American Chop Suey
Brown 1 pound of ground beef in large pan
Occasionally stir the pan contents gently until all is
done
Add in 1 1/2 tablespoon of dried minced onion or one
small fresh onion
Add in 3/4 tablespoon of paprika
Add a few pinches of black pepper or 1 chopped green
pepper
Mix in contents from 24 ounce pasta sauce jar
Let simmer and continue to occasionally stir contents.
Cook al dente 12 ounces of elbow macaroni in
separate pot of water
Drain pasta when it is cooked and mix it into the pan
of simmering items.
After the pasta is mixed in, the American Chop Suey is
ready to serve.
Serves about 4.
Note: Quantities can be changed to suit person tastes.
Chicken
How to cook bone in chicken thighs
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Place chicken in pan (optional: that is covered with
aluminum foil)
Sprinkle desired seasoning (such as Adobo, or desired
herbs)
Place pan in oven for 55 minutes total time
Flip chicken once, about half way through to help it
cook evenly (sprinkle more seasoning if desired)
Corn On The Cob
Bring a big pan of water to boil.
Husk the corn (that's a fancy word for
remove the peels) and remove any hair from the corn
while waiting for the water to boil.
Place peeled corn into boiling water.
Remove corn after ten minutes.
Let cool as desired, and it's ready to
eat.
I like it with butter and salt.
Triva: When I was a kid, we would
sometimes get corn fresh from the farm and make a
whole meal of it because we loved it that much.
Note: I've heard that you can add a teaspoon or two of
sugar to the boiling water.
Cupcake
One cup of butter
Two cups of sugar
Three cups of flour
Four eggs
Place in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
This old style recipe will make cake with heavier
consistency than most.
Cupcake is not a reference to the style of the cake,
as its often cooked as one large cake (I like using
two loaf pans). It is a reference to how its
made one cup of this, two cups of that, etc.
French Toast
Mix the following in a large bowl:
4 Eggs
1 Cup of Milk
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon
Start a non stick fry pan with low to medium heat.
Please a bit of butter in the pan to prepare the pan.
When butter is melted begin cooking:
Drop a slice of bread into the bowl with the egg
mixture, coating one side of the bread.
Quickly flip the bread over in the mixture, coating
the second side.
Then quickly remove the coated bread and place it on
the fry pan.
Let it sit for a few moments to lightly brown.
Flip bread and allow second side to lightly brown.
Remove from pan and onto a plate - ready to eat
Butter and maple syrup can be added.
This recipe makes approximately 12 slices. More
than one slice can be cooked at a time, if there is
room in the pan.
Green Bean Casserole
1-10.75 oz can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 Cup of Milk
1 tsp Soy Sauce
Dash of Pepper
4 Cups of Cooked Cut Green Beans
1 1/3 Cups French's French Fried Onions
Mix soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper and 2/3 cups onions
in 1 1/2 qt casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees
F for 25 minutes or until hot. Stir. Sprinkle with
remaining onions and bake for 5 minutes. Serves 6.
How to Hard Boil Eggs
Place eggs pan that has a cover.
Add water to cover two inches above the eggs
Add a bit of salt if desired.
Bring water to a boil.
Remove from heat, cover and let it sit for twelve
minutes.
Remove eggs, cool down with cold water.
Deviled Eggs
12 Hardboiled eggs
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
2 Teaspoons Mustard
Paprika
Peel eggs then slice eggs lengthwise in half
Remove yolks. Place in bowl. Blend well
with Mayonnaise and Mustard.
Put blended material back into the sectioned egg
white.
Sprinkle with paprika
Keep refrigerated until ready to eat
Ham Idea
What to do with a precooked ham steak?
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Lightly spray glass cooking pan with oil
Place ham steak in pan
Open can of chunk pineapple in juice and dump contents
over ham
Place ham in oven for 35 minutes
Meatballs
Preheat oven to 400
Chop small onion (around 1/4 cup volume) into tiny
pieces and sauté
Combine the following ingredients in a large mixing
bowl:
1 Pound Ground Beef
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs
1/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
Dash of Basil
Dash of Oregano
Onion that was previous sautéed
Mix well and roll into 2 inch balls. Place in
pan that is coated with non stick spray.
