Lemony Orzo

Serves 4

1 lemon
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup orzo
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Directions

1. Using a vegetable peeler, peel half the lemon (avoiding bitter white pith); thinly slice peel. Squeeze 2 tablespoons juice; set aside.
2. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add orzo and lemon peel. Cook until orzo is al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and return to pot.
Add lemon juice, oil, and scallions. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine.

Wolrd's Best Lasagna

1 lb ground beef ¼ teas basil leaves
2 Table olive oil 2 teas salt
3 ½ cups tomatoes 1 teas sugar
2 - 8 oz cans tomato sauce 3+ oz sliced mushrooms
¼ cup chopped onions 1/3 lb large lasagna noodles
2 cloves fresh garlic 1 lb ricotta cheese
1 ½ teas oregano leaves ½ lb mozzarella cheese
¼ teas rosemary leaves ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Sauté ground beef in hot oil until meat loses its pink color. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, seasonings and mushrooms. Mix well; cook slowly about 2 hours until sauce is thickened. Cook noodles following directions on the package; drain, rinse in cold water and separate. In a buttered 3 quart baking dish make two layers of the noodles, meat sauces, ricotta, mozzarella slices and parmesan cheese, in this order, using about half for each layer. Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve 6-7

Note: pepperoni may be added to meat sauce if desired.

Black Bean salsa

Ingredients
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (17-ounce) package frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
2 large tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 large avocado, peeled and diced
1 small onion, diced
1/8 to 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper

Directions
Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Cover and chill overnight. Taste and add salt, pepper or more lime juice as necessary. Serve with tortilla chips as an appetizer, or with grilled chicken breast as a meal.

Banana Bread

1 stick unsalted soft butter

1 cup sugar
2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teas baking soda

1 teas salt

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/2 cup sour cream

1 teas vanilla

Mix butter & sugar until fluffy. Add eggs. Sift dry ingredients & add butter mixture. Add bananas, sour cream & vanilla. Butter a 9”x5”x3” pan or several smaller pans. Pour batter into pans. Bake 1 hour @ 350, until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on rack. I also make these as muffins. I will cook them about 20-25 minutes at 350.

Parmesan Green Beans

Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen French-cut green beans
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese

Roasted Lemon and Parsley Potatoes

3 lbs. mixed small potatoes (we used a bag of new, red, and purple)
6 TBSP lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 stick butter or margarine
About 1/2 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Zest of one small lemon (yay for Microplane zesters!)
Sea salt & cracked pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Quarter the potatoes and put 'em in a 13 x 9" pan. Melt the butter or margarine, whisk together with oil and lemon juice. Toss with potatoes to coat, salt and pepper generously. Cook (uncovered) for 45 mins or so, then pull 'em out and mix in the lemon zest. Cook about 15 mins more or until nice and golden. Remove from oven and toss in the parsley. Eat until you explode.

Broccoli Craisin Salad

Dressing:
1 ¼ cup Mayo
1 Tbsp vinegar
2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp pepper
¼ cup milk

Mix first 4 ingredients and gradually mix in milk.

Salad:
8 cups broccoli florets (cut small) and thinly sliced broccoli stems
¼ c. sunflower seeds (salted and roasted, or plain)
¼ cup chopped red onion (optional)
4-5 slices bacon, cooked until crisp then crumbled
½ cup craisins (adjust to your liking)

Combine salad ingredients. Add dressing before serving. Everything can be altered to taste.

Grandma L's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

1 ¼ C. sugar
¼ C. flour
1 C. strawberries
2 C. diced rhubarb
2 T. butter

Sift flour & sugar together & combine ¾ of the mixture with the fruit. Place unbaked crust in pie plate & line w/ remaining flour mixture. Add filling. Place butter on top & cover w/ top crust. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350° & bake 30 min. longer or till fruit is tender.
*For a deep-dish pie use a little more fruit; for a tart pie use a bit less sugar.

