Black Licorice Caramels

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anise extract
black paste food coloring

DIRECTIONS
Line a 9x9 inch dish with buttered foil.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, milk, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue to heat, without stirring, to 242 to 248 degrees F (116 to 120 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a firm but pliable ball. Remove from heat and stir in anise and food coloring. Pour into prepared pan. Let cool completely, several hours.
To cut, turn out of pan and peel away foil. Cut with a buttered knife. Wrap pieces in waxed paper or candy wrappers. I wrapped my caramels in white polka dot cellophane.

Variation:

For cinnamon flavored caramels. Add 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon extract, instead of anise, and red food coloring instead of the black.

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter

1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar
16 oz Wilton Melting Chips

Directions
1 Mix first 3 ingredients together.
2 Roll into 1" balls and place on waxed paper lined cookie sheet.
3 Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. (if you are in a hurry put them in the freezer.
4 Melt chocolate chips in double boiler with oil.
5 Stick toothpick in center of peanut butter ball, dip in chocolate about 3/4 of the ball, leaving a small amount of the peanut butter ball showing. Put back on waxed papered cookie sheet, remove toothpick. Refrigerate until set.
6 Keep in sealed container in cool place. The yield depends on how large you make the balls. Cooking time is actually refrigeration time.

Christmas Goodies

White Chocolate Popcorn

2-3 bags Light butter microwave popcorn

1 bag white melting chips, white chips, or almond bark

Melt chips slowly in the microwave. Pour over popped corn in a large mixing bowl. Add mix-ins -- caramel bits, peanuts, almonds, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, craisins, pistachios. Spread out in a wax-lined pan and drizzle with melted dark or milk chocolate. Let cool. Break up and package.

New Variations:

Tropical Popcorn

Mix in coconut, dried pineapple chunks, and chopped macadamia nuts

Cran-Orange Popcorn

Mix 1 tsp cinnamon into the white chocolate after melted. Mix in craisins, almonds, and candied orange peel., or dried cherries and pistachios. YUM!

Fall Treats

Pumpkin Cookies

Cream Together:
2 C sugar
2 C butter
2 eggs
Add:2 tsp vanilla
2 C pumpkin
Combine:
4 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
Combine wet and dry ingredients
Grease cookie sheet and drop cookie dough on pan. Cook in preheated 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.
While cookies are baking make the icing:
In a saucepan combine:
1C butter
2C brown sugar
1/2C milk
Stir constantly and let boil for 1 minute.
Add 1 tsp vanilla.
Pour into a glass bowl and refrigerate until cool.
When cool whip in icing sugar until you get a nice thicker consistency (but still can be easily spread) This makes a really large batch of cookies, perfect for sharing with friends and stashing a few extras in the freezer. I packaged these goodies in some tall white gift boxes with a clear window in the front that I had found at Michaels. Add some cute ribbon and a tag and you have a great little gift.

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels...better known as Monster Toes

Pretzel rods (in the photo I used the smaller pretzel twists, that are the perfect "toe"size)
caramel bits
evaporated milk (water can also be used)
green chocolate melts (Wilton brand)
Melt 1 pkg of caramel with 1-2 tbsp evaporated milk in the microwave on med heat, cook for 1 min then stir, repeat until smooth. Dip pretzel rods about 2/3 up and set on wax paper lined cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Let cool in fridge. Melt chocolate in double boiler or slowly in microwave. Dip pretzels in chocolate. Cut black, purple or red "DOTS" cnady in half and use as the nail. After green color has hardened. Melt some darker green chocolate in a ziploc bag, snip the corner tip and drizzle on some knuckles. Let set, package in cellophane treat bags and top with a cute tent tag.

Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

Light butter microwave popcorn--popped, or any popped popcorn. About 6-8 Cups.
1 bag pumpkin spice Hershey Kisses--unwrapped
Heath Toffee Bits
Cashews or Almonds
Milk Chocolate -- melted
Pop popcorn, slowly melt pumpkin kisses in a glass container in the microwave. Do it on a lower temperature, taking out to stir every 30 seconds or so. Pour over popped corn in a large mixing bowl. Add mix-ins. Spread on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper, and refrigerate. When it has hardened drizzle with some melted milk chocolate. Let harden again. Package in cellophane bags or clear acrylic paint cans (also found at Michaels or other craft/scrapbook stores) Enjoy!

