Kelsea's Kitchen

Prize Winning, Mouth Watering Homemade Pickles!

2012-09-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Bread and Butter Sliced Pickles

Okay these pickles are just simply amazing! While at my grandma's house I stumbled unto a glass bowl with what appeared to be a bunch of sliced vegetables. I thought it looked good so I pulled it out of the fridge and uncovered it. To my surprise it was pickles...I don't know why it didn't dawn on me before that you could make your own pickles. I tried one expecting it to be good but not as good as my favorite bread and butter pickles. They definitely were not as good as my "previous" favorite pickles they were so much BETTER!! I begged for the recipe and now I am sharing it with you guys...ENJOY!

Ingredients:

6 c. cucumbers, sliced
3 med. onions, sliced
1 sweet green pepper
1/2 c. canning salt
2 c. vinegar
2 c. boiling water
1 tsp. mustard seed
1 tsp. celery seed
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1 1/2 c. sugar

Directions:

1. Mix cucumbers, onions, green pepper and salt; let stand 2 hours.
2. Drain and rinse off excess salt.

3. Combine vinegar, boiling water, mustard seed, celery seed, turmeric and sugar.

4. Bring to a boil. Combine with cucumbers. Cook 5 minutes.

5. EITHER: Pack into hot sterilized jars leaving 1/4-inch headspace OR put pickles in an air tight container and store in the fridge (just depending if you are going to use them at a later time or eat in the next day or so)

*The pickles are best eaten chilled in the fridge!

Perfect Krispy Kream Doughnuts Recipe

2012-04-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Krispy Kream Doughnuts' Recipe

(CopyCat)

Ingredients:

- 2 T. Active Dry Yeast

- 1/4 cup Warm Water

- 1 1/2 cups Lukewarm Milk

- 1/2 cup White Sugar

- 1 t. Salt

- 2 Eggs

- 1/3 cup Butter

- 5 cups All-Purpose Flour

- 1 quart Vegetable Oil (for Frying)

Directions:

1. Dissolve yeast in the Warm Water with a tablespoon of White Sugar (let it sit for 5-10 minutes).

2. In a sauce pan warm the Milk, White Sugar, and Butter (do not bowl just heat until lukewarm).

3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, milk mixture, eggs, salt, and 2 cups of Flour

4. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead the dough in mixing bowl or by hand for 10 minutes (kneading is very important)!

5. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and set aside in a warm place to allow the dough to double in size.

6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1/2 in thickness. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Place doughnuts on a baking sheet and let them rise until until double in size.

7. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degree. Slide doughnuts into the hot oil using a whide spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil and drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot. Set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet under racks for easy clean up.

GLAZE RECIPE:

- 1/3 cup Butter

- 2 cups Confectioners' Sugar

- 1 1/2 t. Vanilla

- 4 T. Hot Water

Heat butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in Sugar and Vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat adn stir in Hot Water 1 T. at a time until icing is somewhat thin but not watery. Set aside until doughnuts are ready to be glazed.

World's Greatest Lasagna

2012-03-25T22:25:00.002-07:00

World's Greatest Lasagna

A recipe from Johnchandler @allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage

- 3/4 pound lean ground beef

- 1/2 cup minced onion

- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
* Yes this Lasagna take a little bit of work but it is worth it!!

1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

3.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup

4.Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Tips:

The only thing I change is that I had a cup of spinach to the sauce to give it some extra nutrients. You can't really even taste it!

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

2012-03-25T22:11:00.000-07:00

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes: Incredible Summer Dessert

Ingredients:

- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup Lemon Juice ( about 2 lemons)
- 2 Tbsp lemon zest (about 1-2 lemons)
- 1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

*Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners

2. In medium bowl mix together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest, set aside.

3. In bowl of stand mixer cream butter and sugar on medium speed until combined.

4. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

5. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and mix well.

6. Gradually add the dry ingredients and milk, alternating starting and ending with the dry ingredients and mix until combined.

7. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.

8. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

Tips:

The original recipe called for 1/4 cup Lemon Aid Powder but I did not have any so I used a cup of fresh Lemon Juice from the Lemons I just zested. It tasted amazing but very lemony. If you do not want it as lemony then just reduce the lemon juice.

