JoJo's Num Nums

NEWSFLASH!!! BREAKING NEWS!!

2014-11-20T19:08:00.002-07:00

Can't even begin to tell you all how excited I am about the latest news! I have OFFICIALLY published my very first cookbook!!!!! The good news is that all the recipes on my blog are IN this cookbook, PLUS a bunch more!!!!!! This is something I've had on my bucket list for quite some time and now I can say I can MARK IT OFF! So excited. Hope you all are too!

Something else you'll find in the book at the back is an 8-week (2 month) menu plan (all the recipes are in the book) with grocery lists you can copy and cross off to take with you!!!!! Doesn't get much easier than that! That's what sets this cookbook aside from all the others!!!

To get your very own copy, you can go to http://www.amazon.com/JoJos-NumNums-Joanna-Baltzly/dp/1503197263/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415850108&sr=8-1&keywords=JoJo%27s+NumNum%27s and order your own copy there!!! These are GREAT gifts for those kids, grandkids, new moms, new brides, etc.

Thanks to everyone visiting my blog through these years!!!!

Happy cooking!!!

Baltzly's Favorite Steak Taco Meat

2014-04-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

So as many of you know, I absolutely LOVE the Food Network's Diners Drive Ins & Dives show. And you also know that our family tries to hit as many of these places not only around us but also when we're traveling. To date we've probably hit about 15 (I know A LONG ways to go) but one of our favorite Mexican joints was up in Flagstaff, Arizona! OH MY! It was called Salsa Brava.

My favorite meal there was something similar to an Indian Taco! It is basically fry bread topped with really yummy steak bites and served with a Cilantro Cream Sauce! I was able to get the recipes for the meat (marinade) and Cream Sauce, and I figured out an easy Fry Bread recipe that was close enough to this restaurants fry bread! OH MY! Mouth is seriously watering! This afternoon, I've prepared ahead my meat so that's why I'm sharing that recipe tonight. Hopefully later this week I can share the fry bread and cilantro cream sauce to complete the taco. Just only have pictures for the meat.

1 1/2-2 pounds Skirt Steak (Flank Steak, etc)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 c soy sauce
1 t cumin
1 large handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped
juice of 2 limes
2 T Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 t sugar
1/2 c olive oil

Sliver the steak into pieces across the grain on a diagonal. Place these beef pieces in a gallon size Ziploc bag. Combine marinade ingredients and pour the marinade over the steak, making sure each piece is well covered. Cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours, or overnight. Toss all the beef and marinade into a crock pot. Turn to low for 2-4 hours or until the beef falls apart. Serve over fry bread with Cilantro sauce and fix-ins.

Freezer Instructions: Can put this in the freezer with marinade and simply pull out night before to unthaw and crock pot as normal.

Fruit Tart

2013-11-18T16:18:00.001-07:00

Crust:

1/2 c sugar
1 c flour
1 c crushed Nilla wafer cookies
1/2 c crushed almonds
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

Mix these ingredients together.  Grease a tart/pie pan and push this into the bottom and slightly up the sides.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes (don't bake too long).  

Filling:

1 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 jar marshmallow creme 

Mix these together until smooth and put in the baked and cooled crust.  

Top with any kind of fruit you want!!! Then top with glaze with a pastry brush!

Glaze:

1 - 6 ounce can limeade concentrate, thawed

1 T cornstarch

1 T lime juice

1/4 c sugar

Mix sugar and cornstarch together to get all the lumps out in a small saucepan BEFORE you add the limeade and lime juice.  Gradually bring to a boil in a saucepan until it thickens.  About 3-5 minutes.  Let cool and then brush onto the top of your fruit tart with a pastry brush.  You will not use all of the glaze.

Chill entire tart in the fridge for about an hour.

Bubble Gum Ice Cream

2012-03-20T17:56:00.001-07:00

OH MY! This is a serious "flashback" moment for me! Ate the first bite and thought I was young again sitting in my sweet ice cream shop that I grew up eating Bubble Gum ice cream at called Penny Lane! Haven't had a moment like that in quite awhile and it's one not soon to be forgetten! :)

I have to say, I started a thread on facebook a few days ago after getting a text from my dear mama that was in Iowa visiting at the time. Her text is what got this whole thing started and I haven't stopped thinking about it since!! Her text??? "Driving all over Waterloo reminiscing...wish you were here."

There are a few things significant there! First and formost, I have the best mom and dad anyone could ever ask for! They brought me up in the most loving home! Little did I know the significance this one thing alone would have on me now as an adult and now adoptive mommy! I often wonder where and what my kids would be doing right now if we hadn't adopted them! GOD IS GOOD! I only pray I'm HALF as good as my parents were and still are as parents! While we were never "spoiled," they definitely gave us a RICH life by making memories that LASTED. They also made sure that I had made the single most inportant decision I'd ever make in my entire life and that is that I knew JESUS and invited him into my heart FOREVER!! And because of that, I'm FREE and forever grateful that that was of such high priority in my upbringing!