Fresh Mex Black Bean Dip

I love this dip, its healthy and tasty, and completely addictive. Enjoy!

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can white shoepeg corn, drained
2-3 diced tomatoes
1 diced avocado (opt)
1 english cucumber, diced (opt)
1/2-1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2-1 C salsa verde
1/2-1 tsp cumin
dash of salt

Combine and serve with tortilla chips ( we like hint of lime tortilla chips the best) All of the seasonings can be adjusted to your taste.
P.S. If you can't find shoepeg corn in the canned veggie aisle just use any corn.

Asian Noodle Salad

SALAD INGREDIENTS:
1 packages linguine noodles, cooked, rinsed, and cooled
1/2 head sliced Napa cabbage
1/2 head sliced purple cabbage
1/2 to 1 bag baby spinach
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1 yellow bell pepper,
1 orange bell pepper,
1 small bag bean sprouts (also called “mung bean sprouts”)
1 sliced scallions
2 peeled, sliced cucumbers
LOTS of chopped cilantro—up to one bunch
1 can whole cashews

DRESSING:
Juice of 2 limes
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons sesame oil
6 tablespoons soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2-3 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 jalapenos, chopped
More chopped cilantro—LOTS
Mix together salad ingredients. Whisk or blend together dressing ingredients and pour over salad. Mix with tongs or hands and serve on platter.*Dressing keeps up to three days before serving, WITHOUT cilantro.

recipe adapted from Jamie Oliver

Britt's Banana Bread

Simply delicious banana bread, and a little lower in calories with the addition of applesauce.

Cream together:
1/4 C butter
1 1/2 c sugar
Add:
2 eggs, mix
1/2 C applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 C sour milk (you can make your own sour milk by adding a tsp or so of vinegar to your milk)
Combine dry ingredients then add:
2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg (optional)
Add:
2 C mashed bananas

Bake 45-60min at 350 degrees. Makes 2-3 loaves. Also great as muffins.

You will never turn down a piece of these!

Bonnie Clark makes some of the best cakes I have ever tasted. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing some of the recipes with you. These are great for those summer get-togethers!

Oatmeal Cake

Start with 1 1/4 C boiling water and add 1 C quick oats. Let stand for about 20 minutes.

Cream:
1/2 C butter
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 eggs
Add:
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Mix
Add the oatmeal mixture and mix

Pour into greased 9x13 and bake for 20-25min at 350 degrees or
greased cookie sheet for 10-12min at 350.

Icing:

6 TBSP butter
1/2 C brown sugar
1/4 C cream or evaporated milk
1 C coconut
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine in pot and gently let the butter melt and let ingredients barely combine and then pour over cake while warm. Put it under the boiler on the upper rack and broil until lightly toasted on the top.

Chocolate Cake

Cream: 1/2 C butter
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
Add:
2 eggs
1/2 C sour milk
Cream together

Add:
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 C cocoa
2 C flour
Mix together

Add 1 C boiling water and mix

Bake in greased 9x13 for 20-25min at 350
or cookie sheet for 10-15min at 350.

Icing:

Five minutes before cake is done start the frosting.
In a pot:
1 C butter
4 TBSP cocoa
1 C milk
Boil for 30-40 seconds. Take off the heat and put into mixing boil, add 3 1/2C icing sugar and beat it until smooth. Spread onto the hot cake. So sorry if you made this before and it didn't work, I just realized I had forgotten to add the eggs to the recipe!!

Perfect Sugar Cookies

I know everyone says their recipe is the "best", or "award-winning", or "famous", and I'll tell you, I have tried them all! I have found that most of them must not know what makes a good sugar cookie...at least in my opinion! So last night at midnight I tried this recipe (Loron decided he needed a treat for work today) and I think it is the best ever. I tweaked one that I found on allrecipes and I think it is pretty much sugar cookie nirvana! Try this one and let me know what you think. P.S. If you ever visit my blog I would love for you to leave a comment!

Summer's Sugar Cookies

1 C butter
1/2 C shortening
2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 lemon -- juiced and zested
5 C flour (I have to use a little more because of the altitude here, so about 5 1/2 C)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Add vanilla and lemon ( I used meyer lemons,, they have such a nice mild flavor, I also really like orange in these, so try either one). Combine dry ingredients and then add to wet and mix. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Roll out on floured surface, roll to 1/4 to 1/2" thick. Cut out and place on ungreased baking sheet, bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 6-8 minutes (I think 6 is plenty). Let cool and frost with favorite buttercream icing. Made about 4 dozen med-sized hearts.

