I got this great idea from here.
What a great, easy, inexpensive comfort food meal! So I made a few changes and here is the concoction I used below. It might seem kind of silly, but it's very tasty.
Ingredients:
4 cans Spaghettio's (I used store brand)
1 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder to taste
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, divided
2 cups grated cheese, divided (I used Mexican blend that was in the fridge)
Instructions:
In a large skillet, brown turkey and onions. I always add some seasoning while I'm browning meat. Drain if necessary. Pour all four cans of Spaghettio's into skillet. Add 1/4 Parmesan cheese and 1 cup shredded cheese and stir well. Then add seasonings as desired and stir again. Pour into 9 x13 baking dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1 cup shredded cheese over top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Serve with salad or other veggies and garlic toast if desired.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients:
4 ounces Bakers German sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
2 sticks butter, softened
1 - 2 tbs milk or chocolate milk
4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter on high for several minutes until very light and fluffy. Scrape down sides. With mixer on low, pour in melted chocolate and mix until well combined with butter. Scrape down sides again. Add powered sugar about 1 cup at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. After all powered sugar has been added, scrape down sides again, turn mixer on medium, and slowly add just enough milk to get correct spreading consistency.
Chocolate Hazelnut Frosting:
For chocolate hazelnut frosting, add 3-4 tbs chocolate hazelnut spread (I use Nutella) when adding melted chocolate to butter in the recipe above.
Also note that this recipe can be easily doubled to frost a layer cake. You don't need as much icing with a pound cake so the half recipe suits just fine.
4 ounces Bakers German sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
2 sticks butter, softened
1 - 2 tbs milk or chocolate milk
4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter on high for several minutes until very light and fluffy. Scrape down sides. With mixer on low, pour in melted chocolate and mix until well combined with butter. Scrape down sides again. Add powered sugar about 1 cup at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. After all powered sugar has been added, scrape down sides again, turn mixer on medium, and slowly add just enough milk to get correct spreading consistency.
Chocolate Hazelnut Frosting:
For chocolate hazelnut frosting, add 3-4 tbs chocolate hazelnut spread (I use Nutella) when adding melted chocolate to butter in the recipe above.
Also note that this recipe can be easily doubled to frost a layer cake. You don't need as much icing with a pound cake so the half recipe suits just fine.
Chocolate Pound Cake
This is an old-fashioned Southern recipe with a few twists. Can be iced or glazed or left plain. I prefer it iced with chocolate frosting or chocolate-hazelnut frosting.
Ingredients:
3 cups name-brand sugar (due to the crystal size, name brands are recommended by Southern Living magazine for the best pound cake texture)
3 sticks butter, softened (I use salted sweet cream butter - others prefer unsalted)
6 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup cocoa, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking POWDER
1 1/4 cups whole milk or whole chocolate milk
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter on medium to high for 3-5 minutes, until very fluffy and almost white in color. Add sugar one cup at a time and beat on medium to high for several more minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add eggs with mixer off one at a time and mix on low only long enough to incorporate the yolk, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Continue until all eggs have been added.
In another bowl sift together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder.
With mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture and milk to batter until all flour mixture and milk have been added, stopping frequently to scrape down sides of bowl. If you milk is cold, it will cause the batter to look curdled after each addition. This will correct itself when you finish incorporating all the flour. Fold in vanilla.
Pour into a greased & floured 10-12 cup bundt or tube pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes or until pick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for about 10 minutes. Shake gently to loosen cake from sides of pan then turn out cake onto cooling rack. Cool completely before icing or putting in a covered container.
Ingredients:
3 cups name-brand sugar (due to the crystal size, name brands are recommended by Southern Living magazine for the best pound cake texture)
3 sticks butter, softened (I use salted sweet cream butter - others prefer unsalted)
6 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup cocoa, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking POWDER
1 1/4 cups whole milk or whole chocolate milk
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter on medium to high for 3-5 minutes, until very fluffy and almost white in color. Add sugar one cup at a time and beat on medium to high for several more minutes, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add eggs with mixer off one at a time and mix on low only long enough to incorporate the yolk, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Continue until all eggs have been added.
In another bowl sift together flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder.
With mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture and milk to batter until all flour mixture and milk have been added, stopping frequently to scrape down sides of bowl. If you milk is cold, it will cause the batter to look curdled after each addition. This will correct itself when you finish incorporating all the flour. Fold in vanilla.
