Cinnamon Bread French Toast

I apologize for not posting a recent recipe. My life has been crazy lately and cooking has been along the lines of toss a sandwich in the direction of the cries of hunger:) Just kidding. There are no cries of hunger...Anyway, I made this on Sunday. It takes some pre-planning and it is NOT good for your body. Just your soul. Which will make you happy until you get on the scale. It's best to serve this with bacon to get the full effect. I mean, if you're eating Cinnamon Bread French Toast, you are not worrying about diabetes, cholesterol or the seams of your jeans!

Cinnamon Bread French Toast

1 homemade batch of bread dough
About a cup of brown sugar
1 stick softened butter
several T of cinnamon

After the first rise, roll the dough out into a big rectangle. Usually a batch makes a rectangle about 18x12, but don't be ocd about it:) Then spread softened butter generously over it all. Next, sprinkle brown sugar lavishly (l like that word) then cinnamon. Roll up the long side, so you have a big fat, long roll. (this is where you would normally slice for cinnamon rolls) Then fold the roll in half, tuck the end and put in a greased loaf pan. Spread butter on the top and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Rise til double and bake according to you own recipe's directions, being careful not to overbake.

Egg batter
1/4 cup milk for every 3 eggs, makes about 6 slices of french toast

When the loaf is completely cooled (next day works well). Slice into FAT (like 1") slices and dip in egg batter. Fry til golden brown. I like to use my electric skillet and fry the bacon first, then the toast. Hey! I SAID this was bad for you!:)

Serve with your favorite syrup!

Mulligatawny,

This is an Indian curry soup served with rice. My family, esp TGH, loves this. It's also super easy!

Mulligatawny

1 7 oz can tomatoes, cut up, undrained
1/2 C. chopped celery
2 1/2 C. chicken broth
1/2 C. chopped, peeled cooking apple
1/4 C. chopped carrot
1/4 C. chopped onion
1 T. snipped parsley
1 to 1 1/2 t. curry powder
1 t. lemon juice
1/4 t. pepper
1 1/2 C. chopped cooked chicken
2 C. hot cooked rice

In a saucepan, mix all ingredients except chicken and rice. Bring to boil, cover and simmer 15 min, stirring often. Stir in chicken, heat thoroughly. Serve over rice. Makes 3 Main dish servings.

Navajo Fry Bread

I have tried a lot of recipes for this and they have all turned out, well frankly, disgusting but last night at dinner I hit the jackpot. So here you go, a really great recipe for Navajo fry bread.

2 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 c warm water

Mix the dry ingredients and slowly stir in the water until you have a nice soft dough.
I divided the dough into about 8 small pieces and worked them with my hands until they were flat circles probably about 4 inches or so. (The dough was really soft, so I floured my hands when I did this.) Then I fried each piece in oil until they were light brown on both sides. I actually used my deep fat fryer at 375 degrees, but the recipe says to use about an inch of oil.
You can serve these with pretty much the same thing you would tacos- spiced up hamburger, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and salsa. Or you can have them as a treat with honey on them. (that's what I did when I made more for lunch today. yummy!)

Ham and Rice with Curry

We ate this at my mother-in-law's house. I love, love, love it.
2 c cooked rice
1 1/2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 c grated cheddar cheese
2 c diced ham
1 c. mayonnaise
3 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp curry
1/2 c milk
(I think that's it, oh and those crunchy fried onions to spread on top, or if you don't have them crunched up potato chips)

Put the rice in a greased 9 x 13. Then mix up the ham, cream of soup, cheese, mayo, lemon juice, curry, and milk. Pour it on top and mix it up. Cook at about 300 for 30 minutes, covered. (That's what the recipe says but my mother-in-law came home, turned it up to 375 and left it a little longer, so just cook it until it's nice and hot.) After you take it out add the onions or potato chips. SO GOOD!

Chicken Rolls

I think everyone has probably had these. My bff said her mom-in-law calls them chicken pillows. Hmmm. Anyway, here's the recipe, I made it on Sunday for TGH birthday:

1 roll refridgerator crescent rolls
3 oz cream cheese
1 C chopped cooked chicken
2 T butter
2 T minced onion
salt
pepper
melted butter
seasoned breadcrumbs ( I like to use crushed dressing)
1 can cream of chicken soup

Unroll the rolls and stretch out the triangles. Mix the cream cheese with all the rest of the ingredients. Put 1/8 of the chicken mixture on each triangle and make a sealed bundle. Dip the bundle into melted butter, then bread crumbs. Bake for 20 min at 375. Mix the soup with 1/2 can of water and heat. Serve as gravy.

