Potato Kielbasa Skillet

My hubby was quick to declare this smoky, meat and potato combination a "manly man's meal".   Happily it was also eagerly devoured by the little people in our family too.

Click here for printable recipe.

The ingredients:

1 pound red potatoes, cubed  (I used 3 medium sized potatoes)
3 Tbs. water
3/4 lb. smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. brown sugar
2 Tbs. cider vinegar
1 Tbs. Dijon mustard ( I used regular mustard)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups fresh baby spinach ( I like to chop my spinach, but you can use them whole if you prefer)
5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Directions:  Place cubed potatoes and water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover bowl with plastic wrap (no need to poke any holes) and microwave on high for 4 minutes or until fork tender; drain.  (Mine took closer to 6 minutes before they were fork-tender)

In a large skillet on medium-high heat, saute kielbasa and onion in oil until onion is tender; about 3-5 minutes. (I skipped the oil and just used the bacon grease to fry it in.)  Add potatoes; saute 3-5 minutes longer or until kielbasa and potatoes are lightly browned.

  
Meanwhile, combine the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, thyme, and pepper; stir into skillet.

 

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Add spinach and bacon; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Yields 4 servings.



 
Enjoy!

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Chocolate Malted Cookies

These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup plus chocolate chips, these cookies are among the best I've had. Yum yum! The ingredients:
1 cup butter flavored shortening (Crisco)
1-1/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup malted milk powder
2 Tbs. chocolate syrup
1 Tbs. vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chunks
1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl, combine the first five ingredients; beat for 2 minutes. Add egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chunks and chips.

Shape into 2-in balls; place 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire rack. Yields about 18 cookies.

Enjoy!

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Turkey Wafflewiches

Who knew sandwiches could be so fun? My family adored this medley with its fantastic taste and whimsical touch. It reminded me a bit of a homemade McGriddle!   
NOTE from Lara: These sandwiches have become my teen son's favorite meal and through his chemo treatments for leukemia, this is the one food item we know he will eat day in and day out!  (see picture below)

                            Click here for printable recipe.

The ingredients:
1 pkg. (3-oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
1 Tbs. maple pancake syrup
1/4 tsp. pepper
8 slices bread  (I recommend whole wheat potato bread)
3/4 pound sliced deli turkey (for extra flavor we like to saute the turkey in a little butter)
2 Tbs. butter, softened

Directions:  In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, cranberry sauce, syrup, and pepper until combined. Spread cranberry mixture thinly over all 8 slices of bread; on 4 of the slices top with turkey and then place another slice of bread (cranberry mixture on the inside) over the top sandwich style.Spread butter over both of sides of sandwiches.  Cook in a preheated waffle iron or indoor grill according to manufacturer's directions for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 4.

Enjoy!

My son eating up (literally and figuratively) his few days at home from the hospital. 

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Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

These chocolatey layered bars are unique with light brownie layered with marshmallows, then crispy chocolate, peanut buttery goodness. Serve these easy bars to your friends and they're sure to be impressed! Don't worry they're easy to cut and serve and not gooey at all, as you might expect with a marshmallow layer.

 Click here for printable recipe (updated)

The ingredients:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbs. cocoa
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
4 cups miniature marshmallows

TOPPING:
1-1/3 cups chocolate chips
3 Tbs. butter
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups Rice Krispies

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa; add to creamed mixture. Stir in nuts, if desired. Spread in a greased 15-in x 10-in. x 1-in. pan.

Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle marshmallows evenly over cake; bake 2-3 minutes longer. Using a knife dipped in water, spread melted marshmallows evenly over cake. Cool.

For the topping, combine the chocolate chips, butter, and peanut butter in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted and well blended. Remove from heat; stir in Rice Krispies. Spread topping immediately over bars. Chill. Yields about 3 dozen.

Enjoy!

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Black Eyed Pea Soup

Lara's mom here. We had this tasty soup on New Year's Day, and when Lara found out that I was holding out a recipe with a picture from the blog without posting, she demanded (nicely of course) that I type it up immediately. So here I am in Virginia visiting my favorite oldest daughter and instead of playing with grandkids, I'm typing up this recipe. The recipe called for it to be made in the crock pot, but I just cooked it on low for an hour and it was PERFECT!

