Pound Cake, and I mean "pound"

Pound Cake

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened at room temp
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened at room temp
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 large eggs
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

·         Preparation

·         Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy (do not over beat);

·          

·         gradually add sugar, beating well.

·          

·         Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until combined.

·          

·         Sift 3 cups of flour. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla

·          

·         Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch Bundt pan.

Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. 

      Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and let cool completely on wire rack.

       Found this recipe here.  

      THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

 

White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili

(thanks Cheryl and Kathy)

Simmer the following in a big pot: 

1medium onion

1medium chopped green pepper

1tablespoon margarine

Once they have softened add 1-2 cups chopped precooked chicken to the onions/pepper

When these items are good and hot,

ADD 3 cans cannellini beans (white beans, can be hard to find at some stores), add the juice from the beans too!

Add 1-2 packages of chili seasoning mix…depending on how flavorful you like your chili

Mix these with the beans, chicken, veggies.

Now Add 

1 Large can or crushed tomatoes (28oz can)

2 15oz cans of whole or (petite diced tomatoes)

1 can of corn (drain water before adding to mix)

Stir all these ingredients together and let it get hot.  

Taste the chili to see if you think needs more flavor.  Then add the last ingredient

1/3 cup of sugar (really helps to bring out the flavor of the tomatoes)

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+Whit

Chicken dinner:

Just made this:
Of course I doubled it...

Ingredients

1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
4 tsp. Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°.
Combine Mayonnaise with cheese in medium bowl. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Evenly top with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.


My husband (a great cook) and all 8 of my kids who ate dinner tonight...LOVED IT!
It really couldn't of been any easier...took about 5 min to make, had all the ingredients, and was inexpensive.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Picky eaters?

A friend of mine ask for suggestions for a picky eater...(BTW: I don't do this for my kids...I make them eat whatever I have or they don't get food...the great thing about big families is when I serve something to one of my kids and they don't want it...I say, "that's ok I will give it to..." all of a sudden it looks more appealing!)

Take your child to the grocery store and have them pick out the fruit and veggies that they like...then put them in special zip lock bags...(they sell cool ones at the dollar store) Have them make a special box or Tupperware with their name on them...every time they need to eat they go to their box and grabs there (pre approved) snack!!!

You can do this for the pantry food too...so one in the frig and one in the pantry will hopefully work...maybe one for the car too!

Don't sweat it too much: don't worry they will be fine...no kid really eats that great and they all have food jags where they want to eat the same thing for a week!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Our very favorite healty snack:

(PHOTO FROM Marathon Mom)

I love the Marathon Mom blog and we found so many great recipes. This is our very favorite:

Granola Energy Balls

2 cups oats
2 cups coconut flakes
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup ground flaxseed
1 cup chocolate chips
2/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
2. Roll into bite-size balls. (The size you roll them will determine how many the recipe yields. I rolled mine a little bigger and the recipe made about 18 balls.)
3. Store in fridge.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Our Thanksgiving recipes 2011:

Each kids picks something to make each year...sometimes it is a new recipe and other times something new.

Alex made her famous Sweet potato casserole...recipe unknown

JOSHUA:
Vanilla Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Serves: 8
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 75 Minutes
This pumpkin pie recipe is less spicy than traditional pumpkin pies so you can really taste the pumpkin flavor!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, flour, salt vanilla and cinnamon. Pour filling into pie shell.

Bake for 20 minutes at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) then turn oven temperature down to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking 40 more minutes or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving.
---------------
CALEB'S SECRET CHEESE CAKE...no recipe available

LIZZIE:
Apple Pie Apples
• 5 Granny Smith apples
• 2 bags caramel melts(melt according to package directions)
• 5 craft sticks (these are included in the caramel melts bag)
• 1 bag white candy melts
• 2 cups brown sugar mixed with 2 tsp cinammon
Directions:
Insert craft sticks into center of washed/dried apples.
Melt caramels according to package directions in a medium sized bowl in microwave.
Dip apples into caramel—I used a spoon to help evenly coat the apples.
Put apples on a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper that has been sprayed with Pam. Put into freezer for about 3-5 minutes.
While in freezer melt candy melts according to package directions in bowl in microwave.
Remove apples from freezer and coat with melted candy melts using a spoon if needed just as with the caramel.
1. Before candy melts dry on the apples, roll/spoon/sprinkle the apples with the brown sugar/cinammon mixture.
2. Place apples on cookie sheet and refrigerate.
-------------
BARBARA:
Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, divided 1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened 2 (8 ounce) packages BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
Directions
Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.
--------------

