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Sunday, November 23, 2008

I'm back

Hi everyone! It's been way too long since I last added a new recipe to my blog. Life sure gets crazy sometimes and I lose track of time. I went through my cookbooks again and found a couple new recipes to share. I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does. Take care!!


Aunt Nikki's Diced Potatoes (they are great for any meal!)

6-7 potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1 stick of butter
Garlic salt, to taste
Parmesan cheese, to taste

Boil diced potatoes until softened, drain. Melt butter in large skillet and add diced potatoes. Sprinkle with garlic salt and parmesan cheese. Cook until heated through. Enjoy!


Mimi's Meatloaf

2-4 lbs. ground beef ( I prefer to use ground beef and ground turkey)
1 egg per pound
1 tbsp. ketchup
2 tbsp. milk
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 slices white bread, torn into pieces
Parsley to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Put into a large loaf pan and bake at 375 for at least an hour. If you have a large meatloaf you may need to cook it for at least 1 hr. 15 mins.
My entire family loves this recipe. Sometime I use this special meatloaf mix that Wegmans sells. They have a mix of ground beef, pork and veal that they do especially for meatloaf and it makes for a great dinner. Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Hi all! Sorry that it's been awhile since adding a new recipe. Life has been rather hectic and I haven't been home long enough to get on the computer for anything other than checking the weather report. I finally had a chance to dig out a couple recipes to share with everyone. The first is an appetizer that my family has always enjoyed. I really can't remember where it came from but I remember eating it as a kid. The other recipe is a great side dish that my sister gave me. I make this one all the time in the summer to go with hot dogs and hamburgers but it's great with anything. I hope you like them!

Spinach Balls

2 boxes frozen chopped spinach (cooked and drained)
2 cups Pepperidge farm stuffing
1 large chopped onion
6 beaten eggs
3/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. accent
2 tsp. pepper

Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate one hour. Shape into small balls and freeze for one hour. Bake for 20 mins. at 350. Enjoy!!!


Potato Casserole

2 pounds hash browns ( I prefer shredded and seasoned)
1 can cream of chicken or cream of celery soup (I use cream of celery)
1/4 cup onion, chopped
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. shredded cheddar ( I use extra sharp to give it some kick)
1 small bag of potato chips, crushed
1/4 cup melted butter
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and add the hash browns last. Spread into a 13x9 inch pan. Sprinkle with the crushed potato chips. Bake, covered, at 350 for 50 minutes. Remove cover and bake for 10 minutes more. Enjoy!!!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Happy Election Day- I hope!
Here it is election day. I personally can't wait for it to be over. I have had enough of all this negativity and am ready to move on. I thought I would get away from all the news and just share a couple more new recipes with everyone. I found a great dinner recipe that mom used to make all the time and I also have a dessert recipe for you that a wonderful friend always made for work parties. Enjoy!

Chicken Cacciatore

21/2-3 pounds broiler-fryer chicken,cut
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup flour
2 cups sliced onions
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 can (11oz.) tomatoes, drained
1 can (8oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (3oz.) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. oregano

Wash chicken and pat dry. Melt shortening in any large skillet. Coat chicken pieces with flour. Cook chicken in shortening over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until light brown. Remove chicken and set aside. Add onions, green peppers and garlic to skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Add chicken to sauce. Cover tightly; simmer 30 to 40 minutes or until thickest pieces are fork tender. Serve with pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.

Cheesecake Brownies

1 package (9x13) brownie mix

Make brownie mix according to package directions. Spread half the mixture in greased 9x13 pan.
In a small bowl:
6oz. softened cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Beat these 4 ingredients until smooth. Pour over brownie mix in the pan. Spoon remaining brownie mixture over the top and swirl with a knife to marbelize. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Cool and chill for 1 hour. Cut into bars and enjoy.

Have a great day!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy November!

I can't believe that it's actually November 1st! Where has the year gone? I took down all my Halloween decorations this morning and pulled out all the turkeys. Just doesn't seem possible that the holiday season is already upon us! As usual I have been going through my recipes- much better entertainment these days as compared to the television ( I will turn it back on when the election season is over!). I have 2 new recipes that I would like to share with you. One I got from my sister and the other I have had so long that I don't remember where it came from! Either way, both recipes are delicious and I hope you enjoy them!

Turkey Sausage Stew

1/2 pound smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/2 in. slices ( I prefer to use the entire pound!)
1/2 cup sliced onion
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 can beef consomme
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (I use carrots, broccoli and water chestnuts)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
hot cooked rice

In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown sausage and onion in hot oil. Stir in consomme, frozen vegetables and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat , cover and simmer 1-2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp- tender. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. Stir slowly into the stew mixture. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, about one minute; stirring constantly. Serve over hot cooked rice.