Frosting Recipe

- 1 stick Butter
- 1/2 cup Cream Cheese
- 4 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar (add more if frosting is not thick enough)
- 4 Strawberries
- 1/2 t. Vanilla
- 1 t. Lemon Juice
Mix all together and top the cupcakes when they are completely cooled! Enjoy

Outrageous Brownies

2012-03-22T14:52:00.003-07:00

Outrageous Chocolaty Brownies

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cup (3 sticks) Butter

- 12 ounces (1 1/2-2 cups) Semisweet Chocolate Chips

- 6 ounces (1 cup) unsweetened Cocoa

- 5 Large Eggs

- 2 T. Vanilla Extract

- 2 1/4 cups Sugar

- 1 1/4 All-Purpose Flour

- 1 T. Baking Powder

- 1 t. Salt

- Walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Melt together the Butter, Semisweet Chocolate Chips, and Unsweetened Cocoa in a medium bowl over simmering water.

3. Allow mixture to cool slightly. In a large bowl stir (do not beat) together the Eggs, Vanilla, and Sugar...Then stir in the warm Chocolate mixture into the Egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

4. In a medium bowl sift together Flour, Baking Powder, and Salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture.

5. Toss Walnuts (OPTIONAL)

6. Pour into the baking sheet.

7. Bake for 20-35. DO NOT OVER BAKE

Tips:

If you use salted butter you do not need to add the 1 t. salt.
I made my brownies in a cookie sheet so they only took 20 minutes because they were super thin but if you are cooking them very thick in a glass pan then cook them closer to 30 minutes
Make sure to stick the middle of the brownies with a tooth pick to make sure they are done.

"Andes Mint" Cookies

2012-03-20T16:52:00.001-07:00

Awesome Andes Mint Cookies with Green Frosting!

Ingredients:

- 1 cup Butter

- 1 cup Sugar

- 2 cup Packed Brown Sugar

- 3 eggs

- 3 tsp. Vanilla

- 4 1/2 cups Flour

- 1 1/2 tsp. Soda

- 1 1/2 tsp. Salt

- Andes Mint Candies

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. In a large mixing bowl combine Butter and Sugars and mix until creamy

2. Add Eggs and Vanilla

3. In a medium size bowl combine Flour, Soda, and Salt and whisk together. Then add the Flour mixture to the creamed mixture. Mix well

4. Add the Andes Mint Candies (as much as desired)

5. On an ungreased pan drop Tablespoon size cookie dough balls in rows of 3 x 4 .

6. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10-12 minutes (DO NOT OVER BAKE)

7. OPTIONAL: When cookies are cooled top with a green
frosting it just completes the mint and chocolate
theme.

Tried to make 4 leaf clovers for St.Patty's Day

Homemade Frozen Yogurt

2012-03-16T17:00:00.000-07:00

Delicious Homemade Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients:

- 3 cups Greek Yogurt

- 3/4 cups Sugar

- 1 T. Vanilla

- Any other flavor you want to add to the yogurt ( Strawberry, Chocolate, Blueberries, Acai Berry, Etc.)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix together the Greek Yogurt, Sugar, and Vanilla until Sugar is dissolved. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and set aside in the refrigerator for 1 hr.

2. Set up your ice cream machine (set up according to the manufacturers instructions, I use the ice cream maker attachment to the kitchen aide).

3. Pour the chilled yogurt mixture into the churning ice cream maker and mix until the yogurt become the consistency of soft served ice cream.

4. While the yogurt is churning add any additional flavor. In my yogurt I added Acai Berry Puree and Blueberry Puree.

5. Move the Yogurt to a large bowl, cover, and freeze int the freezer until ready to serve. ENJOY

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

2012-03-16T10:02:00.003-07:00

Addicting, Mouth-Watering Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

- 1 T active Dry Yeast
- 1/2 cup Warm Water
- 1/2 cup Scalded Milk
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1/3 cup Butter
- 1 t. Salt
- 1 Egg
- 3 1/2- 4 cups All-Purpose Flour

Filling

- 1/2 cup melted Butter
- 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 2 T. Ground Cinnamon
- 3/4 cup Walnut or Pecans (Optional)

Icing
- 1 cup powdered Sugar
- 1 t. Vanilla
- 2 t. Butter
- 2 T.Milk
- 1/2 cup Cream Cheese

Directions:
* Cinnamon Rolls bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes

1. In a small bowl, dissolve Yeast in Warm Water with a tablespoon of Sugar.

2. In a large bowl mix Milk, Sugar (all the Sugar but the tablespoon used to dissolve yeast), Melted Butter, Salt,and Egg.

3. Add two cups of Flour and mix until smooth. Add Yeast mixture

4. Mix the remaining Flour until dough is easy to handle. Knead dough on lightly floured surface or with dough hook on mixer for 10 minutes.

5. Place dough in a well greased bowl and let it rise until double in size (usually takes 1 hr.).

6. After it doubles in size punch down. Roll out onto a lightly floured surface into a 15 by 9 inch rectangle. Spread melted butter all over the dough. Mix the Sugar and Cinnamon and sprinkle of the buttered dough. Next add any nuts if you want them.

