Raspberry Freezer Jam

I made some yummy freezer Jam the other day. Since I'm off sugar for a while I used 'Agave' instead of sugar. If you don't know about agave you should pick some up. It's the about the consistency of honey and it's 3 times sweeter than sugar so you use a lot less.

In a large bowl mash up

7 cups of Raspberries

3 small Peaches

10 Strawberries

1 cup Agave Nectar

2 tsp Vanilla (I think Vanilla cuts the tartness of the fruit but it's a personal preference, I add Vanilla to everything)

2 packets of Freezer jam Pectin

Follow the directions on the packet, which basically says stir, put in containers and freeze or refrigerate. Then eat it up Yum!

My favorite way to eat it which completely defeats the purpose of using Agave is putting it over Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream. I need to get some plain Yogurt and try it in that too. Plus it's just good on toast. Which reminds me I want to make whole wheat bread too. Shoot I'm hungry now.

Playground Granola Bars

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

I saw these on Allrecipes.com and want to make them. There are alot of alternative suggestions. I'll make some and let you know what worked for me.

Popovers

I finally figured them out! I've made them a few times recently and they've always turned out like the ones on the left. Still yummy but not popped like they should. Then I looked up the recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com/ and read a suggestion that said to put a little dallop of butter in each cup after heating up the pan in the oven for about 5-10 mins. So I put a little drop of butter in the six cups on the left and see what happened. Woo Hoo lovely popped Popovers. I've also tried making the batter as room tempature as possible which may help too, but my little experiment proves that a little butter is the key. So go make them, I've already made them twice this week and will probably make them Sunday morning too since Ryan said he's never had them before.

Ingredients:

2 Eggs (room temp if possible)
1 Cup Milk
1 Cup Flour

Pre heat oven to 450* put the muffin tin in while it's heating. Take tin out, spray and add a drop of butter to each cup. Bake at 450 for 20 mins then lower the temp to 350 and bake another 10-15 mins. Eat warm with butter and strawberry jelly or lemon juice and powder sugar.

Frosting

1 cup. softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla (I like to do half vanilla, half almond)
4 cup. powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
Mix the softened butter in a kitchen-aid mixer (in my opinion, a hand mixer doesn't cut it.) Then add the vanilla and/or almond. Slowly add the powdered sugar little by little. If it clumps add a tiny bit of the milk. If you want to make chocolate icing add about a 1/2 half of cocoa powder here (I hate Hershey's I use Premium cocoa.) Continue to slowly mix the powdered sugar and milk as needed until all is mixed. Scrap the sides of the bowl as needed throughout.When I make the cream cheese version I add about half a chunk of cream cheese instead of the second butter stick. At least that's how I did it this time. I think it did it different last time, but I can't remember how I did it. It doesn't really matter as long as the consistency is what you want.
*This recipe is from my friend Lori but I have to search through her blog to find it everytime so I'm just posting it here so I can find it easier.

Valentine's Day Cake

This has become my new Valentine's Day cake. I made it last year too. It's actually pretty easy and so yummy. It's kind of like a deflated chocolate souffle, and oh so yummy.

Ingredients:

Serves 8

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

6 large eggs, separated

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.with the rack in the center. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.Place butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time, until completely melted. Let cool slightly. Whisk in egg yolks.In a large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, and continue beating until glossy stiff peaks form. Whisk 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture; then gently fold in remaining egg whites.Pour batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan and is set in the center, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack; remove sides of pan. Serve at room temperature, dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

Super Easy Cream of Broccoli Soup

OK, I know this doesn't look good, but don't let it scare you from trying it. . .it is super yummy! It's best on a cold day with some warm rolls.

Broccoli Soup

This is not an exact recipe so you will have to guess a little. This is how my friend, Shalon, told me how to make it over the phone one day:

Place broccoli flowerets in a soup pan. Maybe 1/2 full. Add chicken broth to just over the top of the broccoli. Add a few stocks of celery chopped up. 1/2 onion if you like onions. Simmer until the broccoli is soft. I use a hand wand shake blender(whatever its called) but you can scoop the broccoli out into your blender or food processor and cream till smooth. I leave a few chunks in the soup to give it a little texture. Add back into pan. Now this is the good part. I have only seen this cheese on the farm in Idaho, but put about 1/2 a block of velveeta cheese in the soup and heat until it is smooth and melted. Trust me, your kids will take one look at the green soup and not want to eat it, but once they try it, you'll have to make it again and again.

Suggestion: Great with Oatmeal Rolls posted earlier.

Not the only one

I had great plans to post all the yummy candies and cookies I made everyone for Christmas... Can you believe that I have not even made a single cookie - not even from a mix or from the refrigerator section of the store... but if I get with it I will still publish my favorite Doris Lassen candy recipes -because there is nothing better than her carmels...
Sorry I'm such a slacker - Merry Christmas anyway!

Christmas Candy

Grace Morgan’s Divinity

3 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup white corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine above ingredients in a heavy saucepan with a tight fitting lid.
Cover with lid until mixture boils. Remove lid and cook until it reaches 260° (hard ball stage).
Do not stir while cooking.

When syrup is near 260° beat 2 egg whites in mixer bowl until medium stiff (hold their shape).
SPECIAL TRICK: When beating the egg whites add one package of Knots unflavored gelatin.

When syrup has reached 260°, pour syrup into the egg white mixture in a thin stream. Keep the mixer running. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat until the mixture holds its shape. It will look like thick whipped cream.
The more air that is incorporated into the mixture the better the candy will be.
Add 1 cup of finely chopped nuts.

