This Memorial Day...Remember

Oriental Slaw

It's getting warmer outside, so I'm thinking of summer salads! This high-protein salad is delicious and simple to make.

1 pkg. (16 oz.) cole slaw mix, broccoli mix or combination
l c. salted sunflower kernels
5 green onions, sliced
l pkg. ramen noodles--save seasoning for another use
¾ c. slivered almonds

In a dry fry pan, crush ramen noodles and brown until golden. Cool. Set aside.
Brown almonds the same way. Cool. Set aside.
Combine slaw, nuts, onions, noodles and almonds in a large salad bowl. Add dressing and mix together just before serving.

Dressing:
3/4 c. oil
3/4 c. sugar
6 T. white vinegar
¾ tsp. soy sauce
Whisk oil into sugar, vinegar and soy sauce.

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Oat Date Bars

Date filling:
1 ¼ c. dates
½ c. water
¼ c. sugar
1 T. lemon juice

Cookie base:
¾ c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
½ tsp. salt
1 ½ c. flour
1 c. old-fashioned oats

Combine filling ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until dates are soft.

Meanwhile cream butter, brown sugar and salt. Blend in flour and oats until particles are fine. Press 2/3 of crumbs into bottom of greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Spread with filling. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs; press down lightly.

Bake 350˚ 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool. Cut into bars.

A Mother's Day Brunch sooo Easy that Even Dad and the Kids Can Do It!!

 

Yesterday I did a short segment on Fox6 WakeUp show. Happy Mother's Day!!

Potato Patties

Try this recipe next time you have left-over mashed potatoes.

2 eggs
About 2 c. left-over mashed potatoes (with the added milk, butter and seasonings)
3-4 chopped green onions
salt and pepper to taste
oil and butter for cooking

In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add potatoes, onions and seasonings. Mix well. Heat about 1 T. oil and 1T. butter over medium heat in large fry pan. Form potato mixture into about 8 patties (mixture will be very soft). Cook in pan until golden on each side.

That's My King!

Happy Easter!

Picture courtesy of vintageholidaycrafts.com
Easter Sunday will be here in 3 days. I enjoy making a big meal for family and having a candy/treasure hunt outside. Hopefully the snow will be gone by then! But the most important part about Easter is Jesus' victory over death. The Bible says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life". Have a blessed Easter celebrating the Savior's resurrection.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you..." I Peter 1:3-4

Date Bars

I used Medjool Dates from the date farm. Any dates will do! The most common dates from the grocery store are Deglet Noor.
1 egg
½ c. sugar
½ c. butter, melted
1 c. chopped dates
¼ c. chopped pecans
½ c. flour
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 325˚. Mix egg, sugar and melted butter in a medium bowl. Add dates and nuts. Mix together flour, salt and baking powder in a small bowl. Add to date mixture. Stir until just mixed. Spread into a greased 8 x 8 inch pan. Bake 30 minutes at 325˚ or until done. Cool. Cut into bars. Roll in powdered sugar.

How 'bout a date??

I have a new appreciation for dates!! We recently toured Shield's Date Garden near Palm Springs, CA. www.shieldsdategarden.com They have about 17 varieties of dates to sample. Yum! There is a video where the story of dates is told. Many man-hours go into date production. The 40 feet or higher trees must be climbed (ladders are permanently attached to some trees)to be hand pollinated. As the fruit begins to grow on the trees, they must be climbed again, thinned (to improve quality and size of dates)and covered with bags to protect the fruit. When the fruit is ready to pick, it does not all ripen at the same time, so the trees must be climbed and reclimbed many times. A single tree can produce 100 pounds or more per year, and may bear for a hundred years. I'll be making date bars soon and will share the recipe!

Currant Cookies

I love chocolate!--But these cookies do not have chocolate as an ingredient--but I still love them! This recipe is found on page 144 of my cookbook. Find dried currants near the raisins at your grocery store.

1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. real butter
1 c. oil
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla

¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
3½ c. flour

2 c rice krispies
1 c. dried currants
1 c. quick oats

In a mixer, cream together the sugars, butter and oil. Add egg and vanilla. Combine salt, cream of tartar, soda and flour. Add to creamed mixture until incorporated. Stir in rice krispies, currants and oats. Drop by tablespoonfuls 3” apart on lightly greased sheets. Bake 350˚ 8-10 minutes or until set and very lightly browned.

Cabbage and Kielbasa

This is easy and cheap! I like serving it with fresh fruit.
1-2 T. oil
1 large onion, chopped
about 10 c. shredded cabbage
about ½ pound kielbasa, cut
Salt and pepper

In a large skillet, cook onion in oil until tender. Add cabbage, season with salt and pepper. Place kielbasa on top. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook on medium-low until cabbage is tender as desired, stirring occasionally.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

This recipe is so easy--and you probably have all the ingredients on hand.

1 stick real butter, softened
½ c. sugar
½ c. brown sugar
½ c. creamy peanut butter
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
½ c. quick oats
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Frosting:
½ c. powdered sugar
2 T. creamy peanut butter
2 T. milk

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, sugars and peanut butter. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Spread into greased 13 x 9 pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake 350˚ for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 15 minutes. Combine frosting ingredients; drizzle over bars. Cut while still slightly warm.

Baked Carrots Oregano

I've been putting photos of the foods featured in my cookbook on this blog. Printing costs are high, so I've opted to do this instead of photos in the cookbook. This recipe is found on page 73. I like to make the carrots, along with meatloaf and baked potatoes. Since they all bake at about the same temperature for about the same time, it's a great meal for a busy day!

1 pound carrots peeled and quartered lengthwise
2 T. water
sprinkle of oregano
salt to taste
3 T. butter

Preheat oven to 350˚.
Layer carrots in an 8 x 8 pan. Sprinkle with water, oregano and salt. Dot with butter. Cover and bake for 1 – 1 ½ hours until carrots are tender.

Chicken Cornbread Dinner

This recipe is featured on page 102 of my cookbook, which sells for $10 plus shipping, see order info on the sidebar.

My friend, Mary, together with her husband and children, work a dairy farm in central Wisconsin. She’s not only a great cook, but also preserves much of their garden produce every year. In addition to home schooling, she finds time to help those in need. Try her delicious and quick recipe.

6-8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
6-8 slices cheese, cheddar or Swiss
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ can milk
1 box (6 oz.) cornbread stuffing
¼ c. melted real butter

Place chicken in single layer in greased 13x9 pan. Cover with cheese. Combine soup and milk and pour over chicken. Combine stuffing mix and butter and pour over all. Bake covered at 350˚ for 45 minutes. Serve with rice, potatoes, or pasta.

Some people are bothered by touching raw meat. Don’t let that stop you from preparing good food. Buy a box of 100 plastic disposable gloves.

Chicken Ranch Pizza with Bacon

This recipe is from my daughter-in-law, who is a wonderful cook! This pizza would be especially good served at a brunch, but would be great for dinner also.

1 (13.8 oz.) refrigerated pizza crust
1/3 c. Ranch dressing
1 (9.75 oz.) can chicken, drained
½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
3-4 chopped green onions
2 c. (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
½ c. shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425˚. Grease a 13 x 9 pan. Place pizza crust in pan, stretching to fit. Top with Ranch dressing. Add the remainder of the ingredients in the order listed. Bake 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit 4-5 minutes before serving. Serves 3-4