Macaroni Salad

14.5 oz box of macaroni
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 C baby carrots, sliced
1 T minced onion
4 oz. frozen peas
1 C mayo (we used mayo made with olive oil)
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 T cider vinegar
paprika
parsley
sea salt
black pepper

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions; be sure not to over cook the pasta so that the noodles become overly soft.

Add the frozen peas in the last minute of cooking. Then, drain. While the pasta is cooking, chop up the veggiesAllow the pasta and peas to cool down and then place in a large bowl.  As the pasta cools down, stir every few minutes to prevent the noodles from clumping together as they dry.Add the chopped up veggies. Stir to combine.Add the minced onion, and stir these veggies in too. Alternatively, you can use fresh onion here.Stir together the mayo, sugar, dry mustard, and cider vinegar until smooth and creamy. Pour the mayo mixture over the pasta.  Do this in small batches.  Add a little, stir it in well and repeat.  This way, the creamy sauce gets all over the pasta and you can stir it in well. Stir in the mayo mixture until the pasta and veggies are coated. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  If desired, you can also add tuna fish or chicken (either canned or grilled chicken breast).

DILL RELISH

8lbs pickling cucumbers (I used field cucumbers…they recommend pickling cucumbers because the seeds are tiny and the skins are not as waxy and tough but you’ve got to use what you got)
1/2 cup pickling or canning salt
2 tsp ground turmeric
4 cups water
2 1/2 cups finely chopped onions
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp dill seed
4 cups white wine vinegar

In  a food processor fitted with a metal blade or a food grinder, working in batches, finely chop cucumbers, transferring batches to a glass or stainless steel bowl as they are completed.  Sprinkle with pickling salt and turmeric.  Add water, cover and let stand in a cool place (70F-75F/21C-23C) for 2 hours. Transfer to a colander placed over a sink and drain thoroughly. Rinse with cool water and drain thoroughly again.  Using your hands, squeeze out excess liquid.
Meanwhile, prepare canner, jars and lids
In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine drained cucumbers, onions, sugar, dill seeds and vinegar.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and vegetables are heated through, about 10 minutes.
Ladle hot relish into hot jars, leaving 1/2″ headspace.  Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot relish. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar.  Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip-tight.
Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water.  Bring to a boil and process for 15 minutes.  Remove canner lid.  Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool, label and store.
Put up Total:

5 x 500mL (3 wide mouth jars and 2 regular mason jars)
1 x 250mL wide mouth mason jar
NOTE:  This is the second time that I have made this relish and the yield has always been at least 750mL less than what Bernardin states.  I am not sure if this is because I squeeze more liquid/water out of the cucumbers than I should; however, I am very happy with the consistency.

Crockpot Sloppy Joes

3lbs hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped
1 c sliced celery
1 c chopped green pepper
1 ½ c ketchup
2 T Worcestershire sauce
1 6oz can tomato paste
¾ c water
2 T apple cider vinegar (or3T if you like a bit more tang)
3 T brown sugar
1 t dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste

In a large frying pan cook hamburger and vegetables.  Put this in crockpot and add remaining ingredients.  Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve over sandwich rolls.

Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

 1lb boneless skinless chicken meat, cut into bite size pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
1t minced garlic
2T olive oil
8oz cream cheese, cut into chunks and softened
Milk, to thin sauce
2t chili powder
1t cumin
1 cup salsa
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup cream
 In a large frying pan cook chicken, onion, and garlic in olive oil.  When the chicken meat is fully cooked and the onions are soft add the cream cheese and stir around a bit to melt and mix up with the chicken and onions.  Add a little milk to make a sauce that is about the consistency of gravy.  Add chili powder, cumin and salsa.  You can taste and add a little salt and pepper to your liking.

Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.  Lay half of the corn tortillas in the pan.  Spread half of the chicken enchilada sauce over the tortillas.  Sprinkle half the cheese over the sauce.  Repeat layers. Pour cream over the top.

Bake at 375 for 30 to 45 minutes, until enchiladas are golden brown on the top.  Serve with Spanish rice and refried beans and a big green salad.

PEAR CRISP

4 or 5 pears, peeled and chopped or sliced

Lemon juice (to sprinkle over pears, keeps them from darkening) Optional

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 stick or 4 tablespoon butter or margarine

 

Sprinkle pears with lemon juice, drizzle with corn syrup.  Place in baking dish.  Whisk together remaining ingredients except for butter. Sprinkle over pears. Cut margarine in pieces and put on top of casserole.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes.  Enjoy!

 

Note:  You can replace brown sugar with white, leave out the oats, and sprinkle 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese over pears for another variation of this recipe.  Can also combine apples with the pears or make this recipe with just apples.

SAVORY CORN CHOWDER

6 slices bacon, cooked crisp

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

2 cups water

1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

1 (14.75 ounce) can cream style corn

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup 2% or regular milk

3/4 to 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Optional)

 

Cook bacon in skillet on top of the stove until crisp.  Remove and drain on paper towel.  Fry onion and garlic in about 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease left in skillet.  Drain. In a pot on top of the stove cover potatoes with the 2 cups of water, bring to a boil and cook about 10 minutes until soft.  Add onion, garlic, milk, corn, salt and pepper and continue cooking on simmer about 20 minutes longer stirring several times. Crumble bacon into soup. Stir to mix. Add cheese.  Makes 8 to 10 servings. Enjoy!

