So, being in the kitchen just comes natural to me.
I just love cooking homemade meals for my husband and spoiling him with goodies.
Here are some of the recipes...
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Stir-fry Sauce
1 Cup Chicken broth
1/4 Cup soy sauce
hot sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tb. corn starch
Mix together. Pour over stir-fry and simmer until sauce thickens.
(this is for two, if cooking for more, then adjust recipe)
Fried Rice
cooked rice
butter
onion (chopped)
soy sauce
garlic powder
Melt butter in skillet. Saute' onion. Add rice, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Heat through while stirring. (optional add ins...cooked carrots and peas, add an egg and scramble it into the rice)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bacon Wrapped Smokies
Bacon
Smokies
Brown Sugar
Toothpicks
Soak toothpicks in water for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400*. Cut bacon into small pieces. Wrap bacon around Smokies and secure with toothpick. Place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle liberally with brown sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bacon wrapped Chicken
Boneless, Skinless chicken (tenders or breast cut in strips)
Bacon
Seasoning of choice ( I used garlic powder)
BBQ sauce
Season the chicken and wrap with bacon. I cooked my in a skillet however you could do it on a baking sheet in the oven. Turn to cook all sides. The last couple minutes brush some BBQ sauce over the chicken.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapeno peppers
Cream cheese (room temperature)
Bacon
Onion and Garlic Powders
Preheat oven to 400*. Use gloves to slice peppers in half length wise and remove seeds. Mix cream cheese and seasonings. Fill pepper halves and wrap with bacon. Place on baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pork & Kraut
5-6 lb. pork roast
8-9 beef bouillon cubes
1 (2 lb.) bag of Kraut
1- 1 1/2 Cups brown sugar
2-3 Cups water
Put all ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours.
Serve with mashed potatoes and gravy.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Creamy Tomato Pasta
1 box of pasta
1 32 oz can of crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce would work)
1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese, softened
1/2 small onion, diced
garlic (fresh or powder)
3 Beef Bouillon Cubes
Oregano or Italian Seasoning
Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
Sugar
Fresh spinach (optional)
Saute the diced onions in olive oil. (If using fresh garlic, you will want to put that in while the onions are cooking.) Be careful not to brown the onions or garlic. Add the can of tomatoes, seasonings, bouillon cubes, and sugar. I do not measure seasonings...just put a little, taste and add more as needed. While your sauce is simmering, cook your pasta. When you drain the pasta save about a cup of pasta water. Once your sauce is cooked and seasoned correctly, add the cream cheese, stirring until it is melted an creamy. Add the spinach if you choose at this point and allow it to cook or wilt a couple minutes. Put the pasta in the sauce and toss, coating all of the noodles. If the sauce is thicker than you want, use the pasta water to thin it out some.
Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. (optional)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Cranberry Bread
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
3/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups light raisins
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice all at once; stir just until mixture is evenly moist. Fold in raisins and cranberries. Spoon into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350* for 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack. (can substitute raisins for more cranberries)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pasties (makes 4)
1 lb. beef (I used ground chuck, however the original recipe calls for steak)
1 small onion, diced
3 small potatoes, peeled and diced (if yours are large you can use less)
pie crust
Worcestershire sauce
garlic
crushed red pepper
black pepper
oregano
Saute the beef, onion, and potatoes in a skillet and add seasonings . Roll out your pie crust ( I had two) and cut them in half. Fill with meat mixture and seal edges. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350* for about 30 minutes. (ovens vary so keep an eye on them) Serve with gravy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chocolate Glaze (Pioneer Woman)
Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter. Stir in the cocoa powder, then the milk. Remove from heat and add vanilla and powdered sugar and stir until smooth. Add more powdered sugar if you want it a little thicker.
Pour the icing over the cake and smooth the surface. Allow to sit before cutting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Snickers Caramel Apple Salad
6 regular size Snickers Candy Bars
4 medium granny smith apples
1 large package Vanilla Instant Pudding dry, do not prepare
1/2 cup milk
1 (16 oz.) tub cool whip thawed to room temp
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
Whisk vanilla pudding packet, 1/2 cup milk and cool whip together until well combined.
Chop up apples and Snickers into bite size pieces.
Stir chopped apples and Snickers into pudding mixture.
Place in a large bowl and chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.
Cinnamon Roll Cookie Bars
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
Icing
3 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix all ingredients and pour into a greased 9"x13" baking dish. Bake at 350degrees for 25 minutes.
