teaspoons and tablespoons

2011-12-03T21:08:00.001-08:00

Tomato-Basil Soup

I love to make this soup when my beefsteak tomatoesare at the peak of production. So good! I modified it from a recipe on Our BestBites that calls for sun-dried tomatoes (which I never have on hand).

1T olive oil
1 C chopped onion
¾ C shredded carrot
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp sugar

1tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbs dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Enough fresh garden tomatoes, halved, to fill one large jelly roll pan*
1 (14oz) can chicken broth
4 oz cream cheese, cubed

1. Line jelly roll pan with foil. Arranged halved tomatoes cut sideup and sprinkle with fresh garlic. Broil in the oven for about 1 hour, or justuntil the tops of the tomatoes start to brown.

2. Meanwhile, place oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Addonion and carrot and cook for 3-4 minutes or until vegetables are tender,stirring often. Then remove from heat and set aside until your tomatoes aredone broiling.

3. Puree the broiled tomatoes and add to the vegetable mixture.

Then add chicken broth, sugar, salt, pepper, oregano and basil.
Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer. Cover pan and simmer for anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours (I love to make this right after breakfast and then let it simmer all day. Yum.)
Before serving, add the cream cheese and blend to desired consistency with an immersion blender.

*WhenI don’t have fresh tomatoes from my garden, I substitute a jar of home-cannedtomatoes, with about half of the excess water drained, and I sauté the garlicwith the onions and carrots. It’s almost as good as the fresh broiled tomatoes,but not quite.

2011-12-03T20:47:00.001-08:00

Rosemary Focaccia Loaves

Recipe by Our Best Bites

Love this recipe from Our Best Bites. I last made it the day after we had been to a restaurant that served focaccia bread. This recipe is much better.

1 c. warm (105-115 degrees Fahrenheit) water

1Tbsp. yeast

1Tbsp. white sugar

1tsp. Kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling

2Tbsp. olive oil, divided

2Tbsp rosemary (dried or fresh), divided
1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/4 tsp garlic powder

21/4-2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

Ina large mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Allow to stand for10 minutes or until bubbly. While the yeast is getting bubbly, combine 2 C ofthe flour, salt, 1 1/2 Tbsp. rosemary, oregano and garlic powder.

Add flour mixture to yeast mixture along with 1Tbsp. olive oil. Mix well. (I put it in my stand mixer with the dough hook on).Slowly add remaining flour to make a very soft dough--try and resist the urgeto add too much flour. You want a soft, wet dough.

Coverand allow to rise 45 min- 1 hour or until double in size.

Lightlyflour your work surface and transfer dough onto this surface. Divide in half.Shape each half into a rounded loaf and place on a greased cookie sheet orpizza stone. Cover and allow to rise another 45 minutes.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use remainingtablespoon of olive oil to brush over tops of loaves, discarding excess if youhave any. Sprinkle with remaining rosemary and some Kosher salt.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until very lightlygolden-brown. Serve immediately (if you can) with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (if you want)and feel your butt get bigger (you will. It just happens. And it's worth it.)

Cafe Rio Tomatillo Salad Dressing

2011-11-13T18:29:00.001-08:00

This is the Cafe Rio Tomatillo Salad Dressing. Nothing sort of amazingness!

4-6 tomatillos
Half a bunch of cilantro
1 serrano or jalapeno
1 1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream

Blend it all in a blender

Try and not just pour it into your mouth.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

2011-11-08T17:02:00.001-08:00

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

3 cups hot water
5 tsp. active dry yeast
2/3 cup honey (or sugar, but honey is more flavorful)
4 - 5 cups bread flour
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon salt
3 - 4 cups whole wheat flour

Directions

In a large bowl, mix hot water, yeast, and half of the honey (1/3 cup). Add 4 or 5 cups bread flour*, and stir to combine. Let rise for 25-30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Knead in 3 or 4 cups whole wheat flour one cup at a time, until dough pulls away from side of bowl. Place in a buttered bowl, turning a few times to coat the surface of the dough. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place (like on top of the preheated oven) until doubled, or about 1 hour.
Punch down and divide into 3 loaves. Place in buttered 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise about 45 minutes, or until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. Remove from pans immediately. Lightly rub the tops of loaves with a little soft butter to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely on wire racks.