Pour into a greased & floured 10-12 cup bundt or tube pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes or until pick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for about 10 minutes. Shake gently to loosen cake from sides of pan then turn out cake onto cooling rack. Cool completely before icing or putting in a covered container.
Apricot Baked Chicken
Apparently this recipe has been around in various forms for years and years, but I just recently happened upon the idea. Made this last night and it turned out delicious - we liked it so much, we're making more tonight! I served it with seasoned rice and steamed broccoli. This would be a great meal to take someone or to have for company.
Ingredients:
1.5 - 2 lbs raw chicken, rinsed and patted dry (I used breast tenders and boneless thighs cut into quarters)
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 cup French dressing
1 cup apricot preserves
Instructions:
In a 9 x 13 baking dish, lay out your chicken in a single layer. In a medium bowl, mix together soup mix, dressing and preserves. Pour mixture even over chicken and then wiggle chicken pieces into mixture to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes for smaller pieces, 45 - 60 minutes if using full-sized breasts, drumsticks, or thighs. To determine if chicken is done, cut one into one of the larger pieces and make sure juices run clear. Serve with or over rice or pasta. Makes a nice amount of "gravy."
To make lower in calories, you can use low-fat or fat-free French dressing and all-natural preserves made with fruit juice. I do not recommend using the sugar-free preserves because of the all the strange, fake ingredients.
Ingredients:
1.5 - 2 lbs raw chicken, rinsed and patted dry (I used breast tenders and boneless thighs cut into quarters)
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 cup French dressing
1 cup apricot preserves
Instructions:
In a 9 x 13 baking dish, lay out your chicken in a single layer. In a medium bowl, mix together soup mix, dressing and preserves. Pour mixture even over chicken and then wiggle chicken pieces into mixture to coat. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes for smaller pieces, 45 - 60 minutes if using full-sized breasts, drumsticks, or thighs. To determine if chicken is done, cut one into one of the larger pieces and make sure juices run clear. Serve with or over rice or pasta. Makes a nice amount of "gravy."
To make lower in calories, you can use low-fat or fat-free French dressing and all-natural preserves made with fruit juice. I do not recommend using the sugar-free preserves because of the all the strange, fake ingredients.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Good Cookies
My mom was given this cookie recipe by a friend. This is the only name by which these cookies are known to us. The name suits. They are addictive. I dare you to eat just one.
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup oil
1 cup quick oats
1 cup Rice Krispies
3 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
Combine sugars, butter, oil and egg until well mixed.
Then add the remaining ingredients until well combined.
Refrigerate overnight or up to several days.
When ready to bake, roll dough in small balls and press down with a fork on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned.
Let cool on cookie sheet for one minute and remove to racks to cool completely.
Notes from Mom:
"I sometimes substitute ½ cup of applesauce for half of the oil and they turn out fine. I use a small melon baller instead of a spoon and this makes the cookies uniform in size. This dough can be frozen, thawed and frozen again. This recipe makes lots of cookies!"
Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup oil
1 cup quick oats
1 cup Rice Krispies
3 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:
Combine sugars, butter, oil and egg until well mixed.
Then add the remaining ingredients until well combined.
Refrigerate overnight or up to several days.
When ready to bake, roll dough in small balls and press down with a fork on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned.
Let cool on cookie sheet for one minute and remove to racks to cool completely.
Notes from Mom:
"I sometimes substitute ½ cup of applesauce for half of the oil and they turn out fine. I use a small melon baller instead of a spoon and this makes the cookies uniform in size. This dough can be frozen, thawed and frozen again. This recipe makes lots of cookies!"
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Chicken Pie
Not to be confused with my other recipe for chicken pot pie. Although many of the filling ingredients are similar, this recipe has a biscuit top rather than a pie crust top and bottom. It is equally as delicious as the chicken pot pie recipe, in our opinions.
Ingredients:
Filling
3-4 cups cooked chicken, chopped (Rotisserie works great)
1 medium onion, chopped
16 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
2 cans cream of soups (I used cream of mushroom)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground thyme
2 tbs butter (I used Smart Balance)
Biscuit top
1 1/2 cups whole wheat baking mix or regular baking mix
1 1/4 cups milk
2 - 4 tbs butter, melted (I used 2 tbs Smart Balance)
1 cup shredded cheese, optional
Instructions:
In a medium skillet or saute pan, saute onion in butter for about 5 minutes on medium-high. Then in a large bowl, mix onions and all other filling ingredients together well. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish, spreading evenly.