Simple Dinner

Sometimes it's really nice to just keep dinner simple. Last night I made a nice big green salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, celery, zucchini, and chicken. Then I got some corn on the cob out of the freezer. I also made jell-o because my girls love it like crazy. Easy and nice.

Chile Relleno Casserole

I really love chile rellenos and when I don't have time to stand and make them, this casserole really gives me the taste I want. Even better yet, my super picky little gals love love love them. I serve this with rice and refried beans.

2 4oz cans chopped green chilis
1 lb. monterey jack cheese
1 lb. cheddar
4 eggs- divided yolks and whites
2/3 c evaporated milk
1 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

mix chilis and grated cheese, put into well greased 9 x 13. Beat egg whites until stiff. Mix yolks with milk, flour, salt and pepper. Fold whites into yolks Pour over cheese and chilis. Mix eggs gently into cheese and chilis.
Bake 60 min at 325.

Serve with a big can red enchilada sauce

Super Mashed Potatoes

1 potato for every person in your family

Peel, and slice potatoes, put in pan and barely cover with water, cover with lid and bring to boil, then turn heat to med low, simmer about 15 to 20 min, til potatoes are soft. Drain potatoes and return to pan (unless coated with Teflon, then put in bowl)

Add:

1 T butter for each potato
1 T sour cream for each potato
1 clove garlic, chopped finely, per each 5 potatoes
salt to taste
white pepper to taste
Milk to make creamy

Mash potatoes with masher or fork, lightly, then get out your mixer. Mix in all ingredients except milk, add a little at a time until desired creaminess. Watch out for over mixing, as it will make your potatoes gluey.

Crockpot Heaven

I love my crockpot and use it about once a week, at least. I have the best book, Fix it and Forget it, which is a wonderful resource for recipes. Here's todays, Beef Stew:

1 lb cut up meat (I buy cheap roasts and chop them up)
4 T flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 C water
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1 garlic clove
1 bay leaf
4 cut up carrots
3 cut up potatoes
1 cut up onion
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp marjoram

Coat meat in flour,salt, paprika, and pepper. Put in crockpot. Mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on High for 4 to 6 hours or Low for 10-12 hours.

Emergency Dinner

Yesterday was an extremely long, messy day. When dinner time neared, I realized that after chasing my two year old all day, I had forgotten all about dinner! This is what I did:

boil enough pasta for your family
leftover chicken from fridge, chopped into pieces
Grated cheese
Milk

While the pasta is hot, add the chicken, cheese and enough milk to moisten. Low heat on a burner until the cheese is melted, then taste for salt. Serve with toast:)

( I didn't eat this....hubby and I went to a nearby fast food Mexican restaurant) But the kids loved it and wanted to take it in their lunches today!

Perfect Caramel Corn

That Muddy Buddy Recipe made me think of yummy snack recipes. I rarely have Chex in the house, but I always have popcorn. We LOVE popcorn at my house- VERY big fans. Anyway, I am always trying to make good caramel corn and this one is super. It doesn't turn out really crunchy, but it is fast and delicious, in my humble opinion.

1 c. light Karo syrup
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 cube butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
lots of popped popcorn (we fill our popper on the stove twice to make a really big batch)

Combine all ingredients in saucepan over medium heat, using a wooden spoon until it comes to a boil, then boil for 2 minutes, then pour over popcorn.

Muddy Buddies

9 C. Rice Square cereal (like chex)
1 C. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 C. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
1/4 C. margarine or butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar

Pour cereal into large bowl or plastic zip bag. I like to use my gigantic Tupperware bowl. Heat in microwave, the choc chips, peanut butter, and margarine, about one minute or so, stirring til smooth and melted. Pour over cereal and stir well. Pour powdered sugar over all and put the lid on tight or zip up the bag, tight. then shake til cereal is well coated.

My mother-in-law's Jackpot Casserole

This one is always a favorite for the Professor and the girls. When I don't know what else to make, I go for this. Always a winner.

