getting back to cooking

Just a note to let you all know I am taking a few days off using cookbooks as we have a family emergency .. I will get back on it very soon...

non-noodle Chicken noodle soup

Okay... in case you are wondering about the name.. I wanted to make chicken soup because I ended up with a cold and wanted to be able to help get rid of it quick. And as we all know.. a good hot bowl of spicy chicken soup helps you to stop coughing and makes the throat feel so much better. BUT I wanted to forgo the noodles and just get all the good veggies in it. I took the basic recipe just left out the noodles..

1 cup onion diced
1 cup carrots diced
4 cloves of garlic minced
 2 tsp oil
1 cup celery
3 tbs flour
1/2 Poultry seasonings
2 1/2 cups potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cups chicken, diced
red pepper
hot peppers* as much as you like , the spicier the better *
cauliflower
corn 
Lima beans
chicken broth *as much as you like thicker or thinner soup*.

I sauteed the onion, celery , carrots and garlic in the oil til tender, Sprinkled the flour and seasonings over and cook  1 minute. I then put it in the crock pot along with everything. Set on high for a hour and then low for hours and hours.. ohhh so yummy...  and it really helped

.. 

Big -Wheel Burger Skllet

If you want easy and very very good.. try this.. I would add more to it so you have a one dish meal but still it was very good.

1/4 cup finely chopped onions
1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats
 1/3 cup milk
2 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups kidney beans
pepper

Mix together onion, ground beef, egg, rolled oats, pepper and milk. Mound in a 10-inch skillet. With wooden spoon handle, score in 5 or 6 wedges. Combine spaghetti sauce and kidney beans * with Liquid*  Pour over and around meat mixture. Place over medium heat. When hot, reduce heat and simmer 25-30 minutes.   Now I have to say it does not look appealing but it tastes good. I would also add corn to the meat mixture. Maybe add some garlic.   Then you would just have to add a salad and bread and your good to go.

Venison Cutlets...make ahead mashed potatoes and corn.

YUMMY.. that is what I have to say.. I LOVE CUTLETS!!!! I have to say I know how to make them .. but when I saw it in my cowboy cookbook I just had to do it. This recipe comes from Amy and Rusty Richards , sons of the Pioneers.

Having taken the back strap or some call it tenderloin and  cut it into thin pieces. Take those pieces and pound them on both sides till paper thin.  Next dip the meat into a mixture of beaten raw egg and milk. Toss into bread crumbs. Dip back into egg and into crumbs again. Fry in a cast iron skillet until golden brown.  YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY...  the best is when you take them right out of the skillet and try not to burn your mouth as you get them HOT Off the Skillet.

As for the make ahead mashed potatoes

• 5 lbs of red potatoes  quartered
• 6 oz of fat free cream cheese
• 1 cup fat free dairy sour cream
• garlic, paprika, black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chives
• 2 tbs butter

Cook potatoes in boiling water until tender, Drain
Mash potatoes til smooth
add remaining ingredients, Beat until light and fluffy. Cool
Cover and put in refrigerator.
Pour potatoes into a greased crockpot
cover and cook on low 2-3 hours while you make the cutlets and get ready for supper..

There you have it.. have a toss salad,, some corn and its one of the best meals you can have.. * so its not the best for your health with all the frying but hmmmm delicious!

Hamburger 'N' fixings sandwiches

Tonight I thought I would grab some French bread and make a different kind of burger...

Hamburger'N' fixings one.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 loaf of French Bread
• 1 can of Campbells condensed French Onion soup
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbs finely chopped sweet pickle
• 2 tsp spicy brown mustard

Brown ground beef stirring to separate meat. Spoon off fat. Stir in soup, ketchup, pickle, mustard. Heat to boiling and then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

Split the french bread lengthwise. Toast

Take the French bread and fill with the ground beef along with a assortment of toppings.

I used spring lettuce, tomatoes, onions and swiss cheese. I also added steak seasoning to the ground beef along with crushed red peppers.  I had BBQ potato chips on the side with carrots.. it was wonderful and my Mother in law who does not like meat or eat much at the whole thing!!! Now I know it must of been good!

Goulash with homemade red sauce and meatballs

What started out to be spaghetti and meatballs turned into goulash as I found I didn't have the noodles...but all in all.. it works.

First I started the meatballs.