For crust:
2 C. flour
½ C. + 1 T. oil
¼ C. milk

Mix oil & milk together then combine with flour. Quickly mix together until flour is all wet. Pack in the bottom of the bowl & divide crust in half. Roll each half between 2 sheets of waxed paper until ¼ in. thick & the size of the pie plate.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

1 bag baby spinach leaves
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 avacado, pitted & sliced
1 pkg slivered or sliced almonds
4 Tablespoons sugar

In a skillet carmalize almonds. Combine almonds and 4 Tablespoons sugar. Cook on medium heat until sugar melts and coats almonds.

Dressing:

1/2 cup sugar
21/4 teas paprika
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
1/4 teas worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 finely chopped onion
1/2 cup sweet rice vinegar
1/2 cup oil

Combine all dressing ingredients and mix well. Add just before serving the salad, as it will wilt the spinach leaves if put on too early. Sprinkle almonds over salad.

Chewy Chocolate Raisin Cookies

Not too healthy of course, but this is an AMAZING cookie! You will love it. I have used water instead of the brandy.

Sarah's Chewy Chocolate-Raisin Cookies
Chunks of white chocolate add richness (semisweet or bittersweet may be substituted), and each cookie is rolled in sanding sugar for an even more satisfying crunch.

Ingredients

Makes about 2 dozen.
1 cup golden raisins, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup brandy
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
6 ounces white chocolate, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup fine sanding or granulated sugar

Directions

Bring raisins and brandy to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, and let stand for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, cocoa, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, the baking soda, and salt.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add honey, and beat until creamy. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture, and beat until combined. Drain raisins; discard liquid. Add raisins and chocolate to dough. Mix to combine.
Whisk together sanding sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Scoop 2 tablespoons dough. Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture, and shape into a ball. Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture again to coat completely. Repeat with remaining dough. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart, as you work. Bake until just set and starting to crack, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool on sheets.
First published

Black Bean Chili and Corn bread

This is my favorite chili recipe. I have also included an easy corn bread recipe.

Black Bean Chile
Serves 8-12

3 lbs coarsely ground beef
Extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup red wine
2 cup homemade beef stock
2 onions, finely chopped
2-4 small green chilies, hot or mild, seeded & chopped
2 cans tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves, peeled and mashed
1 Table ground cumin
2 Table dried oregano
2 Table dried basil
¼ - ½ teas red chili flakes
4 cups cooked black beans

Brown meat until crumbly in a little olive oil in a heavy pot. (Olive oil may not be necessary if the beef contains a lot of fat.) Add remaining ingredients and simmer about 1 hour.

Never Fail Corn Bread

1 cup blue, yellow, or white corn meal
1 cup spelt or whole wheat flour
1 Table baking powder
2 Table - ¼ cup honey
1 cup milk
1 Table oil (optional, makes less crumbly)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Add milk & honey & oil. Mix until well blended. Pour into 8x8 oiled pan & bake 15-20 minutes. To make a lighter cake add one egg, beaten, when sweetener was added.

Roasted Carrots and Shallots

I love this as a side dish. They cook up so yummy and sweet!

Roasted Carrots and Shallots

Serves 4.
2 pounds carrots, cut into 3-inch lengths, thick pieces halved lengthwise (You can also make them rounds.)
12 ounces shallots (about 10), peeled and halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil (I use melted butter)
coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 450. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss carrots, shallots, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender, 30 to 35 minutes, tossing once halfway through. Add parsley and lemon juice; toss to combine

Beef Dinner in a Pumpkin

This is something I grew up with as a kid. I really liked it. It was always our Halloween dinner.