I am so grateful I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa! I haven't lived there since 1998, but let me tell you, that was one heck of a town to grow up in! I met some of the most wonderful people in my entire life there, won't ever forget my years from Kindergarten all the way up to my senior year of high school at the same school, had family that loved me all around (still do), and some of my most special memories were made in that town!

When I posted this on facebook about Penny Lane, my e-mail went crazy with all the responses of all my friends and family that lived there remembered about this sweet ice cream shop! All of us have sweet memories of going there! We remember the aroma almost more than the ice cream, the aroma of FRESHLY ironed waffle cones/bowls! :) And then I think secondly, we remembered BUBBLE GUM ICE CREAM! So, I decided to make some up (since it's my middle childs' birthday today - Happy 5th Birthday to my sweet Ezra!) and make a post for you all to enjoy whenver you can! :) And if you were all here, I'd just invite you ALL over for one HUGE ice cream party on my own back porch! :) But alas, I live to far from most!

Thanks so much for making memories in my childhood I won't ever forget! Hugs to you all!

So incredibly scrumptious! Simply no words!

This is the mixture in the ice cream machine towards the end!

Bubble Gum Ice Cream

2 1/2 c Heavy Whipping Cream
1 1/2 c Half & Half
2 egg YOLKS
3/4 c sugar
1 t vanilla
pinch of salt
2-3 drops pink food coloring or red food coloring
12 pieces of Double Bubble Gum
1 c colored gum balls (I picked out the pink, white & red cause it matched pink base) :)

In a saucepan combine all the Heavy Whipping Cream, H&H, egg yolks, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Whisk together so the yolks are all blended in. Put over medium heat and start heating the milk. Once this is starting to get pretty warm, add the Double Bubble Gum pieces (NOT the gumballs) and raise the heat just a little so it starts to ever so slightly boil (not rolling), and continue whisking unitl all of the gum is pretty well melted (there will be a little residue, but don't worry yourselves). Once it's all been melted, pour into a tupperware container but don't scrape out the bottom of the pan as the residue will have settled and you don't want any of that! :) Refrigerate at least 3 hours, but better if overnight! In an ice cream maker (we have the countertop Cuisinart kind), pour the ice cream into your frozen bowl and let churn for about 30 minutes until it's semi-hard. Add the gumballs and EAT! I also put it in the freezer for about another hour for it to harden back up again to a little bit firmer than what an ice cream maker can get it! Then we eat! :)

Hope this hits home for many of you! :)

ZAYCON BEEF EVENT!!!!

2011-11-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!!

HAD to post about the beef event.

So, I did this event the last time they offered and OH MY GOODNESS how amazing the beef was!!! I am going to summarize below with the pictures I took from this event I just participated in today! Keep this bookmarked cause it comes around a few times a year!! I will let everyone know when it comes around again!

This beef is 93/7 for $2.79/lb. Here is the description right from Zaycon's website (https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027):

A 40 lb case containing 4 tubes of Fine Grind super lean beef (93/7). Not all cases are exactly 40 lbs. If, upon delivery, your case is not 40 lbs, you will receive a credit to your Zaycon account.

This event actually came right HERE to Maricopa, so all my Maricopa peeps, we don't have to drive in to town to get our beef. All my other AZ friends, there are MANY locations to choose from across the valley, find the one closest to you! :)

The website is: https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027.

Pick up is so incredibly SIMPLE! You don't even get out of your car. Basically, you print the receipt for your order, take it with you to the pick up location, drive up to the location, they have signs that say "enter," follow that and it will pull you up to the side of a refrigerated semi. They'll ask for your name, they'll verify how many boxes you ordered, and then ask you where you want them. You just stay in your car and they throw the boxes in your car FOR YOU! Then you drive away! THAT"S IT! So all the mom's that dread doing something like this cause they'll have to drag their kids along, NO SWEAT! Super easy!

Here are a few pictures below:

This is the box they load right into your car.

This is what it looks like inside your box! :)

This is how I divide mine! :) Each bag 1# each.

Here is one complete box. I finished off with 39 bags!

FUNDRAISER: Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas

2011-11-14T14:37:00.002-07:00

Hey fellow blog readers!!!!

God has laid something HUGE on my heart and I'm taking action!!!!

