Salsa Verde/Enchilada Sauce

This recipe has been updated since I first posted it. It is delicious! We use it to give burritos and tacos a different and more yummy flavor! We also use this to make our own Enchilada sauce. It makes 4 cups total. We freeze them in 2 Ziploc freezer bags quart size bags with 2 cups each. To make enchiladas I use shredded chicken, a cup of cheese, 1/2 cup salsa verde, 1 cup sour cream and mix. Roll sauce into tortillas and then pour remaining 1 1/2 cups of salsa verde over the top.

6 cups tomatillos cut in half
1/2 c onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 jalapeno, chopped
1 Anaheim pepper, chopped
3 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c water
olive oil
1 lime

In a saute pan add tomatillos, onion, garlic, and peppers. Drizzle with olive oil and saute for a few minutes on med-hi. Add water, cilantro, cumin, and salt. Cover and reduce heat to low. Let simmer for about 10 minutes. When the tomatillos are soft add everything to a food processor and process until its smooth. I did two batches since my food processor would not take it all. You can probably use a blender too. When its smooth cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice into the salsa. Stir and serve.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bake

2-4 chicken breasts
4 slices good thick ham
Swiss cheese slices
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c sour cream
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c breadcrumbs
2-4 Tbsp butter

Cut chicken and ham up into bite size pieces. Mix and place half of the chicken and ham in a 9x9 baking dish. Cover with swiss chesse slices and then place remaining chicken and ham over the top. Combine soup, sour cream, and Worcesershire sauce in a bowl. Pour over top of chicken and ham. Top with a layer of breadcrumbs and melt 2-4 Tbsp butter in a dish and drizzle over break crumbs.

Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes.

Jeannie's Homemade Bread

This bread recipe is the BEST. You can make it in 1 hour from start to finish. I use it for everything now. Cinnamon rolls, rolls, scones, pizza...everything! The yeast and soy lecithin might be something you can only get in Utah at stores but it can be ordered off the Internet. Best part is it costs 25 cents a loaf to make this. We only eat homemade bread in our house now! I make a half recipe on Sunday and we eat a warm loaf of bread with dinner and use the other loaf for sandwiches and toast during the week. When we do Movie night on Friday I make a second half batch and use half for pizza dough and make another loaf of bread. Pantry Secrets has classes on how to make this bread and perfect it.

• 10 ½ cups White unbleached bread flour (NOT all purpose- they do not have enough gluten)

• ½ Cup Sugar (white or brown or you can use 1/3 honey or molasses but it will not freeze well)
  

• 3 rounded/heaping tablespoons Saf-instant yeast (Macey’s sells it, keep in freezer and add to the recipe directly from the freezer, it does not have to warm up)

• 1 Tbsp Salt
  

• 3 tablespoons liquid Lecithin* (use instead of oil, it’s made of soy, it cleans arteries has a 4 year shelf life and you can buy it at Kitchen Kneads, Bosch or any health food store and buy the liquid in squeeze bottles not the granules)

• 4 cups hot tap water (you can use powdered milk and for Wheat flour you add 1 cup applesauce in place of hot tap water) mix for 10 minutes.

Mix dry ingredients. Add lecithin and water. To add the lecithin, squeeze or pour approximately 3 tablespoons of lecithin directly into the bowl. Do not measure, it’s too sticky. (An amount about the size of a quarter equals 1 Tablespoon)

Mix for 1 minute and check consistency. If dough is too dry, add more water a little at a time but only 2-4 Tbsp. If dough is too moist, add more flour (You want nice soft dough). It’s better to be on the sticky side than to be too dry and hard. The stickier dough will stretch out better when you roll it. Mix for 5 minutes in mixer or knead by hand for 10 minutes. Do not add water or flour to the dough after it has finished mixing or it will be unstable.

Spray counter and pans with Pam (do not put flour on counter; it will dry out your bread, the gluten doesn’t develop in the extra flour and the dough won’t stretch as well and the breads will crack. Get a little Pam on your hands. Cut; don’t pull the dough into four pieces, shape loves and cover with a dish towel to keep the dough moist. Let raise 25 minutes.

Bake at 350º for 25 minutes on the middle rack in the oven. This recipe makes four loaves of bread. You can half the recipe for 2 loaves of bread.

For a year’s worth of bread (4 loaves a week)
6-25 bags of flour
6 pkgs of Saf-instant yeast
4-6 bottles of lecithin

You can keep a loaf of dough overnight in the fridge. Spray the inside of a bread sack with Pam. Put dough in and tie loosely. Put in Fridge. You might have to punch down the dough before you work with it. Great for pizza, scones, braids, etc. Might not form a pretty loaf of bread though.

Tater Tot Casserole

I got this recipe from Pam. This makes the kiddos happy and its yummy for Mom and Dad too. The best part is that if you keep the a spare bag of tots in the freezer its a great meal when you don't know what else to make. I like to make it early in the day and leave in the fridge until about an hour before we are ready to eat.