Beef Dinner in a Pumpkin

2 lb. lean hamburger1 (8-12") diameter fresh pumpkin or squash (Hubbard or turban)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 med. onion, chopped
12 Sm. mushrooms, sliced
1 med. bell pepper1
1/4 c. uncooked rice1
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
5 tbsp. butter
1 #303 can stewed tomatoes
2 c. beef broth
1/4 c. grated Cheddar or Longhorn cheese
Parsley sprigs
8 to 12 cherry tomatoes

Wash the pumpkin and cut the top stem out to create a lid. Scoop out the seeds and stringy fibers. Melt the butter but only 2 tablespoons and take a plastic sandwich bag to dip into the melted butter to oil the inside of the pumpkin. Turn the pumpkin on its side and remove to sprinkle inside with 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Saute onion, mushrooms, bell pepper, and garlic in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Add the 2 pounds lean hamburger, brown, and drain. Then add the rice and stir until thoroughly mixed. Add the remaining salt and pepper, the stewed tomatoes, and the beef broth and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes then fill the pumpkin with this mixture. Replace the pumpkin lid and place the pumpkin in a shallow greased baking pan. Bake approximately 1 to 1/2 hours at 350 degrees.

Pumpkin is ready when tender and should remain firm enough to hold the filling without danger of collapsing. If necessary, more beef broth can be added as needed. When baked, remove from the oven, lift lid and sprinkle inside with the 1/4 cup cheese. Return pumpkin to oven, lift lid and sprinkle inside with the 1/4 cup cheese. Return pumpkin to oven without lid until cheese is melted. Remove from oven, replace lid and garnish around the bottom of the pumpkin with fresh parsley and cherry tomatoes. Serve from the pumpkin, scraping some of the pulp into each serving. Serve with green salad and French bread.

Serves 12.

Leek & potato Galette

This is so yummy. I know it sounds different and daunting, but it is good, and not that hard!

Leek & potato Galette

6 tablespoons butter, melted
3 pounds (5 to 6 medium) baking potatoes, peeled
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 leek, white and light-green parts, thinly sliced crosswise, well washed
6 ounces Gruyere cheese, coarsely grated (about 1 1/2 cups)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with rack set in top third. Line bottom of a 9-inch cake pan with a round of parchment paper. Place melted butter in a large bowl. Using a mandolin or cutting by hand, slice the potatoes 1/8 inch thick; add to bowl with butter. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. In prepared pan, arrange some of the potatoes around edge of pan, overlapping the slices.

Fill center of pan with more overlapping slices.
Sprinkle with half the leek and half the cheese; season with salt and pepper. Repeat with another layer of potatoes and remaining leek and cheese; season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining potatoes. Using a spatula, press galette down firmly.

Bake until potatoes are tender, 70 to 80 minutes, pressing down firmly twice with a spatula during cooking. Run knife around edge of pan. Carefully invert galette onto a plate, remove parchment, and re-invert onto serving plate. Cut into wedges, and serve.

Deneen's Curry

This is my sister in law's recipe. I know she got it from somewhere else, but I will give her credit. :) It is SO yummy! I am craving some right now!

Curry

2 cans coconut milk
2 1/2 cups water
4 Table red curry paste
1 teas curry powder
3 chicken breasts
3 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled, quartered
1 large onion, cut
1/3 fish sauce or soy
1 teas sucanat (or sugar)
1 bell pepper, cut

In a large pot combine milk& water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add curry paste & powder. Mix well. Add chicken & potatoes. Cook 5 min. Reduce heat to low. Add onion, soy, sucanat & pepper. Simmer covered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender & chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

Chicken Roll-ups

This was one of my childhood favorites. To make it healthier I make my own crescent rolls.

Chicken Roll-ups

Filling:

2 cups cooked chicken
8 oz cream cheese
½ cup butter
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Italian Seasoning

Place some of the filling on each crescent roll and roll up. Dip in melted butter and roll in bread crumbs and spices.

Spices: Bread Crumbs Onion Powder
Garlic Powder Italian Seasoning
Let rise for 20 minutes. Bake for 30 minutes (or until no longer doughy) @ 350.

Berrocks

This one is one of Roland's favorites. His mom makes them. It is the German homemade recipe for a Runza.

Berrocks

9” circles of dough cut into fourths (I just use my favorite bread recipe. You can us frozen bread or bread mixes.)

Filling

1 lb hamburger
1 med head cabbage
1 small onion
Salt & pepper to taste

Divide mixture among 12 piece of dough and pinch sides together. Let rise. Makes 12 Bake @ 350 until golden.

Chicken & Black Bean Fajitas

This is one of our favorites and it is SO easy!

