Donna's Recipe Box

Donna's Christmas Saltine Toffee (aka Ikea Crack)

2011-12-09T10:17:00.001-08:00

I made some "Terribly Terrific Toffee." It is made with semi sweet chocolate chips. I am not a semi sweet fan except maybe in our family's chocolate chip recipe. Someone on Pinterest called it "Christmas Crack," someone else called it "Southern Crack," because it can be addictive. I played with the recipe and decided to use European milk chocolate bars from Ikea, instead of semi-sweet morsels. I like this the best!

Ingredients

40-42 Saltine Crackers

1 cup+ (2 sticks) Butter

1 cup firmly packed Golden Brown Sugar

3 IKEA 3.5 ounce Milk Chocolate Bars

Directions

pre heat oven to 350. Line a jelly roll pan with heavy foil. Brush generously the bottom and sides of the foil with butter. Lay out saltine crackers edge to edge Place 2 sticks of butter in large pan on low heat. Add firmly packed brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Turn the heat to medium high and stir constantly until boiling. Then turn the burner down to a low heat simmer. Simmer four minutes. Spread evenly over crackers. Some crackers will float. It is OK for this hot mixture to get under the crackers then they are even more yummy! Just use your mixing spoon to push them back down and realign crackers side to side. Bake in oven six to eight minutes or until the toffee is bubbly. Remove from oven, cool three to five minutes before sprinkling with chopped up chocolate. Let chocolate soften. Then use a spatula to spread chocolate evenly over the top of the toffee mixture. Let sit to cool and firm. Cut and serve.

Enjoy!

Chinese Chicken Casserole

2011-11-21T23:16:00.001-08:00

Ingredients

Can of Fried Chinese Noodles

2-3 Cups De-boned Chicken or Turkey-- Cut Up in Bite Sized Pieces

4 Ounce Can of Mushrooms-- Drained

1 Chopped Onion

1/2 Cup Cashew Nuts

3 Ounce Can of Water Chestnuts

Sauce

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 Cup Milk

2 1/2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce

Directions

Grease a 9 x 13 dish. Layer separate layers of 1/2 can fried Chinese noodles, Chicken, mushrooms, onions, cashews, and water chestnuts in the baking dish. Mix the sauce ingredients together. Pour over layered ingredients. Top with 1/2 can Chinese noodles. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with rice. Enjoy!

Ground Pork Casserole

2011-11-21T23:02:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
2 lbs ground pork (browned and crumbled)
4 Cups Cooked Rice
1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 Slivered Almonds

Directions
In an 9 x 13 baking dish layer rice; next layer cooked ground pork and cream of celery soup. top with cheese and almonds. bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

2011-11-21T22:51:00.001-08:00

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Butter (softened)

8 Ounces Cream Cheese (softened)

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

4 Cups Powdered Sugar

Directions

Cream butter and cream cheese together; add vanilla and cream well. Add in powdered sugar. Whip to creamy. Add a few drops of milk to make spreadable. Frost between layers, sides, and top. Chill and serve! Enjoy!

14 Carrot Cake

2011-11-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

I came by this recipe during my single years when I lived in Huntington Beach, California. This is one of the favorite cakes of my oldest son. It is moist and delicious.

Ingredients

2 Cups flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Salt

2 Teaspoons Cinnamon

2 Cups Granulated Sugar

1 Cup Vegetable Oil Eggs

4 Eggs

2 1/2 Cup Finely Grated Carrots

1 Small Can Crushed Pineapple (drained)

1/2 Cup Chopped Nuts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9' pans. Blend sugar, oil eggs, carrots, pineapple, and nuts. Mix in dry ingredients. Pour into prepared pans and bake for 40 minutes. Cool and then frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Chicken-Almond Bake

2011-11-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

This was my Aunt Opal's recipe! She made this dish when we visited her back in 1978. So, tasty!

Ingredients

Can of fried Chinese Noodles

1 Can Cream of Celery Soup

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/4 Cup Milk

1 Small Diced Onion

2 Cups Diced Chicken ( or Turkey)

1/2 Cup Slivered Almonds

1 (4 oz.) Can Mushrooms

1 Small Can Pimentos

Directions

Butter an oblong baking dish. Spread half a can of fried Chinese noodles on the bottom of the baking dish. pour casserole mixture over noodles. Top casserole with 1/2 a can of fried Chinese noodles. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve with rice! Enjoy!

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

2011-11-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

These make delicately delicious soft gingerbread that can be cut into shapes and frosted with standard butter cream frosting.

Ingredients

Butter Cream Frosting

1 1/2 Cups Sugar

1 Cup Butter (softened)

3 Tablespoons Molasses

2 Tablespoons Milk

1 Egg

3 1/4 Cup Flour

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons Ground Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Directions

In a large bowl cream sugar and butter; add molasses, milk, and egg; mix well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off with a knife. In a small bowl mix baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Stir spice mix into batter, add flour and blend well. Work with 1/3 of the dough at a time. Roll out onto a floured surface. Roll out to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut shapes with floured cookie cutters. Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet immediately and cool. Frost with Butter Cream Frosting. Enjoy!

Chocolate Sandwich Mints

2011-11-21T21:40:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law, Beatrice, made these for my wedding reception held at her home in December 1977. These are creamy, three layer mint squares, and they are so yummy!

French Cremo Center Layer

(makes a double batch)

Ingredients

4 Cups Sugar

2 Cups pure Whipping Cream (preferably without carrageenan or other additives- as they can make the recipe grainy)

1/2 Teaspoon Cream of Tarter

Directions for French Creme Center

In a heavy pan, combine all ingredients and stir lightly to mix. Cook to boiling ( 228 degrees at sea level, adjust for altitude). Pour mixture on a clean marble slab or clean formica counter top. Do not touch for 30 minutes. Eye drop 15 drops of oil of peppermint and 15 drops of green food coloring. Using a spatula, work like fondant by pulling and folding for about 20 minutes. Knead with hands when when solid. If the fondant begins to crumble or powder, put hands in softened butter and knead into fondant. This should be spreadable like a thick frosting. Store in an air tight container. These can be molded in silicon molds or can be used as centers for Sandwich Mints.

Ingredients for Sandwich Mints

French Cremo center

1.5 lbs Merkin's Marquis Dipping Chocolate

Directions for Sandwich Mints

In a double boiler melt 1.5 lbs. of chocolate. Place wax paper on cookie sheet. Pour melted chocolate on cookie sheet and spread evenly and thinly with a spatula. Cool. Spread a layer of French Creme over the chocolate. Spread a layer of melted chocolate over the French Cremo center. Put a layer of wax paper over the chocolate. Let it sit until firm and cool to the touch. Remove wax paper and cut into squares with a sharp knife using a yard stick to measure squares.

Optional

For a marbled candy, swirl chocolate and French Cremo together and cut into squares.

Other colors and mint flavors such as wintergreen and spearmint, or other flavors can be used in this recipe, in place of the green and mint.

Simply Delightful Ranch Deviled Eggs

2011-08-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Ingredients
Boiled Eggs
Ranch Dressing

Directions

Peel eggs. Slice eggs in half length wise. Scoop out yolks. Mash yolks with a fork. Add Ranch Dressing a teaspoon at a time. Mix until smooth and creamy. Spoon into egg white halves, or put in a cake decorating bag with a star tip and squeeze into the egg halves decoratively. Chill. Serve and Enjoy!

Rice Chex Krispy Treats

2011-07-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Rice Chex and Rice Krispies taste the same, but the Rice Chex are more substantial and the Rice Krispies are lighter. We like to add a little more butter to the marshmallows. Sometimes we add more cereal and pour the mixture in a buttered jelly roll pan. Though I have included the recipe and directions, it is really it's up to you, just do the amounts that you like best and enjoy!

Ingredients

6 T. Butter
14 oz Marshmallow Cream or 40-60 Lg. Marshmallows
8 C. Rice Chex or Rice Krispies Cereal
Directions
Butter a 9x13 pan and set aside.
Melt Butter in large pot on medium heat and immediately add marshmallows.
When marshmallows are melted and mixed thoroughly with butter; add rice cereal while stirring.
When thoroughly mixed, and rice cereal is coated, pour and spread in buttered 9x13 pan and let cool.
Optional
* Spread chocolate chips over hot crispy treats in pan and allow to melt and then spread more thoroughly.
* Sprinkle top of cooling treats with sprinkles (tiny colored sprinkles that are usually sprinkled on cup cakes and cookies.).

* When mixing the cereal and marshmallow mixture one can substitute chopped nuts for some of the cereal and after pressing into the cooling pan, the mixture can be sprinkled with mini M&Ms or Reese's Pieces.

* Coconut can be added into the treats or one can top the warm treats with chocolate chips and sprinkle coconut over the top.

Note For a Smaller Batch

Ingredients
1/4 C. butter
10 oz of Marshmallow cream or 40 Lg. marshmallow
5 C. Rice Chex or Rice Krispies
Directions

Same as above.

Pomegranate Beef Fajitas or Chicken Fajitas

2011-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

This recipe has a great zesty fruity flavor. Versatile marinade, fabulous for grilling, pan frying, or fajitas.
Ingredients:
Thinly sliced Beef or Chicken (breast or thigh meat)
Pomegranate Dressing (raspberry dressing can be substituted with a delicious fruity result!)
Thinly sliced sweet onions
Thinly sliced Red and Yellow Peppers
Tomato chunks
Grated Cheese
Flour Tortillas

Directions:
Marinate thinly sliced beef or chicken in pomegranate dressing. Pan fry beef or chicken slices until done. Add sliced onions and peppers. Serve on Homemade Flour Tortillas and top with fresh tomato chunks and freshly grated cheese.

Option:
Veggies may be diced instead of just sliced.

Frugalite Kitchen Tool

2011-06-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

I bought a Food Saver wide-mouth mason jar attachment (10.99) today at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, luckily I had a 20% off coupon. Then I went to the Bosch Kitchen Center and found both the wide mouth (.99) and regular (7.99) mouth jar attachment .

Food Storage

Now I can use my 1/2 gallon mason jars for storing barley, brown rice, home dried fruit, home dehydrated veggies, homemade croutons & crackers, fresh dried herbs, etc. The vacuum seal will extend their shelf life. I can vacuum seal jar cakes, nuts, spices, etc. and keep in the freezer. I may also use freezer jars for home grown, blanched, and frozen veggies.

I can brown ground beef, beef chunks, pork chunks, or chicken cubes-- then drain, flash freeze on a parchment lined tray, and then pour into clean freezer jars, vacuum seal, and freeze. I would not use the jar sealers on meat to go on the shelf, as it MUST be pressure canned appropriately. If the power goes out, and will be for a long time, I can thaw the bottles, add salted water, and process in a pressure canner on my Camp Chef, and save the food.

Yes, I prefer glass to plastic. It completely cleans, does not leach toxic substances with heat or high acid foods, like plastic does.There are safety considerations. I want to make sure things are properly prepared and pre-frozen before I put them into the jars. Cooking the meat, blanching the veggies...This makes for wonderful and quick convenience!

I wonder what it will do to my homemade soaps to vacuum seal them? What about how will it preserve sewing thread? Time for experimenting.

I have had a Food Saver for years. I even had the hose that connects to the jar attachments. I just did not have the jar attachments, nor did I consider how helpful this tool really is in helping me be more frugal.

Donna's Red Velvet Jar Cakes

2011-06-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Make and freeze these little elegant delights ahead of time. Weeks ahead of time, if need be. But, don't tell your family! If they find them you may not have any left! These little cakes are moister in a jar than made as a cake. These are great to have on hand to drop off with a friend as a sweet little birthday reminder or even for a kind uplift.

Ingredients
1 box Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Red Velvet Cake Mix

Directions
Prepare twenty four 1/2 pint wide mouth freezer jars (these are straight sided jars), following guidelines for preparing baking pans, as listed on the box. Mix according to box directions. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into each prepared jar. I use a Pampered Chef "Measure All." Bake at 350 degrees for 19-23 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Then cool completely.

To Freeze
If cake is too high to frost, use a knife to loosen cake from sides and slide cake from jar. Use a bread knife and slice off top of cake. Cakes that are over the top of the jar can be sliced horizontally in half and placed in two jars! Frost and then place a clean lid and canning jar band on the bottle, tighten band and place in the freezer.

Serve frozen or thawed.

Preparation for Serving on a Dessert Plate
Take a knife and gently go around the cake to loosen from glass.Put a lid and ring on them and freeze. When frozen, remove from freezer and shake bottle to loosen cake from bottom. Remove lid and frost the cake while in the bottle. Replace the lid and band and return to the freezer. Cakes pop out easy when frozen, without messing up the frosting. Pop out of jars and place on dessert plates before the meal and they should be thawed by the time dessert time comes around.Or, they can be served frozen on a plate- just pop out on a plate and serve.