• 1 lb hamburger
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup milk'
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large egg

Heated the oven to 375

Mix all the ingredients and shape into 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Place in ungreased rectangular pan. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until juices run clear and no longer pink in center

Red Sauce

• 1 tbs olive oil
• med onion
• med green pepper
• 1 clove garlic minced.
• 16 oz can whole tomato
• 1 8oz can tomato sauce
• 1 tbs chopped oregano leaves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Take all the ingredients and put in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 40 minutes. For thick sauce do not cover.. thinner.. cover..

All you need then is a nice salad and some homemade bread! yummmy...

Angel Food Cakes

As most of you know.. I do not bake. So in knowing that, what do you think about me making not ONE, but TWO Angel Food Cakes?  Yep that is what I tried with two different recipes. My hens are laying eggs and I needed to use up a few! So saturday this is what I did.

Homemade Angel Food Cake

1 ½ cups egg whites (about 12)

1 cup cake flour

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. cream of tarter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

1 ¼ cups sugar

First you let the egg whites stand at room temp for 30 minutes. Sift flour and confectioners’ sugar together 2 times. And set aside. IN a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla and salt on med speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar about 2 tbsp. at a time beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form.  Gradually fold in flour mixture about ½ cups at a time.

Gently spoon into a 10 inch ungreased tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air bubbles.  Bake on lowest rack at 325 for 50 -60 minutes until top springs back when lightly touched and cracks feel dry. Immediately invert pan onto bottle until completely cooled

Run a knife around the sides and tube of pan. Invert onto a serving plate.

I then tried Rainbow Angel food cake

This recipe says to use

1 ½ cups egg white

1 cup cake flour

1 ½ cups sugar divided

1 ½ tsp. cream of tartar

1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. salt

Red, yellow and green food coloring

Let egg whites sit a room temp for mins.  Sift flour and ¾ cup sugar together twice.  Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form. Gradually fold in flour mixture a fourth at a time.

Divide batter into three bowls. To the first bowl add 1 drop red and one drop of yellow. Second bowl, add 2 drops yellow and the third 2 drops green. Fold in colors.

Spoon Orange batter into ungreased tube pan. Cover bottom, spoon yellow over orange but do not mix. Spoon green over yellow. Bake on lowest rack at 375 for 30-35 minutes. Invert pan on bottle and let cool.  Run knife around side and tube and invert over plate.

That is how I made two. Now I liked the three colored one.  My niece and her family said the homemade one tasted like a campfire marshmallow.  Here are my attempts... In pictures….

Taco Soup

Taco Soup.. a cousin to Chili con carne and every bit as delicious! What more do you need then a nice bowl of Thick taco soup on a chilly night. 

I took

• 1 lb of sausage
• 1 med onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbs taco seasonings
• 19 oz can of kidney beans undrained
• 12 oz can kernal corn undrained
• 28 oz can of stews tomatoes
• green and red pepper diced
• 6 oz can of Tomato paste

I browned the sausage and then added the onions and garlic and cooked til tender. Add taco seasonings, beans, corn, tomatoes. peppers and tomato paste. Simmer slowly, stirring occasionally , for 2 hours.

Now you can add water to thin it out but I left it thick. I added a dollop of sour cream to the middle and some cheddar cheese. I put some tortilla chips in and and ate it like a dip . DELICIOUS!!!


Now if you don't have any taco seasoning packages you can make your own to keep on hand

1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 -1/2 cup of crushed dried red peppers
1/4 cup instant minced garlic
2 tbs ground oregano
1/4 cup  cumin

Combine all ingredients. Store in a cool place. Use as needed.

Lazy Man's Cabbage Rolls

In my Goose berry Patch 5 ingredients or less cookbook it has recipes for every season plus clever tips for celebrating every day.

Well I was flipping thru and I don't know if it was the cold weather or just the thought of St Patty Day coming but I saw Lazy Man's Cabbage rolls and knew CABBAGE was in the menu!

• 1 lb of ground beef. browned * I used breakfast sausage*
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 Tbs of instant rice, uncooked
• 16 oz can of diced tomatoes * I used diced tomatoes with chili spices added*
• 1 med head of cabbage chopped

Simmer the first 4 ingredients in a  saucepan for 5 minutes. drain, Spread cabbage in a ungreased 9x13 pan, pour ground beef mixture on top. Cover and bake at 350 for one hour. DO NOT STIR!


I then put shredded sharp cheddar cheese on it and served.. YUMMY...  LOVE cabbage! 

