APPLE BUTTER

16 c. harvest apples, washed, cored, unpeeled, and chopped
2 c. apple cider
2 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of ginger, nutmeg, mace and allspice to taste
Combine apples and cider in crockpot. Cover and cook on low heat 10- 12 hours. Puree in food mill, sieve or food processor. Return apple mixture to pot and add sugar and spices. Cover and cook on low heat 6-10 hours. Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal. Apple butter may also be cooled and pureed in freezer containers and frozen for several months. Makes 4 pints.

I peeled and cut my apples first then put in crockpot, it didn't take my 12 hours so you'll want to watch. If you have a hand blender it works awesome. I just let the apples & cider cool first, worked like a charm! I also didn't add ginger mace or allspice but did add a pinch of nutmeg.

I got this recipe from my sister, Robin. I gotta try it. Apple butter is an all time favorite of our husbands from Grandma Osterhout.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

3 cloves garlic minced
1 chopped onion
2 TBSP butter
2 TBSP flour
4 cups half and half
3 cans chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
6 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1 cup salsa
1 cdn creamed corn
2 tsp cumin
1 pkg fajita seasoning mix
2 TBSP cilantro
monterey jack cheese
cheddar cheese
tortilla chips

Saute onion and garlic in butter for 5 minutes. Add flour and stir for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and half and half and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add chicken soup, salsa, corn, chicken, cumin, fajita seasoning, and cilatnro. Stir and heat for 15 minutes.

Put chips and cheese in bowl, cover with soup, and top with more cheese and chips and sprinkle with cilantro.


WHITE BEAN CHICKEN CHILI

2 tbsp butter
3 tsp garlic powder
2 med or 1 large yellow onion
1-2 ob chicken breast, cut into pieces

5 cans Great Northern White Beans
26 oz carton of Wolfgang Puck's Natural Chicken Stock (at Walmart)
2 cans of chipped Green Chilies
1 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Oregano
2 tsp Sea Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (more if desired)
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup Herdez Salsa Verde (at Walmart)

Chop onion and chicken and saute in butter and garlic salt (large pot, medioum heat)
Drain and rinse beans, then add beans, chicken stock, chilies, cumin, oregano, and sea salt to pot. Simmer for 30 minutes, or for a cople of hours, depending on when you need it. Remove from heat had add pepper, cayenne pepper, sour cream, heavy cream and salsa verde.

Serves approximately 12-16 people.

I got two new recipes to try. Try them and see what you think. They sound good.

Pumpkin Seeds

Separate the seeds from the fiber. Combine 1 cup unwashed seeds with:
1/4 teaspoon worchestershire sauce
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
spread in shallow pan and bake for 2hrs at 250. Stir occasionally until the seeds are crisp, dry and golden.

These pumpkin seeds are yummy!

Broccoli Chesse Soup

3 quarts water
5 chicken bullion cubes
Bring to a boil.
add:
2-3 carrots
3 stalks celery
1 onion
1 bunch broccoli
cubed or sliced cook until tender
Combine 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup flour. Add to water. Simmer and stir to remove lumps. Add 1 pound Velveeta cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until smooth and creamy.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

Put ingredients in crock pot. . .
4 cups water
5-6 potatoes cubed
3 tsp chicken bullion
1 can small cream of chicken
8 oz cream cheese cubed
Saute 1 cup diced celery and 1 cup diced onion add to soup
head of broccoli
stir cook on low 8 hours/ or high 4 hours
when done mash slightly with potato masher for creamy texture

Marinated Chicken or Turkey

For 10 pounds of meat

32 oz of 7up
15 oz oil
2 T. lemon juice
10 oz of soy sauce
1 T. horse radish
(powdered or prepared)
sprinkle of Garlic


Mix all together and pour over meat. It should cover the meat. Soak big pieces for 10 hrs. or so. Soak strips for 3-4hrs. Drain, grill and enjoy.

