The Little Red Hens

Pork/Green Chili and Chipolte Rice Recipes

2009-11-19T11:51:00.002-06:00

I'm posting these two recipes here so that I don't have to dig for them every time I want to make these.Pork and Green Chili (recipe from Jeri A.)1). Cube pork (about 1 lb), tossed with 1 Cup seasoned flour and then browned in oil.2). Add 16 oz. salsa and 4 cups water (sometimes I used Rotel or spicy diced tomatoes).3). Mix in 1 doz. chopped chili peppers (I use fresh from the garden or

Lunch Time at the Smith House

2009-05-16T14:11:00.006-05:00

Almost 3 years ago Jessica posted here about Vegetable Bagels, a lunch we have often repeated at our house.The vegetable bagels have evolved over time to include meat and fruit. Yes, Matt (17) made his sandwich today with ham and strawberries. Yum. I think. The girls like Ranch dressing added to theirs along with green peppers. My favorite: cream cheese, mustard, ham, provolone cheese,

Pork and Green Chili

2009-05-05T11:53:00.004-05:00

Pork and Green Chili: This is a family favorite, great for cold rainy days. Good served as a soup with tortillas as a side, but I've also served it over cooked rice. I usually reduce the amount of green chili peppers that I add depending on what type I have and how hot they are. One jalapeno is usually enough heat for me. Enjoy!JessicaPork and Green Chili 1lb pork, cubed and tossed with 1 c.

Christmas Goodies

2008-12-27T16:12:00.005-06:00

Candy and Gingerbread housePies and PizzellesChristmas Eve snacks--our 'international" dinner:Chinese egg rolls, Italian pizza, Mexican taquitos, and American hotdogs

Making Everything from Scratch

2008-11-28T21:11:00.002-06:00

In Chinese cooking, everything is done from scratch, so I have been learning how to make things we were used to buying in the stores (such as syrup, butter, baby food, etc.) from ingredients I can find here. We love this easy maple syrup recipe. It's very easy to make and tastes a lot like normal syrup. Since we love pancakes and French toast, we just couldn't live without syrup, so I looked on

Cooking in a Chinese Kitchen

2008-10-20T08:08:00.016-05:00

It's been a little while so I'll give a quick update. My husband and I now live in China. We moved here about 5 weeks ago and I am learning how to cook and live here. I'm not posting these pictures because I think my kitchen is attractive; in fact, I think it's one of the ugliest kitchens I've ever seen. But one of the first things you realize when you step on Chinese soil is that things are made

Refreshing Frozen Yogurt Pie

2008-06-05T15:53:00.003-05:00

Absolutely perfect for summer... refreshing, light, and delicious!Directions:Mix two containers raspberry yogurt with 4oz. softened cream cheese till smooth. Fold in 3/4ths container of cool whip. Freeze in a graham cracker crust for 4 hours. Serve with fresh raspberries.Note: You could also make this with blueberry yogurt and fresh blueberries, or blackberry yogurt and fresh blackberries.For

Dinner Last Night

2008-05-23T09:12:00.002-05:00

Grilled chicken, whole wheat garlic pasta with tomatoes, and salad.Elliot enjoyed his chicken and pasta!

Grilled Mojo Chicken Salad with Asparagus and Oranges

2008-04-29T08:54:00.002-05:00

Last night we had my in-laws over for dinner, and I served this recipe. It's a unique and flavorful gem I found on allrecipes.com, and everyone enjoyed it immensely.Grilled Mojo Chicken salad with Asparagus and OrangesINGREDIENTS 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate1/3 cup fresh lime juice2 large garlic cloves, chopped1 tablespoon

Yummy Cashew Chicken

2008-04-22T19:08:00.005-05:00

Tonight I made Cindy's Cashew Chicken, and we ate outside on our back porch. I am simply loving the Spring weather. We've taken to eating most of our meals outside before it gets too hot, and before the mosquitoes are out in full force!This is really a great recipe. Tangy, and full of delightful flavor. The recipe can be found HERE. The only changes I made were to add bell peppers and onions

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T22:29:00.000-06:00

~Sugar Cookies aren't just for Christmas~Happy Valentine's Day!

Maple Baked Pork Chops and Pears

2008-01-18T16:22:00.000-06:00

I have been cooking and finding new recipes, but just haven't been getting around to posting. So here is my first new recipe find:Maple Baked Pork Chops and Pears 6 loin chops, cut 3/4 inch thick 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. sage2 pears 2 tbsp. cornstarch 1 1/2 c. hot water 1/2 c. maple syrup 1 tbsp. cider vinegar Parsley Rub pork chops with 1/4 teaspoon salt and sage. Brown slowly in hot skillet.

