 3 skinless boneless chicken breast
- 1 egg beaten
- cornstarch
- oil
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/2 cup vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Friday, May 2, 2008
Zephyr Pancakes
- 2 cups (8 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 tablespoons (1 3/4 ounces) sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) heavy cream
- 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)