Saturday, August 2, 2014

Easy Cherry Cobbler a'la mode




Preheat Oven: 350 degrees
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:
2 Cans of Cherry Pie filling
1 Yellow Cake Mix
1-2 Cups of Oatmeal
1 Cup of melted Margarine or Butter
Vanilla Ice Cream
Walnuts in Syrup(ice cream topping)

Directions:
1. Pour pie filling into casserole dish.
2. Spread Cake mix over pie filling.
3. Spread oatmeal over cake mix
4. Drizzle melted margarine over entire cobbler.
5. Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
6. Top with ice cream and walnuts.


Yum...



Thursday, June 5, 2014

Helpful Hints~Vegetables & Side Dishes


  • When preparing a casserole, make and additional batch to freeze. Your back-up meal is always secure.
  • A sprinkle of salt or flour in the pan before frying will keep hot oil from splattering.
  • A drop or two of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep the grains separated.
  • Clove, garlic, and pepper flavors get stronger when they are frozen.
  • Sage, onion, and salt get milder when frozen.
  • Cooked egg whites get tough when frozen.
  • Grill veggies along with your meat for an quick and easy side dish.
  • Store dried pasta, rice(except brown rice)and whole grains in tightly covered containers in a cool dry place.
  • Refrigerate or freeze grains if they will not be used within five months.
  • Play-up those buttered, cooked veggies with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, chopped nuts, canned french-fried onions, or slightly crushed croutons.
  • A little vinegar or lemon juice added to potatoes before draining will make them extra white when mashed.
  • To bake potatoes in a hurry place them in boiling water for 10-15 minutes. Pierce their skin with a for before baking in a preheated oven.
  • Avoid those tough beans or corn by adding salt about half way through cooking.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Herbed Yogurt Spread- Mayonnaise Alternative

Herb-Greek Yogurt

Are you looking for an healthy mayonnaise alternative if so Herbed Yogurt Spread might be the one for you!
In January, I was wanting to eat healthier but my husband was a hinder-er. Now the scales have tipped a little too much for him and he's really making dietary changes. So to answer his need for an alternative to mayonnaise I have this Herbed Yogurt Spread that is quite a yummy addition to your 3. It also takes that ordinary ham sandwich to being an extraordinary ham sandwich.

The ingredients are easy to find and the directions are so simple.
We've declared this recipe a winnner!

Herbed Yogurt Spread

Total time to prepare: 5 minutes
Yields: 1 3/4 cup

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1/4 cup capers (rinsed and drained)
3 tablespoons lemon juice 
salt (dash..just to taste)

Directions:
1. Puree yogurt, parsley and capers.
2. Add lemon juice just until smooth.
3. Season with salt.
Recipe thumbnail

                                            Enjoy!!


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Veggie Pizza

Pizza Appetizer

This Veggie Pizza recipe is great for a party or your next get together.
 It offers light, fresh vegetables along with the rich cheeses all flavored  up with the perfect seasonings for a vegetable lover's dream come true. You will not want to skimp on quality when choosing your ingredients for this recipe. It's a dish served cold. It can be cut in typical pizza triangles or in smaller bite-size pieces for a great party appetizer.

Let's get our oven preheated and chop these veggies!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:
2 packages refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 cup salad dressing(Miracle Whip)
2  8-ounce blocks of cream cheese(softened)
1 envelope Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix
1/2 can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
Chopped, raw vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, purple hue onion, red pepper, green pepper, orange pepper, etc.)
Parmesan Cheese(grated)
Cheddar Cheese(grated)



Directions:
1. Layout crescent rolls flat on large ungreased cookie sheet, press and pinch together.
2. Bake at 350 degrees until golden.
3. Spread the 1/2 can of tomatoes over crust return to oven for 3-5 minutes.
4. Mix together cream cheese, salad dressing, and dry dressing mix.
5. Spread cheese mixture over the top of cooled crust.
6. Layer chopped vegetables on top of cheese mixture.
7. Sprinkle Parmesan Cheese and Shredded Cheddar Cheese over vegetables.
8. Chill until serving.










Friday, February 14, 2014

Potato Dumpling Pie


thumbnail for potato dumpling pie

Wanting for comfort food? Maybe, you're yearning for some Potato Dumpling Pie!
This Potato Dumpling Pie recipe can be cooked in a pie dish, iron skillet, or a casserole dish. Slices of potato and onion seasoned up with garlic and black pepper enveloped in a thick, creamy texture,all along with spoonfuls of rolled buttermilk dumplings simply beckon you to the supper table.
Very few ingredients and a simple technique make this recipe a winner. 