The Wysocki Sandwich

2008-01-11T17:45:00.000-06:00

Last week when we had sandwiches, I was teasing Justin about how mine was better then his because I folded and layered my lunch meat to look all pretty like the sandwich on the lunch meat package. So...the next time we had sandwiches, he proceeded to make himself a special sandwich. In his best TV chef's voice he explained how to cut the lunch meat into quarters and then place the pieces on the

Cashew Chicken

2008-01-04T17:27:00.000-06:00

Tonight for Family Fun Night at our house it is Bethany's night. She chose Cashew Chicken with Egg Rolls, and Chicken Fried Rice. Now before you get too impressed, the egg rolls and rice are from Sam's! I used to make my own egg rolls, but that was in the 1980's.3/4 C orange juice1/3 C honey1/4 C soy sauce1 T cornstarch1 t ground ginger1 t garlic powder1/2 t pepper2T vegetable oil4 green onions,

Stromboli

2007-12-31T08:52:00.000-06:00

We have a tradition in our home that every Friday night is "Fun Night". We rotate through the children, in birth order, and when it is "their night", they get to decide on the meal and more importantly, the dessert :) They also get to decide what we do that night for fun. They can choose a game to play, movie to watch, etc.So, every Friday, I will post a new recipe for you from our dinner!This

Cindy's Intro

2007-12-30T14:47:00.000-06:00

I am Cindy, married to my sweet husband for 19 years and mom to 9 children (8 here with us and 1 with Jesus). I am so thankful for the priviledge of being a wife and mother, and serving my family is the greatest joy. I have always loved to cook and I want to pass on to my children the love of hospitality and service to others. I am always trying out new recipes and I would love to share them

Chocolate Covered Cherries

2007-12-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

A Christmas tradition still going strongafter 14 years.

Parmesan Chicken

2007-12-14T22:41:00.000-06:00

I'm copying this recipe that Jessica originally posted on the Sew Chic blog because I never can find it over there. Seems like we rarely post on this cooking blog anymore, but I often find myself coming over to find one of my own or Jessica's tried and true recipes. This chicken Parmesan has become a favorite at my house, and now I'll be able to find the recipe easily. :) You can find

All Recipes review

2007-11-07T20:24:00.000-06:00

All Recipes has become one of my favorite site to find recipes lately. I love how all the recipes have lots of reviews, and a lot of the reviewers give changes and suggestions to improve the recipes. One of the other neat features is that you can do an advanced search for the ingredients you have on hand, and it'll find you recipes with those ingredients in them.Last week I searched bacon,

Need help with pan scum

2007-11-07T09:05:00.000-06:00

First off, I want to say welcome Olla. For those of you that don't know Olla, she is my wonderful Grandmother-in-law. Olla, I am so glad you were finally able to join us, and the pumpkin recipe looks really good. I'll have to try it soon!Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is having a backwards "Works for me Wednesday". Instead of giving a handy tip, everyone is asking for a tip. So if you read

Pecan Pie Pumpkin Cake

2007-11-06T21:42:00.000-06:00

When you can't decide whether to make a pumpkin or pecan pie, you might want to try this. I have served it several times recently and everyone enjoyed it.2 cans (15 oz each) solid-pack pumpkin1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk1 c. sugar3 eggs1 t. vanilla1 package yellow cake mix1 c. butter, melted1 1/2 c. chopped pecansFrosting:1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, softened1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar1 t.

Jacob's Birthday Cake

2007-10-14T20:47:00.000-05:00

Today is Jacob's 7th birthday, and this is the cake he requested. Six months ago Jacob showed me this book and told me that he wanted this cake for his next birthday. At that time I told him to remind me because I would forget otherwise. Yes, I forgot, but Jacob remembered! Happy Birthday, Son!Ruth

Lobster Tales

2007-10-01T16:43:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple pictures from our Boston trip. One of the most memorable evenings was the clambake and lobster dinner that we were served in Plymouth. Neither of us have had much experience with eating sea food, so eating whole lobsters with quite an experience! We both felt a little queasy by the time we were done, but it was still fun! I liked the lobster meat, but I doubt it will be

Menu Plan Monday

2007-10-01T16:25:00.000-05:00

Here's this week's menu. I scribbled it out really fast earlier because I was on the way out the door to go to the grocery store, but then I realized that I didn't have any keys (we left them at your house, Mom!). So now I have time to sit down and refine my menu. I love planning out a week's worth of foods....I love anticipation in general, and my mouth waters all week when I know what yummy

Menu Plan Monday

2007-09-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

My menu planning for this week is super easy...Today we ate leftover pizza and bean burritos from the weekend, and because we will be out of town all weekend, I only have two days to plan for! It's a good thing too, because I spent half of this week's grocery money on some new shirts to wear on our trip!TuesdayEgg, Bacon, and Broccoli quiche with cantaloupeFrozen Stuffed bell peppers with fried

Yummy Breakfast!