*For 100% honey whole wheat bread, use whole wheat flour

Milenesas

2010-10-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

This is a traditional Uruguyan dish called Milenesas. (Amazing!) It is a breaded steak. The way I do it isn't exact, but a simple concept to grab and run with.

Milenesas

1 Roast thinly sliced (ask your butcher to do this for you) or use 2 pounds ground hamburger meat made into patties about the size of hamburger (not too thick though)
6 eggs scrambled (not cooked)
4 cups fine bread crumbs
4 cups oil

Take the cut roast and dip into uncooked scrambled eggs soaking throughly. Then take sliced roast and cover in bread crumbs creating a breaded coat on the roast slice. Dip once more into the uncooked scrambled eggs. Set aside and repeat with remaining slices of roast. You've created a milenesa.

After completing first Milenesa piece take 4 cups oil and begin heating oil in frying pan (I usually go on a low temperature.)

Once you've completed all of the roasts don't wait long to do the next step.

Test oil in frying pan to see if oil is ready for frying. Drop a tiny piece of bread crumb to see if it cooks it. If it does you are ready to put in your first Milenesa. If not wait a few minutes and test once more.

When ready put a Milenesa into the frying pan. Allow it to cook on both sides until golden brown (or slightly darker if you prefer).

Let the Milenesas drip the oil off of them. Allow to air dry. Do not cover.

Enjoy with Pure de Papas (mashed potatoes), Romalacha (tomato salad), and mayonnaise to dip the milenesa to dip in.

Romalacha

2010-10-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

This is a excellent side dish for everyone to enjoy. Even my littlest kids eat this like you wouldn't believe!

Romalacha

6-8 tomatoes

1 large onion

2 teaspoons salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

Dice onions, add salt, and add olive oil. Quarter tomatoes and place in bowl with onion mixture. Stir ingredents together. Let sit for 10 minutes and serve.

Yum!!

This is a great dish to serve with Milenesas.

Alfredo Sauce

2010-10-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

Alfredo Sauce

Use equal parts butter, cream, and fresh grated parmesan. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low or medium heat, whisk in the cream, and let simmer for 5-10 minutes until it thickens a little. Stir in the cheese and some salt and pepper to taste (if you used salted butter, you probably won't need any more salt).
I love to serve this over noodles with grilled chicken. It isn't very good once it cools (so don't save any for leftovers), but it will keep warm in a crock pot for hours without separating.

Beef Pot Pie

2010-09-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is a delightful and easy recipe--as long as you've created the beef stew portion of the pie. In 2006 we canned Beef Stew. We still have some of that left over (which is GREAT!). I took that stew mixture and then we added in potatoes and some corn and then heated it in the glass pan in the oven until it boiled. Then I did Betty Crockers Biscuit recipe (doubled) for the top. I rolled and then spread out the biscuit on top and threw it in the oven on 450 degrees for about 20 minutes. What a delightful and easy Sunday dinner. We added salad and fruit. Yum.

Meatloaf by Jane

2010-08-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Jane helped make amazing meatloaf. Stellar stuff.

Lemon Chiffon Cake

2010-05-16T19:15:00.001-07:00

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup cold water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
7 large egg yolks
1 cup egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees keeping only the bottom rack in oven. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in bowl on low speed. Then in another bowl beat egg whites and cream of tarter on high speed until you get stiff peaks. Then take flour/sugar mixture and fold it into the egg whites. Pour into an angel food cake pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from oven and suspend pan upside down on a glass for two hours (or like 30 minutes) to cool.

Lemon Glaze

1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water.

Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. (Important part.) Stir in lemon and powdered sugar. Pour glaze over cake.

2010-04-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

4 cups cooked Chile Verde
3 large, cooked, and diced pork chops or chicken breast
8 oz cream cheese cubed
1/2 cup diced green chiles

36 corn tortillas

Combine then take a tablespoon or two and roll in corn tortillas. Makes about 36 enchaladas. Place in pan and bake on 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Cover with mozzarella cheese- melt in oven on broil. Serve.

Marble Cake

2010-04-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

2 1/4 cups flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cups butter
1 1/4 cups milk
3 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 large eggs whites
1/2 cup sour cream

Bear together until smooth. Take 1 3/4 cups of the batter and add 3 tablespoons cocoa. Stir until smooth. Add 1/8 teaspoon baking soda. Beat until smooth.

