The Sweet Hearty Heart Cafe': Random recipes

Showing posts with label Random recipes. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Haystacks

1 Package scoops chips
pot of our homemade "super easy chili"
shredded cheddar cheese
1 can black olives sliced
head of lettuce, shredded
3 tomatoes, diced
sour cream
Ranch dressing

Starting with scoops and continuing in the order above layer all ingredients and top with sour cream AND ranch (I know it seems like overkill but it's just yummy)

Vegetable Pizza

2 packages croissant rolls
2 packages cream cheese
1/2 C. + 2 Tbls. mayonnaise
1 tsp. dill
2 tsp. packaged dry ranch
1 C. mozzarella cheese
1 head of broccoli cut
1 can black olives sliced
2-3 tomatoes diced
1 red pepper diced
1/2 bunch scallions (green onion)

Flatten croissants onto cookie sheet sealing cracks. Cook for 10 minutes according the package temperature. remove from oven and cool. Blend creamy ingredients, dill and ranch in food processor, chill for 1 hour. Spread cream mixture onto cooled croissants. Layer vegetables and sprinkle top with cheese. Press all vegetable and cheese into crust with hand so they don't fall off.
This is our families favorite summer time dinner, so good

Monday, July 6, 2009

Funeral Potatoes

8 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. milk
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Prepare potatoes, boil til soft but not mushy about 10-15 minutes. Place in bottom of 13*9 greased pan. Combine other ingredients, stir into potatoes. Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Stuffed Bell Peppers

2 large green bell peppers
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 -8oz can chopped tomatoes
1/2 c. long grain rice uncooked
2 Tbls. terriyaki sauce
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1 1/2c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper each

halve peppers lengthwise, immerse in boiling water til semi soft. Sprinkle insides with salt and pepper. Place upside down on paper towels to drain. in skillet cook meat and onion, drain fat. stir in remaining ingredients plus 1/2 c. Water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Stir in half the cheese and fill peppers with mixture and top with remaining cheese. Bake at 375* for 15 minutes or til heated through.

This recipe is still under construction, in other words I'm still tweaking it, not quite there.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Creamy Red Cabbage Slaw

1 lb. red cabbage, shredded
1 small red onion, sliced thin
1/3 c. sour cream
1/3 c. mayonnaise
1 tsp. tarragon
1 Tbls. balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

Combine ingredients, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.

The Short Order Cook

I grew up eating my mothers' delicious foods, she was a great cook. I have fond memories of coming home from school to fresh baked bread or craving her homemade lasagna. Years later when I became a mom of 8 kids I wanted to make my moms bread one day and realized I never got any of her recipes. I decided then that I would write down all the meals that my kids seem to enjoy so they would have one place to go to find them. Here you will find our family favorites written down for my posterity to enjoy, and also because my brain seems to have lost all ability to remember anything (probably from having these darling children) and therefore I want them written down for my remembrance as well. Many of these recipes are ones we take from the internet, some are my own, but together they are in one spot for us to get to. ENJOY!!!

Cooking Tips

STICKY STUFF: When measuring sticky stuff like honey, molasses, syrup or peanut butter spray your measuring cups or measuring spoons with cooking spray so that it slides right out
SHREDDING CHICKEN?: Put chicken breasts in your KitchenAid with a hook while chicken breasts are still hot and it will shred in less than a minute. You can do this also by placing chicken into a bowl and using a hand mixer!
SPRUCE UP BOXED CAKE: by adding 1 more egg, use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount, use milk instead of water, add 2 tsp. vanilla - Preheat oven to 350* than reduce to 325* when inserting cupcakes - bake for 25 min.
After working with GARLIC, rub your hands vigorously on your stainless steel sink for 30 seconds before washing them. It will remove the odor.
Always make stock in a large quantity and freeze it in plastic bags. That way, when you want to make a nice soup or boil veggies, you can simply pull the bag out of the freezer.
TO ROAST PECANS: Bake at 350* for 4 1/2 minutes on a cookie sheet lined with foil, stir and bake for an additional 4 - 4 1/2 minutes.
Save on yeast and buy in bulk. 1 package dried yeast = 2 1/4 teaspoons
1 Tablespoon Fresh Herbs=1 teaspoon dried herbs
MEASURING NUTS: Do you measure nuts before or after chopping? If the recipe calls for NUTS, CHOPPED measure the nuts then chop. If it calls for CHOPPED NUTS, chop than measure...follow this rule for all nuts because it will make a difference in the amount of nuts you use.
SOFTEN BROWN SUGAR In order to soften brown sugar add a piece of bread to the bag, the bread will add moisture back into hardened sugar and it will soften. Replace bread as needed. This is a great way to use the heels of bread no one will eat.
STEAK FRIES: In order to make stake fries, cut one end othe potato for stability, then use an apple cutter. Add your favorite seasonings and cook
PROOF BREAD IN THE OVEN: If your kitchen is too cold to proof bread, put the dough in the oven, don't turn it on, but place a pan of simmering water below your dough and shut the door. The warmth and humidity from the hot water will help you get the lift you need.
PERFECT BOILED EGGS: For me, I put eggs into a stockpot, add hot tap water, and place on stove. I turn heat to high, and put a 20 minute timer on. When timer goes off I remove pot from stove and leave on counter til the water is cool. I then peel the eggs, and I get a perfect hard boiled, easy peel egg every time.
KNEADING DOUGH IN STAND MIXER: Sometimes you don't want to knead by hand, place a dough hook on your stand mixer and turn on high, you get the knead without manual work.
JUICING LEMONS: To easily juice a lemon, either roll the lemon on the counter multiple times before cutting, or microwave the lemon for 10 sends, then roll. You will get more juice this way.
BAKE FISH IN PARCHMENT: If your place your fish in a parchment packet the fish will delicately infuse with whatever ingredients you add, and it is a mess free way that seals in flavor.
PIZZA CUTTER HACK: I use a pizza cutter to cut not only pizza, but pancakes, waffles, quesidillas etc. so much easier than a knife and easy clean up.
SALTY SOUP?: Next time you oversalt a soup, toss in a few wedges of raw apple or potato, simmer for a 10 minutes, and discard the wedges to get the flavor back to normal.
BOIL HAMBURGERS! I know this seems weird, but line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, put patties on, place under broil in your oven for 5 minutes on each side and you have hamburgers in under 10 minutes.

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