2007-09-24T13:54:00.001-05:00

Jeremy and I have made it a tradition in our family that Saturday mornings are the time to make a big, family cooked breakfast. Everyone helps and it's a lot of fun. Last Saturday we had a German pan cake (literally, a pan cake!) with homemade syrup (delicious!), fruit, and ham. Here's the recipe!GERMAN PANCAKE6 eggs1 cup milk1 cup all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons butter,

The Cookie to Beat All Cookies

2007-09-21T10:52:00.001-05:00

Like chocolate chips? Peanut butter? M&M's? Oatmeal? What not combine them all in a recipe that is sure to be a favorite with everyone! Oh yeah, and these are really good with milk...My friend from church gave me this recipe, and it is truly amazing. Everyone loves these cookies. One interesting fact...it contains no flour. I guess the oatmeal take the place of flour.I'm making a huge

Menu Plan Monday

2007-09-17T18:19:00.000-05:00

Hi y'all, it's been awhile since we've had any posts....so, in an attempt to keep this blog going, I'm going to start posting my menus for the week. I usually write them out and stick them on my fridge, but it's just as easy to type them here. Also, I would LOVE it if some of you other contributors on this blog started posting your menus. I could always use menu ideas!If you like to see what

Enchilada tip

2007-08-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

Those that know the Smith family, know that we LOVE enchiladas! Making them though can be time consuming and messy. So here it goes...you know how it takes so long to fry the corn tortillas individually, but if you skip that step and just heat them in the microwave, you end up with really mushy enchiladas? My fabulous tip that I read is to take your corn tortillas and spray them individually

Super Easy Hamburger Recipe

2007-08-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

Really, it's pretty much like homemade hamburger helper, but hey, hamburger helper can be pretty tasty, right?I like how this version has salsa and cheese in it...yummy!Beef and Cheese Macaroni1 lb lean ground beef2 cups chunky salsa2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni8 oz process cheese spread (like Velveeta)Brown meat in a large skillet; drain.Add salsa and 1 3/4 cups water. Bring to a boil and then

Whoopie! [Pies]

2007-07-07T20:03:00.000-05:00

I pulled this recipe out this morning---good ol' fashioned, Amish, whoopie pies. Rumor has it that the name, whoopie pie, comes from the 'whoop' of exaltation one makes when they taste them. Whoopie! 3 of the 3+ dozen that I made....[Large families like mine like it when the cooks make a mistake and end up having to quadruple the recipe instead of just doubling it.]Recipe:1/2 cup sugar1/4

Corny Days

2007-07-03T08:28:00.000-05:00

Our friends, the Snyders, grow the best sweet corn! Mark and the kids have spent 5 early mornings at the Snyder's farm this past week helping them harvest their acres of corn. (I have spent each afternoon washing muddy and rain-soaked clothes!) The fresh corn has been delicious, and we ate some almost every meal last week. I don't get tired of corn on the cob!Yesterday we spent the morning

Katie Made a Cake!

2007-06-15T20:32:00.000-05:00

Actually, Katie has made this cake twice in the last few months---it's that good! I have always liked bundt cakes, pound cakes, coffee cakes.... oh, yes, I pretty much like most any type of cake, but this Tucson Lemon Cake takes the cake. (Ok, you can laugh at that pun). This cake tastes fabulous with coffee in the morning! I'll stop rambling now, and just give the recipe. :-)RuthTucson

Vegetables and Quiche

2007-06-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

Check out all these pretty vegetables my dad gave me on Tuesday. Dad has a huge garden this year and his plants are just starting to explode with produce. I especially love the broccoli...it's so yummy!Below is a quiche I made last week. Whenever I make quiche, I use this recipe that I found online once and heavily adapt it to my needs. I like this recipe because it never seems to fail, and

What the World Eats

2007-06-13T09:54:00.000-05:00

The link below is a facinating TIME photo essay that shows 15 different families from around the world and the foods they will eat in one week. It also shows how much they will spend for that food. Of the two American families shown, one spends $159 a week, and the other spends $341...the least spent is an African family. They only spend $1.23 for their food for one week.What the World Eats

Egg Drop Soup

2007-05-29T09:22:00.000-05:00

Egg Drop SoupI found out that egg drop soup is really easy to make and fun too! It's also very yummy!INGREDIENTS: 4 cups chicken broth or stock2 eggs, lightly beaten1 -2 green onions, minced1/4 teaspoon white pepperSalt to tasteA few drops of sesame oil (optional) PREPARATION: In a wok or saucepan, bring the 4 cups of chicken broth to a boil. Add the white pepper and salt,

Wonton Soup

2007-05-22T12:51:00.001-05:00

I've been wanting to try wanton soup for a while and I finally got up the courage to do it. I found a recipe on the internet and it turned out to be very tasty. It wasn't exactly like the wanton soup we had in China, but for being homemade with American ingredients we thought it was pretty close. If you've never had genuine Chinese food, you might think this has a bit of an odd flavor, but it's

Waldorf Salad Supreme

2007-05-08T14:23:00.000-05:00

Waldorf Salad Supreme 1 T. lemon juice 2 apples, coarsely chopped 1 c. chopped celery 1 can pineapple chunks, drained 1/2 cup grapes, cut in halves 1/2 c. pecan halves 2/3 c. mayonnaise Lettuce In mixing bowl, pour lemon juice over apples and toss to spread lemon juice.Add all remianing ingredients and toss. Serve on lettuce leaf. Serves 6-8note: I cut this recipe in half, and it was

Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe

2007-05-08T14:15:00.000-05:00

For those who asked....here's the recipe for the Sopapilla Cheesecake that I made for our Easter Sunday gathering. This is such an easy recipe, and it is a hit every time I make it.Ingredients:2 8oz. packages of creams cheese, softened1 t. Vanilla1 stick real butter1 1/2 c. sugar2 cans crescent rolls1 t. cinnamonPreheat oven to 365 degrees.Beat cream cheese with 3/4 c. sugar and vanilla till

6 Loaves of Wheat Bread

2007-05-07T20:41:00.000-05:00

I used to make bread every week, 6 or 7 loaves at a time, on schedule, without fail. Those days are past, but today I made bread for the first time in probably 9 months or more. The bread came out great, so I thought I'd post pictures. After today's success, I think I should get back into the routine of making bread again! The recipe I used is below.I'm thankful I have the Bosch mixer which

"Firebell" Stuffed Peppers

2007-04-11T19:21:00.000-05:00

Justin and I really enjoy eating stuffed bell peppers. The recipe below is from my Betty Crocker cookbook, and we really like it. Yesterday though, I tweaked the recipe to create these spicy "firebell" stuffed peppers. I used spicy sausage in place of the ground beef, red bell peppers instead of green ones, and cheddar cheese in place of mozzarella cheese. I liked how they came out so bright,

Vacuum Cleaner Giveaway

2007-04-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a Dyson Slim Vacuum, and all you have to do to enter the drawing is to sign "Mr. Linky" and then link to the contest page like I've done here.Over the years, having 5 girls in the house with heads full of long hair has been hard on our vacuum cleaners. Just imagine all that long hair on the floors, in the carpets--everywhere. I've yet to find a vacuum cleaner

Angel Food and Cool Whip

2007-03-17T11:10:00.000-05:00

Angel Food cake box mix, Cool Whip, food coloring, and sprinkles if desired...The result? A festive, delicious, and quick birthday cake. Yes, it's just a box Angel Food cake, but the topping makes it special--even though it's supremely easy. For years I've watched my mom mix food coloring (and maybe a bit of vanilla or almond flavoring) up with Cool Whip, and top in on the Angel Food cake with

Ode to Toast

2007-03-02T17:27:00.000-06:00

"When the girl returned, some hours later, she carried a tray, with a cup of fragrant tea steaming on it; and a plate piled up with very hot buttered toast, cut thick, very brown on both sides, with the butter running through the holes in it in great golden drops, like honey from the honeycomb. The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad, and with no uncertain voice; talked of warm

Tuna Medley

2007-01-26T12:46:00.000-06:00

Tuna Medley is one of my favorite lunches to make. It's fast, easy, filling, frugal, and it beats tuna-fish sandwiches any day! I'm not a huge fan of tuna, especially tuna sandwiches, but this is really good.Normally it's best as a summer lunch because it's a cold dish, but I like it anytime. Basically I boil whole grain spiral or mararoni style pasta till cooked and then drain. Then I mix in

Old Country Baked Spaghetti

2007-01-24T14:53:00.000-06:00

If ever I had to choose just one recipe that is our family's favorite meal, it would have to be this baked spaghetti. Years ago I received the recipe from a friend named Carol. If I recall, she got it from The Old County Italian Restaurant in Denver. (I did a google search for the restaurant but did not get any results, so I don't know if it's still in business or not).~Old Country Baked

Free Food Magazine

2007-01-22T23:40:00.000-06:00

Last week I received the current edition of the Food and Family magazine from Kraft Foods. Yes, this glossy magazine comes in the mail--the real mail--and it is free. I have been pleased with every issue I've received, and this one is no exception. The theme for the current issue is "our very best" --recipes from past issues, I believe.We have already made the delicious mini meatloaves

Raspberry Streusel Muffins

2007-01-08T09:58:00.000-06:00

I made these muffins as a special treat last night, and they were so wonderful. I've never bought fresh raspberries before this, but they make the most delightful addition to muffins. This recipe, found at allrecipes.com, is light and moist, not too sweet, and topped with an oatmeal crumble. These were perfect for dinner, and again for breakfast this morning! Raspberry Streusel MuffinsMakes:

Bar-b-que Chicken Pizza

2007-01-08T09:47:00.000-06:00

Bonny, your black bean pizza sounds really good. Justin looooooves pizza, so I'm always looking for something new to put on it. Here's the pizza I made last weekend...This is a super easy, fast pizza especially if you have leftover chicken...we happened to have leftover grilled chicken, so that made it especially yummy.Basically I just made a pizza crust dough as usual, prebaked it and then

I tried a new recipe!

