What's Cookin??

Tabouleh

2013-05-08T13:52:00.002-05:00

My love of tabbouleh started in the 80's. My mother would make it occasionally and I just loved it. Through the years I have changed my recipe to go along with my likes of the time. One thing is for sure, ALWAYS use fresh lemon juice. Please don't use the bottled stuff for this recipe. I eat this with homemade pita bread and a little feta cheese. Yummy!

Needed:
3 cups prepared Bulgar wheat
2 tomatoes-chopped
2 bunches green onions-sliced
1 English cuke-chopped
2 bunches-parsley-chopped
2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 cup olive oil
2 T fresh ground pepper
1 T sea salt

Pour 7 cups of boiling water over Bulgar and let set until it cools. Pour off extra water. Now add in tomatoes, green onions, cuke, and parsley. Stir well. Sale and pepper to taste now. Mix in another bowl lemon juice, and olive oil. Pour over mixture and stir, stir, and then stir some more. Let tabbouleh sit overnight, if you can wait that long, and serve with pita and feta. So good!

Beautiful Creatures- Cherry Fluff

2013-03-22T19:21:00.000-05:00

In our book club we have been knee deep in the Beautiful Creatures series of books. Of course I see the mention of a food in a book and all I can think about is what is in it and what it would taste like if I did this or that. I know, it's food OCD.......This recipe is SWEET but it is light in the same way. I think this would make a good dessert for the Easter Holiday, at least it looks Springy. Did I mention that here on Beaty's Creek we ate fresh wild onions while it was snowing????? Come Spring where are you??? This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek!

Needed:
1 can crushed pineapple
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 container Cool Whip
1 can Cherry Pie filling

Mix everything together and then chill overnight. Simple, simple, simple but sooo good!

St. Michael's Alley White Chili

2013-03-03T16:06:00.000-06:00

When Sean and I were first dating he took me to St. Michael's Alley on a date. We had escargot and white chili. I know what a weird combo. St. Michael's was and is still known for their white chili. I was so happy when the Tulsa World published this recipe a while back. It is just like St. Michael's and I don't have to leave my home on Beaty's Creek. I know it has been a bit since I have posted a new recipe the reason is I have been have some issues with my left eye and a one eyed blog writer is not the best by far. heehee This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today. Like Spring today and Winter tomorrow...Only in Oklahoma!!

Needed:
2 yellow onions-chopped
5 garlic cloves-minced
4 chicken breast-cooked and chopped
1 pound Great Northern Beans
2 cans Rotel
3 cups chicken broth
1 jalapeno-chopped
2 T chili powder
1 t cayenne pepper
1 T cumin
1 Tabasco
1 T Worcestersthire Sauce
2 t oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook your beans in chicken broth just until tender. Now add in your onions, garlic, chicken, Rotel, jalapeno, cumin, salt, pepper, oregano, Tabasco, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire Sauce. Stir and let simmer over a medium low heat for 1 hour.

Banana Baked Oatmeal

2013-01-02T18:08:00.003-06:00

A friend of mine was telling me how much her family loved baked oatmeal. I had never heard of it before but figured Raven would love it. This is my first try and it was really tasty. Raven liked it cut into bars so that is how we are eating it. I am going to try a peanut butter and chocolate one soon. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

3 really ripe bananas
3 T Sweet n Low sweetner
2 eggs
1 t salt
1 t vanilla
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 cups oatmeal
1 t cinnamon
Mash the bananas with the eggs, salt, Sweet n Low, and vanilla. When all is mashed good add in your oatmeal, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and finally the milk. Mix well, it will be runnier than you thought it would be. At least for me it was. Pour into a 9x13 lightly buttered pan, covered with foil and bake at 350' for 25 minutes. Uncover and place back in oven for 12-15 more minutes. Cool slightly before cutting. Store any left in the fridge for up to a week.

Latkes

2012-12-08T07:38:00.000-06:00

Okay, I swear I was Jewish in another life. Seriously, I could live on anything in a Jewish kitchen, during Passover included. On the first or second night of Hanukkah we eat latkes, matzah ball soup, and fried doughnuts. I just love latkes with sour cream and homemade apple sauce. The kiddos eat their latkes with apple sauce. The husband is a purist at heart and likes his plain and fresh from the frying pan. Give this recipe a try and it will become a tradition during the holiday of lights. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

5 potatoes-peeled

1 egg-beaten

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 T flour or matzah

Oil

Shred potatoes by hand into a bowl filled with cold water. Once shredded, pour off water and add your egg, salt, pepper, and flour then mix well. Heat oil over medium heat in a cast iron or heavy bottom skillet. When oil is heated, drop potato mixture by the tablespoon into the hot oil and spread out a little. Cook until brown and then turn and brown other side. Serve hot with sour cream and apple sauce.