Place non-cocoed batter in pan. Take tablespoon fills of chocolate mixture and place in clumps in battered pan. Then take a knife and make a simple design by slightly mixing the chocolate batter into the non-cocoed batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35- 40 minutes.

Spainish Rice

2010-04-25T15:51:00.001-07:00

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup uncoiled rice
1 medium onion
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic
1 small chopped green bell pepper
1 cup tomato sauce

Heat oil. Put in rice, stir, and brown. Add water and other ingredients. Bring to boil them reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Tomatillo Salsa

2010-04-25T13:34:00.001-07:00

Tomatillo Salsa

2 cups crushed tomatillos
1/4 cup diced green chillis
1 white onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves

Mix all ingredients and serve with chips. Also you can mix it with avocados for guacamole.

Empanadas de Carne

2010-04-02T09:12:00.001-07:00

Empanadas de Carne (Meat Pie)

This is a simple recipe that is yummy. This is a dish where you can substitute the hamburger with any type of meat (chicken, fish, etc.)

Empanada Maza (Empanada Dough)

1/2 cup water

1 egg

1 egg white

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups flour

Combine water, egg, egg white. Mix together. Add flour. Mix and then kneed together. Roll out the dough, cut into 6 inch rounds.

Makes about 10 empanada rounds

Empanada Filling

1/2 pound hamburger meat

1 onion

1 teaspoon garlic

1/2 teaspoon cilantro

3 hard boiled eggs

Brown meat, onions, garlic, and cilantro. Chop hard boiled eggs.

Combine Filling and Empanada Dough Rounds

Take empanada round and place about a tablespoon of meat filling on top. Add some chopped hard boiled egg. Fold dough round over top of mixture until the round turns into a half-moon shape. Take ends and pinch end and then fold it over end over end to seal the half moon dough. Place empanada on greased pan. Lightly top sealed empanada with some egg white for browning.

Bake in oven at 425 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Eat along side any meal. It is a great side dish. Also we've thought of eating these with tomato soup poured over the top.

Peach Ice Cream

2010-03-21T15:26:00.002-07:00

Vanilla Ice Cream

*makes about 4 quarts

12 large egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 cups sugar

4 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

8 cups whipping cream (heavy)

4 teaspoons vanilla

6 cups peaches cut and crushed

Mix egg yolks, sugar, milk and salt in a large pot. Cook just to boiling (do not boil). Pour into a chilled bowl in freezer stirring every 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until at room temperature. (You can refrigerate it up to 24 hours and it is still good.)

In bowl stir in whipping cream and vanilla into milk mixture. Add peaches. Pour into 5 quart mixing bucket that fits into ice cream maker. Put in mixing paddle, start motor. Begin mixing. Insert ice and rock salt to freeze ingredients. Listen to motor until motor shows signs of stopping then turn off. Enjoy licking the paddle with ice cream on it. Freeze ice cream for better taste.

Chocolate Ice Cream

2010-03-21T15:26:00.001-07:00

Vanilla Ice Cream

*makes about 4 quarts

12 large egg yolks, slightly beaten

4 cups sugar

4 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

8 cups whipping cream (heavy)

4 tablespoons vanilla

8 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled

Mix egg yolks, sugar, milk and salt in a large pot. Beat into milk and egg mixture unsweetened chocolate. Cook just to boiling (do not boil). Pour into a chilled bowl in freezer stirring every 10 minutes. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until at room temperature. (You can refrigerate it up to 24 hours and it is still good.)

In bowl stir in whipping cream and vanilla into milk mixture. Pour into 5 quart mixing bucket that fits into ice cream maker. Put in mixing paddle, start motor. Begin mixing. Insert ice and rock salt to freeze ingredients. Listen to motor until motor shows signs of stopping then turn off. Enjoy licking the paddle with ice cream on it. Freeze ice cream for better taste.

Strawberry Ice Cream

2010-03-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Ice Cream

*makes about 4 quarts

12 large egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 cups sugar

4 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

8 cups whipping cream (heavy)

4 tablespoons vanilla

1 pound strawberries cut and crushed

In bowl stir in whipping cream and vanilla into milk mixture. Add strawberries. Pour into 5 quart mixing bucket that fits into ice cream maker. Put in mixing paddle, start motor. Insert ice and rock salt to freeze ingredients. Begin mixing. Listen to motor until motor shows signs of stopping then turn off. Enjoy licking the paddle with ice cream on it. Freeze ice cream for better taste.

