4.26.2012

Here is a list of my favorite recipes that ive found online

BEST sugar cookies
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-rolled-sugar-cookies/detail.aspx?src=ShareOnFacebook&recipeID=10402






REALLY good vanilla cupcakes, dont use the friosting recipe, it SUCKS
http://glorioustreats.blogspot.com/2011/07/perfect-vanilla-cupcakes-recipe.html

this one, however, IS good
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/index.html

Lemon Pepper seasoning
http://www.simplyscratch.com/2010/11/homemade-lemon-pepper-seasoning.html

Garlic Breadsticks
http://www.simplyscratch.com/2012/02/garlic-herb-breadsticks.html

eggplant parmesan (people ALWAYS request me to make this!)
http://www.scalinis.com/Bambino.htm


i <3 her...Pioneer Woman Blog
http://thepioneerwoman.com/
ive learned how to do tortillas, gravy, noodles, meatloaf(not one of my best ideas), etc from her site. I love it!! plus she does giveaways(like a kitchenaid stand mixer)

And for all you wine-o's
http://www.winedin.com/index.php?mode=classic
a wine pairing website that makes tonights wine super easy to pick!

BBQ sauce (Updated...again...MUCH better!)

Round up:
1 1/2  C. Ketchup
1/3 C. Coca-Cola
1/4 C. Apple Cider Apple Vinegar
1/4 C. Apple Juice
2/3 C. packed Brown Sugar
2 Tbs. Corn Syrup
2 Tbs. Lemon Juice
1 Tbs. Lea and Perrins
2 Tbs. Butter (unsalted)
2 Tsp. Ground Black Pepper
2 Tsp. Onion Powder
1 Tsp. Liquid Smoke
1/2 Tsp. Ground Mustard
1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder

Combine all ingredients in a med. saucepan over med heat and bring to boil, stirring often. reduce to simmer once boiling. Cook, uncovered stirring often for about 1 hr, or until it thickens up. Pour in mason jar and let cool. Keep refrigerated.

Chipotle Mac N' Cheese. (This ones got some KICK! hi-ya!)

Go find this stuff, in these amounts:
(main)

  • 1/4 C.. Butter (1/2 a stick)
  • 1/4 C.. Jalepeno, finely minced WITH SEEDS!
  • 2 Tbs. Green Onion, finely minced, white parts only
  • 1/4 C. All Purpose Flour
  • 2 C. Whole milk
  • 2 C. Heavy Cream
  • 2 C. Gouda Cheese, shredded
  • 2 C. Smoked Gouda, shredded
  • 2 C. Extra Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 Tsp. (Kosher or Sea) Salt
  • 1/4 Tsp. Ground Chipotle Chili
  • 1 Lb. Corkscrew Pasta
(topping)

  • 1/2 Tsp. Ground Chipotle Chili
  • 1/4 Tsp. Salt
  • 1 Tbs. Butter, melted
  • 1/4 C. Panko Bread Crumbs
(garnish)
  • 1/4 C. Fresh Parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 C. Parmesan Cheese, grated

Melt butter over low/med heat. Add jalp and green onion and sweat for 5 minutes. Whisk in flour and continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add milk, cream, cheeses, salt, and g. chipotle. Continue to cook for 10-15 min, stirring often, until thick.
While sauce thickens, cook pasta 11 min until al dente. (<fancy term) Drain well.
While pasta and sauce cooks, make topping. Mix all ingridients well.
Combine Pasta and Sauce in a baking dish. Put topping all over the top as evenly as possible. Then garnish with chopped Parsly and Parmesan Cheese. Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

BBQ'd Chik'N Tenders and Strawberry Dijon Sauce


BBQ’d Chick’N Tenders
1 ½ cups KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
1 Egg, beaten
¾ cup Chicken Broth (or… 1 tbsp. chicken base and ¾ boiling water-Mix well)
¼ cup 1% Milk
1 ½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
1 cup Self-Rising Flour
4 Chicken Breast, cut in strips
½ cup All Purpose Flour
Shortening or Oil ( for Frying)

