Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Creamed Chicken and Biscuits

If you are looking for a belly-warming dish my creamed chicken and biscuits are simple to make.  Yes, even the biscuits. You can skip the biscuits and serve over noodles or mashed potatoes but nothing compares to the flaky fluffiness of these biscuits.

Creamed Chicken and Biscuits                                                   Printable Recipe

3 cups cubed cooked chicken (breasts and/or thighs)
3 cups chicken broth 
15 ounce can mix vegetables, drained  or 1-1/2 to 2 cups frozen vegetables
3 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste

Monday, November 17, 2014

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

My mom lightens this up by replacing some of the milk with chicken broth. I personally like more potatoes so I add even more to mine.  Top with all the extras you want and your bowl will be perfect!


Loaded Baked Potato Soup                                                Printable Recipe

2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup flour
7 cups milk
4 large baking potatoes, cooked and cubed
1 pound bacon
8 ounces Velveeta
1 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup shredded Mexi-blend cheese
1 bunch green onions, sliced

Cut up bacon and cook.  I know this picture isn't necessary but it sure looks yummy!!  Drain.
I used to bake my potatoes, then peel and chop.  Now I use 4 cups of Yukon golds, chunked and cooked by boiling. Much less messy and you keep the nutrients of the skin. 
Drain.
In a large pot melt the butter.
Stir in flour, heat and stir until smooth.  Cook for 1 minute.
Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. I find it easier to have the milk warmed to prevent burning the milk on the bottom while it tries to warm up the rest of the milk. *
This is with about half of the milk
Add potatoes and bacon.
 Add cheese and stir until melted. Stir in sour cream.


TO FREEZE.....Omit potatoes (they will become gritty when you unthaw) cool and put in bags. When ready to use reheat and add potatoes.

Edited to add that if I use YUKON GOLDS they do not turn gritty and they keep their shape even in the freezer!

*An alternative method is to add the milk to pan and warm.  Make a roux out of the butter and flour.  Add the roux to the milk and stir. It will thicken in just a few minutes.  You can see this method on my Cheeseburger Soup and Chicken, Corn and Potato Chowder.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Baked Chocolate Buttermilk Donuts with Chocolate Coffee Glaze

 Soft, moist, and just the right amount of coffee in the glaze.   You'll want to share with a friend (or two!) 

Baked Chocolate Buttermilk Donuts with Chocolate Coffee Glaze         Printable Recipe

Donuts:
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
1-1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

Monday, November 10, 2014

Spaghetti Meatballs (with Gluten Free Options)

On top of spaghetti, all covered in....I think you know the rest!! Piled high on pasta or stuffed in a sandwich, these meatballs are versatile! With just one mess you can make extra and freeze them for another time which is great when ground beef is on sale.

Spaghetti Meatballs (with Gluten Free Options)                         Printable Recipe

2 eggs
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 pound ground beef
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (sometimes I use 1/2 grated and 1/2 shredded)
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs *
1 jar favorite pasta sauce
cooked pasta *


In large bowl beat eggs, garlic, and parsley. Crumble the beef over the mixture and mix well. Sprinkle with cheese and bread crumbs; mix gently.


Shape into 1-1/2 inch balls using a medium size scoop. Makes 16 balls. *

Friday, November 7, 2014

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

This meat will almost shred itself.  When I shop I am looking pork butt, which is funny in its name since it has nothing to do with the pig's butt.  It's near the shoulder and can also be called a shoulder roast. Around my neck of the woods it generally doesn't have a bone but sometimes the butcher leaves it in. It will be marbled with fat.  A lean cut of meat won't work the same and certainly won't taste the same. 

It doesn't matter the size you get so long as it fits in the crock. Typically they are around 5 pounds but sometimes they come as 2-3 pounders.   If it is really large, sometimes I cut it in half.  Let it slow cook all day and at then end you will have juices and the meat will be so tender.



Crock Pot Pulled Pork                                                                             Printable Recipe

1 pork butt roast
1 onion
salt and pepper

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Chili-Cheese Baked Potatoes

So you have some perfectly baked potatoes, now what?  Let's top it with some chili and some cheese sauce!!

Chili-Cheese Baked Potatoes                                                           Printable Recipe

5-6 baked potatoes

Chili:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1-1/2 T - 2 T chili powder
14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes undrained (or 1 pint home canned)
1/2 can water
1 Tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Monday, November 3, 2014

How To Make Perfectly Baked Potatoes

 A simple recipe that results in the perfect baked potato ready for whatever toppings you desire!!


How To Make Perfectly Baked Potatoes                                         Printable Recipe

Russet Potatoes
Olive oil
Salt

When baking a large amount of potatoes at one time, choose potatoes with uniform shapes and sizes; they will cook more evenly and get done at the same time.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies

I used up the leftover chocolate and caramel candies from Halloween in the Loaded Monster Cookie Bars.  This brownie recipe will use up all of your chocolate and peanut butter candies!