Vanilla Ice Cream

2010-03-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Vanilla Ice Cream

*makes about 4 quarts

12 large egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 cups sugar

4 cups milk

1 teaspoon salt

8 cups whipping cream (heavy)

4 tablespoons vanilla

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

2009-10-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

I found these on the Martha Stewart website. They are a great compromise between pumpkin chocolate chip bread and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies: they look much more appetizing than the cookies, and the chocolate chips don't sink to the bottom like they do in the bread. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Oh, and if you don't have pumpkin pie spice, substitute 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 3/4 tsp. ginger, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp. cloves. You can also throw in 1/2 tsp. allspice, but I like it just as well without. (Does allspice really do anything?)

2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
Lift cake from pan (using foil as an aid). Peel off foil, and use a serrated knife to cut into 24 squares.

Pumpkin Soup

2009-10-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

1 cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup heavy whipping cream

	Saute onion in butter in a medium saucepan until tender. Add 1 can chicken broth; stir well. Bring to a boil.
	Transfer broth mixture into the container of a blender or processor. Process until smooth.
	Return mixture to saucepan. Add remaining can of broth, pumpkin, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground pepper; stir well. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
	Stir in whipping cream and heat through. Do not boil. Ladle into individual soup bowls. I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com, and tried it tonight, and I love it! Great for fall.

Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/8/2009

Clam Chowder

2009-10-08T19:28:00.001-07:00

Clam Chowder

4 potatoes deiced
1 lb clams
2 onions (chopped fine)
2 stalks celery
½ tsp paprika
2 Tbs butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together. Boil 10 minutes. Pack in quart jars. Process in pressure cooker for 100 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

Mother Farnsworth’s Apple Butter (from Pat Maurer)

2009-10-08T19:27:00.002-07:00

Mother Farnsworth’s Apple Butter (from Pat Maurer)

½ cup sugar
3 cups apple pulp
½ tsp cinnamon (to 3 cups of pulp)

Mix together.

Pat Maurer’s Apple Pie Filling

2009-10-08T19:27:00.001-07:00

Pat Maurer’s Apple Pie Filling

4 ½ cups sugar
1 cup corn starch
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg
(Makes about 5 quarts)

Cook and stir until thick. Add 1 Tbs lemon juice. Fill 5 quart jars with sliced apples in one quart jars and cover with filling mix. When serving boil for 15 minutes and add noodles or rice. Leave ½ inch air space for expansion. Cold pack for 20 minutes or pressure cook for 5 minutes at 10 pounds of pressure.

Juices- Apple, Pear, and Grape

2009-10-08T19:26:00.004-07:00

Juices- Apple, Pear, and Grape

The quantity of juice produced by a apple, pear, or grape varies. Yet the processing method is the same. You’ll need a 3 tiered juicer. The juice from the fruit is drawn out by heat. We’ve always used steam juicers. This is the cleanest method—in my opinion.

Quarter pears or apples. Simply leave grapes on stems. Place fruit in juicer. Extrapolate juice. (Press out juice if desired for faster method, yet can make granules in juice.) Place in quart jars. Pressure cook for 10 minutes under 10 pounds of pressure.

Canned Beef Stew

2009-10-08T19:26:00.003-07:00

Canned Beef Stew

9 lbs roast cubed
4 onions
32 oz of beef broth
10 carrots
8 oz of mushrooms
32 oz of green peas
48 oz of green beans
1 cup salt
½ cup pepper
(Beef Bouillon cubes if you’d like)

Place 9 lbs. of cubed beef in stock pot. Add beef broth. Add water to broth if doesn’t cover the beef. Add onions, carrots, salt, pepper (, and Bouillon cubes if desired). Add cooked mixture to quart jars. Pressure cook at 10 pounds of pressure for 90 minutes.
When serving boil for 15 minutes and add noodles or rice.