Basic Crepe Recipe

3 eggs
1 c.plus 2 T. milk (you can use 1 c.+2T. water and 3 T. powdered milk)
3 T. butter, melted
1 c. flour
1/4 t. salt
1 T. sugar

Combine all ingredients in blender container; blend about 1 minute. Scrape down sides with spatula, and blend about 30 seconds more. To cook, heat crepe on medium-high heat just hot enough to sizzle a drow of water. Brush lightly with melted butter. For each crepe, pour in just enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan, tipping and tilting pan to move batter quickly over bottom. If crepe has holes, add a drop or two of batter to patch. Cook until light brown on bottom and dry on top. Remove from pan and stack on plate. Makes 12 crepes. Fill crepes with coolwhip and fruit. Pudding or whatever sounds good. Yummy!

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP BARS

1 cake mix - yellow, white or chocolate
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix together the cake mix (dry), eggs, and oil. Add in peanut butter. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Pat down into a 9X13 pan. Cook at 350 for 12-18 mins.

My family loves these cookies and they are so easy!

FRUIT DIP AND TIP

Fruit Dip
1 (8 oz) container of Cool Whip
1 (6 oz) container of flavored yogurt (Key Lime, Strawberry--whatever is in the fridge)

Mix together and serve with your favorite fruits.


You can just dip your bananas and apples in Sprite or 7-Up before arranging on the plate. The citric acid in the pop will take care of the browning, and the mild lemon lime flavor isn't noticeable. No more puckering when eating an apple!

PUFFED RICE BALLS

2c. brown sugar
1c. Karo syrup
1-1/2 cubes butter
Heat on medium heat till boiling. Boil for 3 mins. Add 1 can condensed milk. Boil for an additional 4 mins. Pour over 1-1/2 bags of puffed rice.

My kids have the best piano teacher! She gives the kids treats when they pass off their songs. This is there favorite treat. I thought I would share her yummy treat.

Homemade Bread

4 cups hot water
1 cup sugar
1 T. salt
2 T. yeast
10-12 cups flour
1/4 c. oil

Add the ingredients in the order listed. I let it rise to the top of the bowl twice.
Then I put in my bread pans for an additional 30 mins to rise. Bake @ 350 for 30 -35 minutes until golden brown. When making rolls or scones I use 1 1/2 cups sugar instead of one. One secret I have is after I am done mixing it I turn my burner on for a quick minute and set my bowl there to rise. I do the same once I put it into the bread pans or rolls.

Enjoy!! We love homemade bread.

Kristin's Spicy Chicken Legs

1 1/2c. Crystal Hot sauce
1 1/2c. - 2c. Brown Sugar(depending how spicy you want them)
Fry thawed chicken legs till almost done, drain grease. Add sauce preheated and simmer till done.

Chinese Chicken

1 c. Ketchup
1 c. sugar
2 oz. soy sauce
dash of garlic salt
1/3 c. vinegar
1 T. mustard
Pour over chicken and bake for 2hrs on 350.

Great served with fried rice, mashed or baked potatoes.

Cheesy Enchiladas

I tried this recipie from the back of a green enchilada sauce can. Not bad!

Chicken
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can of green enchilada sauce
cheese

Cook up some chicken. Cut it up in strips.
Cut up cream cheese and cook with chicken until soft.
Roll up in flour tortillas.
Put in 9x13 pan and pour green enchilada sauce over enchiladas.
Cook for 20 min. in 350
You can add green chilies when you add cream cheese to chicken.

Country Pasta

8 oz. uncooked rigatoni (I used penne and it was wonderful)
8 slices bacon, cut in 1 inch pieces (I used real bacon pieces from Costco)
2 c. broccoli flowerets
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese (I used real Parmesean)
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 c. chopped parsley (I used much less)

Cook rigatoni according to package directions, drain. Meanwhile, in 10 inch skillet, cook bacon over medium high heat until brown. Reduce heat to medium. Add broccoli and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is crispy-tender. Add rigatoni and remaining ingredients, except parsley. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley.

Notes: Since I used bacon pieces I just cooked my pasta, and while it was cooking I steamed my broccoli. When they were both done I added everything together. Really easy and delicious!

Doesn't this look good. I want to try it.