Heavenly Frosting

This is the original frosting used on the Red Velvet Cake.

Ingredients:
5 heaping tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 cup softened butter ( I have also used margarine or Crisco™ when I did not have butter)

Optional: 1 drop green food coloring

Directions:
Cook flour and milk in a sauce pan on the stove, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until thickened, like a thick white cream sauce, or pudding. Cool mixture completely. Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy, beat in vanilla and food coloring. Whip in cooled cooked mixture, on high speed until fluffy like whipped cream.

Easy Decorating:
#20 Star tip from Wilton (six slits)
12 In Wilton Decorator Bag
No coupler needed, just slip the star point down into the bag and out the hole. I use a bag that is already trimmed to use with a coupler.

Fill bag with Heavenly Frosting. Start in the center of the top of the cup cake, squeeze frosting through tip as you spiral outward, moving around the center, ending at the edge. This will make a quick shabby chic rose on the top of the cup cake, no rose pedal tip needed.

Dandelion Jelly

2011-04-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

An online friend, Emily, said she was making dandelion jelly and that it was yummy. Curious, I asked for the recipe. She did. I found this specific recipe in several places on the internet, so I thought it would be OK to share. I then set out on the adventure to make this jelly with my friend.

Ingredients
4 cups dandelion blossoms --from a chemical free lawn!
Make sure not to use the stems as they tend to be bitter!
4 cups water
1 (1 1/2 ounce) package fruit pectin
1 teaspoon lemon extract
4 1/2 cups sugar

Directions
Pick blossoms without stems attached. Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan, add the blossoms, and cook for 3 minutes. Strain 3 cups of the liquid through a sieve or cheesecloth into a bowl. Discard the blossoms. Stir the fruit pectin, lemon extract, and sugar into the liquid. Return to the saucepan, bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Immediately pour into sterilized half-pint jars and attach the seals and lids.

Makes 6 half-pint jars.

Note: My Jelly turned out like syrup. I feel this recipe was designed for sea level. I live at over 4800 ft elevation. So, I searched the internet for someone who had success at high altitude and what they did differently. I shall use this same recipe ingredients list, but try making this again with the new high altitude process. When I get the process down I will replace this recipe with the recipe with the proper process and pictures!

Donna's Morning Sundae

2011-04-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is Donna's healthy Morning Sundae!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup regular oatmeal
1 cup water
dash of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
10 raw almonds (soaked overnight), chopped
1/2 cup applesauce
Directions:

Boil water and salt
Stir in Oats
Cook one minute
Cover, remove from heat, and let stand until desired consistency.

For creamier oatmeal, add oats and salt to cold water, bring to a boil, cover, remove from heat, and let stand until desired consistency.

Stir applesauce and cinnamon
Top with chopped almonds. Sliced or slivered almonds can be substituted, with a sacrifice of nutrition.

Donna's Autumn Chicken Casserole

2011-03-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

Makes 9-12 servings.

Ingredients

2 large chicken breast, boiled with onion and celery, de-boned and cubed
1 large can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 rounded teaspoon Jamaican curry powder
2 cups chopped broccoli tops (you can substitute Broccoli Normandy Blend (broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots) )
3 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed (do not use bottled lemon juice, it makes this dish taste bitter)
1/4 - 1/2 red pepper, diced. Reserve 2 tablespoons chopped pepper to sprinkle on top before serving.
2 scallions (green onion), snipped
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup seasoned cornbread stuffing
1/4 cup almonds, sliced, slivered, or chopped
1 package puff pastries(sheet style or individual pastries)

Directions

Combine chicken, soup, curry, mayonnaise, lemon, chopped broccoli, and red pepper; heat in large pan. While cooking up the creamy chicken mixture (with broccoli) , cook up 2 cups of rice (pre-cooked measure). Place cooked rice in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour creamed chicken mixture over top of rice. Top with cheese, dry stuffing mix, and almonds. Bake 30 minutes in a 350°F oven.

Top with grated cheese, dry stuffing, almonds, snipped scallions, and 2 tablespoons chopped red pepper. Serve.

Optional
After cooking top with 2 tablespoons chopped red pepper and 2 snipped scallions.

Substitutions
Previously roasted, cubed, and frozen Turkey can be used in place of chicken in this recipe.

Roger's Sunday Sunshine Salad

2011-03-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

This is a great cool fruit salad to accompany a crock pot supper. Both can be prepared ahead of time.

Ingredients

1 Small Box Lemon Gelatin
1 Small Box Orange Gelatin

1 Can Grapefruit Sections, Drained, and Reserve Liquid

1 Can Crushed or Tidbits Pineapple, Drained, and Reserve Liquid

1 3/4 cup Boiling Water

1+ Cups Ice

Reserved Liquid with water added to make 1 cup

Directions

Drain cans of fruit, reserving the liquid. Bring water to a boil. Dissolve gelatin completely in water. Mix reserved liquid with water to make one cup. Stir liquid into ice in a large bowl. Pour gelatin over ice mixture. Stir with slotted spoon to thicken. If desired, use more ice to thicken quickly. Stir in fruits. Pour in 9 x 13 glass dish and chill at least 1 hour.

Optional

Donna's Sunday Sunshine Salad~ Add one can drained mandarin oranges.

Steamed Veggie Lunch

2011-03-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

This makes a tasty midday repast.

Ingredients
1 Potato, Scrubbed and Quartered
1 Small Yellow Onion, Sliced
1 Large Carrot, Quartered or a Handful of Tiny Gourmet Carrots
1 Handful String Beans
Fresh ground pepper.

Directions
Clean, slice, vegetables and place in steamer basket. Steam until vegetables are tender. Arrange vegetables on plates and top with fresh ground pepper. Also great chilled!

Donna's Country Chicken Salad Sandwiches

2011-03-12T11:41:00.000-08:00

This is a savory simple chicken salad sandwich.

Ingredients
4 Steamed Chicken Breasts or Boiled (with onions and celery), Cubed
1/3 Cup Celery, Diced
1/8 Cup Yellow Onion, Diced
Mayonnaise to consistency
1 Dash Garlic Salt

Directions
Steam or boil chicken breast until tender. If boiling, add sliced onion and celery to add flavor, but discard the steamed vegetables when making the chicken salad (vegetables can be saved and added to a soup stock). Cut chicken into small cubes. Add freshly diced raw celery and onion, sprinkle with garlic salt and mix well. Add mayonnaise until desired spreading consistency. Spread on dinner rolls, cream puffs or sliced bread. Can also be used as an appetizer served in a baked wonton shell or on a Triscuit cracker

Donna's Ranch Chicken Salad Sandwiches

2011-03-12T11:28:00.000-08:00

This is Donna's Ranch Chicken Salad recipe and we have used variations of this at Princess Circle meetings and as finger food at special events.

Ingredients
2 cans chicken breast (drained)
1 tablespoon Real Bacon bits
1/8 cup chopped celery
1+ tablespoon mild cheddar cheese finely grated
Ranch dressing (made from Hidden Valley Ranch packet)

Optional-
1 scallion finely chopped
1/2 cup finely shredded lettuce

Directions
Drain chicken and shred chunks. Add bacon, cheese, celery, optional ingredients) and mix well. Add ranch dressing to desired consistency. Serve on crackers, rolls, white or wheat bread (or both), pita bread, or tortillas.

Note: This can be mixed with grapes (red or green, cut in half), nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, or pecans) and tossed with salad greens, or pasta (rotini, rigatoni, farfelle, macaroni, mostaccioli, etc.).

Great Grandma Julia's Lye Soap

2011-03-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

My grandmother used her mother's recipe to make soap and used it to clean her laundry.

Ingredients
3 Pints Water
1 Can Red Seal Lye
2 quarts Melted Lard, Warm
1/2 cup Ammonia
1/2 cup Borax

Directions
Boil water and lye. Cool until warm. Stir in melted lukewarm lard. Add ammonia and borax.

"Use Caution When Working with Lye"
This link explains how to work with lye safely.
http://farmgal.tripod.com/lyesoapconcoctions.html

Buttery Breakfast Biscuits

2011-03-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

(biscuits before baking)

When I was a little girl my mother used to make baking powder biscuits and cut them out with a floured drinking glass. I do not have her recipe. These make flaky, tender biscuits and can be eaten as a bread with dinner or can be used as a base for a meal or dessert. This recipe is from the Better Homes and Gardens Old Fashion Baking Cookbook. I have used this recipe since 1990 when the cookbook came out. I have usually made this with whipping cream, but it also works well with milk. I always double the recipe!

Ingredients:

2 Cups Flour
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Whipping Cream, Light Cream, or Milk

Directions:
In a bowl stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt (I use a wire whisk). Using a pastry blender, cut butter into the dry mixture until it looks like crumbs. Make a well in the middle and pour in liquid all at once. Stir lightly with a fork until well moistened.

On a lightly floured counter (I use a pastry cloth) dump contents of the bowl. Flour hands and knead by gently folding and patting the dough 10-12 times. Dough will be very soft and sticky, add a little flour to make it easy to pat out into a thickness of about 1/2. Cut out with a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter, I prefer heart shaped. Dip cutter in flour between cuts. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Remove immediately from baking sheet.
Serve hot.

Makes 10-12 biscuits.

ACED a Cold

2010-10-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

The best thing to do is to eat a healthy diet of nutrient dense foods, high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, enzymes, etc. The closer to how these foods are created the higher the nutrients. The further from their original state and the more refined, the fewer nutrients. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean meats, dairy, legumes, and whole grains are nutrient dense resources.

Our bodies are under constant assault from chemicals and the unrelenting stresses of modern life which cause our bodies to live in a constant state of adrenal hormone overload. When this happens, the nutrients we eat can not be enough to provide our bodies with the needed building blocks to make its own weapons against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. If the building blocks are not there, a successful response is not likely.

I have a protocol I do when I get the first signs of a cold. If I catch it at the first sign, I can nip it in a few hours. If I wait, it can take a few days to a week. If I take too long, it will go into full blown bronchitis. I do not smoke. I do not live with anyone who does. I do however deal with a fair amount of stress. Stress devours vitamin A.

In the early 1980s I had bronchitis about 3 times a year. They called it chronic. I did some research and built up my vitamin A reserves and stopped getting sick. The bronchitis attacks came back after over a decade, during a time of great stress. Stress consumes vitamin A in large amounts rapidly deleting our body's stored vitamin A I have also found my lungs are highly sensitive to cleaning chemicals and have moved to steam cleaning and micro fiber to greatly decrease exposure.

When I follow this protocol the cold is ACED in no time. These vitamins are not medicines,. They are nutrient building blocks that the body uses to manufacture its own weapons against invaders. I am simply supporting the body in doing its work. The ACED stands for Vitamins A, C, E, and D3. At the first sign of a cold until 24 hours after the last sign, I take:

3 capsules of 5, 000 IUs /400 mg Vitamin D3- totaling 15,000 units of A and 1,200 units of D3. These are from preformed vitamin A. Preformed vitamin A can only be made by animals. I get mine in the form of fish liver oil capsules of vitamin A and D. Beta Carotene is not vitamin A but can be converted into vitamin A in the body provided the body produces enough intrinsic factor. Many things can interfere, so I take preformed vitamin A to insure my body gets what it needs to meet increased demands.

2 caplets of vitamin 1,000 mg (1 gram) vitamin C, for a total of 2, 000 mg (2 grams)

1 capsule of 400 units of vitamin E - mixed tocopherols.

I have recently added:

2 capsules of 2,000 units D3 (This added to the 1,200 units from the A and D combo gives me a total of 5,200 units of D3). Vitamin D3 helps the body produce a protein peptide that burrows in and pokes holes in viruses.

After the crisis I return to normal levels provided by a good diet.

If I catch the symptoms early, I only need to take this once! If it does not kick it, within the hour, I will take another gram of C two hours later as a boost. This has never failed when I caught early symptoms. I have even used it before symptoms after exposure to someone real sick. This has worked for me like a charm! This has worked for me even when taking care of a house of really sick people.

Yet, if I was away from home for hours and was unable to do something, the infection has a time to multiply and multiply without being checked. If it can get the upper hand, I may end up doing this for a week or two. If I get distracted and am in a really worn out condition I can slip into bronchitis too easily. This is usually due to burning the candle at both ends and driving all my reserves low. When low reserves meet bronchi aggravated by chemical exposure I can also get bronchitis. When I get full blown bronchitis I can be sick for 3-6 months! because of the body's inflammatory response. Not fun. Going to the doctor for it never seemed to shorten it. Besides, all they usually do is give me antibiotics which then can cause candida and digestive issues. Once I am that sick it is hard to fight and build reserves. So, I try to prevent this by life style changes and careful nutrition. Yes, when it comes to respiratory health, an ounce of prevention can be worth more than a pound of cure.