7. Beginning at the 15 inch side roll up dough (tightly) and pinch edge together to seal the dough. Cut into 12 to 15 slices.

8. Spray the baking pan and place Cinnamon Rolls slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled (about 45 minutes).

9. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.

10. Mix icing together and drizzle over hot rolls when they come out. Yummy

Teriyaki Chicken Island Tacos

2012-03-15T19:00:00.001-07:00

Island Tacos with Grilled Pineapple and Spicy Fries

Ingredients:

- Small Flour Tortillas
- Chicken (boneless)
- Fresh Pineapple (chopped into bite size pieces)
- Shredded Lettuce
- Green Onions
- Shoe String French Fries

Teriyaki Sauce:
- 3/4 cup Soy Sauce
- 1 1/2 cup Water
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1 t. Ginger
- 1 clove of Garlic
- 3 chopped Green Onions
- 2 t. Corn Starch

Spicy French Fry Seasoning:

- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Cook the Fries according to the bag directions then sprinkle the seasoning all over them.

Directions:
Teriyaki Sauce instructions: Combine all the sauce ingredients together (except the Corn Starch that is for later). Stir until the Sugar has dissolved.

1. Place boneless Chicken into a plastic bag (you can put as much Chicken as you intend to eat). Pour the Teriyaki Sauce into the bag with the Chicken and marinate for at least 3 hours in the refrigerator.

2. Next cook Chicken either on an outside grill or on a stove grill. Cook Chicken until white all the way through

3. While the Chicken is cooking put the Teriyaki Marinade in a pot and bring to a boil. Once it starts to boil add Corn Starch (make sure to dissolve corn starch in some water before adding to the Teriyaki Sauce).

4. Heat the Tortillas so that they are served warm. Shred Lettuce, chop the Pineapple, and chop the Green Onions.

5. The Tacos are ready to be assembled. Place the Chicken, Lettuce, Pineapple, Green Onions, and Sauce in the Taco and enjoy!!

Mimi's Cafe Spinach Artichoke Dip

2012-03-14T21:46:00.002-07:00

Best Artichoke Dip in the World

*Artichoke Dip from Mimi's Cafe, Recipe from mimiscafe.com! Trust me you'll love it

Picture from mimiscafe.com you can also find this recipe there!

Ingredients:

- 4 ounces Monterey Jack Cheese (grated)
- 2 ounces Swiss Cheese (grated)
- 8 ounces Parmesan Cheese (shredded)
- 3/4 cup Artichoke Heats (quartered)
- 1 bunch fresh Spinach
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup prepared Alfredo Sauce
- 2 t Garlic (chopped, approx 2 cloves)
- 1/2 t. Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Tortilla Chips and Sliced Bread for dipping

Directions:

1. Combine Jack, Swiss, and Parmesan Cheeses in a mixing bowl.

2. Drain Artichokes and dice into small pieces. Wash and cut Spinach into 1 inch pieces and add to Cheese mixture.

3. In a separate mixing bowl combine the Mayonnaise, Alfredo Sauce, Garlic, and Pepper. Mix until well combined.

4. Pour the Mayonnaise mixture into the Cheese mixture and stir until well mixed.

5. Drain sun-dried Tomatoes of any oil or liquid and dice into small pieces and add to the mixture.

6. Heat cold dip mixture over medium heat in non-stick frying pan until hot and cheese is completely melted. Transfer to serving dish and serve with tortilla chips and sliced bread

Molasses Sugar Cookies

2012-03-14T21:26:00.002-07:00

Soft Amazing Molasses Cookies Rolled in Sugar

Ingredients:

- 2 1/4 cups all purpose Flour
- 2 t. ground Ginger
- 1 t. Baking Soda
- 3/4 t. Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 t. Ground Cloves
- 1/4 t. Salt
- 3/4 cup softened Margarine
- 1 cup White Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 T. Water
- 1/4 cup Molasses
- 2 T. White Sugar (for rolling to cookies in)

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium sized bowl sift together Flour, Ginger, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Salt.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together Margarine and 1 cup Sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Beat in the egg then stir in the Water and Molasses.

4. Gradually stir in the sifted dry ingredients into the creamed wet ingredients.

5. Shape the dough into small balls and roll them in sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.

6. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 8-10 minutes. Allow cookies time to cool on the baking sheet before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Steak Fajitas

2012-03-14T14:10:00.001-07:00

Left over Steak Fajitas with Sauteed Onions and Peppers

Ingredients:

- Left over Steak sliced

- Julienne Green, Yellow, and Red Peppers

- Sliced Onions

- Olive Oil

- Tortillas

- Sour Cream

- Cheese (cheddar or Mexican mix)

Directions:

1. In a large frying pan pour a little bit of Olive Oil over the the bottom of the pan (just enough to lightly coat the entire pan.)

