Amish Friendship Bread

This friendship bread is fun to do with friends, and tastes wonderful!

Starter kit:
-In a gallon size zip lock bag mix together 1/3 cup milk, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup flour
-Leave on counter top at room temp
Day 1- Mush the bag (Day 1 is the day you make the starter or are given the bag)
Day 2- Mush the bag
Day 3- Mush the bag
Day 4- Mush the bag
Day 5- Mush the bag
Day 6- Add 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk and 1 cup flour to the bag and mush
Day 7- Mush the bag
Day 8- Mush the bag
Day 9- Mush the bag
Day 10- Pour entire contents of the bag into a non-metal bowl and add 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1 1/2 cups milk. Stir until smooth. Measure out four seperate batters of 1 cup each into four gallon size zip lock bags. You can keep or give away as many of them as you want. Be sure to give them away with a copy of the recipe. If you keep them, just freeze the bags until you are ready to bake, just remember what day you froze the bag so you know when it is ready.

*Baking Directions

Preheat oven to 325
to the remaining batter in the non-metal bowl, add:
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 large box or two small boxes of instant pudding mix (any flavor works, I use vanilla)

-Grease 2 large loaf pans
-Mix an additional 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon for topping
-Dust bottom and all sides of the greased pans with half of the cinnamon sugar mix
-Pour batter evenly into the two pans and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon and sugar mix over the top
-Bake one hour
-Cool until bread loosens from pan (about 10 minutes)
-Turn onto a serving dish

Mini Cheesecakes

These were a hit at my Christmas party this year!

2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
24 vanilla wafers
canned pie filling (raspberry, strawberry, cherry, anything will work)

-Beat together cream cheese, sugar and eggs
-Line muffin tins with cupcake liners and place one vanilla wafer in each one
-Fill each liner 2/3 of the way full with the cream cheese mixture
-Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean
-Top each one with canned pie filling

Super Chunky Christmas Cookies

I gave these out as Christmas gifts this year! These are so fun to do and make....even the cookie dough is delicious!

In the jar (1 1/2 liter jar) layer:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cocoa

3/4 cup red & green m&m's

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 chopped cashews

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks

1 cup coconut

Baking Instructions:

-Beat 1 1/4 cups sugar and 1 stick melted butter with a mixer until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the super chunky christmas cookie mix and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 350 until set, about 12 minutes. Cool on a rack. Makes about 2 dozen.

Everybody Loves Fudge

This is so quick and delicious!

2/3 cups evaporated milk
1 2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla

-mix milk, sugar and salt in a pan over medium heat
-bring to a boil, boil five minutes, stirring constantly
-remove from heat
-add marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts and vanilla
-stir until melted
-pour into lightly greased 8x8 pan
-cool, cut and serve

breakfast brie crescents

I got this recipe from my mother in law Lou. This can be served for breakfast, an appetizer or dessert. I like it best for breakfast.
This is very quick, easy and tasty!

1 triangle Brie cheese, softened (at room temp for about 30 minutes)
1 can Crescent rolls (I used pillsbury big and buttery)
Honey

Unroll the crescents together on a baking sheet
Slice the Brie cheese and put in the middle of the rolls (I only use 3/4 of the traingle)
Wrap crescents over the cheese (like one big stuffed crescent)
Bake according to the directions on the rolls can
Drizzle with honey and serve

Strawberry Glazed Cheesecake

This cheesecake is super easy and delicious! It is time consuming, but simple to throw together. I made this for my husbands birthday and could not believe how well it turned out for my first time!

3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup original bisquick mix
2 8oz packages cream cheese, softened

topping:
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

glaze:
1 cup strawberries, blended
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch


--preheat oven to 350
--grease 9-inch glass pie plate
--combine milk, vanilla, eggs, sugar and bisquick in blender
--cover and blend on high for 15-30 seconds
--add cream cheese, cover and blend until smooth
--pour into pie plate
--bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean
--cool at room temp for 1 hour
--chill in refrigerator for 2 hours

--to prepare topping; combine sour cream, sugar and vanilla in small bowl and stir well until blended. Spread on top of cheesecake once cooled.