Yes, three decades ago I suffered from chronic bronchitis. No longer! I would have three attacks a year and even cracked my ribs. I discovered then that when vitamin A levels are adequate all mucous membranes and the skin exude an anti-viral, anti -bacterial, anti-fungal substance. Tissues have this lubrication that moves debris from the base of the cells to the surface. When vitamin A levels are low, the skin and cells dry and get sluggish. Pores clog, bronchi get sluggish, and immune systems get overloaded. Old country doctors could tell when people were low in vitamin A, they would have more respiratory issues, and skin issues like warts and boils.

At that time I then loaded up on vitamin A for two weeks. I was getting about 17,000 units day , by taking double my Amway multi-vitamins, and did not have another bout with bronchitis for at least a decade. I only did this once and did not need to for over a decade!

Vitamin A levels can be destroyed by high stress and fluorescent lights. Fluorescent light can use up your visual purple and can deplete your ability to see at night. So, working under fluorescent tubes or replacing lights with those energy saving spiral fluorescent lights, can make me deficient. If my night vision is failing I consider my A levels. My sight usually responds to a day or two of increased vitamin A levels.

A and D3 work hand in hand. C and E are anti-oxidants. Beta Carotene is not vitamin but under right conditions can be converted to vitamin A. So, I prefer preformed vitamin A from fish liver oil. Vitamin A, D3, and E are all fat soluble and can store in your body. Minimum requirements are to prevent nutritional diseases, but recent studies are showing that these vitamins are needed in greater amounts and deficiencies are contributing factors to many more degenerative diseases.

So, at the first sign of a cold, I shore up my immune system's ability to fight back by giving it the building blocks it needs. I do what I call- my ACED protocol.

Donna's Crema di Pollo e Verdure su Pane Tostato

2010-09-28T20:38:00.000-07:00

This is quick and a versatile dish. Once combined this is served over toast, but it can also fill a pastry for a pot pie; be rolled in a tortilla, topped with cheese, and baked; tossed with fettuccine noodles; made into a rice casserole/ served on a bed of rice; add cubed boiled potatoes for a chowder; drizzled over biscuits; served in a hard roll; or elegantly served over puffed pastry. This recipe serves 6.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Cooked Chicken (cubed)

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

2 Carrots Sliced into Thin Circles

2 Celery Stalks Sliced into Thin Moons

1 Small Onion Diced

1 Half a Soup Can of Water+

Season All Seasoning Salt

Directions:

Simmer meat and veggies in soup and water until carrots are tender. Add water to desired consistency. Season to taste and serve over toast, open face style.

Potato Bread (Bread, Rolls, Pizza ,Scones...)

2010-09-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

This versatile recipe can be used for bread, rolls, fried scones, cinnamon rolls, pizza, and more. this makes a tasty, soft, but dense loaf. The dough freezes well for baking later. Makes 6 regular loaves.

Ingredients:
6 Cups Warm Water
11-14 Cups Flour (begin with 8 1/2 cups flour)
2 1/2 Tablespoons SAf Instant Yeast
2 Tablespoons Salt
1/2 Cup Lecithin
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Magic Mill Dough Enhancer
2 Tablespoons Vital Wheat Gluten
1 Cup Powdered Milk
1 Cup Potato Flakes
1/4 Teaspoon Vitamin C
Directions:
Grease baking pans with shortening. Pour 6 cups hot tap water in mixing bowl. Add 8 1/2 cups flour and 2 1/2 Tablespoons Saf Instant yeast. Mix to paste like consistency, with dough hook, then cover and let sit 10-15 minutes. Mix salt, lecithin, dough enhancer, gluten sugar, powdered milk, potato flakes and vitamin C in another bowl. Uncover the moist mixture, turn mixer on, and add the mixed dry ingredients. Then ad flour one cup at a time until it pulls away from the side of the mixing bowl and the center post. Mix 5 minutes. Grease hands with shortening to form loaves. As soon as the dough has completed mixing, remove from bowl, and shape loaves (fill pans 1/2-2/3s full), rolls, pizza, etc. At this point dough can be frozen for later use. If you are not freezing the dough but intend to bake it now, cover with Saran Wrap and let rise until double, about 30 minutes. Bake in 350 degree oven 38 minutes. Remove from oven, butter the top of the loaves, and cover with a clean kitchen towel while cooling.

Freezing for later convenience:
To freeze, place loaves in prepared pan, or rolls on a prepared baking sheet and freeze. When frozen solid remove from pan and place in plastic bag. When ready to use, remove from freezer, place in greased bread pan, cover with Saran wrap and let rise until double and bake as usual.

Fried Scones:

Make dough and form rolls, then use a rolling pin to roll out in rectangles. Drop in hot frying oil. Cook each side until golden. Drain on paper towels. Slice open and serve with a mixture of cinnamon and butter, or honey butter.

Pizza:

Roll out dough. One loaf will make one pizza. Shape one loaf's worth of dough for one Pampered Chef pizza stone, roll out thin, or in a deep dish baker. Let rise 30 minutes. Brush with Olive oil. and prick the surface with a fork. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned. Spread with tomato paste, sprinkle with oregano, top with mozzarella cheese and desired veggies and meats. I like to do one pizza with ham and pineapple. The other pizza I like to do with cooked chicken, red peppers, tomatoes, and onion. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until crust is crisp and cheese browned and melted.

Donna's Creamy Chicken and Rice

2010-09-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

8-10 Frozen Chicken Legs

1 Cup Jasmine Rice

1 10.5 oz Can Cream of Chicken

Season Salt

Directions:

Place in a fry pan and add 3/4 cup water. sprinkle Season Salt of chicken. Put lid on a cook 30 minutes on medium heat. Check and turn chicken so it does not burn. Place 1 cup Jasmine rice in the bottom of a lidded 4 quart baking dish. Place chicken pieces on rice. Mix drippings and water to make 1 1/2 cup liquid. combine with can of cream of chicken., and mix thoroughly. Pour liquid over chicken and rice. Sprinkle with Season Salt. Cover with a lid. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees or until chicken is tender. Enjoy!

Pear-Apple Cinnamon Leather

2010-09-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

2 cups pureed ripe Pears

1 cup Applesauce ( I use unsweetened home canned Jonathan applesauce)

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

Directions:

Rinse, peel, and core pears. Thin drop into blender that is not turned on. When blender is full, turn on and puree pears. Pour puree into stock pot and heat thoroughly, stirring constantly. This step destroys enzymes that otherwise could blacken the puree. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Ladle 1cup of puree onto each lightly oiled (with vegetable oil) 15" diameter dehydrator leather making tray. Dry until the surface is lightly tacky to the touch. It takes about 12-13 hours for 10 trays. Gently remove from dehydrator sheet while still warm, flip over onto the tray (without the leather drying sheet) to dry the other side of the leather until dry, about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Turn heat down and keep dehydrator on while you cut and wrap, the leather will stay pliable while warm. Cut with oiled kitchen sheers, and roll up on a strip of saran wrap. Store in a ziplock bag, large lidded jar, or other kind of air tight kitchen container to store.

For more ideas on dehydrating fruit leather, dehydrating in the oven, and solar dehydrating, check out my apricot leather post.

Donna's Ranch Omelette

2010-07-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

When my second oldest son married, the wedding was in Oregon. My husband and I stayed with a family that introduced me to the idea of using ranch dressing, rather than milk or cream in my omelettes. The ranch has seasoning that blend the filling flavors into a delicious omelette. I did not get their recipe but experimented on my own. I like to offer filling choices. Leftovers can be saved in a sealed bag or container in the fridge for omelettes tomorrow! I only saute up the portions that have been requested.

Ingredients:
Omelette Filling Choices:
Diced Scallions
Diced Red Pepper
Diced Green Pepper
Diced Tomatoes
Diced Ham or Chicken
Real Bacon Crumbles
Finely Grated Cheddar Cheese- add cheese when cooking omelette, do not saute

Omelette mix:
Eggs
Homemade Hidden Valley Ranch (does not have a rancid taste)
Olive Oil

Directions:

For each omelette, saute a tablespoon of each vegetable (and meat if you choose to add it) in olive oil. Set aside in a bowl. Mix. 2-3 eggs for each person with 1-2 Tablespoons of Ranch Dressing. Put a tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan or omelette pan. When the oil is hot pour egg mixture in pan on medium low to medium heat. Let omelette bubble and begin to cook. When the omelette begins to lose its glisten, sprinkle cheese over the surface and then sprinkle sauted filling over surface. Flip half the omelette over the filling, making a half circle shape. Lightly brown both sides and serve.

Pint Size Banana Nut Bread in a Jar

2010-07-15T13:05:00.001-07:00

What? Bake banana nut bread in a pint sized canning jar? You bet! This makes a moist, nice size loaf. One thing I like about this size is it is perfect for gift giving, just the right size for our shrinking household, and great for when unexpected guest drop in.

These store in the freezer for about a year. Some people store these on their shelf, but I do not consider that safe. Banana nut bread is a low acid food and in an air tight container, botulism can grow. I would rather be safe. These will also keep in the refrigerator for a short time.

Sterilize four pints, lids and rings for every batch of Banana Nut Bread. I can mix a quadruple (Four) batch in my
Bosch Universal Mixer.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease the inside of the jars all the way to the lip.

Mix Banana Nut Bread batter.

Heat jar lids in a pot of water on the stove and bring to a simmer.

Fill jars with no more than 1 cup of batter. If you over fill them they will overflow the jars. I use the Pampered Chef "Measure All" measuring cup. I turn the cup upside down and fill the dry measure with batter. I tip the measuring cup into the pint and turn the cup upside down and plunge its contents into the pint.

Wipe rims where glass will seal to lids. Place a hot rim on each jar. Screw ring on loosely, about 1-2 turns. This will permit steam to escape while cooking, without letting the bread to expand beyond the jar. Place bottles on a cookie sheet so they do not touch each other. Place cookie sheet and bottles into the hot oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove one at a time. Tighten lids down, even if the bread has pushed them up. Let sit on counter until jars seal.
Freeze!

When ready to eat, bread will slide out of the jar. Serve frozen or thawed.Slice into circles and serve with a scoop of ice cream for a summer treat.

Pomegranate Salad Dressing

2010-07-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is an almost homemade dressing. Great for a salad dressing, crudites dipping, or a meat marinade for grilling or fajitas!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Pomegranate Vinegar (you can substitute raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar)
3 Tablespoons water
1/2 cup salad oil (safflower or any other light tasting oil)
1 packet Good Seasons Italian or a packet of homemade Italian Salad Dressing mix

Directions:
Whisk ingredients together, pour into a bottle or jar, and chill. Can be used as a salad dressing, crudites dip, or meat marinate.

Pomegranate Steak

2010-07-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

This makes a tasty, tender steak. This can be grilled, pan fried, or baked.

Ingredients:
1 Steak any size
1/4 cup Pomegranate Dressing

Directions:
Marinate steaks in salad dressing for 30 minutes or longer. Grill, pan fry, bake as you usually do steak. I prefer to slowly grill the steak, turning over when the juices rise to the top. Cook til desired doneness.

Star Spangled Muffins

2010-07-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

These red, white, and blue muffins are the perfect touch for a patriotic breakfast celebration (or any time of the day...yum).

Ingredients:
Makes 24
3 1/2 cups sifted flour

1/2 cup sugar

5 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup melted shortening or salad oil

2 eggs

1 1/2cups milk

1 cup blueberries 1 cup raspberries, rinsed and well drained.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix sugar, baking powder, and salt in a small dish. Then sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a different bowl combine shortening, egg, and milk. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients blending with a fork just until moist. Carefully fold in rinsed and drained raspberries and blueberries. You will probably burst a few berries, no worries, the juices make a nice color swirl. Fill greased or paper lined muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden.

Patriotic Celebrations

Note-These are not all holidays, just ones that deal with patriotism. There are probably more. You do not have to celebrate all of these. I just thought it might be fun to have some traditions with the red, white, and blue each month of the year! Of course, who needs an excuse to celebrate?

January

Day of Thanksgiving 1 January- The US Constitution, in Article 1 Section 9 (adopted and ratified 17 September 1787) outlawed the importation of slaves after 1 January 1808. This was a day of Thanksgiving. We were the first nation to ban the importation of slaves through legislation in 1787. Though Denmark and England legislated their bans after we did, their laws became active before ours. The Constitutional convention tried to outlaw slavery altogether, but as a concession to three southern states twenty years was given to make the transition. All this to secure a separate nation from Britain, and to eventually help secure the individual unalienable rights of all persons of the United States of America. It is important to note that neither the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or Amendments to the Constitution grant rights to citizens. God grants the rights, Governments do not. These documents and laws are put in place to protect those God given rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day- 15 January- Mr. King, promoted acts of civil disobedience and nonviolent protest to move the civil rights of Americans of African descent, and all people forward, working towards desegregation and anti-discrimination. This increased the momentum for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed segregation in schools, the workplace and in public facilities, (which had blossomed during Woodrow Wilson's administration, earlier in the century), and the act also invalidated the Jim Crow laws that southern democrats had enacted, which were abridging the rights of southern Americans of African descent.

