Buttercream Frosting

When I found this recipe I went right into the kitchen and made it. No I didn't have a cake baked. Who needs cake? Frosting is like raw cookie dough - it can stand alone as a treat. Don't worry, I baked one the next day.

I really don't use a recipe I just use butter, about 1 1/2 cups, a bit of vanilla and then I add powdered sugar until it's stiff and milk to thin it out a little.

Here's a butter-cream recipe from Wilton:
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (I use coconut oil instead if I don't want to use all my butter)
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk

Cream butter and shortening with electric mixer. Add vanilla, gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed. Scrape sides and bottom of bowl often. When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry. Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Keep bowl covered with a damp cloth until ready to use. This icing can be stored for 2 weeks and for months in the freezer. Makes 3 cups.

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints

cookies:
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup raspberry jam

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
11/2 tsp almond extract
2-3 tsp water.

1. Heat oven to 350degrees. In mixing bowl combine sugar, butter and almond extract. Beat at medium until creamy. Reduce speed to low and add flour. Beat until well mixed.

2. Shape dough into 1" balls. Put 2" apart on cookie sheets. With thumb, make a dent in center of each cookie (edges may crack slightly) Fill indentation with a tiny amount of jam.

3. Bake for 14-18 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Let stand for 1 minute.; remove from cookie sheet. Cool 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together powdered sugar, 11/2tsp almond extract and enough water to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over cookies. Cool completely.

Kara @ Kara's Kitchen Creation is having a cookie swap and I have joined. There are lots of yummy cookies - go check them out.

Dinner with Dougie, and the Best Ribs Ever

Tonight we had "pig" ribs. They were fantastic - the only problem is I used Pepsi instead of Coke to cook them. Yes, pop is my secret ingredient and WHO KNEW that it wouldn't be fall off the bone scrumptious with the competition???? So, if you make these, believe me when I say COKE is what you need and NEVER EVER EVER NEVER USE DIET!!! (Recipe at the end)

My son lives 2 houses away and works for his dad - they see each other ALL the time. He however rarely just comes over. I don't blame him, when I moved out at his age I lived 4 miles from home and didn't come home for like 3 months. I loved my parents, my little brothers and sisters - there were no hard feelings, I just had too much going on. And I started dating my husband to be and we spent all our time together.

HOWEVER now that the shoe is on the other foot I feel desperately lonely and neglected. "Stop in -I'll make you whatever your heart desires for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner." Part of the problem is I am a "luck of the draw" kinda cook. The last time I cooked for him and his fiance I dang near gave them salmonella (I followed the instructions but still undercooked the chicken by a LOT) So, I don't think she is willing to eat here anymore. Sigh. It makes me sad - but I totally understand - I have chicken issues myself.

TONIGHT I made The Best Ribs Ever and called and invited them over. I am confident in my ribs turning out. Unfortunately She had class but Dougie came, brought my sweet grandbaby and his roommate....YEA! I love me a full table! I love feeding my grandbaby. I love having guests and I especially love having all my children in the same room!!! I know these opportunities will become fewer and farther between and I am so glad I was able to see the gift it was and is.

Here is the recipe that made it all happen!

Best Ribs Ever

1-2 slabs of pig ribs
Steak seasoning
2 litre of COKE
BBQ Sauce

Put the ribs in a foil lined pan (for ease of clean up)
Sprinkle liberally with steak seasoning or just use salt, pepper and garlic
Pour COKE over - cover tightly with foil.
Cook at 270 degrees for 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Fire up the grill, put cooked ribs on grill, baste in BBQ sauce and cook for about 15 minutes - until the sauce gets all yummy!
That's it! Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

I linked this to Chatting at the Sky's Tuesday's Unwrapped and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday. and Heavenly Homemakers Gratituesday.

Crisp Cinnamon Cookies

Awhile back I thought someone in my house loved "corn flakes" for breakfast, and evidentally I went on a corn flake buying bonanza! It has taken us a lllloooooonnnnngggg time to get to the end of the boxes. On the side of the box of generic Meijer Corn Flakes was a recipe for crisp cinnamon cookies and so I gave them a try. They were very good! I am posting the recipe in case someone else has some end of the box cereal they want to use up. (and so I don't lose it, we really liked the cookies.)

Crisp Cinnamon Cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, softened
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon (OOOPS I put 2 TBS in - I think it is fabulous with the extra )
1tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups corn flakes, crushed to 1 1/4 cups.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Beat butter and shortening until smooth and creamy. Beat in sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt (if desired and I didn't). Beat well. Stir in cereal, mix well. Drop by TBS onto ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake 9-11 minutes. Let stand 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool.