A dear friend of mine's daughter that I went to school with back in Iowa, is fighting a very long and exhausting fight to brain cancer. I have shared their blog address many times (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate), so many of you have already heard and read about her, anyways, for a few years now they have done an incredible Christmas event for the Phoenix area by doing something called Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas! Each year, by donations alone, they provide many of the families' who have little ones battling cancer with a load of Christmas gifts to bring them some cheer! Many of these families aren't even home for Christmas, but instead in the hospital celebrating with a sick one! I don't know about you, but just thinking of this puts me in my place! I can't even BEGIN to imagine going through something like this, but in spite of all the sadness, Kate's family has organized this great event to bring so happiness to some hurting families!

So, in hopes to check off some needed items requested on their list, I am going to offer two kinds of bread and donating ALL PROCEEDS to this event!!!! I am offering my Oatmeal Bread (5 mini loaves) for $10 or I'm also offering my Crescent Rolls (16/batch) for $10. To make it easier, I'm only selling in batches. These will be on a 'made to order' basis, so please e-mail me to place an order at bbaltzly@gmail.com. These breads freeze VERY WELL for up to 3 months or so! These are also great for the Holiday gatherings and parties coming up! This is an ASKING donation of $10/each, if you'd like to give more, I will just add and purchase more of the items on the list!! THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS!!!!! God bless!

UPDATE on 11/15: A few Iowa friends have asked how they can get in on this! So, I went to post office today and here's what I found! I am more than happy to ship you some bread to Iowa! Unfortunately since I am donating all the ingredients I can't cover shipping! :( But if you want to order, I found the cheapest for fastest delivery is 2-3 day priority for $10.95. For this size box, ordering two batches would be more worth your dollar! :) I'd make it an even $30 for two batches shipped! :)

$10 for 5 mini loaves of Oatmeal Bread

$10 for 16 Crescent Rolls

Strawberry Lemonade

2011-11-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite drinks to order at restaraunts are Strawberry Lemonades! The fresh kind, not the "fountain" kind. Not many restaruants offer it but every time I get to order it, I LOVE IT! It's pretty easy to make it for yourself at home!

2 - 12 oz lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 c sugar
20 ounces frozen strawberries, thawed
9 c water

In a blender, puree sugar, strawberries and 4 c water. Leave somewhat chunky. In a large pitcher combine lemonade concentrate, 5 c water and strawberry puree mixture all together and stir. Serve over a full glass of ice!

Zaycon Chicken

2011-10-05T08:21:00.000-07:00

REPOST: October 5, 2011

I am here to tell you this is an AMAZING price for chicken and WELL WORTH ordering a case before they are SOLD OUT! GO NOW to this link: http://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027, SIGN UP and order!!! This event most generally sells out so I would be inclined to believe it will be gone again rather quickly. Go! Go NOW and register and order! SERIOUSLY! :)

***********************************************************************************

WOW! I'm impressed!!!! So, many of you saw my post about the amazing chicken deal. Well, I picked my chicken up yesterday and wanted to show you what I got so that if this event comes to your town, or again comes to the valley that you all can get in on it! :) TOTALLY impressed! WOW! I do know that this company also has "ground beef" events, and FOR SURE, if they offer this in the Phoenix area, I'm participating.

A few weeks ago, I found out about this chicken event. Basically, this company offers AMAZING product for an AMAZING price. This chicken is hormone and injection free. This event was for boneless, skinless chicken breasts in 40 pound boxes for just $1.49/lb. WOW!!! This is stuff I normally used to by at like Sprouts because they offer the chicken with no fillers, it's healthier, better for you, etc. You also pay an arm and a leg for the stuff at Sprouts! Not here. I was so excited.

I went to the website, registered, and then bought my box ahead for the event day. This event SOLD OUT, so if it comes around again, you need to be QUICK about ordering!

My friend and I went yesterday to pick it up! It was the smoothest, most slick adventure to getting chicken. Felt a tiny bit guilty as a matter of fact! :) So, we brought our printed "receipts" with us. They had a big refrigerated semi trailer in the parking lot of a church in Gilbert. They had orange cones everywhere and a definite flow of traffic set up! There was ONE entrance, and about half way around the "U" there was someone checking your name off the list and then they'd put laminated "numbers" of how many boxes you were picking up under your wipers and then you'd keep driving forward and on either side of the trailer you pulled up. Then there were about 8 people there taking the boxes off the truck (already premeasured and pre packeaged) and putting them into your trunk and off you went! That was it! SO EASY!