2007-01-08T08:37:00.000-06:00

Black Bean PizzaI wanted to try something new, so I looked for a simple recipe that called for the ingredients I had on hand and I found this one in my Taste of Home book. It was very tasty! My husband and I enjoyed the mild flavor and healthy alternative to regular pizza. We still have leftovers for today!Ingredients:1 tube (10 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust1 medium onion, chopped1 garlic

Three-Cheese Enchiladas

2006-12-29T10:05:00.000-06:00

This was a recipe from an old Country Woman magazine. It was so colorful and very good! I thought some of the amounts for the ingredients were a little small...but maybe I'm just used to cooking for a large family. Feel free to make more filling for fuller enchiladas.I also substituted a can of diced tomatoes with chili peppers (like Rotel) for the picante sauce because that's what I had on

Cherry Pictures

2006-12-29T09:47:00.000-06:00

Here are the pictures from our Chocolate Covered Cherry day earlier this month. These delicious delights were very popular...we only have 2 left of the 5 1/2 dozen I took home that day. I'm saving them for Justin because he loves them. Here Mom and I are rolling the white dough over the cherries. After they are dipped, this white creme will begin to melt into a liquid.Dipping the creme-covered

Christmas Yummies

2006-12-22T20:53:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite activities in December is the Christmas baking with the kids. The past few days we have made a several yummy and delicious treats, pictures posted here. While I shopped one afternoon, Katie, Ellen, Jacob, Emily, and a friend of Katie's decorated these sugar cookies which I had baked the day before. Sugar cookies are my absolutely most favorite kind of cookie, and already I've

Crazy eggs that make me smile!

2006-12-05T13:42:00.000-06:00

With me being pregant, we eat a lot of eggs around here for breakfast (lots of protein!). Last week when I was frying our eggs, I got a really strange one...Have a great day!Jessica

a couple of good cooking blogs

2006-11-28T20:03:00.000-06:00

Full Bellies is a cooking blog I've enjoyed browsing around on...there are some awesome looking recipes...check them out!I hope to try the Monterey Chicken soon. It sounds soooo yummy...I haven't spent that much time browsing cooking blogs, but Baking Sheet is another fabulous one. Lots of good pictures, and lots of yummy baked goods that make my mouth water. Jessica

Pumpkin-Pecan Pie

2006-11-28T19:41:00.000-06:00

Pumpkin Pecan Pie1 single crust pie crust, unbaked3 slightly beated eggs1 15 oz. can pumpkin3/4 c. sugar1/2 c. dark corn syrup1 t. vanilla3/4 t. cinnamon1 c. pecansPre-heat oven to 350. Prepare pastryCombine all ingredients except pecans. Pour into pie shell, sprinkle with pecansBake 50-55 min, or until knife come out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serves 8.This pumpkin-pecan recipe came from a

Thanksgiving Cookies and a Teddy Bear Murder

2006-11-18T08:38:00.000-06:00

Two nights ago we made and decorated Thanksgiving sugar cookies for some of our neighbors. Taking little plates of goodies to our neighbors was a tradition that my family always did at Christmas in the various neighborhoods that we've lived in, and it's a tradition I want to continue...only I think I'll do it at Thanksgiving! It's a good way to reach out to those around us and begin

Pizza, Pumpkin Rolls, and Pork Chops

2006-11-15T11:15:00.000-06:00

My husband getting ready to enjoy some homemade pizza!These Pumpkin Dinner Rolls are from Tammy, and they were soooo yummy. I loved the orange color!I think I am going to make them again to take to my ladies Bible study tomorrow. We're having a soup and salad potluck afterward, and I'm signed up to bring bread.I have made this simple pork chop recipe from my Taste of Home magazine twice now and

Thanksgiving Pot Pie

2006-11-10T13:46:00.000-06:00

This is a pot pie that I have been making for years...it's sort of my special dish, as I'm the only one in my family who ever makes it. The recipe came from my Aunt Patsy, (Bonny's mom) years ago when she mailed it to me for a family cookbook that I was making my mom's birthday. Although it's a little more work to make, I think this dish is worth it. The flavor is so good (I love the cloves in

I'm Back to Cooking Again!

2006-11-03T16:28:00.000-06:00

I was completely out of it from mono and being very sick for a couple months, but now I am starting to get back on my feet. That means I'm cooking a little more now! My wonderful husband did a great job at cooking when I was sick. It's good to have a handy man who likes to cook and does a good job at it!My family didn't have meatloaf very often, but I wanted to try it and got this recipe from my

4 Generations of Tortilla Makers

2006-10-25T19:05:00.000-05:00

Today Jessica inspired me to try my hand again at making flour tortillas. You see, I grew up watching my mom make homemade flour tortillas on a weekly basis. She didn't measure anything, and she made it look so easy. Several times she attempted to teach me how to make tortillas, and as long as she made the dough they came out okay. All right, so my tortillas were shaped like many of the

How to Make Flour Tortillas

2006-10-25T17:22:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I made homemade tortillas, and they came out good (In the past when I've made them they've been dry and cracker-like). I guess this must be a good recipe, so I'm posting it.Interesting article about flour tortillasFlour Tortillas--make 12-18Ingredients:3 cups unbleached flour2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. salt4-6 Tbsp. vegetable shortening or lardabout 1 1/4 cups warm waterMix dry

Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin Muffins

2006-10-22T18:42:00.000-05:00

Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin MuffinsPrep:15 minutesBake: 20 minutesServes:181 2/3 c. flour1 c. sugar1 1/2 t. cinnamon1 t. baking soda3/4 t. ground mace1/2 t. salt1/2 t. baking powder1/4 t. ground nutmeg1/4 t. ground cloves2 eggs1 c. canned pumpkin1/2 c. butter melted1 c. semisweet chocolate piecesPreheat oven to 350 degrees Lightly grease 18 muffin cups, or line muffin pans with paper bake cups.In a

Chocolate Pizzelles

2006-10-22T18:19:00.000-05:00

Mom, here's that recipe for those Chocolate Pizzelles that I was telling you about from the Better Homes and Gardens, Celebrate the Season 2003 book. Let me know when you want to make pizzelles this Christmas, and I'll try to come and help you! I wish I could show you the picture of these, because they look so pretty.Christmas is coming...That means lots of yummy goodies. Yeah!! If you read

Steak Adventures

2006-10-20T15:39:00.000-05:00

I did it! I learned how to cook a steak on my stovetop! Steak has been a craving with my pregnancy that I have just not gotten to indulge in much. On a whim I decided to try to cook some frozen steaks I had even though they weren't that high of quality (Top Sirloin Steaks, 3/4 " thick, about $3 a pound). I was so excited because they came out wonderful...much better then we expected.

Homeland Savings this week

2006-10-20T15:21:00.000-05:00

For those of you that have a Homeland Grocery Store in town, go by the store and pick up one (or 20!) of their weekly ads. This week only, ( 10/18-10/24) each ad contains a coupon for one free can of Red Gold canned tomatoes. My mother-in-law gave me 5 of these coupons and I was able to use them at my local grocery down the street to get 5 free cans of diced tomatoes in one single

Fun Free Kitchen Printouts From Martha Stewart

2006-10-20T15:03:00.000-05:00

This is for all you crafty cooks...I thought these various printable lables and kitchen guides from Martha Stewart were so fun!Old fashioned Decorative Jam Lables (see picture at left)Easy to read Freezer LablesPie Chart-- basic recipes for 5 fruit fillings at the turn of a wheel. So cute!Milk-bottle shaped Kitchen Equivalents and Substitutions list. I like the idea of laminating these and

Chicken Parmesan

2006-10-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

Today I was featured as a "guest chef" on another great cooking blog, Tammy's Recipes.Check out this yummy recipe for Chicken Parmesan!Have a great day!Jessica

Cheddar-Sausage Scones

2006-10-06T10:09:00.000-05:00

I served these lovely Chedder-Sausage Scones for breakfast this morning. Different than your usual scone, these are more like a breakfast biscuit with a sweet taste. I thought they were good served with fried eggs and hot apricot tea, and I would definitely make them again to serve at a breakfast brunch or potluck. This recipe makes quite a bit--I cut it in half for Justin and me and we still

What I did today....

2006-09-29T16:55:00.001-05:00

Isn't my bread pretty? I can't wait to eat it. I'm serving the rolls for dinner with this super easy recipe for chicken breaded with French's Fried Onions. I've never made it before, so we'll so how it comes out. I also made more cream puffs for a bridal shower tomorrow that Mom and I are hosting for a friend. They came out so pretty that I couldn't resist taking another picture!Have a great

Taco Soup

2006-09-27T18:49:00.000-05:00

If you want a quick and tasty meal, this is it-- Taco Soup!Tricia emailed this recipe to me yesterday, and since I had most of the ingredients on hand, I made it for supper tonight. Matthew thought the soup was so delicious that he had three servings. Well, at 14 Matthew usually eats multiple servings at every meal, but the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed the soup, too. It must be the

Breakfast Fun

2006-09-26T11:55:00.000-05:00

This is what my husband does when we have pancakes and sausage patties. =)Yesterday I made homeade granola using this recipe from Tammy. It came out really good, and I even left out the brown sugar in an attempt use less sugar in my diet. It still was slightly sweet though because the recipe also calls for honey (only I didn't have any honey, so I used pancake syrup instead). This makes a very

Cream Cheese Eclairs

2006-09-06T16:38:00.000-05:00

Although these are normally only made for very, very special occasions--like tea parties with the queen, today the urge for cream puffs hit me and I made them just for the fun of it! We took them to our prayer group at church tonight and everyone enjoyed them.So easy to make, and light and delicious to eat, these could quickly become addicting. Not a good thing in my case, but today I was very

Sandwich Inspirations

2006-09-05T14:35:00.000-05:00

The wonderful thing about being pregnant is that all sorts of amazing food inspirations hit me all the time. Now that I'm past the 'everything-tastes-yucky' stage, I often find myself daydreaming about all the yummy things I feel like eating and making.Today it was turkey-guacamole sandwiches. Mix up some fresh guacamole by combining one avocado with some sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder,