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Pecan Pie Cake

2012-11-20T06:49:00.001-06:00

This cake takes a little bit of effort but it so worth it! I absolutely love pecan pie and this cake has the best of the best in flavors if you ask me. You get a nutty cake and a pecan pie all in one!

Pecan Pie Filling

Needed:
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup cornstarch
4 egg yolks
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1/4 t salt
3 T butter
1 vanilla bean-scraped

Mix together the first 7 ingredients in a pan until smooth over medium heat. Bring to a boil stirring constantly, and boil for only 1 minute. It will be thick. Remove from heat; and mix in vanilla bean seeds. Place a sheet of parchment paper directly on surface of mixture to prevent a film from forming, and chill over night.

Cake
Needed:

3 cups pecan halves
1 cup butter flavor shortening
2 cups sugar
5 eggs-separated
1 vanilla bean-scraped
2 cups flour
1 t baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup corn syrup

Spread 3 cups of pecans evenly in 2 buttered 9 inch round cake pans.
Beat shortening and sugar until fluffy. Now add egg yolks 1 at a time until blended after each one is added. Stir in vanilla bean seeds.

Combine all of your dry ingredients together and stir. Add to shortening mixture alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir slowly just until blended after each addition.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, and fold one third egg whites into batter. Fold in remaining egg whites. Do not over mix!!!!! Pour butter into prepared pans.
Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks for about 10 minutes, then flip onto the wire racks. Put some wax paper down under the wire racks. Brush the tops and sides of layers with corn syrup and cool completely. Spread pecan pie filling on one layer pecan side up and then place second layer pecan side up on filling and spread with remaining filling. Chill and serve! Soooo good!

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

2012-11-09T17:12:00.000-06:00

We are lovers of blueberry anything around here and these muffins are three kiddo approved! Sean said the blueberries were a little sour but everything else passed. I have been enjoying one of my birthday presents with these muffins, wonderful organic tea from a great little tea shop, Gray Owl, in Norman, OK. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

1 cup whole milk
1 T lemon juice
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1 cup sugar
1 T baking powder
1 t sea salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup canola oil
2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries

Mix together your milk and lemon juice and set aside for 10 minutes. This willm ake your "buttermilk". Mix all your dry ingredients together. Now make a well in the middle and add your eggs, milk,and oil. Mix all together gently. Now fold in your blueberries. Place [aper liners in each of your muffin cup and fill each one 3/4 full. Bake at 400' for 18 minutes.

Did you say Butterfinger?????

2012-10-25T16:25:00.000-05:00

We have a long love of the Butterfinger bar I hate to admit. I have been known to gobble down one with a Diet. Dr. Pepper while waiting for the kiddos at one of their activities. Anyway, this recipe is just as good as the store bought ones and so easy you will want to slap your moma! Just not me okay?? This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today. Raven made this all by herself too! You know this is a great way to use up all the leftover candy corn and Hershey Bars your kiddos have left from Trick or Treating, that is if you have leftovers....

Needed:

1 bag of candy corn
1 16 oz. jar of peanut butter
1 bag of milk chocolate chips

Place candy corn in a microwave safe glass bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute and stir. Now heat on high for 30 seconds and stir, repeat this 4 more times until candy corn is completely melted. When melted, pour in peanut butter and stir, stir, stir. Line an 8x8 cake pan with parchment paper and pour mixture in. Smooth and cover with plastic wrap. Place in freezer for 30 minutes.

Now while that is in the freezer, melt your chocolate chips in a double boiler. Remove pan from freezer and cut into little rectangle "bars", if you will. Dip each bar into melted chocolate and then place on a parchment lined cookie sheet until set up. Store in an air-tight container.