2. Then throw in the Peppers and sliced Onions. Cook until Onions become caramelized and the Peppers are soft.

3. While the Pepper and Onions are sauteing cook your Tortillas on a griddle (I use the uncooked tortillas from Costco but if you buy your already cooked then just quickly heat them up).

4. When Pepper and Onions are nice and soft through in the left over Steak and cook until Steak is heated all the way through.

5. Once everything is done you can assemble your Steak Fajitas. Put some of the Fajita mixture on with a sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Delicious and super easy to make.

Tips:

If you don't have left over Steak and don't want to grill any up for the recipe you can use left over Chicken or Pork
Asparagus is optional I used it this time but normally I don't put it in.

Great Chocolate Bowls

2012-03-12T10:34:00.001-07:00

Yummy Chocolate Fruit Bowls

Ingredients:

- Semi Sweet Baking Chocolate or Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (depending on how many bowls you are planning on making that is how much chocolate you should use).

- Fruit (use whatever fruit you want in the bowls.) I used Black Berries, Strawberries, Apples, and Oranges.

- Whip Cream

Directions:

1. First thing to do is temper the chocolate. This is very important to do to make sure the chocolate sets up properly. To temper the chocolate you need to melt the chocolate using a double boiler.

2. Using a candy thermometer get the chocolates temperature up to 118 degrees F. Make sure to stir constantly so that the chocolate melts evenly

3. Once the chocolate reaches a temperature of 118 degrees F. take the chocolate off the boiler and stir in some more chocolate chips to get the temperature back down to 80 degrees F.

4. After it reaches 88 degrees F. put the chocolate back on the boiler and let the temperate reach 88 degrees F. Make sure to continue to stir it and check the temperature

5. Take the chocolate bowl off the boiler and it is now ready to use. Once chocolate has cooled a bit dip the chocolate into blown up balloons (small water balloon size works wonderful).

6. Now let the chocolate balloons sit for 10 minutes to become solid. If you messed up while tempering and the chocolate doesn't harden no worries just stick them in the freezer to harden after the 10 minutes.

7. After the 10 minutes clip a small hole in the top of the balloons and SLOWLY let out the air of the balloon. Make sure to peel away the balloon as it deflates.

8 . Feel the chocolate bowl with desired fruit and top with whip cream. ENJOY

Texas RoadHouse Rolls

2012-03-11T16:10:00.003-07:00

Perfect Imitation Texas Roadhouse Rolls w/ Sweet Cinnamon Butter

*Bake at 350 degrees F.

Ingredients:

- 4 t. Yeast

- 1/2 cup Warm Water

- 2 cups Milk (scalded and cooled to lukewarm)

- 3 T. melted Butter (slightly cooled)

- 1/2 cup Sugar

- 7-8 cups All-Purpose Flour

- 2 whole Eggs

- 2 t. Salt

Sweet Cinnamon Butter

- 1 Stick of Butter (softened)

- 1 T. of Honey

- 1/2 T. of Cinnamon

(Mix all ingredients together, if you feel the butter is not sweet enough for you or does not have enough cinnamon feel free to add more.)

Directions:

1. Dissolve Yeast in Warm Water with a 1/4 cup Sugar. Let it stand for 10 minutes

2. In a large mixing bowl add Flour, Salt, and the last 1/4 Sugar.

3. Add Yeast mixture, Milk, Eggs, and melted Butter to the Flour mixture.

4. Mix together and then kneed for 10-15 minutes

5. Move the dough into a greased bowl and cover. Let the dough rise in a warm place until double in size (this should take about 30-60 minutes).

6. Once dough has risen place dough on a floured surface (the counter) and roll it out into a large rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Then fold the dough in half and lightly roll the two pieces together to get it 1 inch thick rectangular dough. Then using a pizza cutter or dough scraper cut the rolls into squares. Place those squares onto a greased baking sheet. Cover and let dough rise again until double in size.

7. Bake Rolls at 350 degrees F. for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. If you made them extra large bake them for 16-17 minutes.

8. Immediately baste with butter once the rolls are taken out of the oven

Tips:

I used a gluten dough enhancer but it is not needed
I basted the rolls with sweet cinnamon butter not just regular butter. It made them extra sweet
You can shape them like regular round rolls if you do not have time to roll them out and cut them.
Make sure you let them rise and don't forget to kneed them for 10-15 minutes it is super important (just use the dough hook on your kitchen aide to kneed them).