Got home and immediately started prepping my chicken by taking the yucky stuff off (I'm pretty picky about this! :)) and then putting them into a variety of Ziploc bags. I decided to bag mine very specifically so that in the future it's super easy for me to make my meals. I had some in stir fry fashion where I cut my chicken into strips, I put 3 breasts in several bags for when I make soups or taco meat, and then I put 4-5 breasts into a few bags for when I make Christy's Chicken or dishes like Chicken Fillets over Rice, etc. I LOVE IT! I am going to show pictures below for you to see. Wish so bad now that I would've taken pictures of the pick up location. Maybe next time! I got a total of about 42-44 single breasts.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS IF IT COMES AGAIN TO PHOENIX OR COMES TO YOUR AREA! Go to the website here and check for events: http://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027. If you continue following my blog or my JoJo's NumNums facebook page, I will announce again when I hear they will be here. It's my understanding they come about 2 times a year.

Here is how the chicken comes. The breasts are together.

Here you can see the box that it came in.

Here's all my chicken prepped several different ways!

Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha

2011-09-30T07:45:00.002-07:00

You have no idea how happy this makes my heart! With the help of my dearest friend (who used to work at Starbucks), we figured out the combination and I'm telling ya'll, if I were blindfolded and had one cup of Starbucks and one cup of one made from home, I COULD TELL NO DIFFERENCE!

So, here it is!

Now, before I start, sorry for the poor photography. Drinks I've found are awfully difficult to take pictures of!

Again, sorry for the not so great picture! :(

This doesn't do it justice! :)

For the homemade mocha additive:
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 c dry cocoa
3/4 c sugar

In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cocoa until there are no more lumps. Slowly add the can of evaporated milk using a whisk and whisk until everything is completely combined. Refrigerate any leftovers (which you'll have tons unless you're feeding an army!)

Homemade Mocha!! MMMM!

Salted Caramel Mocha (Hot or Iced)
2 shots espresso
4 pumps Toffee Nut Syrup (FROM STARBUCKS)
2 T mocha
1 - 1 1/2 c milk (steamed for hot version)
Caramel Syrup (ice cream topping)
Coarse Sea Salt

Mix espresso, syrup and mocha until it is blended. Add the milk and stir. Top with whipped cream, some caramel syrup and coarse sea salt!

You'll notice the chocolatey look here.

NOTE: Starbucks sells the Toffee Nut syrup to any customer for $7.95/bottle. $1 for the pump (this is important cause it's calibrated specifically for the drinks). This will last you MANY drinks. You pay over $5 for ONE drink, so think about how much you are saving by just making them at home!

Shepard's Pie

2011-09-26T08:26:00.001-07:00

My dear hubby, though not a stitch of Irish in him, LOVES him some SHEPARD'S PIE!!!! This is a very common "meat and potato" recipe at our house! My kids too inhale this stuff, and it's SO NICE cause it's "all in one" so I don't have to cook any veggie sides, etc! What could get better than that!? :)

So, here it is! :)

1 lb ground beef
1/4 c Worchestershire Sauce
1 packet Brown Gravy Mix
2 T flour
1 c water
1-2 bags frozen mixed vegetables
2.5 lb potatoes (red are the best, but russet will do)
1 stick butter
1 c Cheddar Cheese, shredded

In a frying pan, brown ground beef in the Worchestershire Sauce. When the meat is done cooking, add the dry packet of Brown Gravy & flour and coat the meat. Add 1 c water. Simmer a few minutes until the gravy has thickened. Mix the frozen vegetables (don't need to heat), and hamburger mix together in a 9x13 pan. Peel and boil potatoes and mash either by hand or in a food processor or in a Kitchen Aid with a stick of butter. Layer potatoes on top of the meat/veggie mix and top then with cheese. Bake @ 350 for 40 minutes.

Note: I DO make a double batch and freeze this dish just before the bake time. On dinner day, I just set on the counter in the morning and bake as instructed above.

Chewy Soft Pretzels

2011-09-15T13:54:00.001-07:00

Roll about 20" wide.

Swing right side to the middle.

Swing left side and cross over the right side.

Cornstarch bath in HOT water and cornstarch.

Bake & top with melted butter and whatever toppings you like.

4 t yeast

1 t sugar

1 1/4 c warm water

4 c flour

1/2 c sugar

1 1/2 t salt

1 T olive oil

1/2 c baking soda

4 c hot water

1/4 c kosher salt, for topping

Dissolve yeast and 1 t sugar in warm water. Let stand until it foams and bubbles, about 10 minutes. In your bread machine bowl, put in 1/2 c sugar, salt, olive oil. Measure 4 c flour on top of the moist mixture and start the dough cycle. When the timer goes off, divide the dough into 12 equal parts. Roll each out like a snake about 20 or so inches wide. Form into a pretzel. Dip into baking soda warm water (I mix soda and water and JUST bring to a barely simmer and turn the burner off) for about 30 seconds and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated oven of 400 degrees for 8 minutes, until browned.