Canned Chicken Soup

2009-10-08T19:26:00.001-07:00

Canned Chicken Soup

10 lbs chicken diced
15 quarts chicken stock
10 carrots diced
4 onions diced
5 stalks celery
1 cup salt
½ cup pepper
(Chicken Bouillon cubes if you’d like)

Place 10 lbs. of chicken in stock pot. Add chicken stock. Add water to chicken stock if doesn’t cover the chicken. Add onions, carrots, and celery, salt, pepper (, and Bouillon cubes if desired). Add cooked mixture to quart jars. Pressure cook at 10 pounds of pressure for 90 minutes.
When serving boil for 15 minutes and add noodles or rice.

Canned Chili

2009-10-08T19:25:00.004-07:00

Canned Chili

20 cups dry pinto beans soaked
48 oz diced tomatoes
2 cups chili powder
5 large diced onions

Soak and wash beans separately form sauce. Mix in all ingredients once beans are fully soaked. Can in quart jars. Pressure cook for 40 minutes at 15 pounds pressure.

Doug Minnick’s Fresh (Canned) Salsa

2009-10-08T19:25:00.001-07:00

Doug Minnick’s Fresh (Canned) Salsa

20 large tomatoes
Some cherry tomatoes
10 onion
10 red or green pepper
8 jalepeno
½ cup salt
4 cups vinegar

Precook onions, peppers, and jalapeño pepper until fully cooked. Quarter tomatoes. Take one pint jar and fill jar with tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, onions, salt, and vinegar. Add uncooked mixture to jars. Place lids on jars and rings. Process in pressure cooker at 15 pounds of pressure for 15 minutes.

Spaghetti Sauce

2009-10-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti Sauce

1 cup olive oil
¼ cup garlic
4 cups chopped onion
16 lbs. tomatoes
¼ cup basil
¼ cup oregano
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. pepper
7 tsp. salt
2 – 12 oz. cans of tomato paste

Cook and simmer for 2 hours. Process in pressure cooker at 10 lbs of pressure for 10 minutes.

Grandma Nelsons Chili Sauce

2009-09-13T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is my Grandma Nelson's Chili Sauce recipe. Chili Sauce is really yummy on top of a roast (dry or moist). I just would cook the roast and then allow people to spoon some on cold. I've never mixed it into the sauce to marinate it with it. I'm going to be trying this in Meat Loaf in a week or so (when we've got enough hamburger). It is a really yummy sauce that my Mom and I used to make every year along side with salsa. I've modified the recipe so that it stays chunky. Typically it gets really watery when it is pressured cooked too much. You can do whatever canning method you prefer but I prefer pressure cooking. Remember being generous= Chunky sauce.

Grandma Nelson's Chili Sauce

4 qts tomatoes
2 cups chopped onion (be generous)
1 cup chopped sweet red pepper (be generous)
1-2 cups chopped green peppers (be very generous)
2 Tsb. salt
2-3 hot peppers (Serrano, Jalapenos, Fresnos. I've used all three!)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. All Spice (I don't add this)
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 1.2 cups vinegar

Cook thoroughly onions, peppers, and hot peppers in fry pan. Core tomatoes and slice into quarters. In pan combine all ingredients. (You can cook all of the ingredients at this point, but as I use a pressure cooker and have pre-cooked the onions, peppers, and hot peppers I don't cook it as a mixture.) Pack bottles. If using a pressure cooker cook under 15 lbs pressure for 10 minutes.

Use on top of roasts, meat loaf, or as a sweet marinate for other meat dishes.

-Doug (Nelson) Minnick

Carol Cazier's Enchiladas

2009-06-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

This recipe is from my sister's mother-in-law. We really like it. I always end up with extra sauce, though, and I probably use more than 1 cup of cheese, though I've never measured.

1/2 lb. ground beef

1 quart stewed diced tomatoes

1 small can enchilada sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup

about 8 flour tortillas

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Brown and drain the ground beef. Add tomatoes, enchilada sauce, and soup; blend and set aside. Spread tortillas with grated cheese and roll them up; arrange in glass baking dish. Pour meat sauce over the top, sprinkle with more grated cheese, and bake uncovered until cheese is bubbling, about 1/2 hour.

Rice Krispies Squares

2009-06-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

1/4 cup butter

1 10 oz. package marshmallows

1 tsp vanilla

6 cups rice krispies

Butter a 9x13 glass cake pan.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla and the rice krispies until well coated, then press the mixture into the buttered pan. ( I like to butter my hands and use them to press it in.) Cool and eat!