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2006-09-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

This is a recipe I clipped from my newspaper, and it was awesome. It tasted like something you might get at a restaurant. Not only was it rich and full of flavor, but it was very aesthetically pleasing too. The soup is a reddish color with lots of flecks of color. Topped with baked tortilla strips, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fresh cilantro, it made an appealing meal.The night I made this

Delicious Rice Pudding

2006-08-18T08:50:00.000-05:00

This is the best recipe for rice pudding that I have ever had! I made too much rice a couple days ago and needed something to make with it. My husband mentioned that his mom aways made a really good rice pudding dish whenever thay had leftover rice so I called her for the recipe:1 cup rice1/3 cup sugar1/4 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon vanillaEnough milk to get slightly soupy (it will thicken as

Mud Pies and Home Schooling

2006-08-16T23:23:00.000-05:00

I had hoped to start school this week, but it didn't happened. Next Monday is my new starting goal, and I'm starting to get excited. I haven't had a kindergartener for 5 years, since Ellen, and I'm actually looking forward to teaching Jacob how to read this year. I'm going to be using a new-to-me kindergarten program, My Father's World, and I've spent the last few days getting familiar with

Grocery musings

2006-08-16T12:42:00.000-05:00

Overall I really enjoy grocery shopping and menu planing, but sometimes it can be frustrating. Like when the perfectly ripe, delicious-looking apricots are $3.99 lb. and I have to settle for greenish-yellow peaches, or when I blow the food budget on needed groceries at my little neighborhood store because I don't feel like driving across town in 100 degree weather to get better prices. Or when

Recipe Alert

2006-08-12T18:28:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to a really neat cooking blog... Tammy's Recipes. She has a ton of recipes and they are all organized under catagories for ease. The photographs are simply mouthwatering, and although I haven't actually made anything from this site yet, the recipes I've looked at seem to look fairly easy and classic-- something I'd make for a family dinner.Jessica

Stewp

2006-08-11T10:25:00.000-05:00

One of my dearest friends gave Jeremy and I the most creative and useful gift for our wedding: a recipe for stewp and all the ingradients and supplies! Let me explain what stewp is. When my friend Rebekah and I were about 7 years old we used to spend our Sunday afternoons together at each others houses. One Sunday her mom made beef and barley stew for dinner. It was delicious! We debated over

Yummy Cherry Coffee Cake

2006-08-08T09:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a fun day...Katie had spent Sunday night with me and we spent yesterday hanging out... talking, cleaning, and cooking. My entire family was able to come that evening, and for dinner we had stuffed shells, (large pasta shells filled with a ricotta cheese mixture and topped with spaghetti sauce) green salad, and french bread. For dessert we made a super-easy cherry coffee cake

New Bookshelves!

2006-08-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

I am so excited! Mark made some bookshelves for our thousands of books! With a little help from Emily he made the shelves out of MDF board which we painted white. These built-in shelves are fully adjustable and they have trimwork at the top and bottom. He made 4 sets for upstairs and 5 sets for downstairs in our new "library" aka "school room" aka "the book room." We haven't decided on a

Frog Kolaches

2006-07-12T18:26:00.000-05:00

KR, this post is for you. Look what this guy did to my kolache picture! It almost makes you want to never eat Kolaches again. :-)Before:After:A few months ago I made some yum-delicious cherry kolaches in celebration of the Prague Kolache Festival in which a sweet friend of ours was running for Kolache Queen (she won!). The kolaches came out fabulous and were eaten in record time. Katie took the

How the Garden Does Grow

2006-07-08T22:35:00.000-05:00

I'm not much of a gardener, but I love the produce from my husband's garden. This year, because of time restraints and a broken rototiller he decided to plant a "Container Garden" using 55-gallon barrels that he cut in half as the containers.All the plants got off to a great start, but since it's gotten hotter some of the plants have begun to wither. The cucumber plants are having a rough time of

Pudding Delight

2006-06-20T19:19:00.000-05:00

Yummy, yummy, yummy for my tummy, tummy, tummy! Ellen (10) made this tasty dessert yesterday and we all enjoyed it immensely! Since I didn't have enough small dessert cups she made it in water goblets, and I think you will agree that they look quite lovely. To make the "Pudding Delight," as we called it, she simply made up a boxes of instant pudding mixes and layered the pudding with whipped

"Help for the Busy Mom"

2006-06-20T19:06:00.000-05:00

I added the weekly menu from Menu4Moms to the sidebar in hopes that I may get inspired to try some new recipes. It's so easy to make the same meals week after week, and I need some variety in my menus. I need to do better with planning out our meals for a whole week (or two!) at a time because perhaps then I wouldn't get so frustrated not knowing what meals to prepare each day. Am I the only

Nachos/Taco Salad Recipe by request

2006-06-20T18:47:00.000-05:00

This recipe came from my sweet friend Tricia. Tricia has such a kind and gracious spirit about her, and I love her dearly. Our family was recipient to Tricia's wonderful hospitality when her family had us over for dinner ---not an easy undertaking since both of have large families. The taco salad and all the fixings made for a fabulous meal, and I have made it several times since then. Thank