February

Lincoln's Birthday 12 February-The president who led the United States through its greatest internal challenge- The Civil War, or War Between the States. He successfully preserved the Union and abolished slavery in the United States.

Washington's Birthday 22 February- The General that God used to lead us to victory during the Revolutionary War and First President of the United States.

President's Day 3rd Monday in February- Commemorates the Presidents of the United States.

March

Evacuation Day 17 March- Commemorates the evacuation of the British forces from Boston, following the 11 month siege of Boston during the early part of the Revolutionary War.

April

Patriots' Day 19 April- Commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

May

Memorial Day Last Monday in May originally to remember the soldiers who died in the Civil War.

June

Flag Day 14 June- Commemorating the adoption of the American Flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

Bunker Hill Day 17 June Commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill

Sergeant Jasper Day (also known as Palmetto Day or Carolina Day) Day 28 June- The day Sgt. William Jasper (younger brother to Nicholas Jasper, my 4th great grandfather) saved and raised the Carolina flag (that the British had shot down) over the unfinished palmento log and sand fort on Sullivan Island, during the nine hour Battle of Sullivan's Island. Nine British warships retreated and fled. Charleston was spared British occupation.

July

Independence Day 4 July- Founding of our Nation through the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

August

VJ Day 14 August- The day the United States got the news of Japan's unconditional surrender during WWII- Hirohito had surrendered on the 15th, but it was the 14th in the United States.

50th State 21 August 1949 Hawaii becomes the 50th State.

September

Constitution Day 17 September - Ratification of our Constitutional Law

October

Columbus Day October 12- Honor's the God guided founding of the Americas (though he landed in the Bahamas).

November

Election Day The day after the first Monday in November. The day elections are held.

Veteran's Day 11 November- Commemorates the 1918 Armistice of WWI.

Thanksgiving 4th Thursday in November- Commemorates our Pilgrim forefathers who came here on the Mayflower to enjoy religious freedom and to show gratitude to God for the harvest.

December

Bill of Right's Day 15 December- Commemorates the adoption of the Bill of Rights adopted in 1791.

Boston Tea Party Day 16 December 1773 was a protest against the British Tea Act that taxed tea to the colonies. This was "a" key event that eventually led to the Declaration of Independence and to Revolutionary War.

Blackberry Cobbler

2010-06-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

I received this recipe from my daughter Julia. Her friend Tom made this cobbler for their friends and she said it was delicious.

Ingredients:

2 Cans Black Berry Pie Filling

2/3 Can Pineapple Tidbits (mostly juice)

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1 Stick Butter

Directions:

Put two cans of blackberry pie filling in the bottom of the 9x13 pan. Add 2/3 a small can of pineapple tidbits (mostly the juice). Spread a dry yellow cake mix over the top, in other words open the box, dump over berries and pineapple and spread evenly. Slice butter into thin pats and cover every inch of the top of cake mix. Cook for 30-40 min.

Banana Nut Bread

2010-05-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Makes one loaf.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (not margarine)
1 cup brown sugar (cane sugar, not beet sugar)
2 eggs
2 cups unbleached flour (can substitute 1/2 whole wheat)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground all spice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup mashed bananas very ripe
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon milk.
1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions:
Grease or line a loaf pan with wax paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl or electric mixer cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, beat well and set aside.In another bowl sift all the dry ingredients together and set aside. In a third bowl combine milk and smashed bananas. Alternately add banana mixture and flour mixture a little bit at a time to the butter mixture; beginning and ending with the banana mixture; mixing in between each. Alternating like this helps insure that the large amount of dry ingredients gets thoroughly mixed in with no dry pockets/ clumps. Pour into greased/ lined pan and bake 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Eat warm or let cool on a rack. Enjoy!

One batch will make four Pint Jar Loaves.

Grandma Walton's Swedish Pancakes

2010-02-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa Walton served a mission in Sweden. This is a recipe they brought back from their Swedish days.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups white flour

3 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

3 medium eggs

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons oil or melted butter

Directions:

Combine all ingredients. Beat until smooth. Grease a medium frying pan on medium-high heat. Pour about 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter into the pan with one hand. With the other, lift the pan up and tilt it in all directions, swirling batter so it covers the bottom of the pan in a very thin layer. Work quickly, before the batter cooks too much to swirl. Return to heating unit. Cook crepe until bottom is browned. Loosen edge with spatula. Brown other side. Remove from pan to stack of already cooked crepes. Makes about 16 crepes.

Serving Suggestions:

Top with berries

Top with butter and brown sugar then roll into a tube and eat

Top with grated cheese, the top with another crepe and heat thoroughly like a quesadilla

Use as a hot or cold wrap with ham and cheese

Use as a tortilla

Use as a crepe

Steamed Veggie Medley

2010-02-20T06:38:00.000-08:00

This will fill a plate for a veggie lunch for one person.

Ingredients:
1 potato
handfull of fresh green beans
1 small onion
Fresh ground Multi Colored Peppercorns

Directions:
Rinse the potato and beans. Quarter potato lengthwise and rinse. Slice onion and divide into rings. Place potatoes in bottom of steamer. Place green beans on top of potatoes. Top with onions. Cover and steam until potatoes are tender, green beans will still have a crunch to them, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with pepper, serve and Enjoy!

Steamed Crookneck Squash

2010-02-20T06:28:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
Crook neck squash
Butter
Salt
Fresh Ground Multi color Pepper

Directions:

Slice squash into 1/4 inch sections. place in steamer over boiling water. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Toss with butter. Sprinkle with salt and fresh ground Multi-color pepper ( I use a blend of black, red, green and white peppercorns). Serve and Enjoy!

Microwave Cauliflower

2010-02-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
Cauliflower
Butter
Salt

Directions:

Remove leaves from cauliflower. Rinse cauliflower and shake water out with one shake. There will be water remaining, it is used in the steaming process. Place stem side down in a microwave steaming dish. Place lid on dish and cook at full power for 10 minutes. Let rest with lid on in microwave for 5 minutes. Butter surface of cauliflower and sprinkle with salt. Serve and Enjoy!

Homemade Herbed Croutons

2010-02-15T15:45:00.000-08:00

I love flavorful croutons. These could even be made out of artisan bread or Texas toast.. For special occasions I like to cut them a few of the slices of bread into shapes, and mix them with the cubes. You can make a lot and freeze them. Toast on a cookie sheet to thaw. Let cool and serve.

Ingredients:

5-6 slices of bread

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter or bacon drippings

1 garlic clove (crushed)

1/4 teaspoon basil

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon thyme

1/4 teaspoon rosemary

Optional-

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:

Cube or cut into shapes (mini hearts or stars) the slices of bread. Dry bread. Mix oil, butter, and saute garlic in a large skillet. Turn off heat. Toss in herbs. Mix bread, cheese, and sesame seeds. Toss bread mixture into herb mixture until well coated. Spread on cookie sheet and bake in 300 degree oven until toasted brown, about 25 minutes.

Easy Soup and Chili Thickener

2010-01-12T17:27:00.000-08:00

If your soup or chili are too thin?

Ingredients:

1/4-1/2 cup of potato flakes

Directions:

Just sprinkle a potato flakes over the surface of the soup (in the pot, not the bowl). It does not take much. Then stir into the soup or chili. It will thicken right before your eyes.

Mini- Frittatas

2010-01-05T02:30:00.000-08:00

These are like mini-omelettes. We made these and took them to our New Years Eve party in 2009.

Ingredients

melted butter (to brush in mini-muffin pans)
8 ex-large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk (or 1/4 cup home made Ranch dressing and 1/4 cup milk)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cooked, crumbled bacon or 4 oz ham, diced
1 scallion finely chopped
1/3 cup freshly grated mild cheddar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Coat the cups of 3 mini muffin tins (each with 24 cups) with butter. Saute scallions in a little butter. Whisk the eggs, milk, pepper, and salt in a large bowl to blend well. Stir in the bacon, cheese, and scallions. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full with the egg mixture. Bake until the egg mixture puffs and is just set in the center, about 8 to 10 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, or thin knife to loosen the frittatas from the muffin cups and slide the frittatas onto a platter. Serve hot.

Sour Cream Potatoes (Funeral Potatoes)

2010-01-03T15:52:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law Joanne contributed this recipe to our family celebrations. We serve them at celebrations, but locally they are called funeral potatoes because they are a standard dish at funerals.

Ingredients:
(1) 2 lb. bag of shredded hash browns
1/2 cup melted butter
2 small cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/3-1/2 cup chopped onions
1 pint sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Topping:
2 cups corn flake crumbs mixed with 2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions:
Mix all ingredients and place in a 13x9 baking dish. Top with cornflake/butter topping. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, until baked through, garnish with parsley.

Note:
I have cut this recipe in half, used raw potato slices, and placed in a lidded casserole, with good results. Bake longer to cook the potatoes through.

Grandma Flaugh's Butterscotch Pie

2009-12-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

When I was in college I flew out during a break to be with my Aunt Grace's family in Creamery, Pennsylvania. My Grandma Flaugh was there, too. One day my uncle Bill requested that grandma make her famous Butterscotch pie. I came into the kitchen and with paper in hand, wrote down observational notes and asked questions as I watched her make this recipe from memory and scratch! I loved it!!! Today, I was reading through a recipe book my Aunt Grace and her son, my cousin Tom, had compiled for the extended family this year for Christmas. Grace had the recipe in there and mentioned it was my mother's favorite, and that neither Grace or mother had been successful at making this pie. I have made this recipe for my own family and I too love it. So, I quickly found my recipe card and discovered that I had details Grace did not. This recipe includes the crust, a filling, and the meringe topping. So, here I post grandma's recipe, as I wrote it down.

9 Inch Pie Crust Ingredients:
1 Cup Flour
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/3 Cup+ 1 Tablespoon Crisco
2-3 Tablespoons water

9 Inch Pie Crust Directions:
Mix flour and salt. Add crisco and cut into flour mixture. Add in water one tablespoon at a time. Gather into a ball and roll out on a floured surface. Place in pie plate, do edges (I pinch mine). Poke pie bottom with a fork, all over the surface, so air can escape and not dome up the pie while it is cooking. Bake for 12 minutes in a 450 degree oven.

Pie Filling Ingredients:
2 Cups Whole Milk
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
2 Heaping Tablespoons Flour
2 Egg Yolks
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Pie Filling Directions:
Mix sugar and flour, set aside. Heat butter and milk, add dry ingredients and eggs. Cook and stir until thick. Do not boil. Add vanilla. Cool. Pour into baked pie shell and top with meringue.

Meringue Ingredients:
3 Egg Whites (I use large or extra large eggs)
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 Teaspoon Cream of Tarter
7 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar

Meringue Directions:
Place egg whites in bowl, add vanilla, and cream of tarter. Mix until egg whites form tall fluffy peaks. Add sugar gradually while beating. Spread over pie filling. Cover pie filling to the edge of the crust. The meringue must be pushed up to the crust, if not it will pull away while baking. Use the back of a spoon to make lovely peaks in the meringue. Bake at 350 degrees until brown.

When mixed and cooked properly, this pie filling gels and is not runny.

Serve and enjoy!

Martha's Mini Gingerbread House Kit

2009-12-17T12:42:00.000-08:00

We have made different recipes over the years. This recipe from Martha Stewart makes five mini Gingerbread House kits. This link has both video demos of mixing and building, templates for the house and the recipe. This recipe made firm gingerbread and was great architecturally. This is perfect for a Christmas luncheon with girls and their moms. Each can then take their creation home!

Teri Beef King

2009-12-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

I grew up on Oahu. I can remember going to Kenny's Burger House in the Kam Shopping Center in Kalihi. Kenny's was there for almost a decade before McDonalds got to Hawaii, and in 2002 was replaced with a McDonalds. One dish Kenny's served was a Teri Beef King sandwich. This is my rendition. I know some people had other things on theirs, but I was a kid and a purist. I had the meat, onion, and bun.

Ingredients:
Thin sliced raw beef roast, marinated in my teriyaki sauce marinad e over night.
(I have the butcher shave or thin slice a roast)
Fresh thin sliced yellow onion
Hamburger Buns
Butter

Directions:
Cook marinated meat and onions together, in a skillet. This caramelizes the onions. in teriyaki sauce. Butter bun face and place face down in a hot skillet to toast and crisp the bun surface. Assemble and enjoy. Serve hot.