Zucchini Bread

2009-06-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

We should have zucchini ready in our garden by the beginning of next week, so here's my favorite zucchini bread recipe. It makes two loaves.

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

3 eggs

1 cup oil

2 1/4 cups sugar

3 tsp vanilla

2 cups grated zucchini

walnuts if you want 'em

Grease and flour two loaf pans. Preheat oven to 325.

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Set aside. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in the sifted ingredients and beat well. Stir in zucchini (and nuts) until well combined. (If you're using an electric mixer, you'll need to scrape the sides of the bowl frequently and well.) Pour batter into pans and bake for 40 to 60 minutes or until a fork inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10-20 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on a rack.

Texas Sheet Cake

2009-06-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

I love this cake because it has sour cream, so it turns out nice and moist. I also love this cake because you can make it a day or two in advance, frosted and all, and it can sit on your counter with nothing covering it and still taste fabulous. I make the frosting while the cake is cooking, because it needs to be frosted soon after it comes out of the oven.

Cake:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1 cup butter

1 cup water

5 Tbsp cocoa

Frosting:

6 Tbsp milk

5 Tbsp cocoa

1/2 cup butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease and flour a 10x15 jelly roll pan.

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the sour cream and the eggs. Set aside. In a saucepan, melt the butter; then stir in the water and cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil, remove from heat, cool slightly, and stir into the flour and sugar mixture until well incorporated. Pour into the pan and bake for 20 minutes.

While the cake is baking, melt the 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan and then mix in the cocoa and milk. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over the warm cake.

Southwestern Chicken Eggrolls

2009-06-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Marla. I changed it a little, but it is one of our favorites now!

2 - 3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or cubed

sliced green onions (I have plenty of these in my garden during the summer if you need some)

diced red bell pepper

1 cup frozen corn

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. salt

dash of cayenne pepper

1 cup shredded cheese, whatever kind you have or like

uncooked flour tortillas (Costco has 44 for less than $7, and we love them)

Heat some olive oil in a skillet and cook the onions and peppers for a few minutes. Throw in the rest of the ingredients except the cheese. Cook for about 5 minutes, remove from heat, and stir in the cheese. I sometimes stir in a little salsa, too, just to make them more moist.

Spoon the mixture into uncooked tortillas, tuck the sides in, and roll them up.

Cook them in about half an inch of olive oil heated in a skillet on medium high. It takes less then a minute for them to brown on one side, so watch them carefully. After cooking, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels. These keep their heat well.

Serve with salsa and/or avocado ranch dip: mix 16 oz. sour cream with 1/2-1 envelope dry ranch dressing mix, one or two mashed avocados, and a tsp. of lemon juice. You're done!

Jen's Salad Dressing (and salad)

2009-01-13T07:37:00.001-08:00

Dressing:

1/2 red onion, or less if onion is large
2 cups sugar
4 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 cups vegetable oil

Finely chop red onion in food processor. Add sugar, dry mustard, salt and vinegar and blend until frothy. Slowly add oil. Rerfigerate for several hours for flavors to blend... toss with salad when ready!
*** This recipe makes a TON of dressing... I would use half or less of this to make almost a whole bottle.

Salad Ingredients:
1 head romaine lettuce, washed dried and chopped
1/2 cup (approx) craisins
crumbled blue cheese (for a head of lettuce I would use about 2 oz)
15 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
4 oz sugared silvered almonds - in a small skillet sprinkle 3 TBS sugar over almonds and cook over medium heat until almonds are coated and sugar has dissolved- do NOT overcook

Toss all ingredients together and enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2008-06-09T19:35:00.001-07:00

This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe! I got it from my sister Ellen. I always bake a test cookie before adding the chocolate chips to the dough. If the test cookie turns out flat, you just need to add a little more flour.

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 Tbsp. vanilla
2 1/2+ cups flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired

Cream the sugars and the butter. Mix in the egg and the vanilla. Sift in the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix in the chocolate chips and nuts, if any. Bake @ 375 for 9-10 minutes.

Honey Oatmeal Cake

2008-06-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

1 cup oatmeal
1 stick butter
1 1/4 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups honey
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups sifted whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

In a large bowl, pour boiling water over oatmeal and butter and soak for 20 minutes. Stir in honey, vanilla, and eggs. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then stir into wet ingredients. Pour into greased and floured 9 by 13 pan. Bake at 375 for 30 to 40 minutes.