Pizza with Homemade Sauce

2012-03-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Amazingly Delicious Spinach Pizza with Garlic and Basil Tomato Sauce

Ingredients (for Pizza):

- 1/2 cup Warm Water

- 1 1/2 T. Yeast

- 1 T. Honey

- 1 cup All Purpose Flour

- 1 1/2 cup Wheat Flour

- 1 t. Salt

- 1 cup Warm Water

- 1 1/2 t. Olive Oil

Toppings

- Mozzarella Cheese

- Spinach

- Ham or Turkey

Ingredients (for Sauce):

- 2 Tomatoes

- 1/4 cup Olive Oil

- 1 T. minced Garlic (heaping Tablespoon)

- 1/4 an Onion

- 1 T. Basil

- 1/2 t. Oregano

- Salt and Pepper to taste

- (If sauce is to thick you can add water just a teaspoon at a time)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl put the 1/2 warm Water, Yeast, and Honey. Let it stand for 10 minutes (mixture should be foaming).

2. In a large mixing bowl measure out All Purpose Flour, Wheat Flour, and Salt. Whisk together.

3. Pour the Yeast mixture into the large mixing bowl filled with the Flour mixture. Then mix in the Olive Oil and 1 cup Warm Water.

4. Mix all the ingredients together then knead for 10 minutes.

5. After you are done kneading let the dough rise for 30 minutes.

6. Once the dough is done rising roll it out onto a baking stone or just a regular round pizza pan.

7. Lightly paint the dough with Olive Oil

8. Spread sauce generously over dough...not quite to the edges though.

9. Next generously sprinkle chopped Spinach onto the pizza

10. Cover the pizza with shredded Mozzarella Cheese

11. Place bit size pieces of either ham or turkey over the pizza

I used black forest ham

12. Place in the oven at 500 degrees for 11 minutes or until golden brown.

Sauce Recipe Directions:

In a small sauce pot place 2 tomatoes (each tomato should be cut into 4ths), Olive Oil, Garlic, Onions, Basil, Oregano, and Salt and Pepper. Let the mixture simmer until tomatoes become soft and easy to smash. Then place the entire mixture into the blender and blend until in because a nice smooth sauce. Place the sauce back into the sauce pot and place back on the stove on low for another 2-4 minutes.

Tips:

If you have dough enhancing powder at home put a Tablespoon of it into the pizza dough
Also if you have Soy Lecithin put a Tablespoon of that into the dough
Make sure to taste the sauce before putting it onto the dough to make sure it has enough salt and pepper
Try and cover ALL the spinach completely with cheese or it will crisp up and burn in the oven.
My oven doesn't get as hot so I cook my pizza at 500 degrees F. but if your oven tends to get very hot reduce the heat.

Spicy Shrimp Po' Boy!

2012-03-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

Bubba's Po' Boy

Paula Deen's Home Cooking

(I made a few changes to the original recipe)
Absolutely delicious sandwiches and so easy to make!

*serves about 4-6

Ingredients:

- 2 lbs, uncooked Jumbo Shrimp (peeled, deveined and butterflied)

- Salt and Freshly ground Black Pepper

- 3 eggs

- 1/4 cup Water

- 1/2 Hot Sauce ( I use Franks Red Hot, Bubba recommends Texas Pete)

- 2 cups Uncle Bubba's Fry Mix (6 cups self rising flour ( How to Make Self Rising Flour ), 1 cup Cornmeal, 1 t. Salt, 1 t. Black Pepper)

- Peanut Oil or Canola Oil for Frying

BEST TATAR SAUCE EVER RECIPE (Paula Deen's)

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped sweet pickles
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Lightly sprinkle the shrimp with salt and pepper.

2. In a small bowl mix the eggs, 1/4 cup water and hot sauce.

3. Place the fry mix in a shallow dish.

4. Dip each shrimp in the egg mixture and then into the fry mix.

Cook's Note: If the fry gets lumpy you can sift it to make smooth.

5. Heat 3 to 4-inches of peanut oil in a Dutch oven, deep-fryer, or sauce pan to 350 degrees F.

Place the shrimp in the pot and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove with a clean strainer or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels for a minute.

6. Slather French Bread with Tatar Sauce, place a good portion of spicy fried shrimp on the bread, then top with thinly sliced tomato and shredded lettuce. ENJOY

Tips:

The is great served with sated fresh green beans (salt and peppered), spicy sweet potato fries, or potato chips.
Careful not to cook the shrimp to long!
If you don't want to fry the shrimp you can also grill it instead just make to season it with a spicy shrimp run.