--to prepare glaze; after strawberries are blended transfer to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar and cornstarch, stir constantly until it thickens into a glaze. Cool and drizzle over the topping.

*Enjoy*

Cherry Cheese Pie

1 gram cracker pie crust
1 8oz package cream cheese
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 can pie filling (cherry, raspberry, strawberry)

-cut cream cheese in one inch pieces, let sit until softened.
-mix all ingredients in blender
-pour into pie crust
-cool for one hour in fridge
-smother with pie filling
-serve chilled

This is a great dessert for the Holidays!

Tator Tot Casserole

Easy, cheap and good!

1 pound hamburger
1 small yellow onion, halved & chopped
1 package 16oz frozen tator tots
1 can cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
2/3 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or more...

-in a large skillet brown hamburger and onion over medium-high heat
-season with salt & pepper
-transfer to greased 2 quart casserole dish
-top with tator tots
-combine soup and milk, whisk
-pour over tator tots
-sprinkle with cheese
-bake uncovered at 350 for 30-40 minutes

Enjoy!

Garden Stuffed Potatoes

2 large russet potatoes
10 sticks fresh asparagus, chopped in 1/2 inch pieces
1/4 yellow onion, diced
1/4 cup ranch dressing
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs butter

Heat oven to 425
Pierce potatoes well with a knife
Put in microwave for 12 minutes

Meanwhile saute asparagus and onion in butter

Then place the potatoes in the oven for 15 minutes
Remove from oven and cut a thin slice off the top long ways
Scoop out all pulp and place in a medium bowl keeping skin intact
Rub skin with olive oil
Add sauteed onion and asparagus, ranch, salt & pepper to pulp, mix well
Scoop pulp mixture back into the potato skins
Place in baking dish or cookie sheet
Bake for 15 more minutes

You could substitute asparagus for broccoli
You could also top them with shredded cheddar before baking the second time

BBQ Sauce

In a medium bowl:

Mix equal amounts of ketchup and brown sugar (depending on how much you need, start with one cup each)
1 tsp worchestershire
1 tsp liquid smoke
2 tsp cayenne
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
plenty of salt and pepper

Mix well
Heat in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds

*This is great on grilled chicken tenders

Pin Wheels

This is a great appetizer

1 tortilla, white/wheat or spinach is also yummy
garden vegetable cream cheese
1/2 of a cucumber, peeled

I take one tortilla and spread the veggie cream cheese on it
then dice up the peeled cucumber and spread it on the cream cheese
roll it up like a burrito
then slice it diagonally and serve

You could add other veggies in it too, I did tomato & cucumber the other day and my husband loved it!

Roasted Red Potato Salad

This is a great side dish-

5 red potatoes
1 red bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
1/4 yellow onion
1 celery stick
olive oil
seasonings- pepper, rosemary, onion powder, garlic salt, celery salt

Preheat oven to 350
Spread plenty of olive oil on a cookie sheet with sides, not flat
Cut potatoes in bite size pieces, spread on cookie sheet
Season with all seasonings, be generous
Roast in oven for 45 minutes, or until you can easily put a fork through them
Slice and dice up onion, celery and bell peppers
Saute in 1 tablespoon olive oil in skillet for about 15-20 minutes

Mix together and serve~

Chocolate Strawberry Panini

This amazing dessert is very easy and also quite cheap, and I had so much fun making these ;-)

1 loaf pound cake
Nutella (a chocolate hazelnut spread)
2 cups fresh strawberries

-Cut the pound cake in 1/2" slices, should make about 12
-Spread Nutella on the insides of each slice
-Wash and cut tops off strawberries, thinly slice
-Put 3-4 strawberry slices on the nutella and then lay another slice on top, like a sandwich

Using a panini grill, heat til ready, spray the top and bottom of the grill with cooking spray
set two in at a time and press down lightly for 1-2 minutes, just until heated thoroughly, take out and enjoy~

yummy yummy yummy...

Cousin's Carrot Cake

My cousin Jessie gave me this great recipe for Carrot Cake...delicious!