Raspberry Lemonade

2008-06-07T17:57:00.001-07:00

5 lemons, sliced and seeded
1 package frozen raspberries
2 cups sugar
1 gallon water

Dissolve sugar in water. Add lemons and raspberries and mash with a potato masher. Chill and serve.

I got this recipe from my friend Darcie. I love it for BBQs.

Stuffed Mushrooms

2008-06-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

1 pound loose sausage
1 8-oz. package cream cheese
large mushrooms

Core mushrooms. Fry the sausage until cooked through, breaking into small pieces. Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese. Spoon the sausage mixture into the mushroom caps and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 until the mushrooms are tender.
This is by far my favorite appetizer.
I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Tami.

Pizza Bread

2008-06-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

This is my sister-in-law Erin's recipe--it is one of my kids' favorites!

bread dough, risen and punched down once*
pepperoni
ham (optional)
shredded mozzarella cheese
pizza sauce

Roll dough into a rectangle as long as your cookie sheet. Lay slices of ham the length of the dough (no need to fill the width). On top of ham, place pepperoni about four wide. Sprinkle cheese on top. Starting with long side of dough, gently but tightly roll. Pinch seam along side and ends to seal in toppings. Bake immediately at 350 for about 20 minutes or until browned. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

*I recommend using white bread dough (one loaf worth). Don't try french bread dough.

Stuffed Avocados

2008-05-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

2 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley or mint
2 grated carrots
1/2 red pepper, chopped

Mix together the above ingredients and spoon into halved avocados.

Strawberry-Orange Muffins

2008-05-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

1 1/4 cups halved strawberries
3 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. grated orange rind
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 400. Combine first four ingredients in a blender and process until blended. Combine dry ingredients. Stir strawberry mixture into dry ingredients. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle with 2 tsp. sugar. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately.

Banana Bread

2008-05-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
2 medium mashed bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Beat sugar, oil, and eggs. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients into a separate bowl and then beat into wet mixture. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

My friend Zoila gave me this recipe when we were at BYU. It is still the best banana bread recipe I have ever made. I like to throw in an extra banana.

Chicken and Peas Alfredo

2008-05-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

8 oz. uncooked spaghetti noodles
1 cup frozen peas
2 Tbsp. butter
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I like the fat-free soup best)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
ground black pepper to taste

Prepare spaghetti according to directions, adding the peas during the last few minutes of cooking time. Drain.
Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until well browned.
Stir the soup, milk, cheese, pepper, and pasta mixture into the skillet and cook until hot and bubbling.

This is adapted from a Campbell's Kitchen recipe that I found in a magazine. Doug and the girls love it! It can be made in just over 20 minutes. I just throw frozen chicken tenders in the pan and break them up with a bamboo spoon as they are cooking instead of wasting time defrosting and cutting.

Cinnamon Rolls

2008-05-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

This recipe is my favorite! It makes 24 large cinnamon rolls.

Dough:
1/2 cup very warm water
5 tsp. yeast
2 Tbsp. sugar
3 1/2 oz. package of vanilla pudding mix, prepared (2 cups)
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
6 cups flour

Filling:
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon

Frosting:
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
2 to 3 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

First, be sure to make the vanilla pudding according to the package directions.
Then, in a small bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar and stir until dissolved. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix pudding, butter, eggs, and salt. Stir in yeast mixture. Gradually add flour and knead until smooth. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled. Punch dough down and let rise again.

Divide dough in half. Roll out each half in a rectangular shape and spread each with 1/2 cup softened butter (I often use half as much butter.) Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over the top. Roll up tightly and pinch the edge to seal. Put a notch every 2 inches, cut, and place on greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. (Each half of the dough should make about 12 cinnamon rolls. I bake them 12 per large cookie sheet.) Press down lightly on each roll. Cover and let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

While the rolls are baking, make the frosting by beating the first four ingredients with an electric mixer and then beating in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Frost warm.

Pasta Salad

2008-05-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

1 bag rainbow rotini pasta
sliced olives
diced cucumbers
diced tomatoes and/or diced red pepper
cooked, cubed chicken breast
ranch dressing
Italian dressing
fresh ground pepper

Boil the pasta and drain. In a large bowl, mix pasta and remaining ingredients--add however much you like. I usually use about 3 oz. of ranch dressing and 8 oz. of Italian. I like this salad best served at room temperature.