JOSEPH:Poppy Seed Cake

Take a Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Golden Cake mix , do not follow the instructions on the box, but add the following ingredients instead:

1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup poppy seeds
8 oz. sour cream
4 eggs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. and grease bottom and sides of bundt cake pan and sprinkle with sugar. Mix all of the ingredients 3 to 4 minutes. Pour into the bundt pan and run a spatula through the batter prior to putting it into the oven. Bake at 350 for one hour. After cooling, turn the cake upside down on a platter and sprinkle the top with confectioners sugar.
------------------
ROBERT:

Orange-Cranberry Relish
1 orange- unpeeled, cut into wedges
3 cups fresh cranberries (rinsed)
1 cup sugar

In a food processor, pulse 1/2 of the orange and 1/2 of the cranberries until desired consistency. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Pulse the remaining 1/2 orange and 1/2 cranberries. Pulse again until desired consistency. Add to the mixing bowl.
Stir in sugar.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
-----------
DOMINIC:
Ingredients

2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken,
drained 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese,
softened 1 cup Ranch dressing
3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot®)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 bunch celery, cleaned and cut into 4 inch pieces
1 (8 ounce) box chicken-flavored crackers
Directions
Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet over medium heat, until heated through. Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of the shredded cheese, and transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, cover, and cook on Low setting until hot and bubbly. Serve with celery sticks and crackers.

Mary and Cecilia made pies and apples with Lizzie also hot chocolate!
------------
ERIC:
Preparation Instructions
Combine the peanut butter and chopped pretzels in a bowl and mix well.

Freeze the peanut butter mixture for at least 30 minutes.

Roll about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the peanut butter mixture into a ball with your hands. You may need to refreeze the balls if the peanut butter softens too much. (This is why crunchy peanut butter is best, to help shape the balls).

Melt the chocolate chips until runny.

Dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate until fully coated and place on a plate covered with waxed paper. Be careful to not let the balls touch each other before the chocolate has set.

Sprinkle with your favorite decoration if you like.

Refrigerate to allow the chocolate to harden, then serve.
Ingredients1 cup Crunchy Peanut Butter
½ cups Finely Chopped Pretzels
1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
------------
Shirley Temple:
20 cl ginger ale
3 cl grenadine syrup

Build in a highball glass. Add ginger ale over ice and sprinkle grenadine syrup over it. Garnish with a lemon slice and a cherry.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Twice baked potatoes:

Our Aldi's had 10 lb bags of potatoes for $2.49 this week...I bought about 5 of them...we have been trying all sorts of potato recipes!!! Have any to share?

One of my favorite things my mom used to make were twice baked potatoes...they seemed so difficult, but I found this easy recipe here:

•4 large baking potatoes, scrubbed and micro-waved for 10 minutes or until tender

•1 cup plain yogurt/sour cream

•1 cup shredded Colby jack cheese

•½ cup Parmesan cheese

•4 slices turkey bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

•1 teaspoon garlic salt

•1 teaspoon onion powder

•1 teaspoon dried parsley

•¼ teaspoon black pepper

•1 teaspoon dried chives

1. Cut potatoes in half and scoop out the insides, leaving the skins intact.

2. Mix potato fluff, and rest of ingredients in an electric mixer with the cookie paddle.

3. Fill the potato skins with the cheese mixture and place right side up on cookie sheet till tops are brown.

4.For darker color on the tops you can place them under the broiler for a few minutes just before serving.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Best Carmel Apple Ever:

We have been making these for a couple of years. My daughter even got a proposal after a young man at our home tasted them.

We make them for gifts and teacher presents.

HINT: cut in small bite size pieces...

APPLE PIE APPLES:

we use the following recipe:
5 Granny Smith Apples (or what ever you have)
2 bags of caramel melts (follow directions)
sticks
1 bag white candy melts (or white, chocolate, or butterscotch chips)
2 cups brown sugar mixed with 2tsp cinnamon

Enjoy!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Party Platters:

Getting ready for a big party tomorrow...open house for about 150 people...
my ninth child is receiving her FIRST HOLY COMMUNION,
my fourth child is graduating from High School,
my oldest with her Master's Degree...
So people will be coming and going from noon till 7pm...
gotta have lots of food that can be put out in shifts...
deli and fruit trays to start and grilling in the afternoon...
with tons of yummy stuff in between...
Hoping to make trays that look like this:

This party is mainly sponsored by ALDI's...three carts and lots of helpers...