CAFE RIO CILANTRO LIME DRESSING

Ingredients
1 1/3 c. Sour cream

¾ c. Mayonnaise

½ bunch Cilantro chopped

1 package Ranch dressing mix

4 tbsp. Salsa verde (green salsa)

2 cloves Garlic

1/8 tsp. Tabasco sauce (optional)

Juice of one lime

milk to thin it Out
Preparation
*mix together in blender and that’s it!

THIS THE DRESSING RECIPE I ALWAYS USE. I ALSO SPOTTED THIS RECIPE ONLINE AND IT LOOKS PRETTY TASTY TOO.
SWEET PORK

2 pounds pork
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can sliced green chilies
3/4 can enchilada sauce (I used Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness)
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry). Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.

Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!


CILANTRO-LIME RICE

1 c. uncooked rice
1 tsp. butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 can (15 oz) chicken broth
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tsp. sugar
3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

In a saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. lime, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat. In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro. Pour over hot cooked rice and mix in as you fluff the rice.


BLACK BEANS

2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c. tomato juice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in the cilantro. (**NOTE** we added a can of corn, drained, to the beans with a dash of cumin and chili powder, it was AWESOME! We recommend doing this even though it's not "traditional Cafe Rio")


CILANTRO RANCH

1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 jalepeno (we like it SPICY so we kept the seeds in it, if you like it mild, just remove the seeds)

Mix all ingredients together in the blender. Thats it!

K so now to make it all PERFECT... Here is how we put it all together: First of all, we bought the aluminum deep-dish pans (they had these at the grocery store, you will know when you see them.. they look JUST like the Cafe Rio tins). Lay a tortilla in the bottom of the pan, sprinkle cheese on it, and put in the oven at 375 for about 5 min or until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven, add beans, rice, pork, then lettuce (we used the leafy green lettuce, NOT ICEBURG) and a little scoop of diced tomato and onions (pico de gallo). We made up some gaucamole and put some of that on the salad (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). We also added a little spoonful of sour cream. Add some crushed tortilla chips (we have yet to find the little tortilla strips), a shake of parmesan cheese, and top with a few cilantro leaves. Serve with the cilantro ranch dressing and there you have it!

It really is easier than it looks. It only took me about an hour to make (after the pork was in the crock pot). The rice and beans are SUPER easy, you definitely want the beans and rice to get the whole experience! Also, be generous with the cilantro!

Britt's Pumpkin Cookies

Warning: The following recipe is very addictive and can lead to extra pounds on the hips!

Cream Together:
2 C sugar
2 C butter
2 eggs

Add:
2 tsp vanilla
2 C pumpkin

Combine:
4 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice

Combine wet and dry ingredients

Grease cookie sheet and drop cookie dough on pan. Cook in preheated 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.

While cookies are baking make the icing:

In a saucepan combine:

1C butter
2C brown sugar
1/2C milk
Stir constantly and let boil for 1 minute. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Pour into a glass bowl and refrigerate until cool. When cool whip in icing sugar until you get a nice thicker consistency (but still can be easily spread)

These are not the prettiest cookies but they taste so good that it does not matter!

Breadsticks

These are the most delicious breadsticks, and so easy to make! There a favorite recipe from my Missoula Recipe Group days.

Breadsticks Recipe:



1 TBSP Yeast

1 1/2 C warm water

2 TBSP Sugar

1/2 tsp salt

3-4 C flour

1/2 C butter



Dissolve yeast, water, and sugar in mixing bowl. Let double. Combine salt and flour. Add to wet. Mix and knead for at least 3 minutes. Let dough rest for 10-20minutes. Melt butter. Spread half of butter on a cookie sheet. Then roll out dough on to that. Spread the rest of the butter on the top of the dough. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and garlic salt, or italian seasonings, whatever you like. Using a pizz cutter cut in breadsticks. Let rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Rosa Pasta

This one's for you Jen. I have to admit that when I give you all these recipes, I hope that they taste good to you. When I cook I usually do not follow a recipe so the measurements are never exact, so recreating a dish isn't always an exact science. I encourage you to adjust any seasoning to your own personal tastes.
This is one of those recipes that came from looking in my fridge in deperation as to what to make for dinner one night and perfecting a Grandpa Gordie specialty. Loron said that whenever his dad was in charge of the cooking he would toss together some bacon, canned tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. So here is a gussy-upped version, and it is one of my kids favorites.

