Wednesday, October 31, 2012

BUTTERNUT SQUASH BREAD


Butternut Squash Bread Recipe
This was really good.  Would be good with pumpkin too.  Abagail didn't like the walnuts.


Recipe Type: Quick BreadButternut Squash
Yields: 1 loaf
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour - did 1/2 whole wheat
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup butternut 
squash puree*
1 cup granulated sugar (only added 3/4 c. -it was plenty)
1/2 cup vegetable oil - would like to try applesauce or Greek yogurt
2 large eggs, beaten - did one flax
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts or pecans (or your favorite nuts) - didn't toast

* To Make Butternut Squash Puree:  Cut butternut squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in a shallow pan on aluminum foil or Silpat-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F. until squash is soft, approximately 45 to 60 minutes (depending on the size of your squash). Remove from oven and let cool. When cool, scoop out the cooked flesh/pulp (discarding the shell), place the pulp in a food processor and process until smooth. Measure out the amount you need for this recipe, and reserve any remaining pulp (either in the refrigerator or freeze) for other uses. NOTE: This Butternut Squash Puree may be substituted in any recipe that calls for pumpkin puree.
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place oven rack in center of oven. Generously grease a 9x5-inch loaf pans.In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine butternut squash puree, sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and water until well blended. Add the flour mixture and stir until just blended. Lightly stir in the chopped nuts.

NOTE: Bake all quick breads as soon as the ingredients are assembled. Since high temperatures are often called for, it is best to bake them in the center of the oven, as the heat in the top third of the oven will be too intense.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. NOTE: Be sure and poke the toothpick already to the center of the loaf. A good check is to use an instant digital thermometer to test your bread. The temperature of the bread should be at 200 degrees F. when done. 

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely before slicing.

Storage: Breads that contain fruit, nuts, or butter may be stored for 2 or 3 days, well wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. May be frozen for longer storage. After thawing frozen breads, reheat them in a 400 degree F. oven for a few minutes before serving.
Makes 1 loaf.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

QUICK CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

QUICK CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
This was so yummy and ready in about 15 minutes.  Kids had it with grilled cheese and I had a tuna sandwich.  Would also be good with a can of kidney or black beans.

2 quarts water - boil
add - 3 T Better than Boullin (low sodium)
(or just use chicken broth cube or from a can)

Add:
1/4-1/2 cup frozen peas
1/4-1/2 cup frozen corn
1 or 2 cans of chicken 

Add following veggies that have been washed/cut/cooked in microwave (don't drain the water - add to soup):
2-4 celery
3-4 carrots
head of broccoli

Add:
2 packages (NOT the seasoning packets) of Ramen noodles - any kind of pasta would be good too instead of Ramen noodles

cook until noodles are done

Enjoy! 




Monday, October 22, 2012

CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN CHILI

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
adapted from Tried and Tasty
(Printable Recipe)
http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/01/slow-cooker-cream-cheese-chicken-chili.html
We liked this - very easy to put together.  Doesn't make lots - one little bowl left over.  Had it with a green salad and homemade bread.

1 can black beans
1 can corn, undrained
1 can Rotel, undrained
1 package ranch dressing mix
1 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 8 oz package light cream cheese
2 chicken breasts

Drain and rinse black beans. Place chicken at bottom of pot, then pour out whole can of corn (undrained), rotel, and black beans. Top with seasonings and ranch mix. Stir together. Place cream cheese on top. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir cream cheese into chili. Use 2 forks to shred chicken. Stir together and serve.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

BUTTER - TEXAS ROADHOUSE


TEXAS ROADHOUSE BUTTER

Got this off Pinterest.  Soooo good!  Was a little sweet for me - might cut back on the sugar by about 1/4 c. next time.  Only made 1/2 a batch and that was plenty.