Dip by teaspoon onto wax paper.

Note: Grace Morgan was the world’s best candy makers. Every Christmas she brought a package of her home made candies and several bottles of home canned fruit to Chuck’s Dad. It was one of his favorite gifts. She generously shared her recipes with me. LeOra Stevenson

Yummy Fudge

1 can evaporated milk
4 ½ cup sugar
1 pound Hershey Bars
60 miniature marshmallows or 15 regular marshmallows cut up.
12 ounce package semi sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Have Hershey bar, marshmallows, chocolate chips and nuts ready in a bowl.

Bring sugar and milk to boil in a large saucepan and keep at a rolling boil for 5 minutes. Dump this all at one time over the chocolate mixture. Stir vigorously by hand until chocolate bits and marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth.

Pour into greased (buttered) 9x13 pan and pack down. Let it set awhile.
Put in refrigerator to cool. Cut into desired size and enjoy.

The smaller the Hershey bar is chopped the faster it melts. You want it to melt quickly.
A food processor works well to chop the chocolate bar. (I always break it up by hand.)

Mexican Casserole

I made this for dinner tonight and I was a little scared at first but I loved it. I wanted to eat more but I was stuffed after one serving. I got the recipe off Allrecipes.com and then modified it a bit because that's how I roll.

Ingredients
oil for frying
3/4 pound cubed skinless, boneless chicken breast meat
1/2 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained (I used pinto beans and didn't drain them)
1 (8.75 ounce) can sweet corn, drained
1/4 cup salsa (My new favorite is Targets fresh Mild Salsa)
water as needed (if you don't drain the beans you don't need to add water)
1 cup shredded Mexican-style cheese
1 1/2 cups crushed plain tortilla chips (I cut up flour tortillas and added a layer to the center aswell as the top)

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet over medium high heat, saute chicken in oil until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Add taco seasoning, beans, corn, salsa and a little water to prevent drying out. Cover skillet and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Transfer chicken mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 cup of the cheese and crushed tortilla chips.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.

I threw a little cheese in the middle for good measure but waited till the tortillas where crisp before I put some on top then cooked for about 5 mins more.

I know this is about the most non-thanksgiving recipe I could post the day before Thanksgiving but it's what I had for dinner and I liked it so much I had to post it. Thanks Cate for all your fun holiday recipes.

Thanksgiving

If you're like me you are going through all your recipe boxes looking for all the holiday favorites (Like the Trader Joe's Stuffing that was such a big hit last year that I can't seem to find this year...) So I thought I would help out and try to put some favorites here so they're easier to find... Most of these are from Debbie and Sharon. There is also one from Grandma Hatton that Mom always made (before discovering the Easy Rolls (I'm going a step further this year and just doing frozen rolls...) There's also one from Chad's grandma (any surprise it's the Jell-0 Salad - that's about the extent of her cooking :)
Sorry, no pictures yet... I'll try to take some as I go.

Cinnamon Rolls

2 Pkg yeast 14 cups flour

2 cups water 3/4 cup melted butter

2 Tbs sugar 1 cup sugar

1 cup evaporated milk 6 eggs

1 cup boiling water 1 tsp salt

• Put 2 cups water and 2 Tbs sugar in bowl.
• Combine boiling water and evaporated milk and add to mixture.
• Add 3 cups flour with yeast sprinkled on top. Beat well.
• Melt butter and add 1 cup sugar. Add this to mixture.
• Add eggs, salt and remaining flour. Mix 10 minutes.
• If you do not have bread mixer add last flour and mix with hands. (will be soft dough).
• Let rise 2 hours or until double.

• Roll to about 1/8 inch thick.
• Spread with butter, sugar (I like to use brown sugar) and cinnamon.
• Can add pecans, walnuts, or raisins.
• Roll up like jelly roll and cut in 3/4 to 1 inch pieces.
• Place on greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise 1 hour
• Bake 10 - 15 minutes or until brown at 350° F.

Frost with glaze. I like to use a thin frosting made with cream cheese and powder sugar butter and canned milk.

Mom was always a high achiever - waking at 6 am to stuff the turkey, make cinnamon rolls and everything else from scratch! Wow... I get tired just thinking about it (but will a reminiscent smile on my face :)

Stuffed Mushrooms

50 Medium-sized fresh mushrooms
1/2 lb country- style sausage
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
3 Tbs fresh parsley, chopped
3/4 tsp garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

• Wash and remove stems from mushrooms
• Combine uncooked sausage, cream cheese, parsley, garlic powder, salt, & pepper.
• Roll stuffing into small balls & fill mushroom caps (I just use a small spoon to fill them)
• Cover and bake @ 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.
• Drain drippings and serve hot.

Crab Dip

1 Pkg Cream Cheese (Softened)

1/4 Cup Cocktail Sause

1 Can Shredded Crabs (Drained)

Wheat Thins

• Spread cream cheese a plate.
• Spread cocktail sause over cream cheese.
• Drain can of crab meat, sprinkle over the top.
• Serve with Wheat Thins

Hot Artichoke and Spinach Dip

12 servings (I usually double it)

1 - 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

¼ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup grated Romano cheese

1 clove garlic, peeled & minced

½ tsp. dried basil

¼ tsp. garlic salt

1 - 14 oz can artichoke hearts, (drained & chopped)

(I used ½ of an 8 oz frozen package for a double batch)

½ cup frozen chopped spinach

¼ cup shredded mozzarella

• Mix everything but the spinach, artichoke & mozzarella in mixer.
• Gently fold in artichoke & spinach.
• Put in baking dish & top with mozzarella.
• Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.