Cornbread

2011-08-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

So, not so long ago (maybe a year), Benjamin took me on a nice date to a high class restaraunt here in Phoenix that rotates around the top of this tower while you dine. AMAZING! Not to mention the AMAZING waitress we had! She was just a doll! Worked hard and sought out ways to make our night more pleasant. She just went the extra mile! Such a neat place! Anyway, while dining in this place, they served us Cornbread. Not a huge fan of Cornbread myself, I offered my hubby my piece, but he MADE me try a bite at least. Needless to say, he never got my piece! :) It was AMAZING! And I ate every last bite! :) He teasingly asked our waitress if he could have just one more piece of cornbread and she obliged, and with it, she brought out a card that had the printed recipe!!! The actual recipe this restaraunt uses! Oh, were we happy! :) I've made it a few times since we ate there and every time it's the same, incredibly addicting! So, I'm sharing it now with you!

1 lb (4 sticks) butter
2 c sugar
2 c cornmeal
8 eggs
28 ounces cream corn (see recipe below)
3 c flour
2 T baking powder
2 T salt
6 oz cheddar cheese

Cream the butter, sugar and cornmeal. Add eggs one at a time -- mix until incorporated. Add cream corn (see recipe below) and mix until incorporated. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until incorporated. Add cheese, mix. Grease pans. Preheat oven to 300. Bake about 1 hr until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

This recipe yeilds either 1 - 9x13; or 2 - 9x9; or 4 - large loaf pans.

Note: This can also be frozen UNBAKED, and baked the day of serving. See pictures.

Cream Corn

2 (10 ounce) packages frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 c heavy cream
1 t salt
2 T sugar
1/4 t pepper
2 Tbutter
1 c whole milk
2 T flour
1/4 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a skillet over medium heat, combine the corn, cream, salt, sugar, pepper and butter. Whisk together the milk and flour, and stir into the corn mixture. Cook stirring over medium heat until the mixture is thickened, and corn is cooked through. Remove from heat, and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted. Serve hot or use for recipe.

Crunchy Romaine Toss Salad

2011-07-07T15:04:00.001-07:00

The yummy homemade dressing!!!

The crunchies you'll put on top!!!

Fresh sliced strawberries!

The Salad!

Lettuce Salad:
1 head Romaine lettuce, washed and cut
1 lb strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
3 green onions
2 heads of brocoli

Crunchies:

2 pkg Ramen noodles, crushed
1 c slivered almonds
1/2 stick butter

Dressing:

1 c vegatable oil
1/2 c red wine vinegar
1 c sugar
1 T soy sauce

Cut, wash and prepare lettuce and put in a large bowl. Wash and cut brocoli into small bite size pieces. Cut green onion and put over lettuce with the brocoli. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Add DRY broken up Ramen Noodles and almonds and saute until they are golden. I would suggest a medium heat and watch closely stirring frequently. These will burn quickly if they are not watched. In another container (I use a Ziploc Twist and Lock) and mix together oil, red wine vinegar, sugar and soy sauce. Cover with lid and shake until everything is well combined. When ready to eat, serve lettuce bowl part onto your plate, top with strawberries, crunchies and the amount of dressing you desire! Eat! This is so light and so refreshing! You will want seconds! I DO NOT recommend putting EVERYTHING all together in one big bowl as once it's all combined it all must be eaten! If you serve separately, you can use as leftovers!

Paul Specials

2011-06-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

This recipe is one I will always remember from way back! My mom used to work as a waitress at a small restaraunt where she grew up where these sandwiches were served! Simple, yet there's something I can't explain about how good they are! :) They just are! :)

1 package hamburger buns

1 lb pork sausage (I use my breakfast sausage recipe.), browned and drained

1 can pizza sauce

1 lb shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Toast your buns on broil in the oven watching very carefully! They toast quickly when on broil. Take them out of the oven and put a heap of cheese on the top bun and a spoonful of pizza sauce on the bottom bun. Add a spoonful of your browned pork sausage on top of the sauce. Throw back into your oven at 350 and bake until your cheese is melted. Usually about 15 minutes. If you like your cheese a little more crispy put it on broil at the very end for about a minute until it is golden! This is a great meal for a larger group party.

Cherry Scones

2011-05-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

I'm back! So sorry for the LOOOOONG extended time between today and my last post. Ahem. I will try to do better! The funny thing is that I have tons of recipes typed in posts ready to share, but haven't uploaded all my pictures yet, so they aren't getting posted too quickly! Hard to find the time right now to do that! Things get busier the older my kids get! :) I thought it was the other way around. :) Boy am I wrong!

