Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sausage-Potato Casserole

**Warning:  Very greasy made this way!  Working on trying to lessen the grease.  Some suggestions are to use lowfat cheese and sweet potatoes instead of the regular cheese and white potatoes called for.**



Sausage-Potato Casserole
Taken from Allrecipes.com
Tested by DC, BIL, DH, and YCGP

Ingredients

  • 3 large baking potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 pound Polish kielbasa
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1/4 teaspoon caraway seed
  • 2/3 cup milk

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375*.  Using two long sheets of aluminum foil on top of each other, fold one long edge together and open out to make a large sheet of foil.  Line a 13x9 pan with the foil, allowing edges to hang outside pan
  2. Arrange the sliced potatoes, overlapping slightly, in bottom of pan.  Pepper to taste.  Top with half of the cheese.  Cut sausage in half crosswise and lengthwise and place, cut side down on top.  Top with remaining cheese, the dill weed, caraway seed and milk.  Seal edges of foil tightly.
  3. Bake at 375* for 1 hour.
Guinea Pig rating:  ***** (5/5)

What I did:  I added more potatoes to it and it was WONDERFUL!
What will I do next time:  Use more potatoes, lowfat cheese, maybe I will try the sweet potatoes.  :)  Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Chicken & Rice Casserole

Chicken & Rice Casserole
Taken from Hillbillyhousewife.com
Tested by DH, DC, and YCGP.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of margarine (1/2 a stick)
1/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup of strong chicken broth (make with 2 bouillon cubes)
1 1/2 cup milk
2 cups cooked rice (leftovers are great)
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken or turkey
4 oz can mushrooms, drained
1 cup frozen peas
2 oz jar pimiento (optional)
1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)

Directions:

First you need to make a white sauce. Use a 3-quart saucepan to make it because you will use the sauce pan to combine all of the ingredients later. So, melt the margarine in the saucepan over medium heat. When it is melted, stir in the flour. Whisk it until it is smooth and bubbly. Gradually add the chicken broth and the milk. I use real chicken broth if I have it, other wise I just add a cup of water, and a couple of bouillon cubes. Stir this as you cook it over medium heat. A whisk works really good for preventing any lumps. When the sauce is thick and boiling, allow it to boil for a full minute. Remove it from the heat. Add the rice, chicken, mushrooms, peas and pimiento, if you are using it. Stir it all up really good. Turn the mixture into a well oiled 2-1/2 quart casserole. Sprinkle the almonds or other nuts on top. Bake at 350° for about 40 minutes. It should be hot and bubbly throughout. If desired, sprinkle with chopped parsley, fresh or dried, right before serving. Makes about 6 servings.

Guinea Pig rating:  ***** (5/5)

What did I do:  I used my wheat/white flour combination for this recipe.  I also added broccoli to the recipe, because I thought it didn't have enough vegetables.  As I was putting the casserole into the oven, I realized I forgot to add the mushrooms!  Oh, well!  It was wonderful with peas and broccoli.  **Side note:  I have never added the almonds and pimientoes to the casserole and it tastes wonderful.**

What will I do differently next time:  Nothing...at least not intentionally!  :)

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Semi-homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Semi-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Taken from my Dear Husband
Tested September 18, 2010, by DH, DC, and YCGP.


Ingredients:

1 Family-size can of chicken noodle soup
1 can of corn kernels
1 boneless chicken breast
2 potatoes
Water


Directions:

1.  Cook potatoes in microwave.  Remember to wash and poke holes in the potatoes.  Use what ever microwave settings you have on yours for 2 potatoes.
2.  Cook chicken in a skillet.  Make sure you cook it all the way through.
3.  Pour can of chicken noodle soup into saucepan.  Add water as directed on can, plus an extra can full.
4.  Open corn and add to soup.  Cut cooked potatoes and chicken into bite-size chunks and add to soup.
5.  Heat as instructed on can of soup.
6.  Serve and enjoy!