I used 3/4 cup whole wheat flour and 1 1/4 cup regular
I only used 1 1/4 cup sugar (next time try with only 1 cup)
I used 2 TBS cinnamon

I have some other "healthy cereal" that my kids hate, I think I will try this with them. Waste not, Want Not!

Bang Bang Chicken

I bet you thought this was going to be a recipe. Nope. It is a method, a method for getting shredded chicken without using 2 forks, or a knife or even your hands. "What?! Impossible!" you say. No it is super dee dooper easy.





Cook chicken. Let cool, debone if necessary. Put in a ziploc bag be sure to let the extra air out. (Important step or your chicken will fly all over the kitchen, trust me) Get out your rolling pin. Now beat the tar out of your chicken in a bag. This flattens it, and shreds it nicely. You can now use it in any sort of recipe that calls for shredded chicken. I have not tried it but I bet it would work for pork or beef also.

You will want to use this to shred your chicken for Chicken Enchillada Lasagna.

I got the idea from a recipe for bang bang chicken.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!




This totally Works for Me!
And because I think this is a great frugal idea - I have linked this to my other blog -Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy.

Au Gratin Potatoes

These are soooo yummy. Definitely worth the work and time.

Au Gratin Potatoes
6-7 potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
1lb Colby jack cheese - grated
1lb provolone - grated
1 white onion sliced into rings

Soak the potatoes in salt water for 15 minutes. Drain.

Spray (or grease) a pan. Layer potatoes and onions then cheese - repeat at least one more time. Cook at 450 degrees for one hour.

Rice Pudding

What another Rice Pudding Recipe?? Well I had never made it or eaten it before and just had to try.

This recipe has peaches in it - however my kids didn't care for the peaches - I did!

Grease  a rectangular cake pan with coconut oil (or butter - just don't use that nasty Pam)
Cut up 1-2 peaches and layer on bottom. You can put nuts in this.
Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Mix together 1 cup whole raw milk (if you can get it), 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup cooked rice and 2 beaten eggs. Pour over peaches. Cook in a 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes. I am not sure - I might be over cooking but I like it a little dry.

Cucumber Salad

While I realize this is turning into a food blog - I can't help it. This is the best way for me to preserve recipes that I like. Since I have no readers - I can do that if I want to!

Cuke Salad
Peel and slice 2 cukes
Slice 1/2 sweet onion
layer in bowl - salt pepper and sugar each layer.
Mix together about a cup of sour cream, 2TBS sugar, splash of apple cider vinegar and a TBS or so of EVOO. Stir into bowl mixing well. Allow to marinade for at least an hour - the longer the better.

I have been making this for years but I just discovered how much better I like it with a little EVOO and extra sugar in it.
Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Yummy Meatloaf

I made a yummy meatloaf tonight. What I love about meatloaf is everytime it is a little different or a lot different. I was nervous as my kids had company and not everyone likes meatloaf. They asked me to send the recipe to their mom - I take that as a HUGE compliment. This is what I used:

1lb ground turkey
1 Italian Sausage Link - casing removed
1 egg
garlic powder
onion powder
ketchup
chipoltle sauce (just a tad) (I have used BBQ sauce in the past)
bread 4 slices ripped up small
1/2 each shredded small zucchini and yellow squash
cheese - mozzarella (any cheese is good) shredded - about a cup.

mix, cook at 375 degrees in a small greased cake pan for 35 minutes. Check and see if done. (170 degrees internal is what I use as a guide) Drain the grease. Cut and serve.

Serve with ketchup to dunk into. Mashed potatoes would also be great with this.
I wish I had taken a picture - it wasn't as appetizing looking as it tasted.

For Joe, I made it in a single serving dish and used rice cheese. His was yummy also - If I didn't have cheese it would have been ok.

Pork Chops - How to use up the leftovers!

Over at my other blog I posted how I made soup, fried rice and BBQ pork all from 5 leftover pork chops.
Very yummy, very frugal, very green and very cheap. Does it get much better than that? I don't think so!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Granola - Homemade Yummy-ness!

I was inspired by a recipe I found in Bob Greene's "Get with the Program! Guide to Good Eating" Let me tell you I Y Granola!

I tweeked it some, taking into account that I didn't want to buy anything - my plan was to use up some things I had on hand.

Here is the original with my tweeks highlighted.

