Monday, March 18, 2013

Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo Lasagna





Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

1 box raw lasagna noodles
2 16-oz. jars alfredo sauce
1/3 c. water
1 1/2 c. chicken, cooked and diced
1 16-oz container cottage cheese or ricotta
2 c. grated mozzarella (or more if desired)
1 2.25-oz can sliced black olives
2 Tbsp. Parmesan
1 tsp. dried parsley

Use a 5-6 quart crock pot.  Grease the crock well.

Break several lasagna noodles to fit into bottom of crock. Make sure the bottom is well covered.

Layer 1/3 alfredo sauce, 1/2 the water and 1/2 the chicken.

Spread half the cottage cheese and 1/3 the mozzarella, and then 1/2 of the olives.

Add another layer of noodles, then another 1/3 alfredo sauce and remaining chicken, water and cottage cheese.

Sprinkle second third of mozzarella.

Now, add remaining noodles, sauce and mozzarella.

Top with remaining olives, Parmesan and parsley.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours. Check to make sure noodles are tender. DO NOT cook for any longer than 5 hours or everything gets mushy.

Serves 10.

Cheesy Beer Bread





Cheesy Beer Bread

1 12-oz. bottle beer
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. milk
4 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. sugar
4 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Grease 2, 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.

In medium saucepan warm beer.  Stir in milk and 2 Tbsp. butter to melt.  Pour into large bowl.  Add flour, salt, sugar and yeast.  Then add pepper, cayenne, onion powder and garlic powder.

Add cheese gradually.  Dough should be somewhat soft and sticky.  Let rise for 2 hours.

Form into loaves or buns and put into pans.  Let rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bake for about 30 minutes. Depending on if you have buns or loaves, you'll need to watch it. 


Disney's 50's Cafe Meatloaf





Disney's 50's Cafe Meatloaf

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. Italian bread crumbs
2 eggs
1/2 c. ketchup, divided
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Combine beef, pork, onion, bread crumbs, eggs, 1/4 c. ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.  Press into loaf pan.

Combine 1/4 c. ketchup and brown sugar.  Brush over meat loaf.

Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours.  Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.



Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. shortening
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 medium bananas, mashed
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 c. flour
2 c. oatmeal
6 oz. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream shortening, sugars, eggs, vanilla and banana.

Add the dry ingredients.  Mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes.    Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread





Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1/2 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
3 large, VERY ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips*
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 x 5- inch loaf pan.

Beat butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time until blended.  Beat in bananas and vanilla.  With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour just until blended.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes before removing from pan to rack to cool completely.

*Try it with peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips or a combination of different flavors.

Banana Beignets





Banana Beignets

2 Tbsp. oil plus oil for deep frying
1 1/2 c. cake flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. plus 1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. milk
1 mashed bananas

Heat oil to 375 degrees.

Mix flour, baking powder, salt, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and 1/3 c. sugar.
Mix egg, milk, banana and 2 Tbsp. oil.  Combine both until just moistened.
Drop by round teaspoons into hot oil and fry until golden brown - about 15 seconds per side.
Drain on paper towels.

Mix together 1/2 c. sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon.  Roll beignets in this mixture.

Banana Crunch Muffins





Banana Crunch Muffins

1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1/3 c. butter, melted
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease 10 muffin cups.

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  In another bowl beat bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter.  Stir into flour.  Spoon into muffin cups.

Mix together brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. flour and cinnamon.  Cut in 1 Tbsp. butter.  Sprinkle over muffins.

Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Banana Pecan Waffles





Banana Pecan Waffles

1 3/4 c. flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 small banana, mashed
2 eggs
3 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chopped pecans

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Beat together banana and eggs. Add butter, buttermilk, vanilla and pecans.

Add to flour mixture.  Mix well, but don't overmix.

Spray your waffle iron with vegetable spray and cook according to the manufacturers directions.

Sunday, March 17, 2013





Corned Beef & Cabbage

4 lb. corned beef
4 c. water
6 oz. Guiness
2 onions

Put your corned beef in a large dutch oven. Add water and beer and then cut up your onions and toss them in. Bring to a full rolling boil.  Then, turn the heat down to low and cover. Let this simmer until tender. About 50 minutes per pound.

About a half hour before it's done, you'll want to add your vegetables. I make it the way my Grandma always did.  The vegetable I use are:
small red potatoes
rutabagas
onions
carrots
cabbage

I didn't put any amounts in here, because you'll want to add what you need to feed your family.




Irish Soda Bread

4 c. flour
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
6 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 c. raisins
1 Tbsp. caraway seeds
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9 inch round pan.

Combine flour, caraway, raisins, cubed butter, sugar, baking powder,salt and baking soda in a large bowl.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together buttermilk and 1 egg.  In separate bowl beat 1 egg with a bit of water to use for brushing top of bread.

On low speed, mix buttermilk mixture into flour mixture. Mix just until blended.  Place on a floured surface and knead about 10 times.  Shape into a ball and place into greased pan. 

Baste with the egg wash and then with a sharp knife cut a cross in the top.  Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until golden brown.  To store, wrap in plastic wrap as the soda bread will dry out quickly.

Guiness Butter

2 sticks butter, softened
3 oz. Guiness
2 Tbsp. honey

Mix it all together and use on nice warm Irish Soda Bread

Saturday, March 9, 2013

My first post - March 9, 2013

So, I'm starting my very first blog.  I'm hoping to make this into a wonderful food blog. Maybe with some information and of course, lots of recipes. Please bear with me while I learn how to use this whole format. For now, I'm off to cook supper and rest my brain. I think I've strained it trying to get this set up. But, I'll be back to start adding lots of recipes.