Monday, March 31, 2008

Dealing with CVS!

Ok, you gotta try this! It's fun! I went today and saved $10!!

http://thesparrowsnest.typepad.com/the_sparrows_nest/2008/03/guest-post-maki.html

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/2007/09/cvs-101.html

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Pomelo

Have you tried these yet? They are twice the size of grapefruit, and at least two times as delicious. The have the general flavor of a grapefruit without ANY of the sour, tart, bitter taste. Just pure sweet goodness. I just gave myself a stomach ache from eating an entire one of these beauties - they are that good. (I've also seen them labeled as pummelo...)

Friday, March 28, 2008

TONIGHT, TONIGHT! (sing!)

Well! Tonight is a matchingmaking dinner! The Sprauls are having me and another girl (26ish) with 4 guys to play Euchre. :) The guys are kinda of my choosing and their recommendation; Jason Berrus, Josh Coover, Greg Brown, and Justin Leighty. Justin is to add fun as he is the young one but super fun. The other guys are 28-30 and maybe scared.

We'll start off with pizza and then play the game (I know scary!). I'm bringing the Oatmeal PB and the chocolate chip cookies Alissa posted yesterday. A funny thing is that I'm doing a Cosco run for Beth today and bringing it with me in Greg's car who is picking a few up. Anyway! Kinda strange but pray! I want to be content with God's will, it may not even be any of these guys...What will likely happen is that Greg, Beth's husband will get together privately and push the (possible) interested one along. :) The other girl, Mary, is really sweet and needs to be married too! Pray!

Oatmeal Peanut Butter again

Did you guys use reduced fat PB?? Gotta pray for tonight! :)

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Alice Meyer's Oat Burgers

2- 1/2 cup water
2 T soy sauce
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 onion
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 T Basil
2 Bay leaves
3 cups of oats
1 cup of cashews

Cook all seasonings together for 15 minutes. Simmer. Sprinkle oats and nuts in water ( do not stir). Set aside to cool. Drop by spoonfuls in oiled cookie sheet and press flat. Bake 350 degrees until brown, 30 minutes. Yummy!!
Hi Mom!!! :-)

Clone of a Cinnabon

Clone of a Cinnabon
SUBMITTED BY: Marsha Fernandez
"You have got to try these. The first time I made them, I thought of how much money I could save by making my own!"

PREP TIME
20 Min
COOK TIME
15 Min
READY IN
3 Hrs
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 12 rolls
US
METRIC


INGREDIENTS
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving

Biscuits

Rachel, do you make biscuits much? This is a really good recipe. Mer and Mommy have made these before. I use all butter instead of shortening. I think I'm going to make these tonight to go with my roast since I don't have time to make bread.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/JPs-Big-Daddy-Biscuits/Detail.aspx

Roasted Salmon with Cucumber Sour Cream

Oh, but you are so wrong Mer! I DO have a recipe - in fact, I just made it a week or two ago. I sure hope your Salmon doesn't actually smell fishy though. Bleh! ;-(

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/107922

BTW, for changes: the cucumber sour cream, I used only spinach, no arugula. And I substituted broth for the white wine in the salmon marinade (only because I was out of white wine...I think the wine is better).

Fishy Salmon!

Bet you guys don't have a recipe!? ;) I'm making it tonight.

Gucamole

I love this recipe. Make sure you keep the avacado somewhat chunky...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Guacamole/Detail.aspx

Mommy's French Toast

This is the recipe that Mommy uses. Now I have something yummy to make with my overcooked Challah from Easter. :) Alissa, have you had this? I know you're not a fan of french toast - neither am I, but this is GOOD!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oven-Baked-Caramel-French-Toast/Detail.aspx

Whole Wheat Pancakes

INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk, plus more if necessary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon artificial sweetener OR 2 T Sugar

I add a mashed banana with alittle cinnamon. :)
Chocolate chips are good too!

DIRECTIONS
Sift together flour and baking powder, set aside. Beat together the egg, milk, salt and artificial sweetener in a bowl. Stir in flour until just moistened, add blueberries, and stir to incorporate.
Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook until bubbly, about 1 1/2 minutes. Turn, and continue cooking until golden brown.
Note

You may need to use more milk than 1 cup. The batter should be thin enough so that it pours, but not so thin that it's runny. We find that 1/4 cup additional milk is about the maximum needed.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Whole-Wheat-Blueberry-Pancakes/Detail.aspx

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Chocolate Cookies

This is my favorite chocolate cookie. I add different chips all the time...white chocolate, mint chips, caramel, peanut butter chips, chocolate... I use 1 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of white sugar instead of all white.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Chip-Chocolate-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

I used all butter. Make sure that the butter is just room temp and not melted. I think that is the only thing that I changed. Rachel, do you make any changes with this recipe?

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oatmeal-Peanut-Butter-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

Can you post the Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies? What changes make them good? I followed them to the T but they were flat. Also, what are your favorite chocolate cookies? I'm needing to take cookies to my "dinner" on Friday.

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Well, I have to put a recipe that is great with tea. :) It's probably good with coffee too, though. :) These cookies do really melt in your mouth. It's a lighter shortbread. I've also put chocolate chips in these. They're very white cookies. Different, but pretty and yummy.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Whipped-Shortbread-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Cinnamon Cookies

Ok, I'll go first. I am not a fan of cinnamon, but I love these. Kind of a shortbread, wedding, butter cookie type. Also, I will say that these are best with coffee (gasp - I know, I know).