Caramel Apple Sheet Cake

2012-10-20T08:09:00.000-05:00

I love apples and any recipe with apples in them. This one reminds me of caramel apples...did I mention I love caramel too???? The cake is super moist and the icing you could eat with a spoon. Sheet cakes are great to bring to a fall party, little squares of yum! This is so worth the work! This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

2 cups flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 baking soda
1 t sea salt
2 t cinnamon
1 cup canola oil
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/2 whole milk
5 apples-peeled and shredded

Mix all of your dry ingredients together. Add in oil, eggs, vanilla, and milk and mix until all comes together. Now fold in the shredded apples. Now pour cake in a parchment lined jelly roll pan, smooth top evenly and bake at 350' for 20 minutes. Cool completely.

Icing:

3 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup half and half

4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
4 T half and half ( this is to add to the caramel mixture once it is cooled._

In a medium non-sick pan add butter, brown sugar, half and half and cream over medium heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Now bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. Now add caramel into your Kitchen Aid with the beater on and add 1 cup at a time of powdered sugar alternating with the 4 T half and half. You may need more half and half to get to a spreadable icing. Ice cake and enjoy!

Sugar Cookies to die for!!!!

2012-10-07T00:20:00.000-05:00

I LOVE iced sugar cookies! I can eat my weight in these cookies and let me tell you, that is a LOT of sugar cookies. :) This recipe's trick is to make sure you leave the dough in the fridge overnight and then roll it out. I make this recipe every holiday for the kiddos, ya right, the kiddos. This will be one of your favorites too. Make some for Halloween and surprise your little ghouls. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

1 1/2 cups butter-room temperature
2 t vanilla
4 eggs-I use free range
5 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup powder sugar
1 t salt
2 t baking powder-I use Rumsford

Cream butter, sugars, salt, and eggs until light and fluffy. Add 2 cups of flour and mix well. Add your last 3 cups of flour and your baking powder and mix until all come together. Place in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate overnight. Roll dough out to 1/4 inch and cutout with desired cookie cutters. Bake at 350' for 8 minutes. They will look a little soft when you take them out but will crisp up nicely as they cool. Ice with butter cream, my favorite, or royal icing.

Pumpkin Rice Pudding

2012-10-03T04:00:00.000-05:00

I love rice pudding and always remember my mom making it for me when I was getting over some sort of illness. The raisins were one of my favorite parts. I thought that adding pumpkin to the mix would make it even better and it did!! I think this would make yet another side dish to add to the list for Thanksgiving. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

3 quarts water
3 cups rice-not minute rice
10 cups whole milk
2 t vanilla
2 t salt
4 cups sugar
1 can pumpkin puree
2 T ground cinnamon
1 T ground ginger
1 cup raisins

Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat and add the rice. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 7 minutes. Don't drain, now add in your milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla and simmer over medium heat until rice begins to soften. This happens in about 30 minutes, now stir in your pumpkin, raisins, and spices. Bake at 350' in a 9x13 pan that has been buttered. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until firm to the touch. Serve warm.

The Moistest Carrot Cake You Will Ever Eat!!

2012-09-14T08:51:00.000-05:00

This recipe is my dad's favorite because it is so moist. Apparently carrot cake is not always moist. This cake is so good the next day right out of the fridge. I love cold cake with a hot cup of tea. My kids love carrot cake because they feel like they are eating a vegetable disguised as dessert. Whatever, we do count this cake as a veggie. Am I a good moma or what?? Did I mention I serve this with liver??? Not really, quit making a face. Give this cake a try the next time you are craving carrot cake. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 t salt
1 T baking soda
1 T cinnamon
1 1/2 cups canola oil
4 large eggs-beaten, I use free range
1 T vanilla
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
2 cups finely grated carrots
1 cup of crushed pineapple

Icing
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
6 T butter at room temperature
2 1/2 cups powder sugar
1 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Sift dry ingredients into a bowl. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in coconut, carrots and pineapple. Pour batter into pans. Set on the middle rack of oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until edges have pulled away from sides and a toothpick or sharp knife tip inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely.

To make icing, cream together the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl and slowly sift in the confectioners sugar and beat until mixture is free of lumps. Stir in vanilla at the end. Ice as you would any two layer cake.

Tex Mex Lasagna

2012-09-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite recipes and one that our kiddos really enjoy too, makes for an easy dinner.

Needed:

2 cans whole kernel corn-drained
2 cans black beans-drained and rinsed
1 large can Rotel
1 pound ground turkey-seasoned as you would for tacos
3 pounds of pepper jack cheese-shredded
1 can black olives-sliced
18 corn tortillas

Layer in a 9x13 pan in this order;
6 corn tortillas
corn
black beans
1 pound cheese
1 cup Rotel
6 corn tortillas
turkey
1 pound cheese
6 corn tortillas
1 cup Rotel
1 pound of cheese
black olives

Cook covered in a 350' oven for 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve with corn tortillas and butter.