Honey-Soy Broiled Salmon

2012-03-07T19:49:00.001-08:00

INCREDIBLE BROILED SALMON

(Picture courtesy of cooking.com)

Ingredients:

- 1 Scallion minced

- 2 T. Soy Sauce

- 1 T. Rice Vinegar

- 1 T. Honey

- 1 t. minced Ginger

- 1 lb Salmon Fillet (skinned and cut into 4)

- 1 t. toasted Sesame Seeds

Directions:

1. Put minced Scallions, Soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, Honey, and Ginger into a plastic bag. Seal the bag shut and shake all the ingredients together.

2. Put the cut Salmon Fillets into the plastic bag with marinade and let it sit in the refrigerator for at at least 30 mins.

3. After 30 mins or so take the bag of Salmon out and place it onto a greased cookie sheet.

4. Place Salmon on the top rack in the oven to BROIL at 500 degrees F.

5. While the Salmon is cooking place the rest of the sauce in a pot and boil until the sauce becomes thick.

6. After 4 minutes take Salmon out and flip. Cook for another 3-5 minutes.

7. After Salmon is finished cooking take it out and brush with the boiled sauce and top with toasted sesame seeds. Fish is ready to serve :)

Tips:

When I do not have Rice Vinegar I substitute for Balsamic Vinegar..it does change the flavor of the marinade but still taste great.
If you do not have fresh ginger, dry ground ginger works just as well.
This meal is amazing served with sticky rice and steamed vegetables.

"Carolina's Broccoli Salad"

2012-03-05T20:36:00.004-08:00

Delicious Recipe From " My Favorite Things" Cookbook

Ingredients:

- 2 bunches Broccoli
- 1/2 Red Onion
- 1 lb Bacon
- 1/4 cup Raisins
- 1/3 cup grated Cheddar Cheese

Dressing:

- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup Sugar
- 3 tsp. Vinegar

Directions:

1. But Broccoli in small bite-size pieces. Chop Red Onion in small pieces

2. Cook Bacon until crisp, drain grease, pat dry, and crumble.

3. Add all salad ingredients

4. Mix dressing ingredients in a bowl and pour over salad

5. ENJOY

Pumpkin Spice Bread

2012-03-05T20:00:00.001-08:00

The Best Pumpkin Spice Bread!

Amazing Pumpkin Spice Bread...It taste like a pumpkin pie without the crust!

Ingredients:

* Bake at 350 for 1 hr. Makes two loaves ( I sometimes half the recipe when I do not want two loaves)

- 3 cups Sugar

- 1 cup Vegetable Oil

- 4 eggs, lightly beaten

- 1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin

- 3 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour

- 1 t. Baking Soda

- 1 t. Salt

- 1 t. Ground Cinnamon

- 1 t. Ground Nutmeg

- 1/2 t. Baking Powder

- 1/2 t. Ground Cloves

- 1/2 t. Ground Allspice

- 1/2 cup Water

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine sugar, oil, eggs, and pumpkin...mix well.

2. Combine dry ingredients; add to the pumpkin mixture alternately with water.

3. Pour into two greased 9in x 3 in loaf pans.

4. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 60-65 minutes or until bread tests done

5. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack; let cool completely on rack

Tips:

I substitute cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice for "pumpkin pie spice" (it is essentially the same thing it just saves time measuring out all of the spices).
Nuts and Chocolate Chips Optional

Cranberry-Orange Chicken Salad

2012-03-04T18:58:00.003-08:00

Amazing Chicken Salad on Croissants

*Recipe from "Our Best Bites" Cookbook. My mom made this for a lunch in and it is incredible! So easy and very flavorful

Ingredients:

- 1 lb Grilled Chicken (marinated in Italian Dressing) and cut into bite size pieces

- 1 cup Celery (chopped)

- 1/3 cup Green onions (chopped)

- Zest of 1 medium orange (about 1 T.)

- 1/2 cup Craisins

- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise

- 1 t. coarse grain mustard

- 2 T. jellied cranberry sauce

- 1/2 t. kosher salt

- 1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper

- 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

- Croissants

- Lettuce leaves

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine Chicken, Celery, Green Onions, Orange zest, and Craisins.

2. In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, cranberry sauce, salt, and black pepper. Add to the chicken mixture and toss to fully combine. This salad is best if refrigerated for several hours before serving.

3. Just before serving, add the toasted pecans. serve on a croissant or roll with lettuce leaf.

Cookie Cups with Ice Cream

2012-03-03T19:50:00.001-08:00

INCREDIBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BOWLS WITH ICE CREAM

Cookie Recipe:

*Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until light brown (don't over bake)!