Cut chicken breast into strips. Marinate chicken breast strips for about 48 hrs in BBQ sauce.
Heat oil or shortening in fryer to 350.
Combine beaten egg, milk, chicken broth, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk for 30 seconds to dissolve salt. Whisk in self-rising flour. Let batter sit for 5 minutes.
Coat each piece of chicken with all purpose flour and then dunk the chicken into the batter. 
Let a little drip off the chicken and lower it into the hot oil.(Do NOT use fryer basket, it will stick to the grates). Fry for 8 minutes. Only make 3-4 strips at a time or they will stick together. Drain chicken strips on paper towel and serve.  
*
Great with “Sweet Strawberry Dijon Sauce”
Recipe follows...


Sweet Strawberry Dijon Sauce
(Good with BBQ’d Chick’N Tenders)

3 tbsp. Strawberry Preserves
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. Marshmallow Fluff
1 tbsp. BBQ sauce
¼ tsp Tabasco(about 3-4 shakes of the bottle)
pinch Minced Dried Onion

Blend well in food processor or blender until smooth and all marshmallow fluff not chunky anymore( you shouldn’t see any white!)
Look i know the sauce sounds just awful. But it isn't. This is another one of those things you're just going to have to try. Its absolutely delicious with these chicken tenders.

Taste of Home... My Mamas Broccoli Cheese Casserole (this is the ultimate dish when i miss her)


“Mama’s” Broccoli Cheese Casserole

1 lb. Chicken Breast, cut up into 1” squares
1 lb. Cheddar cheese, grated
1 box cheddar and broccoli rice package
1  bag frozen broccoli florets (just heads)
Salt, Pepper, Montreal Seasoning,
Olive oil, butter and Worcestershire

Preheat oven to 350.
Cook chicken in seasoning of Salt, Pepper, Mont. Seas., Olive Oil, Butter, and Worcestershire until lightly browned.
Cook rice package as directed.
Steam Broccoli
Mix chicken, rice and broccoli together.
Grease baking dish and put half of mixture in. Top with half the cheese. Put remaining mixture on top and rest of cheese.
Bake until cheese is melted, about 10-15 minutes.

Taste of Home... My Mamas 7 Layer Bean Dip


“Mama’s” 7 Layer Bean Dip

8oz Light Sour Cream
1 packet Taco Seasoning
1 lb Shredded Cheese(Mexican style)
1 can Refried Beans
1 jar Southwestern Medium Salsa
1 small can Diced Green Chilies
1 small can Sliced Olives
2-3 Avocados (or Guacamole)
1 bag shredded Lettuce

Drain salsa in colander.
Mix taco seasoning in sour cream.
Mix beans and put in dish. Layer the Sour cream/Taco mix on top. Put a light layer of Cheese. Push juice out of Salsa and layer over cheese. Layer shredded Lettuce. Layer rest of cheese. Layer Chili’s and olives. Layer Avocados (*if using Guacamole instead, layer guac. after Lettuce.
Cool for about an hour and serve.

Lemon Pepper Salmon with Butter Cream Sauce


Lemon Pepper Salmon with ButterCream Sauce Recipe



1 Salmon PLank(from costco, or other places with salmon planks, not steaks)

Lemon Juice

1 1/2 tbs Freshly Groud Black Pepper

2 Tbs Olive OIl

8 Tbs Butter

1/2-1/3 cup Heavy Cream

1 Tea Garlic Powder

Vermecelli Noodles

3 Tbs Fresh Parsely, chopped

Freshly Grated Parm Cheese, for garnish



put salmon plank in ziplock bag and marinate with lemon juice for at least 24 hours, maybe even 48...

pull salmon out of fridge and put in fresh ground pepper into bag. rub pepper into salmon, kinda massage and squish it into salmon... be nice to the fish, itll be nice to your mouth, k? let sit for about 5 min or so

heat lg saute pan on med heat with 2 tbs olive oil. cut salmon plank into 4-6-8 steaks, depending on how much you have...about 6 oz each(ish). when oil is hot put salmon into pan. add 1 tbs butter. cook for 5 min then add another 1 tbs butter.