Whip all together (used the Braun):
2 sticks butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup honey
2 tsp cinnamon


Sunday, October 7, 2012

MEAL IDEAS - TO TAKE TO OTHERS - FEED MISSIONARIES

These are some I have done before and worked out well:

Dessert ideas for any meal:
Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake
Texas Sheet Cake
Cinnamon Rolls


Taco Soup
Doritos
Cheese
Sour Cream
simple dessert - ice cream sandwiches goes well.  Did Peach cobbler (Colorado Peach Cobbler - Taste of Home) one time with ice cream - went over very well
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Hawaiian Haystacks
rice
all the toppings
Dessert - cobbler or cheesecake
(for Jackson's baptism we had 15 adults and 4 kids - I did two BIG cans of cream of chicken, 1 BIG can of chicken broth (bigger than 32 oz), 4 cans of chicken and 2 cream cheese - we had about 2-3 cups of mixture left.  Did 10 cups dry rice (5 cups in 2 different ones) the one rice cooker only had 1-2 servings out of it.)
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Sloppy Joes - Pioneer Woman (makes lots)
hamburger buns (toasted?)
slices of cheese
bag of chips (when I did this meal with Lisa - she made pretzel salad and a broccoli salad to go with it - was perfect!)
any kind of dessert would be good 
Lisa and I took this meal (see her salads) to 3 families plus our own.  I doubled the recipe plus I added a little extra meat (did a little less than 1/2 turkey).  It was 9 adults and 12 kids.  Gave each kid 1/4 c and for each adult 1/4 plus 1/8.
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Chicken Noodle Soup (McCleve 2nd edition cookbook with homemade noodles)
Cranberry bread/biscuits/scones or homemade bread or pumpkin biscuits
any kind of dessert
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Homemade Mac & Cheese
Meatballs
Homemade bread or somekind of biscuit/scone
Broccoli/green beans/corn/peas
Dessert - coca cola cake / zucchini brownies
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Breakfast:
Taste of Home - potato dish (with sausage)
coconut bread
Egg chili casserole (McCleve 2nd edition - one from Candace)
Fruit - one kind or a salad
Dessert - not really one needed.  The coconut bread is really sweet.
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Steak Salad
Dressing
Rolls
Dessert - anything
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Ranch Pork Chops (plate/tinfoil/meat/tinfoil)
Pretzel Rolls or homemade bread (brown lunch bag)
**worked really well to cook pork for 10 minutes while doing water bath for rolls then cooking both at same time to finish
green salad (in a gallon zip lock bag) with dressing (put in a cup for them to keep)-made day before
oatmeal cookies for dessert (quart zip lock bag) - made day before
canned or fresh corn (just gave them the can) mashed potatoes and gravy would be good too
can of Mandarine oranges (just gave them the can) - or a cut up fresh fruit would be good too


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Cream cheese chicken
Rice
can of mandarine oranges (or fresh fruit)
broccoli/corn mix
french bread or other bread
dessert (it was summer so I did Little Debbie snacks, ice cream bars or sandwiches would be good too)

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Loaded Broccoli Cheese and Bacon Soup
Homemade bread or rolls

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We did this with the missionaries - they had had it about a week before at someone elses house, but seemed to like it.  Asked for honey & butter to put on it which was great because I hadn't thought about it.  So good!  What was so nice about this meal is I made the dessert the day before, started the chili in the morning and got everything ready for waffles except for fridge stuff.  Then I only had to put together salad, drink and make waffles. Was easy cleanup too.

Chili - Steve's recipe (Candace folder)
Cornbread - McCleve 2nd edition - made waffle style
Green salad - got a bag of romaine with veggies and bad of ice berg with veggies and mixed the two.  Added tomatoes and cucumbers.
Grated cheese & sour cream to go on top
Dessert - chocolate lush, but anything would be good

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Tostadas
5 cup salad (Pima pg. 33)
George Strait Spanish rice (Cowboy Cookbook)
vegetable
apple cake (Cowboy Cookbook)

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This meal went over very well with the missionaries and it was easy to prepare and easy clean up

Crockpot Egg Casserole (with salsa or one requested ketchup)
Scones
Cottage Cheese
fresh oranges (peeled)
canned peaches
Drink: hot chocolate, orange juice or water

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Homemade soup bowls
Loaded Broccoli Cheese and Bacon soup
Orange Pinapple cake for dessert

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Beef and Tomatoes
Rice
Pot stickers or egg rolls
Broccoli