- 1 cup Butter

- 1 cup Sugar

- 2 cup Brown Sugar (packed)

- 3 Eggs

- 3 tsp. Vanilla

- 4 1/2 Flour

- 1 1/2 tsp. Soda

- 1 1/2 tsp. Salt

Chocolate Chips to taste

Instructions For Cookie Bowls

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the outside of each bowl cavity of the turned over muffin tin (I skip this step and do not spray the muffin tin).

Step 2

In medium bowl, combine flour and salt. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars with mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and Vanilla. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition.

Step 3

Roll out dough on floured or greased surface to 1/8 in. thickness. Cut 4-1/2 in. circles from dough (used a jar lid to cut the cookies) . Drape one circle over each bowl cavity of pan, pressing to form smooth surface.

(just press them against a turned over muffin tin)

Step 4

Bake 10-12 minutes or until cookie cups are firm and golden brown. Cool on pan on cooling rack 10 minutes. Loosen bottom edges of cookies from pan using small spatula. Carefully remove cups from pan and cool completely. Wipe off left over cookie residue and start the next batch.

Step 5

Fill the cooled bowls with ice cream and top with whip cream and other topping. Enjoy

Substitutes for Kitchen Essentials

2012-03-03T10:13:00.002-08:00

BAKING TIP #2

I have done it far to many times, where I think you have all the ingredients needed for a recipe only to find out half way through that I am missing one. I have learned some helpful substitutes for ingredients so that I can avoid running to the store as much. I hope these substitution tips help you! Good Luck

Baking Powder (1 t.)... 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Beef or Chicken Broth (1 cup)... 1 bouillon cube plus 1 cup boiling water
Brown Sugar (1 cup)... 1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup
Butter (salted) (1 cup)... 1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
Butter (unsalted) (1 cup)... 1 cup shortening
Buttermilk (1 cup)... 1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup
Cocoa (1/4 cup)... 1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
Corn Syrup (1 cup)... 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey
Half and Half Cream (1 cup)... 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter
Heavy Cream (1 cup)... cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter
Light Cream (1 cup)... 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter
Whipping Cream (not for whipping) (1 cup)... 1 cup frozen whipped topping
Cream Cheese (1 cup)... 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth
Cream of Tartar (1 t.)... 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar
Egg (1 egg)... 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water
Evaporated Milk (1 cup)... 1 cup light cream
Fats for Baking (1 cup)... 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Bread Flour (1 cup)... 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten
Garlic (1 clove)... 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
Honey (1 cup)... 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup
Lemon Juice (1 t.)... 1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice
Ketchup (1 cup)... 1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
Mayonnaise (1 cup)... 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup plain yogurt
Whole Milk (1 cup)... 2/3 cup evaporated milk plus 1/3 cup water
Molasses (1 cup)... Mix 3/4 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Onion (1 onion)... 1 cup chopped green onions OR 1 cup chopped shallots OR 1 cup chopped leeks OR 1/4 cup dried minced onion OR 1/4 cup onion powder
Parsley (fresh) (1 T.)... 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Shortening (1 cup)... 1 cup butter OR 1 cup margarine minus 1/2 teaspoon salt from recipe
Sour Cream (1 cup)... 1 cup plain yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough cream to make 1 cup OR 3/4 cup buttermilk mixed with 1/3 cup butter
Soy Sauce (1/2 cup)... 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon water
Sweetened Condensed Milk (1 can)... 3/4 cup white sugar mixed with 1/2 cup water and 1 1/8 cups dry powdered milk: Bring to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 20 minutes
Vegetable Oil (1 cup)... 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Vinegar (1 t.)... 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice OR 2 teaspoons white wine
White Sugar (1 cup)... 1 cup brown sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar OR 3/4 cup honey OR 3/4 cup corn syrup
Wine (1 cup)... 1 cup chicken or beef broth OR 1 cup fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar OR 1 cup water
Yogurt (1 cup)... 1 cup sour cream OR 1 cup buttermilk OR 1 cup sour milk

__________________________________________________________________________________

Healthy Substitutes

*Here are some healthy alternatives for cooking/baking essentials

Bread crumbs...dry Rolled oats or crushed bran cereal
Butter, margarine, shortening or oil (in baked goods)... Applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for butter, shortening or oil; butter spreads or shortenings specially formulated for baking that don't have trans fats