while salmon is cooking have water boiling and start pasta.

flip salmon when it is golden. cook 5 min other side then add 2 tbs butter. when melted add about 2 tbs heavy cream. turn heat down to med low and cook until salmon is done throughout and golden on outside.

add parsely to noodles when they are about 3 min from being done. when soft drain and rinse noodles. then add about 1 tbs olive oil to noodles to keep them from sticking together. put onto plate(s).

when salmon is done put steak onto pf noodles on plate(s) and let rest. finish up sauce by putting remainder of butter and heavy cream into pan. also add garlic powder. cook at med low heat for about 5-10 min until creamy and somewhat thickening(will still be super runny, but will thicken as it cools)

add sauce to top of salmon(which is already on the noodles, which is already on the plate...right???)

top with freshly grated parmeasan cheese




Super Yummy Fluffy Filling Pancakes...got all that?!?

This is best when made right after you have a fresh cup of coffee in your hands. Trust me.








Gather:
3 Cups Bisquick Mix
1 1/2 c. 1% Milk (I'm sure any kind will do, that's just what I use)
3 Eggs
2 Tbs Packed (like use your muscles and then still let some overflow) Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder (NOT the orange box, I've learned my lesson in telling the difference)
2 Tbs. Lemon Juice
2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
4 heaping Tbs. Vanilla Protein Mix (they whey protein stuff, you can find big bags at Costco for cheap)
3 Tbs. Flax Seed (again, Costco, big bag, good for you, get it, love it)

Preheat skillet or griddle to low/med heat (if you have an electric stove I put mine at number 3).
In a big bowl, mix all ingredients really well. (or if your really lazy and half asleep like i am in the morning, a blander works wonders for this purpose, and bonus, it already has a pour spout!)
Pour 4" diameter circles and cook until edges are dry, flip and cook until golden.

*Tip, try to only flip pancakes ONCE! it really changes the consistency and taste if your flipping it again and again. wait till its good on one side, flip and put it on a plate.

Oh and another thing. ALWAYS use real maple syrup. The other crap is well, crap. Once you try real maple syrup you will never go back to Mrs Butterworths. even my kids refuse anything else now.

"Best Yet" Homemade Salsa

Ive added, and subtracted, and sometimes throw out the whole batch. Try, try 100more times... and here is the result. A salsa that everyone can agree on. I would say its about Medium Heat. Super blended because Chaddy likes it that way, like Chili's salsa. They still have better chips, I haven't mastered that yet.

List of Ingredients 'N Stuff you need:

About 1/3rd of a white onion (which would be about a half cup?? ish)
1/3-1/2 of a FRESH Jalapeno (I've tried the canned...stick with fresh)
          Hot, keep the seeds.
          Mild/Med, ditch the seeds.
3 Garlic Cloves
14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes (Do not drain!)
10 oz can "Ro-tels" (diced tomatoes with green chilies, rotels is best though)
1 Tbs. Lime Juice
1 Tbs. Sugar
11/2 Tsp Vinegar
1/2 tsp Salt(Kosher or Sea Salt)
Dash Cumin
1/2 Tsp. Cilantro (Fresh or Dried, if its fresh bump it up to 1 Tsp.
**Actually if were going to be completely honest here, if it was up to me (which it isn't, because Hubby is picky as hell, and I make the salsa FOR him) I would put about 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro. So YOU decide how much you want in your salsa. I'm doing the recipe as we make it at home.

Get out your handy food processor out (which practically never makes it back into the cabinet at my house, i use it so much) or a blender. or chop it by hand, but that's a pain in the ass, and it wont be a smooth and not chunky as were going for in this recipe.
OK back to the food processor, or blender...or whatever...
Put the onion, jalp and garlic in (also the cilantro if your using fresh) blend well until pieces are minuscule, small, barely recognizable as food products...
add remaining ingredients and blend well. it should be really smooth and almost watered down looking. that's how we do salsa here... if you want chunky, get Pace.

Here is the important part, Refrigerate for AT LEAST 1 hr. Really. It brings out all the flavors and is essential in salsa making process.