Milanesas

2008-04-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

boneless roast cut to 1/4 inch thick (or thin ground hamburger patties)
4 cups bread crumbs (without seasoning)
6 eggs beaten
6 tablespoons milk
salt and pepper
oil
possible additions: mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced ham, tomato, mayonnaise

Heat oil in a skillet or deep fryer. Press roast meat cuts with your hands, season with a dash of salt and pepper. Mix 6 eggs and 6 Tbsp. of milk in wide bowl. Separately take bread crumbs and place on a large plate. Immerse seasoned roast cut in egg and milk mixture. Quickly remove from egg and milk mixture and place in bread crumbs on each side. Bread crumbs should stick to the cut meat. If bread crumbs did not adhere to meat repeat once more. Test heated oil with a drop of bread crumb. Verify crumb browns yet does not burn. Place meat cut with bread crumbs into oil. Cook until golden brown in the middle and a darker brown on the edges. Remove from oil. Place on paper towel or a area where the milanesa can drip dry. Serve with mayonnaise for dipping for a more authentic touch.

For Milanesas Napolitanas add a slice of ham, mozzarella cheese, and a slice of a tomato.

Possible side dishes: Ensalada Russa, Romalaca

(Taken from 'Recetas de la Mision Uruguay Montevideo Oeste', published in 1999, Hermana Suzie Monson, Carassaco, Uruguay. Modified slightly by J. Doug Minnick because he burned several of the first he did upon return to the United States in the year 2000.)

Empanadas de Carne

2008-04-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Empanadas de Carne

Empanada Dough:
4 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup milk
4 tablespoons margarine (butter recommened)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 beat egg (recommended for baking)

Sift together the dry ingredients. Heat the milk and the margarine and bring almost to boiling point. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the liquid. Mix well but do not knead much. Keep the dough warm and covered. Roll out rounds of 6 inches a few at a time, very thin. This dough is for fried empanadas but can be adapted for baking in the over (recommended) by adding butter and allowing rounds to be slightly thicker. (Hold beat egg for baking.)

Empanada filling:
8 ounces of ground beef (fish or gound chicken can be substituted, not recommended)
1 onion, finely chopped
1/4 green or red pepper, finely chopped (perference of red pepper)
10 green or black olives, chopped (optional, not recommended)
3 tablespoons oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
raisins (optional, not recommended)

Brown meat with the onion, pepper, and olives in oil.

Preparation:

Heat oil if frying or heat oven to 350 degrees. Take 6 inch dough rounds and place 2 tablespoons of browned mixture into middle of dough round. Add 1 tsp. boiled egg cut in pieces (and optional raisins). Wet edges of dough round, fold round, seal dough edges with fingers.

If baking lightly coat top of sealed empanada with egg. Place in oven until dough is golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Quanity 16.

(Taken from 'Recetas de la Mision Uruguay Montevideo Oeste', published in 1999, Hermana Suzie Monson, Carassaco, Uruguay. Modified slightly by J. Doug Minnick because of dislike towards chicken, fish, green pepper, olives, and deep fried empanadas.)

Asparagus Soup

2008-04-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

2 lbs. fresh asparagus, bottoms snapped off
1/2 to 1 cup chopped onion
4 cups chicken broth
2 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
2 cups milk
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp. lemon juice
grated cheddar cheese

Boil asparagus and onion in about 1 cup of the chicken broth until very tender. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Meanwhile, in the pan used for boiling the asparagus, melt the butter. Whisk in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth (don't let it brown!). Whisk in the remaining broth until boiling. Whisk in the asparagus puree, milk, sour cream, and lemon juice. Heat through and serve with grated cheddar cheese.

Chicken and Rice with Broccoli

2008-04-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

1 can condensed (98% fat free) cream of mushroom soup
1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 cup milk
2-3 cups broccoli flowerets, fresh or frozen
2-3 cups cooked rice
2-3 cups cooked, diced chicken
pepper to taste

In a greased square casserole pan, mix the soup, 2/3 of the cheese, and the milk. Stir in the broccoli, rice, and chicken. Sprinkle with pepper and remaining cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-35 minutes.