Donna's Pot Pie

2009-12-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is great for taking meat leftovers (turkey, chicken, roast beef, stew, or even a thick soup) and converting into a meal. This can be made into individual pies or a large deep dish pie. Pot pies can be made with a double crust; a circle of pie dough can be filled, folded over and sealed; or topped with mash potatoes.

Ingredients:
Donna's pie shells

Filling:
Gravy or cream soup
Mixed vegetables
Diced meat
Seasoning

Directions:

Make pie crust(s). Mix ingredients in a bowl to your desired proportions. Add desired seasonings. Pour into pie crust, top with crust or potatoes. Bake for 1 hour at 350.

Lloyd's Whole Wheat Bread

2009-11-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

My friend Lloyd is always experimenting with bread to improve the nutrition and quality of loaf for his large family. By adding ascorbic acid and lecithin the loft and crumb of the bread is better. The lecithin also provides the needed amino acids to make this a complete protein. This is his current recipe. Yum!!! Makes 6 loaves, or 4 extra long loaves. (updated 22 May 2010)

Ingredients:
11-12 cups of Hard White Spring Wheat (Golden 86) ground fresh into flour.

6.5 Cups Hot Water

1 Tablespoon Oil
3/4 Cup Honey
1/4 Teaspoon Ascorbic Acid or 1 Vitamin C, crushed (500 mg)-
4-6 Tablespoons Lecithin
1 Tablespoon Salt

3+ Tablespoons Yeast

Directions:
1. Grease pans.
2. Swish 1 tablespoon cooking oil in glass measuring cup and then pour into Bosch mixing bowl. As a side benefit this will make it easier to measure the honey and pour it out.
3. Measure 3/4 cup honey in the same glass measuring cup and then pour into mixing bowl.
4. Measure in the same glass measuring cup- hot water from the tap as hot as you can get it and pour into mixing bowl. As a side benefit using the same measuring cup will result in rinsing all the oil and honey from the cup.
5. Measure 1/4 teaspoon Ascorbic Acid or crush 500mg of Vitamin C. This acid will bind the enzyme in the wheat that interferes with the yeast rising. Adding this can make the loaf lighter.
6. Measure 4-6 tablespoons granulated Soy Lecithin and pour into mixing bowl. If you use powdered Lecithin, the powder can be added in with the wheat flour. Soy Lecithin provides Lysine to complete the amino acids to make this bread a complete protein. This helps make the bread hold together better.
7. Measure 1 tablespoon salt and add in the mixing bowl.
8. Turn on the mixer.
9. Add 2/3s of the fresh ground wheat flour to the mixing bowl. This should make a lukewarm mixture that is like a thick pancake batter. You want it warm, but not hot, so the yeast will rise.
10. While mixer is still on, add 3+ tablespoons SAF or Fermi-pan Instant Yeast. You may need to add more yeast if it is older yeast towards the end of its shelf life. (Fleischmann's does not perform well in this recipe).
Mix in until yeast is mixed in and cannot be seen.
11. While mixer is still on add wheat flour until dough pulls away from the sides and the center post. Add another 1/4-1/2 cup wheat flour.
12. Continue mixing on medium speed for 7-10 minutes. If you are to err let it be longer rather than shorter mixing. Gluten takes longer to develop and loses its elasticity slowly. If the dough gets sticky again it is over mixed.
13. Divide dough into six equal balls.
14. To form loaves, roll into rectangles, and then roll up the rectangle and fold ends under and place in pans.*
15. Cover with lightly floured dish towel. Let rise 30+ minutes (until more than double) in a warm oven (not more than 140 degrees). Place a cake pan of warm water in the bottom of the oven while rising, it keeps the dough from drying out while rising.
16. Remove dish towel and the pan of water from the oven. Turn oven to 325 degrees while bread is still in oven and bake for about 38-40+ minutes. Loaf should sound hollow when thumped.
17. Remove bread from pans while still hot.
18. Butter loaf tops and cover with towel. Even if the first loaf cut is not as done as you would like, the towel covered loaves will continue to cook on the counter. This will make six light crusted loaves of whole wheat bread.

If loaves cracked then heating oven with loaves in it was done too quickly. Next time gently remove and preheat and then return bread to oven for approximately 40 minutes. If you are not gentle in dealing with risen but uncooked bread, the rise of the bread will drop.So, be careful!

Dough can be used to make rolls or cinnamon rolls.

* Note on Freezing Uncooked Bread Dough: I am presently experimenting with freezing the dough at this point for baking in the future. My family size has decreased and I no longer need such a large batch. I will post here when I have satisfactorily worked out the results. When freezing bread dough it is usually just after forming into loaves or rolls. When forming loaves I would put it into the pan and freeze it a few hours then dump out of the pan and store frozen loaf in a plastic bag. Rolls would be frozen on a cookie sheet and then poured into a plastic bag. When you want fresh bread, remove from freezer and place in prepared loaf pans or on a prepared cookie sheet. Continue with step 15 above.

Donna's Almost Homemade Red Velvet Cup Cakes

2009-11-07T13:48:00.001-08:00

For Our Annual Super Saturday Craft's, Day the Relief Society provided lunch and dessert was pot luck. I decided to make red velvet cake but did not have enough time, so I opted for using a box mix, altered to be moist as home made. I topped it with easy roses made of the "original Heavenly Frosting" recipe I use on my Red Velvet Cake.

Ingredients:
1 box Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Red Velvet Cake Mix
1 1/4 water
1/3 cup Crisco shortening- melted, instead of oil. This makes the cake moist like homemade.
3 extra large eggs

Directions:
Mix well and pour into 24 cup cake wrappers. Bake at 350 for 19-223 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heavenly Frosting
This is the original frosting used on the red velvet cake.

Ingredients:
5 heaping tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 cup softened butter ( I have also used margarine or Crisco™ when I did not have butter)

Optional: 1 drop green food coloring

Directions:
Cook flour and milk in a sauce pan on the stove, stirring constantly; with a wire whisk until thickened, like a thick white cream sauce, or pudding. Cool mixture completely. Cream sugar and butter until light and fluffy, beat in vanilla and food coloring. Whip in cooled cooked mixture, on high speed until fluffy like whipped cream.

Easy Decorating:
#20 Star tip from Wilton (six slits)
12 In Wilton Decorator Bag
No coupler needed, just slip the star point down into the bag and out the hole. I use a bag that is already trimmed to use with a coupler.

Fill bag with Heavenly Frosting. Start in the center of the top of the cup cake, squeeze frosting through tip as you spiral outward, moving around the center, ending at the edge. This will make a quick shabby chic rose on the top of the cup cake, no rose pedal tip needed.

Boiled Snow Crab

2009-11-04T12:26:00.000-08:00

We like to get crab when it is on sale and freeze it for special occasions. This is a rare treat.

Ingredients:

Snow Crab

Crab boil:

1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

2 teaspoons whole allspice

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

3 bay leaves

Salt and cayenne pepper

Directions:

Mix spices and pour into pot of boiling water. Toss in crab and cook 5-6 minutes. Fresh non-precooked crab needs to cook about 20 minutes until the crab turns red. Most crab purchased in American supermarkets is already pre-cooked when you buy it in the store, so you are merely heating it through and flavoring it. This can be served hot with lemon and clarified butter, or it can be chilled and served on salad.

Tuna Sandwiches

2009-11-04T09:00:00.001-08:00

My aunt Grace asked me to make tuna sandwiches for the lunch held the day of the joint memorial service for her husband and my mother. I made the version below, minus the cucumber slices. Just as I was ready to actually assemble the sandwiches aunt Grace handed me some of her sweet green tomato relish and suggested I add a teaspoon. I dutifully did so. I had never heard of sweet green tomato relish. Secretly, I thought YUK! However, my mom taught me to eat what was served and look for a way to compliment the chef. This time I was the chef, but my aunt was the head chef. I tried the sandwiches, I was surprised and yes I had another sandwich. The flavor was an unexpected delight! That is what I get for being brave;)

Ingredients
1- 6 oz. can tuna drained
1 thin slice of onion, finely chopped
1 stalk of celery finely chopped
Kraft mayonnaise
onion salt

Optional
1 teaspoon sweet green tomato pickle relish (this adds a sweet zip)

Toppings
cucumber slices
lettuce leaf
whole wheat bread slices

Directions
Drain tuna. Slice and chop the onion slice. Chop the celery stalk. Combine tuna, onion, and celery. Add mayo and mix to desired spreading consistency. Onion salt to taste and mix well. Optional: add sweet green tomato relish, mix well. Spread on whole wheat bread, top with cucumber slices, a lettuce leaf, and a second slice of whole wheat bread. Slice the sandwich diagonally and serve!

Donna's Tuna Salad

2009-11-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
1 lb small shell macaroni (or substitute any other macaroni)
1- 6 oz. can tuna, drained (or 2 cans depending on your preference)
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup frozen peas, rinsed
1/8 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar, Colby, or Colby/Jack)
Kraft Mayonnaise (or half and half with plain yogurt, or ranch dressing)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Cook macaroni to package instructions, rinse, and drain. Drain fluid from tuna. Chop celery. Rinse peas in cold water to thaw. Finely chop onion. Grate cheese. Mix ingredients in large bowl. Gently stir in mayo/dressing to desired consistency. Season to taste, chill for one hour or longer, serve.

Berry Biscuit Bliss

2009-08-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Buttery Breakfast Biscuits
1 Cup Blackberries
2 Cups Raspberries
1 lb. Strawberries cored and quartered
Sugar to taste

Directions:
Make Buttery Breakfast Biscuits. Cut in heart shape. Mix berries and sugar. While biscuits are still warm, slice open, spoon berries over biscuits. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Donna's Apricot Leather

2009-07-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups pureed Apricots
1/2 cup Applesauce ( I use unsweetened home canned Jonathan applesauce)
1/4 cup Honey
1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Directions:
Rinse but do not peel apricots. Cut apricots in half and remove pits. Drop apricots with skins on them, into the blender and puree them. Pour puree into stock pot and heat thoroughly, stirring constantly. This step destroys enzymes that otherwise could blacken the puree. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Ladle onto lightly oiled (with vegetable oil) dehydrator leather making trays. Dry until the surface is lightly tacky to the touch. Gently remove from dehydrator sheet while still warm, cut with oiled kitchen sheers, and roll up on a strip of saran wrap. Store in a ziplock bag, large lidded jar, or other kind of air tight kitchen container to store.

Do not own a dehydrator?

Oven method: Dry on lined cookie sheets in the oven on warm. Ovens warm around 180 degrees, and that is about 35 degrees hotter than a dehydrator. Check every few hours.

Sun method: Get a 12 inch wide wood plank. Place board on two saw horses and place the saw horse feet in cans of water so ants do not crawl up the legs. Place in an area that will get sun all day. Wrap a wire around the wood so it only touches the edges. of the wood, only. Make a bug shield. Cut a length of mosquito netting four feet longer than the board. The length should be wide enough to sew a seam and make a long tube that will slip over the board when the wire encircling the board. Tie one end of the tube closed. Cover plank with a long strip of saran wrap. Make leather mixture and pour along the saran wrap covered plank. If drying fruit or veggies, place on saran wrap or wax paper covered plank. Start at one end and slowly slip the netting tube around the end of the plank and over the top of the wire. The wire should keep the netting off the leather, and the netting should keep the bugs off. the food. Pull tube so netting is not touching food and tie off other end. In the afternoon, untie one end and check the food for doneness. When done, either roll up one long piece, saran wrap/wax paper and all, or cut into desired lengths and wrap and store.

Pork Won Ton

2009-07-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Pork
2 Scallions (green onion) Finely Chopped
8 Water Chestnuts Finely Chopped
1 Chopped Garlic Clove
1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Ground Ginger Root
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 packages of Won Ton Wrappers

Directions:

Thoroughly mix all ingredients except the won ton wrappers. Follow directions on wrappers for filling, folding, and frying wonton.

Easy Baked Beans

2009-07-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
2 lb. cans pork and beans
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Teaspoon prepared mustard
4 slices bacon cooked till crisp and crumbled
1/2 cup sauted diced onion

Directions:

Cook bacon until crisp, cool, and crumble. Reserve a few tablespoons of bacon drippings. Saute diced onion in bacon drippings until translucent, drain. Combine all ingredients in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish and mix well. Bake in 325 degree oven for 90 minutes.

Leftover idea: Spoon beans on 1/2 hamburger bun, top with a slice of American or Cheddar cheese. Broil until cheese melts and bubbles. Serve with a tossed salad on the side.

