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Monday, October 21, 2013

Chocolate Coconut Crunch Cookies


Lower Sugar Chocolate Coconut Crunch Cookies... inspired by the Gaia cookies from Bread and Wine
1 stick butter
1/4 c. coconut oil, softened (maybe a touch more)
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. rolled oats
a pinch of cinnamon
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. honey
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. chocolate chips
handful chopped walnuts

soften butter and coconut oil, combine with sugar and honey, then add eggs.
add all dry ingredients one at a time. Stir, adding chocolate chips and walnuts at the end.

preheat oven to 350 and refrigerate dough while it preheats.

Bake 14-16 min. or until browned around the edges.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Beef Bourgignon

photo credit*

I finally treated Beef Bourgignon the way I wanted to be treated-- the Golden Rule of cooking. And guess what? If you want a friend (in B.B), then be a friend (to B.B.).

ingreedientos: (Yes, there are a lot of ingredients!)

-bacon 3-4 sliced, chopped
-stew beef (I would cut the pieces even smaller than the way they come from the grocery store)
-mushrooms (optional, but very tasty--- didn't include this time)
-small onion- even half a small onion will do, minced well (minced celery would be a nice touch, but not necessary at all in this recipe)
-flour mixed with seasoning salt
-2-3 c. water
-3-4 beef bouillon cubes-
-1 small can of tomato paste
-carrots, chopped- 2 big carrots will do
-3 cloves crushed garlic
-pinch or two brown sugar
-any red wine
-salt and pepper


Start simmering the bacon on low. Meanwhile, coat the beef pieces in the flour mixture.  Put beef and chopped onion into the bacon grease and fry until browned on both sides. Add crushed garlic and saute another minute or so. Add water, bouillon cubes, dash of wine, carrots.... cook until carrots are tender. Add tomato paste, brown sugar, and a little more wine to taste. (I use red wine vinegar sometimes, too.) Simmer on low until beef is tender.

Serve over mashed potatoes (I make mine yummy with sour cream, pinch of salt, milk, half and half, and butter, of course), rice, or egg noodles.

I recommend mashed potatoes-- it is like the yummiest gravy you ever did taste!

ENJOY-- the yummiest.

**Inspired by this post.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Twice-baked Spaghetti Squash... how do I love thee.

What do you do with two adult palates in need of 
a little 
something more interesting?

Bake on 375 for about an hour--- these squash are big!
Use a fork to put into a baking dish like so....

Dot with butter. Bake again for about 30 minutes on 350 in a baking dish.

Just look at that squash glow.... :)

Mix this with a little sour cream...perfect topping for spaghetti squash.  You don't even need cheese (especially if you are serving it with Annie's Lasagna.... :)  YUM!
Ok.... I put some cinnamon-brown-sugar (OOPSIE) on one corner, for the kiddos.
Put back in the oven until hot... broil on hi for another minute or couple.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Pineapple/Raspberry Upside Down Cake


Ok... this is definitely one you want to try!

First, use whatever fruit you have- it will be yummo.
I had - get this- frozen fruit - strawberries, pineapple, mango... and yes, it was still getting rave compliments at the potluck I took it to.

Grease pan- I alllllways forget to do this.
Everything else you need to know is right...

I have also made it with raspberries- delish.

Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup!

We boiled a chicken and the steam loosened the chicken right up. Stephen helped pick the meat off the bone... it smelled tasty. We did one canned chicken noodle soup added carrots chopped, I LOVE sriracha so I added it to my bowl.... and voila! Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup... DELISH.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Caramel Icing




Yummy Caramel Frosting
approx. 1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 c. powdered sugar
In a heavy saucepan, cook sugar and cream over medium heat until mixture begins to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for two minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the temperature on the candy thermometer reaches 238 degrees.
Remove from heat and drop butter on top, but do not stir. Let sit for about an hour or until mixture is approximately 110 degrees. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. (If the frosting does not thicken, chill briefly and beat again. If you lost track of time–as I have many a time!–and the frosting has chilled too much, warm slightly and beat again.)
Store in a container until ready to use, placing plastic wrap directly against surface. Keep at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If refrigerated, bring to room temperature and stir prior to frosting your cake.
This recipe will make about three cups, plenty to frost a two-layer cake.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 lb broccoli florets, cooked
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. swedish farmer's cheese
1 c. breadcrumbs ( i used day-old french bread cut up into bite-size pieces)

Cook the chicken breasts in the cream of chicken in a slow cooker. Add broccoli and cheese and bake in casserole for 20 min. Add breadcrumbs, or bite-size pieces of french bread.

Very simple, serves 6 easily.