Ingredients
Angel Hair Pasta -- boil in salted water
1 lb bacon, cut into small pieces and cook.
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 shallot--minced (use a small white onion instead if you need to)
2 cloves of garlic -- minced
10-12 diced mushrooms
artichoke hearts -- chopped, optional
black olives-- finely diced, optional
1/3-1/2 C chopped fresh basil (dry can be substituted, use s TBSP or two)
1/4--1/2 C cream
1 TBSP butter
salt and pepper

In a saute pan cook bacon. Drain on papertowels and set aside. Remove bacon fat from pan and add onions, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook until all of the liquid is gone from the mushrooms. Add tomatoes. Cook until most of the liquid from the tomatoes has evaporated. Add bacon and basil, and anything else you would like at this point. Let simmer for a couple of minutes. Add cream and butter and let simmer, don't let it boil. The butter just helps to make the sauce have a nice smooth consistency. Season as desired with salt and pepper. Toss with pasta. Great topped with shredded parmesan and toasted pine nuts. Also good with grilled chicken tossed into the mix. Ciao!

I am feeling a little Soupy today.

I love soup! I could eat it everyday, if Loron would let me! But his man appetite, doesn't think soup everyday is very satistfying. So here is my hommage to soups. I try to cram veggies wherever I can and my kids usually like all of these. Enjoy!

California Pizza Kitchen's Sedona White Corn Tortilla Soup

I wish that we had a California Pizza Kitchen in Reno, but this is second best!

Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 small corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch squares
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons onions, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons jalapeno peppers, minced
2 cups white corn kernels
1 1/2 lbs ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/3 cup tomato paste
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 cups water
1 quart chicken stock
Garnishes
24 corn tortilla chips
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Directions
1Over medium heat, fry tortilla squares in olive oil until they begin to crisp and turn a golden yellow. Add garlic,onion and jalapeno; cook 1 to 2 minutes, until onion becomes translucent.
2Add half the corn along with all other ingredients (except garnishes), reserving other half of corn to be added at the end.
3Bring the soup to a low, even boil. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove soup from heat.
4Use a hand-held propeller blade processor to process in batches to the consistency of a course puree. You can also process in batches in a blender. Return the soup to the burner and add the reserved corn.
5Bring the soup to a boil once again being extremely careful to avoid scorching or burning the soup.
6To serve, garnish with blue corn tortilla chips, cilantro and sharp Cheddar cheese.

Italian Stoup

2 links Italian sausage
2 C cheese tortellini -- cooked
1 small onion-- finely diced
2 cloves of garlic -- minced
1/2 C matchstick carrots
1 rib of celery -- finely diced
1 C zucchini-- large dice
2 lg cans of diced tomatoes
1-2 C chicken broth
1 can cannelli beans
2 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp sugar
2 TBSP dried basil
1 TBSP dried oregano
1-2 tsp dried ground thyme
salt and pepper
fresh basil
parmesan

In a saute pan cook up sausage links, let drain on paper towel. Let cool and then cut into thin round slices.
In a large stock pot add a couple tablespoons of olive oil and saute onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Just before they are finished add the zucchini.
Add sausage, tomatoes, beans, and seasonings. Let simmer so that the flavors all come together (1/2 hr)
While the stoup is simmering cook up tortellini in salted water until al dente (still a little firm). Add tortellini to stoup. Garnish with fresh chopped basil and shredded parmesan cheese. Delicious served with fresh french bread or breadsticks...ooh I have a good recipe for that too, I will add that one soon.

Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

Ingredients
4 tablespoons butter
1 medium/large onion, diced
1 medium butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
4 pears, peeled and chopped into roughly 1-inch pieces
1-quart low sodium chicken stock, or enough to cover
1 tsp ginger
Heavy cream
Salt, freshly ground black pepper and granulated sugar
Directions
In a saucepan melt the butter over medium-high heat, and add and sweat the onions. Add pears and squash and sweat those too a bit. Pour in the stock, enough to submerge solids. Add ginger and bring to a simmer and cook until squash is fork tender about 15 to 18 minutes. Puree with immersion blender or pour into a food processor. Add a touch of cream and season, to taste. Serve with chopped chives if desired.

