Welcome

It is too easy to get stuck in a rut of cooking the same meals over and over. I often get requests for my recipes and people ask where I get all my ideas. I thought it was time I compile my recipes, ideas, and suggestions into one place to share with others. In this blog, you will find tips I have for success in the kitchen, kitchen gadgets that I recommend, and recipes. Recipes are tagged with the main ingredients along with cooking style to make searching easier. Enjoy!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Beef Burgundy

I don't think I have posted this one yet. Maybe I have, but I don't think so. Anyways, it is a favorite in our house. Very easy to make and reheats well.

1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp paprika
1 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1-in strips
1 Tbs Olive oil
1 can (10-1/2 oz) condensed French onion soup, undiluted
1/2 cup burgundy wine or beef broth
3 cups hot cooked noodles

In a large ziptop bag, combine flour and paprika. Add Beef strips and shake to coat. In a large skillet, brown meat in oil. Add soup and wine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes or until sauce is thickened. Serve with noodles.


Note: I have always used Burgundy wine, but I imagine it would still be good with beef broth. Also, the noodles I tend to use have to boil for about 12 minutes. So I usually start bringing my water to a boil while I am browning the beef. That way I can usually add my noodles to the boiling water at the same time as I add the soup and wine to the beef to simmer. That way, both get done about the same time and you have fresh, hot noodles to go with your beef burgundy

Broccoli Chicken Skillet

My mom and I tried this recipe a couple weeks ago and really liked it. I admit I was a little hesitant when reading through the ingredients when I got to Raisins...But I liked it. We debated whether to add them or not and in the end decided they would be easy to pick out if we didn't like them. I'm glad we added them. I know my husband doesn't like raisins that have been cooked in any way. So if you would prefer, you could easily leave them out. The recipe says this makes 4 servings but I personally say it makes at least 6. Unless you and 3 other people are REALLY hungry.

1-1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed
1 cup julienned carrots
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of broccoli soup, undiluted
1 cup dry stuffing mix
1 cup milk
1/4 cup raisins
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 cup shredded colby cheese

*In large skilled, saute chicken and vegetables in oil for 5-6 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink.

*Stir in soup, stuffing, milk, raisins, and pepper. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 8-10 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese. Remove from heat; cover and let stand until cheese is melted.


Note: I could only find Broccoli Cheddar soup so that is what I used. It worked fine. Plus I added extra cheese to the top so a little extra cheese flavor in the soup didn't bother me one bit!

Blueberry Muffin Tops

I apologize again for my lack in blogging. I blame it on how much time I have been spending in my kitchen cooking and baking recently. I am currently making at least 2 batches of Muffin Tops per week, usually more. I have also been giving them away and people LOVE them. I almost hate to even admit this, but I have eaten 4 Blueberry Muffin Tops today. They are by far my favorite.

For batter

* 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
* 1/3 cup whole milk
* 1 whole large egg
* 1 large yolk
* 3/4 teaspoon Almond Extract
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 9 oz fresh blueberries (can use 12 oz of Frozen Blueberries - thawed and drained)




For topping

* 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/4 cup sugar


Preheat oven to 375 (350 for dark or non-stick pans). Grease Muffin Top pans (or regular muffin tins)

Melt butter over low heat. Meanwhile, mix together dry ingredients and set aside. Once butter is melted, remove from heat and whisk in Milk. Next, add whole egg, egg yolk, and almond extract. Whisk together well. Add to dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Carefully fold in blueberries. Pour into prepared muffin tins. Bake for 18-20 mins (May need to bake longer for regular muffins). Cool on baking racks for 10 mins. Remove from pans to cooling racks to finish cooling off. Enjoy warm or room temperature.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

This recipe came from a Hellmann's Mayonnaise ad a few years ago. Since then it has become one of our favorites. However, I have adapted mine slightly from the original recipe. So here is how I make it.

1 lb chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 c. Italian Bread Crumbs
1 c. Mayo
1/2 c. Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a glass casserole baking dish with non-stick spray. Blend together Mayo and Cheese in one bowl, and put crumbs in another. Using a spoon, spread mayo/cheese onto each chicken breast, then roll in Bread Crumbs. Place in baking dish. Continue until all Chicken is coated. If there is any leftover mayo/cheese or Bread Crumbs, add to tops of pieces in the dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until Chicken is done. Goes great with a green vegetable.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Pineapple Orange Muffins

These aren't even out of my oven yet, but they smell amazing and I've already had requests for the recipe. So here it is. I will tell you that I doubled the recipe, which made 2 dozen muffins. And I used 1 cup Pineapple juice, and 1 cup Orange juice.

I have a new obsession with Muffin Tops. If you have never had one, you are missing out. They are so delicious. I received 2 muffin top pans for my birthday last Saturday and have already made 5 batches of different home made muffin tops.

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tbsp orange zest
1 cup pineapple or orange juice
1/4 cup shortening, melted, or vegetable oil
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix together dry ingredients.
3. In a separate bowl, beat together egg, orange zest, juice, shortening/oil and crushed pineapple. Add dry ingredients and mix just to combine, do not over mix. Scoop into lined muffin tins and bake for 25-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Edited:

My first batch of Muffin Tops I baked at 375 (my pans are dark, non-stick) for 18 minutes. They were a little over done. My second two pans I put in at 350 for 12-13 mins and they came out perfect!

I think next time I will try adding some mandarin oranges as well as the pineapple tidbits.