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1/2 lg onion diced in processor

1 pkg or 1/4 c taco seasoning
2 cans of cream of chicken

1 can evaporated milk

1 bag frozen tater tots

Cheese

Brown meat, onion, and taco seasoning. Combine cream of chicken and evaporated milk and stir until smooth. Layer tots in a 9 x 13 pan, cover with meat, a layer of cheese, and then pour sauce over the top. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Spinach, Caramelized Pecans, and Parmesan Salad with Pepper Jelly Dressing

Pepper Jelly Dressing:
3 Tbsp Pepper Jelly
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/8 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Dijon Mustard

In a small bowl whisk together ingredients. Microwave for 30 seconds and allow to cool.

Toss 6 cups Spinach, 1 cup Caramelized Pecans, and shredded Parmesan cheese. Toss with dressing and serve.

Caramelized Pecans

1/2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 cup pecans

Add butter to a med sauce pan and allow to melt on low. Add sugar and pecans and cook over med heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar caramelizes. It will start to turn brown and the sugar will lose the appearance of the grains. It takes about 5 minutes.

When it is done spread out onto a cookie sheet with foil.

Alfredo Sauce

Got this off All recipes from the Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce. The original recipe used garlic powder but I prefer the real thing. Its wonderful with Roasted Red Peppers or Sun Dried tomatoes added in!

1/2 cup butter
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 garlic cloves minced
2 cups whole milk
6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Melt butter in a medium, non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic, stirring with whisk until smooth. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk if cooked too long. Toss with hot pasta to serve.

Homemade Laundry Soap

My Friend Tyece sent me this recipe. Not the best for whites but great for all the other loads and SO much cheaper!

Ingredients:
4 cups hot tap water
1 fels-naptha soap bar
1 cup Arm and Hammer laundry soda
½ cup borax

Grate (I use my food processor) bar of soap and add to saucepan of water. Stir continually over med – low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with very hot tap water. Add melted soap washing soda and borax. Stir until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more very hot tap water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. *optional: you can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per two gallons, add once soap has cooled.

Top- loading machine: 5/8 cup per load
Front - loader: ¼ c per load (approx 400 loads)… and you just spent $2

From the DuggarFamily.com

Pepper Jelly

This is a delicious appetizer. I like to buy red peppers when I see them for less than a dollar and then bottle a couple of batches. Each batch makes about 17-18 half pints. We like it served best over cream cheese and eaten with Ritz crackers. The recipe comes from the cookbook Putting Up by Stephen Dowdney although I have changed it a little bit.

*I have changed this since first putting it up because I always do a double batch

2 1/2 c very small diced red peppers, seeds removed
2 1/2 c very small diced green peppers, seeds removed
1/2 c fine diced jalapeno peppers, seeds removed
3 c cider vinegar
13 c sugar
1 Tbsp butter
1/2-1 Tbsp red pepper flakes depending on how hot you want it
2 pack liquid pectin Certo brand, found in the canning section or by the Jell-O

Bring all ingredients except pectin to a rolling boil. Add pectin and return to a boil. Time for 1 1/2 minutes and take off burner. Hot pack in warm jars for 15 minutes. Remove from canner and allow to cool for 24 hours. The jelly will set up as it cools.

I'm not going to go into all of the details of how to bottle but it you have any questions please just ask in the comments section. You can also find some helpful canning hints in this post on peaches.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I finally found one I love!!!! Found it on All recipes and adjusted it a little bit because I don't love mayonnaise. Serve on rolls or croissants. Perfect for showers, parties, and pretty much any other time because its so stinking yummy!

4 c chicken, cubed
3/4 c mayo
1/2-3/4 c sour cream depending on how saucy you want it)
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp seasoning salt
1 c diced celery
3 green onions, diced
1 c chopped pecans
1 1/2 c craisins
1 c diced apple

Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, paprika, and seasoning salt. Add remaining ingredients and allow to sit in the fridge for a few hours so the flavors have time to combine. You can also wait and add the pecans right before serving so they have more crunch.

Applesauce

Its hard to gauge how many apples to a batch because apples differ so much in size. So for me I just took my big colander and filled it to the top and that was one batch.

You need to first get a large bowl filled with cold water and treat it with something that will make is so the apples wont change color. I used Fruit Fresh (found at my Walmart in the canning section) but I know some people use lemon juice.

Then I put the stopper in one side of my sink and place a cutting board right next to that. Meanwhile on the stove I get a large Saute pan (really large diameter but short with a lid...does that make any sense!?!) ready with 3-4 cups of water, depending on how runny you want your applesauce. Also have your deep bath canner full of water starting to warm up and a small sauce pan with your lids on simmer to stay warm. Also be running your jars through the dishwasher and set it for heated dry.

Peel...Peel...Peel. Some people cook the apples first and then use a strainer to squeeze the apples through but I like it chunky and also I think you get a lot more when you do it this way. Throw the apples into the big bowl of water until the whole batch is peeled. I just peel them straight into the sink that is clogged. Its easier on your back than doing it into a trash can and I just let it fill up all day and empty at the end of the day.

Take and rinse out your strainer and put that in the open part of the sink when you have peeled all of the apples. Take the apples one at a time and quarter and cut out seeds and then throw them into the stainer and discard the rest into your peeling pile in the sink.

When the strainer is about half full rinse apples well and put them into the saute pan. Do this with all of your apples. Your saute pan should be really full.