Cream... Fat-free half-and-half, evaporated skim milk

Eggs... Two egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute for each whole egg
Flour, all-purpose (plain) Whole-wheat flour for half of the called-for all-purpose flour in baked goods
Note: Whole-wheat pastry flour is less dense and works well in softer products like cakes and muffins
Sugar... In most baked goods you can reduce the amount of sugar by one-half; intensify sweetness by adding vanilla, nutmeg or cinnamon
Table salt... Herbs, spices, citrus juices (lemon, lime, orange), rice vinegar, salt-free seasoning mixes or herb blends
Sour cream... full fat Fat-free or low-fat sour cream, plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt
Rice, white... Brown rice, wild rice, bulgur or pearl barley
Milk, whole... Reduced-fat or fat-free milk

French Bread

2012-03-02T21:26:00.001-08:00

Delicious Crusty French Bread

Ingredients:

- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons shortening or butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3 1/4 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast

- 1 T olive oil

Glaze: 1 egg white + 1 teaspoon water whisked together well

Directions:

* Bake at 400 degrees

1. Combine water, sugar, and yeast together and let sit for 10 minutes until yeast dissolves.

2. In a separate mixing bowl whisk together flour and salt, then add butter, oil, and yeast mixture.

3. Knead together for 5-10 minutes (if the dough is to dry you can add a Tablespoon of warm water).

4. Let the dough rise for 30 minutes then punch down and form into a long loaf.

5. Place the loaf onto a greased cookie sheet then paint the loaf with the glaze. Let it rise for another 30 minutes

6. Place a pot of boiling water at the bottom of your 400 degree oven (this will help make a nice crust on your french bread). Then put the bread in the oven for 15-25 minutes (depending on how hot your oven gets).

Marie Callender's Chicken Pot Pie

2012-03-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

Best Chicken Pot Pie You'll Ever Eat!

*Marie Callender inspired

Ingredients Needed:

- 2 cups Water

- 14 ounces Chicken Breast

- 2 Carrots

- 2 ribs of Celery

- 1 medium Onion

- 2 T. Chicken Bouillon

- 1/4 t. Black Pepper

- 1/4 cup Butter

- 4 T. Cornstarch

- 1 T. Flour

- 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

- 1 cup Frozen Peas

Directions:

1. Fill a large sauce pan with Water, Chicken Breast (cooked), chopped Carrots, chopped Celery, chopped Onion, Chicken Bouillon, Black Pepper, and Butter.

2. Let the mixture simmer on medium for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.

3. In a separate bowl mix Cornstarch, Flour, and Heavy Whipping Cream together until Cornstarch and Flour are dissolved then add it to the Chicken mixture.

4. When the Whipping Cream is thoroughly mixed into the Chicken and Vegetable mixture then add frozen peas and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

5. Fill individual ramekins to the top with Pot Pie filling (should fill about 6 ramekins).

6. Use an extra ramekin to cut out circles of pie crust to place on top of the ramekins. Place the pie crust over the ramekins filled with pot pie mixture (the pie crust should lay a little down the sides so it can stick to the ramekins).

7. Place ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees F. for 25 mins

Tips:

I have also used this to make one giant pie using a pie pan and two pie crust (one for the top and one on the bottom).
To make this recipe even simplify you can use left over chicken from the night before instead of cooking up more chicken.
Taste the mixture before pouring it into the ramekins or pie pan to see if it needs more salt or pepper. I usually always end up adding some salt and more pepper.
For the pie crust you can use already made pie crust (my favorite) or make your own crust using the perfect pie crust recipe on my blog!

Perfect Pie Crust

2012-03-02T15:18:00.002-08:00

ULTIMATE PIE CRUST

Ingredients:

- 3 cups Flour

- 3/4 t. Salt

- 3/4 cup Shortening

- 1/2 cup REAL Butter

- 1/2 cup Ice Water

Directions:

1. Combine Flour and Salt

2. Cut in shortening and butter until crumbly

3. Add ice water and stir in until evenly blended DO NOT OVER MIX THE DOUGH

4. Separate into two rounds and refrigerate in an airtight container for about 1 hr

5. Roll out!

Hints and Tips:

Use chilled butter and ICE water. This makes the crust easier to fold and unfold without tearing
NEVER use a microwave to soften butter. Trust Me!
Once the ice water has been added, keep handling of the dough to a minimum.
Shape dough into two thick disks. Smooth out any cracks that may appear around the outside edges.
Wrap individually and refrigerate for about an hour in an airtight container
Let dough return to almost room temp. before rolling
Sprinkle table or counter generously with flour
Use a pastry brush to remove flour from top of crust
Fold crust in half. Brush again to remove flour from the bottom
Fold again into quarters. Brush again. Turn over and brush again
Make sure oven has been preheated all the way to 425. This helps the crust poof up. Decrease temp. to 375 after 15 minutes
Bake on the bottom rack with foil lining the very bottom of the oven.