Thai Shrimp Soup

Ingredients
1 14-1/2-ounce can chicken broth
1 small zucchini, cut into matchstick-size pieces (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 green onion, bias-cut into 1-1/4-inch slices (2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel or lime peel
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
12 ounces small shrimp, peeled and deviled
1 14-ounce can coconut milk
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons toasted shaved coconut
Directions
1. Bring broth to boiling in a saucepan. Add green onion, ginger, lemon peel, and crushed red pepper. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add zucchini. ( I don't add the zucchini earlier because then it gets overcooked and mushy!)

2. Add shrimp. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 to 3 minutes or until shrimp is opaque. Add coconut milk. Heat through (do not boil). Ladle into bowls. Top with cilantro and coconut. Serve immediately. I tried to make this ahead of time and serve it at a dinner and the zucchini was then over cooked and the shrimp became tough. So sorry this is not a make ahead recipe, but it is so delicious and light! You could probably substitute chicken if shrimp isn't your favorite. Give it a try!

White Bean Chili

Ingredients
1 onion -- finely diced
2-3 cloves of garlic minced
2 TBSP olive oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4-5 cans beans, either great northern or navy
4-5 C chicken broth
2 small cans diced green chiles
1/4 C salsa verde (optional)
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground oregano
salt and pepper
1/2-1 C sour cream (light works just as well)
cilantro
cheese
limes

Cook chicken, either grill or boil, and cut up. In a large stockpot saute onions and garlic in the olive oil. Add all remaining ingredients dow to salt and pepper. Let simmer for at least 20 minutes or put in a crockpot and let it simmer all day. Just before serving mix in xour cream, use as little or as much as you prefer. Add some lime juice. Ladle into bowl and garnish with chopped cilantro, cheese, and if wanted more lime. Also good with diced avocados, tomatoes, and lime tortilla chips. This is a family favorite. I even won a chili contest with it...ok it was just a little church contest, but it is still tasty!!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium white onions, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
3 ripe medium tomatoes, chopped
1 quart chicken stock
1 tsp cumin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Canola oil, for pan-frying
8 corn tortillas, cut into 1/8-inch-thick strips
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken (great time to use a rotissiere chicken)
2 avocados, halved, pitted, peeled, and diced
1 cup shredded Jack cheese, optional
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
1 lime, cut in wedges, for serving
Directions
Place a stockpot over medium heat and coat with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onions, garlic, jalapenos, and tomatoes; cook, stirring for 15 minutes until the vegetables are cooked down and pulpy. Pour in the stock, season with salt and pepper and cumin, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 1-inch of canola oil in a skillet over medium-high flame. When the oil begins to smoke, add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until they are crisp on all sides. Remove to a paper towel-lined platter and sprinkle with salt while they are still hot.

Ladle the hot soup into 4 soup bowls and put a pile of shredded chicken on top of each. Top with the diced avocado and fried tortilla strips (and cheese if using). Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

Seafood Pan Roast

Thanks to Jacque Foster for introducing this fabulous soup to us! This is one of those things you think about and crave all of the time! Its also super simple even though it has a laundry list of ingredients.


SERVES 1
Ingredients

1/4 teaspoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 dash Tabasco sauce
2 tablespoons white wine
1 tablespoon seafood cocktail sauce
1/4 cup clam juice
6 ounces shrimp, peeled and deveined and/or crab
3/4 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon butter
Directions
1 In large pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add salt, white pepper, celery seed, paprika, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tobasco, white wine, cocktail sauce and clam juice.
2 Add seafood, stir and bring to a full boil. Add half-and-half and simmer on low until you serve.
3 Place butter in bottom of deep bowl, pour in pan roast, sprinkle with paprika and serve.
The recipe is shown as a single serving because thats how they do it in the restaurant in a double boiler.

Try this one it is soooo goood!!!

Fabulous Christmas Treats

Chocolate dipped Pretzels
Pretzel rods
caramel bits
evaporated milk
chocolate
Melt 1 pkg of caramel with 1-2 tbsp evaporated milk in the microwave on med heat, cook for 1 min then stir, repeat until smooth. Dip pretzel rods about 2/3 up and set on wax paper lined cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Let cool in fridge. Melt chocolate in double boiler or slowly in microwave. Dip pretzels in chocolate, set on wax paper. Drizzle with white chocolate or sprinkles or chopped nuts of choice. Enjoy!