Homemade Granola


3 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup oat bran (I omitted)
1/2 cup whole raw almonds ( I used some raw mixed nuts I had instead)
1/2 cup apple juice concentrate (I used OJ concentrate)
1/2 cup honey (local and organic)
1 tsp cinnamon (I used more)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup raisins or currants (I used golden raisins)

Preheat oven to 350F Spread oats on a large nonstick baking pan and toast, stirring often for 30 minutes. Cool. Reduce the oven heat to 275F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, oat bran if you are using it, nuts, juice concentrate, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla. In a separate mixing bowl, whip the egg whites to soft peaks. Add the sugar and beat 1 minute more. Combine the oat mixture with the egg whites and spread evenly on a nonstick baking sheet. Toast for 30 minutes, stirring often, until evenly browned. When cool, add raisins. Store in an airtight container.

This is so good! I eat it straight, or my favorite way is with yogurt and fresh fruit. Scrumptious!!

easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Spicy Potato Soup

I posted a yummy crockpot soup over on my new site Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy.
Check it out!
Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!

Mother-in-law Cake

While I wonder why it is called this - it doesn't prejudice me from attempting to bake it!

Mother-in-Law Cake

2 cups sugar
2 cups sifted flour
1/2 cup butter (original calls for margarine - but I never cook with it - gotta love butter)
1/2 cup Crisco (imagine that!)(I use coconut oil)
4 Tbs cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 slightly beaten eggs
1tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine sugar and flour in bowl. In a saucepan combine butter, shortening, cocoa, and water. Bring to a boil. Add boiled mixture to sugar and flour. Add remaining ingredients. Beat well. Pour into greased 9" cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

And if it doesn't turn out the first time -check here to see why.

It must be called Mother-in-Law cake because it is so stinkin' good and you can butter her up with a piece!! Duh!

From the marvelous little book: Food Wonders Common and Simple, Fort Wayne Christian School

Chicken Enchilada Lasagna

OK, I have to admit this will be a crap shoot. Sometimes when I make dinners up they are really good and sometimes we have to get carryout. I am hoping for really good. I vaguely remember watching Emeril make something similar - but that was a long time ago, it was late at night, and I don't have a bunch of prep cooks.
Anyhoo, this is what I did...

1/2 chicken breast cooked and cut up tiny - looks like more
2 cups shredded mexican cheese, divided
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4-1/2 cup cottage cheese (I used up what I had)
1/4 cup sour cream
2 TBS or so of cumin
salsa - canned mexican tomatoes would have worked better I think but I don't have any
Green Enchilada sauce
flour tortillas (if I would have had corn tortillas this would be g/f)

Spray a smallish rectangular pan with cooking spray. Mix together everything BUT 1/2 cup cheese, 3/4 can sauce, and tortillas. Put in a layer of tortillas - rip to make fit. Then put half of mixture over and then another layer of tortillas then mixture then tortillas finally top with rest of Enchilada Sauce and cheese. Cover with foil cook @ 375 for 20 minutes, remove foil, cook 10 more minutes.

How I adapted it for Joe:
1 egg, beaten
cheese (rice)
chicken
salsa
cumin
enchilada sauce (I forgot to save some for him - will next time if it is good)
crushed tortilla chips
tortilla

spray a single serving corningware thing with canola spray. Put in 1 tortilla like a cup. Mix the rest and dump in. Cook along side main meal.

Why is this frugal? because I fed 5 people with 1/2 a leftover chicken breast, the rest of some odd bags of cheese, my remaining cottage cheese and sour cream, stale tortilla chips and a can of enchilada sauce I had laying around, and some funky fruit salsa leftover from Dougie's graduation party - I bought nothing new to make it. Love it when it turns out!

here's hoping this is edible!
God Bless,
Christy

update: It tasted delicious but I needed to cook it 30 more minutes, I think I will add a 2nd egg next time to hold it together more, oh and definitely let it stand about 10 minutes to what do you call it? um gel? Joe loved his meal also - he has many food allergies among them milk.

Sushi - yummy!

Here is a picture of the rice seasoning and a sushi rolling mat in case you wanted to see them. I got them at Woo's Oriental Store but I bet you can find them at your local Asian store.

I could live on Japanese food - sushi, sashimi, maki rolls,dons - yum yum yum. My kids also love rolls. (all but Josh and Sylvia but they will eat katsu or teriaki chicken so they love going to sushi) What is a cheap meal for 1 or 2 becomes a little salty for 10 so I taught myself to roll California Rolls - that is right I can make maki rolls but can't hem - hmmm - things that make you say hmmm.

Anyhow, I was thinking a little maki sounded good but didn't have all the ingredients for a california roll but had fresh asparagus, cucumbers and leftover sticky rice. The makings for a delicious roll. I can't explain how to roll but go here and they have good directions.

I will however tell you my ingredients.