Cook on med-hi covered for about 50 minutes. Take lid off and add 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 c sugar and mash with a potato masher. You can adjust the cinnamon and sugar to fit your tastes and depending on the type of apple you are canning.

When you have mashed the apples to the consistency you would like use a rag to get a hot jar from the dishwasher and spoon applesauce into jar. Its really helpful to have the canning funnel so that you don't get the edges of your jars dirty. Place jar on counter on a dishtowel and run a clean wet rag around the lip of the jar to be sure its clean. Place a warm lid from the simmering water on the jar and screw a ring on.

Repeat for the whole batch. Process in deep bath canner for 25 minutes. Allow to cool and make sure they have popped by the next morning and that they have sealed properly.

Play Dough

Quick, easy, and most importantly soft!

1 c water
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 c salt
1 tsp cream of tarter
1 cup flour
food coloring
essential oils (optional)

Mix water, oil, salt, food coloring in a pan and mix. Turn on low and add flour and cream of tarter. Mix with wooden spoon for a few minutes, it will get thick fast. When nice and thick, add to mixer (at least I did cause Im lazy) and let kneed for about 5 minutes. I added 3 drops of lemon essential oil to one batch and 3 drops of orange to a second color to make them smell good while it was mixing. Remove from mixer and let cool for a few minutes.

PLAY!

Teriyaki Meatballs

I don't remember where I got this recipe but we really like it!

Meatballs:
1- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
3/4 dry oatmeal
2 eggs beaten
2/3 c diced onion
1/2 c milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

I put this all in my kitchen aid and let it mix it so I don't have to use my hands. Place a large skillet on the stove and turn it on med-high. Make meatballs about 1 inch in diameter and place them in the saucepan and brown them really good on the outside. I do it until they are even starting to look a little burnt. When they are browned place them in a 9 x 13 pan and do this until all the meatballs are browned.

Sauce:
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 c BBQ sauce (for this recipe I prefer a sweeter BBQ sauce)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Stir up sauce and it should be slightly thick. Pour over browned meatballs and gently turn meatballs over to coat them.

Bake in oven at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or until they are cooked all the way through. Serve over rice.

Cheese Polenta

I found this recipe on All recipes and did adjust it a little for our tastes but its so yummy. We had it with grilled chicken, homemade salsa, and slices of avocado! Yummy! Seriously you should try polenta its one of my favorite sides and is great instead of potatoes.

• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups chicken stock or broth
  
• 1 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated

Add milk, chicken stock, salt, pepper in a lg sauce pan. Turn heat to high and slowly start stirring in the cornmeal while using a whisk to mix it well. I do this while the liquids are still cold so that way you don't get lumps. Once all of the cornmeal is in continue to stir constantly until the polenta starts to boil and gets thick. Remove from heat and add butter and cheese. Stir every minute or so until they are melted.

Pizza Sauce

With all the Friday night Pizza we have been having I haven't really been satisfied with canned Pizza sauce. I got a recipe off of All recipes for Exquisite pizza sauce and then changed it for our tastes and this is what we came up with and its really good!

1 (6oz) can tomato paste
6 oz of warm water
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
2 med garlic cloves, minced
1Tbsp honey
! Tbsp Marsala cooking wine
3/4 tsp chopped onion flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp pepper

In a small bowl combine all ingredients and make sure to break up any clumps of cheese. Allow to sit for 30 minutes to let flavors blend. This was enough to do 2 full pizzas. Next time I make it I think I will double it and split into 4 and freeze 3 of the containers of sauce.

Pizza Dough

So its been 3 months and no new recipes posted...our little baby is also 3 months old so that probably explains things!

We do Pizza every Friday night with our movie night and we have wanted a thicker crust. On the web site Being Frugal is Fabulous she posted her pizza crust and we tried it and loved it. It makes 8 small personal pizzas or 2 big crusts. We make the recipe and then wrap half of the dough in saran wrap and place in a freezer bag and freeze for the next Friday. Or if we want bread sticks you can quickly make bread sticks out of the second half.

Place in kitchenaid:
1 1/2 c warm water
1 Tbsp yeast
pinch sugar

Let proof until its foamy and then add:
1/3 c sugar
1 tsp salt
~4 cups flour or until dough pulls away from the bowl and looks smooth.

I let it rise for about 30 mins and then I roll it out. Be sure to bake for about 8-10 minutes at about 425 BEFORE you add your sauce and toppings. Pull it out of the oven and add sauce, cheese, and toppings. This makes sure the dough is cooked all the way through.

Enjoy!

Creamy Green Beans

So yes, this is just a variation of Green Bean casserole but I have a mental block towards the word casserole. I played with a few different versions that I could find and added my own twist to it and this is what we came up with. Just as a reference point when I told my hubby I would be making it for Christmas dinner he turned his nose up at me. At dinner he had about 4 helpings of it!

