Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

This bread is so fast to whip up and so moist! The glaze is simply heaven! From allrecipes.

3 c flour
1 1/2 t salt
1 1/2 t baking powder
2 T poppy seeds
2 c white sugar
1 c oil
3 eggs
1 c milk
grated rind of 1 lemon
1/2 c fresh lemon juice (or if you are in a pinch you can use 1 1/2 t lemon extract)
1 1/2 t vanilla extract

GLAZE:
1/4 c orange juice
3/4 c white sugar
juice of 1/2 a lemon (or 1/2 t lemon extract, but juice is always better!)

~In large mixing bowl stir together dry ingredients.
~Make well in center and add wet ingredients. Mix them well and then incorporate all the dry.
~Mix well for about a minute, until smooth.
~Pour into greased pans (I've used different sizes, but last I made was 2 med. loaves and 2 mini loaves. It makes approximately 3 medium loaves).
~Bake at 350 for around 50-55 minutes; less time for mini loaves. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Check them very carefully with toothpick just until done.
~Mix glaze ingredients well and drizzle over hot loaves completely covering them. Cool.
~Best when eaten the next day.

Jalapeno Jelly

Recipe from The Silver Scissor blog. Perfect! Not too hot. Must be served with cream cheese on Club or Triscuit crackers!

3/4 lb jalapeno peppers
2 c apple cider vinegar, divided
6 c sugar
2 pouches LIQUID pectin
green food coloring, optional but highly recommended!

~Wash peppers, drain. Remove stems and seeds. Puree peppers and 1 c vinegar in food processor or blender (blender works great!).
~Combine puree, 1 c vinegar, and sugar in very large pot. This will bubble up quite a bit so use a stock pot or larger pot.
~Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 10 minutes. Have a book or other good reading material nearby to help pass the time!
~Stir in liquid pectin. Return to a rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute stirring constantly.
~Remove from heat. Skim foam. Stir in a few drops of food coloring, otherwise it will be a weird yellowish color.
~Ladle hot jelly into jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
~Process 10 minutes in boiling water canner.
~Makes approximately 7 half pints.

Best Buttermilk Biscuits

This is the best recipe I've found for buttermilk biscuits! Soooo good. Love the texture-a little crispy on outide and very moist inside.


2 c flour
3 t baking powder
2 t sugar
1/2 t cream of tartar
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 c cold butter, sliced
3/4 c buttermilk (or more)

-You can do this in your food processor or in a bowl. Mix all dry ingredients then add butter slices. Pulse until coarse crumbs or use pastry cutter. Add buttermilk and mix just until it comes together. I needed to add a little more buttermilk to mine as it was a little dry.
-Put dough on floured surface, roll out with rolling pin just a little and cut out biscuits.
-Put on greased baking sheet and bake at 500 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
-Makes approximately 12 medium biscuits.

Pumpkin Pie Dessert Cake

Ok girls.  Here is another delicious one!!  This tastes like pumpkin pie, but with a sweet buttery-goodness crust!!  It's really yummy!

1 large can pumpkin
1 T pumpkin pie spice (can do 2t cinn, 1/2 t each ginger, nutmeg and allspice to replace)
4 eggs
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 c sugar
Mix all ingredients. Pour into 9x13 pan.  Bake 30 minutes at 350. (I baked mine almost 40 min. because the middle wasn't set) Mix 1 yellow cake mix with 1 cube butter til crumbly.  (My sis and I agree it needs 1 1/2 cubes butter to get good results.  1 cube leaves it dry.)  Put on top of pumpkin mixture.  Bake in oven 30 minutes more.  Serve room temp with dollop of  whipped cream.  Enjoy!!

White Cake with Peach Glaze

I had this at a friend's 'Chuck' premiere night party.  Delicious cake and the show was pretty funny.  I had never seen it, though it's been on for several seasons.  Sorry it's late.  Are there peaches left anywhere??  Next year for sure!!!


Make a white cake

8oz of cream cheese
8oz of Cool Whip
1/2-3/4 of powdered sugar
MIX ALL OF THIS TOGETHER, AND PUT ON TOP OF WHITE CAKE

GLAZE
1C sugar
pinch of salt
3/4 C water
2T lemon juice
1-2T butter
4T heaping of cornstarch
MIX THIS AND STIR CONSTANTLY ON BOIL TILL IT THICKENS, PUT IN FRIDGE TO COOL.

Dice up 4 cups of fresh peaches, mix with glaze and put on top of cake. YUMMY!

