Soup

I had someone ask me about the recipe for the soup that I posted the other day.  I actually got the recipe from my mother in law and she gave me permission to share it with you all.

1 Tall can tomato juice

Tall can Chicken or Beef broth

1 chopped onion

3/4 head of celery

1.5 lb browned burger

1/2 bag (big) carrots cut

1 C Lentils

1 C Barley

Salt and Pepper

Garlic Salt

1 box of whole wheat penne noodles (little ones)

I used a crock pot but you could also use a big pot on the stove.

Put everything but the lentils, barley and noodles in and start cooking.

Add the lentils and barley after two hours.

Add noodles 1 hour before serving.

You don't have to use noodles and if you do you don't have to use a whole box either.

It will be really thick and it makes a lot.  Just add water to help thin it out.  I kept adding broth instead of water and it still tasted really good.

We started cooking ours at 12 and ate at 6.  It was really yummy and we have lots of leftovers.

We just poured the leftovers in ziplock baggies and placed them in the freezer after they had cooled.

Recipe - Yellow Cake

Sorry it has been so long since sharing a recipe with you.  I am now taking a cake decorating class and I made this cake the other day.  I found it in my cook book and I love it.  It is soooo yummy.

Yellow Cake

3/4 C Butter, softened

3 eggs

2 1/2 C flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 3/4 C sugar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 C milk

Mix flour, baking powder and salt in bowl for later.

Cream butter for 30 seconds.

Gradually add sugar while beating.

Add eggs one at a time and beat in between.

Add vanilla.

Alternately add flour and milk.

Bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes depending on the pan.

Ok there are a few things I have learned with this cake decorating class and while reading more on this recipe in the book.  It is highly recommended that you measure out all ingredients before you start mixing.  I used to measure and add as I went and I've been trying this new method of measuring everything out and then mixing it in.  It is really nice because the mixing process goes so much faster.  Also make sure to scrape the sides periodically to make sure that things aren't sticking to the sides of the pan.

I really like this recipe.  We made cupcakes with it the first time and I made a square cake with it yesterday.  I am in the process of icing it this morning.

I'll share pictures of last nights cake decorating in a little bit.  I hope that you like this recipe.

Wednesday Recipe - Easy Tortellini Toss +

I am sending out a request.  I need some new recipes to try but also to share with all my readers.  If you have a recipe that you would like to share please let me know.  I didn't try a new recipe this week.  I made zucchini bread though and it was yummy.  The recipe I am sharing today I actually got from a friend here in Oklahoma. 

Easy Tortellini Toss

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp flour

1 garlic clove pressed

1 C 2% milk

5 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated

1 8oz slice deli ham 1/2 inch thick chopped into smallish cubes

1/2 tsp pepper

1 bag (16 oz) frozen cheese filled tortellini

1 Can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

1 bag (6 oz) baby spinach leaves

In a small sauce pan you melt the butter and then add the flour.

Once mixed slowly add the milk while whisking. (I have used 1% and 2% milk)

Add garlic, pepper and shredded cheese.

In bigger pot bring chicken broth to a boil.

Add spinach, ham and frozen tortellini.

Cook for 3-5 minutes and then add the cheese mixture.

Cook over medium heat until thickened.

Pour into a cake pan and cook another 5-10 minutes at 350.

I have altered the original recipe slightly.  I have tried with both 1% and 2 % milk and it tasted great.  Originally you would put half the cheese in the mix and then sprinkle the other half over top before cooking in the oven.  I also struggle to get it to thicken on the stove without cooking it for what seems like forever so I cook for about 10 minutes on the stove and then about another 10 minutes in the stove and then it is a little thicker for me.  It might cook differently at different altitudes.  If you try it and find new ways please share.  We really like this recipe.  The leftovers taste good too.

Wednesday's Recipe - Chocolate Chip cookie pizzas.

I was in a hurry the other day and wanted to make some cookies but didn't want to have to bake so many batches.  I was looking through one of my recipe books and found this recipe for the Chocolate Chip Cookie pizzas.  It turned out really yummy.

Chocolate Chip Cookie - Pizzas

1/2 C Shortening

1/2 C Butter, softened

1 C Packed brown sugar

1/2 C granulated sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 C flour

Chocolate chips

Walnuts

You mix everything except the chocolate chips and walnuts.  If you have a pizza pan then that is what you use.

