Thursday, February 23, 2017

Creamcheese Sugar Cookie Bars


Another of my sister in law's fabulous dessert recipes! I am posting them here so I don't lose the recipe! It is that good!!! 

1&1/2 Cups sugar
1 Cup butter, softened
8 oz. Cream cheese, softened
Combine above ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Add 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Beat 1 minute.

Add 2&1/2 Cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. baking soda. Beat for 2 minutes.

Spread evenly in a jelly roll pan and Bake at 350* for 20 minutes or golden. Completely cool.




Cream Cheese Cookie Bar Frosting:

Combine 1/2 Cup soft butter with 4 oz. soft cream cheese until smooth. Add 3&1.2 Cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 2-3 Tbsp whole milk. Beat for about 4 minutes until fluffy. Add a drop of coloring if desired. Frost cooled Bars! These are a great pot-luck item!  

Swedish Meatballs

My own version of Swedish Meatballs. I took them to a potluck and they promptly disappeared!

Caramelize 1/2 of an onion in olive oil. In large bowl, mix 2 lb. ground beef, 1/2 lb. ground sausage, 1/2 Cup Panko bread crumbs, 2 eggs, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tsp. cardamom, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. kosher salt and some fresh 

ground pepper to taste. Roll this mixture into small balls and brown on all sides in 6 Tbsp. butter. Set aside. In a large saucepan, melt 6 Tbsp. butter and whisk in 1/3 Cup flour. To this add 4 Cups beef broth and 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce. Place the meatballs in sauce and cook on medium heat covered for about 8 minutes. Stir in 3/4 Cup sour cream and 1 tsp. Dijon mustard. Serve over rice or noodles!

Italian Chicken Breasts!

This chicken is so tender and moist! Pound 4-6 chicken breasts until about 1/2 inch thick. Coat them in flour and then dip them in an egg beaten with 1 tsp. water. thoroughly coat them in an Italian bread crumb or add 1 tsp. of dried oregano to plain bread crumbs. Fry them in hot oil for 8 minutes on one side. Flip them and fry them for another 2 minutes. Remove and place a piece of mozzarella on top of them. Warm 1 can tomato sauce up with 1/4 tsp. garlic powder and 1/4 tsp dried basil leaves in it. Spread some of the tomato sauce on the cheese and some freshly grated Parmesan. Serve immediately. 

Easy Artisan Bread

 Most delicious Artisan Bread is as easy as 123! 
In a medium sized bowl combine 3 Cups flour, 1/2 tsp. dry yeast, and 2 tsp. kosher salt. Add 1 & 1/2 Cups warm water and stir until just combined.
Cover with plastic wrap and leave on counter overnight. Next morning, spread some flour or cornmeal on the bottom of an enamel coated round dutch oven pan with a lid.
Bake at 425* for 30 minutes covered and then 7 more minutes uncovered. 
Perfect crusty little loaf of perfection!! 


Grandma's Crepe recipe!


My All Time Favorite Crepe Recipe!

Combine 2 Cups flour, 3 tsp. salt with 6 eggs, 3 Cups milk, and 2 Tbsp. cooking oil.
It is a bit tricky to make sure the flour isn't lumpy so feel free to break out the hand mixer or use any little tricks you have up your sleeve. 
I have a couple of crepe makers so I pour the batter into a deep pie plate and then dip the crepe maker in, let it cook for a minute and voila! 
Sometimes I fill them with hamburger/sausage and spinach with spaghetti sauce and cheese and bake them. Other times I have filled them with a white sauce and chicken and mushrooms. I also fill them with eggs and breakfast foods or fruit and pie filling. The possibilities are endless! 
Oh, P.S. If you don't have a crepe maker, simply spread them out in a frying pan very thin and cook them that way.

Chicken Artichoke Foil Packets

Foil Chicken Packets
 I made these in the middle of winter in my oven, but am excited to try them over a campfire this Summer! They were tasty! I got this recipe from Kraft foods. That would be why there are recommendations for particular brands. 
3 cups instant white rice, uncooked
3 cups warm water
6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1/2 inch thick
1 can (13-3/4 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, quartered
several grape tomatoes sliced in half
1/2 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1/4 cup CLASSICO Traditional Basil Pesto Sauce and Spread
Heat oven to 400°F.
Mix rice and water; spoon onto centers of 6 large sheets heavy-duty foil. Top with chicken, artichokes and tomatoes; drizzle with combined dressing and pesto.
Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and both ends to seal each packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside. Place in 15x10x1-inch pan.
Bake 30 to 35 min. or until chicken is done (165°F). Remove packets from oven; let stand 5 min. Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening.

Thanksgiving Place cards and favors


I love making a little something to help decorate my table at Thanksgiving time. This year I found a tee-pee printable and simply printed it out on card stock, folded and glued it to a base so I could put candy inside. I also found a witch shoe pattern, cut the toe off and folded and glued it together so it resembled a pilgrim shoe. I glued a small black clothespin on the top which held the chalkboard type name tags. 


Fork tender roast!


This is a delicious pot roast every time! I love throwing this in the crock pot, setting it on low and returning 6-8 hours later to find this melt in your mouth meat!

3-5 lb. roast seared in olive oil on all sides (typically 10 minutes per side). Saute a couple of onions as well and place the roast and onions in a crock pot. Combine 4 cups chicken broth, 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard, 2 tsp. smoked paprika, some fresh thyme or dried, 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup, 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar and pour over roast. You may also add 1/4 cup cooking wine as desired. If the liquid doesn't cover the meat, add more chicken or beef broth until it's covered. Cook on low for about 6 hours until fork tender. 


Smoked Turkey Extraordinaire!

This is my go to recipe for turkey brine which is a must have in my opinion! I have even used it on a frozen turkey and it is still amazingly delicious! 
My husband has a Traeger smoker. We tried a large turkey on it and it ended up being a tad dry (probably due to user downfalls). However, when we tried a small turkey, it was the best!
If you don't have access to a smoker, this is still my favorite brine for making your turkey mouthwateringly tender!


1 bunch fresh thyme
5 bay leaves
3/4 kosher salt
1 tsp. peppercorns
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
1 bunch fresh rosemary
a few orange peels if desired
3 quarts hot water
3 quarts ice

Dissolve everything in hot water and then add ice. Immerse turkey and soak in fridge 8-12 hours. Cook as usual. I double this for a huge bird. I have a bucket I use and if it's 40* outside or cooler, I simply stick it outside overnight.