So, I just got back from a visit to meet my new NEPHEW, Nolan Whitson, a few weeks ago! Oh, and I got to see my sister and BIL. :) That was great too! :) I'm smitten with that sweet baby boy, but that's not why you all are watching my blog for new recipes, so I guess this proud auntie will move along! :)

Anyway, while I was out there, the Royal Wedding took place and Nolan just so happened to wake up at 3AM for a feeding, so what perfect timing to get up and watch the Royal Wedding! Won't ever forget this morning. My sister and I watched as we drank hot breves and ate................ready for it............these very Cherry Scones! OH MY! Let's just say I felt rather "royal" while eating and watching, so here's the recipe! :) My sister is an AMAZING cook herself, and gave me a great stack of new recipes for me to try and she's given me permission to post them as I see fit! She briefly mentioned she wanted to "featured" on the blog, so here's to you, sweet sister!!! Love you!

Dough just out of the mixer!

Roll the dough out on flour surface to 1/2" or so thick. (mine here was too thin! :()

Cut into 8 triangles!

Bake! I put mine in for 12 minutes and these are too done! :(

Would've taken out at 10 minutes had I been watching! :)

2 c flour
1/4 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
6 T cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2" slices
1/2 c dried cherries
1/4 c sliced almonds
2 eggs
1/2 c whole milk
1/2 t almond extract

Preheat oven to 425. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. Cut in the butter until mix resembles coarse meal. Mix in cherries & almonds.

In a separate bowl combine eggs, almond extract and milk. Stir into the flour mixture just until moist. (If sticky, add a little more flour.) Turn dough and make into a ball. Flatten to 1/2" thick. Cut into 8 wedges.

Brush tops w/ milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 15 min.

NOTE: These freeze VERY well, just pull them out frozen and place on your cookie sheet as little or as many as you need and bake. May need a few extra minutes, but not much! The morning of the royal wedding we pulled them from the freezer and they were baked a very short time later!

Apple Salad

2011-04-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my family would travel about one weekend a month to my grandparents' farm near Ankeny, Iowa! OH THE MEMORIES! Our children are now buried about a mile from there, so it holds even more meaning! Anyway, my granny made this apple salad many a time growing up, my mom also made this many a time growing up, but I can remember this being one of my grandpa's favorite salads! Mine too! The combination is going to seem "off" but I assure you it's a great salad with great flavors. I do, however, caution you to make it shortly before you will serve, refrigerate until you do, and discard the leftovers. It's a salad that needs to be eaten right away!

4 apples (I prefer Honeycrisp, but do NOT use Granny Smith)
2 bananas
1 1/2 c mini marshmallows
1 c Miracle Whip
4 T sugar (give or take)

Cube all the apples into a mixing bowl. Slice all the bananas into that same bowl. Put marshmallows on top. In a small bowl, mix together the miracle whip and sugar until blended. You want to make sure the "tang" in Miracle Whip is almost gone, a little is alright. Once this is stirred, pour over the top of your cut fruit and marshmallows and stir until everything is well combined. CHILL!

GROUND BEEF 93/7 ZAYCON EVENT

2011-04-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!! GO NOW! Ground Beef Event is here in Mesa (AM) and Chandler (PM), Tuesday, April 26!!!!!

40 lbs of ground beef for $2.89/lb. Go to this link:

https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027

and sign up for your account, and order! Here again, no telling how QUICKLY this event will sell out!!!! Although I've not done their ground beef event, I've been SUPER EXCITED to try it as I've been SO PLEASED with their chicken events! I don't think I'll be disappointed!

Here's the link again! Hurry fast before it sells out!

https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf10027

Monkey Bread

2011-04-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

Monkey Bread! Reminds me of my childhood sometimes Sunday mornings when our good family friends would make it adn serve it fresh out of their oven! Mmmmm! Unbelievably yummy! :) I have to be honest, having watched it be made, I hesitated making it as it looked like so much work. I've simplified the process and had it in the oven in less than 30 minutes!

Biscuits, here's so you know what to look for! :)

Cut one tube at a time. Quarter each biscuit.

Once one tube is cut, throw them all into your sugar & cinnamon!

Layering them in the bundt pan!

Microwaving butter, brown sugar & KARO!

Pour over uncooked bread.

Bake!

Here is your end product!

4 Pillsbury tubes of biscuits
1 c sugar
1 T cinnamon
1 stick butter
1/2 c DARK brown sugar
2 T KARO syrup

In a gallon ziploc bag, combine the sugar and cinnamon. One tube at a time, cube each biscuit into fours. Throw that quartered tube into the sugar mix, seal bag and shake coating each piece individually. Put sugared pieces into a greased bundt pan. Do this with each of the other three tubes of biscuits until all pieces are covered in sugar and layered evenly in your bundt pan. In a microwave safe bowl, combine butter, brown sugar and Karo. Microwave for 60-90 seconds until all ingredients can easily be incorporated. Pour this over the top of your biscuits and put in the oven. Bake @ 400 for 20-25 minutes. Remove from the oven. Take a large plate or platter and immediately flip the monkey bread out. The caramel sticky layer will drizzle down over the sides. Enjoy!