Yummy Corn Flake Bars

2012-09-07T14:38:00.001-05:00

I decided to make this bar the other day and the kiddos enjoyed them. They are super easy and at least kinda healthy heehee, cereal is good for you right??? Make these for an after school snack or send them to your college kiddo. This is What's Cookin on this 100' day in September.

Needed:

6 cups corn flakes-crushed
1/2 cup butter-melted
4 T sugar
1 bag milk chocolate chips
2 cups sweetened, shredded coconut
1 cup peanuts-chopped
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Mix corn flakes, sugar, sugar, and butter together. Press into a 9x13 pan. Pour coconut, peanuts, and then chocolate chips on top. Now pour on the sweetened condensed milk and bake a t 350' for 15-20 minutes. Cool completely and cut up as you would brownies.

Apple Crisp

2012-08-27T08:16:00.001-05:00

I really like a sweet apple crisp and if you do also, this recipe is for you. Apple crisp is really simple to make and doesn't require many ingredients. I love to use Jonathan Apples but any that you have on hand are fine. My grandmother always used Jonathan Apples so this is why I am partial to them. Give this a try when you want apple pie and don't have the time to make one. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:
10 apples of your choice-peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups oatmeal
2 cups butter-softened
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups brown sugar
1 t vanilla
1 T cinnamon

Place your peeled and sliced apples in a bowl and add your 1 1/2 cups of sugar and cinnamon. Stir long enough as to coat the apples very well. Now pour the apple mixture into a 9x13 baking pan. Now mix your butter, brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and vanilla together until crumbly. I make a lot of the topping because I really like it!...never can have too much :) Place topping over apples evenly. Bake in a 350' oven for 1 hour. It may not need the whole hour so it is best to check it in 45 minutes to make sure that it does not burn. Serve with vanilla ice-cream.

Sodastream Machine

2012-08-15T07:16:00.000-05:00

It has been well over 100° on Beaty's Creek for the last couple of weeks and that is hot even for Oklahoma folks! Thank goodness for sparkling water! I had never thought of homemade soda or sparkling water until I read about the Sodastream. My kiddos love it and have come up with some of their own mixtures that are really tasty. I love the Diet Pink Grapefruit flavor, it is pretty and tasty! The Energy drink tastes so much like Red Bull you will not be able to tell it is not the real thing. The Essences that they have for sparkling water are light but make my water intake much easier to get in. For my special treat I love their Black Current Pear, it has no corn syrup. In fact, they have a whole line of non corn syrup products! As you can tell I love my Sodastream. This would make a great Graduation or Wedding gift. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today!

Sugar Free Beet Pickles like Granny used to make

2012-08-11T15:31:00.001-05:00

I really love pickled beets, I can eat a whole jar in one setting if I don't watch myself. If you have never tried pickled beets you are missing out. This recipe is so simple you must give it a try even if you have never canned anything before. Back when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1976, there was little to no sugar free anything. So my Granny West took it on herself to make me my favorites and boy were they good. When foodbuzz asked for help promoting Sweet N Low I knew I had to submit this great recipe. This winter you will not believe how good home canned food tastes! I love to open a jar of something I have canned from my garden in the winter, brings a little Spring back to Beaty's Creek. This is What's Cookinon Beaty's Creek today.

50 beets
2 cups beet boiling water
2 cups white vinegar
1/8 cup Sweet N Low Sweetener
2 t cinnamon

Remove beet greens and save to use later. Wash beets very well and place in pot covered with water. Bring beets to a boil and boil for 20 minutes or until fork tender. My beets were not real large, (I like small beets for pickles) so they cooked for about 15 minutes, size matters on how long your beets will cook. Once boiled let beets cool and then remove beets skin.Remember to wear gloves or you will have purple hands. Now get your jars ready to go, I use pint jars for pickled beets, I like the smaller jars for pickles but you can use quart jars if you wish. Prepare your jars as you would for canning anything. Once ready pack with your beets. Now bring beet water, vinegar, Sweet N Low, and cinnamon to a boil and pour over beets in jars and seal with a flat and ring. You will process beets in a hot water bath for 12 minutes. Let pickled beets sit for a couple of weeks before you eat them.

