Month: December 2010

Posted in Holiday/Christmas

Rolo turtles

Posted on by traci

When I saw the “recipe” for these, I decided I needed to try to make them because they looked so easy and delicious.  Boy, am I glad I did.  They turned out super yummy, and they are an easy enough recipe that even the boys can help me with making them.  The other positive thing is that you only need three ingredients.

The boys really like the M&M version.  In fact, I needed to lock the deep freezer so that the Wee One wouldn’t get into them.  I think these are his favorite of all the candies I’ve made.

Stars of the recipe:

  • Either pretzel twists or waffle pretzels
  • Rolo candies
  • M&M’s or pecan halves

Steps:

  1. Line a cookie sheet with foil.  Place whole pretzels on the foil in a straight line.
  2. Place a Rolo flat-side down on the pretzel.
  3. Put in the oven at 350 degrees for about 4 minutes.
  4. Carefully pull out the oven and place either an M&M or a pecan half on the melted Rolo.
  5. Allow the turtle to cool, place it in a plastic bag and store it.  I froze mine, and they did fine.

Printable Recipe

Posted in Dessert, Holiday/Christmas, Recipes

Easy Fudge

Posted on by traci

Who doesn’t love fudge?!?  It’s rich and decadent.  Recently I found a recipe for an easy fudge that I decided I needed to try.  It is so easy to make and tastes yummy!  The best thing is that it only requires 3 ingredients!  Yes, I said it right; I only needed three ingredients.  Not bad for a delicious piece of fudge.

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1-12 oz. bag of chocolate chips
  • 1 can of condensed milk
  • 1 to 2 tsp. of vanilla extract
  • a handful of pecan pieces, optional

Steps:

  1. Place the chocolate chips and condensed milk in a microwavable safe bowl.
  2. Microwave on 70% power for 1.5 minutes.  Stir.
  3. Continue the microwave on 70% power for another 1.5 minutes.  Stir.
  4. If the chocolate is not melted, continue microwaving on 70% power for 30-second intervals until the chocolate is melted.
  5. Once the chocolate is melted, add the vanilla and stir.  If you add pecans, this would be when they would be added.
  6. Pour into a square cake pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  (I also lined mine with foil and then sprayed the foil.)
  7. Place in the fridge until it’s hardened.  Cut into pieces.  Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Posted in Dessert, Holiday/Christmas, Recipes

Saltine Chocolate Pieces

Posted on by traci

These are so addictive!

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 sleeve of about 37 Saltines
  • 3/4 c. brown sugar
  • 1 c. butter
  • 12 oz. (2 c.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3/4 c. chopped nuts (I used pecans)

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Line a 10 x 15-inch cookie sheet with foil; spray lightly with cooking spray.
  3. Cover the cookie sheet with saltines.
  4. Boil sugar and butter for 3 minutes.
  5. Pour mixture over saltines and spread evenly.
  6. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven.
  8. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Let set for 1 minute, then spread melted chips with a spatula.
  9. Sprinkle 3/4 chopped nuts over this and press down lightly.
  10. Cut on a diagonal immediately or cool until firm, then break up; pieces can be frozen. Yield: 30 pieces.

Printable Recipe

Posted in Holiday/Christmas, Recipes, Snacks

Microwavable Chex Mix

Posted on by traci

I’ve made Chex Mix like this for the past two years.  It is super easy this way.

(I copied this post and edited it from my old blog.)

The Original ChexParty® Mix

Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:15 min
Makes:24 servings (1/2 cup each)

Stars of the Recipe:

  • 3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
  • 3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
  • 3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
  • 1 cup mixed nuts
  • 1 cup bite-size pretzels
  • 1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
  • 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Steps:

  1. In a large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels, and bagel chips; set aside.
  2. In a small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High for about 40 seconds or until melted.
  3. Stir in seasonings.
  4. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
  5. Microwave uncovered on High for 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes.
  6. Spread on paper towels to cool.
  7. Store in an airtight container.

If you don’t want to make it in the microwave, you can use the oven directions instead.

Steps for the oven:

  1. Heat oven to 250°F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels, and bagel chips; set aside.
  3. In an ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in the oven.
  4. Stir in seasonings.
  5. Gradually stir in the cereal mixture until evenly coated.
  6. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  7. Spread on paper towels to cool for about 15 minutes.
  8. Store in an airtight container.