Donna's Blueberry Muffins

2009-06-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
Makes 10-12 Makes 24
1 3/4 cups sifted flour 3 1/2 cups
1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cups
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 5 teaspoons
3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoon
1/3 cup melted shortening or salad oil 2/3 cup shortening
1 egg 2 eggs
3/4 cup milk 1 1/2cup milk
1 cup blueberries 1-2 cups (I like to double the ingredients but not
the berries)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Mix sugar, baking powder, and salt in a small dish. Then sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a different bowl combine shortening, egg, and milk. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients blending with a fork just until moist. Carefully fold in blueberries. You will probably burst a few berries, no worries, the juices make a nice color swirl. Fill greased or paper lined muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden.

Donna's Astice Alla Griglia Linguine (grilled lobster linguine)

2009-05-30T20:08:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:
Seafood--
3-6 frozen lobster tails (thaw on defrost setting of microwave, 3-5 minutes per pound, and let sit for 3 minutes)
Substitutions: frozen raw shrimp (de-veined) or large prawns.

Grilling Baste-
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (not bottled lemon juice)
1 tablespoon dill
1/4 teaspoon ground sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (multi-colored peppercorns are the best)

Pasta--
1 pkg. linguine

Cheese--
Asiago cheese, grated

Directions:
Bring water to a boil for pasta. Heat grill to med-high. Cut defrosted lobster tails in half lengthwise and butterfly open (if substituting shrimp or giant prawns , de-vein and butterfly.) Mix: oil, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper in a bowl, brush on tails, shrimp, or prawns. Cook linguine while you BBQ the seafood. BBQ seafood 2.5 -3.5 minutes per side, depends on the size of the tails. Remove tails from shrimp or prawns. Remove shell from lobster and slice. Rinse noodles. Toss with seafood and freshly grate Asiago cheese. Serve with a side of Insalata Di Giardino (garden salad).

Selecting A Ripe Pineapple

2009-05-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

Pineapples are picked ripe and can spoil relatively quickly, so they are expensive. They may change color but do not sweeten after picked. Look for fruit that is yellowing and has no soft spots. The crown should not be shriveled. Grasp the center most leaf and pull straight up, do not twist. If the leaf comes out easily the pineapple is ripe.

Donna's Pie Crust

2009-05-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

10 inch Two crust pie
2 2/3 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup Butter
7 - 8 Tablespoons water.

Directions:
Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Add butter and cut through the flour mixture until it looks like meal. Add water one tablespoon at a time, sprinkling over dry mixture, and stirring until flour mixture cleans the side of the bowl. Put in a ziploc or airtight container and refrigerate for three hours. Divide in half and roll into two balls. Roll out pie crust on a floured pie cloth, flour sack cloth, or 2 sheets floured wax paper. When between two sheets of wax paper, make sure to flour under the dough and over the dough so it does not stick to the paper. Fold into quarters, flouring surfaces that will touch when folded. Unfold crust in the pie dish.

Fresh Summer Quadruple Berry Pie

2009-05-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Makes one 9-inch two crust pie.

Ingredients:

1 cup raspberries/ loganberries
1 cup blackberries/marionberries
1 cup fresh strawberries (core and quarter)
1 cup blueberries (optional but beneficial to the pie structure and volume)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (not bottled)
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pat butter broken up (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare Donna's pie crust and divide into 2 balls. Set in fridge in a ziplock bag.

Combine all pie ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Roll out one ball of pie dough into a large circle line bottom of pie pan, pour in fruit, roll out second ball and cover top of pie. Pinch edges. Cut six 1 inch slits in top of pie. Sprinkle with sugar. Place a 3 inch foil collar around pie and slightly bend in. this prevents crust from getting too dark. Place in 425 degree oven. Place a foil lined jelly roll pan (to catch drippings) under the pie. Bake 15 minutes. Turn heat down to 350 degrees. Bake 1 hour, take foil collar off last 15 minutes to lightly brown the crust. Cool pie on rack.

Serve with vanilla bean ice cream

The blackberries and blueberries give the pie structure. The berries blend well together.

Grilled Lobster Tails

2009-05-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:
3-6 frozen lobster tails (thaw on defrost setting of microwave, 3-5 minutes per pound, and let sit for 3 minutes)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (not bottled lemon juice)
1 tablespoon dill
1/4 teaspoon ground sea salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (multi-colored peppercorns are the best)

Directions:
Heat grill to med-high. Cut lobster tails in half lengthwise and butterfly open. Mix: oil, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper in a bowl. brush on tails and cook 2.5 -3.5 minutes per side, depends on the size of the tails.

Serving Suggestion: When served with steak, a lobster tail can feed two people.

Cranberry Chicken

2009-05-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from my daughter-in-law Tiffany. She served this when we visiting them in May 2009.

Ingredients:
1 can whole berry, cranberry sauce
1 - 8 ounce bottle Catalina dressing
1 package onion soup mix
Chicken

Directions:
Mix cranberry, Catalina, and onion mix. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours.

BBQ Pomegranate Italian Chicken

2009-05-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 package Zesty Italian Dressing Mix
1/4 cup Pomegranate Vinegar
3 Tablespoon Water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 plump boneless skinless chicken breasts

Directions:

Chicken Breasts are thick, slice them in half to make them thinner, this will give you 8 breasts. Marinate chicken in Pomegranate Italian Dressing for 30 minutes. BBQ on medium heat until cooked and tender. These cook fast because they are thin, so watch out.

Serving ideas:
Serve with tossed salad, steamed potatoes, and corn on the cob.

7 Layer Bars

2009-02-24T18:01:00.000-08:00

These were served by Lauren Kammeyer at a Bridal Shower for Julia

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 stick butter, melted
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/3 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch-flavored chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 (325 for glass baking pan). Line a 9 x 13 pan with aluminum foil, and spray with cooking spray. In small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press mixture firmly into bottom of pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with remaining ingredients; press down firmly with the back of a spoon. Bake 22-25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool. Lift out of pan and cut into bars or diamonds. Enjoy! :)

Donna's Black-Eyed- Susan Button Pies

2009-02-22T21:59:00.000-08:00

These little button pies were created and designed by Donna for Julia's wedding. They look like a Black-eyed-Susan that had its petals fall off. They are little bites of bliss.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the dry ingredients of my standard pie crust recipe.

2 small boxes instant white chocolate pudding
2 3/4 cup milk
1 -- 8 ounce package of cream cheese (softened)
12-18 ounces of fresh Blackberries (rinsed and well drained)

Optional:

Almond slices
Coconut
Mini Chocolate chips
Other Raspberries, Blueberries, or whole Strawberries
Other pudding flavors can be substituted.

Directions:

Roll pie crust into 1 inch small balls, drop each ball into mini muffin pans. Or, roll dough out about 1/8th inch thick. Cut in one inch squares. Drop a square in each mini muffin cup. Use the Pampered Chef wooden tart shaper to press down the pie centers and round the sides, or use your thumbs to shape. Dip shaper or thumbs into flour between making each tart. Prick bottoms of the button pies with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees 11 minutes or until golden. Cool pies completely.

Prepare pudding according to pie directions. Whip 2 3/4 cup milk with two small boxes of white chocolate instant pudding. Blend in softened cream cheese. Rinse and thoroughly drain berries. Drop pudding by the rounded teaspoon full into the cooled tart shells. Top with one blackberry. Chill and serve.

Optional:
Are blackberries out of season or too expensive? These pies can be topped with any berry, kiwi, chunk of pineapple, mandarin orange section, pieces of a candy bar/ sandwich mint, coconut, almond slices, mini chocolate chip morsels, Reeces Pieces, M&Ms, a chocolate curl, or glazed fruit piece mixture. Once topped with fruit or topping these little pies can have a drop or zigzag of melted chocolate over the top. These are really versatile little pies.

Vinegars

2008-12-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

I have not yet attempted to make vinegar. I do know it can be made at home. I do use a variety of vinegars. All vinegars are a result of fermentation of fruit or sweet vegetables, beyond the alcohol stage, and are no longer alcoholic.

White Vinegar like Heinz White Vinegar is made from grain and clear water. I use white vinegar in baked goods like Red Velvet Cake. It has a mild flavor that works with baking soda to make a bubbling, leavening action, without leaving a vinegar taste.

Cider Vinegar also known as Apple Cider Vinegar is made from apple cider. I use apple cider vinegar in some meat dishes like Chicken Adobo because it imparts a savory flavor. \ Apple Cider Vinegar can be overpower the sweet flavor of baked goods, but blends well with seasonings to make meat dishes savory.

I also use it for medicinal purposes.

Red Wine Vinegar is vinegar that is made from red or white wine. I use this in salad dressings.

Raspberry Vinegar is a vinegar made from raspberry wine. I use it as a base for a fruity Zesty Italian and for making a fruity fajita.

Household Tips: Because vinegar is acidic it has been successfully used in a variety of home remedies and even an earth friendly solution for cleaning.

When I was young, I remember cleaning windows and mirrors with a solution of vinegar and water and using newspapers to clean the windows to a sparkle.

As a young mother I had a toddler get into a box of tide. He would scoop up tide and take it to the bathroom and pour it into a sink of running water, and then take a cup of water to the box of tide. Needless to say it was a soapy mess. I shared the story with a friend, she told me her story. Her children did the same on new carpet! The carpet cleaner told her that vinegar would cut the soap and make it easier to clean up. Her carpet was white so she used white vinegar. The day after she told me this, I dropped a bottle of bleach on a brown carpet. Remembering my friend's story I immediately I tried the vinegar, as it is acidic and bleach is base, hoping the vinegar would neutralize the bleach. and the acid in the vinegar prevented my carpet from ruin.

CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION do not combine vinegar and chlorine bleach!!!!
I have since learned that one should not combine vinegar and chlorine bleach, as it combines and creates a dangerous gas. I consider myself tremendously blessed that I did not inhale the mixture! Boy do I keep my guardian angels hopping. I could have solved one problem and created another. Using vinegar on soap bubbles or soap scum should not be an issue. Just becareful what products you use and combined in cleaning the bathroom.

I have used apple cider vinegar as a rinse on my hair to strip shampoo and conditioner build up from my hair. Wow, my hair was beautiful.

When I go to the pool I mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 2 parts purified water into a 25 ounce spray bottle, and spray it on my body and hair to neutralize the chlorine so my hair does not turn green and so I do not smell like a pool all day. Then I wash my skin with a aloe loofa glycerine bar, and a cranberry glycerine facial bar. I was my hair with L' Oreal Kids Sunny Splash of Orange 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. Sounds like a fruit salad I know :).

Vinegar is a must for food storage and green living.

Pulled Buttermints

2008-12-13T19:57:00.000-08:00

My friend Joy Andrews taught me how to make these delicious creamy buttermints. These make great gifts and treats at weddings.

Ingredients
3 cups sugar
1 cup hot water
1/4 lbs. butter
2 teaspoons Karo syrup
2+ drops oil of peppermint
2+ drops color

Directions
Bring sugar, water, butter, and karo syrup to a boil. Boil 3 minutes with lid on pan, take lid off and bring to 252 degrees.

Pour onto marble slab, keep raising edges so they won't get brittle. Work until it is still hot but warm enough to handle. Work fast. Pull in ropes, fold, twist, pull again, and continue until the ropes lose their gloss and are getting stiffer. Cut quickly with buttered scissors or sharp knife. Place on wax paper in an air tight container to mellow (a tin) for 3 days. These mints get hard fast and then 3 days in an airtight tin turns them creamy and softens them.

Creamy Chocolate Nut Surprise

2008-12-13T19:51:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. Hershey Almond Bars or 24 ounces Hershey Kisses and 1/8 cup chopped Almonds
9 ounces Cool Whip
Vanilla Wafers finely crushed

Directions
Wear food handling gloves for this one. Melt Chocolate, mix with cool whip, drop into vanilla wafer crumbs by rounded teaspoon full. Roll into balls, roll in more crumbs, and chill till set. Freezes well.

Roger's Hershey Kiss Marshmellow Fudge

2008-12-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

Ingredients
4 1/2 cup sugar
1 large can evaporated milk
1 stick butter (1/2 cup butter), cut into half tablespoon slices
24 ounces Hershey Kisses (currently, by size, this would be about 151 kisses!)
2- 7 ounce jars of marshmallow creme
1 cup coarsely chopped almonds or walnuts
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions

Boil sugar and evaporated milk for 9-10 minutes. Place all of the other ingredients in the Bosch mixing bowl. Pour boiling mixture over other ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix with dough hook for 2-4 minutes, until the mixture loses it gloss. Pour in buttered jelly roll pan, cool, and cut. We actually cut it and put it in the freezer!

