Friday, October 21, 2011

Chimichangas

Original recipe from here.

Ingredients
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • 3/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 large diced bell pepper
  • 1 can whole kernel corn
  • 1 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 cups taco sauce
  • 1 (16 ounce) can refried beans
  • 8 (12 inch) flour tortillas
  • Shredded cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted, or cooking spray

Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease, and add the onion, bell pepper, corn and spices. Cook for about 5 more minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the taco sauce. Cook until heated through, then remove from heat, and set aside.
  3. Open the can of beans, and spread a thin layer of beans onto each of the tortillas. Spoon the beef mixture (less than you think) down the center, and then top with as much shredded cheese as you like. Roll up the tortillas, and place them seam-side down onto a baking sheet. Brush the tortillas with melted butter.
  4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Hamburger Buns

Ingredients
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon water
Directions


  1. Combine the milk, 1 cup of water, butter, sugar and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil then remove from the heat and let stand until lukewarm. If the mixture is too hot, it will kill the yeast.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour and yeast. Pour in wet ingredients and stir until the dough starts to pull together. If you have a stand mixer, use the dough hook to mix for about 8 minutes. If not, knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover and let stand until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  3. Punch down the dough and divide into 12 portions They should be a little larger than a golf ball. Make tight balls out of the dough by pulling the dough tightly around and pinching it at the bottom. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. After the rolls sit for a minute and relax, flatten each ball with the palm of your hand until it is 3 to 4 inches wide. You may want to oil your hand first. Set rolls aside until they double in size, about 20 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Mix together the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water in a cup or small bowl. Brush onto the tops of the rolls. Position 2 oven racks so they are not too close to the top or bottom of the oven.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove the rolls from the oven and return them to different shelves so each one spends a little time on the top. Continue to bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until nicely browned on the top and bottom.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Cilantro Ranch Dressing

1 packet Ranch mix (not buttermilk)
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeno

Mix all ingredients together in the blender.

Sweet Pork

2 pounds pork
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can diced green chilies
3/4 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry). Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.

Put shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!

Seasoned Chicken

  • 2-3 Chicken Breasts
  • 1 tablespoon  dried parsley, crushed
  • 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
 Cook chicken with seasonings. Shred if using on tzatziki sandwiches.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Tzatziki Sauce

Courtesy of Epicurious
  • 3 cups plain yogurt (do not use low-fat or nonfat)
  • 1 English hothouse cucumber (about 16 ounces), peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 large tomato, quartered, seeded, thinly sliced

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Apple Crisp

2 C flour
2 C oats
1.5 C brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 C melted butter
Mix these ingredients and press half of the mixture into a 15x10" jelly roll pan (cookie sheet that has sides works too). Set aside the remaining to add to topping.

2 1/2 C apple slices
I put a lot more apples on than this because I was trying to use up some soft apples, just go with what ever you have. You'll need to bake it a little longer if you add extra apples.

1 1/2 C Carmel ice cream topping
1/2 C flour
Whisk together, heat to thicken a little. Pour over apples.

1/2 C craisens
1 C chopped nuts (pecans were great)
Add these to the topping you held back and that's the last layer.

Bake 350 degrees for 25 - 35 minutes or until the apples are soft or it's looking brown enough. Basically you just want to crisp up the topping.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Snickerdoodle Dessert Hummus

http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/01/17/snickerdoodle-dessert-hummus/

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Dessert Hummus

http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/01/11/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-dessert-hummus/

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Summer Pizza

From The New York Times

  1. Make your pizza dough.
  2. When ready to cook, press one ball into about a 10-inch round. Use a little flour, if needed, to prevent sticking and a rolling pin, if desired. Film a 10-inch skillet with olive oil and turn heat to medium. When oil shimmers, put dough in pan and adjust heat so it browns evenly without burning. (If dough puffs up unevenly in spots, push bubbles down.)
  3. Turn dough, then top browned side with tomato sauce, cheese, a bit of salt and pepper, and, if you like, prosciutto and/or basil leaves. If top is now heavily laden, cover pan and continue cooking, or run it under broiler, just until toppings become hot. With only a couple of toppings, just cook until bottom browns. Repeat with remaining dough; serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Maple Salmon

Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 pound salmon

Directions
  1. In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper.
  2. Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.
  3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  4. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Fish Tacos

Courtesy of Kelly

Ingredients
  • 1/2 to 1 pound of tilapia
  • garlic salt, cumin, dill and parsley to taste
  • Coleslaw (directions below)

Directions
  1. Thaw tilapia or other mild-flavored fish. Heat oven to 450.
  2. Rinse fish and pat dry. Place on greased baking sheet. Season with garlic salt, cumin, dill and parsley.
  3. Bake until fish is cooked (no longer transparent and easily flakes or pulls apart). Flake the fish into chunks.
  4. Heat crunchy taco shells per directions on box.
  5. Put fish and coleslaw in each taco.
  6. Add your favorite salsa on top and there's dinner!

Coleslaw- Kelly style

Ingredients
  • finely shredded cabbage
  • 2T mayonnaise (I used light)
  • 1 t lemon or lime juice
  • garlic salt to taste

Directions
  1. I buy a bag of finely shredded cabbage (about a dollar here).
  2. Add mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic salt to taste.
  3. Blend with your hand. You want enough "sauce" to have a little bit on each piece of cabbage but not drenching it. It really just comes down to what you like.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Original Courtesy of AllRecipes

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups peanut butter
  • 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 bag of semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
  • Melt butter or margarine over low heat.
  • Add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well.
  • Add sugars. Mix until smooth but be careful not to burn.
  • Spread into a 9 x 13 inch pan.
  • Spread chocolate chips over the top. Cool.

Tiffany-Is-Sick Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients
  • 8 C water
  • 7 cubes of chicken bullion
  • 1 large bay leaf
  • 2 t rosemary
  • chicken 
  • 1 can of cream of chicken soup
  • vegetables
  • noodles
Directions
  1. Boil chicken in the water, bullion, bay leaf and rosemary.
  2. Add cream of chicken soup.
  3. Add vegetables and cook until soft.
  4. Add noodles and cook until done.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Better-Than-Classic Stuffed Shells

Courtesy of Julie Lindstrom
Makes 24 shells

24 dried jumbo pasta shells
2 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella or pizza cheese
2 eggs
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 or 3 garlic cloves, pressed
Salt and pepper
1 jar spaghetti sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions, to al dente. Drain and reserve shells.
  3. Mix ricotta, mozzarella, eggs, spinach and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Evenly spread about 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in a 9 x 13 inch glass baking dish.
  5. Spoon ricotta mixture evenly among them, about 1 heaping tablespoons each.
  6. Lay the shells side by side, open side up, in the dish. Spoon remaining spaghetti sauce over top. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over the marinara sauce.
  7. Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Pizza Hut Pizza Dough


Pizza Hut Dough

1T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cup warm water
2 T veg oil for dough
4 cups flour
1/4 C non fat dry milk
1 package yeast
9 ounces veg oil for pans

Put yeast, sugar, salt and dry milk in large bowl.  Add water and stir to mix well.  Let sit for 2 minutes.  Add oil and stir again.  Add flour and stir.  Turn out on flat surface and knead 10 minutes.  Divide dough into 3 balls.  Oil pans on bottom. The recipe would have you use 3oz / pan. Its a lot. Just put a good layer in the bottom of the pan so the dough doesn't stick.  Roll dough out in circles and place in pans (dough doesn't need to come up the sides of the pans very much - or at all).  Cover with dish cloth and rise 1 1/2 hours. ( we skipped letting them raise and they turn out great).
Cook at 475 -- I think we cooked them about 13 minutes -- it's hard to tell when - I say overcook a little so that they are cooked through the middle.