Guinea Pig rating:  **** (4/5)

Exactly what you need when you are not feeling good!  Try it and you will feel better!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins
Taken from...ME!
Tested by DC, DH, and YCGP.

Ingredients:

2 cups of pumpkin butter
2 1/4 cups of flour
1 cup of quick cooking oats
3/4 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
2/3 cup of applesauce
3 eggs

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350*.  Grease muffin tins (makes 24 muffins).
2.  In a large bowl, stir together flour, oats, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.  In a separate bowl, beat together pumpkin butter, applesauce, and eggs.  Stir pumpkin mixture into flour mixture until smooth.  Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.
3.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Guinea Pig rating:  **** (4/5)

What I did:  For the applesauce, I used some cinnamon flavored applesauce.  I ran out of my regular applesauce!
What will I do differently next time:  Add raisins next time!  YUM!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Sausage with Rice - Crockpot

Italian-Style Sausage with Rice
Taken from Rival Crock-Pot Stoneware Slow Cooker Recipes
Tested by DH, DC, and YCGP

Ingredients:

1 pound mild Italian sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (29 oz) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 small onion, halved and sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
**Hot cooked rice**

Directions:

1.  Brown sausage in large non-stick skillet.  Pour off drippings.
2.  Place sausage, beans, spaghetti sauce, bell pepper, onion, salt, and pepper into the crockpot.  Cover; cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours or until done.
3.  Serve with rice.

Guinea Pig rating:  ****  (4/5)

What I did:  Instead of Italian sausage, I had some bulk deer sausage that I browned and used.  Spiced hamburger would work too!  Instead of a small onion, I used onion powder.

What will I do next:  Try it with the Italian sausage next time!

Sweet Tooth Recipes!

I have been in the mood for sweets lately!  I have been desperately trying NOT to give in to my desires!  So instead I will post some recipes that I LOVE!


Coffee Pie
Taken from a friend.
Tested by many!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 pint whipping cream
2 Tbsp instant coffee
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 Oreo crust

Directions:

1.  Melt chocolate chips in microwave.
2.  Mix whipping cream, instant coffee, sugar and vanilla in separate bowl.  Whip for 6-7 minutes until it forms a peak.
3.  Take 1 1/2 cups of whipped cream out.  Fold in melted chocolate with leftover cream.
4.  Place chocolate cream in crust first and then the regular cream on top.
5.  Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top for decoration.
6.  Refridgerate for about 3 hours.

Guinea Pig rating:  ***** (5/5)

What I did:  I have made this several times.  A couple of times I have even frozen the pie and the pie has a different texture.

What will I do differently next time:  Nothing!

**Warning - This does have caffine, so if you don't drink coffee...take small pieces.**

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Mistakes and Scones.

So I was trying a new recipe out overnight.  It was one of those, you throw everything in the crockpot and VOILA! you have breakfast in the morning.  Not this morning!  About 4:30am this morning, I was up with the baby, it started to smell like something was burning!  I shoved my poor dh and told him to go please check our breakfast.  I heard clanking and then my dh walked back to me to say that the outside had burnt and the inside still looked like mush.  ACK!  So my head went into overdrive!  I couldn't believe that I had wasted 14 slices of bread ($2), a dozen eggs ($1.50), ham ends ($2 something), and shredded cheese (which we got through WIC).  Then my hubby looked at me and said..."It's okay."  IT'S OKAY?!?  "It's only like what...$5?"  That made me stop.  If my husband who brings in the money is okay that his breakfast was ruined and that he was going to have cold cereal later, then okay...I will try and be fine with it too!  So I am unable to determine if the ruined meal was human error, recipe failure, or even my crockpot acting wierd. So no reviews for that recipe, but I have another one down below!  :)  Enjoy!


Scones
Taken from MOMYS Cookbook
Tested on September 7, 2010, by DH, DC, and YCGP.