Homemade Flour Tortillas

2008-08-05T19:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight, my friend Alex's mom, Dianna taught us how to make tortillas from scratch. Dianna is from Corpus Christi, Texas. She used to have a family Tex-Mex Restaurant. These were flavorful and I tried my hand at making a few.

Makes 20+ 8 inch tortillas. Dough can be made ahead of time but should be used within 24 hours.

Ingredients
6 cups unbleached all purpose flour or whole wheat flour
2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil (corn, sunflower, olive oil, or canola)
2 cups of very hot water (or less)

Directions
In a large mixing bowl or Bosch place flour, salt, baking powder, and mix with your hands or sifter, or in the Bosch with the wire whisk attachment until well blended. Add oil and mix with a fork, or fingers, or with the Bosch until thoroughly mixed an crumbly like pie crust.

Add hot water slowly, and mix with hands, making sure all flour mixture mixes. If using a Bosch, exchanged whisk for dough hook. Make sure you add water slowly and make sure the flour from the bottom of the bowl gets mixed into the dough. Add a little water to collect flour from bottom of the bowl. Mix until dough pulls away from the side of the bowl and forms a ball. Whole wheat flour is less smooth and pulls apart easily. Place dough on un-floured board and knead until smooth, or slam on the counter about 20 times. Let dough rest about 15 minutes.

Pull the dough into approximately 20 gulf ball sized balls. Keep covered with a damp cloth. Squeeze each ball into a flatten disc shape. Then place back under the moist cloth. Remove one disc from under the towel, and roll out into a circle. Place in a medium high pan for 30 seconds, until you see small bubbles appearing on the underside. Turn tortilla for another 30 seconds.

Cool on a paper towel, serve. Fill with desired filling.

Cinnamon a Spice for Life

2008-07-20T07:47:00.000-07:00

I have been reading about humble cinnamon and it really is a spice for life! I decided to check it out since I use it in my morning breakfast bowl.

Cinnamon is mentioned in the Bible and is one of the oldest spices known.

Cinnamon benefits:

* is anti inflammatory by inhibit the release of the fatty acid called arachidonic acid, and thereby preventing the clumping of blood platelets.
* is anti microbial and in most cases can help stop the growth of candida!
* is anti bacterial and can inhibited the growth of the food borne pathogenic Bacillus cereus.
* can cause the stomach to empty slower and therefore reduces the rise of blood sugar, thus helping regulate blood sugar levels.
* can increase the cell's ability to absorb and store glycogen.
* enhances insulin signaling.
* "not only stimulates insulin receptors, but also inhibit an enzyme that inactivates them, thus significantly increasing cells' ability to use glucose."
* can prevent insulin resistance in animals on a high fructose diet.
* Cinnamon's scent can enhance brain function.
* can bring Arthritis relief.
* can reduce the proliferation of Lymphoma and Leukemia cells.
* can fight E.coli in un-pasteurized juices.
* can be used as an effective food preservative
* can in small amounts of less than 1/2 teaspoon, help maintain a pregnancy by normalizing hormones and regulating insulin levels.
* can help with nausea

Caution:
* Cinnamon in large doses (three tablespoons a day) can cause miscarriage in early pregnancy and is a uterine stimulant.
that can promote contractions in late pregnancy and labor.
* Cinnamon can cause contact dermatitis, so use gloves when grinding it.

Some sites for more cinnamon information:
This site has the list of studies done on cinnamon: The World's Healthiest Foods
BrainReady sites other studies.
10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon Health

Grapefruit Hints

2008-05-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

My daughter received some grapefruit spoons for a wedding gift. On the back of the package we found this gem:

Fresh Hints

Grapefruit does nt ripen after picking so look for heavy, tightly skinned fruit as a sign of freshness. A greenish color late in the season may indicate a mature fruit with high sugar content. Always chill at once as grape fruit keeps better at lower temperatures.

Sherrie Goff's Salsa Bean Dip

2008-03-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

This was the yummy bean dip that Sherrie served at Jennifer's bridal shower.

2 Cans Black Beans
2 Cans Kidney Beans
2 Cans Corn
3-4 Tomatoes
3 Avocados
1 Small Bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing, or a bottle of Zesty Italian made from the packet (I make mine with Raspberry Vinegar), or my variation of this recipe, I use Kraft's Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette.

Drain cans, cube tomatoes and avocados, combine all ingredients and mix well. Serve with chips, on a salad, or in a tortilla wrap.

Donna's Notes:

When using the Zesty Italian in recipies on this blog, I usually do not buy the bottled Zesty Italian. I but the dry Zesty Italian packets and mix it up using raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar. For those concerned about "wine" in red wine vinegar, you need to understand that all vinegars are a result of the next stage in the fermentation process of wines, cider, beers, fermented fruit, etc. and are no longer alcoholic.

100% Whole Wheat Bread

2008-03-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

This was the bread I made by hand, before I was married and until I bought a Bosch. I still like this recipe because it is full of flavor. I always made this with hard red winter wheat.

Ingredients:
3 cups milk or water*
3 Tablespoons oil
½ cup honey
1/4 cup molasses
2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
6-7 ½ cups whole wheat flour

*water brings out the flavor, milk adds protein and calcium.

Directions:
Combine milk, oil, honey and molasses in a saucepan. Heat and stir until blended; remove from heat and cool until lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water (if you use the cup you measured the honey and molasses in it will bubble faster. Pour liquids from the sauce pan into a large bowl and add yeast. Stir in 3 cups of flour, beating well to develop the gluten. Stir in remaining flour and turn on to a well floured board. Knead thoroughly, until dough is smooth and elastic. Turn into well oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 1 hour. Punch down, form two loaves, place in two well greased bread tins; let rise covered, 45 minutes. Bake at 375 F for 45 minutes, or until loaf sounds hollow when thumped. Remove from pan, brush with butter or oil, cover with a cloth until cool.

This will keep for a week in the fridge if stored in a plastic bag. If it gets crumbly, just toast it.

If using for sandwiches, do not let over rise or it will have holes!

Baker's Yeast

2008-01-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

1 cake compressed yeast= 1 package active dry yeast
1 package dry yeast= 2 1/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
active dry yeast and instant/rapid rise yeast can be used interchangeably in recipes.

What is the difference?
Instant/Rapid rise is:
* finer, so it absorbs liquid faster
* does not need to be dissolved before using, but can be added into the dry ingredients
* takes half the time to rise
* only requires one rising.

Ginger Snaps

2007-12-12T19:24:00.000-08:00

This is the same recipe as another one on this site referred to as Molasses Sugar Cookies. The difference is that this one is made with butter instead of shortening. Jennifer Robertson made these cookies and brought them to Princess Academy December 2007. I must say I prefer the flavor of the butter over shortening. Butter is better for you too.

Ginger Snaps

3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger

Cream butter and sugar together. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add egg and molasses to creamed butter and beat well. Mix in dry ingredients. Chill one hour. Roll into 1" balls; roll balls in granulated sugar. Place balls 2" apart on un-greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Be careful not to overcook.

Donna's Apple Stuffing

2007-11-22T21:58:00.000-08:00

I do not like to cook my stuffing in the turkey. So, I created this dish that I can bake in the oven.

Ingredients:
1 lb. of dry stuffing
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 stick of butter
1 cup celery, sliced into moons
1 diced onion
1 cored and sliced apple

Directions:

Saute' onions and celery in melted butter until celery turns bright green. bring stock to a boil. Toss all ingredients together and mix with a fork until all is moist and mixed. Pour into a 4 quart casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Royal Icing

2007-11-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

3 egg whites, room temperature
1 pound powdered sugar
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
A drop of peppermint extract if desired

Directions:

Beat thoroughly in mixing bowl until icing holds stiff peaks, then keep bowl covered at all times with damp cloth. (It will dry out if you don’t.) This will dry hard.

Gingerbread House

2007-11-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

I never had gingerbread houses as a child. However, when I married I gained a sweet sister-in-law, Beatrice Jackson, that taught me how to make them. I lost her recipe and I requested it from her this morning. She sent it and I am posting it here so I can find it easily.

Ingredients:

2-3/4 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
2/3 cup molasses
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
½ cup oil

Directions:

Mix thoroughly and chill several hours (overnight or longer). Roll dough on an oiled piece of foil. (It helps to place the foil on cookie sheet with sides, and then roll the dough while in pan.) Bake on foil-covered cookie sheet with sides at 300° for 20-30 minutes. Place pattern on hot bread and cut IMMEDIATELY. Lift out pieces carefully and cool on cake racks. The gingerbread should be very hard when cool. (If necessary, the pieces may be laid back on the cookie sheet and placed in the oven for 5-10 minutes longer.) The roof sections will break off if the dough is not thoroughly baked.

Make Royal Icing to use in the assembly and decorating of the gingerbread house. Royal Icing is can be located under the label of "Frosting," in this blog.

If decorator tips and parchment bags are used in applying icing to gingerbread, use a #4 writing tip to draw windows, and a #30 tip to cover cut edges along sides and seams and roof.

CANDIES may be a multitude of various colors and shapes: gumdrops, candy canes, mints, hard candies, chocolate chips, silver balls, colored sugar and sprinkles, etc. Be sure to place candies in icing right away before it hardens.

ASSEMBLY:

Draw windows and roof lines with icing. Add candies.
Use icing to fasten one side of house to foil-covered slab.
Put icing on seam of this piece, then add other sides of house, fastening in place with icing.
Very carefully, put icing along roof edges on ends of house pieces. Attach one roof piece at a time, holding until hardened. Repeat with other roof piece. Hold, and PRAY that it doesn’t fall in!
Attach door with icing and decorate its seams with icing.
Decorate outer seams of house sides with icing. Candy canes look nice in the corner edges.
Put icing along rooftop edge. Fasten chimney pieces together with icing. Attach chimney to roof. Decorate with candies.
May add icicles with writing tip. Decorate yard with icing and candies.

Donna's Turkey Pasta Salad

2007-10-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

I was going to head to the store to "buy" something to make for the Relief Society potluck dinner tonight. I stopped short and went to the storage room, and to the refrigerator, to see what I could create. This is what I made.

Ingredients:

1 lb package rotini
12.5 ounce can turkey
1 lb package frozen green peas ( rinsed in warm water)
1 cup diced celery
1 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup diced yellow onion
1/8 cup real bacon bits

Mix all ingredients and chill. Serve.

Options:
You can add red pepper, cooked carrots, or sliced radishes for color and zip.

Donna's Berry Elegance

2007-09-29T11:08:00.001-07:00

We served this at my son, Jonathan's, wedding reception.

Ingredients:

1 box White Cake Mix
2 small boxes instant white chocolate pudding
1 -- 8 ounce package of cream cheese (softened)
12-18 ounces of fresh blueberries (rinsed and well drained)
16 ounce Cool Whip
Almond slices and or coconut

Directions:

Bake cake in a jelly roll pan, according to box instructions (I use a pampered chef stoneware jelly roll pan and bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes). Cool cake completely. Prepare pudding according to pie directions. Blend in softened cream cheese. Rinse and thoroughly drain blueberries. Thaw cool whip. Place cake on the bottom, spread pudding cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled cake. Equally distribute berries over pudding layer. Spread cool whip over berries. Sprinkle almonds (and or coconut) over top. Cut into squares, serve and enjoy!

This is best when assembled just before serving.

Optional: Blackberries, Raspberries, or Strawberries

Donna's Chocolate Raspberry Delight

2007-09-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

We served this at my son, Jonathan's, wedding reception.

Ingredients:

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
2 small boxes instant Devil's Food pudding
1 -- 8 ounce package of cream cheese (softened)
12-18 ounces of fresh raspberries (rinsed and well drained)
16 ounce Cool Whip
Almond slices

Directions:

Bake cake in a jelly roll pan, according to box instructions (I use a pampered chef stoneware jelly roll pan and bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes). Cool cake completely. Prepare pudding according to pie directions. Blend in softened cream cheese. Rinse and thoroughly drain raspberries. Thaw cool whip. Place cake on the bottom, spread pudding cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled cake. Equally distribute raspberries over pudding layer. Spread cool whip over berries. Sprinkle almonds over top. Cut into squares, serve and enjoy!

This is best when assembled just before serving.

Pistachio Cake

2007-09-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

We used the recipe from my friend Dianne Mildenstein at my son Jonathan's wedding reception. We took the basic recipe and made a blueberry dessert, and a chocolate raspberry dessert.

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake
2 small boxes instant pistachio pudding
1 -- 8 ounce package of cream cheese (softened)
1 can crushed pineapple (well drained)
16 ounce Cool Whip
Coconut

Directions:

Bake yellow cake in a jelly roll pan, according to box instructions (I use a pampered chef stoneware jelly roll pan and bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes). Cool cake completely. Prepare pudding according to pie directions. Blend in softened cream cheese. Drain pineapple for about one hour. Thaw cool whip. Place cake on the bottom, spread pudding cream cheese mixture evenly over cooled cake. Equally distribute or sprinkle pineapple over pudding layer. Spread cool whip over pineapple. Sprinkle coconut over top. Cut into squares, serve and enjoy!

