Friday, October 31, 2008

Carrot Bars

4 eggs
2 Cups sugar
1 1/2 Cups oil
4 - 4 oz. jars of baby food carrots
2 1/2 Cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix all together in large bowl. Bake in large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan sprayed with Pam or well oiled. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool then put in freezer. Make frosting, frost frozen bars. May place back in freezer until an hour before serving if made ahead. Frosting 1/3 Cup softened Margarine 8 oz. softened cream cheese 3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar 1 tsp. Vanilla Mix until smooth and creamy.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Derek's Brownies

2 cubes margarine
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs

Mix first 3 ingredients together.

Add:
1 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Nuts (optional)

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes in a 9X13 pan.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Chicken:
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. If you like extra sauce, make another batch of sauce and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Stir constantly and let cook over medium heat until thickened and reduced - about 6-8 minutes.

Monday, October 6, 2008

El Pollo Fundito

Approximately 6 large flour tortillas

4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

19 oz. can Las Palmas green enchilada sauce

1 can cream of chicken soup

cream cheese, softened (regular or jalapeno)g

rated cheddar cheese

oil, for frying

lettuce and sour cream to garnish

Mix green sauce with soup. (Broth can be added to thin sauce). Set aside half of the mixture. With the other half, stir in the shredded/cubed chicken and set it aside. Spread about 2/3 cup of the chicken mixture on the center 1/3 of the tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese, then fold like a burrito. Fry each side in oil until golden brown. (It helps to secure with a toothpick during frying). Place burritos in a baking dish and spread cream cheese over the top. Cover the dish with more cheese. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until it is heated through and the cheese is melted. Heat remaining sauce and serve over the top just before serving (or on the side as an option). Serve with shredded lettuce and sour cream to garnish.

Fettucine Alfredo

1/2 cup real butter
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 tsp. fresh garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 dash cayenne pepper
1lb. Box of pasta
2/3 cup fresh grated parmesean or romano cheese

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter- add cream,garlic, and salt and peppers. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring constantly until thick. Remove sauce from heat and stir in cheese. Serve over hot pasta. Great with grilled chicken.

Creamy Tomato Pasta

2 c Italian stewed tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup whipping cream
3 Tbs tomato paste (I usually just use the whole can)
1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Puree stewed tomatoes in blender. Sauté garlic in olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes to pan. Add whipping cream, tomato paste, parsley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30-35 minutes. Serve over cooked fettuccini noodles (or any other pasta). Optional: serve with sliced grilled chicken.

Buttermilk Coconut Bars

1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk

DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan. In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, flour, and butter; blend with a pastry blender or a fork until the mixture is in coarse crumbs. Remove 2 cups of the mixture to another bowl, and reserve the rest.Stir the coconut and walnuts into the 2 cups of the sugar mixture. Pat firmly into the greased pan. Stir the baking soda, salt, and cinnamon into the reserved mixture. Then mix in the egg, buttermilk and vanilla until well blended. Spread this over the crust in the pan.Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm. Allow to cool. Make a glaze using confectioners' sugar and enough of the milk to give it a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over bars before cutting into squares.

Spanish Rice

1.5 c white long grain rice
2 T chopped, minced onion
1 can chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
salt to taste

Saute oil, onion, and rice over medium heat until rice is golden & onions are soft. Add chicken broth, tomato sauce, and seasoning, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover. Simmer 30-40 minutes. Fluff and enjoy.

Homemade Fries


Russet potatoes
Olive oil
seasoned salt
garlic salt
parmesan cheese
dried parsley flakes

Wash potatoes (but don't peel), then cut into french fry strips. Put potatoes and olive oil into a gallon sized ziploc bag, then shake until fries are evenly coated. Sprinkle desired amount of remaining seasonings into the bag and shake until evenly distributed. Preheat oven to broil. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil, then bake for about 20-25 minutes (stirring once) or until golden brown. Servie with fry sauce for dipping.

Peanut Butter Babies

1/2 cup margarine (I used butter)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Approx. 24 miniature peanut butter cups

Cream margarine and peanut butter. Add sugars and flour and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, salt and soda. Chill one hour, shape into 1 inch balls. Spray mini-muffin pans with Pam. Put balls into pans and bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Remove and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into the middle of the cookies. Cool completely in pans. She recommends the Walmart brand of PB cups.

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

4 tilapia filets (I really like the loins from Costco)
1/2 cup alfredo sauce
1/3 cup italian breadcrumbs
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 T. vegetable oil

Mix italian breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and oil together and set aside. Place tilapia on non-stick baking pan. Spread alfredo sauce on the top of each piece. Then cover each piece with the breadcrumb mixture and press down to hold it all together. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes.

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Sheet Cake

Combine in a mixing bowl:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, melt:
2 sticks butter
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa. Stir together.
Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat.
Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In measuring cup, pour 1/2 cup buttermilk.
Add:2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make icing:

Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan.
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
Add:6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Stir together. Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, stir together, and pour over warm cake.

Easy Waffles

1 ¾ c. flour
½ tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
2 beaten egg yolks
1 ½ c. milk
1/2 c. oil
2 stiffly beaten egg whites

Combine flour, salt, baking powder, yolks, milk, and oil; mix well. Fold in egg whites. Bake in waffle iron (mine takes 3 min) and serve. Great with strawberries and whip cream.

Recipe from Audrey

Burger Asada Burritos

chopped garlic
olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
salt & pepper to taste
cilantro
taco seasoning
seasoned salt
1 can black beans

For the rice:

1 cup rice (uncooked)
1 ¾ C chicken broth
Parsley, Oregano, Basil (1-2 tsp each)

(Place these ingredients in the rice cooker and cook for 20 minutes)


Saute 1-2 teaspoons chopped garlic in 2 tablespoons olive oil until lightly golden. Add 1 lb ground beef, salt & pepper; brown. Sprinkle in some chopped cilantro (fresh or dried), a bit of taco seasoning, seasoning salt and 2-3 tablespoons lime juice. Stir in a can of black beans (I drain them a little, but keep some of the liquid) and heat through.

Serve with warmed tortillas, seasoned rice, cheese, sour cream, avocados.

Recipe from Audrey