Let's get started and gather up some ingredients!

Total Cook Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes (approximately)
Bake Time: 1 hour
Preheat Oven: 425 degrees

Ingredients:
4-5 medium size potatoes
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
2 cup Self-rising flour(Martha White or White Lily)
3 tablespoons shortening(I prefer butter flavored Crisco)
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt for dumpling plus approximately 1 tablespoons to flavor potatoes
black pepper season to taste
water-enough to boil potatoes in

Directions:
1. Slice potatoes into disc and onion into rings
2. Place potatoes, onions, salt, and pepper in a medium pot. Fill pot approximately 3/4 full with water.

3. Bring to boil. Turn temperature down to a rolling boil for about 15 minutes.
4. Prepare dumplings by combining flour and salt in mixing bowl. 
5. Cut-in shortening.
6. Add buttermilk a little at a time while stirring with a fork. When dough will follow fork around the bowl there's enough milk.
7. Turn out on board, kneading just a little. Roll out and cut into squares.



6. Add dumplings to potatoes. Be very careful not to get burned by bubbling. Turn down the temperature on the potatoes if there's a danger of getting burned. The mixture will get quite thick and extremely hot.
7. Turn temperature down to a simmer after adding all your dumplings. Simmer approximately 5 minutes or until thickened.

These potatoes & dumplings could be served as is and be quite good but to achieve the brown crust you'll want to pour it in your dish to bake.

8. Pour in dish.
9. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 hour or until top is browned over.



Do enjoy!




Nutrition Facts Widget Image

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Peanut Butter Delight Bars


Preacher Cookie

This Peanut Butter Delight Bars Recipe is simple decadence. 
Blending of rich cocoa flavor with a crunchy peanut filling and the final topping from the honey-bear makes this dessert an absolute treat. It is an adaptation from what most southern folk call the Preacher Cookie. Although the recipe contains a bit of sugar it is also fairly healthy if you take in the quantity of peanut butter and oatmeal.
Most importantly, my kids say,
"It's Good!"

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 quart Yields: 7 x 11 inch or 2 quart (recipe can be doubled if not being served individually)

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Cocoa
1/2 Cup Evaporated Milk(regular whole milk can also be used)
2 Tablespoons Butter or Margarine
1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Crunchy Peanut Butter plus 1 or 2 cups to spread as filling
2 Cup Quick Cooking Oatmeal
Honey for drizzling over top

peanut butter, oatmeal, honey dessert bar










Directions:
1. Combine sugar, cocoa, and evaporated milk in a saucepan. 
2. Bring to boil, stirring constantly for 3 minutes then remove from heat.
3. Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and butter until smooth.
4. Fold in oatmeal until well blended.
5. Spread into pan or casserole dish.
6. Cool until well set.

Bars can be served as the are but doubling with peanut butter in the middle is what really adds the extra to this dessert. Don't forget to drizzle the honey on top.







Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Helpful Hints-Beverages


Simple Beverage Tips

  • You won't need sugar with your Jasmine, Formosa Oolong, or any of the lighter-bodied tea varieties; these varieties have their own natural sweetness. They are a great choice for sugarless iced tea, as well.
  • Calorie-free club soda adds sparkle to iced fruit juices making them go further and offers calorie reduction.
  • Dissolving old-fashioned lemon drops or hard mint candy in your tea is a  quick way to brisk flavored tea.
  • Always chill juices or sodas before adding to beverage recipes.
  • Create a fresh mint chocolate cup of cocoa by placing fresh or dried mint in the bottom of your mug before filling with hot chocolate.
  • One lemon yields about 1/2 cup juice; one orange yields about 1/3 cup juice.
  • Storing ground coffee in the refrigerator or freezer to keep the flavor for a longer time.
  • Always use cold water when beginning to make coffee.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Happy Day Cake with Coffee Icing

If I knew you were coming I'd a' baked a cake...baked a cake..

Cake from Scratch


There's no special occasion or birthday today. 
We just like cake!
I'm glad to share my version of Grandma Hylton's Happy Day Cake.

Happy Day Cake with Coffee Icing

Preheat oven: 375 degrees
Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45-60 minutes (approximately)


Ingredients:
2 Cups Self-Rising flour(sifted)
3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 1/3 Cup Shortening(I use Crisco Butter Flavored)
1 Cup Milk
2 Teaspoon Vanilla flavoring
2 Eggs

Directions:
1. Sift all dry ingredients into mixer bowel.
2. Add shortening and 2/3 of milk, then add vanilla.
3. Beat 1 minute on low speed.(I use speed 2 with Kitchen Aid)
4. Add remaining milk and eggs, beat 30 seconds. Stop & scrape bowl.
5. Beat 1 minute  on high(I use speed 6 with Kitchen Aid)
6. Pour batter into prepared pan.
7. Bake 375 degrees for 50 minutes or until cake pulls away from pan.