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
-mix together
-add
3/4 cup canola oil
3 cups grated carrots
4 eggs
-mix all together

-put in a 9x13 pan
-bake at 350 for 40 minutes

*Frosting
8oz block of cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
-mix together and spread on cake after it is cool

Sugar Snap Avocado Walnut Salad

I made this yummy salad the other day...

I threw together:

2 ribs of celery
1 avocado
a handful of sugar snap peas
a handful of toasted walnuts
juice of half a lemon
1 Tbs olive oil

Thinly slice the celery, avocado and sugar snap peas
Put in a medium bowl
Toast the walnuts in a skillet over medium heat for about 7-10 minutes
Squeeze the juice of half a lemon and the olive oil over the mix
Add the toasted walnuts
Season lightly with salt & pepper

This was so delicious!

Meatloaf

1 pound hamburger
1 sleeve saltine crackers, crumbled OR 1 cup Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs
1 egg, whisk
2 Tbs worcestershire sauce
ketchup
barbeque sauce
salt, pepper, garlic salt, onion salt

Oven 350

In large bowl mix raw hamburger, crackers, egg, worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic and onion salt. I put mine in a banana bread glass dish ( I do not know if this dish has a name...)
Spray the dish/pan first
I do a zigzag pattern across the top with the ketchup and bbq sauce

I usually serve this with steamed asparagus

My Wine List

I love red wines...especially merlot
Here is a list of my fav's that I recommend you to try if you love vino. I will continue to add to this list as I keep falling in love with new favorites!

• Tapena
• 7 Deadly Zinz
• Bitch
• Yellowtail Merlot
• Menage a Trois
• Little Black Dress
• Red Guitar
• Mad Housewife
  
  

Boy Scouts Dinner

A good friend told me about this little throw together and I loved it. This meal is so easy to make and to clean up after, the ingredients are cheap and its delicious.

For 4-5 people
2 pounds of hamburger, raw and shredded
7-8 large russet potatoes, sliced
8-10 carrot sticks, sliced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
salt and pepper
onion salt
garlic salt

This will cook on the grill at about 400 degrees for 45 minutes, flipping half way through

Layer in order on top of layers of tin foil, spray tin foil with cooking spray first
potatoes
half of onion
carrots
season well
raw hamburger
rest of the onion
season well

Fold foil over making sure there won't be any leaks and throw directly on the grill. If you are using more than 1 pound of burger it will be easier to make 2 squares of the tin foil instead of one.

Dad's Famous "Waffer" Dessert

My dad mispelled wafer once and has never heard the end of it...so this is his "waffer" dessert
This is a very simple and sweet dessert...very yummy!

One box Vanilla Wafers, not store brand
1/2 cup Butter
1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
2 Eggs
One 8 oz Cool Whip
One 20 oz can of Crushed Pineapple (drained)

Combine softened butter, sugar and eggs
Crush vanilla wafers
Place 1/2 of the wafers in the bottom of a 9x13" pan
Put combined ingredients on top of crushed wafers
Put crushed pineapple for the next layer
Sprinkle with remaining wafers reserving a handful of crumbs
Cover with whipped topping
Top with wafer crumbs
Chill in fridge for 2 hours

Enjoy!

Cajun Salmon

This really isn't spicy, but has that cajun taste and great flavor

2 Salmon fillets, skin removed

Cajun seasoning

2-3 Tbs Olive oil

handful of spinach leaves

Coat salmon in cajun seasoning

heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat

Cook each fillet 5-7 minutes on each side

Serve over a bed of spinach

I served this with steamed asparagus and red bell pepper

Steamed over med-low heat 10 minutes in skillet with a little olive oil

Chocolate Crepes

Mix together:

3 eggs, whisk
pinch of salt
3/4 cup flour
2 Tbs cocoa
6 Tbs melted butter
1 1/2 cup milk
Set for 20 minutes
Pour 1/2 cup batter over med-high heat in skillet, cook like pancakes
Top with fruit like berries and kiwi or spread peanut butter on it and add sliced banana

Great for breakfast or dessert...