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Dessert treats:

These are great when you are having a party with alot of little kids around.

Sand cups:

Ingredients:

2 cups milk 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped

topping, thawed 1 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers, crushed

Directions:

1.	In a large bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Beat with a whisk until well blended. Let stand 5 minutes.
2.	Add whipped topping and half of the crushed cookies and fold in.
3.	Place 1 Tablespoon crushed cookies into each cup. Fill cups 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate 1 hour. Decorate before serving.
4.	Suggested Decorations: small paper umbrellas, gummy worms, gummy sharks, candy stars, chopped peanuts.

PIZZA DOUGH!!!

It is Friday...and that means PIZZA DAY at our house...Quickest dough I have found!!! 5 min to rise!!!

I usually times this recipe by five or ten...

1PK DRY YEAST = 2 1/4 teaspoons
1 CUP WARM WATER
1TEAS SALT
1 TEAS SUGAR
2 TABLESPOON OIL
2 1/2 CUPS FLOUR

DISSOLVE YEAST IN WATER AND ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS
MAKE BALL
SIT FOR AT LEAST FIVE MIN
ROLL OUT
ADD SPICE TO DOUGH IF DESIRED
PUT DOUGH ON PAN INSERT TO OVEN FOR ABOUT FIVE MIN. (OR WAIT FOR CHEESE)
ADD TOPPINGS
COOK AT 400% FOR 10-20 MIN

Make thick or thin crust, adjust to meet your families tastes.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

CRACKER/CHOCOLATE RECIPE:

HEATH BAR CANDY

Saltine crackers (tastes great with graham crackers too)
2 sticks real butter
1 c. brown sugar, packed
12 oz. real milk chocolate chips

Line 9 x 13 inch pan with foil. Cover entire bottom of pan with whole saltines, letting foil extend up between crackers and sides of pan. For three minutes, boil butter and sugar. Pour over crackers. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and allow to soften in oven. Remove from oven and spread chocolate evenly. Let cool and harden. Peel foil off and break candy into pieces. (or if your in a hurry like we were tonight...eat it drippy and warm)

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

POTATO CASSEROLE

32 oz. bag hash browns, thawed
1 stick butter, melted
1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 (16 oz.) container sour cream
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cheddar cheese
1 med. onion, chopped

Mix all ingredients and add topping.

TOPPING:

2 c. cornflakes, crushed
1/2 stick butter, melted

Bake for 40 to 60 minutes at 350 degrees.

CRANBERRY ORANGE RELISH

FRESH CRANBERRY ORANGE RELISH

1 12 oz pkg fresh cranberries
1 orange

Put washed, drained cranberries in a food processor with 1 orange which has been peeled and quartered with all seeds being removed.
Pulse for a few seconds, just until coarsely chopped. Stop and scrape down sides of bowl, if necessary, to chop evenly.

Add 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar and taste adjusting sweetness as desired.

Stir well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Cranberry Orange Relish may be frozen for up to 2 months.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

This is one of our favorites and on the menu this Thursday.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Apple Cranberry Slaw

I found this here:
PER SERVING (1/5th of recipe, about 1 cup): 151 calories, 3g fat, 118mg sodium, 30.5g carbs, 5.25g fiber, 21g sugars, 2.5g protein -- POINTS® value 2*

Ingredients:
One 12-oz. bag (4 cups) dry broccoli cole slaw
1 large Fuji apple, cored and chopped
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries, chopped
1/4 cup All Natural Almond Accents Honey Roasted Flavored Sliced Almonds
1/4 cup jellied cranberry sauce
2 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise
2 tsp. honey mustard
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Dash salt, or more to taste
Dash black pepper, or more to taste

I haven't had this, it looks good, I plan on making this for Thanksgiving. Always nice to have a new recipe on the table.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Chicken Cacciatore

Found the recipe here and adjusted it the way that worked for me...