2 Tbsp butter
1/2 small yellow onion, diced
1 clove garlic
1-2 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
2/3 c sour cream
3/4 c cheddar cheese, grated
2 cans green beans
1/2 can french friend onions

Add butter to a skillet and allow to melt. Add onion and cook on med until its starting to turn translucent. Add garlic and saute for another minute or so. Add flour to make it thick and pasty. Add sour cream, salt, and sugar and stir until combined. You can add more sour cream or even a little milk if you want it more runny but we wanted it thicker. Add cheese and green beans and stir slowly so as to not crush green beans. Add to baking dish. You can refrigerate at this point until about 30 minutes before you want them ready, I would just wait to add the french friend onions until right before you pop it in the oven. I ran our french friend onions through the magic bullet and pulsed it 7 or 8 times to break them up smaller. Sprinkle over top and place in oven about 350 for 30 minutes or until warm, bubbly, and the onions are crispy and brown.

Anytime of year Salsa

For those who know me well they know I'm kind of a snob when it comes to fresh ingredients. I think it has a lot to do with Romania where you only had fresh available and it makes a HUGE difference in cooking. My friend Tasha brought us this salsa and we all fell in love and I just about fell off my chair when she said it uses canned tomatoes because I never thought salsa like this could come from canned tomatoes (see I told you, I'm an ingredients snob). Its a huge recipe so feel free to cut it in half, but beware it goes fast. My little 2 year old even eats it with a spoon!

6-8 cans diced tomatoes
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 med yellow onion
1 jalapeno seeded
1 tsp onion salt
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp mild chili powder
1 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp lemon juice

One of the reasons this is so great is that you are going to use your blender but puree the cans to different consistencies.

Puree in blender 2 cans tomatoes, 1/2 onion, and all other ingredients. It will most likely turn very green. Pour into bowl. Next add two more cans to blender and other half of onion and chop to a medium consistency, pour in bowl. Add last two cans to blender and pulse to leave chunks as big as you like them. If the salsa is to spicy you can add one to two more cans. Mix all together and let sit overnight and then enjoy!

Cranberry Sauce

My friend Mandy made this for Thanksgiving off of the Year of crock potting Blog and even though I normally don't like cranberry sauce or turkey....I loved this recipe and will definitely make it!

12 oz cranberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 c orange juice
1/2 c water
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Rinse cranberries and place in crock pot (if you have a huge crock pot place them in an oven proof dish in your crock pot). Add remaining ingredients and cover and cook on high for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. When the cranberries get soft enough smash them and stir well. Heat until it is warm all the way though and then take the lid off and let cook for another 30-45 minutes.

Buttermilk Coffee Cake

Being on bedrest doesn't give me much time in the kitchen but yesterday morning it was like 64 degrees in our house and I wanted something warm for breakfast. I pulled out my Better Homes cookbook and whipped this coffee cake up and was really happy with the way it turned out.

1 1/4 c flour
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c butter
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp cinnamon
dash nutmeg
2/3 c buttermilk (or 2/3 cup milk with a dash of lemon juice or vinegar)
1 egg
1/4 c pecans

Add flour, sugar, salt to mixer and mix. If you are like me and forget to have room temp butter I put my butter In the microwave for 10 seconds and it was somewhat soft but still had its form. I let me kitchen aid cut the butter in for me, instead of doing it by hand. Add the butter and let it mix for a few minutes until it resembles coarse crumbles. Scoop out 1/4 of this mixture for the top and set aside. Add remaining ingredients, except nuts, and mix well.

Scoop into a square baking dish that has been greased. Add 1/4 c chopped pecans to the reserved topping and sprinkle over the cake. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

Herb Foccasia

After some good news at work for my hubby I wanted to make a nice dinner. I bought artichokes this week, our FAVORITE and so I wanted to make a yummy Italian bread to go with them. I found this recipe off of the Sisters Cafe Blog. I only changed a few things to it and it was yummy and shockingly fast!

2 packages active dry yeast

1/4 tsp sugar

1 c warm water

3 c flour

1/4 c finely chopped onion

1/4 c chopped kalamata olives

3 Tbsp olive

1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp salt

Herb Glaze

1 egg, beaten

1 Tbsp chopped fresh or 1/2 tsp dried rosemary (we did rosemary last night) or basil

1 Tbsp chopped fresh or 1/2 tsp dried garlic salt

Mix yeast, sugar and water in kitchenaid and let sit until bubbly. With kneading attachment add remaining ingredients (except the glaze) adding the flour last. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can just leave your mixer on until it starts to look like this. It takes time for it to all pull of the sides of the bowl but you should see a change in the consistency of the dough. If after two minutes there is still a little flour in the bottom I just add a tsp of water until it all pulls clear.

Let rise in warm place for about an hour. Grease baking sheet. Punch dough down and divide evenly into 4 pieces. Shape each piece into a disk; place on baking sheet. Cover and let rise 20 minutes. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Brush tops of each bread with herb glaze. Bake 15-18 minutes until golden brown. We ate two loaves and froze two for another meal. Look at this yummy dinner! Artichokes with lemon butter and olive oil and balsmic vingar to dip for the bread.

Refried Beans

Often when we make Mexican food we want some beans to go with it but I also want to make them in about 3 minutes. On Sunday I just added a few things we had and it turned out so good. Not what you would expect but I have been experimenting with stuff you would expect and it hasn't been great. So here it is....yummy beans in a matter of minutes!

