Friday Feature!

The last feature for the month?

M's Macaroons

I don't know how many times I've seen pictures.  I really want to try them myself one day soon!

Check out a full post on them here:

http://mujerboricua.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/how-to-make-chocolate-macarons-mela-style/

Summer Treat

It's hard to believe that summer is quickly coming to an end!

Here's a favorite summer treat, that I haven't made in ages!

1 1/2 c frozen strawberries
1 c heavy whipping cream
1/2 c sugar
1 c champagne

Put all in blender and freeze.  Serve over/with ice cream, or alone like sorbet!

Silly Recipe

I'm a fan of "Silly" recipes.. those recipes that are cheesy and non-food related.  Here is one I saw at the Children's Museum recently - appropriately, in the grocery store/food section of the museum!

cake pops!

Recipe is fairly simple:

1 boxed cake mix, prepared according to package directions
1 "tub" frosting

mix frosting and cake mix together.  make into small balls.

Cover in chocolate (white or dark), and decorate!

I used nuts (I'm on a pistachio kick at the moment), candy eye-balls, green sugar, etc...

I am considering making these for Kiddo to take to school for his birthday.  We'll see if I am that ambitious come October.  While they aren't hard to make, they are very time consuming!

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb ground beef, browned
8 servings instant mashed potatoes
1 can cream-style corn

Make mashed potatoes according to the directions on the package.  Next, spread hamburger, top with potatoes and then creamed corn.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

-- -- -- --

This is a recipe I remember from childhood, but actually haven't had recently.  Maybe it's time!

Bunny salad

1c grated carrots
1/4 c raisins
1/4 c cool whip

Blend and refrigerate.  Put a scoop on lettuce and serve!  Add pineapple if you're feeling up to it!

Friday Feature

Today's recipe is courtesy of my momma!

Broccoli Salad

1 bunch of fresh broccoli

8 strips of bacon (cooked)

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup sunflower seed kernels

 

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sugar

3 tbs vinegar

 

I mix the dressing the day before and refrigerate it.  Chop the broccoli and the bacon and mix with the onion, raisins, and sunflower seed kernels.  Add the dressing a few hours before serving.

Frappucino

3 c cold, double-strength coffee
1 c lowfat milk
3 T sugar
2 c ice

Put everything in blender and drink!

Wordless Wednesday

Coke Roast

Next time you make a roast- add a can of coke (or beer, if you prefer)  instead of the water!  It adds flavor!

Of course, you have to have potatoes, onions, and carrots to make a "true" roast. 

Chocolate Dipped Brandy Snaps

1/2 c butter
1/2 c sugar
1/3 c corn syrup
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 c. flour
2 tsp brandy
1c dark chocolate chips
1 T shorterning
1/3 c sliced almonds (or other chopped nuts)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Melt first 5 ingredients in med saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.  Remove from heat, stir in flour and brandy.

Drop by rounded teaspoon about 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  Flatten each drop of dough with a spatula, bake for 10-14 minutes.  Roll around wooden spoon handle, let cool completely, and dip in melted chocolate/shortening.  Sprinkle with nuts.  Refrigerate.

Tried it!

This  is the brussel sprout (with pistachio and lemon) that I posted about earlier.

I tried it.  I liked it.  I would make it again!

Want to try it...

I'm cheating... a little.

Although I was only going to post recipes I've made (or "feature" recipes by others), I actually have never tried this recipe.  However, I do hope to make it this week!  I even have the ingredients on hand!


Sprouts with Pistachios and Lemon
serves 4

Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 small onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved and thinly sliced
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup pistachios, shelled
juice of 1 small lemon

Directions
In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the brussels sprouts, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Saute for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pistachios and saute for another 2 to 3 minutes until the brussels sprouts soften. Add the lemon juice and stir. Remove pan from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Friday Feature

Today's blog features one of the USA's most recently dubbed "citizen"s.  From Canada (Newfoundland).  And Texas.

Molasses Buns (AKA Lassie buns)

1 cup of molasses 1 cup of sugar

1 cup of melted margarine   2 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 egg 1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup of milk 1 tsp ginger

5 1/2 cups of flour  1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cloves  1/8 tsp salt

 Add melted margarine to molasses and stir. Add milk and egg and stir. Mix remaining ingredients. Roll out on a floured board to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut in desired shapes and bake on a greased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Sausage and Egg Casserole

1 lb sausage, browned, rinsed and drained
5 eggs
2 c milk
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 lb (8 oz) cheddar cheese
7 slices of bread, torn into small pieces

Beat eggs and add milk.  Add bread then remaining ingredients.  Pour into greased 9x13 baking dish.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  In the morning, bake at 350 degrees for one hour covered.  This recipe can be doubled - use an oversized baking dish and bake for an hour and a half; also if doubled, add 1 lb of hot sausage with 1 lb of regular for better spice!

Wordless Wednesday

Pizza!

A huge favorite in our house is Pizza!

Now, most people know how to make a pizza - so I suppose this only partially qualifies as a "recipe".  However... The story - in my opinion - is worth telling!

When I was a kid - in 8th grade or so - we had to bring in Recipe cards to school.  I put down a "recipe" for calling to order pizza (Pizza Hut, of course!).

So this is a variation on the "pizza" thought... but I would call this Pizza recipe the fun-mom style!  

 Start by reading "Curious George and the Pizza Party".  This will get your kid interested in making pizza, and more aware of the steps!

 Next, have kid roll-out premade pizza dough.  It can then be cut into fun shapes!  Curious George includes a rainbow, a balloon, a star... Kiddo wanted a triangle.

 Add pre-made sauce, cheese, and toppings...

 Bake in the oven...