Enjoy!!!!

My "White Girl Enchiladas"

When I say white girl, i mean i have no Hispanic blood in me whatsoever… no grandma showed me how to do this, and my Mexican friends used to make fun of me for how i “tried” to cook Mexican food. This is not authentic. This is tried and failed time and again until I found a mix of things that seemed to please everyone. With that in mind, over here in South Cackalacky, I don’t have many true Mexican friends, ok none, who know what enchiladas are SUPPOSED to taste like. So this is for my friends and family who love me enchiladas and want to make them at home. All you authentics are not allowed to bitch when it doesn’t taste like your madres! ok deal… on to the food.
(ok Filion, this is for you… i took pictures n everything.)

Let me start by saying I made my own tortillas the day before, and they were amazing. Here’s the recipe for it…
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/05/homemade-flour-tortillas/

Here’s a list of what you need(Chicken Enchiladas):

Flour tortillas (you can use corn, i prefer flour, i think it tastes better) about 10
Enchilada Sauce (I always use green for chicken, mild or medium, to your taste)
Chicken Breast(2′s prob good, depending on how many people your feeding)
Shredded Cheese (I use the bagged mixed Mexican blend)
2 cans of green chilies, chopped, diced or any other fancy term meaning cut up
1 can Salsa Verde (you can find it with the other Mexican foods, look for things labeled in Spanish)
Salt and Pepper to taste, or cayenne pepper for a bit of spice

Heres a List of what you need (Beef Enchiladas):
Flour tortillas, about 10
Enchilada Sauce ( I always use red for beef or cheese enchiladas, and get mild, well spice it up with cayenne pepper)
(Leftover) Taco meat… yes ground beef with taco meat seasoning in it (If your making cheese ench. omit this part, ummm, duhh)
Shredded Cheese (I use the bagged mixed mexican blend)
Country Crock Margarine(or any margarine or butter, this is just what ive always used)
Cayenne Pepper

I always make a pan of each, so thats how this tutorial is going to go. Sorry if its confusing, you should try being in my kitchen.

Start by getting a big pot of water boiling (this is not boiling, you have to wait until you see lots of bubbles coming from the bottom)



Then rinse, clean and pull the fat off the chicken. Then cut up into 4 pieces and put in pot of boiling water.



then drain well



start shredding…



and put all the shredded chicken into a bowl



add green chilis and salsa verde



mix it all together, cover and stick in the fridge for about an hour, or so



while the chicken mix “marinates” well work on the beef enchiladas. If your making cheese, i do everything the exact same as when i do beef, except, of course, i dont put any meat in. i use all the same spices. sometimes the hubby likes just cheese. but thats boring, so i didnt make just cheese for this recipe blog.

pull out all your ingriediants:

tortillas, margarine, cayenne pepper(aka red pepper), taco meat, cheese, and enchilada sauce. (oh and DR pepper, or your drink of choice, if i wasnt knocked up, there would be a glass of red wine instead, until then, DP will do.)

take a flour tortillas, spread a little bit of margarine on it.



then sprinkle with a little, or a lot (depending on your hottness desire)of cayenne pepper



then add a little bit of meat, not too much, remember you still have to add cheese and somehow roll it all up… i always forget that step at this stage.



now add some cheese



^see how much cheese that is… i had a hard time rolling it all up, learn from my mistakes…
now pour just a little bit of enchilada sauce inside the tortilla



roll it all up nice and pretty like… this is the hard part. :)

then quickly place it in a glass casserole dish before the whole thing unravels!

once you get the enchiladas all rolled and neatly in a line, we’re gonna make em messy, sloppy, and cheesy! yummm.



now thats its visually appealing and you’re hungry, we still have to bake it. @375 degrees, for about 20 min, or so. until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbing.

yes , i know, my mouth is watering too… however we have to go tend to our chickens. so well let this cook, and lets get to making the chicken enchiladas.

again, pull out everything you need, its hard to grab last minute stuff with gooey hands.