Ding Dong Cake AKA Raven's 18th

2012-07-12T09:30:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe my little Raven turned 18 last month. Where did all that time go?? She graduated high school and is now enrolling in college, sniff, sniff. I know, I know this is what is supposed to happen but gosh it is hard on a mom and dad! Raven has so many dreams and I do hope life gives her what she has given to life! Raven is a giver and I love that about her! This cake is my Ding Dong cake and it is what Raven picked for her birthday cake this year. This cake is so rich and decadent that a small piece will go far. Give this a try the next time chocolate is calling your name! This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek!

Needed:

2 boxes Duncan Hines Devils Food cake mix( I learned years ago in a Wilton Class to only buy Duncan Hines boxed mixes

Bake cake according to directions on the box. Saddens me to say but you know just DO IT! I cooked mine in 4 round cake pans. Bake according to directions also.... Now go on to the next step so I don't feel like a complete loser! Cool completely and remove from pans.

White Filling

4 cups whole milk

2 cups butter-softened

2 cups shortening
2 cups sugar
2 vanilla beans-scraped

16 T flour
Mix together milk and flour. Cook until thick, then cool COMPLETELY. Mix butter and shortening until well incorporated in your Kitchen Aid mixer. Now add in sugar and vanilla beans and mix until mixture is light and fluffy. Now add in flour mixture and beat until smooth and yummy.
Now pick out a pretty plate and plop out your first first cake layer. Spread the filling over cake all the way to the edge. Make sure it is very even too. Repeat with each layer of cake until you reach layer 4. You will not it with filling. Wrap cake completely with plastic wrap and place in freezer for 1 hour.
Icing
2 t vanilla

4 sticks butter-softened
6 T whole milk
4 T cocoa
I use a whole bag of powered sugar when I make this icing. Sometimes I need a cup more, I think it depends on the humidity in your area.

Mix butter, vanilla, and cocoa together. Now add in your powdered sugar a cup at a time. In between sugar add in a T of milk. Once all of your sugar is mixed in you might need to add a little more milk or sugar. Just depends if your icing is too runny or too thick. You want it to be easily spreadable. Now take your cake out of the freezer and ice it completely!! You want about 1/4 of icing all over the cake. Place iced cake in fridge until ready to serve.

Homegrown Goodness--Tomatoes

2012-06-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

The best thing out of a garden in my opinion are tomatoes. I have several varieties growing with some old and some new to me. My grandparents raised Jet Star tomatoes and I can still taste those tomatoes warm from the garden. My husband's grandparents raised Arkansas Travelers, this tomato will bear until frost. In addition to the old favorites I also have a few heirloom varieties. One of the heirloom varieties are Big Zebra, a green tomato with darker green stripes that is great tasting. My husband has to close his eyes when eating them though. He likes a tomato to be red and that is all there is to it. The other heirloom I have in this picture is the Old German and it is yellow with pink spots throughout and tastes similar to the Arkansas Travelers. I have some Cherokee Purple growing too but they are not pictured because they aren't quite ready for picking. No matter what variety of tomato you raise, plant a tomato plant and you will be so pleased with yourself and the best tomatoes in the world.

I like tomatoes semi-pure, meaning salt and pepper only. This is What's Cookin (not) on Beaty's Creek today.

Snickerdoodles

2012-06-20T18:44:00.001-05:00

This is Ransome's favorite cookie and mine too. I just love how the kitchen smells when they are baking and how good they taste when done. I think this is one of the easiest cookie recipes that I make and they are sure yummy! Give these a try and you will be so glad you did! This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today!

Needed:

1 cup butter flavor Crisco
1 1/3 cup sugar
3 cups flour
1 T baking powder
1/4 t salt
2 eggs

Rolling mixture

1 cup sugar
2 T cinnamon

Cream Crisco, sugar, and salt together. Once creamed scrap down bowl and add in one egg at a time. Now add in 1 cup of flour, and baking powder mix until comes together continue to add flour 1 cup at a time until all has been added. Now roll all dough into 1 inch balls. Mix 1 cup sugar and 2 T of cinnamon together well. Roll each ball of cookie dough in this mixture before placing on cookie sheet. Now bake at 350' for 12 minutes. They will be soft but will crisp slightly as they cool.

Garden Fresh Pasta Sauce

2012-06-05T12:19:00.000-05:00

Raine loves cherry tomatoes so I planted a few just for her this year. They are already producing and my basil, for the first year, is doing great too! I made this a fast pasta sauce the other night and it was a hit. I went the vegan route but the rest of the family used Parmesan cheese and said it was even better!