White Chocolate Popcorn
2-3 bags Light butter microwave popcorn **--popped
1 bag white melting chips, white chips, or almond bark
Melt chips slowly in the microwave. Pour over popped corn in a large mixing bowl. Add mix-ins -- caramel bits, peanuts, almonds, toffee bits, crushed candy canes, craisins, pistachios. Spread out in a wax-lined pan and drizzle with melted dark or milk chocolate. Let cool. Break up and package.

Best Chocolate Sauce Ever
1 C Heavy Cream

3/4 C Sugar

1 Square Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate

2-3 TBSP Butter

Dash of Salt

Put all of the ingredients into a saucepan. over med heat bring to a boil while stirring occasionally, let boil for 5 minutes while stirring. remove from heat and let cool to thicken. Serve with fruit, ice cream, as fondue.

Christmas Morning Recipe Ideas

Morning Glory Potatoes
Thanks to Carrie Godfrey for the following two recipes.

12 large potatoes (or 1- 32 oz bag frozen hash browns)
1 lb bacon or 2 cups cubed precooked ham
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 onion, chopped or green onions are good too
1 red pepper, chopped (optional)
1 TBSP dill --opt.
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sour cream
2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided in half

Scrub potatoes. Cut into bite-sized chunks. Place in a large stockpot. Cover with water. Boil with lid on just until tender (about 20 minutes). If using frozen has browns, thaw. Place bacon in a frying pan and cook until well done, but not crisp. Drain bacon and potatoes. Sprinkle salt and pepper over potatoes and blend. Cut bacon into pieces. In a bowl microwave onion and red pepper in butter for about 3 minutes. Stir in sour cream, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, and bacon pieces. Stir carefully into cooked potatoes or thawed hash browns. Place in a 9X13 greased baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.


Creme Brulee French Toast

1/2 C butter
1 C packed brown sugar
2 TBSP corn syrup
1 loaf of texas toast
5 eggs
1 1/2 C half and half
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

In a small saucepan melt butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup oer med heat until smooth. Pour mixture into a large, greased jelly roll pan (18x13x1) Spread to cover surface. Place 12 slices of bread in a single layer to cover pan. Mix together remaining ingredients. Spoon over each piece of bread. Cover and refrigerate over night. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. If not serving immediately turn each slice of bread over, this will prevent bread from sitcking to the bottom of the pan. Delicious served warm or cold.

Melt in your Mouth Pancakes

1 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 TBSP sugar
1 C milk
1 egg
2 TBSP oil

Sift together dry ingredients. Mix together wet ingredients, thne incorporate with the dry. Let rest for at least 10 minutes. Cook on griddle. Makes 10-12.

German Pancakes

In Blender Combine:
6 eggs
1 C milk
1 C flour
1/2 tsp salt

Melt 1/4 C butter in a 9x13 pan in a 350 degree over. Add egg mixture. Return to oven adn bake for 20 minutes, til golden on edges and puffy. Serve with fruit and whipped cream, syrup, or powdered sugar. YUM!

Homemade Granola

Combine:
6 C Old Fashioned oats
2 C almonds or cashews
1 1/2 C coconut
Combine:
3/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C maple sugar
1/2 C oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
Mix everything together and pour into a baking sheet. Cook for 1 hr and 15 min at 250 degrees, stirring every 15 minutes.

Christmas Morning Breakfast

The Most Delicious Cinnamon French Toast Casserole

A BIG GIANT SHOUT OUT TO LINSEY FOR THIS RECIPE. IT IS A FMILY FAVORITE, THANKS FOR FINDING IT SIS!

12 C Texas Toast (1 loaf) -- cubed
8 eggs-- beaten
2 1/2 C milk
6 TBSP butter -- melted
1/4 C sugar
2 TBSP cinnamon

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Butter a 9x13 pan add 1/2 of bread cubes and sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon and sugar mix. Repeat. Combine eggs, milk, and slightly cooled butter. Pour egg mixture over bread. Press bread until it is soaked through. Cover and chill for 2-24 hours. Bake at 325 for 35-45 minutes. Serve with buttermilk syrup and raspberry sauce drizzled over the warm french toast.