BACON!!!

2011-03-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, so who is with me!? I HATE frying bacon! I don't use that word very often, but on very few occassions I use that word quite honestly! Frying bacon has NEVER been a fun thing for me. I can't stand the MESS it makes when fried up in a pan on the stove, and how it cooks so unevenly in the pan. Keeping the temperature a right level in the frying pan is something I never did learn the science of. Microwave was the next best thing, but even then it was hot to handle the dish in which you had to remove from the microwave, the MESS it created in my microwave from the grease splattering as it popped even under the paper towel, draining the hot grease, etc. You get my point! This task in my kitchen got so frustrating I completely skipped making any bacon at all! I boycotted it with all I had! :)

Fast forward, my dear hubby LOVES bacon! I couldn't continue to be a cruel wife, so when I figured out how to FINALLY cook bacon, it's a REGULAR thing in our home now! :) And everyone is happy! My kids will eat and eat and eat and EAT bacon now! :)

Here's the trick! Your problems have now been solved and you won't BELIEVE what a difference this makes! Take a cookie sheet jelly roll WITH SIDES. Put a piece of foil on the bottom of that cookie sheet. Take your pound of bacon and lay each piece flat one right next to each other. They can be touching just a little. Put your pan in a preheated oven at 400 degrees. Bake for about 30 minutes, less or more depending upon your bacon crispiness likings. Take out of the oven, and let sit for a few minutes. I then take a plate and put paper towels on it and take the bacon and let it "degrease." Flipping on each side.

Not only does your bacon LOOK appealing with not such an ugly deformation, but it's PERFECT for things like bacon to top on your hamburger to make your bacon cheesebureger OR bacon for your BLT's in the summer! OH MY!

Alright, so there you have it! :) THAT EASY & THAT SIMPLE! Now...........off to eat some bacon in my fresh egg omelet from our chickens! :) Top of the day to you! ;)

Asiago Cheese Bagels

2011-03-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

Any Panera lovers!? :) I used to be until I moved out to the southwest where they have NO PANERA!!!!! I've come up with my own solution when I get that REALLY BAD CRAVING (which it's been most recent cause a friend of mine came out here to stay a few months and facebooked that she missed Panera, and was SHOCKED there wasn't one here. :)) You have already seen a few other posts about my Panera addiction and this is just another! :) Enjoy!

Balls of dough before hole is poked in the center!

Holes have been made. This is a tedious process with LOTS of stretching needed!

Water almost ready to start boiling the bagels! You'll notice the holes in the center are almost closed!

Boiling!

Topped with cheese after they've been boiled!

Baked!

PERFECT MATCH! Asiago Cheese bagel WARM & a Breve!

It can't get much better than this! :)

4 c flour
2 pkgs yeast
1 1/2 c warm water
3 Tsugar
1 Tsalt
1 T sugar
1 c shredded Asiago Cheese

Put yeast into your warm water and stir. Let sit for a few minutes, it will start to foam. Meanwhile, mix together your flour, sugar (3T) and salt. Pour yeast mixture into your bowl and mix until everything is well blended and a dough ball forms. I use my Kitchen Aid with the dough hook, this is THE BEST way to do it if you have it. Once you've mixed the dough and nothing is sticking to the sides (add little bits of flour if still sticking to the sides of bowl until it doesn't any longer), drop it onto the counter and hand knead for another 5 or so minutes. Then let rest on the counter with a damp dish towel over the top. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. Take and divide the dough into 8 even sections. Once that is divided take each ball of dough and knead so that the creases are in the bottom of the bagel when put onto a GREASED pan for their second raising. Once all have been formed into smooth circles, stick your finger into the center of each piece of dough and stretch as much as possible. This dough is stiff and will spring back, just keep restretching them. Put the dish towel over the top of the pan and put into your oven with JUST THE LIGHT on. Let them raise for another hour like that. Remove and preheat your oven to 375. While your oven is preheating, boil about a gallon of water with 1T sugar. Boil bagels 7 minutes, flipping them ONCE at about 3 1/2 minutes. Remove and let drain on a paper towel. It will stick to the paper towel, but will also remove fairly easy. I let them drain for only about one minute. Top with shredded Asiago Cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes. Just WATCH CAREFULLY as every oven will vary. Mine were definitely done at 30 minutes. I don't care for mine super dark. They are best eaten right out of the oven. Just my own opinion! :) Otherwise when through, make sure to put any leftovers (if there are any) in a Ziploc to keep them moist. Toast the next morning and top with cream cheese! :)