When perfectly baked remove from the oven and pour icing over the top.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fudgy Oatmeal Cookies (mom's recipe)
2 Cups sugar 1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 Cup Milk 1 tsp. vanilla
1 stick butter 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
3 Tbsp. cocoa 3 Cups Quick-cook oats
Combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a full boil for 1 minute, timing accurately. Add salt and vanilla. Blend in peanut butter and oats; mix well. Drop by teaspoon on wax paper. Should become firm in about 15 minutes. Makes 4 dozen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korean Beef
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
3-5 cloves garlic, minced (garlic powder works)
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (I substituted with allspice)
1/2 - 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers (to desired spiciness)
1 bunch green onions, diced (don't skip this!)
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic in the sesame oil. Drain most of the fat and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, and red peppers. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Serve over steamed rice and top with green onions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potato Soup
a couple pieces of bacon, chopped
half of a small onion, diced
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
1-2 Tbs. olive oil
Saute' these items in a large pot.
Then add about 7 cups of chicken stock or broth. Depending on the size of pot you may need to add more or less.
Peel 6-7 potatoes and cut them into small chunks. Add them to the pot and boil until they start to soften. Watch carefully because you don't want them to become mushy.
In a blender, put 2 cans of evaporated milk and about 11 slices of American cheese and liquefy. Add the milk and cheese mixture to the pot and simmer, constantly stirring.
Add seasonings to your personal taste. I used the following...
hot sauce, black pepper, oregano, onion powder and garlic powder
Give everything time to blend together.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Dough Pizza
Crust
1 (8 oz) package of full fat cream cheese, room temperature
2 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I added more to help thicken)
Topping
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
toppings - pepperoni, ham, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onion
Garlic powder
Oregano
Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly spay a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. With a handheld mixer, mix cream cheese, eggs, pepper, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese until combined. Spread into baking dish. Bake for 12-15 minutes, our until golden brown. ( I had to bake mine longer, just keep an eye one it)
Allow crust to cool for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle crust with garlic powder and oregano. Spread pizza sauce on crust. Top with cheese and toppings. Bake 8-10 minutes, until cheese is melted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bars
1 yellow cake mix
1 (8oz) cream cheese, softened
2 large eggs
1/3 Cup vegetable oil
1/2 Cup sugar
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
Mix together the cake mix, oil and one egg. Set about a cup of mixture aside and the remaining mixture, press into the bottom of a greased baking dish. Bake at 350* for 15 minutes. In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar and the other egg together. Fold in the chocolate chips. Spread the mixture on top of the 'crust'. Then sprinkle with the remaining cake mixture. Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rice Pudding
3/4 Cup uncooked white rice
2 Cups milk, divided
2/3 Cup white sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 Tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon
Put rice and 1 1/2 cups of water in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes. In a clean saucepan, combine cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, and sugar. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15-20 minutes. Remember to stir. In a bowl, beat the egg and add remaining 1/2 cup milk and a dash of cinnamon. Stir this into rice mixture and cook 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla. Place in the refrigerator to chill for a couple hours.
(The cinnamon is for taste, so add to your liking.
You could also add raisins, when you add egg mixture, if you like.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cheeseburger Soup
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 Cup onion, diced
6-8 potatoes
32 oz. chicken broth
16 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1/4 Cup flour
4 Tbs. butter
1 1/2 Cups milk
1/4 Cup sour cream
Parsley and oregano
hot sauce
black pepper
In a large pot, brown the grown beef and cook the onions. Peel and cube potatoes.
Add potatoes, chicken broth, black pepper, parsley and oregano to the meat. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, until potatoes are fork tender. While this is cooking, in a skillet, melt butter and add flour. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, to make a roux. Add the roux and the hot sauce to the pot. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the cheese and milk. Cook and stir until cheese has melted. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baked Tacos
1 lb. hamburger
1/2 small can of refried beans
1/2 small onion, optional
1/4 Cup of tomato sauce or Enchilada sauce
1 package of taco seasoning
Shredded Cheddar cheese
1 box of taco shells (8-10)
Toppings: lettuce, salsa, sour cream, etc.
Preheat oven to 325*. Dice the onion and place in a hot skillet with about a tablespoon of oil. Add hamburger and brown. Drain meat and return to skillet. Add the refried beans, sauce, and seasoning. Stir until it is all combined. Stand the taco shells up in a baking dish. Add a little cheese in the bottom of each shell, top with spoons of meat mixture, then more cheese. Bake, uncovered, in oven for about 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and top with your favorite toppings.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Macaroni and Cheese
1 (16oz) box of macaroni
1 package of sandwich cheese
1 stick of butter/margarine
2 cans of evaporated milk
large bag of shredded cheddar cheese (about 1 lb)
In a large pot, bring water to a boil and cook macaroni for a couple minutes. You do not want to over cook the noodles, they will continue to cook while it bakes. Drain and rinse the noodles. In a large, deep baking dish, put a few pats of butter in the bottom. Add a layer of noodles, then a single layer of sandwich cheese. Continue layering these two ingredients putting a little more butter as you go. Once all of the noodles and sandwich cheese has been layered, pour the evaporated milk evenly over the whole dish. Top with cheddar cheese and remaining butter. Bake in a preheated oven at 350* until it is bubbling and cheese is slightly becoming brown in spots.