Printable Recipe (Oven)

Printable Recipe (Microwave)

Posted in Cookies, Holiday/Christmas, Recipes

Pecan Nougat Cookies (Shortbread Snowballs)

Posted on by traci

This is one of my favorite Christmas cookies.  Today I looked at the Southern Plate’s blog and found a recipe for them.  I decided I needed to try out the recipe.  Oh, my goodness, they were delicious.  I put them in the freezer, so I don’t eat the entire batch.  They were that good!!!!  🙂

Ingredients:

  • 1 c. softened butter (2 sticks)
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 c. all purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 c. finely chopped, ground-up pecans
  • powdered sugar

Steps:

  1. Cream butter, sugar, and salt until fluffy.
  2. Add flour and vanilla, and mix well, scraping down sides as needed.
  3. Add nuts and mix until well incorporated.
  4. Shape into one-inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
  5. Bake at 325 for twenty minutes, but don’t let them brown.
  6. Cool cookies.  When cooled, roll in powdered sugar.
  7. Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Posted in Menu planning

Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of December 6

Posted on by traci

Monday –Bacon and Parmesan Pasta, garlic bread or cheddar bay biscuits, salad

Tuesday – Potato soup, Depression Era bread (freezer), raw veggies

Wednesday –Gingerbread pancakes, bacon

Thursday –chicken, and dumplings

Friday – Primetime meatloaf (refrigerator freezer), scalloped potatoes, veggies

Saturday – left-overs

Posted in Menu planning

December meals

Posted on by traci

I can’t believe the year is almost over.  Before we know it, it will be Christmas, and then we will be ringing in 2011!

Week of December 1

  1. Swedish meatballs over egg noddles, veggies
  2. beef veggie soup, rolls
  3. sweet and sour chicken over rice, fortune cookies
  4. leftovers

Week of December 6

  1. Bacon and Parmesan Pasta, garlic bread or cheddar bay biscuits, salad (When I saw this recipe on Pioneer WWoman’sTasty Kitchen blog, I knew I needed to cook it for dinner.  My hubby and I agreed we are going to have this instead of spaghetti carbonara.)
  2. Potato soup, Depression Era bread (freezer), raw veggies
  3. Gingerbread pancakes, bacon
  4. chicken and dumplings
  5. Prime time meatloaf (refrigerator freezer), scalloped potatoes, veggies
  6. left-overs

Week of December 13

  1. Quesadillas (spelling) cheese soup, raw veggies,
  2. chicken in the crock pot, mashed potatoes, rolls, veggies
  3. 7-up pork chops, buttered noodles, veggies
  4. pizza and salad
  5. homemade hamburger helper, veggies, Easy Rolls
  6. leftovers

Week of December 20

  1. White castle sliders, chips or fries, veggies
  2. tomato soup (request from Wee One), grilled cheese sandwiches
  3. Waffle House waffles, hash browns smothered, covered, and chunked breakfast meat
  4. chicken nuggets, French fries, veggies
  5. Green beans with ham and potatoes (Christmas eve – It will be the two-year anniversary of her death.  This was one of the meals she cooked for us.  I think it would be a good way to remember her.)
  6. Christmas

Week of December 27

  1. lasagna, garlic bread, veggies, applesauce
  2. Mel’s Chili, cornbread, raw veggies
  3. orange chicken over rice, fortune cookies
  4. hoagies, leftover chips, and raw veggies
  5. New Year’s Eve – hors d’oeuvres
  6. New Year’s Day – Annual pork and sauerkraut dinner – (yummy!)

For more great meal plans, visit Mommy’s Kitchen.

Posted in Eat at home ingredient spotlight, Main Dish, Recipes

Sweet and sour chicken (or pork)

Posted on by traci

This is a simple 15-minute meal if you used already-cooked chicken or pork!  When my hubby tasted it, he told me it was better than the sweet and sour chicken you get in Chinese restaurants.  Now that’s saying a lot.

(There is no picture because as soon as it was finished cooking, my hubby had to eat so he could get to work.)

Stars of the recipe:

  • 1 lb of diced-up chicken or pork (already cooked)
  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • 1 cup green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup onion, cut into thin wedges
  • 1 (15 oz.) can of pineapple chunks in juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce

Steps:

  1. Preheat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat.
  2. Stir fry green peppers and onion in hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes or till crisp-tender.
  3. Remove from wok.  Add more oil if necessary.
  4. Reheat chicken or pork in a skillet.
  5. Drain pineapple, reserving juice.
  6. In a small pan, combine the juice, brown sugar, vinegar, cornstarch, and soy sauce.  Bring to a boil; cook for about 1 minute or till thickened, stirring constantly.
  7. Return green pepper and onion to skillet.  Stir in pineapple and the thickened sauce.
  8. Cook and stir until heated through.
  9. Serve with rice, if desired.

This post is linked to Eat at Home’s Ingredient Spotlight.

Printable Recipe