Reeses Dream Pie

2011-02-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

HUGE fan of Hershey's Reeses Peanut Butter Cups OR Reeses Pieces! :) My mom introduced me to this recipe less than a year ago! OH MY! Get ready to brew your cup of coffee to go with it! :)

2/3 c peanut butter
1 c powdered sugar
1/4 c milk
1 t vanilla
1 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 8 oz tub cool whip
Reeses Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping
1 premade cookie crust (Oreo)

Cream cream cheese, vanilla and milk until it's not lumpy. Add the peanut butter and powdered sugar and again stir. Fold in the tub of cool whip to the cream cheese mixture. Put this into your prepared Oreo crust. Top with Magic Shell and freeze for 2 hours. Take it out about 30 minutes before serving. You can also simply refridgerate for several hours before and keep the remainder (if there is any :)) in the fridge.

Roasted New Potatoes

2011-01-30T16:38:00.001-07:00

Wash potatoes well removing all dirt.

Throw all ingredients in a bowl to coat.

Single layer in a 9x13 pan.

Should be golden when through with baking.

1 1/2 lb golden or red new potatoes
1/4 c olive oil
3 cloves garlic
handful of rosemary, fresh
1/2 c parmesan cheese

Rinse and half new potatoes. Throw them in a bowl. Drizzle oil over them and add the garlic and rosemary. Toss all of this together so everything gets well coated. Put these into a 9x13 pan and sprinkle 1/4 c parmesan cheese over the top. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Every 10 minutes stir and recoat. On the third time stirring (10 minutes baking time remaining) add the other 1/4 c parmesan cheese over the top and finish baking. Serve immediately. They cool quickly.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

2011-01-27T15:37:00.001-07:00

An incredibly different sandwich, but OH SO GOOD! This reminds me of the MIDWEST where my true roots are! :)

2-3 lb beef roast (sirloin, top roast)
1 - 10 oz jar Pepperocinis (the WHOLE jar, juice and all)
2 beef boullion cubes
1 t garlic powder/salt
1 T Italian Seasoning (if you don't have Italian seasoning, use what you've got, oregano, basil, etc)
salt & pepper
1 pkg hoagie buns (sub type)

In your crockpot, cut your roast into smaller chunks. Cover the roast with water, just to the top of the roast. Cook on low for at least 5 hours. I did mine overnight from midnight to 8AM. Remove the chunks onto a plate and shred (the longer it cooks, the easier it is to shred) until all is shredded. Pour the water out of the crockpot completely. Add shredded beef back into the crockpot and add seasonings & peppers along with about 3-4 c beef broth (made from the beef boullion cubes listed above). Let stew another 2 or so hours. Drain as you put it onto your bread (we toast ours).

Lemon Snowflake Cookies

2011-01-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

I seriously can't remember where I first tasted these yummy cookies, but they are AMAZING! Soft, chewy, light and lemony! If you like anything lemon (even lemonade), you'll want to try this recipe! AND, they are SO SIMPLE!

1 box Lemon Cake Mix
1/3 c canola oil
1 t lemon extract
2 eggs
1/3 c powdered sugar

In a bowl, combine cake mix, oil, extract and eggs and mix together until everything is blended well. (NOTE: DO NOT ADD THE INGREDIENT AMOUNTS FROM CAKE MIX BOX, ADD THE ABOVE.) Make small balls and dip each one into powdered sugar before putting on the pan. Bake at 375 for 6-9 minutes. They bake up QUICKLY, so be sure to watch closely starting at 6 minutes. You want the bottoms to be light brown and the tops will crack apart, but not brown.

Honey Granola

2011-01-12T17:11:00.001-07:00

So, many are "health conscious" at the beginning of the year always! Thought I'd post my granola recipe that isn't too terrible. Better choice than a donut! :)

This is all the ingredients mixed raw BEFORE the honey butter mixture.

Honey butter mixture blending.

This is when the granola is coated with the Honey Butter mixture BEFORE it is baked.

Completely baked and cooling. You can see the color difference.

1 - 18 oz container old fashioned oats (6 c)
8 oz sliced almonds
1 c brown sugar (I prefer DARK brown sugar)
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 sticks butter
1/2 c honey

In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients except butter and honey. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. When the butter is completely melted, stir in honey. Stir continuouslly until the butter and honey blend together and are no longer separated. Pour over oat mixture and toss until everything is well coated. Spread granola onto a parchment lined baking pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Stir right in the middle at 15 minutes. Watch it closely as at the end it darkens quickly! The sugar will begin to caramelize. Cool completely on pan. Transfer to an airtight container or Ziploc bags.

My FAVORITE way to eat granola is over sliced fresh bananas and vanilla yogurt! Mmm, mmm!