Clean out the Fridge night

Last night was clean out the fridge night. YOU know those days.. where you have alittle of this and a little of that... well everyone grab the plate you like the best and if you don't get the one you want.. just grab what is left cuz no cooking tonight *lol*...

Melt in your mouth Pot Roast

The name of this really is true... the meat just falls right apart and melts in your mouth.

Slow-simmered and seasoned with Rosemary, mustard, and thyme, this tender and tasty pot roast is so easy to make. The house smelled soooo wonderful while this was cooking.

• 1 pound of red potatoes, quartered
• 1 cup of baby carrots
• 1 boneless chuck roast.  * 3 to 4 pounds* I had roast with the bone so used it*
• 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard
• 2 tsp dried rosemary crushed
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp of pepper and Thyme
• 1/3 cup chopped onions
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth

Place potatoes and carrots in crock pot. Cut the roast in half. In a small bowl, combine, the mustard, rosemary, garlic salt, thyme and pepper. Rub over roast.

Place in crock pot, top with onions and broth. Cover and cook on low for 6 -8 hours or until meat is tender.

And tender with lots of flavor it was... Yummy...

Cranberry Dijon Pork Chops, whole grain noodles with brocolli

Yummy Pork.. the other white meat they say... All I know.. it is sooo good.

Cranberry Dijon Pork Chops

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 4-6 boneless pork chops about 1 inch thick
• 1 can ( 10 1/4 ounces) of Campbell's condensed Cream of Celery soup * reg or fat free*
• 1/2 cup Cranberry juice
• 2 tbs of Dijon-style Mustard
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries

 I heated the oil in my cast iron pot. You can use any 10 inch oven safe skillet over med -high heat. Add the pork chops and cook until they are well browned on both sides. Remove and set aside.
Stir in the soup, cranberry juice, and mustard. Heat to a boil. Return the pork chops to the skillet and cover.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until chops are cooked through but slightly pink in center.  Place pork chops on serving plate. Stir the cranberries into the skillet. Serve the sauce with the pork.

I was thinking of what to have with the pork chops and I tossed Rice and noodles around. But the Whole grain noodles won. I think they way they sauce with the cranberries laid on them would be more pleasing to the eye.. And we all know food is not all about taste.. seeing does alot to the appeal of eating it.

So there you have it.. Add a salad and some cranberry sauce to go along with it.. and a meal fit for a hungry person!  I have to say the tartness of the cranberries and juice really cuts the heavyness of the sauce.

Lasagna Roll-ups with Sloppy joes and Cream corn

So... I thought I would try to make Lasagna roll-ups.. But while making such roll ups I FORGOT to put the meat in the cheese fillings sooo I made Sloppy Joes to go with it. OH well... thats what happens sometimes..

Lasagna roll-ups

• 8 oz package of lasagna noodles
• 1 pint of creamy cottage cheese.. * I used riotta cheese*
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• pepper to taste
• 3 cups of spaghetti sauce Divided
• hamburger

Cook the noodles for 10 minutes, drain and cool. While the noodles are cooking also cook the hamburger til done.
 In a mixing bowl mix the next 4 ingreds. This is where my brain went.. I was talking to my dad and forgot to put the burger in after mixing the other ingreds.  As I was talking to him I took and greased a 9 x 13 baking dish and poured 1 cup of sauce in it.  I spread 1/3 cup of the cheese mixture on each noodle and rolled up jelly-roll style. Placed it seam side down in the sauce. After I had them all rolled up and poured the remaining 2 cups of sauce over them I finished talking to my dad and saw the burger still on the stove... oh well... what can ya do... so I  covered the dish with foil and baked at 350 for 40minutes.  It was very good. 

Now for the burger.. seeing it was cooked and that is just to plain, I grabbed the make it quick book.

Sloppy Joes

• hamburger
• onions
• peppers
• spaghetti sauce but I used Manwich
• chili seasonings

I added to my taste the onion and peppers along with the manwich.  Let it heat til hot and bubbly.
So no matter what recipe I try from the book I can always change it up and add other things.. Really a cookbook is just a starting point right??

Double Cheese Meatloaf, potato pie with Fresh carrots and homemade bread

Oh my.. what a filling dinner with NO leftover Meatloaf.. * I love leftover meatloaf to have it in sandwiches the next day. SO will have to double it next time*

• 2 lbs hamburger
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• pepper
• oregano
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 16 oz tomato sauce

Combine ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, onions, 1/2 cup tomato sauce, oregano and pepper. Mix well and shape into a flat, rectangle about 10 x 12 on wax paper.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over meat mixture. Roll up like a jelly roll and press ends to seal. Bake in a shallow pan at 350 degrees for one hour. Drain excess fat. Pour remaining tomato sauce over roll and sprinkle with some more mozzarella cheese and bake 15 minutes.

