Rice Dish (Use this instead of Rice-a-Roni--it's better!)

This is delicious and easy dish to make.  When you want an easy, yummy rice side...this is it!  

yield:
apx. 5 1/2 cups cooked rice

ingredients:
3 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups rice
2-3 dashes onion powder
4-5 dashes garlic powder
several sprinkles of salt 
few dashes of pepper
5 Tbsp. butter

directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 9x13" pan with non-stick spray.

2.  Place rice and broth in the prepared pan.

3.  Sprinkle onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over top.  

4.  Cut the butter into 5 separate pieces and place pats of butter throughout the dish.

5.  Cover pan tight with aluminum foil.  Cook for apx. 40 minutes.

Read More

Autumn Fruit Salad

I've had this receipt for a while, and I love it.  It's good any time of year--as these ingredients are always available.  

ingredients:
2 medium granny smith apples
1 lime's zest
1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup halved seedless grapes (red are best)
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup vanilla yogurt (low-fat or non-fat)
2 Tbsp. chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans)

directions:
1.  Wedge apples, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.

2.  Combine all the ingredients together.

3.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Read More

Baked Beans

We had this several years ago at a block party.  They were delicious.  I'm glad I came across this recipe and thought I'd better put it here...where I can find it!  Thanks Colin M. for the good memories and the delicious recipe!

ingredients:
3--28 oz cans pork and beans
2 lbs. seasoned sausage
1 large onion, diced
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp. dried mustard

directions:
1.  Brown sausage and onion, drain.  

2.  Heat in sauce pan: sugar, ketchup, and mustard. 

3.  Add meat and onions to beans.  Add sauce.  

4.  Cook at 300-degrees for 1-2 hours, covered.  

5.  Refrigerate overnight and reheat to serve.

Read More

Cheese Fondue (non-alcoholic)

My friends made this last night for our sewing group night at my home. It was SO yummy. What a treat! I'm thinking I'll be making this for my family...maybe for Valentine's Day or for a Family Home Evening. Super good! Thanks Summer & Shauna!
ingredients:
1 lb. swiss cheese*
2 garlic cloves
3 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
a few dashes of nutmeg
salt & pepper to taste

*you can mix swiss & gruyere if you like a strong taste, or you can try it wish cheddar

directions:
1. Peel garlic and mince into a large sauce pan. Rub the sauce pan with the minced garlic for flavor.

2. Grate cheese and mix with 1 Tbsp. of flour.

3. Melt the butter in the sauce pan over med-low heat. Add the rest of the flour. Stir well until smooth roue is formed. Add 1/2 cup of milk and continue to stir until smooth. Add the remaining milk, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens to about the consistency of light cream.

4. Add a handful of the grated cheese. Continue to stir, letting the cheese melt. Add another handful of cheese and stir until it melts. Continue this until all the cheese is added and melted.

5. Once the cheese is smooth stir in the nutmeg, salt and pepper

6. Add the lemon juice, stirring more until the mixture is smooth.

7. Warm your fondue pot and add in the cheese. Serve immediately with your favorite dippers.

*We had this served with French baguettes cut up and Granny Smith apples sliced. It was delicious. When eating at fondue restaurants, they also serve their cheese course with cauliflower and carrots.

Read More

Cornbread or Cornbread Muffins

I've made this in the Dutch Oven while camping, and it was moist and delicious. I have tried several different cornbread muffins, and this one is perfect...sweet, but not too sweet. Moist, but not too moist... I can't say enough good about this. SO, if you're cooking up some chili and need a good recipe, LOOK NO FURTHER! Thank you Shauna!!

ingredients:
1½ cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
½ cup cornmeal
1 Tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 ¼ cup milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
3 Tbsp. butter (or applesauce)

directions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder and salt.

2. In a small bowl, combine milk, eggs, oil and butter (or applesauce). Mix Well.

3. Add wet mixture to flour mixture; stir just until blended.

4. Heat oven to 350. Prepare batter as above, grease an 8-inch square baking pan. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

for cornbread muffins:
Grease or paper-line 18-20 muffin cups. Pour ½ cup batter into muffin cups, filling 2/3 full. Bake 15-20 minutes.

Read More

Baked Beans

When we moved to Colorado, we were invited to a block party our first 4th of July here. This was served there (made by a friend). My mother and I just loved them. I got the recipe, and thought I'd share it with everyone since it's getting to be the BBQ-time-of-year. Thanks Shauna & Collin--we miss you!

Make the night before and warm before your event!

ingredients:
3 28-ounce cans pork & beans

2 lbs. seasoned sausage

1 large onion, diced (I dice mine FINELY)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp. dry mustard

directions:

1. Brown sausage & onion, drain.

2. Heat in sauce-pan: sugar, ketchup and mustard.

3. Combine meat and onions with beans. Add sauce.

4. Cover and cook at 300 for 1-2 hours. Let set overnight & reheat to serve.

Read More

Raspberry Pretzel Jello

A friend brought this to my baby's blessing open house...and I was SO happy--it was delicious! Thanks Tami! We've enjoyed it ever since! You can mix and match the berries (using strawberries or raspberries) and the Jello (using strawberry jello, cherry or raspberry). Any which combination, it is SUPER good and a crowd pleaser for sure!

Mix:

2 cups crushed pretzels

2 Tbsp. sugar

3/4 cup melted butter

Pat with a fork into a 9x13" glass dish and bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Beat together & spread over cooled crust:

8 oz. cream cheese (I use the low-fat cream cheese)

8 oz. cool whip (I use the light cool whip)

1 cup sugar

*Create a seal over the crust with this mixture...so the Jello liquid wont leak down into the pretzel crust.

Dissolve a 6 oz. raspberry (or your choice of flavor) Jello mix into 2 cups boiling water.

Add 20 oz. frozen raspberries (or strawberries).

Pour over mixture (GENTLY so as to not unearth the cream cheese/cool whip mixture).

Chill until firm. You can top with more cool whip if you want.

Read More

Frank's RedHot Buffalo Chicken Dip

A friend brought this over last night for game night, and it was fabulous! We love "buffalo" seasoned food, so this was right on for us. I'm always looking for a new dip too. Enjoy!

ingredients:

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch salad dressing

1/2 cup FRANK'S® REDHOT® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce or FRANK'S® REDHOT® Buffalo Wing Sauce

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (she used canned chicken and it was perfect)

directions:

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep dish 9-inch pie plate. Microwave 1 min. to soften.

2. WHISK in salad dressing, Frank's RedHot Sauce and cheese until smooth. Stir in chicken.

3. BAKE 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir.

Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or vegetables.

Microwave Directions: Prepare as above. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 5 min. until hot, stirring halfway through cooking.

Tip: For a party buffet table, keep this dip hot in a small crock pot or fondue pot.

Read More

crock pot sausage dip

This dip is excellent to take to a game night, have at a party, take to a BBQ... It will be all gone. I don't know how else to explain it. My father, while visiting, even insisted I make it for him...so we had it for dinner as a "taco salad"-type meal....not very healthy but VERY delicious.



Crock Pot Sausage Dip

1/2 lb cooked reduced fat ground sausage (browned)
8 oz low fat cream cheese
8 oz fat free sour cream
8 oz can Mexican stewed tomatoes (pureed)
1/2 medium onion (finely chopped)
1 clove garlic
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

*Cook in mini crock-pot: high 2-4 hrs or low 4-6 hrs
*Serve with tortilla chips, on french fries, baked potatoes, etc.

Read More