Place in Oven for 20 minutes. You want all the pink
color to be gone. If not bake a bit longer.
Meatloaf
Preheat oven to 350
Combine the following:
1 LB 90% lean ground beef
1 medium sized onion**
1 Tbsp Ah-so sauce
1 Tbsp Barbeque Sauce
1 Tbsp Brown Mustard
1 Tbsp Teriyaki Sauce
1 Tbsp Ketchup
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs
1/2 Loaf of bread**
1/2 Cup of water.
Chop onion and heat for a minutes in microwave, break
bread into small pieces, and then mix ingredients.
Place in loaf pan that is coated with cooking spray.
Bake for 55 minutes.
**Note: I've been using a bit less than these listed
amounts
Meatloaf (a simpler
version)
1.50 lb hamburg
1 cup bread crumbs
1 egg (I think next time, I will try with 2 eggs)
1/4 cup chopped onion (prepare first as noted below)
dash of salt
dash of ground black pepper
Get piece of onion near 1/4 cup in size. Size can vary
as desired.
Chop onion until finely cut. Put aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Grease Loaf pan
Mix all ingredients in large mixing bowl until fairly
well blended.
Place in oven for 60 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool then serve.
Goes well with ketchup.
Suggestion: Leftovers can be cut up and placed in pasta
sauce in place of meatballs.
Meatloaf (my favorite so
far)
1.50 lb hamburg
1 cup bread crumbs
2 egg
1 oz package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Grease Loaf pan
Mix all ingredients in large mixing bowl until fairly
well blended.
Place in oven for 60 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool then serve.
Goes well with ketchup.
Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies
1-1/4 cups (or 2-1/2 sticks) butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
3 cups of uncooked oats (quick or slow cook)
1/2 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter and sugars
until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add combined
flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Mix well. Stir in
oats, then raisins. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto
ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 9 minutes for a
chewy cookie, 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie.
Cool one minute on cookie sheet, then remove to wire
rack to finish cooling. Store in tightly covered
container (like Tupperware). Makes about 30 cookies
Garlic Pasta
This one is still in the experimental stage. I've
tried making once and burned the garlic, but it still
was not all bad. Next time I will try to do
about one third less on the oil and garlic, but this
is how the first run went:
Cook one pound on pasta (I liked spaghetti for this
one but any should do)
In a separate pan heat 1/4 cup of olive oil and 1
teaspoon of minced garlic. Be careful not to
burn the garlic.
When all the above is finished mix thoroughly.
Add a dash of salt and pepper if desired to add
flavor, and generously add grated dry parmesan cheese
Pork Lo Mein
Haven't tried this one yet...comments?
1 pork tenderloin (1 pound)
1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 cups snow peas
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
3 cups cooked thin spaghetti\1/3 cup reduced sodium
chicken broth
2 tsp sesame oil
Cut the pork into 1/4 in. strips. Get a large
resealable plastic bag, combine the soy sauce, garlic,
ginger and pepper flakes. Then add the pork.
Seal, turn bag to coat pork. Refrigerate for 20
minutes. Then place in work and stir fry for
about 5 minutes (till meat is no longer pink).
Add peas and red pepper. Stir fry for one
minute. Stir in spaghetti and broth and stir fry
for one more minute. Turn off heat and stir in
sesame oil.
Mashed Potatoes
Peel potatoes. Place in a pot and cover with cold
water. Add salt to flavor.
Bring water to boil and let it boil 20 minutes. Drain.
Add butter and milk to taste, and mash away.
(I want to try this sometime with a pinch of garlic)
Pumpkin Seeds
First Clean them:
Scoop out the seeds and the pulp and place in colander
Remove the seed from the pulp while running under cold
water
Pat dry with a clean towel
Now the cookin':
Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Combine 1 Tablespoon oil or melted butter and 1/2
teaspoon salt per cup of seeds
Toss until seeds are well coated
Spread evenly over a cookie sheet
Bake until golden, stirring occasionally. Bake time
about 30 minutes
Let cool on paper towels
Fried Rice
Chop one large onion.
Start cooking 14 oz of "Minute Rice". Cook separately.
Will be added in later.
Brown 1.50 lb hamburger in pan with onion on stove top
Drain excess grease once hamburger is browned
Return to stove top
Add six eggs, mix it in while it cooks.