2 pieces of bacon, we use turkey bacon
3 garlic cloves
1 can refried beans
cheese

Using kitchen scissors (this is fast) or you can use a knife, cut the bacon into thin strips across the length of it into a saucepan and start to cook. After bacon has cooked for a minute or so use a garlic press to dice 3 garlic cloves into the bacon. Cook until bacon is done and the garlic is browned, don't let it burn. Add can of beans and turn to heat to low and mix bacon mixture in good. Let cook for minute or two until warm. Place in serving bowl and top with cheese.

Snickerdoodles

I'm sad to say that I cant remember where I got this recipe from, although I'm pretty sure it was on the web somewhere. So please know I'm not trying to plagiarise you and will give whomever is credit when I can find out who they are!

Whoever they are though did make the perfect Snickerdoodles. These are so soft and so chewy and perfect in every way!

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c butter Crisco
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tarter

Mix separately
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar until creamy. Slowly beat in eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, salt, and cream of tarter until combined.

Now if you are like me you most likely forgot to soften your butter and so you decided to nuke it for just a few seconds in the microwave to soften, which is impossible! So your dough might be a little warm. I usually stick the dough in the fridge for a half hour or so to cool and get a little firmer.

Roll dough into balls and then roll in cinnamon sugar mix and place on cookie sheet. Bake for about 10 min or until the edges are barely turning golden.

Breadsticks

This recipe came from my sis in law Karey and they are so good! Pretty quick and easy for such good bread sticks.

Mix together:
1 1/2 c warm water
1 tbsp yeast
2 tbsp sugar

Let sit for about 5 minutes (or until it becomes frothy).

Add and mix together:
1 tsp salt
~4 c flour, enough so that the dough pulls away from the sides of the mixer and is not super sticky

Let the dough rise for 15-20 minutes.

Melt 1 cube of butter in a 11x13 jelly roll pan in the oven. Shape the dough into bread sticks and place on pan. I rolled mine out on the counter to just a little bit smaller than my jellyroll pan and then cut them into nice bread stick shapes with my pizza cutter. Just be sure before you cut them that you have a enough flour on the bottom side so they don't stick to your counters. Sprinkle with garlic powder and with grated Parmesan cheese, I left just a little bit of room between my bread sticks and the butter came up over them as I was placing them in pan. Let rise for about 20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown on top and edges.

Pesto!

Pesto is not a hard thing to make but my Aunt Linda was the one who introduced me to Pesto and gave me a lot of the love for cooking that I have. I have tried countless Pesto recipes and they are always disappointing so I went straight to the source of Pesto goodness and last night we feasted! So here is the best Pesto ever!

2 cups basil cleaned and dry
3 cloves garlic
2/3 Tbsp olive oil

Place basil and garlic in a food processor and start to process, then start to drizzle olive oil through the top and mix until combined.

Here is the secret. In a saucepan melt 2-4 Tbsp butter and add 1-2 cloves garlic depending on how spicy you like it. Saute garlic in butter until just starting to brown and add pesto. Let simmer for a minute or two.

Toss sauce with noddles, pine nuts, and lots of Parmesan! Its heaven!

Peaches

No I haven't given up on blogging here is what we have been doing...


If you have never canned peaches its the best and its pretty easy canning. Here is what we do.

Preparation:

• Place jars in dishwasher and wash and then have them on a hot dry cycle so they will stay nice and hot.
• Have a small pan with your lids on the stove on low, just to keep them very warm
• I use a deep bath canner so fill that about half way and turn on to get it to start boiling
• Make a syrup for your peaches. I like a light syrup so we do 5 1/2 c water to 2 1/2 c sugar. Bring this to a boil so the sugar dissolves and then turn to low.
• Have a good sized pot of water filled 3/4 full and bring to a boil.
• Place cold water with ice in a big bowl next to the sink
  

Your stove top should be sweltering hot and totally covered in pans now :)

To get the Peaches in jars:

• In the big pot of boiling water stick your ripe peaches in the boiling water and let sit for 30 seconds to a minute. Scoop out and add to ice bath immediately. This will make it so the peach skin comes off very easy.
• Peel the peaches and then cut in half and remove pit. Scoop out the red part where the pit was with a spoon carefully. You don't have to remove it all I just like to remove whats loose and comes off easy. Some people cut his out entirely.
• Place a rag on the counter and with a second rag remove a hot jar from the dishwasher and set on other rag. Quarter Peaches and drop into jar carefully. You should fill the jar to the top. I fill it to the top of the inside of the jar. Not to the very top of the opening but about 3/4 inches below that. Tap very gently to see if there is more room but don't pack them in. Holding jar with rag again ladle hot syrup until it comes to 1/2 inches before the top of the jar.
• Place back on counter and with a wet and clean rag, wipe the ring around the top of the jar. Take a lid out of the water and place on jar. Screw ring onto jar.
• Process in hot water bath for 30 minutes if you are doing quarts or 25 minutes if you are doing pints.
• Remove from water set back on rag on counter. Allow to cool and you should hear a pop after a while and you know that it has sealed itself. Sometimes this can take a few hours. The jars will be sticky so you need to wash them off before storing.