1 lb. ground beef
1/4 c chopped onion
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 can cream-style corn (optional)
1/4 c. olives
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 (8oz) bag noodles
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Brown meat, drain fat and add onion. Cook until golden. Add tomato soup, water, and noodles. Cook until noodles are tender, stirring frequently. Add corn, olives, 1/2 cup cheese. Pour into greased casserole dish. Sprinkle on remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Tuesday Lunch

For lunch today, I ate the leftover tortillas from last night with a wonderful rice recipe I got from my mom-in-law:

Cheesy Spanish Rice

2 C. hot cooked rice
1 C. Monterey Jack Cheese
1 C. sour cream
1 4 oz can chopped green chilis
salt to taste

Mix all together. Add sour cream if you like it creamier, and heat if the cheese isn't all melted.

Monday, What's for Dinner?

Tacos! With homemade tortillas:

2 C. white flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 C. shortening
3/4 C. warm water

Stir dry ingredients together, cut in shortening to resemble bread crumbs, then stir in water. Knead well, let rest 10 min. Roll into circles, using extra white flour (takes practice, the first ones look like amoebas) Makes 12 to 14 tortillas, about 10 inches across.

let's regress

Going back from Sunday to Saturday night. Why don't all the moms find somewhere to go and let the dads do dinner once in awhile. Saturday I went out with friends to a dinner and a meeting, then pie. The Professor bought the little girls taco bell. Maybe not completely healthy but cheese is their favorite food, so it was a hit.

Sunday Dinner

Lot's of people subscribe to the Sunday Dinner plan. Pot roasts and Roast Chickens abound on this menu. But let me throw this one out there...How about a nice breakfast for dinner? I mean Waffles or French Toast, eggs and bacon/sausage, juice or fruit. How many of us really go the whole nine yards when it comes to breakfast? There's usually just not enough time. Sunday's can be perfect for this. You have church in the morning? No problem, everyone comes home, changes clothes and while the kids set the table, you whip up waffles while the bacon/sausage is frying. Church in the afternoon? Have a brunch before and everyone can snack afterwards. To get you started, here's my favorite quick waffle recipe. I do have one for raised waffles, maybe that one next week...

Sahm waffles

2 C. Flour (can mix wheat and white or all one)
1 T. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs, separate yolks and whites (trust me)
2 C. milk
1/2 C. canola oil

Mix all dry ingredients, then stir in egg yolks and milk. Add oil and stir lightly til mixed in. Whip whites until stiff, then fold them into the batter. Then just use your waffle iron following the manufacturer's instructions. The batter can be made richer by using a higher fat milk and butter instead of oil.

It's Friday: What's for Dinner?

Do NOT make dinner on this day. Throw frozen pizza or boxed mac n cheese in the direction of the babysitter and RUN!!! Run like your life depends on it!

If you are absolutely unable to do this, do what Carrie does and have Pizza/Movie Night. Buy or make your favorite pizza (let's beg Carrie for her dough and sauce recipes) and get (we love Net Flix and On Demand) a couple of movies. One for the family, and one for when the kids go to bed! Buy good ice cream, or make your's and your honey's fave dessert and snuggle up! Happy Friday!!

Quick Soup Formula

So, in general, I am not a soup lover at all. But every single time I use this recipe (formula) I LOVE how it turns out. Makes for a really, really good dinner and it's easy and quick.
So here goes:

2 T vegetable oil or olive oil
1 med. onion, chopped
1 lb. protein (your choice of chicken, Italian sausage, kielbasa, ham, pork, fish, shrimp, scallops)
Starch (your choice of pound potatoes (cubes), 2 c black beans, white beans, chickpeas, hominy, 4 oz egg noodles or 13 c long-grain rice or orzo-uncooked)
1 c fresh or canned tomatoes
32 oz chicken broth, canned or in a ctn. (also bouillon cubes, 4 plus 32 oz water)
herb or spice, your choice
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a soup kettle. Add onions; saute to soften slightly, about 2 minutes. Add remaining veggies, protein, starch, tomatoes, broth, and herb or spice (if using pork tenderloin, shrimp or scallops, add in the last 5 minutes of cooking). Partially cover and simmer until veggies are tender and flavors are blended, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4. Serve with salad and good bread.