Needed:
5 cups cherry tomatoes
2 purple onions- peeled and quartered
2 garlic bulbs-sliced in half
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 cups fresh basil leaves-torn
Parmesan cheese-grated
Pasta of your choice cooked al dente

Coat veggies you are getting ready to roast with plenty of olive oil and toss with salt and pepper to your liking. Roast tomatoes, onions, and garlic in a 425' oven for 20 minutes or until tomatoes pop. Once your pasta is done, drain and then add in your roasted veggies. Right before serving, toss in basil leaves and Parmesan cheese. Super easy and super good!

Strawberry Sheet Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting

2012-05-07T14:32:00.012-05:00

Strawberry anything is a favorite around here and I try to come up with a new recipe every once in a while. The first time I made this was in a 9x13 pan, not a good choice. It was still tasty but a little too banana bread like for a cake in my opinion. We are just now starting to get local strawberries but gosh there have been some incredible sales on California strawberries and they are really sweet too!

Needed:
3 cups fresh strawberries-cleaned and chopped
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 sticks of butter
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs-beaten
1 t baking soda
1 t vanilla

Over the chopped strawberries, with 1/2 cup of sugar. Let them sit for an hour at room temperature so they can release some of their juices. The berries should reduce to about 1 1/2 cups. Hand crush the strawberries, you want them juicy but still with some texture.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sift 2 cups sugar and flour, and baking soda together in a bowl.

Melt the butter on low in a saucepan and then whisk it with the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla. Add the liquid to the flour and then stir in the crushed strawberries.

Pour batter into a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes. Cake is done when a knife comes out clean from the center. Let it cool completely and then frost with whipped cream!!!

Note: The cake will be a little brown. Still tastes great!

Barbecued Meatballs

2012-04-26T14:15:00.000-05:00

I served these with my Crack Potatoes and the combo was well received. These are really moist and if you cut your onions small enough, something the whole family will eat. Raven, on the other hand, will not touch anything that she even "thinks" may have onions. I know, silly isn't she??? This is What's Cookin on this beautiful Spring Day on Beaty's Creek!!!

Needed:
3 pounds ground round
2 t salt
3 t black pepper
1 cup of milk
1 cup of oatmeal
1 small onion-grated
1 bottle ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
2 garlic cloves-smashed
2 T molasses
1 T hot sauce

In a saucepan add ketchup, brown sugar, 2 smashed garlic cloves, molasses and hot sauce. Cook over low heat for 2 hours. While that is cooking, start your meatballs. Mix together the oatmeal and milk and set aside. Now mix together ground round, onion, salt and pepper. When completely mixed, then add in the oatmeal. Make into to 1 inch balls and now place on a parchment lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake at 350' for 30 minutes. Once done add to your sauce. Continue to cook for 20 minutes. I served these with my Crack Potatoes and homemade bread.

Sausage Burgers

2012-04-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

I had never eaten a sausage burger until I started dating my husband. His family had always fixed them and I was ready to start the tradition for my family. I remember the first time I fixed them for my parents while still living at home. They were surprised that something so simple could taste so good. Give this a try the next time you grill burgers for something a little different. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek.

Needed:

3 pounds ground chuck
1 pound mild breakfast sausage
1 T salt
1 T pepper

Mix all of the ingredients together and form into patties. Grill until completely done. We top ours with cheese but that is up to you.

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

2012-04-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

As I've said several times, my mom could live on peanut butter and ice-cream. This cake is one of her absolute favorites and the kids just love it with a cold glass of milk. Spring is upon us here on Beaty's Creek and it is gardening time a little early. I have been out planting like crazy so hopefully we don't get a winter cold snap. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 vanilla bean-scraped
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk

Icing:
2 cups butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups powdered sugar

In a saucepan heat peanut butter, water, and butter together until it melts together. Pour into a bowl, now add in your sugars and stir until well blended. Now add in all the dry ingredients. Mix until all comes together, now add in the milk and vanilla bean and stir. Now pour into a parchment lined jelly roll pan. Spread out smoothly and bake at 325' for 15 minutes.

Mix butter and peanut butter in a saucepan. Heat until boiling, then remove from heat. Pour into your bowl and add in powdered sugar a cup at a time until all is added. Now add in the milk and whip until creamy. Frost cake while icing is still slightly warm.