1 bowl leftover sticky rice - put a little rice vinegar in - you can add a pinch of sugar but I didn't

Big shake of Wasabi fumi furikake rice seasoning stir into warm rice

1 steamed in the microwave asparagus spear

1/8 cucumber sliver with seeds cut out and skin removed if it is waxy

1 sheet of nori (shiny side down)

oh, and don't forget the wasabi and the soy sauce (g/f of course)

I have always made this with a bamboo sushi rolling mat which you can buy in the oriental section of Walmart by the teriaki sauce.

Lay nori down, top with rice mixture, asparagus, cucumber and roll up. Cut with sharp wet knife, serve with wasabi and soy sauce. Yum!

Happy Eating!

God Bless,

Christy

Ham and Cheese Strata

Original Ham and Cheese Strata
12 slices bread, cubed
2 cups shredded cheese2 cups cubed ham
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 9oz pkg. thawed brocolli
1 2oz jar pimento drained
6 eggs
3 cups milk
tsp salt, dry mustard
Grease 13x9 baking dish. Layer bread, cheese, ham, onion, brocolli and pimento. In bowl combine eggs,milk, salt and mustard. Blend well. Pour mixture over bread mix. Refrigerate at least 6 hours. Heat oven to 325, bake 90 min. (check for doneness) Let stand 10 minutes.

How I made it today
1 loaf g/f rice bread cubed
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 lb sausage cooked and drained
1 orange pepper diced
1/4 cup diced onion
1 2oz jar pimento
6 eggs
3 cups milk
(I forgot the mustard and salt)

Both ways are delicious. This is a fabulously forgiving recipe. Any bread products work, I usually use sausage instead of ham. I rarely use the broccoli because I don't keep it on hand but another vegetable works as well like asparagus or peppers or mushrooms. I only use pimento if I have it, I think it is more for color than taste. Any kind of shredded cheese works also.

Spicy Peanut Sauce

(I usually double this batch)
1 1/2 Tbs. creamy peanut butter
2 Tbs. vegetable oil (I use coconut oil)
2 Tbs. reduced sodium soy sauce (regular makes it too salty according to the original recipe but I always use regular)
2 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. rice vinegar (or distilled white)
1/2 tsp. sesame seed oil - dark if possible to find
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Stir together in small pot and warm until ingredients are well mixed.

We eat this over sticky rice but the recipe can also be used for chicken satay.
My family absolutely loves this. My dear friend Laura gave me the recipe and an authentic Asian Hat looking thing to cook the rice in.

I never got the hang of it but love love love my rice cooker.

Crockpot Oatmeal

OK, I tried this today and it was yummy. Lest you think this blog is becoming a food blog I am adding it to help with time management.

Crockpot Oatmeal

3 cups oatmeal
4 cups cold water, 2 cups ice
pinch of salt
sprinkle liberally with cinnamon (makes it smell sooooo good in the morning)and we all need more cinnamon in our diet)

opt.: chopped apples, or raisins or other dried fruit.

SPRAY the inside of your crock first - VIP I think it took me days to get it clean.
add all to crock, turn on low, go to bed, snuggle with dh, wake up to yummy breakfast. Can add raisins or dried fruit in the morning if you like it chewier.

God Bless,
Christy

Cranberry Mustard Salad Dressing

In an attempt to eat less processed foods and use up some odd mustard I have created the following. It is delicious over a green salad. I even added a little to what I loosely call guacamole (avacado, lemon juice, salsa all mashed together)it gave it a great flavor.

Cranberry Mustard Salad Dressing

1/4 cup Cranberry Honey Mustard
1/8 cup honey (I just used a big squirt)
1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
1/4 cup lemon or lime juice
tsp of organic dulse granules - optional, I just add this to almost everything to get the nutrients from this sea veggie.
1/3 cup water

Blend in the blender, can store in frig for up to 2 weeks.

(this can also be made with regular Dijon just use 1/4 cup of honey and add about a tsp of poppyseeds)

I just made a fantastic salad with sliced strawberries and toasted walnuts with this as the dressing - yum!! If you like feta cheese I bet that would be delish also.

I think I will serve this with a salad when we row Cranberry Thanksgiving!


God Bless,
Christy

Steak and Beer in the Crockpot

This recipe got 2 thumbs up from my family!

Round steak or roast
1 - 12oz beer
1 large can tomato sauce
1 chopped onion
1TBS instant sweet tea
1 container sliced mushrooms

Put all except mushrooms in the crock and cook 8-10 hours on low. Add mushrooms 1/2 hour before serving. This is delicious with mashed potatoes and a salad.