Chicken Alphabet Soup

My kids loved this. Yummy and very easy.

3 medium carrots, sliced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 T olive oil
2 qt. water
8 chicken bouillon cubes
4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1/4 t dried thyme
1 1/2 c uncooked alphabet pasta
2 T minced fresh parsley (I keep this in a baggie in the freezer so it's easily accessible, just like you Mom!)

-In a large pot saute veggies in oil until tender. Stir in water, chicken, thyme, and bouillon cubes.
-Bring to a boil. You can then let this simmer as long as you like, but if you need it ASAP, once it comes to a boil add pasta. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until tender.
-Stir in parsley.
-Serves 10.

Crock Pot Applesauce

My favorite time to bake is here! Anything with apples, pumpkin, cranberry, pears, can't wait! So to kick off this autumn season I made something I think you'll like. Well, I know you'll like it, you may even love it as we did! I got the recipe from Secondsister. It is heaven and the fresh whipped cream melting on top of the hot applesauce is a MUST! This is the most simple dessert yet so amazingly delicious!

Variety of apples-mcintosh, pink lady, rome, golden delicious, anything!
fresh lemon juice
2 Cinnamon sticks
brown sugar, to taste
2 vanilla beans (optional)
whipped cream sweetened with sugar and vanilla

-Fill your crock pot up with peeled, cored, and quartered apples.
-Sprinkle with lemon juice to help prevent them turning brown.
-Sprinkle on a few tablespoons of water.
-Put cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans down in the apples. You can even sprinkle with some ground cinnamon if you like.
-Put lid on and cook on high all day. Mine took about 6 hours.
-Mash up a little with potato masher unless you like it more chunky. Stir in brown sugar to your liking. It doesn't take much, depending on the sweetness of your apples I guess.
-Serve hot in a bowl with a huge dollop of cold whipped cream. HEAVEN!

Chicken Chimies

Quick and good!

2 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
garlic salt and pepper to taste
10 flour tortillas
8oz monterey jack cheese, shredded
4 green onions, sliced
1-2 T oil
Toss shredded chicken with a few sprinkles garlic salt and pepper. Spoon chicken into tortillas, top with cheese and green onions, then wrap up burrito style. Heat oil in skillet, and add 'burritos', sautee till golden on both sides. Serve hot with your favorite toppings: sour cream, guacamole, salsa. These are good the next day just warmed in the microwave.

Mexican Lasagna

Brandon took left-overs to work for lunch with him for about 5 days- he loves this.

1/2 lb EACH ground beef and ground sausage
1 jalapeno, chopped( I did not use this, spicy enough w/o it)
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp EACH salt and pepper
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
10oz can enchilada sauce(mild)
18 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded jack cheese
2 tomatoes chopped
4 green onions sliced
fresh cilantro
1 avocado sliced or diced
Cook sausage and beef. Drain. Add jalapeno, and next 5 ingredients, cook till heated. Stir together soups and enchilada sauce in a pan, cook till heated. Spoon 1/3 of the sauce onto bottom of greased 9x13. Layer 6 tortillas. Spoon half the meat mixture and 1/3 sauce over tortillas, then sprinkle with half the cheddar cheese. Add 6 more tortillas, repeat layers, ending with tortillas. Sprinkle top with the jack cheese and next 3 ingredients. Bake @350 for 30 minutes. Serve with avocado on the side.

Patty Casserole

I picture this recipe coming from a little grandma born and raised in a little Utah town somewhere with a name like Verla. It's a goody.
1 lb or so ground beef
2 potatoes grated
1 carrot grated
half an onion grated
2 eggs
2 T flour
1 can cream of mushroom or chicken, whatever you have in the pantry
1 soup can filled with milk
Mix grated veggies and meat. Add flour and egg. Season if you like. Shape into 8 patties. Brown both sides in a little oil. Place in a 9x13 baking dish. Heat together soup and milk. Pour over patties, cover and bake @350 for 40 minutes. Serve over hot rice spooning "gravy" over top.

Oatmeal Cinnamon waffles

These are the hearty-ist waffles I've eaten, and they are so good.
1 3/4 cups wheat flour
1 T baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups quick-cooking oats (I used reg.)
2 T each cinnamon and packed brown sugar
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl mix wet ingredients. Add flour mixture to wet, and then add oats, cinnamon and brown sugar. Mix till just combined. Spray hot waffle iron with oil. Cook waffles like normal. Serve immediately. I love eating these with a sliced fresh banana on top and a drizzle of Mrs. butterworths.