You place half the batter on the pizzas pan.

Spread out thin.

Then spread half the chocolate chips and walnuts on top and press lightly into batter.

Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.  Repeat with the other half of the dough.

K are you ready for what I did.

I didn't use shortening and I only used the 1/2 C butter.  I'm finding that most cookie recipes don't need all the butter.

I don't have a pizza pan so I used my small cookie sheet.

I didn't split it in half.  I put the whole thing on the sheet and spread it out and pushed the chips and walnuts in.

I've done this twice.  The first time like above and the second one I used 3/4 C brown sugar and 3/4 sugar. 

They both tasted good but the second one was a little sweeter.

Wednesday's Recipe - Roast Beef Sandwiches

About two Sunday papers ago I saw a recipe that I thought would be fun to try so I clipped it.  We tried it last week actually and absolutely loved it.  It will become one of our favorites.  It is really easy to make and tastes really good.  It is a Campbell's recipe.

 Dripping Roast Beef Sandwiches with Melted Provolone

1 Can (10.5 oz.) Campbell's Condensed French Onion Soup

1 Tbsp reduced sodium Worcestershire sauce

3/4 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef

4 Pepperidge Farm Classic Soft Hoagie Rolls with Sesame Seeds

4 slices deli provolone cheese cut in half

1/4 C drained mild or pickled banana pepper rings

Heat your oven to 400F

Heat the soup and Worcestershire over medium-high heat to a boil.

Add beef and heat through, stirring occasionally.

Divide beef among rolls.  Top beef mixture with cheese slices and place sandwiches on baking sheet

Bake 3 minutes or until the sandwiches are toasted and cheese is melted.

Spoon soup mixture onto sandwiches.

Top each sandwich with 1 tbsp pepper rings.

I didn't use pepper rings.  I forgot about them.  I also didn't have the sesame seeds on our rolls.  They were super quick to make and tasted really good.  Our three year old daughter even liked them. 

Enjoy.  The paper said you could find more yummy recipes at www.campbellskitchen.com.
Have a wonderful day.



Wednesday Recipe - BBQ Burgers

I decided that each week I would try one new recipe and then share it here on my blog.  When I sat down Saturday to write out my menu I completely forgot.  So Monday as I was thinking about my blog and looking at the fridge I realized my mistake and immediately started looking for a recipe - preferably one that I already had all the ingredients to.

I had hamburger that I had just thawed so I needed to use it before it went bad.  I was looking through my Better Homes and Garden cook book and decided to try the BBQ Burgers.

BBQ Burgers

1/4 C Ketchup

2 Tbls steak Sauce

1 Tbls Water

1 Tsp Sugar

1 Tsp Vinegar

1 Clove minced garlic

Few dashes bottled hot pepper sauce (opt)

1 Lb lean ground beef

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

4 Hamburger buns, split and toasted

Other burger garnishes (tomatoes, cheese etc)

Ok so that is the ingredient list....So here how this went for me.  I had fully intended to follow this recipe but...things changed.  I don't have any steak sauce so I used BBQ sauce and no hot pepper sauce.  I also forgot to toast the buns.  I was being lazy and didn't want to have to start the grill and I just wanted things to be done by the time my husband got home from work so I altered the recipe. 

I browned the meat instead of turn it into patties.

I used the sauce to make a sort of sloppy joe style burger.

Wasn't enough sauce so:

I added a little ketchup and BBQ sauce at a time until I had enough.

The original sauce that I had before added extra tasted really good.  The recipe says to spread it over the hamburger patties the last few minutes of cooking.  I think I will try this again with hamburger patties but last night just wasn't the night.  I improvised.  They tasted so good.  I basically came up with a new sloppy joe mix that I can make from scratch.  It is a keeper and I really like it.  My husband even liked it and my daughter ate almost all of hers (she got full before she finished).

Sorry I forgot to take pictures.  I remembered before we ate them but forgot when serving.  So that is this weeks recipe.  If you try it let me know what you think.