Potato Pie

•  4 med potatoes, peeled
• 2 tbs butter
• 2 tbs heavy cream
• 15 oz  of ricotta cheese
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs , slightly beaten
• 1 tsp salt and pepper
• half cup onions
• 1 unbaked pie shell
•  

Cook the potato's until tender. Drain and mash with butter and cream til smooth.

Add the rest of the ingredients and blend well. Pour into the unbaked pie shell and bake at 400 for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown. 

Hoagies!!!

I took the night off from cooking. I was running around all day so picked up some lunch meats, cheese and all the fixing for make your own Hoagie...  potato chips and some fruit and veggies...  now time to curl up on the couch and watch a movie or two..  Enjoy your night!

Slow cooker Pepper Steak with mashed potatoes and corn

It was a crockpot night.  I took a round steak and cut it into 3"x1" strips. Browned them in a skillet  and put them into the crockpot.  I then combined  1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 cup onion, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 t sugar and 1/2 t of salt and pepper along with 1/4 t ground ginger. Poured it over the beef strips and cooked them on low for 5 hours. I then added 16 oz of chopped tomato, green and red peppers and cooked on low for one more hour. I then took  1/2 cup cold water and 1 Tbs. of cornstarch and increased the heat to high poured it in til thickened..  Added some mashed potatoes and corn with a salad and a quick whenever you want to eat meal!

Mexican Joe with Baked Broccoli Frittata

 I was just reading different cookbooks to figure out what I wanted to cook for supper. Wasn't really in the mood for anything.  I came across Mexican Joe.... It is alot like Sloppy Joe.

• 1 pound burger
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 4.5 oz can chopped green chiles, undrained
• 2 tablespoons of  low sodium Taco Seasoning
• 1 8 oz can of no-salt added Tomato sauce
• Rolls

Cook the burger and onions til browned and tender, add chiles, taco seasoning and sauce, stirring well. Cook over med heat stirring often. Let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Spoon over rolls.

I then decided to use up some eggs. I have my own chickens.. 90 + and right now even in the dead of winter I have plenty of eggs. I also have plenty of cheese as we LOVE cheese.

• 2 cups of broccoli cut and cooked and drained
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 1 cup sliced onions
• 1/2 cup red and green peppers mixed
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 6 eggs
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1/2 tsp of basil and thyme
• 1/2 tsp seasoned salt or lemon pepper seasoning
• 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 425 Generously grease a 2-qt casserole dish. Melt butter in a large skillet over med-low heat. Add onion, and peppers and garlic, cook and stir until tender. Cool slightly.
In a large bowl, combine eggs, half and half and seasonings.. Beat well. Add onion mixture and broccoli. Mix well. Pour into the casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until set. Top will be moist. Let stand 5 min before serving.

It was Wonderful and spicy... The frattata cooled the spicy Mexican Joe down some.  I think next time I would maybe have some nacho chips instead of the rolls and add some sour cream and melted cheese... yummy. Now that sounds good.. may have to make that soon!

15 bean soup for lunch and flavorful Mac and Cheese for supper

Today was a snowy icy day so decided a few hot comfort foods were in order.

For lunch today I thought a nice soup..

15 bean soup.. of course I soaked the beans the night before.

• bag of 15 bean mix
• onions
• ham * cooked diced*
• 16 ounces of tomatoes diced
• juice of one lemon
• chili powder

Simmered the beans in 2 qts of water for 2 1/2 hours. Add the rest of the ingrediants.  Cook for another 1/2 hour. Serve with a nice crusty bread. Yummy



For supper Flavorful Mac an Cheese

• 7 oz of macaroni
• 8 ounces of process cheese with alittle salsa added
• 1 1/2 cup of cooked ham
• 1 8 oz can of pineapple
• some red and green peppers
• onion chopped

Cook macaroni according to directions. Drain, Stir in  the cheese sauce until combined. Add the remaining ingrediants.. Made a nice spring garden salad with carrots for a veggie... Now I loved it..  hubby thought it was to sweet. If he has pineapple just wants pineapple not mixed *l*