Pork Chop Supreme

6 pork chops, bone-in
paprika
salt&pepper
2 T olive oil
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 packet onion soup mix
2-3 T flour
1 T fresh parsley
1/4 cup cold water
6oz can evaporated milk
Season generously the pork chops using paprika, salt and pepper. In the biggest skillet you own, brown them well in olive oil. Mix together onion soup mix, 1 cup water and celery. Pour over chops. Cover and simmer 45mins. Remove chops, set aside and keep warm. Combine flour, parsley and 1/4 cup cold water till smooth. Add to juices in pan. Then add milk. Whisk till bubbly and thickened 3-5 mins.(at this point if you want a lot of gravy, you can add more milk, water/flour to this.) Cover chops with sauce and serve with mashed potatoes or noodles. **This also would be great in a crock pot for a couple hours instead of skillet cooking.

Banana Foster Bread Pudding (AKA the best bread pudding in the universe!)

I have made this three times in two weeks! You can't go wrong with this comfort dessert with amazing carmel rum sauce and fresh bananas! 1- 1/2 the recipe for a 9x13 pan.


3 eggs
2 egg yolks
1/4 t ground nutmeg
1 t cinnamon
1 C ripe bananas, mashed (about two med.)
1 t vanilla extract
1 C sugar
1/2 C light brown sugar, packed
1-3/4 C heavy cream
croissants, broken into bite size pieces (5-6 cups)

350. In large bowl, mix eggs and yolks until frothy. Add spices, banana puree, vanilla. Mix well. Add sugars. Mix. Add cream. Add croissants and let sit for 30 min. Pour into buttered 9x13. (I use glass). Place pan in a hot water bath (about an inch hot water in large roasting pan). Bake for 1 hour. Serve with sauce.

Sauce:

1/2 C unsalted butter
1/2 C firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 C heavy cream
2 bananas sliced
3 tablespoons rum (got to have rum or you might as well forget the whole thing!!!!)

Heat medium skillet-low heat. Add butter and brown sugar, stir constantly until sugar melts. Add bananas-1 min. Add rum, 1 min. Add cream. Serve over pudding with vanilla ice cream!!!! Try not to make the mmmmmm noise too much while eating!

Lime Freeze

In honor of the elusive summer weather, I am posting this most delectable of summer treats.  They make these at the local drug store/soda fountain in town.  AND, since none of you EVER come and visit me, you'll never know how good they are.  SO, I am sharing this recipe.  (you can feel guilty now) I have a friend who works there, so she has made them at her home for me!  Enjoy!

Vanilla ice cream--maybe half a picher full
3-4 Fresh squeezed lime juice, to taste
Sprite, quite a bit, enough to make it thin shake consistency
Sugar, to taste (if the limes are too tart)

Put all the stuff in the blender and blend away.  Just make it taste yummy.  You can put some green food coloring in it for effect, but I try to avoid adding food coloring to my stuff.

Caramel Pretzel Brownie Cups

I got this recipe from the blog In My Kitchen Today.  (adapted from zupas.com) These babies are delicious!  And pretty easy.  I made them in mini cupcake molds.  If you don't have these, just make them smaller in regular ones.  I think big ones would be too much.  These are really rich!  It made about 34 small ones.

1 German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 egg
1/2 C butter, softened

Pretzel Crumble
1/4 C butter, melted
2 T brown sugar
1 C crushed pretzels
Mix together.

In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, egg and butter until smooth.  (Use a mixer)  Scoop batter 2/3 full into a muffin tin sprayed with non stick spray.  Scoop 1 T pretzel crumble on top of brownie batter.  (little less for minis) Pat down.  Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until edges are set. (I did 7 minutes with the minis)

8 oz caramels, melted in microwave over medium heat-stirring frequently
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Immediately after taking the brownie cups out of the oven, pour caramel over the cups, and then sprinkle with choc. chips.  Place cups in the oven for 30 minutes more to allow the choc. chips to soften slightly. (I did 15 minutes with the minis) Place in the microwave for 15 seconds (7 sec for minis) before serving.

I needed more caramel than this.  I don't know if I got too much or if the mini just made more.  (can you have too much?) I used the whole bag.  ( Minus the few Chan and I snitched!)  Mine were a little hard when they cooled, but if you microwave them, then are soft and delish.  (be careful, the caramel will be molten) Please make sure and follow the directions.  I had a 3 year old helping me, so I put the pretzel stuff on in the wrong order because I was keeping him out of things instead of reading carefully!   But they were still so yummy!