Aunt Gini's No Bake Cookies

1 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick butter

Combine mixture in medium sauce pan, put over medium heat until it comes to a boil, boil for 1 minute, remove from heat, cool for 1 minute
Add tsp vanilla, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 3 1/2 cups oatmeal
Stir until well mixed
Drop small balls onto wax paper, let cool for a couple hours.

Yummy!

Lyn's Awesome Salsa

Using a blender combine

14 oz can Hunts Stewed Tomatoes
1 can Mexican Festival Rotel (blue can)
1 tsp fresh cilantro
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Blend
Serve with tortilla chips

Daddy's Potato Soup

6 large russet potatoes
2-4 large carrot sticks, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
4 celery sticks, chopped
5-6 cups milk
Celery salt
salt and pepper
onion salt
garlic salt

Saute celery, carrots, onion in olive oil over med-low heat in skillet for 10-15 minutes
Dice potatoes in bite size chunks, boil in large pan for about 12 minutes, not too soft, just until you are able to softly put a fork through one. Drain.

Add potatoes to a soup pot with carrots, celery and onion. Add milk and seasonings to taste. Put over med-low for about 30-45 minutes until soupy, stir often.

Best Banana Bread

*1 loaf

1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup nuts

--Mix in order given
--Grease loaf pan
--Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean

Mom's Stir Fry

About a pound of top sirloin beef, it's best to cut this up when it is still half frozen. Cut into bite size chunks, marinate in soy sauce, salt and pepper, garlic salt, onion salt for 24 hours, leave in fridge, stir often.

1 bag Wacky Mac spiral noodles, (the noodles are different colors)
You can either buy your own veggies fresh and chop them up and steam them, or buy a frozen bag of stir fry veggies. Best veggies to use: carrots, onion, asparagus, water chestnuts, red bell peppers, sugar snap peas, broccoli, or any favorite
Cook noodles according to package
Steam veggies over low heat with a little bit of water, or olive oil in covered skillet or wok
Brown beef over medium heat in skillet with juice of marinade
Mix beef, noodles, veggies in large bowl, add 1 Tbs soy sauce, and 1 Tbs of Italian dressing, mix well and serve.

Tuna Stuffed Bell Peppers

3-4 bell peppers, any color but I like red the best
1 cup cooked rice
1 can tuna
1 Tbs sesame oil
1 Tbs salsa
salt and pepper
Minced garlic
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350

Cut tops off bell peppers, clean insides
Cook rice as directed on package
Mix tuna, sesame oil, salsa, salt, pepper, minced garlic in medium bowl. Add cooked rice, mix together, stuff peppers, top with cheese (you can put the bell pepper tops back on when baking if you want)

Bake 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and peppers are soft

Flavorful and healthy

Rosemary Salmon

2 Salmon fillets, skin removed
2-3 Tbs butter
2 Tbs Olive Oil
Rosemary

Brush melted butter on both sides of the salmon
Sprinkle rosemary on salmon
Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat
Cook salmon about 5 minutes on each side, until lightly brown

This is great with rice and veggies

Lemon Dill Tilapia

I bought tilapia once and ended up loving it! Sometimes you can find a good price on it, but not very often.

Tilapia Fillets (1 fillet per person)
1 cup flour
2 Tbs butter (you can use olive oil but the fish doesn't get as crunchy)

Heat skillet over med-high heat
Melt butter in skillet
Coat fish fillets in flour, salt and pepper
pan fry until golden brown (5-7 minutes)

I served it with McCormick Lemon Butter Dill sauce...it was delicious

Guacamole

Depends on how much you want but start with this and you can always add more

2-3 large avacados
1 lemon
spoonful of sour cream
large pinch of:
garlic salt
onion salt
garlic powder

Avacados should be dark purplish, and somewhat soft, not brown on the inside
Slice avacados in half, dig out pit with your finger or a spoon, smash in a medium bowl using a fork, stab it then smash it
Add spoonful of sour cream
Season to taste with garlic salt, onion salt, garlic powder
squeese juice of half a lemon, take out seeds
Mix well