Coffee Icing
Ingredients:
2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar
1/4 Cup Margarine(softened)
1 teaspoon Vanilla flavoring
3 Tablespoons of Strong Coffee

Directions:
1. Cream  sugar into margarine.
 2. Add vanilla and coffee creaming until smooth.


Yellow Bundt Cake







Monday, January 20, 2014

Turkey Dumpling Casserole

This Turkey Dumpling Casserole Recipe is a delicious remedy for leftover turkey.
Turkey can be so under appreciated but it's as delicious as you choose and many times it is the forgotten meat. After the holiday's, many grocers  will have deep markdowns on the excess turkey they have in stock, making it the frugal cook's  choice.


Chicken Dumpling

Turkey Dumpling Casserole

Prep Time:1 hour and 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
* Prep Time is to indicate approximately and hour to stew the turkey off the bone and 30 minutes to prepare your dumpling's.
*Cook Time indicates the time casserole is baked in the oven.

Preheat oven at 400 degrees



Ingredients:
Leftover Turkey on the Bone(you could substitute chicken or boneless turkey)
1 Can Chicken broth
16 ounce bag of frozen Peas & Carrots (2 cans of Peas & Carrots)
2 Cups Self-Rising Flour
1/3 Cup Shortening
1 Cup Milk
2 Teaspoons Pepper plus a dash for the top
1 Teaspoon Salt
4. Directions:
1. Remove meat from bone.







2. Cover bone and meat with water in a large pot. Bring to a rolling boil for approximately 1 hour or until all the meat has fell off the bone. 
                  








While turkey is boiling prepare your dumplings.

3. Place 2 cups of flour in a large mixing bowl.
4. Cut-in shortening.
5. Make a well in flour.
6. Slowly add milk until flour will follow fork around bowl. You might not need the entire cup of milk. If you have left over milk save it to add to your dumpling mixture later.
7. Roll out dumplings and cut into small rectangles.



8. Remove turkey pot from heat and let cool. Remove bone and any skin or unappealing gristle from pot.
9. Return pot to heat bring back to a rolling boil.







10. Add broth, salt, pepper, peas and carrots. Also add any remaining milk but let milk come to room temperature and pour in slowly while stirring.
11. Add dumplings to pot a little at a time. I add about a row that I've cut out then gently push them down into mixture so they cook a little. When they float back to the top, I add another row until all my dumplings are in the pot.

12. Simmer at low to medium-low for 2 -3 minutes.







13. Pour into 9 x 13" casserole dish. Move dumplings around evenly in dish. Pepper top of casserole.



14. Bake 45 minutes.

    


Delicious!
Chicken Casserole




Friday, January 17, 2014

A Pawn of Southern Cornbread

Southern Cornbread


Southern Skillet Cornbread

In the south, some foods just call for a golden pawn of cornbread
&
this is how I do it!

Nothing much beats bread out of a wood cookstove. If you are going to use your woodstove get your fire going good & hot before mixing up your cornbread. 
In my opinion, it takes a hot oven to bake a good pawn of bread.

If you will be cooking this in your regular electric stove go ahead;
  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.


After, I have gathered my ingredients
Ingredients:
2 Cup Corn Meal Mix
1/2 Cup Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Egg
1 Cup Milk
1/3 Cup Oil(for cornmeal mixture)
3 Tablespoons oil for skillet


 I heat a stove eye a little past medium while I mix my ingredients together and pour enough oil in my pan to well cover the bottom of your skillet letting it get hot on the eye before pouring your batter into your pan.


We like the bottom golden and crusty!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 or until bread is a golden brown color

Direction:
1. Combine all dry ingredients.
2. Stir with wisk.

3. Stir in egg.
4. Add milk. If mixture is too thick add a little tap water until batter is thin enough to pour.

5. Pour batter into oiled skillet. Cut heat to skillet off and let batter set on eye 1-2 minutes.

6. Bake in oven for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown.
If you begin smelling your bread check it may be done.

Smellin' Good!


Many times I leave my cornbread in the pan and serve it from there.
If you want to turn it out onto a serving plate take a serrated knife and trim the top even
 so as to set on the plate nicely.


Oh yum! Cornbread's Callin!