 

Chocolate No-Bake cookie

3 cups quick cooking oatmeal
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 Tbl peanut butter
2 tsp vanilla

1. Place butter and milk into saucepan and melt over medium heat.

2. Once melted, stir in sugar, cocoa powder, peanut butter and bring to a full rolling boil, stirring continually. *you can leave out the peanut butter*

3. Boil for 2 1/2 minutes, stirring to avoid scorching & burning.

4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and oats. Stir well to combine.

5. Drop by spoonful onto silicone baking mat, wax paper, or parchment paper.

6. Cool and enjoy!

PERFECT SNICKERDOODLES

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 1/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix butter, sugar, and eggs with mixer in a large bowl.  Add cream of tartar, baking soda, salt, and vanilla and continue mixing.  Add flour and mix well. Put flour in refrigerator for about 20 minutes. In a smaller bowl mix the 3 tablespoons of sugar and the 3 teaspoons of cinnamon.   Remove flour and roll into balls with your hands about the size of a walnut.  Roll balls in cinnamon and sugar and place on an ungreased baking sheet.  Cook in preheated 350 degree oven 10 – 12 minutes.  Remove the cookies from the pan as soon as you take them from the oven.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.  Enjoy!

BUTTER CAKE WITH RUM SAUCE

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 sticks butter, softened

2 teaspoons rum or vanilla flavoring

1 cup buttermilk

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

In a large bowl cream sugar, eggs, butter, and buttermilk together with mixer.  Add flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and vanilla or rum and mix.  Pour batter into a well-sprayed bundt pan or pan of your choice.  Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 55 to 60 minutes until done.  Let cool in the pan at least 30 minutes before removing. 

Rum Sauce                                                                          

3/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter

3 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons rum or vanilla flavoring (can use more rum if you want)

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until fully melted.  Do not boil!   Pour over cake.  (Note:  I take a skewer and poke holes in the cake, then use a turkey baster to put sauce into holes but you can just pour it over the cake)  The cake will soak up the sauce.   YUMMY!   Enjoy!

BLUEBERRY CREAM CHEESE BUTTER CAKE

1 box Lemon  Cake Mix

3 eggs

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 1/2 sticks butter or margarine, melted

3.5 ounce box Vanilla Instant Pudding and Pie Filling

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup water

1 cup fresh blueberries                      

1 cup walnut pieces                                           

 

In a mixing bowl combine cake mix, pudding mix, and eggs. Mix
well with mixer.  Add milk and melted margarine, cream cheese and water
and continue mixing.  Batter will be thick. Fold in blueberries and
walnut pieces. Spray your cake pan well. Cook in preheated 350 degrees
oven for 55 to 60 minutes until center is cooked.  Let stand for 15 to
20 minutes before removing from pan. 

Glaze:

 1/2 cup lemon juice

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups (more or less) confectionery sugar

 Mix ingredients in a small pan over low heat on the stove

stirring with a whisk until melts and desired consistency.  Punch holes
in cake with toothpick and pour glaze over cake. Use any remaining glaze
to pour over individual pieces.

 

Enjoy

PUMPKIN NUT CAKE

3 eggs

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin

3/4 cup oil

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup walnut pieces

 

Cream eggs, pumpkin,  oil, sugar, and vanilla with mixer.  Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and cinnamon and add to pumpkin mixture mixing well with mixer.  Fold in nuts.  Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish, add cake mixture. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 35 to 40 minutes until cake is done in center.  Let cool before frosting. 

Nutmeg Frosting

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 stick butter or margarine, softened

2 cups confectionery sugar

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Beat with mixer until spreading consistency.  Spread on cooled cake.

 

I promise you, if you like pumpkin, you will love this moist, delicious cake!

 

Cranberry Chicken

1 small onion, sliced thinly
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, if frozen do not thaw them
2 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
¼ cup ketchup
2 T sugar
1 t dry mustard
2 t cider vinegar

Place onion slices and cranberries in the bottom of your crockpot.  Arrange chicken on top.  In a small bowl mix together the ketchup,sugar, dry mustard and vinegar.  Pour this over the chicken.  Cover and cook on low setting 6 to 7 hours or until the chicken is tender.

To serve, lift the chicken out and set on serving platter (you can cover it and keep it warm in your oven on a warm setting) and mix 1 ½ T cornstarch with 2 T cold water.  Turn the crock pot to HIGH and add mixture. Cover and cook this for about 15 minutes more or until the sauce thickens.  Season to taste with salt and pour this over the chicken.  This tastes good with brown rice pilaf and a spinach salad.