(I do not cook with salt as a rule, so add as you normally would in any other dish)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Santa Fe Chicken
1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15oz) corn, drained (I used a half bag of frozen)
1 Cup thick and chunky salsa
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken tenders
1 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese (optional, I didn't add this)
In a crockpot, mix together the black beans, corn and 1/2 Cup of salsa. Top with the chicken and pour the remaining 1/2 Cup of salsa over the chicken. Cover and cook on High for 3-4 hours. Add cheese and allow time for it to melt.
Soup (from leftovers)
Chicken broth
Salsa
1 Small onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced, or a little garlic powder
Chop the onion and saute in pan. Remove chicken from crockpot, dice and return to crockpot. Add onions, garlic, salsa and broth to crockpot. Add additional seasonings (oregano, black pepper, crushed red pepper) to your taste. Cover and let simmer on low for a couple of hours, or high for about an hour. Serve with a grilled cheese.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Perfect Sweet Tea (makes 1 gallon)
(Adapted from the Lone Star Steak House in Texas)
5 - 8 Family size Tea Bags. (or 12 regular Tea Bags)
1 Quart (4 Cups) - Boiling Water
3 Quarts (12 cups) - Cool Water
2 Cups- Sugar
1/4 teaspoon - Baking Soda (this IS the SECRET Ingredient!!)
Sprinkle baking soda into a pitcher,
then add Tea bags to the pitcher/baking soda,
Pour Boiling water over tea bags, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
Remove and toss out Tea Bags.
Add Sugar and Stir until completely dissolved.
Add Cool Water. Refrigerate until cold and ready to drink. Serve over ice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glazed Carrots
a bag of baby carrots
water
2-3 Tbs. butter/margarine
brown sugar
In a large pot, put about an inch of water. Place carrots in a single layer, add butter, and sprinkle with brown sugar (as much or as little as you want, this is the flavor). Put a lid on it and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for about 20-25 minutes, test every once in a while with fork for tenderness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chewy Peanut Butter Bars
1/2 Cup butter, cubed
1/2 Cup creamy peanut butter
1-1/2 Cups sugar
1 Cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter and peanut butter; stir until smooth. Combine sugar and flour; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
Spread into a greased 9x13 baking pan. Bake in preheated oven at 350* for 28-32 minutes or until lightly browned and edges start to pull away from sides of pan. Cool on a wire rack.
(recipe from Taste of Home)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nutella Pockets
1 Cup butter
8 oz. cream cheese
2 Cups all-purpose flour
Nutella
Powder Sugar
To make the crust, cream butter and cream cheese together. Slowly add in the flour 1/2 cup at a time. Once dough is mixed, place on plastic wrap. Wrap and form in shape of a disc. Refrigerate dough disc for 30 minutes.
Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out into a thin layer. Cut circles with a biscuit cutter, continue to roll and cut until all dough has been used. Fill with 1/2 Tbs. of nutella, fold circle in half and seal using water. (for a fancy finish, use a fork to seal edges)
Bake in a preheated oven at 375* for 13-15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with power sugar while cooling.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philly Cheese steak Sloppy Joes
1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
2 Tbs. steak sauce, such as A1
1 Cup beef broth
1 Tbs. butter
1 Tbs. flour
1 Cup milk
1 Cup cheese, provolone or mozzarella, shredded
Hamburger buns or Hoagie rolls
Brown the ground beef. Add onion and green pepper and cook until the vegetables start to get tender. Stir in the steak sauce and beef broth. Bring to a slow boil and cook until most of the liquid is gone.
Toast rolls in the oven and set aside.
While meat is cooking, melt butter in a pot and stir in flour. Cook for about 1 minute; whisk in milk and bring to a slow boil and let thicken. Turn off heat and stir in cheese.
To serve, place spoonfuls of meat on rolls and top with cheese sauce.
(adapted from a recipe found on pinterest)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I saw this recipe, but was is the baking soda supposed to do to make it better? Just curious. Maybe I'll try it on Hubby soon.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to make it 'smoother'. Take the bitterness out of it. :)
DeleteI made it. It is good!
Delete