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies                                                  Printable Recipe

1 stick butter, melted
2 eggs
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all purpose flour
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Fast Break Bars
1/3 cup Reese's Pieces 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Loaded Monster Cookie Bars

Every year it happens.  People buy bags of chocolate goodies to give out and they over buy. Not as many kids show up as they thought.  Maybe they did run out of goodies to give out.  So off to the next day to get hit the 50% off sale off of leftover Halloween treats.  Either way, this bar cookie is easy to make and will use up the leftover chocolate bars and candies or that "on sale" bag that just had to be bought.  If you have a lot of peanut butter and chocolate candies leftover try my Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies.


Loaded Monster Cookie Bars                                      Printable Recipe

1/2 cup butter
1 egg
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mini candy bars (IE. Snickers, Milky Way, Nestle Grand, Hershey’s Chocolate Bar)
2 small pkts M and Ms (or approximately 1/3 cup)

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Iowa Food Blogger Giveaway -- $150 Visa Gift Card

So many great bloggers from my great state of IOWA!! We put all our awesomeness together to present to you an...


Thanks to...

Michelle @ Simplify, Live, Love











Jennifer @ Jeni Eats.






...and me!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Growing, Harvesting and Canning Black Beans

I love black beans and I always try to have cooked ones on hand.  I prefer to home can the dried ones so I can control the salt and the cost. It is also a good source of food nutrients if you have a power outage and no access to water and/or heat source to cook them in.  They also don't require a freezer and will keep for at least 12 months on the shelf.

Canning dried beans yourself is so easy.  I use organic and this year I even GREW some organic black beans. (More on that later.)

Growing, Harvesting and Canning Black Beans

Dried black beans (scan 2/3 cups per pint jar)
Water
Salt (optional)
Pressure Canner (Beans cannot be water bath canned)

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Baked Apple Cider Mini Donuts

We purchased an apple press this year and are pressing our own apple cider.  I mentioned this to someone and she told me about apple cider donuts.  Intrigued, I looked them up.  I decided I must make them!  I have tweaked my Baked Eggnog Mini Donuts with Eggnog Glaze recipe to include the flavors of fall.  Careful, they are addicting, especially warm.  I had downed a half dozen before I knew it.  Good thing I made them mini size!

As an after thought I thought an apple cider glaze instead of a cinnamon and sugar dusting might be lovely so I have included ingredients for that also.  

Baked Apple Cider Mini Donuts – makes 20 mini donuts           Printable Recipe


Donuts:
2-1/2 Tablespoons canola oil
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup apple cider reduced (see instructions)
1-1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Couple dashes salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Friday, October 17, 2014

Pork Meat Balls with Dijon Cream Sauce with Wini Moranville

This recipe is from a fellow Iowan Blogger Wini Moranville.  After checking out her e-cookbook,
which is full of 22 wonderful recipes, I chose this pork meat ball recipe to share with you.  The recipe is simple and the dish looks divine.   See link at end to see how you can order your own e-cookbook for only $2.99! (Price as of 10/17/2014)

A bit more about the cookbook from Wini:  It's the result of a collaboration between French-born chef David Baruthio and me. (Chef Baru owns the widely acclaimed Baru 66 restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa). I just love the way this recipe shows that the French know their way around a meatball just as much as Italian-Americans do. 

Of course, we don't think of meatballs as something you'd braise, but in fact, on two different occasions, two different renown chefs (including David) have given me their recipes for meatballs, and both times they've been cooked partially submerged in liquid (not baked dry, as so many recipes call for). This method of cooking meatballs may just change your meatball-loving life!

A word about the recipe: As you shape the meatballs, you're going to think they're super soft and too flimsy to fry. You're going to wonder where the breading is. There is no breading in this recipe; hence, what you get is pure, rich, meaty flavor, along with that fresh green spark of the parsley. The trick is to use lots of oil to keep them from sticking. Use a large tablespoon to gently turn them. And don't worry--you'll drain off most of that fat!

P.S.  A HUGE thanks to Wini for taking the step by step photos for me to share with the recipe!



Pork Meat Balls with Dijon Cream Sauce


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Monday, October 13, 2014

Apple Pecan Cheesecake Bars with Caramel

I love cheesecake and caramel apple pie so why not put them together in one dish? Drizzle on some caramel or leave it off.  We decided it is good either way!

Apple Pecan Cheesecake Bars with Caramel                                Printable Recipe

2 cups flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
2 – 8 ounce packages light cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled and shredded
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 Tablespoon sugar

Crumb Topping:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup quick oats
5 Tablespoons cold butter, cubed
1/2 cup chopped pecans