Chicken Fingers

1 pkg. chicken fingers (chicken tenders)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon parsley
1 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

Mix egg in a bowl with the 1/2 cup milk. Place the bread crumbs in a dish; add garlic and parsley to the bread crumbs. Dip chicken fingers into the egg and then roll in the bread crumbs. Fry in 1/4 cup of oil for about 1/2 hour turning after 15 minutes.

Enjoy all!!!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Hi all! Yes, it's time for another recipe. I think I am going to stick with the foods that warm you up. We may be looking at our first snow fall tomorrow so I need all the help I can get to stay warm! I hope you have enjoyed the other recipes I have shared. I am working on putting more here. Please feel free to share your favorite fall and winter foods, too! I love to try something new.

Beef n' Noodles (from my sister and I think from her mom in law)

1 round or sirloin steak (1 inch thick) cut into cubes
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 teaspoon garlic powder
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 stick butter
1 package noodles
flour

Melt butter in kettle. Cut meat into cubes and roll in flour. Brown meat in butter. Add water and bouillon cubes. Let simmer on high. Water will thicken to make gravy. Turn to simmer and let simmer 1 hour longer. Cook noodles until tender. Pour beef mixture over noodles. You may need to add extra water if it gets too thick.

My kids love this recipe so that's what makes it one of my favorites. I hope you all enjoy it as well!!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Childhood favorite

Here it is a cool frosty morning in New York and I am going through my recipe book once again. Days like there make me look harder for those recipes that always warm you up on the inside and help you get through your day. I pulled out one of my very favorites. Mom made this one a lot when we were kids and it brings back many great memories for me. My kids love this recipe although my youngest only eats the noodles with the sauce on it. Heaven forbid anyone eats the meat in it or the mushrooms! Here it is- enjoy!!!

Beef Stroganoff

1 pound beef tenderloin or sirloin
2 tablespoons margarine
1/2 lb. mushrooms (canned or fresh)
1 medium onion, minced
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon flour (I actually prefer to use cornstarch- I think it tastes better in this recipe)
1 cup sour cream
Hot cooked noodles

Cut eat into 1 inch strips. Melt butter and add mushrooms and onion until tender. Add meat and cook until done (15-20 mins.). Save 1/3 broth, stirring in remaining broth, ketchup,garlic and salt. Simmer 15 mins. Blend broth and flour (or cornstarch) and add to the pan. Heat until boiling, stirring constantly. Stir in sour cream. Once heated serve over hot cooked noodles.

Happy Fall everyone!!!

Monday, October 20, 2008

A great dinner to warm you up in the fall

I was going through my recipe book again the other day looking for a recipe that will warm you up on a cool fall evening. There are so many things that I love to cook this time of the year so I will try and make a point to share all of them with you. The hardest part about cooking in my house is trying to find something that everyone will eat. My husband will eat just about everything and anything I cook but my youngest can be very picky! This recipe has something in it for everyone so I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!!!


Beef Stew

1lb. stew beef, cut into 1 inch cubes
1tbsp. vegetable oil
3 cups hot water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
4-6 carrots cut into pieces
2 stalks celery, diced
4-6 potatoes, cut into 1in. pieces
1/2 onion, chopped
1- 28 oz. can whole tomatoes, cut up
2 tbsp. cornstarch + 2 tbsp. water
parsley to taste

Cook and stir beef in oil in pan for about 15 minutes or until browned. Add 3 cups hot water, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 1 1/2-2 hours or until beef is tender. Stir in vegetables, 1/2 tsp. slat/ Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Bring to a boil and stir in cornstarch and water to thicken.


I like to serve this with warm crescent rolls. Everyone in my house loves them and they are great for mopping up all the leftover juice off your plate! I am going to share my mom's applesauce recipe next because I think it goes great with beef stew. This time of year you can never have too many apple recipes so feel free to share some!

Mimi's Applesauce

6 large apples, peeled and sliced thin ( I like to use 20 ounce apples)
1/8 tsp. butter
sugar and cinnamon to taste- all depends on how sweet the apples are and how sweet you like your applesauce
water

Put enough water in the pan to cover the bottom and add a dash of salt. Add the apples, cinnamon and sugar. Cook on medium low. keep stirring and mashing apples until you have the consistency that you want. Some of us prefer chunky applesauce and others don't. Add water, cinnamon and sugar as needed. Make sure that the bottom of the pan does not get dry. I keep tasting it as I go along. Sometimes I need a lot of sugar and other times I don't.

Have a great fall everyone. I hope you enjoy my recipes!!!! :)