Chicken & Black Bean Fajitas

Combine the following in s 5 quart crock pot:

4-6 chicken breasts 1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa 1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained 1 pkg taco seasoning

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. When done pull out chicken & shred. Put chicken back in a add ½ cup sour cream & 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and stir. Serve with corn chips or flour tortillas.

Gingerbread Muffins

These are one of Victoria's favorites!

Gingerbread Muffins

2 Table oil
1 egg
½ cup molasses
¼ cup honey
1 ¼ water or milk

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 Table lecithin
2 teas cinnamon
1 ½ teas ground ginger
½ teas soda
1 ½ teas baking powder
¼ teas salt

DO NOT OVER MIX! Bake 20-25 minutes @ 350 degrees or until tops are cracked.

Homemade Tortillas

A lot of people think I am crazy for making my own tortillas, but it is a lot easier than you think!

Flour Tortilla

Ingredients:

2 cups unsifted Bread Flour
3 teaspoons Baking Powder1 teaspoon Salt
1/4 cup Lard, chilled (I have used butter or coconut oil)
3/4 cup Warm Water

Directions:

Mix the flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Add the lard and mix in with your fingers until you have completely crumbled it in. Slowly add the warm water and mix with a large spoon. Take the ball out and put on a "floured" board and knead 3-5 minutes-until elastic. Store in a warm place inside an oiled, plastic bag for 1 hour. Pinch off pieces of dough about the size of a golf ball (1 inch) and let rest 15 minutes. Roll the balls into circles approximately 7 inches in size. Cook on a HOT (450-degrees) griddle turning only once. Remove to a basket lined with a cloth towel or put between a towel until cool. After the tortillas have cooled completely, store them in a plastic bag. The best homemade tortillas by far!Yield: 9-10 tortillas.

TIP: tortillas are best eaten hot right off the griddle (comal). You can refrigerate and freeze them as well. To freeze tortillas: wrap tightly in a plastic wrap and place inside a Ziploc bag. When ready to use: thaw at room temperature, remove plastic wrap, re-wrap in foil with a moist paper towel inserted, place in a 250 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Corn Tortillas

Ingredients:

We are all familiar with both the corn and flour tortillas, but the original ones were of the native corn only, and except in Northern Mexico, corn tortillas remain the staple.

4 cups masa harina
*1/2 tsp. Salt
21/2 cups hot but not boiling water

*Masa harina (corn flour) can be purchased in most supermarkets. Quaker and Maseca brands are both excellent. If you are fortunate to have a specialty Mexican market nearby, you can purchase the masa dough freshly made and ready to press or roll out.

Directions:

Place the masa harina and salt in a large bowl. Add the water and mix with your hands to make a dough that comes together in a soft ball. Continue mixing and kneading until the dough is elastic enough to hold together without cracking, about 3 minutes. If using right away, divide the dough into 18 equal portions and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel. If making ahead for later use, wrap the whole ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day and then divide.To form the tortillas, place a portion of dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Press with a tortilla press or roll out with a rolling pin into a circle 6 or 7 inches in diameter. Use your fingers to smooth any raggedy edges. Continue with the remaining portions until the dough is used up.To cook the tortillas, heat a heavy skillet, griddle or comal over high heat until it begins to smoke. Peel the plastic wrap off a tortilla and place the tortilla in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook for 30 seconds. Turn and cook on the other side for 1 minute. Turn again, and cook until the tortilla puffs a bit but is still pliable, not crisp, about 30 seconds more. Remove and continue until all the tortillas are cooked. Serve right away as this is when they are the best. The best homemade tortillas by far!

Tortilla Chips

Procedure:

Using flour or corn tortillas (use old rather than freshly made or store bought) cut the tortillas in wedges or strips, set aside. Pour oil into a heavy saucepan or skillet to a depth of one inch. Heat to a temperature of 375 degrees F or until a tortilla chip browns in 60 seconds.
Drop the tortilla wedges or strips into the hot oil in batches and cook for one to two minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle salt (optional).
Let cool and store in an airtight container (avoid humidity).