• Non Stick Spray
• 3 to 3-1/2 pounds chicken leg-quarters, skin & visible fat removed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup thinly sliced onions
• 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic or garlic salt
• 15 ounce can no-salt-added tomatoes
• 8 ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
How to make it
________________________________________
• First prepare your leg-quarters. If desired you may cut the legs and thighs apart with a sharp knife or poultry shears. It takes about 4 leg-quarters to make 3 to 3-1/2-pounds of chicken.
• Spray a very large skillet with non-stick spray. Add the chicken and fry it until it begins to brown. Remove it from the pan and lay it on a plate.
• Next heat the olive oil in the same pan. Add the onions and garlic and saute until they are tender and fragrant.
• Open up the cans of tomato products. Add them to the skillet with the onions. Add the seasonings too.
• Stir it up and bring it to a boil. Add the chicken, sort of laying it on top of the vegetables.
• Cover the skillet with a good lid or a pizza pan. Reduce the heat to medium low and let the pan simmer for about 45 minutes. Check it every now and then and add water if you think it needs it. When it is done cooking, serve it with cooked noodles or spaghetti
• If you like, you can add a chopped green pepper, or a couple of stalks of chopped celery along with the onion. A small can of mushrooms is also appropriate here a dash of hot pepper is good too.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Eggplant Parmesan:

Found super easy recipe here:

Ingredients
3 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
6 cups spaghetti sauce, divided (could use less)
1 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). (I fried...it was amazing)
2.Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet.
(Did I mention that I fried them???amazing)
Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side.
3.In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top.
4.Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.

We all loved them...cut thin, it is amazing how far three eggplants go.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

TURKEY SOUP:

Quick and easy...Main recipe found here:
Of course for my family I doubled.

2 1/2 c. stock from turkey
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. light cream ( I used whole milk)
1 c. rice
1 tsp. celery salt
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. turkey, cut up

Directions
1.Place turkey carcass in a soup kettle or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove carcass; cool. Set aside 3 qt. broth. Remove turkey from bones and cut into bite-size pieces; set aside.
2.In a soup kettle or Dutch oven, saute the onions, carrots and celery in butter until tender. Reduce heat; stir in flour until blended. Gradually add 1 qt. of reserved broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
3.Add cream, rice, salt, bouillon, pepper, remaining broth and reserved turkey. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until rice is tender.

Love easy...it tasted really good...my 12 year old had 21 bowls in two days...not really that good.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Heathly Money Saving Tips:

Market Aisle-by-Aisle Quick Tips From HUNGRY GIRL site:

Fruit and Veggies - Buy seasonal -- there's generally a lot of whatever's in season, so stores lower the price to sell it all before it goes bad. And frozen fruit and veggies are great any time of year, because they last a LONG time without spoiling.

Meat and Seafood - Take some time to compare prices. The meat counter could have a deal that beats the price of the packaged stuff; sometimes a big pack of frozen chicken breasts is your best bet. And frozen shrimp is a big YES -- much cheaper than fresh!

Canned Foods - Staples that we swear by? Canned beans, canned crushed tomatoes , canned pineapple in juice (great as an ingredient or a straight-up snack), and light soup. Also, canned/pouched tuna in water is a must!

Breads - Make the stuff last. Keep it in the fridge or freezer to lengthen its shelf life, and don't have bread with every single meal of the day. (That gets both costly and carby.) And a pack of high-fiber tortillas is a good investment, since you can wrap things up in 'em, bake them into thin pizza crusts, or cut 'em and bake 'em into chips!

Dairy - Generic/store-brand versions of fat-free and low-fat dairy items are smart choices. But also consider how well an item multitasks. For example, sour cream is good, but you're not gonna eat it with a spoon. Choosing fat-free plain yogurt (Greek or regular) will give you more options; use it as a sour cream swap, in smoothies and parfaits, or just add a bit of sweetener and eat!

Snacks and Sweets - For some SERIOUSLY helpful tips on how to put together your very own 100-calorie snacks, click here. Ration your goodies out; it's good for your wallet AND your waist.

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

Dinner tonight: Pork shoulder in the crock pot...

I was waiting to see if it was worth the post...it was!!!

PORK IN CROCK POT

3-5 lbs. pork (may use smoked pork shoulder)...I used 7lbs
1 lg. onion, sliced
2 apples, peel & cut up in pieces
2 tbsp. chutney or 1 c. dried fruit (mixed)...I didn't use these
1 c. apple cider or apple juice...used juice
1/2 c. water
1 or 2 garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
Salt & pepper to taste

Cook all ingredients together in crock pot 4 or 5 hours on high temperature. Thicken gravy. Remove bay leaf. Slice meat and serve.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+