Buttermilk Syrup

1/2 C buttermilk
1/2 C butter
1 C sugar
Bring ingredients to a boil. Stirring constantly let boil for a couple of minutes. Add 1 tsp vanilla. Let sit for at least 1 hour. You can make it up ahead of time and then just barely reheat it in the microwave.

Raspberry Sauce

10 oz of frozen raspberries in syrup
1 TBSP lemon juice

Blend together, and if you want to take the time, strain through a sieve to get out the seeds. Also if you only have plain raspberries just put them in a pot with some sugar and let them cook down a little.
I like to put my syrups in those clear plastic condiment bottles then it is really easy to drizzle over your french toast! Enjoy!!

OPA!

Last night was Greek night at our dinner table. We enjoyed some leg of lamb along with a great side dish I wanted to share. I just kind of made this up and I never measure anything so just give this a go and season it to your liking. My kids loved this!! Just a side note, I bought the Israeli couscous in the bulk section of the Good Food Store in Missoula, MT...I sure miss that place!

Mediterranean Couscous

1 C Israeli Couscous
English cucumber -- small dice
grape tomatoes -- cut in half
1 can of olives -- black or kalamata
3 TBSP crumbled feta
olive oil
red wine vinegar
salt & pepper
1 small lemon --juiced
Pampered Chef Greek Seasoning mix or
fresh or dried oregano or other herbs

Bring 2 C water to a boil. Add couscous, turn down to med and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse. Let cool. Add cukes, tomatoes, and olives. Drizzle with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, a little red wine vinegar and squeeze of lemon. Add seasonings to taste. Mix and top with feta. Enjoy!

Baby Its Cold Outside

So we have gone from close to 100 degrees to 60!! Thought is would be a good day for soup! Here are couple of favorites.

Tortilla Soup

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 cans (14 oz) chicken broth
2 cans stewed tomatoes -- chopped & with liquid
1 C medium salsa
2 TBSP chopped cilantro

Cook in crockpot for 4 hours on low

Before serving shred chicken and return to soup. Garnish with corn tortillas cut into strips, cilantro, cheese, avocado, or sour cream.

Thanks to Natalie Anderson for the recipe!


Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli


Ingredients
1lb ground beef
1 small onion -- diced
1 C matchstick carrots
3 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2--14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
1--15oz can kidney beans (with liquid)
1--15 oz can great northern beans (with liquid)
1--15 oz can tomato sauce
12-24 oz V-8 juice
2 TBSP white vinegar
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp oregano
1 TBSP dried basil
1/2 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 lb ditali pasta ( I actually use about 1/2 of that, because the pasta seems to suck up all of the liquid in the soup! )

Method:
1. Brown ground beef in large saucepan over med heat. Drain off most of the fat. 2. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and saute for 10 minutes. 3. Add remaining ingredients except for pasta, and simmer for 1 hour. 4. Cook past in boiling, salted water. Drain. 5. Add the pasta to the soup. Simmer for 10 minutes. Serve. Garnish with fresh basil and parmesan.

Satisfying Salads

Watermelon & Peach Salsa

2 C diced watermelon
2 small peaches -- peeled & diced
1 Lime -- juiced
1 jalepeno -- minced
dash of salt
1 TBSP -- minced red or sweet onion (opt)

Combine ingredients. Serve with lime tortilla chips.

Lime Chips

Flour Tortillas
lime
cayenne pepper
salt
cooking spray

Spray a cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut up tortillas into triangles. Brush with lime juice and sprinkle with cayenne and salt to your taste. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly browned and crisp.

This recipe is also great with just watermelon, you could also do mango or pineapple salsa using the same basic technique.

Light Done Right

Challenge

I am starting this program in my ward for enrichment tonight, just thought I would throw it out there for anyone who is interested.

Feeling Great in Eight

A simple plan of healthy eating and lifestyle resulting in possible weight loss and probable gain of healthy habits.

Amount of loss and gain depends on how competitive you are. This is a team effort.

Rules:

• Program runs for eight weeks. Beginning Monday May 5th, and ending Monday June 30^th.
  
• Weigh in – weigh yourself at home every Monday. Honor System of course. Record this weight loss in your point tracker.
  
• Track points daily on point tracking sheets. We will go from Monday to Sunday each week. Total your points and turn them into your team leader every Monday morning. (we will use email to do our reporting and pass along info. If you do not have email we will work something out.)
  