Oriental Chicken Salad

Yield:
8 servings
Ingredients:
Salad ingredients:
leaf lettuce, washed and torn
shredded red cabbage (optional)
sliced almonds
chow mein noodles
fried chicken strips (recipe below)
homemade honey mustard dressing (recipe below)
Fried chicken strips ingredients:
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/4-1/3 cup vegetable oil

Dressing Ingredients:
6 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon white vinegar
8 teaspoons mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon sesame or olive oil
Instructions:
1. Slice chicken breast into thin strips (as thin as possible).
2. In a medium-large container with a tight-fitting lid, combine flour, seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parsley flakes. Add 1/4 of the chicken meat; close tightly and shake vigorously to coat. Continue adding meat in three more sections, each time replacing the lid and shaking the container (leave meat in when adding more).
3. Heat 1/4-1/3 cup oil in a large skillet over medium heat (or just slightly above medium). Add chicken and spread out over bottom of skillet. Allow to fry for several minutes, then stir. Continue stirring and frying until chicken is completely cooked. Drain on paper towels to remove excess grease.
4. Combine dressing ingredients and whisk to remove lumps.
5. To assemble salad, layer plates with lettuce, cabbage, fried chicken, chow mein noodles, almonds, and top with the homemade dressing.


Additional Notes:
The fried chicken pieces can be still warm/hot, or, if you need to make this up ahead of time, you can refrigerate the chicken and serve a completely cold salad: it's good either way!
Preparation Time:
15 minutes
Cooking Time:
15 minutes

Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

1 box yellow cake mix
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
3/4 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 c. hot water
1 tsp. almond extract

Mix dry ingredients; add oil. Blend in eggs, one at a time. Add hot water and extract. Bake in greased and floured Bundt pan at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 50 minutes.

Cherry Balls

3 cups coconut
3 cups icing sugar
1 cup melted marg.
Mix all together and roll cherries in mixture and then graham cracker crumbs.

SOFT GINGER COOKIES

2 1/4 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/4 c. molasses
2 Tbsp. sugar


Here's How...


1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt.  Set aside.  In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter for 30 seconds.  Add 1 c. sugar.  Beat until fluffy.


2.  Add egg and molasses - beat well.  Add half the flour mixture at a time and beat until just combined.  


3.  Shape into 1" balls.  Roll in 2 Tbsp. sugar.  Place on un-greased cookie sheets or baking stone 2" apart.  Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until light brown and puffed.  Let cool for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks or plate to finish cooling.


Makes about 36 cookies.

VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP

2 pounds stew beef
1 medium to large sized onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 potatoes, washed and diced
1 quart green beans, drained
1 cup red wine, optional
1 large can (49.5 oz) beef broth
salt and pepper
thyme


How to:


Heat your pot with some oil on med-high heat. I used lard. Once it's nice and hot, add your stew beef. Brown it on all sides, by stirring occasionally. Next, add your onion and garlic and just a bit of salt and pepper. If you add the salt and pepper in stages, the soup will have a richer flavor because one ingredient won't taste flat.  


Once the onion starts to become translucent, add the wine if you're using it. If not, use 1 cup of your broth. Although the wine is optional, I feel it really adds a depth to the flavor that you won't get otherwise. Turn your heat down to medium and let cook for about 5 minutes while you prepare your other vegetables. As they're cleaned and chopped, add the celery, carrots and potatoes in that order. Add the rest of your broth, cover and simmer until the carrots and potatoes are tender.  


Once your veggies are done, add the green beans. Taste the broth and add bit more salt and pepper and some thyme. I didn't measure the thyme, but I would start with a couple of teaspoons for this amount of soup. Let the soup simmer for about another half hour to marry the flavors. Just before serving, taste the broth and adjust the seasonings again, if necessary.


Notes:


It's better to add seasonings a bit at a time. You can always add more, but can't take it out if you add too much.  


This is a huge batch of soup. I feel it's better to make more and then have extra to freeze for lunches or another dinner because it's no extra work. If that's not your bag, cut the recipe in half.


If you don't have a garden and can your own beans, use two cans of store bought beans instead.


Sometimes I add corn to this. You could also add parsnips, green pepper, mushrooms or any other veggie you love. Also, you could add rice, barley or noodles to the broth at the time you add your green beans.


If you make steak, roasts or ribs - save those bones and make your own beef stock. Not only will it save you $$, it doesn't get any more nutritious than homemade bone broth. We just bought a grass-fed cow and I have a freezer full of bones that I will be using to make lots of broth with with the next week or so. Unfortunately, I didn't have it ready for this pot of soup.

Gluten-Free Mint Bars

 

Crust:
1 stick unsalted butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/2 tsp GF vanilla
1/2 cup GF flour (I used Bob's)
1/2 cup almond flour
pint of salt
Mint icing:
1/2 stick unsalted butter
2 cups confections' sugar
2-6 Tbsp heavy cream
1-1 1/2 tsp mint extract
Glaze:
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 9 inche square pan.

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and blend. Stir in chocolate and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients, blending well. Pour into pan and spread evenly. Bake for 15 minutes and cool completely.If you want Nuts you can add them  when blending the dry ingrediants.

For icing, cream butter and sugar. Add mint extract and just enough cream to make icing thin enough to spread. Spread over cooled crust.

For glaze, melt chocolate and whisk in butter. Spread over icing. Allow to harden before cutting.