This is best when assembled just before serving.

Donna's Raspberry Cheesecake Pie

2007-09-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

2 boxes Jello instant cheese cake
Bea's Raspberry Pie filling
Whipped Cream or Topping

Directions:

Prepare cheese cake as instructed on box. Press the graham cracker crust into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish. Bake and cool. Prepare cheesecake as directed on box. Pour into cooled crust. Chill until firm. Combine all Bea's Raspberry pie filling ingredients and chill until thick. Pour over cheese cake. Chill until set. Serve with whipped cream topping.

Bea's Raspberry Pie in a Graham Cracker Crust

2007-09-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

Bea is my sister in law, Roger's sister. Roger told his college roommate, Ed, that sins could be forgiven for a raspberry pie in a graham cracker crust. Ed caused some friction one day, he wanted to get back on Roger's good side. So he called Bea and got the recipe. When Roger came home from work, Ed handed him the pie and said, "Here is the pie, now I do not want anymore grief over this!"

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons corn starch
1 quart raspberries
1 tablespoon butter
1 3 oz. package of raspberry gelatin
1 tablespoon lemon
1 baked graham cracker crust, cooled

Directions:

In a sauce pan combine sugar and cornstarch. Mash 1 cup raspberries and add water to make two cups. Stir into sugar mixture. Cook and stir until boiling; boil two minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter, gelatin, and lemon juice, stir until gelatin dissolves. Chill until partially set. Spoon 1/3 of gelatin mixture into graham cracker crust, top with whole berries. Spoon remaining gelatin over berries, chill.

Graham Cracker Crust:

Mix:
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar

Add:
1/4 cup melted butter

Press into a pie pan and bake 8 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool. Fill and Chill. Serve.

For Strawberry Pie:
Exchange strawberries for the raspberries and strawberry gelatin for the raspberry gelatin.

K. K. B. S.

2007-09-16T18:10:00.001-07:00

My husband was making this, the little children came in and said, "OOOOOOOOOOOO that looks gross, what is it?" My husband smiled and replied, "Its King Kong Booger Snot, now go away." They did, but not for long. They came back when he was eating and asked for some. I do not like using the name so we call it KKBS. This way grandma and guests would not get grossed out by the name.

Ingredients:

Chili
Tortilla Chips
Monterey Jack Cheese

Directions:

Heat chili in a sauce pan and pour over a plate of tortilla chips. Top with shredded Monterey Jack Cheese. Microwave until cheese melts, about 30 - 45 seconds. Time depends on how much cheese you use. Serve on plate that you used to cook the concoction on. Serve with extra chips and small plates for people to put their portion on.

Chili Burritos

2007-09-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

This is a quick meal, I used to call it Relief Society Night Supper. It can be made with canned chili, or with leftover Donna's Chili. Reheats well.

Ingredients:
Leftover homemade chili or 1 can chunky chili and 1 can hot chili
Flour tortillas
Grated cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 360 degrees. Heat chili in a sauce pan on the stove. Scoop with a large serving spoon about 1/4 cup chili onto a tortilla, sprinkle with cheese, roll, and place in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Continue until all chili is used. Top with cheese and bake 15 minutes. Serve with grated cheddar cheese.

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a ziploc bag and can be eaten either cold or reheated. these can also be frozen.

Donna's Chili

2007-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef
1/2 onion, diced

! lb can chili with beans and gravy
1 lb can stewed tomatoes
1 8oz. can tomato sauce

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

Brown beef and onion together. Drain. Add Beans, Tomatoes and tomato sauce. Simmer 30 minutes. Salt and paper to taste. Serve with grated cheese.

Pumpkin Ice Cream Dessert

2007-09-16T17:41:00.002-07:00

Ingredients

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened
canned pumpkin
pinch of nutmeg
whipped cream.

Directions:

Add pumpkin to ice cream until desire potency. Add a pinch of nutmeg. Combine well. Freeze, cut into squares and serve, or pour into a graham cracker crust and freeze. Serve as a dessert pie, topped with whip cream.

Pumpkin Cream Trifle

2007-09-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 package spice cake
1 small package vanilla instant pudding
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cups milk
2 small packages instant cheesecake pudding mix
4 cups whipped topping
1 cup chopped toasted pecans
3/4 cup English toffee bits or almond brickle chips

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl combine first eight ingredients.

Transfer to a 9 x13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, until toothpick inserted into the center come out clean. Cool on wire rack.

In a large bowl mix milk and pudding mixes for two minutes. Let stand until soft set. Fold in whipped topping.

Cut cake into one inch cubes.

In a 3 quart glass Trifle dish layer a third of the cake pieces, 1/3 of the pudding mixture, and 1/4 cup toffee pieces. Repeat these layers , in the same order, twice. Refrigerate until serving time. Serves 15-20.

Pumpkin Cookies

2007-09-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 cup chopped nuts

Cream:
1/4 lb of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed cooked pumpkin

Sift:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. Add dry ingredients and creamed ingredients and blend. Blend in lemon extract and nuts. Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto a greased cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes.

Lemon Swiss Chicken

2007-09-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

7-8 Chicken Breasts, cubed ( cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces)
1 large lemon, juiced and strained
10 slices of swiss cheese
3 small cans Campbell's cream of chicken soup
1 cup melted butter
3 cups cubed stuffing

Directions:

Place cut up chicken in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish or pan. Drizzle lemon juice, evenly, over the chicken. Arrange cheese slices evenly over chicken. DO NOT DILUTE THE SOUP. spread evenly over cheese. In a pan melt butter and combine with cubed stuffing until all butter is absorbed. Spread stuffing evenly over soup. Sprinkle with parsley. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and cook for 30 minutes to crisp the topping.

Meridy's Broccoli Salad Dressing

2007-09-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and toss with Meridy's Broccoli Salad. Chill. Serve.

Meridy's Broccoli Salad

2007-09-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

Meridy is our Relief Society President and makes this delicious salad.

Ingredients:

6+ cups of broccoli cut into small pieces
1/2 red onion chopped
12 package of bacon (cooked crisp and cut small)
1 package craisins (cherry flavored)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4-6 oz sunflower seeds

Directions:

Combine ingredients and toss with Meridy's Broccoli Salad Dressing. Chill and Serve.

Mandarin Salad

2007-09-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 head ice berg lettuce
1/2 head romaine
1 chopped celery
2 whole green onion chopped
1 11 oz. can of mandarin margarine

Caramelized Almond Directions:

Combine ½ cup almonds with 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar in a hot skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and coats the almonds. Store in an air tight jar, in the refrigerator.

Salad Directions:

Mix vegetables and fruit together. Toss in caramelized almonds, and Donna's Raspberry Poppyseed dressing Serve chilled.

Donna's Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

2007-09-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

Serves 6 one cup servings

Ingredients:
1 cup chicken chunks (fresh or canned)
1 cup cheddar or swiss cheese chunks
4 cups of Italian four Bean Salad mixture (recipe on this blog)
1/4 cup Zesty Italian Dressing (I like to mix this from a packet and use Star Raspberry vinegar)

Directions

Mix all precooked ingredients (not including salad dressing, meat, and cheese) in a large bowl. Rinse and drain well. Place in fridge to chill. Rinse chilled salad in cool water, drain and add salad dressing and meat and cheese.

Italian Four Bean Salad

2007-09-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

This makes a huge salad for company. The salad, minus the dressing, can be frozen. Then serving sized portions can be thawed under hot tap water, in a colander, then tossed with Italian dressing.

Ingredients:

1 lb. rotini pasta (cooked, rinsed in cold water, and drained)

1 cup broccoli flowerets (frozen and thawed under hot water, or freshly steamed to bright green and still crunchy).

1 cup steamed diagonally sliced carrots, cooled (steamed carrots should be very firm and bright when done)
1 can of red kidney beans, drained (or boil 1/3 cup dry beans to yield one cup cooked)
1 can small white beans (or boil 1/3 cup dry beans to yield one cup cooked)
1 can garbonzo beans
1 cup Italian green beans (or snap beans)
1 red pepper diced

Zesty Italian Salad Dressing (I mix the Zesty Italian packets with Star Raspberry Vinegar)

Directions

Mix all precooked ingredients (not including salad dressing) in a large bowl. Rinse and drain well. Place in fridge to chill. Rinse chilled salad in cool water, drain and add salad dressing. Serve and enjoy!

Salad to freeze for future quick lunches--Freeze salad on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Store in large ziploc bags. To serve: Rinse frozen salad under hot water, then cool, before adding salad dressing. Serve and enjoy

Pat's Molasses Sugar Cookies

2007-09-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Makes 2 1/2 -3 dozen cookies. We have enjoyed this recipe for 30 years!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses (not black strap)
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon ginger

Extra sugar to roll cookies in.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream shortening and sugar. Add molasses and egg. Beat well. Roll into walnut size balls. Roll balls in sugar. Place two inches apart on foil lined cookie sheet. Bake 13-15 minutes.

Snickerdoodles

2007-09-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

Cream together:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs

Stir together:
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

To Roll Cookies in:
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions:

Combine creamed ingredients and dry ingredients, until well blended. Shape dough into balls, a rounded teaspoon per ball. Roll balls in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove and cool immediately.

Crispy WonTons

2007-09-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

3/4 lb. ground pork
8 water chestnuts, finely chopped
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1 package square wraps

Direction:

Combine meat, water chestnuts, green onion, soy sauce, and ginger. Use one teaspoon of filling per won ton wrap. Folding directions. Heat oil between 350-375 degrees. Deep fry and drain on paper towels.

Donna's Recipe Box

Donna's Christmas Saltine Toffee (aka Ikea Crack)

Chinese Chicken Casserole

Ground Pork Casserole

Cream Cheese Frosting

14 Carrot Cake

Chicken-Almond Bake

Soft Gingerbread Cookies

Chocolate Sandwich Mints

Simply Delightful Ranch Deviled Eggs

Rice Chex Krispy Treats

Pomegranate Beef Fajitas or Chicken Fajitas

Frugalite Kitchen Tool

Donna's Red Velvet Jar Cakes

Dandelion Jelly

Donna's Morning Sundae

Donna's Autumn Chicken Casserole

Roger's Sunday Sunshine Salad

Steamed Veggie Lunch

Donna's Country Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Donna's Ranch Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Great Grandma Julia's Lye Soap

Buttery Breakfast Biscuits

ACED a Cold

Donna's Crema di Pollo e Verdure su Pane Tostato

Potato Bread (Bread, Rolls, Pizza ,Scones...)

Donna's Creamy Chicken and Rice

Pear-Apple Cinnamon Leather

Donna's Ranch Omelette

Pint Size Banana Nut Bread in a Jar

Pomegranate Salad Dressing

Pomegranate Steak

Star Spangled Muffins

Blackberry Cobbler

Banana Nut Bread

Grandma Walton's Swedish Pancakes

Steamed Veggie Medley

Steamed Crookneck Squash

Microwave Cauliflower

Homemade Herbed Croutons

Easy Soup and Chili Thickener

Mini- Frittatas

These are like mini-omelettes. We made these and took them to our New Years Eve party in 2009.

Ingredients

Sour Cream Potatoes (Funeral Potatoes)

Grandma Flaugh's Butterscotch Pie

Martha's Mini Gingerbread House Kit

Teri Beef King

Donna's Pot Pie

Lloyd's Whole Wheat Bread

Donna's Almost Homemade Red Velvet Cup Cakes

Boiled Snow Crab

Tuna Sandwiches

Donna's Tuna Salad

Berry Biscuit Bliss

Donna's Apricot Leather

Pork Won Ton

Easy Baked Beans

Donna's Blueberry Muffins

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Donna's Astice Alla Griglia Linguine (grilled lobster linguine)

Selecting A Ripe Pineapple

Donna's Pie Crust

Fresh Summer Quadruple Berry Pie

Grilled Lobster Tails

Cranberry Chicken

BBQ Pomegranate Italian Chicken

7 Layer Bars

These were served by Lauren Kammeyer at a Bridal Shower for Julia

Donna's Black-Eyed- Susan Button Pies

Vinegars

Pulled Buttermints

Creamy Chocolate Nut Surprise

Roger's Hershey Kiss Marshmellow Fudge

Homemade Flour Tortillas

Cinnamon a Spice for Life

Grapefruit Hints

Sherrie Goff's Salsa Bean Dip

100% Whole Wheat Bread

Baker's Yeast