• Good Food Points – See included sheet. Add one point for each good food eaten, up to 10 points a day. Hint: Tally on chart for each good food but use F and V to help track your fruits and vegetables.
  
• Bad food Points – See included sheet. Subtract 2 points for every bad food eaten. NO MAX!
  
• Exercise Points – 20-30 minutes = 10 points, 30-45 minutes = 15 points, 46-60min = 20 points, 20 points MAX per day.
  
• Daily Calendar – Earn 5 points/ day by following the daily calendar. This will be emailed to you each Sunday for the upcoming week. It will also be available in Relief Society on Sundays.
  
• After 8 p.m. points – Earn 5 points/day if you eat NOTHING after 8 pm.
  

  Eat after 8…put on weight.
  

• Water Points – Earn 5 points for drinking water everyday, 32oz/day for week one, 40 oz week 2, 48 oz for weeks 3-8.
  
• 5+ Fruits and Veggies – Earn 10 points if you eat a combined total of 5 fruits and veggies daily.
  
• Lost Pound Points – Weeks 2-8 weigh in every Monday a.m. and give yourself 10 points for every pound lost. Give 5 points for ½ pound.
  
• Personal Prayer Points – There is a special relationship between your body and your spirit. Strengthen your spirit as you strengthen you body. 5 points max for daily personal prayer (family, dinner, or sacrament prayers are not included…it has to be personal!)
  
• Total your points – Inform your team captain of your score. Team captains will turn in their combined team score to Summer on Mondays. Weekly winning team will be announced by email and at church the following Sunday on a poster in the R.S. room. Hand in your tracking sheets on Sundays to Summer to help determine our Grand Prize winners.
  

  GOOD LUCK!
  

  
   

  Bad Food List
  

  
   

  Subtract 2 Points for EACH food you eat a day on this list.
  

  
   

  Sugar cereal or low fiber cereal
  

  White bread
  

  White pasta
  

  White rice
  

  Fried food
  

  Bakery items, muffins, cake, pie, doughnuts
  

  Soda or other drinks with sugar
  

  Regular mayo or sour cream
  

  Ice cream or yogurt with more than 19 grams of carbs/serving
  

  Potato chips, cheetos, fritos, crackers, etc
  

  Any cookie with sugar
  

  Chocolate
  

  candy
  

  High sugar or high carb bars such as granola bars, cliff bars, pop tarts
  

  Hot dogs
  

  
   

  You know your body…put anything on this list that you think isn't good for you.
  

Good Food List

Try to choose the majority of your foods from this list. You get one point for every good food choice you eat each day –

up to 10 points/day

 

Oatmeal, without a lot of added sugar

Eggs, egg whites, or egg beaters

100% Whole wheat bread

Whole grain foods

Low sugar, high fiber cereal

Skim or 1% milk

All fruit

All veggies, except corn and peas

Baked Potato or Sweet potato

Tuna (packed in water)

Chicken

Fish

Pork

Lean Beef

Lean Ham

Non fat or 1% cottage cheese

String Cheese

Yogurt with less than 20 grams of carbs

Olive oil

Air popped popcorn or low fat microwave popcorn

Protein bar with less than 15 grams of carbs

Go Lean Kashi

Low sodium soups

Daily Vitamin

RDA Calcium

Remember to read the labels on your food, you might find some of them surprising. Really pay attention to the sugar, sodium, and fat content. Don't go overboard on the artificial sweeteners. Try to eliminate some of the processed foods in you diet. We will send out some good eating tips in the upcoming weeks.

 

 

Daily Calendar

Week 1

May 5-11

 

Monday – Meet with your team and come up with a team name, elect your team leader. You may also want to discuss any strategies.

 

Tuesday – Call, email, or send a note to a friend you haven't been in contact with for a while.

 

Wednesday – Read a newspaper/book/ or magazine for at least 20 minutes

 

Thursday – Get 8 hours of sleep tonight.

 

Friday – Write in your journal

 

Saturday – Go for a walk and enjoy the great outdoors

 

Sunday – Plan your menu for the week ahead

 

If you need to switch days for these activities that would be just fine!

 

"Obviously there is a great difference between feeling

happy for at a given moment and

being happy for a lifetime,

between having a good time and leading a good life."

Pres. James E. Faust