Recipes

Well I was looking around on my Kaboodle, Pinterest and StumbleUpon accounts yesterday and kept coming across really yummy looking recipes.  It got me thinking....I have several cook books and I hardly ever use them.  I see really yummy looking recipes in them but how often do I stop and cook them?  My cook books are becoming wall and counter decorations more than what they were meant to be.

So I decided yesterday and was still thinking about it this morning that I am going to cook one new recipe every week and that recipe is going to be what I share on here. I am also going to try to remember to take pictures of at least the finished product before we start eating it.  It might be the main course, the dessert, breads, salads.  Who knows.  I just need to start using my cook books and you this blog is going to help me do that.  This week it probably wont happen....I'll post my first one Wednesday. 

Do you have recipes you want to share?  Feel free to let me know.  I'd love to try some new recipes from you as well.  Have a good Saturday everyone.

Wednesdays Recipe - Twice Baked Potatoes

Sorry I didn't get a recipe out last week.  This week I am going to share a quick and easy way to make Twice Baked Potatoes.  I have a wonderful recipe that tastes so yummy but sometimes I don't have as much time or all the ingredients so one time I improvised and it turned out really good.

Twice Baked Potato

Potatoes

Sour Cream

Cheese (shredded)

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Salt

If you don't have time to bake the potatoes in the oven you can cook them in the microwave.

I fold a paper towel in half and place my washed potatoes inside and cook for 2 minutes and flip, 2 minutes and flip until they are soft.

Then you cut them in half (hot dog ways) and scoop out the insides.

Add a little at a time of the sour cream, salt, pepper, cheese, and garlic salt.

Add and mix until you get it to the desired consistency and taste.

Scoop back into the skins and sprinkle with a little more cheese and cook until the cheese melts

Quick and easy.  We really like them.  I am making them for dinner tonight so I'll try to remember to take pictures to add to this post tomorrow.  I hope that you like them.  Have a good day.

Wednesday Recipe - Strawberry Shortcake

My husband and I really like to use the Bisquick pancake batter.  We use it for waffles, pancakes and biscuits.  Recently we tried one of the other recipes on the box and really like it. It is the Strawberry Shortcake recipe on the box.  If you haven't seen it or tried here you should.

Strawberry Shortcakes (Bisquick)

4 C sliced fresh strawberries

1/2 C sugar

2 1/3 C Original Bisquick mix

2/3 C milk

3 Tbsp Sugar

3 Tbsp butter (melted)

Cool whip or whipping cream

1st slice the strawberries and then mix with 1/2 C sugar and set a side.

Mix the Bisquick, milk, 3 Tbsp sugar and the butter until soft.

Drop by spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes at 425 degrees.  Split and fill with strawberries and cool whip.

Ok well those are the directions on the box.  It says it makes 6.  I always half the recipe and still get 6.  They are just a little smaller.  They are rather sweet but they are really really good.  You can have them for breakfast or you can make them for a dessert.  There are several recipes on the Bisquick box.  We haven't tried them all yet. 

Have you tried other Bisquick recipes that you like?  Do you use it for other things?  Please share your ideas with us.

Wednesday's recipe - Pumpkin Cookies...a day late

Sorry I'm late.  I meant to share this recipe with you yesterday but not a whole lot went as planned yesterday.  Here is a yummy pumpkin cookie recipe.

Pumpkin Cookie

1 C Oil

3 C sugar

2 Egg - beaten

3 Tsp Vanilla

5 C Flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

1/4 tsp ginger

1 3/4 tsp salt

1 29 oz can pumpkin

2 C semisweet chocolate chips

1 C chopped walnuts (opt)

Mix it all together and place on cookie sheets.  Cook 10 -12 minutes at 350. 



Some of you might think I'm crazy for just saying to mix it all and cookie.  I have found with most of my recipes that they turn out the same if you mix all together or do it in certain order.  You could mix all the liquid ingredients in one spot and sift all the powder ingredients into another bowl and then slowly add the powder to the wet ingredients but you don't have to in my opinion and it turns out really good.  You can also frost these cookies.  I like them plain but my husband likes to frost them.

I hope that you enjoy them.

Wednesday Recipe

I normally try to post my recipes in the morning but today I will be posting it a little later.  I'm still deciding what to share.  Have a good morning and be sure to check back for today's recipe.

Wednesday recipe - Oreo Cookies

I originally posted this recipe last month but made some today and wanted to include pictures and the egg correction.

In 2002 my room mate and I found this recipe for Oreo Cookies and we made them once.  Only because they were too good and addicting.  We thought that they were better than the real Oreo cookies you buy in the store.  I was looking through my recipes and thought I would share it with you.

Oreo Cookies

1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix

2 Egg

1/2 C Oil

Beat together.  Drop onto greased cookie sheet, marble size.

Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.

Filling:

1 (8oz) cream cheese

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 C butter (softened)

3 C powdered sugar

Cream the cream cheese and butter together.

Add powdered sugar and the vanilla.

Put the frosting on 1 cookie top and layer another cookie on top forming the Oreo.

You can also just ice the cookie and have many single cookies.  You can also freeze or refrigerate and serve cold.



They were so yummy.  They were a lot of fun to make and very tasty.  If your watching your weight you may want to be careful as they can be addicting.  It has been years since I've made them but I think I'll make them anyways.  Have a good week.

Wednesday's Oreo cookie recipe altered.

It has been so long since I made those Oreo Cookies and I was just going from the recipe card.  My mother in law made them today and said that it actually needs two eggs instead of one.  So I am going back to the recipe to fix it.  If you haven't already looked at it, it should now be correct.

I hope you all enjoy.

Wednesday Recipe - Dark Fudge

I like fudge but I don't always like taking the time to make it.  Our favorite recipe takes quite a bit of time and my husband's muscles because there is so much to stir by the end.  Here is a recipe that was shared with me that is really yummy and really easy to make if we are in a hurry.

Dark Fudge

3 C Chocolate chips

1 Dash of salt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 Can Sweetened condensed milk

2 C walnut

1 C mini marshmallows

Melt Chocolate chips, condensed milk and salt over low heat.

Remove from heat and add nuts and vanilla.

Spread over wax-paper-lined 9x13 pan - Quickly

Cover and chill overnight.

You can use different kinds of chocolate chips with this recipe if you want to change things up.  You could do all semi sweet or half semi sweet with half milk chocolate or you could even do 1 pkg (2 C) peanut butter chips.  I haven't made this in a while but if I remember correctly you don't have to wait til morning to eat them.  They will set up better by morning but you can eat some sooner if you don't mind the fact that they aren't completely set up.

It is really yummy and fun to change things up.  Have fun playing with this recipe.

Tomorrow I'll share some pictures of our fun filled weekend in Idaho.

Wednesday Recipe - Zucchini Bread

Yum!!  I love zucchini bread.  I haven't actually made it since being at home.  We used to always make it out of fresh grown zucchini from our garden.  Since being married I haven't made it.  I have been craving it lately so I think I'll break down and buy some zucchini and make some.  So here is the recipe.

Zucchini Bread

Mix together:

2 C Sugar

3 Eggs

1 C Oil

Add:

2 C grated uncooked, unpeeled zucchini

3 Tsp Vanilla

3 C sifted flour

1 Tsp Salt

1 Tsp Soda

3 Tsp Cinnamon

1/4 Tsp Baking powder

Bake at 350 for 55 minutes to 1 hour.  It makes 2 loaves.

You can freeze grated zucchini for later use if you have too much.

I hope that you try this and would love to hear your thoughts on this recipe.

Today is Thursday?

Ok so ya I have been sick and so has my husband and daughter.  I have completely lost track of what day it is.  I just realized this morning that today is Thursday which means that yesterday was Wednesday and I forgot to share a recipe.  So although today is Thursday I am pretending that it is Wednesday.

Today the weather is a little cloud covered and it has me thinking of soup and as I have gone through my recipe box I saw my Chicken and Dumpling soup that my Step mother makes.

Chicken and Dumpling Soup

4 C Water/4 Chicken bouillon cubes

Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Pepper, Salt

3-4 Chicken Breasts cubed and fried

Simmer above ingredients for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours.

2 Cans Cream of Mushroom soup

Add 1 pkg Grandma's Frozen noodles or 5 C dry noodles

Make dumplings and Cook.

Dumplings:

1 C Flour

2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Sugar

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Tbsp oil

1/2 C milk

Make into 8-10 Dumplings.  Cook on top of soup for 15 minutes.

Do not remove the lid.