After mixture is cooked through, add in the pre cooked
rice.
Add a bit of soy sauce for extra flavor
Mix thoroughly and heat a bit more in pan. Then
serve.
Serves 5.
Shepard's Pie
3 lb Hamburger
13.50 oz box of instant potatoes
One 15.50 oz can of corn
One 15.50 oz can of cream corn
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Brown hamburger, heat corn, and prepare potatoes as
directed on package.
Get 14 x 10" Glass pan. Spread hamburger evenly
into pan.
Next, place drained (regular) corn evenly over the
layer of hamburger.
Place cream corn evenly over the corn.
Place potatoes evenly on top.
Add butter on top and sprinkle salt and
pepper over top.
Place in oven for 30 minutes, then remove
and serve.
Regular mashed potatoes can be
substituted for instant. Ingredient quantities
can be varied a bit.
Spaghetti Pie
1/2 lb spaghetti
2 eggs
1 16oz container of Ricotta Cheese
1 cup spaghetti or marinara sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Cook spaghettis as directed on package.
Grease 9 inch pie plate. In large bowl, beat
eggs, stir in ricotta and parmesan cheese. Add
spaghetti to cheese mixture and stir until
coated. Transfer spaghetti into pie plate.
Top with sauce, sprinkle with mozzarrella and a little
parmesan, Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees or
until it looks like its starting to bubble, let stand
10 minutes before serving.
Thoughts on future tweeks: Maybe less ricotta and
more mozzarella
Sugar Cookies
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2.In a small bowl, stir together:
2-3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
3. In a large bowl cream together until smooth:
1 cup softened butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
4. Beat into large bowl mixture:
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
5. Slowly take ingredients from the small bowl and
blend them into the larger
6. Roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick and cut out
shapes as desired (or just roll into rounded teaspoon
size balls) and then place on ungreased cookie sheets.
7. Place in oven 8 to 10 minutes
8.Remove from oven and let them cool in cookie sheets
for a couple minutes
9. Remove cookie and let them cool on wire racks
Icing or colored sugar could be added for decoration
Dark Fudge Truffles
12 ounces of dark chocolate chips
3/4 cup whipping cream
coatings (optional) coconut, powdered sugar, or
crushed cookies
Combine chips and cream in a microwave safe bowl
Microwave on high for 60 seconds.Stir.
If needed reheat every 15 minutes and stir again, but
keep doing until chips are melted and mixture is
smmoth, then place in refrigerator for 3 hours (or
until firm)
Roll mixture into one inch balls
Roll each ball into coating (if desired)
Cover, store in refrigerator.
Makes about 24 truffles
Turkey
Remove stuffing and giblets
Place in oven at 325 degrees. Allow 20 minutes for
each pound of turkey
Sarah's Peppermint Candy Cake
for the cake you need:
2 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
8 oz of sour cream
6 eggs
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
liquid green food coloring
for the glaze you need:
1 lb confectioner's sugar
5 tbs milk
green food coloring
38 starlight mints
to make the cake-
preheat oven to 350. coat a 12-cup bundt pan with
cooking spray.
mix the first four ingredients. place to the side.
in a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until
fluffy. beat in the sour cream, and then the eggs,
one at a time. beat this mixture into the flour
mixture.
transfer 1 1/2 cups of the batter into a separate
bowl. stir in the extract and green food coloring to
tint.
pour the remaining batter into the pan. drop green
batter by 1/4 cupfuls into the pan over the plain
batter. swirl.
bake 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the
center comes out clean. cool completely.
to make glaze-
stir confectioner's sugar with milk.
transfer 1/3 cup to a separate bowl. stir in green
food coloring to tint. transfer to a plastic food
storage bag, snip one corner. (i skipped the bag and
drizzled it with a spoon instead...)
pour white glaze over cake/ drizzle with green
glaze. top cake with 8 mints, garish with remaining
mints.
Cutting Board Care
To clean a wooden cutting board, sprinkle it with
salt and scrub it with a bristle brush. Doing it
once a week will draw out any stains. To
deodorize make a paste with baking soda and water.
Rinse thoroughly. Board should be periodically (or
when feels dry) treated with mineral oil. Use a
lint-free cloth, rub with mineral oil, wait five
minutes and rub off the excess.
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