Ingredients:

3 c. flour
1 1/2 c. oats
1/2 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. butter
Milk
Topping:
2 T. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

Heat oven to 375*.  Lightly grease cooking sheet.  In a med. bowl combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, and 1 tsp of cinnamon; blend well.  Cut in 1 c. of butter until mixture is crumbly.  Add milk and stir just until moist.  On a floured surface, gently knead dough 5 or 6 times.  Place on greased cookie sheet; pres into 2 6-inch circles, about 1 inch thick.  Brush top of dough with melted butter.  In a small bowl, combine sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon; sprinkle over top.  Cut dough into 16 wedges (8 in each circle); separate slightly.  Bake for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown.

Guinea Pig rating:  ***  (3/5)

What I did:  I cut the recipe in half and added chocolate chips.  I also sprayed the top of my scone with olive oil, instead of brushing it with melted butter.  Even with the chocolate chips, the scone wasn't as sweet as the other recipe I usually use.
What will I do differently next time:  I will use the other scone recipe I have that we all love better.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Happy Labor Day!

I am visiting my parents for Labor Day, but I just finished making pizza for all of us.  So I decided that I should share the pizza dough recipe!

Pizza Dough Recipe
Taken from my mom
Tested by so many people I can't name them all!

Ingredients:

1 packet of yeast (1 Tbsp)
3/4 cup of warm water
1/4 cup of sugar
2 Tbsp of oil
2 cups of flour

Directions:

1.  Stir yeast into water and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
2.  Mix sugar and oil in large bowl.  Add water mixture and stir.
3.  Add flour and stir until flour is mixed in.
4.  Sprinkle extra flour onto counter and dump dough out.  Knead dough until dough no longer sticks to the counter.  Place into greased bowl and cover with damp towel.  Let rise until dough has doubled in size.
5.  Preheat oven to 425*.  Place dough in greased pizza pan and top with favorite toppings.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Cool slightly; cut and serve.

Guinea Pig rating:  *****  (5/5)

What I do:  I use my Kitchen Aid dough hook and let that knead the dough for me.  If I want to make more than 1 pizza, I double all the ingredients, except the yeast!  When you bake the 2 pizzas, switch their postitions halfway through cook time to ensure both pizzas get cooked evenly.

What would I do differently next time:  I love trying new toppings and changing thngs up a bit.  Right now I am on a sauceless trend with veggies and feta on it.  When doing a sauceless pizza, spread garlic and oil in place of sauce, before putting on other toppings!  YUM!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Berry-Smash Muffins

Berry-Smash Muffins
Taken from Gold Medal kids cookbook
Tested by DC, DH, & YCGP

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 425*.  Grease bottoms of 12 muffin cups.
2.  Slightly smash strawberries in large bowl, using fork.  Stir in sugar, oil, and eggs until mixed.  Stir in other ingredients just until moistened.  Spoon batter into muffin cups.
3.  Bake 15-18 minutes or until lightly brown or toothpick poked in center comes out clean.  Cool 5 minutes.  Makes 12 muffins.

Guinea Pig rating:  ***** (5/5)

What I did:  I used frozen mixed berries, since I didn't have just strawberries.  Zapped them in the microwave and smashed them (the girls loved watching Mommy do this).  As with most child-friendly recipes, the girls took turns putting the ingredients in the bowl!

What would I do differently next time:  NOTHING!  I think I will stick with the mixed berries too!  DELICIOUS!

Banana Bread

Whole Wheat Banana Bread
Taken from MOMYS Cookbook
Tested August 30, 2010, by DH, DC, and YCGP

Ingredients:

5-6 bananas
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. of vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*.  Mash bananas.  Add sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Blend well.  Add flours, soda, and salt; stir well to be sure there are no clumps of flour or soda.  Pour batter into greased pans appox. 2/3 full.  Bake a 350* for about 45-60 minutes for large loaves, until toothpick comes out clean.

Guinea Pig Rating: ***** (5/5)

What I did:  I used 5 bananas and there was still plenty of flavour.  Besides that, I followed the recipe!
What will I do differently next time:  Next time I think I will add in blueberries to make Blueberry Banana bread!  Ahh, that is good!