Some helpful canning hints my Mother taught me

• Canning is about timing. Get your timing down and it will start to go fast. It helps to have 2 people. My hubby will peel the peaches for me and I do the rest.
• There are some tools you can buy that are really helpful

1. The funnel helps to put the syrup in without getting it everywhere
2. The little stick at the bottom has a magnet on it and it helps you get the lids out of the hot water without burning your hands
3. The last tool that I feel is essential is the one right in the middle and that gets your cans out of the hot water bath.

• My mom taught me to have two types of rings. I have 12 rings that are rusty and yucky and these are the one I use on the jars when they are in the hot water bath. Then after it is done and cooled when I wash the jars I take of the rusty rings and put on a nice shiny ring. The hot water bath will make your rings rusty so I only use the same 12 in there to keep my other rings nice.
  

Its a long process so if you have any questions or something is not clear please ask.
We are gleaning the fields off of the peach farm here and we came home with over 50 pounds of free peaches! call around and ask if you know of some where around you where they have peaches. Often times they will let you go in after they have harvested and get the leftovers!

Mozarella, Tomato, and Basil Salad

It does not get better than THIS salad! Happy Summer!

Mozzarella cheese
Basil
Tomatoes (I wont lie, home grown make this about a million times better)
Salt
Olive oil
Kalamata Olives (optional)

This is the easiest and best salad for the summer. Usually its best to use fresh mozzarella but I didn't have it and I had the other kind and it still works. Slice tomatoes and cheese and then for the basil I think the easiest way to cut it is to roll the leaf up and then slice. Then it unrolls the perfect size for this salad. Layer the tomatoes with cheese and sprinkle very lightly with salt. Add basil and just continue to layer in that manner. When you are done with your layers drizzle with olive oil and we garnish it with the olives because they add a lot of flavor and are so yummy!

Oriental Side Salad

This salad is light and yummy. Great as a side and even as a main dish when you live in Southern Utah in the summer!

Lettuce (I prefer green leaf)
Package of Ramen noodles, broken into pieces and toasted in the oven until they are starting to turn golden
Green onions
mandarin oranges
Toasted almonds
Sesame Seeds (otional)

Dressing:
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
¼ c olive oil
3 Tbsp rice vinegar

Mix the lettuce, oranges, and onions together. Add dressing and toss. Then toss in noodles and almonds.

Sweet Sauce Popcorn

For movie night tonight I looked on All recipes to see if there was a fun new popcorn recipe that we hadn't tried yet and found this one and then changed it a little bit and it was super yummy! Its not like Carmel Corn and its healthier because there is way less butter but it still satisfies a sweet craving.

2 Tbsp butter
1/4 c water
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
Popcorn (enough to layer two cookie sheets)

In a saucepan heat all ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn to low and let boil on a low for 4 minutes. Cover 2 cookie sheets with foil and pop popcorn and cover cookie sheets with an even layer. When sweet sauce is done boiling remove from heat and drizzle over popcorn evenly. Enjoy!

Macho Nachos

steak
Worcestershire sauce
chips
cheese, grated
green onions, diced
tomatoes, diced
sour cream
guacamole

In a small saucepan place your steak, cut into bite sized pieces and about 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle with some garlic salt. Cook the steak slowly over low heat. If you heat it to quickly is will get tough. When steak is just done, drain off any remaining liquids.

On a cookie sheet spread out chips and load with grated cheese, green onions, tomatoes, and steak. Broil until cheese is all melted and serve with guacamole and sour cream!

Egg Salad Sandwich

Yes, don't fall out of your chairs! For those who know me well they know I do not like eggs. My friend Leslie suggested that I make egg salad sandwiches and I promptly told her I don't eat eggs. But then I came home with all these yummy croissants from Costco and I wanted to make a sandwich and we didn't have anything to use so I looked on Allrecipes for and egg salad sandwich that appealed to me and I found the perfect one from Sara Slade. The only thing I changed was that I used seasoning salt and she used regular. So try this out and especially on a croissant! Yum Yum and as Leslie said, its just like a deviled egg on bread!

8 hard boiled eggs
1 c mayo
1/4 c onion flakes
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1 tsp mustard powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dill

Hard boil eggs and mix other ingredients to let sit while the eggs are boiling. Peel eggs and let cool for a few minutes and then dice. Stir eggs into mayo mixture. Cover and chill before serving. I ate it right after making it and it wasn't bad but it is better to let the ingredients blend.

Onion Rings

Ive never made onion rings before and its probably a good thing because now that I know that I can make them and just how good and easy they are...I'M IN TROUBLE! This is basically the same thing as fried squash only better!

1 onion cut into slices and then pop the rings out.
1/2 c flour
1/2 c Italian bread crumbs
3/4 tsp seasoning salt
3/4 tsp garlic salt
1-2 eggs
oil

Beat egg in one bowl and set aside (you can crack a second one if you run out). Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Pour oil into frying pan and let heat up. Dip the onion rings into the egg and then coat in the crumbs. Add to oil and let fry for about 2 minutes or until turning dark brown and then flip and repeat.