flour tortillas, chicken mixture, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper(if desired), second can of chilis, cheese, green enchilada sauce (no margarine this time, dont ask me why, i just only use it on beef and cheese)

take the chicken mixture and add a little bit of salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste. when you put a bite into your mouth and say, “damn, thats good” then its good. its not an exact science, just a personal preference. so expiriment.
(dont forget to mix it all up good before tasting, otherwise youll get a mouthful of salt, or worse, red pepper, and that hurts. and makes you cry. which, by the way, will not make you love your enchiladas, youll be mad at them instead)

flour tortilla, load it up with some chicken diliciousness…



then add some more green chilies (because i really like green chilies) or you can just wait and add them all to the top.


add some cheese


a little bit of enchilada sauce


and roll it up, do i need to show you a picture of that again or do you think youve got the general concept??

Here we go slopping and cheesing again… favorite part! only this time, add green chilies on top for “curb appeal”



yumm…

by now the enchilads in the oven should be done

(OMG YUMMMM)

put the chicken ones in now. cook for another 20 min or so until done. i forgot to get a picture of them all cooked, because, well, i was starving, so we ate right when they came out!

I ALWAYS put a whole bunch of sour cream on top of my enchilads, it makes them perfect.

Sometimes I make mexican rice, link to follow, and sometimes im lazy and just open up a can of refried beans… which is what i did this time. ENJOY!!!


http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mexican-rice-ii/

4.25.2012

Amazing Spaghetti (or Marinara, or Pizza) Sauce

Heres a list of the things to gather...

  • 4 Tbs. Olive Oil
  • PLUS 1/4 C. Olive Oil (measure the tbs and cup separately, you'll use them at diff times)
  • 1 Green Onion, chopped (white and light green parts only)
  • 3 Tbs. Red Onion, Diced
  • 3 Tbs. Sweet (yellow) Onion, Diced
  • 5(ish) Garlic Cloves (med-lg sized)
  • 1 Tbs. Fresh Rosemary, Minced
  • 1 (28 oz.) can Crushed Tomatoes
  • 1 (15 oz.) can Tomato Sauce
  • 1 (6 oz.) can Tomato Paste
  • 3/4 C. Red Wine (I used Malbec)
  • 3 Tbs. Fresh Basil... or more(basil melts my heart... yummm)
  • 2 Tbs. Dried Oregano
  • 1 Tbs. Sugar
  • 2 Tsp. (dried or fresh) Parsley
  • 1 Tsp. (dried or fresh) Thyme
  • 1 1/2 Tsp. Sea Salt (or Kosher)
  • 1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
  • 1/2 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 Bay Leaf (lg size, or 2 small)

Turn stove to Med. heat. Put 4 Tbs. olive oil in 3qt or larger pot. When oil is hot add onions, garlic and rosemary. Sweat about 10 minutes, stirring often. You want it to be soft but not browned. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tom paste, red wine and 1/4 cup olive oil. stir well. Add all spices, stirring occasionally. Once the sauce starts to bubble, reduce heat to simmer or low, and cover. Let cook 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

(Add meat as desired, although, my personal opinion is that it doesn't need it! Try meatballs to top off spaghetti instead!... "on top of spaghetti, all covered in cheese... i lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed"... damn kids never covering their mouths... )

This makes enough sauce for a meal and some left over. Great base flavor for pizza sauce, marinara sauce or anything else along those line. Enjoy!!!

Heres a link for some homemade noodles:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/05/homemade-pasta/

And some garlic breadsticks:
http://www.simplyscratch.com/2012/02/garlic-herb-breadsticks.html

**** Ill upload pictures later... my phone is syncing all 700+ photos to my comp. right now... it might take some time.
"fresh basil and rosemary" wish i had a garden...
wine, olive oil, tomatoes

garlic

onions


heres where you put the oil in the pot and let it get hot!

then add the onions, garlic and rosemary

and let it sweat, or saute(only you dont want to brown it, so dont QUITE saute it)

mmmm. heres what it looks like after the cans of tomatos, olive oil and red wine.

chopped basil! yum yum yum
all the other spices, although important, dull in comparison to basil. ;)

mix it all up!

turn it low, cover it up and let it simmer!