 Le

Apple fun

Apples
Peanut Butter
Mini Marshallows

Then, it's your choice... a mouth- or an igloo!

For the mouth..

Slice apples, then layer apple slice - peanut butter - marshmallows - peanut butter - apple slice to look like a mouth

For the igloo...

Core and cut apples in half.  Cover with peanut butter, then marshmallows!

Salad..ish

Here is a "salad" I tried once- and really enjoyed!

Cous Cous - prepared
Quinoa - prepared
Mango
Blueberries
Apples
Cilantro

Chop mango and apples into bite-size pieces.  Mix everything, and chill!  or just devour.

Marshmallow Treats

6 c rice krispies
4 c mini marshmallows
3 T butter

Melt butter and mini marshmallows in microwave.  Stir, then put on foil and spread thin.

Yum.

Friday Feature

The next recipe comes to us courtesy of a coworker who is well known (at least around the office!) for her cakes!

7UP Lemon Cake


A moist, lemony and oh so good dessert!

1 box Lemon Cake Mix (Duncan Hines is the best)
1 pkg. Lemon pudding mix (small)
4 large eggs
¾ cups oil
1 – 12 ounce can of 7UP


Grease and flour a bundt pan
Bake at 325 degrees for 50 min. to an hour
Cool about 10 min. and glaze


Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
About ¼ cup lemon juice or enough to get a glaze consistency
Drizzle over cake

Enjoy!

Heavenly Hash

2 boxes cherry jello
1 can fruit cocktail
1 tub cool whip
1/2 bag mini marshmallows

Max jello according to package directions.  Drain fruit cocktail.  Mix everything else together and serve!

My grandparents used to have this at every family get-together.  This - along with over-sugared lemonade - are among the things I remember about spending time with my grandparents!

Wordless Wednesday

Chicken Pot Pie

1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c chicken broth
1/2 rotisserie chicken, broken into small chunks
1 pkg mixed frozen veggies, thawed and drained

Heat oven to 375.  Mix ingredients above and bring to boiling for 1 minute.

Topping:
1 c bisquick
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
3/4 c milk

Mix and pour over top of pie

Bake in oven 30 minutes until light brown.

Roasted Chil Edamame

1 pkg frozen shelled edamame, thawed
cooking spray
2 T chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground red pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Arrange edamame in a single layer on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray.  Combine chili powder and remaining ingredients.  Sprinkle over edamame, toss to coat.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hour, stirring every 30 minutes.

Black Bean Salsa

This is a simple recipe that I've been thinking of making lately... but haven't (yet!)

1 can black beans
2 cans petite cut tomatoes
1 can corn
1/2 c fresh cilantro

Drain and mix everything together and serve with tortilla chips!

Awesome.

Apple Pie

This was my very first attempt - ever - at Apple Pie.  I even did a lattice!

It started with a pie crust on major discount at the store.  It wasn't the frozen kind, and it intrigued me.

A quick search of the internet, a purchase of some apples- and I was good to go!

Amazingly, this turned out better than I expected.  I was very nervous about the instructions... but go with it!

Ingredients

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 T cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.
2. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

Feature Friday

My first blog reader to be featured: my sister-in-law!

Here's the recipe she wanted to share!

I'm gonna name it Corn Dogs - the Easy Way!

Ingredients:

hot dogs

corn bread mix (and fixings)

 

Instructions:

cut up hot dogs.

mix cornbread mix per instructions.

pour mix into cupcake pan. add hot dog pieces.

bake per mix directions.

 

voila, little bitty cornbread corndog muffins. I’ve seen pics of this on pinterest, if you’re interested in photos to accompany the recipe (and you deem this recipe “worthy")

I suppose you could add cheese too. (you can ALWAYS add cheese.)

 

Cherry Pockets

I decided to make up a recipe recently, since cherries are in season.  I came up with this original recipe... which I am calling "Cherry Pockets" - and got my hubby's stamp of approval with, "I like this better than Pie.."

CHERRY POCKETS

2 c cherries
1/4 c sugar
2 T corn starch
1 sm can croissant rolls (4 per can)
2 T butter
2 T brown sugar
cinnamon

Heat cherries on med-high for 15-20 minutes until all the juices are released.  Add sugar and corn starch, and simmer until thickened.  Let cool.

Keep croissants in the rectangles (made of two croissant rolls).  Fill with cherry stuff.  Fold over, pinch with fork.  Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and then cook according to croissant package directions (add a minute or two if necessary).


(Note:  If you can only find the 8 per can croissants, double everything else and make twice as much!)

Wordless Wednesday

Cooking!

Although this topic might have been better suited for a different month, I've decided to focus the month of August on COOKING.

I don't cook nearly as often as I should- however, once in a while, I do get an urge, and make something!

This month, I'll be attempting to post a new recipe every day.  Although most days, I will only post recipes that I have personally made - I will be starting a "Friday Feature" - and post something from one of my readers!  (Send me a recipe if you'd like to be featured!)

Today's recipe?  Homemade Granola!

3 C Oats (not the quick-cook kind)
1 C Almonds - if you can find them, the unroasted seem to work best since there is roasting involved
1/3 c honey
1/3 c oil (I typically use canola, since it is what we have on hand- but I've seen peanut oil in the recipe)

oven at 275 degrees.

Mix almond and oats.  separately mix oil and honey, then combine everything together.

Spread thinly on cookie sheet, and bake at 275 degrees for 1 1/2 hours (stir about every half hour, and once the time is up - turn the oven off but don't take the granola out- just let it cool in the warm oven)

Once it's finished... feel free to add dried fruit (I like cranberries and/or cherries), chocolate chips, or anything else you like in your granola!

Grab a yogurt, and top generously!