Fried Squash

If you live in Utah like we do you are probably swimming in summer squash! Tonight I tried to fry zucchini and it was good although I didn't dip it in the egg and I think that would have helped it be crispy on the outside so thats how I will do it next time.

1 lg or 2 sm squash
1/2 c flour
1/2 c bread crumbs
3/4 tsp seasoning salt
3/4 tsp garlic salt
1 egg
oil

Beat egg in a bowl and set aside. Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl. Cut squash into rounds about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Heat oil lg pan for frying, Dip the rounds into the egg and then into the crumb mixture. Place in oil and fry for about 4 minutes on each side.

Breakfast Pumpkin Muffins

This is just barely healthy enough to be called breakfast. If you are looking for a good sweet Pumpkin Bread look under Sweet Breads for a better recipe. Many thanks to my friend Jody for this recipe! This makes a lot so I freeze them 2 to a bag and then we can grab then when we are in a rush in the morning.

4 eggs
1 1/2 c sugar
1 (16 oz) can pumpkin
3/4 c oil
3/4 c applesauce
2 c flour
1 c wheat flour
1/2 c oatmeal
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 c chocolate chips (optional)

Beet eggs, sugar, pumpkin, oil, and applesauce until smooth. Add dry ingredients with mixer going and then fold in chocolate chips. I have heard with pumpkin muffins not to use liners so I sprayed my muffin tins and this made 24 muffins. Bake at 400 for 16 minutes.

Disney Trail Mix

Let me start out by saying I don't like trail mix. My sis in law Kate brought this to Disneyland one day and it was the perfect snack for all day to just grab a handful in line. I couldn't stop eating it!

Corn chex
Goldfish
Almonds
Cashews
Craisins
Butterscotch chips
M&M’s

Butterscotch Pull Aparts

My roommate Brandi use to make these all the time and they are supper yummy!

1 pkg frozen Rhodes rolls (about 20-24)
1 sm butterscotch pudding (not instant)
1 cube butter
¾ c packed brown sugar
½ c chopped pecans

Butter a bundt pan and sprinkle with half of the nuts on bottom and sides. Separate frozen rolls and arrange in pan. Sprinkle dry pudding mix over the rolls. Melt butter and mix with brown sugar and then pour over rolls and pudding. Sprinkle the remaining nuts over all. Let rise overnight if using for a sweet breakfast or all day if you’re using as a dessert. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 30 mins or until hallow sounding. Don’t allow the top to burn. Remove form oven and immediately invert onto a serving plate. Pour remaining syrup in pan over the top. You are supposed to just pull them apart to eat, not slice.

Pumpkin Cake Bars

This recipe came from a lady in our last ward. So so good!

16 oz. canned pumpkin
1 t. nutmeg
4 eggs
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. oil
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
2 c. sugar
1 t. ground cloves
2 c. flour

Frosting
2 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. margarine
5 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 T. milk
1 t. vanilla

Mix all cake ingredients in a mixer. Spread in a jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Mix ingredients of frosting until smooth. Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.

Raisin Filled Cookies

This recipe is from our kiddos Great Great Grandma Henderson. Johns granpa use to come home excited after school for one of these cookies!

Dough:
1 c sugar
½ c shortening, margarine, or butter
1 egg
½ c milk
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp salt
2 c flour sifted

Filling:
¾ c sugar
1 c boiling water
½ package of raisins, ground

Cook filling stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Roll dough thin and cut in cookie shape. Place cookie on greased cookie sheet and put 1 tsp of filling on. Place another cookie on top and press edges together. Bake 350° for 15-20 minutes

After School Cookies

From Grandpa and Grandma Henderson

1 ½ c seedless raisins
1 c white flour
Boiling water
½ tsp salt
1 c butter
¾ tsp soda
2 c sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
½ c peanut butter
5 Tbsp milk
3 eggs, well beaten
2 tsp vanilla
2 c wheat flour
1 ¼ c rolled oats

Pour boiling water over raisins, let stand 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry with paper towels. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Blend in the peanut butter. Add the beaten eggs and mix well. Sift flour, measure, and sift with the salt, soda, and cinnamon. Blend flour into the creamed mixture along with the milk. Stir in vanilla, rolled oats, and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Makes 8 dozen medium sized cookies

Monster Cookies

This recipe is from my sis-in-law Karey. It makes a ton!

6 eggs
9 c oatmeal
2 ¼ c brown sugar
8 oz M&M’s
2 c sugar
3 ½ oz coconut
½ tsp vanilla
1 c butterscotch chips
1 Tbsp corn syrup
1 c chocolate chips
4 tsp baking soda
3 c peanut butter

Mix all ingredients. If mix is to wet add flour. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes.

Molasses Cookies

This came from our friends Geoff and Jodi. Now if you are like me the name doesn't get you too excited but folk you have to try these cookies. They are to die for and totally addictive!

¾ c. shortening
4 c. flour
¾ c. butter
1 ½ t. cinnamon
2 c. sugar
1 t. ginger
2 eggs
1 t. cloves
¼ c. heaping molasses
2 t. baking soda
½ t. salt

Icing:
¼ c water
½ lb powdered sugar
½ t vanilla
Dash of salt

Mix together shortening, butter, and sugar. Add eggs and molasses until combined. Sift together dry ingredients and add to mixture in the bowl. Chill for one hour. Roll into balls and roll in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (about 1 c. sugar to 2 t. cinnamon). Bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes. Cookies are ready to remove when the top of each cookie is cracked. Frost with icing.