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Polvorones-de-Canele-Cinnamon-Cookies/Detail.aspx

Cookies. We need cookies!

England-like Scones

INGREDIENTS
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk --- better yet eggnog, make (recipes below) or buy

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter. Mix the egg and milk in a small bowl, and stir into flour mixture until moistened.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch thick round. Cut into 8 wedges, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

EASY EGG NOG

INGREDIENTS
1 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1/4 teaspoon rum extract
1 dash ground nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
Blend together eggs, sugar, milk, extract, and nutmeg.

BBQ Glazed Homemade Meatballs

I don't have the recipe from the Boyces, but this one is just like it....I don't remember if we did evaporated milk, though. I think we just did milk.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/BBQ-Glazed-Homemade-Meatballs/Detail.aspx

Santa Fe Chicken

This is an easy crockpot meal that I made the other day.

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 c. frozen corn
2 c. salsa
3 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 - 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

Combine black beans, corn, salsa in crockpot. Place chicken over top. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Remove chicken, shred and return to crockpot. Add cream cheese and stir until melted. Serve over rice or in tortilla shells.

Meatballs?

Does anyone have the meatball recipe that we used to always make? I've been wanting to make it, but don't trust myself to guess the recipe.

Bermuda Salad

I still make this bermuda salad dressing when I take salads places. People here in MT call it "Rachel Rae's Special Salad dressing." ;-)

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bermuda-Spinach-Salad/Detail.aspx
I NEED TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING!! ;)

Can you make unbelievable rolls like me?!

Unbelievable Rolls!

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
5 teaspoons active dry yeast
5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup margarine, melted

DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm milk, water, and sugar. Remove from heat, and mix in the eggs and yeast.
Measure flour and sugar into a large bowl. Make a well in the flour, and pour milk mixture into it. Do not stir. Cover with a lid, and let stand for 20 to 30 minutes.
Pour melted margarine into flour, and mix well. Add more flour if too sticky. Knead lightly. Cover, and let rise for 20 to 30 minutes.
Shape the dough into rolls, and place on a baking sheet. Let rise again for 20 to 30 minutes.
Bake rolls in a preheated 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) oven for 15 minutes, or until done.

So unbelievable!....just really easy for me ;)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Unbelievable-Rolls/Detail.aspx

Chex Muddy Buddies

Peanut Butter and Chocolate.....need I say more? :)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup of butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups chex cereal
1 1/2 cups powered sugar

Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave for 30 seconds longer or until mixture is smooth. Stir in vanilla.
In a large bowl, place cereal. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2 gallon ziploc bag.
Add powdered sugar. Seal bag and shake until well coated. Store in airtight container and refrigerate.

Banana Crumb Muffins

This recipe is for Mer if she hasn't tried it yet. Alissa and I love it.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Crumb-Muffins/Detail.aspx

Chicken in a Pot

I love throwing this together in a pot and having yummy moist chicken everytime. I normally put squash instead of the mushrooms and I serve it with rice. The sauce is great!

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms

DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, combine the broth, tomato paste, ground black pepper, oregano, salt and garlic. Mix well and set aside.
Dredge the chicken in the bread crumbs, coating well. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Saute the chicken in the oil for 2 minutes per side, or until lightly browned.
Add the reserved broth mixture and the mushrooms to the skillet and bring to a boil. Then cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside, covering to keep it warm.
Bring broth mixture to a boil and cook for 4 minutes, or until reduced to desired thickness. Spoon sauce over the chicken and serve.

Baked Parmesan Chicken

Oh, isn't this fun?!?! ;-)

Alissa, that recipe reminds me of one that I really like:


1 c. crushed shredded wheat
1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese
1/4 t. oregano
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 t. salt
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 c. melted butter
6 halves of bonless chicken breast

Combine shredded wheat and spices. Roll chicken in melted butter, then spiced crumbs. Place in greased 9 x 13 inch dish and pour any remaining butter over chicken. Bake at 375 degrees for 55 minutes.

Famous Butter Chicken

This recipe is really good and easy. Great with mashed potatoes. I halved this recipe and I only used about 2 Tablespoons of butter.

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup crushed buttery round cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
ground black pepper to taste
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Place eggs and cracker crumbs in two separate shallow bowls. Mix cracker crumbs with garlic salt and pepper. Dip chicken in the eggs, then dredge in the crumb mixture to coat.
Arrange coated chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place pieces of butter around the chicken.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes(depends on how thick the chicken is), or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Szechwan Peanut Chicken

Mer asked for this one a few weeks ago. I like this because it's fast and easy AND it has peanut butter in it. :-) I have yet to add the green onions and peanuts, but I imagine that it would only make this better.

4 chicken breasts
4 t. soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
2 t. ginger, minced
1 T. peanut or vegetable oil
1 red pepper (cut 3/4 inch)
1/2 c. picante sauce/salsa (I use a little more)
2 T. peanut butter (again, I use more)
3 green onions, cut diagonally
1 T. chopped peanuts
Hot Rice for 4

Place chicken in bowl with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger to marinate for at least 10 minutes. Begin rice. Heat oil in 10 inch pan; cook chicken 3 minutes or until not pink. Add peppers, picante sauce, and peanut butter. Add onions, peanuts and heat through. Serve over rice with extra chopped peanuts on top.