In a separate bowl, mix together all biscuit ingredients, stirring until any lumps are gone. Pour biscuit mix evenly over filling.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until center of biscuit is done.
Ingredients:
Filling
3-4 cups cooked chicken, chopped (Rotisserie works great)
1 medium onion, chopped
16 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
2 cans cream of soups (I used cream of mushroom)
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground thyme
2 tbs butter (I used Smart Balance)
Biscuit top
1 1/2 cups whole wheat baking mix or regular baking mix
1 1/4 cups milk
2 - 4 tbs butter, melted (I used 2 tbs Smart Balance)
1 cup shredded cheese, optional
Instructions:
In a medium skillet or saute pan, saute onion in butter for about 5 minutes on medium-high. Then in a large bowl, mix onions and all other filling ingredients together well. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish, spreading evenly.
In a separate bowl, mix together all biscuit ingredients, stirring until any lumps are gone. Pour biscuit mix evenly over filling.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until center of biscuit is done.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Dad's Chicken Stew
I remember Dad making this stew many times growing up. It's definitely comfort food served with some rice. After Hurricane Hugo, he set up his propane cooker in the back yard and cooked a huge pot then delivered it to many of our neighbors who were without power for a week or more.
Ingredients:
One fryer (2 1/2 - 3 lb)
3 medium potatoes, peeled & diced
Ingredients:
One fryer (2 1/2 - 3 lb)
3 medium potatoes, peeled & diced
3 medium onions, diced
2 tbs sugar
1 1/2 cups ketchup
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Boil chicken and onions together. When chicken is done, remove meat from bones. Dice meat and place back in broth, along with potatoes. Add ketchup, sugar, salt and pepper.
Simmer for 30 - 60 minutes. Serve over rice if desired.
Chili
I made this chili a few weeks ago and we thoroughly enjoyed it. So I decided to write down what I put in it since I don't ever follow a recipe when making chili. And consequently it turns out different each time I make it. Dave wanted me to write down this combo, though, so he can have this same chili again.
Ingredients:
2.5 - 3 lbs ground meat (I mixed turkey and beef), browned with garlic powder and salt and drained
2 packs chili seasoning mix
2 bell peppers, diced (I chopped them up fine in the food processor)
1 large onion, diced (again, I used the food processor)
1 28 oz can tomato sauce
1 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 regular sized jar Ragu Traditional sauce
1 can chili beans in sauce, not drained
2 cups water
2-3 tbs sugar
2-3 tbs chili powder
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs garlic powder
hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste
Put browned meat, bell peppers and onions in a large pot. Let saute for a few minutes. Add chili seasoning packets and next 8 ingredients, stirring well after each addition. Let simmer on medium-low for 30-60 minutes, stirring often. Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce as desired after simmering. Garnish with shredded cheese, diced onion, sour cream, etc.
Ingredients:
2.5 - 3 lbs ground meat (I mixed turkey and beef), browned with garlic powder and salt and drained
2 packs chili seasoning mix
2 bell peppers, diced (I chopped them up fine in the food processor)
1 large onion, diced (again, I used the food processor)
1 28 oz can tomato sauce
1 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1 regular sized jar Ragu Traditional sauce
1 can chili beans in sauce, not drained
2 cups water
2-3 tbs sugar
2-3 tbs chili powder
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbs garlic powder
hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste
Put browned meat, bell peppers and onions in a large pot. Let saute for a few minutes. Add chili seasoning packets and next 8 ingredients, stirring well after each addition. Let simmer on medium-low for 30-60 minutes, stirring often. Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce as desired after simmering. Garnish with shredded cheese, diced onion, sour cream, etc.
Coconut Custard Pie
My mother-in-law shared this recipe with me. She baked us one of these last week and it lasted less than 24 hours in our house. Delicious!
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tbs corn starch
1 tsp vanilla
1 pie crust
Instructions:
Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in coconut. In a separate bowl, mix together milk and corn starch. Then add milk mixture to coconut mixture, stirring well. Stir in vanilla. Pour filling into pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 mintues. Shields may be needed to keep crust edges from browning too fast.
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup evaporated milk
1 tbs corn starch
1 tsp vanilla
1 pie crust
Instructions:
Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in coconut. In a separate bowl, mix together milk and corn starch. Then add milk mixture to coconut mixture, stirring well. Stir in vanilla. Pour filling into pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 mintues. Shields may be needed to keep crust edges from browning too fast.
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