Homemade Ice cream

This recipe came from my good friend Krista.

1 can Eagle Brand sweet and condensed milk
2 c sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla
5 c milk
1 pint whipping cream

Whip whipping cream in a mixer and then in a separate bowl combine all other ingredients. Fold whipping cream into other ingredients. Put in berries or other additives and place in ice cream maker.

Chewy Brownie Cookies

1 ½ c brown sugar
1 ½ c flour
2/3 c Crisco
1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp water
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
¼ tsp baking soda
2 eggs
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat brown sugar, shortening, water, and vanilla until well blended. Add eggs, beat again. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda and then add to shortening mixture. Mix until just blended and add the chocolate chips. Place on greased cookies sheet by heaping tablespoonfuls and bake at 375 for 7-9 minutes. Do not over bake.

Creme Puffs

Oh heavens these are so yummy! They are from my Grandma Irene and are my Dads favorite treat! You want to make the puffs ahead of time because you want them to be cooled.

¼ c butter
¼ tsp salt
½ c boiling water
2 eggs unbeaten
½ c sifted flour
1 tub chocolate frosting
Heavy whipping cream

Add butter to boiling water. Heat until butter melts. Add flour and salt all at once, stirring vigorously. Cook, stirring mixture until it leaves the side of the pan. Remove from heat, cool 1 minute. Add eggs one at a time, beating with spoon after each egg until smooth. Drop by heaping tsp, 2” apart on greased cookie sheet, shaping with a wet spoon into rounds, which point up at center. Bake in hot oven at 450° for 10 minutes then at 400° for 20 minutes. Turn off oven and make a slit in each one to let out the steam (so they don’t get soggy in the middle). Let stand in oven 5 minutes more. Allow to cool and cut each in half, frosting the top half with chocolate frosting. Whip whipping cream with sugar and fill each puff.

Chocolate Clusters

This recipe is from my sis-in-law Karey

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c butterscotch chips
1 cup almonds

In a large saucepan, over very low heat, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips. Remove from heat and immediately add almonds. Mix until well coated. Drop onto wax paper lined cookie sheet and chill until set.

Banana Cream Pie

Crust:
Crush 1 package graham crackers (not the whole box but one of the packages in clear wrapping that come in the boxes).
Add 1/3 cup butter, softened
and ¼ c sugar.

Mix until combined and then press into pie pan. Chill while you prepare filling.

Filling
¾ c sugar
2 Tbsp butter
¼ c cornstarch
1 ¼ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp salt
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 c milk
4 bananas

In a saucepan combine the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and mix. Add milk in gradually while stirring. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. Cook for one more minute and then remove from heat. Stir ¼ c of hot mixture into beaten egg yolks and then immediately add back into the pan. Cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add butter, vanilla, and stir until smooth. Slice bananas into pie shell and top with pudding mixture. Chill until set. Top with whipped cream.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

This recipe is great for strawberry shortcake since I don't like Angels food cake. This is the complete opposite so dense...I love it!

3 c sugar
6 eggs
8 oz cream cheese
3 c flour
1 c butter softened
1 tsp vanilla

Cream sugar, cream cheese, and butter until fluffy. Beat in eggs 2 at a time. Blend in flour and vanilla. Pour batter into a well greased pan (tube or loaf). Start in a cold oven and bake at 300° for 1–1 ½ hours or until golden brown. Top with fruit, whipped cream, and powdered sugar.

Skor Bits

These are from my friend April and they are to die for. You wrap the dough around a rolo, hug, or kiss and then when they are baked the inside melts. So scrumptious!

1 c butter, softened
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/3 white sugar
2 c flour
1/3 c brown sugar
½ bag milk choc chips
½ tsp salt
Rolos
½ bag Skor bits (or any toffee bits, located by choc chips)

Mix all ingredients together. Wrap dough around a rolo completely covering it and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes. I actually like to make the balls and then chill them for a half an hour or so they don’t spread so much.

Apple Ring Coffee Cake

3 c flour
1 ½ c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
½ c apple sauce
1 tsp salt
½ oil
1 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1 c walnuts or pecans
2 tsp vanilla
2 c tart apples, peeled and chopped into inch pieces

Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, and nuts into a large bowl. Combine in a separate bowl the sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and stir. Add wet ingredients to solids, stir and then add apples. Spoon batter into a greased 10 inch tube or bundt pan and bake at 325° for 1 hour, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Pumpkin Bread

This recipe is from my old roommate Sarah.

Combine and mix in bowl:
3 ½ c flour
1 tsp nutmeg
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
3 c sugar

Make a well and then add:
1 c oil
2 c canned pumpkin
2/3 c water
2 c chocolate chips
4 eggs

Pour into pans and bake 1 hour and 10 min or until knife come out clean. If crust is getting to dark and the bread is not done yet you can cover the tops with foil (bubble it up so it doesn’t touch) for the last 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool.