Problem!

Oh dear! I have a problem. I can't find Kraft Roka Blue Cheese any where in town! I want to make my cheese ball (Last blog recipe), I have everything I need but not roka blue cheese. I've been Meijer, Wal-mart, Gordon's, Glenn's, Kroger. No one has it! What to do!!! If you see it and think you might want to make this cheese ball later you'd better buy it now. It comes in a small glass, like a small juice glass.

MY PROBLEM IS SOLVED! I FOUND ROKA BLUE CHEESE AT KROGER'S. I wasn't even looking for it (because I gave up) but I happened to see it! It's now November of 2010! I bought two and I may buy more next time I go grocery shopping. It does keep as long as it's not opened. This is a delicious cheese ball and with holidays coming you might want to try it.

Cheese Ball

This is a really delicious cheese ball. The recipe was given to me by my friend, Sally, many years ago. She had given me a cheese ball for Christmas and then gave me the recipe. Now I've made it many times and have given it as a Christmas gift several times. I make it every year. My family loves it. Try it, you'll like it!

3 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese
2 jars Kraft Old English cheese
1 jar Kraft Roka Blue cheese
3 TB. garlic red wine vinegar
1/4 teas. garlic salt
Mix it all together well. Form it into one large ball or into two balls.
Roll it in crushed pecans so it's completely covered.
Let it set in the refrigerator.

Spread onto your favorite crackers and enjoy!

Festive Layered Jello

I was asked to make this layered jello for a supper we went to last week. You can see the different layers, but I do wish I had taken a piece out so you could see the layers better. Just click on the picture to bring it up closer. It's very festive and tasty. The recipe is on this blog, just scroll down, way down!

Thanksgiving Dinner - Roast Turkey

It's time to make plans for Thanksgiving dinner. I'm a traditional person, so we always have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes/gravy, candied sweet potatoes, salad, cloverleaf rolls, pumpkin and/or apple pie. MMMmmmm! Makes me hungry just thinking about it. This picture was from last year, it was a small turkey, about 12 lbs. If you look closely you can see that I left it in the oven too long. The meat has pulled away from the leg bones. But the color of the turkey is very nice. It was still very juicy and moist.

I'll start with my turkey recipe. I always roast my turkey in foil. It takes a hotter oven but a shorter time. I always try to buy a turkey with a peg that pops out when it's done.

Thaw turkey in refrigerator, time depends on size. Plan on a couple of days.
Wash turkey, take out neck & giblets.
I cook the neck and giblets and use the broth for gravy later.
Preheat oven. 450 degrees.
Brush the turkey with shortening.
Loosely fill the cavity with stuffing.
Cover the legs and wings with small squares of foil.
Tear off long piece of foil and place in roasting pan.
Tear off another piece to cover the bottom of the pan.
Place turkey on foil, breast side up.
Bring foil together over turkey and fold together loosely.
Wrap turkey but not airtight.
Place in oven.
When the turkey is almost ready, turn back the foil so the turkey will brown nicely.

I've been roasting my turkey's in this way for all my married life. It's a sure way to have a beautiful, moist turkey. I've never had one turn out bad...yet.

This year my turkey is small, about 12 lbs. so it'll only take a little over 2 hours to roast.

Beef & Vegetable Soup

Once a month we have a Senior Luncheon or Supper or Dinner at our church. Tomorrow it's a Soup/Salad Luncheon. I'm making two soups. This recipe for Beef & Vegetable Soup is very good. It's a recipe by our good friend, Herb, but it was made and brought to us after one of Jerry's surgeries by our friends, Sam & Julie.

1 1/2 # Beef (round steak or lean chuck) cut into 1/2" pieces
5 c water
1 med onion, chopped
1/2 c barley (not instant)
2 T instant beef bouillon
1/4 t thyme
1/4 t marjoram
1/4 t black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
4-5 medium carrots - sliced
1/2 # fresh green beans, cut
1 c celery

Brown meat in pan (keep drippings)
Add water, onion, barley, bouillon, thyme, marjoram, pepper, & bay leaf.
Cover & cook slowly for 1 1/4 hours.
Remove bay leaf.
Add carrots, green beans, celery, & tomatoes.
(My grocery store only sells instant barley so I'm putting it in about a half hour before serving.)
Bring to slow boil & continue cooking (covered) for 3/4 - 1 hour.
or until veggies are cooked.

Taco Soup

This recipe is hand written on a note paper by some one but I don't know who! I just made it for a soup/salad luncheon and it's delicious! If you recognize this as yours, please let me know!

2 lbs ground beef
2 lg cans tomato sauce
2 lg cans crushed tomatoes
2 pkg Taco seasoning
2 cans corn with juice
1 Sm can chopped chillies

Heat through
Add 1/2 to full pkg Velvetta Cheese

Serve with sour cream
shredded cheese
& tortilla chips

Mashed Potato Pancakes

I think everyone knows how to make mashed potato pancakes but we just ate them last evening and they were so good I thought I'd put the recipe here even just as a reminder of another way to fix potatoes.

Left over mashed potatoes or fix some from instant mashed potatoes.
Stir in an egg.
Season with salt & pepper

Pour a small amount of olive oil in the bottom of a frying pan, just to cover the bottom.
Drop scoops of mashed potatoes on the hot olive oil.
Brown on both sides.
Flip over like a pancake.

Broiled Chicken Breasts

I learned to fix chicken in the broiler from a distant cousin, Mona, in Chicago.
It's so simple to fix, delicious to eat, and healthy for the body!
It only takes about 20 minutes total to cook the chicken through.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Olive oil
salt & pepper

Lay chicken breasts in shallow pan
Season
Sprinkle dots of olive oil and spread over breasts with pastry brush.
Place in broiler until light brown
Turn breasts over
Season
Sprinkle with dots of olive oil, spread oil with pastry brush.
Place back in broiler until light brown and cooked through.

Country Fried Steak

This is Sunday dinner, as my mom taught me how to make years ago. I still make it today.
It's even one of Jerry's favorite meals.

Round steak
oil
flour
water
potatoes
carrots
onions

Pour small amount of cooking oil in roasting pan (I use olive oil).
Cut the swiss steak into portion size pieces and coat them with flour.
Put meat in hot oil to brown.
Take meat out of pan, set aside.
Mix flour with the oil for a thick base.
Add water (or milk)
Stir to make thin gravy. It will thicken as it bakes.
Put the meat into the gravy in the pan.
Potatoes, carrots, and onions can be added but are optional,
because mashed pototoes go well with this dinner. Hmmm!
Cover tightly.
Bake in 250 degree oven for two to three hours.
Dinner's ready!

Vernor's Salad

This is such a delicious salad and was given to me by a former sister-in-law.
Vernor's Ginger Ale gives a zing that everyone loves! I don't know if other brands of ginger ale will work. I understand Vernor's is a Michigan brand.

2 boxes lemon jello
1 pt Vernor's Ginger Ale
1 c hot water
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 c red grapes
marchino cherries

Put it together and let it set in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Baked Beans

These are the best baked beans I've ever eaten! The recipe was given to me by my daughter, Christy, and it was given to her by her mother-in-law, Caroline. Try it...you'll like it!



2 lg cans Bush's original baked beans, mostly drained

1 can pineapple tidbits, drained

1 lb bacon, chopped & cooked

1 bell pepper (opt)

1 lg onion, chopped

1 c brown sugar

1 TB Worcestershire Sauce

1 Sm bottle catsup



Bake at 250 degrees for three hours.

Refrigerator Bread & Butter Pickles

This recipe came out in our newspaper and was sent in by my friend, Joan. It was given to her by one of our former pastor's wives, Margaret. It's very easy to make. No cooking. Keeps for weeks in refrigerator.

4 c sugar
4 c vinegar
2 teas tumeric
2 teas celery salt
2 teas ground mustard
2 Tbs salt

Mix syrup mixture in jar and tightly pack in sliced cucumbers.

Vel's Right From The Garden Cucumber Salad

We were visiting my mom. my brother, Bill, and his wife, Vel, last spring. Vel had me help her put this salad together. I told her I don't care for cucumbers but Jerry does. At dinner I decided to be a good guest and eat a little of everything. Oh my, I loved these cucumbers! I asked her for the recipe and I've made them for us! It's very simple and very delicious!

4 long cucumbers, peeled and sliced thinly.
16 oz jar mayonaise (real)
Vinegar to taste (less than 1/4 c.)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 TBS prepared mustard
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS milk

Mix all ingredients except cucumbers and onions.
Mix well.
Stir cucumbers and onions into dressing, until well blended.
Chill 24 hours.
Serves 10.

Chili

One cool morning last week Jerry and I made a crock pot of chili. We always make it together and that makes it taste even better! With just the two of us it lasts several days. We each had a soup mug of it for lunch today and it was so good I decided I need to add this to my favorite recipes!

Chili

1 lb ground beef (I use ground round)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 large can Brooks hot chili beans
Chili powder to taste.
Salt & pepper to taste.

Fry the ground beef and onion together and drain any grease.
Put all ingredients into crock pot.
Let it simmer all day.
It is sooooo good!

Swiss Snack

This recipe was given to me by my wonderful Chinese friend, Mr Chow, who is now in heaven. No, it's not Chinese food! I think it's like a quiche. It's very good as an appetizer or for a luncheon.

Herb Crust

1 1/4 c flour
1/4 t salt
1/4 t basil, crumbled
1/2 c shortening or oleo
1 Tbs butter
1/4 c cold milk

Combine flour, salt, & basil.
Cut in shortening and butter.
Sprinkle with milk, adding just enough milk to make a stiff dough.
Roll out, fold, & carefully lift into a 9x13 pan
Trim edges even with top of pan.
Make edge like a pie crust.

Ham & Swiss Filling

1 c chopped, cooked ham.
1 c chopped, cooked chicken or turkey.
1/3 c chopped green onion.
8 slices process Swiss Cheese
6 slices crisp cooked bacon.
4 large eggs
1/4 t salt
1/8 t white pepper
1/8 t dry mustard
1 1/4 c milk
2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 t paprika

Prepare crust, sprinkle with chopped ham and turkey, then onion.
Cover with cheese slices.
Crumble bacon over cheese.
Beat eggs with salt, pepper, & mustard. Stir in milk.
Pour carefully over filling.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese mixed with paprika.
Bake on lowest rack in 400 degree F oven 25 - 30 minutes or until center is set.
Makes 8 dinner servings or 16 appetizer strips.

Ham & Cheese Omelet

Tim made omelets for us one day when he came home for a visit. I've been making them ever since! Thanks Tim!

1/4 c. Ham, diced, or less.
1 Tbs. Onion, chopped
1/4 c. mild Cheddar Cheese, grated
2 Eggs, stirred
1/4 c. Milk, or less.

Stir eggs, add milk.
Pour into small frying pan, sprayed with Pam. Make sure the eggs cover entire bottom of pan.
Add chopped onion.
Add ham to one half side of eggs.
Add cheese on top of ham.
When egg sets, fold empty side over on top of cheese.
Turn omelet over once.
When it's done it should be light golden brown on both sides.

This is for one omelet. I usually make a double one for Jerry and me and cut it in two. So if you're making one for two of you, just double the recipe, using a regular size frying pan, and cut it evenly in two pieces.
This is very easy to make and tasty!

McArcher Sandwiches

McDonald's Egg McMuffin was the inspiration for my McArcher sandwiches.
Thank you, McDonald's. We love my home made version.

1 slice of ham or 1 slice of bacon, cut in two pieces, fried, and drained.
1 egg, fried hard in Pam.
1 slice cheese
1 English muffin, toasted.

Put together as a sandwich. Enjoy!

Breakfast Casserole

This breakfast recipe came from my former pastor's wife, Julie. Several of us made this breakfast casserole for an early morning breakfast at the church. It's very good.

6 slices bread
1 lb sausage, bulk
4 eggs
2 c milk
1/2 t salt
1/2 t dried mustard
1 c cheese, grated

Grease (I always use Pam) 9 x 13 cake pan
Place bread on the bottom.
Cook sausage, drain, & crumble over bread.
Beat eggs.
Add milk, salt, & mustard to eggs.
Mix well and pour over sausage.
Sprinkle cheese over top.
Bake at 325 degrees F. 1 hour.

Soft Boiled Egg on Toast

I learned how to make soft boiled egg on toast when I was in high school from my brother-in-law, Bob. Here's how he taught me.
Boil enough water to cover egg.
After it begins to boil put egg in.
Let the water come to a boil again and then set timer for 4 minutes.
Make toast.
When timer dings run cold water over the egg to stop the cooking and cool it enough to handle. Strike the egg with the edge of a knife to break it,
Scoop out the egg on the toast. Sprinkle on salt & pepper. Enjoy!

Home, Home Made Apple Pie!

This is the favorite dessert of Jerry and all of my children! They named it home, home made to stress to friends that it wasn't just home made, it was home, home made!

8 apples I use Macintosh but other kind are good too.
3/4 to 1 c sugar
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg (optional)

Topping
1/2 c brown sugar (packed)
1/2 c butter (oleo)
1 c flour

Peel, core, and slice apples to make 8 c.
mix sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and add to apples.
Put into pie crust. My pies are always heaping up with apples because they tend to shrink. I like my pies full and high.

Topping
Cut the butter into the flour and brown sugar (like you would pie crust)
Cover the pie with this crumb topping.

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes, then at 375 for 50 minutes or until juice is blubbly and top is golden brown.

Rhubarb Pie

This delicious Rhubarb Pie recipe is in a little booklet, 250 superb PIES and PASTRIES , edited by Culinary Arts Institute. It was given to me by my friend, Loretta, who happened to have two!

3 Tbs flour
1 1/3 c. sugar
1 egg, beaten
3 c rhubarb, cut into small pieces.
2 Tbs butter

Mix flour & sugar together, add egg, beat thoroughly, then add rhubarb.
Pour into pie crust, dot with butter.
Cover with top crust, sprinkle with sugar.
Bake at 425 degrees F. for 10 min. then at 350 degrees F. for 35 minutes.
1 delicious eight inch pie.

3 Pie Crusts

1. This first pie crust I used to use to make for my pies. It's very good and flaky. It's in the Betty Crocker Cook Book.
2. The second pie crust is also very good and flaky. It makes crusts for 5 or 6 pies. My friend, Helen, gave this recipe to me.
3. The third pie crust recipe is the one I use now because it's better for folks with heart problems (Jerry). It's also very flaky. It's in the Betty Crocker Cook Book.

1. Standard pastry for two crust pie.

2 c. flour I use Gold Medal flour.
1 tsp salt
2/3 + 2 Tbsp shortening I use Crisco.
1/4 c. water

Mix flour and salt.
Cut the shortening in with a pastry blender
or with two table knives. I think this step is the most important step in making a good flaky pie crust. Cut until it's the size of large peas.
Add the water, a little at a time, mixing with a fork until it's all moistened.
Gather the dough, it should clean the bowl.
Press it into a ball and divide in half.
Roll out on a flour covered surface.

2. Pie Crust for six pies.

4 c. flour
1T sugar
1T vinegar
1/2 c water
1 3/4 c shortening
2 t salt
1 egg

Cut flour and shortening with pastry blender or two knives into a fine mixture.
Beat egg, add vinegar and water to egg.
Mix with flour.
Form into ball. Break off amount needed and refrigerate the rest.
Roll out on flour covered surface.

3. Stir-N-Roll Pastry for two crust pie.

2 c. flour
1 t salt
1/2 c cooking oil I use olive oil.
1/4 c cold milk

Mix flour and salt.
Pour oil into a measuring cup. Add the milk to the oil but don't stir.
Then pour oil/milk mixture into flour all at once.
Stir with a fork until all mixed. Press into a ball and cut in two.
Roll out on a sheet of waxed paper, also covered with a sheet wax paper. No mess!

Categorizing

I wish I knew how to categorize my recipes. I haven't figured out how to do that yet. It would be nice to have a section on meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, snack; courses - appetizer, salad, main entree, dessert. If you know how I could do this, please let me know, either by comment, e-mail, or in person! Thanks.

BLT Bites

This very good recipe came in the mail on the back of an advertisement! Don't be too quick to throw away junk mail!!!

16 - 20 cherry tomatoes
1 lb bacon, chopped, cooked, and drained.
1/2 c mayonnaise or salad dressing.
1/3 c green onions, chopped
3 Tbs Parmesan cheese, grated
2 Tbs fresh parsley, snipped

Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato.
Scoop out and discard pulp.
Invert tomatoes on a paper towel to drain.
Mix all the other ingredients well.
Spoon into the tomatoes and cool in refrigerator.

These are very delicious and attractive!

Layered Jello

This recipe was given to me by my friend, Sally, back when our kids were in school. I made this for all the graduation open houses. It's very colorful and easy to make. It does take time though.

Layered Jello

2 3 oz. pkg. Black Cherry Jello
2 3 oz. pkg. Raspberry Jello
2 3 oz. pkg. Orange Jello
2 3 oz. pkg. Lime Jello
1 13 oz. Pet Milk
Boiling Water

Mix 1 jello & 1 1/4 c boiling water.
Pour it into a large bowl or cake pan.
Put in refrigerator to set.

Mix 1 pkg of same flavor jello & 3/4 c boiling water
Scant 1/2 c pet milk
Pour over the first layer.
Put into refrigerator to set.

Continue layer by layer.
This is a beautiful colorful dessert that everyone loves.
It's worth the time spent making it!

Dumplings

Another very good recipe from my dad.

Dumplings

2 eggs - well beaten
1 c. milk
dash salt
2 c flour sifted
4 level teaspoons baking powder

Mix well - eggs, milk, salt
Add flour and baking powder

Drop into boiling gravy and cover with gravy.
Cover tightly and leave 15 minutes over low heat or in a hot oven.

Custard

My dad was a wonderful cook (chef). He gave me several recipes and I'll share them.

2 c. cold mild
3 l eggs - beat well, but no foam.
1/2 c sugar - to taste
1 t. or less cinnamon
little nutmeg
pinch salt
little vanilla

sift sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, & salt into eggs, then stir with a whisk. Taste, if necessary add more sugar.
Add vanilla.
Add milk

Preheat over to 300 degrees.
Put bowl into cake pan of water.
Bake and test for doneness! (Watch it)

Orange Salad

My mom gave me this delicious recipe.

1 pt. small curd cottage cheese
1 box orange jello
1 Sm pkg Cool Whip
1 can mandarin oranges

Mix cottage cheese, jello, & cool whip in food processor. (It doesn't have to whipped up in the food processor but kids like it better when they can't see the cottage cheese!)
Add oranges.
Set in refrigerator.
Very delicious.

Cauliflower/Broccoli Salad

This delicious recipe came from my daughter, Pam.

1 head cauliflower - broken apart
1 head broccoli - broken apart
1 bunch green onions - chopped
1 lb bacon - chopped, fried, drained

(I usually steam the cauliflower & broccoli first, but it's not necessary.)
mix 1/4 c white vinegar & 1/3 c sugar
stir in 1/2 to 1 c mayonnaise (I use 1/2 c Miracle Whip and 1/2 c sour cream!)
mix altogether. It's best made a few hours ahead and cooled in refrigerator.
Mmmm!

A New Beginning

Here are some of my favorite recipes! I've had folks ask for some of them so here is an easy way to give them out. Now, we'll also see who pays attention to my blog! Who will notice this with my list of bloggers?