Request

2006-06-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

Mom, will you please post that nacho topping recipe you made for Dad's birthday? Pretty please? It was so yummy, and I think I want to make it this week.Thank you...Jessica

Vegetable Bagels

2006-06-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

Vegetable bagels...I simply can't say enough about how good these are. They sustained me during college (the cheapest thing on the food court menu!) and now Justin and I enjoy eating them for a very healthy and filling lunch. These sandwiches are so awesome that I really can't rave enough. Try them, because they are wonderful.Directions:Toast bagel slicesSpread both bagels with cream cheese (

Vegetable Burritos

2006-06-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

This is an awesome lunch that my mother-in-law inspired me with. She is good with thinking on her feet, because this is what she came up with one day when I asked in desperation "What shall I make for lunch?"I know vegetable burritos sound a little weird, but they are SO good. Trust me. Look in your fridge and pull out any vegtables you have...I found that the combination of carrots,

Arizona Broccoli Salad

2006-06-19T01:30:00.000-05:00

On Saturday I made a variation of a great salad recipe that I originally got from my sister-in-law (Bonny's mom!). Over the years I have made this salad many times, sometimes following the recipe and other times varying the ingredients. I have found that this salad is fast to make, and that it is usually well-received at potlucks or other gatherings. Some of my children do not like the onions in

Sausage Wonton Stars

2006-06-15T21:49:00.000-05:00

I made these at Christmas last year and my sister made them for a Chinese bridal shower she gave me in May. They're perfect for a snack, an appetizer, or an addition to any Chinese-styled meal. My fiancé loved them and suggested I make them for future pot-lucks.Makes 4 dozenIngredients:1 package (12 oz) wontont wrappers1 pound bulk pork sausage2 cups (8 oz) shredded colby cheese1/2 medium green

Chinese-Styled Green Beans

2006-06-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

I've been looking for more creative ways to cook vegetables so that they are more enjoyable to eat. When I went to China last summer I fell in love with some of the dishes we had and I've been craving them ever since. One of them was a green bean dish from the Sichuan University dining hall. My mom and I found a recipe that looked similar, but of course it wasn't quite the same because we do not

Lemonade Pie

2006-06-15T13:59:00.000-05:00

For his birthday dessert, my husband wanted "Lemonade Pie". I had never made it before, but it turned out to be a lovely frozen dessert...it's tangy and refreshing, and best of all, it's super easy!INGREDIENTS: * 1 graham cracker pie crust * 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk * 1 6-ounce can of frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed (could use a full, 12 oz. can if desired, but it

Birthday Enchiladas

2006-06-15T12:58:00.000-05:00

My darling husband turned 24 last week and for his birthday dinner with his family, I made enchiladas. This was my second attempt at re-creating my mother's wonderful enchiladas, and after many phone coaching sessions and e-mailing back and forth with recipes and questions, they were painstakingly assembled and baked. Overall they were very good and I was pleased. The perfectionist in me must

A Day in the Life of a Loaf of French Bread

2006-06-13T12:08:00.000-05:00

I am always on the lookout for good deals when it comes to groceries. When in a store, I grab the sales papers and swing by the marked down food racks. I hit upon a bargain this weekend when I ran into Walmart to pick up a few items.In the back of the store, our Walmart has their marked down Bakery products. I found their loaves of sliced French bread marked down to 75 cents a loaf. A great

Bonny's Intro

2006-06-12T22:20:00.000-05:00

I'm Bonny, Jessica's cousin and Ruth's niece. I'm a stay-at-home wife and soon-to-be mom. I like to experiment with dishes from other countries and especially like making Chinese food. I also enjoy entertaining and having people over the try my new experiments.Happy Cooking!Bonny

Peach Trifle

2006-06-11T23:16:00.000-05:00

Today I made a peach trifle in the bowl that Jessica gave me for my last birthday. I just love this bowl! It makes even a simple dessert like a peach trifle look special. I can imagine a layered salad in this bowl, or a mixed-fruit salad, or... hmmm, perhaps even tuna macaroni salad would look pretty in this bowl. I wonder, do you think my kids would eat macaroni salad if it was presented in a

Mexican adventures

2006-06-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

Lately every time I go to the grocery store, I invariably end up at the Mexican aisle looking at all the peppers, powders, seasonings, and sauces that I have no idea how to cook with, much less pronounce. It's hard to resist buying stuff just to experiment with it. I love Mexican food, and I'm taken with the idea of learning how to make authentic dishes. I long to learn how to make tamales...

Monday Morning Breakfast

2006-06-05T14:26:00.000-05:00

I am in the process of revamping my menus. Breakfast is always a challenge for me. For one, I am not much of a breakfast eater but my 7 little (and not so little) chicks at home are firm believers of breakfast. There is also something about Monday mornings that demand something a bit enticement when it comes to breakfast food. The proverbial carrot of food that says, "...come to the table,