IToday, my high school sweetheart from 27 years ago and husband of almost 5 months askd me to start writing down the recipes for the dishes that I make up out of my head; He thinks they're so good that people would actually paymoney for my collection of reciphe thinks this because his ex=wife didn't care to cook and he had to eat sandwiches and frozen dinners all the time and his ex-girlfriendcouldn't cookand he ate all his meals away from home.I know it's so cliche`, but it IS true, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach (not his wallet);
At any rate, I work full tim and, have 2 teenage daughters who live at hom. My baby starts high school this yearand my othe one finishes high school this year; I hava teenage step-daughter who doesn't live at homand an almost 21 year old step daughter and a 3 year old granddaughter, one dog, 2 cats and other variousand assorted friends and family who wander in and out on a day to day basis; And the one thing they ALL want to know is, "What is there to eat ?"! Here are the recipes for the dishes that iI made up that really had them coming out of the woods for a little something to eat;Please remember my forward and understand everything I make isn't necessarilty from scratch; Sometimes I'use mixes and pre-paredingredients to make my family their favorites;
Desserts: Who doesn't crave a little smething sweet now and again?; I have diabetes, so I don't keep coooies pr Twinkies & Ding-Dongs around; If I'm going to blow my diet, then it has to be something really good;My Family Loves these!
Sweet Potato Pie
Single Pie Crust (I actually do prefer to make mine from scratch, but the Dough-Boy's will do fine)
4 Medium sized sweet potatoes baked until soft in the microwave(I never understood the hub b babout Dan Quayle)
1 cup REAL maple syrup (this is the key ingredient,so don't cheat)
4 TBLS butter
1 egg, beaten well
1 tsp vanilla extract (Real is better than imitation)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Apple Pie Spice (a pre-mixed blend of cinnamon, nutmeg& cloves)
1 small can evaporated milk
1 small jar of marshmallow creme or tub of Cool Whip
Halve baked sweet potatoes and scoop out the good stuff while they are still warm. into a large mixing bowl. You may need to wear your oven mitts and an ice cream scoop is the perfect tool to accomplish this. Add remaining ingredients and beat with hand mixer until butter melts and everything is well blended together; Pour into unbaked pie crust; Bake @ 350 degrees for about 45 minutes to one hour. M y oven is old, so my directions just SEEM vague
Insert a sharp knife into the cenrter of the pie and when it comes out clean,the pie has been thoroughly baked; My kids like me to cut the pie when it's really too hot, so they can glob on a big spoonful of marshmallow creme and watch it melt & get all gooey; I have to admit, it tastes great ! Be sure and refrigerate any pie left uneaten; Cold pie is best when topped with Cool Whip;
Special Brownies
I know this isn't a very descriptive name, but it's the best I can do; I have a blonde mixed breed dog named Buffy and I used to have a sorrell horse named Red
1 Fudge brownie mix 13 X 9 size
1/2 Cup Veg oil
1 1/4 cup water
2 jumbo eggs
1 8oz brick cream cheese, room temp
1 small jar marshmallow creme
Mix brownies up according to directions on the package (oil, water eggs) and spour in to a 13 x 9 pan that has been sprayed with non-stick veg spray (In other words, PAM) In a seperate boiwl, beat softened cream cheese with marshmallow creme until well blended. . Drop heaping spoonfulss into brownie mixture in yourbaking dish; Use a spatula and swirl the white in with the dark, making a "marbled" effect; Bake at 350 degrees about 30 minutes or so; Use the knife test and continue to bake additional five minutes until knife comes out clean;
Main Dishes
Chicken,Broccoli,Rice Casserol
My husband said this was the best he ever had !
I mean Casserole !!
One head of Broccoli, cut into florets and cooked until DONE (my gastroenetrologist always told me to cook my vegetablesvery well)
drain while pre-paring other parts of casserole;
2 envelopes of Liton Onion SoupMix
i bag of Yellow RiceMix (white rice with Saffron added to the foil packet)
1 cup regular white rice
1 tsp salt
1 TSBL butter
3 cups water
Place all these igredients into larg pot, stir until mixed well, bring to a boil, lower to simmer, cover and cook approx 20 minutes until all water has been absorbed and rice is tender; To this add
1 can cream of mushroom
1/2 can milk
1 cup grated chesse (i like to use half cheddar and half smokey Swiss)
Let rest in pot while cooking the chicken
4 chicken breast halves, thawed and cut into bite sized pieces
Olive oil
Rosemary (I grow & dry my own)
Garic Powder,Seasoned Salt
Brown all these ingredients in a skillet together until the chicken is no longer pink and thoroughly done; In fact, make sure some of it is golden brown to BE SURE you don't get a case of salmonella
Mix in One can of cream of mush room soup and 1/2 can milkMix until soup and milk are blended together; Pour into pot of rice; Make sure brocolli is dry,(cover with paper towel and shake gently to be sure all broccoliwater is evaporated) Add to chicken & rice mixture Pour into really big casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes. Top with more grated sheese, bak until melted and bubbly and dinner is ready
No need to serve anything else
This is a well balanced meal all in one dish, lean protein, whole grain and green veggie !!
Guess I'd better stop and go make some thing for dinner tonight !!! I'm making up a new dish, a spin on Swedish meatballs, I'm calling them Norwegian Meatballs, in honor of my husband's grandfather, who was born in Norway and emigrated to Minnesota; Thank goodness HIS son HIoved to Texas and raised his family here ;