The ingredients:
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1-2 Tbs. oil
2 cans (15-1/2 oz. each) black eyed peas (or black beans)
2-1/2 cups water
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 cup diced, cooked, smoked ham
1/2 cup diced carrots
1 dash, or more to taste, cayenne pepper
1-2 drops, or more, of Tabasco sauce
Sour cream (for garnishment)

Saute onion and garlic and oil in saucepan until tender. Add drained black eyed peas to sauteed ingredients. Combine all ingredients except sour cream. Cover and cook for about 1 hour OR place in crock pot on low for 4-6 hours. Add dollop of sour cream to each individual bowl before serving. We served it with sun-dried tomato bread which I also have a recipe and picture for (but, shhh, don't tell Lara.)

Enjoy!

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April Fools' Day Treats: Hamburger Cookies

Looking for a great April Fools' Day treat to share with family and friends?  Look no further.  We make these little hamburger cookies every year for the kids to share in their school classes and although you'd think that the same trick would get old year after year, they never fail to be a  hit for everyone!   The best part about this April Fools' day fake-out, is that they're also super easy to make!   How easy?  Watch this....

Looks like a nice plate of delicious grilled sliders, doesn't it?

In reality it is:

Vanilla wafers
Keebler Grasshopper cookies
Red icing  ( I recommend buying pre-made red icing, since red is hard to make with food coloring)
Yellow icing (I couldn't find any yellow icing this year, so we made ours with white icing and yellow food coloring)
Sesame seeds
Orange juice concentrate or corn syrup (we used corn syrup)

Put a good sized gob of frosting on each vanilla wafer (one for the "ketchup", one for the "mustard")

Sandwich together like this.

Using a pastry brush, brush over the top a small amount of orange juice concentrate or corn syrup (heated in the microwave for 10 seconds).  Sprinkle on the sesame seeds.

Voila! A very realistic miniature hamburger.

Have fun tricking your family and friends. 

Enjoy!


Click here for printable recipe.


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"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake and Frosting

I made this cake the other day and it was gone very quickly! It is yummy and moist and addicting :)

The ingredients:

Cake:

2 cups sugar

1- 3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa

1- 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1- 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup oil

2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup boiling water

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup cocoa

1/3 cup milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans or one 9x13 inch pan. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl.

Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla to the dry mixture. Beat on medium speed with mixer for two minutes.

Stir in boiling water. (The batter will be thin)

Pour into pans or pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick or knife comes out clean. Make the frosting while the cake is baking.

Frosting directions:

Melt the butter. Stir in the cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk if necessary. Stir in vanilla. Makes about two cups.

Once the cake is cooled a bit, frost it with this yummy frosting and enjoy!

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Gingersnaps

I love these gingersnaps hot and gooey fresh from the oven. My friend with milk allergies loves these too, since they're totally milk free.

Click here for printable recipe. 

The ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening (Crisco)
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2-1/4 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
~1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling dough balls in before baking)

Directions:  
Cream together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; mix well. Sift in flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Mix well. Place in freezer 1 hour or chill in refrigerator 2 hours (we skip this step). Form into approximately 1-inch balls; roll in granulated sugar. Bake on greased baking sheets in 375° oven for 6-7 minutes or until they look slightly UNDER done. This will yield a softer, chewier cookie. If you like your cookies crisper then bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Yields about 4 dozen.

Enjoy!

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Mom's Broccoli Cheese Soup

Our family loves this Broccoli Cheese Soup smooth rather than chunky, so I chop most of the veggies in the food processor.

Directions:
4-5 cups cubed potatoes (I do mine quite small)

2 cups chopped carrots

1-2 cups celery, chopped (optional)

1 cup chopped onions

3 chicken bouillon cubes

Cook above ingredients in 4 cups water for about 20 minutes or until vegetables are done.

Add 1 pkg (10 ounces) frozen broccoli, partially thawed (put in food processor)

Heat through.

Add:

1 Tbs mustard

1/2 tsp pepper

Garlic powder to taste (optional)

Stir.

Add:

3 cups milk

1/2 to 1 lb velveeta cheese, cubed

Stir until cheese melts.

Serve in bread bowls or with bread sticks.

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Nacho Mama's Mac & Cheese

This recipe takes one of the all-time favorite comfort foods of macaroni and cheese and zips it up a notch. My kids loved eating it almost as much as they loved saying the name. The ingredients:
3 cups spiral pasta (I used bow tie, since that's what I had)
1 pound ground beef (I used turkey instead)
2 sweet red peppers, chopped
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup flour
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/4 tsp. pepper
2-1/4 cups milk
2 cups (8-oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup coarsely crushed tortilla chips

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile cook meat and red peppers over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.

Stir in the butter, flour, taco seasoning until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in cheese and corn until cheese is melted.

Drain noodles; add to meat mixture and stir to coat. Sprinkle with crushed tortilla chips. Makes 6 servings.

Enjoy!

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