Trial and error on the perfect dip but you'll get there...
Serve with tortilla chips or veggie sticks

Simon's 7 Layer

This dip is great for get together parties

Either 8x8 or 9x13 pan. (8x8 will be thicker)

1 can refired beans
1 8 oz tub of sour cream
2-3 large avacados smashed, or quacamole dip
1 8 oz jar salsa
1 package shredded cheddar cheese
1 can sliced olives
1 roma tomato diced

Layer in order given, serve with tortilla chips

Guiness Stew

This is perfect for cold winter weekends...

around a pound of stew meat
6 small red potatoes, chopped bite size
Swanson broth, chicken or vegetable
1 Guiness Draught
3-4 celery stalks, chopped
4-5 carrot sticks, chopped
salt and pepper
crushed rosemary
garlic salt
onion salt
celery salt

Lightly brown stew meat, not completely
In crockpot or slowcooker add in broth and beer, cut up potatoes, celery and carrots add to crockpot. Add meat when browned, season well. Keep on low for about 10 hours, add seasonings through out the day. mmmhhhh....

Chicken Manicotti

Needed:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts , uncooked, cut in thin strips
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 package of manicotti noodles
1 package of mozzarella shredded cheese

Preheat oven 350
9x13 pan, put 1/2 inch of water in pan
Cut chicken strips thin enough to fit in noodles, stuff noodles, place in pan
Pour spaghetti sauce over noodles
top with desired amount of cheese

Bake for 45 minues until cheese is melted
Before removing cut a noodle open to make sure chicken is completely cooked

Chicken Spaghetti

My mother in law gave me this recipe, its a different way for spaghetti...and I love spaghetti!

1 7 ounce package of spaghetti, broken
1 tsp garlic salt
1 medium onion chopped
1 small green pepper, cleaned and chopped
2 tbs butter
1 can cream of chicken or mushroom
1-2 cans chicken, or cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, shredded
1 2 oz jar chopped pimento (optional)
1 cup cheese (any cheese will work)

Preheat oven 350
Cook spaghetti accoring to package, substituting garlic salt for salt
Saute onion and green pepper in butter
Conbine all ingredients except for 1/2 of cheese
Pour into greased 2 quart casserole dish
Sprinkle with remaining cheese
Bake 20 minutes
Serve with salad or garlic bread, serves 4

EZ Strawberry Shortcake

I found this really simple way to make yummy strawberry shortcake, only takes a few minutes too!
1 can Pillsbury Grands Southern Style biscuits
2 pints strawberries, quartered
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 8 ounce container whipped topping
1 cup sour cream

Its best to combine the strawberries and half of the sugar in a bowl and let it sit for an hour

Preheat oven 350
Unroll biscuits, cook according to directions
In a small bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon
Place whipped topping in a bowl, fold in the sour cream
Remove biscuits from oven, split in half, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on them
Serve topped with strawberries and a dallop of the whipped topping mixture

Enjoy!

Spicy Beef Stir Fry

Last night I tried this amazing spicy stir fry.
Calls for:
1 Tbs cornstarch
3 Tbs dry Sherry
1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain into strips
Kosher salt and pepper
2 Tbs oyster sauce
2 Tbs sesame oil
3-4 Tbs peanut oil
1 inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, smashed
5-7 dried red chiles, halved
1 small onion, thinly sliced
8 heads baby bok choy, halved
pinch of sugar
Cooked rice, for serving

Whisk the cornstarch with sherry, add beef strips, season with salt and pepper, then set aside for 15 minutes
Mix the remaing sherry, oyster sauce and sesame oil
Heat a wok or skillet over high heat until very hot, add 3 Tbs peanut oil, then the ginger, garlic and chiles; stir fry until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef and cook, stirring occasionally, 1-3 minutes. Transfer the beef with a slotted spoon to the sauce mixture and toss.
If the pan is dry add more peanut oil, then add the onion and stir fry until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the bok choy and sugar, stir fry until wilted, 1-2 minutes. Return beef and any juices to the pan and stir to combine. Serve over the rice.