This is really good and although you may think it weird you can add molasses and it adds a whole new wonderful flavor.

I hope that you enjoy.

Wednesday's recipe - Cheesy Chicken and rice

A couple Christmas's ago I recieved a recipe box with recipes in it.  It was a Campbell's recipe holder.  I really enjoy it and have made several of the dishes that are in it.  One of the ones that I really like is the Cheesy Chicken and Rice Back dish.  It is really easy and really good.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 1/3 C water

3/4 C uncooked white rice

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

4-6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1 C shredded cheese

2 C fresh or frozen veggies

Mix everything except the chicken ad cheese in a 12x8x2 pan

(I just use my normal cake pan)

Place chicken on top and season chicken with additional pepper and  seasonings you like.

Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes.

Uncover and sprinkle with cheese.

See how easy.  It has everything you need ...protein, starch and veggies.  Quick easy and very yummy.  I hope you all enjoy.

Honey Wheat Bread

I just learned how to make bread....Ok so I can make bread in my bread machine but what do I do if I'm living out of my food storage and can't use my bread mixer?  I had mentioned this to one of my friends.  She had learned a couple years ago and said that she would teach me how.  So this morning I went to her house and learned how to make Honey Wheat Bread.  It was so easy.

Honey Wheat Bread

2.5 C warm water & 1 Tbsp Lemon juice

1 Tbsp Yeast

1/4 C honey

1/8 C oil

5-6 C Flour (1/2 of each wheat and white)

1/2 Tbsp Salt

Butter

2 bread pans

In mixer pour water and yeast.  Then add each ingredient one at a time.

Add the salt after about 2 cups flour.

Add one cup of flour at a time alternating between white and wheat until it sticks together and pulls away from the sides of the pan.

After it is mixed form into a ball in the pan and cover with a towel and let rise for 1 hr.

Divide in two and shape.  Place in bread pans.

Cover with towel and let rise for another 1/2 hour.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Take out and spread butter on the tops.

This recipe was originally for 4 loaves so you can double it and get 4 loaves.  My friend would usually place one in a gallon baggie and put it in the freezer for later and eat one with her family.  You can take it out of the freezer later, thaw and it tastes like fresh bread.

It is really good and really easy to make.  While the bread is rising and cooking it leaves plenty of time for other things.

Wednesdays Recipe - A pudding pie

Well I thought I was the last one to know or to do this but I like to make puddings into pies when I want a quick desert that isn't too high in calories but tastes good.  I started doing this mainly because I wanted a desert one time and all I had was a pie shell and pudding.

Pudding Pie

Graham Cracker pie shell

2 small or one large pudding box

Milk (to make pudding so whatever pudding says)

Mini Marshmallows (optional)

Chocolate chips (optional)

This is quick and easy.  You get the pie shell ready and then you make the pie according to the pie directions on box.

You pour the pudding in to the pie shell.

I like to drop a few chocolate chips in it and I dropped a few marshmallows on top last time.

Put in the refrigerator for an hour.

I know that was a lot of work. :)  This is very easy and very quick.  We usually do the vanilla or chocolate puddings.  Last night I made this with chocolate pudding and chocolate chips like usual and then got creative and added some mini marshmallows to the top.  My husband asked if I was trying to make smores.  It was really good.  It is quick and easy and very tasty.  The missionaries even liked it.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Wednesdays - Recipe - Baked Potatoe and gravy

Growing up I learned to cook a lot of different kinds of things from my dad.  He is a very good cook and passed on a lot to me even if most of the time it was against my will.  Today I will be sharing another really easy recipe that is quick and easy.  I will be sharing the ingredients for the gravy.  You can bake your potatoes in the oven or in the microwave depending on time.

Baked Potato and Gravy

3/4 to 1 lb hamburger

1 - 2 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup

First you brown the hamburger.

Add the Cream of mushroom soup and mix.  Use one or two cans depending on desired thickness.

See how easy that is.  We would bake the potatoes and put the gravy on it.  Then we would add sour cream and cheese.  Sometimes that was the whole meal and some times we would add another vegetable like green beans or something simple.

I hope that you all enjoy this recipe.  If you have any recipes that you would like to share please feel free to email me at IdahoAtHeart@gmail.com.  I'd be happy to share your recipes.