Pineapple Chicken

5 lbs boneless skinless chicken
20 oz. pineapple tidbits or chunks
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tsp. granulated garlic
1/2 tsp. powered ginger
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Heat oven to 350. Layer chicken in bottom of pan. Pour pineapple over. Whisk sugar and cornstarch in large sauce pan. Add remaining ingredients. Sir sauce as it heats. Bring to a boil. Pour over chicken and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

Homemade Yougurt

When Becky and I went to homemaking, they showed us how to make homemade yogurt. They made it look so easy. Anything that is made with sour cream she replaces it with yogurt. Strognaff, Chicken and Ritz, Parmesan Chicken, anything else you make. I though I would pass this along that I found on the Internet. Here is a link how to make yogurt. Click Here

Kids Trail Mix

4 c Chex cereal
1/2 c Dried fruit bits
1/2 c Raisins
1/2 c Yogurt covered peanuts
1/2 c Reeces Pieces
Put into a large ziploc bag and shake to mix.

Cake Balls

I made these for Katelyn's birthday. I got them off of Bakerella.com
I thought they were good, but rich.

Make a cake according to the box.
Once the cake has cooled, crumble up cake into bowl. Mix in a can of frosting into the cake. Roll into balls and lay onto a wax paper lined pan. Put into fridge to set up. You can dip them into chocolate or white chocolate. Put back into fridge. Yum!

Crepes

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
stir until smooth then add:
2 beaten eggs
1/4 cup sugar

Pour 1/4 cup batter into nonstick pan. Tilt pan so it spreads around thin. Loosen edges as it cooks. Flip and cook till done.

Add filling: Pie filling, fresh fruit, whipped cream, pudding, meat, cheese etc.

Pancake Mix

Bulk Pancake Mix
2 cups flour
4 cups wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 T. salt
1/4 cup baking powder
1 cup non-instant powered milk


Pancakes
3 cups mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
2-1/2 cups water

Yougurt Dill Veggie Dip

1c. plain yogurt
1T. parsley
1T. dill weed
1c. mayonnaise
1T. dried onion

In small mixing bowl, whisk all ingredients together. Let set for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Serve with raw or cooked vegetables.

Yougurt Parmesan Chicken

1c. crushed Ritz crackers or dries bread crumbs
2T. Parmesan Cheese
1tsp. seasoned salt
8 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 tsp. garlic salt
2c. plain yogurt
1/4c. melted butter

Mix cracker or bread with cheese, garlic and seasoned salt. Dip chicken in yogurt then coat with crumb mixture. Place in 9X13 inch baking pan and drizzle butter over chicken. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 30 more mins.


Becky and I went to homemaking Tuesday night and got lots of great recipes. I'll keep posting them.

Blender Pancakes or Waffles

Must have Breakfast on the brain....

This is a whole wheat recipie. You use the whole wheat kernels.

1 c. wheat kernels
1 c. milk
Blend wheat & milk in blender one minute.

Add: 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. oil
4 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
Blend four minutes

Pour onto griddle or put into waffle iron. Shawn and I liked them. The kids ate them even though they said they didn't love them.

Buttermilk Pancakes

My mom made these pancakes almost every week. I still love taking a bite and as it melts in my mouth; I think of the breakfasts my mother made. We usually had a big breakfast every Saturday morning, the rest of the week was usually hot cereal and toast. The other morning, Brady woke up saying, "Pancakes!" (Which he asks for about once a week.) I just didn't have time to make them that morning so we had a nice big breakfast for dinner.(Which I melted my last nice mixing bowl on the stovetop. AAAAH!)

2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs
2 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. melted butter

Mix all dry ingredients together; then add in eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter. Hint: If you don't have buttermilk on hand, add 1 T. of lemon juice to enough milk to make a cup. Sit for 5 min. This is pretty much buttermilk.

Lemon Herbed Roasted Chicken

3-4# roasting chicken
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
2 T. butter
1/4 tsp leaf thyme
2T. lemon juice
1/4 tsp paprika

Rinse chicken well and pat dry. Place onion in cavity of the chicken and rub the skin with butter. Place chicken in Crock-Pot. Pour lemon juice over the chicken and sprinkle with remaining seasonings. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.