Carmel corn

Christmas is full of memories. Huge family get-togethers with cousins and aunts and uncles. Singing Christmas carols then coming home for hot chocolate. Getting up and running to look out the window to see if it was white outside. Taking turns reading the story of Christ's birth. Opening presents together... and the list just goes on and one.

But the memory from childhood that is etched most tenderly in my mind was simply spending Christmas Eve together. As the Christmas tree lights shown brightly in the dimmed room we'd sit around and sing and talk and crack nuts. And as we kids persuaded Mama to let us open just one gift pleeeeeaaaase, we'd munch on delicious caramel corn. Now the smell of caramel corn baking is forever linked to many fun memories from Christmases gone by.

Carmel Corn

15-20 cups popcorn
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda (wait)
1 tsp vanilla

Heat sugar, butter, syrup and salt until bubbly. Meanwhile, combing soda and vanilla. Cook sugar mixture over medium heat for 5 min stirring just enough to keep from burning. Remove from heat and add soda/vanilla. Coat corn. Place in greased pan and bake at 200 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Mouthwash recipe

While reading a recent post, some of you may have been wondering why I was so desperate for the Vodka. And so here is the recipe for the nastiest mouthwash you'll ever taste. But, it really works.

In a quart jar combine:

1 1/2 cups vodka
1/2 oz. of sanguinara (blood root), crushed
1 T myrrh
3 T dried spear mint

Let sit for two weeks, shaking daily. Strain and add enough water to make a quart. Use a teaspoon to a tablespoon daily.

I'm afraid the purpose is to cleanse the teeth/gums and not the breath, so I certainly wouldn't recommend using it before having company over. But the terrible toothache I had when hunting for the Vodka is all but gone, and I'm not quite so nervous about visiting the dentist now. ;)

The recipe is from this handy little book which, along with many other recipes, explains the benefits of each of these ingredients. One thing I know, myrrh was not precious because of it's nice sweet flavor.

Chex mix

This sweet crunchy snack quickly became a family favorite and is great for parties and get togethers. I've even witnessed friends "fighting" for the last few pieces... ;)

Caramel Chex Mix

8 cups chex cereal
1 1/2 cups pretzels
3/4 cup peanuts
3/4 cup b. sugar
6 T butter
3 T c. syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda

Combine first three ingredients in large bowl. In saucepan, combine sugar, butter and syrup. Stir over medium heat until it begins boiling. Let boil for five minutes without stirring. Remove and add soda. Coat cereal mix. Bake at 300 for 20 minutes, stirring once.

Check out more recipes here.

Taco Lasagna Recipe and a Menu Plan

As requested, here is the recipe for Taco Lasagna... with a picture. :) Guacamole dip and chips were a perfect side.

Brown:
1/2-3/4 lb beef
1/2 cup onion

Add and simmer four minutes:
1/3 cup water
1 pack or 1 1/2 T taco seasoning*
1 can black or kidney beans
2 cups diced tomatoes

Layer with:
6 tortillas (I used home made)
1 can re-fried beans (home made as well)
2 cups cheese
1/2 cup olives (opt.)

Bake, covered, for 20-25 minutes. Serves 4. Enjoy!

* After glancing at the ingredients list on a package of taco seasoning, I realized why my mom started making her own! Here's her recipe (downsized for my little family):

1/4 cup chili powder
1/3 cup dried onion
2 T. salt
heaping T cumin
heaping T corn starch
heaping T red pepper
1/2 T garlic
1/2 T oregano
1/4 tsp thyme

And here's our menu plan for the week:

Breakfasts~

Applesauce muffins
Granola with dried fruit
Eggs and toast
Cooked oatmeal or cold cereal
Scrambled eggs
Pumpkin bread
....and lots of nice hot coffee. Ahhh... I love fall!

Dinner~

Sunday- Chicken soup with fresh baked Cuban bread.

Monday- Nacho casserole

Tuesday- Creamy bow ties and chicken

Wednesday- Stir fry with baked cabbage rolls

Thursday- Ham and bean soup with fresh baked bread.

Friday- Shepherd's pie

Saturday- Tuna patties and fried potatoes

Check out more menu plans here and more recipes here.

Cuban bread

'Tis recorded that during the eighth century, monks were allowed a daily ration of 3.7 pounds of bread! Delicious as a thick slice of freshly-baked bread with a generous layer of butter may be, 3.7 pounds is A LOT of bread.

It seemed nigh impossible to me, until Candace introduced me to this recipe for Cuban bread. We just loved it and came somewhat close to consuming an ancient monk's ration. ;)

Besides being awfully yummy, it's really fast and fun to make.

4 cups whole wheat flour
2 T honey or sugar
2 T yeast
1 T salt
2 cups hot water
3-4 cups white flour
sesame seeds (opt)

Combine first five ingredients. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Rise for 15 minutes. Shape into two round loaves, brush with water and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Place a pan of hot water on the lowest rack of a cold oven. Place loaves on middle rack and turn the oven on to 375. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until a light golden brown. Once done, lightly spray with cold water for a nice soft crust. Enjoy!

Check out more recipes here.

Modified from the Tightwad Gazette

Edit: Oh dear! I typed up this post last week and set it to automatically publish today. Soon afterwords, Candace posted the recipe too and I kept forgetting to cancel this post. Anyway, it's so yummy I'll leave the recipe here, but you really should check out her post 'cause it's hilarious ... and she managed to take a picture of the baked bread before it was entirely consumed!

Cookies and a menu plan

One simple thing never fails to make the man of this home happy. When Joshua chooses dessert, we have these cookies. I could get away with serving just about anything for dinner, as long as these little gems followed. ;)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 butter
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs **
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour (up to half wheat)
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup peanuts
3/4 cup chocolate chunks

Combine butters. Add sugars, baking powder and baking soda. Beat 'til smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Drop by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until edges are just slightly browned.

** I've begun replacing one of the eggs with a Tbsp each of soy flour and water and it's worked great. Thanks Gayle!

Anyway, here's the menu for the week... and hopefully none of the dishes will require these cookies to make amends for it.

Breakfasts~

Applesauce muffins
Granola with dried fruit
Eggs and toast
Cooked oatmeal or cold cereal
Scrambled eggs and cinnamon bread

Dinner~

Monday- Harvest chowder with homemade crackers and cheese (homemade crackers that is, not cheese)

Tuesday- Chicken burritos

Wednesday- Dinner with friends

Thursday- Taco lasagna

Friday- Creamed chicken on wheat biscuits

Saturday- Lentil rice casserole and salad.


Check out more menu planning ideas here.

Recipe: granola

Growing up, granola with chocolate chips was the Sunday morning staple. Over the years, my mom has tweaked the recipe to perfection and it's one of my very favorite breakfast foods. Our family of three goes through a huge batch every few weeks!

Combine:

10 cups oatmeal ( we use half quick and half old fashioned)
1 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup powdered milk
2/3 cup coconut
2/3 cup chopped almonds (opt.)

Combine, and add to dry ingredients:

1 1/4 cup oil
scant 1 cup honey
1/2 cup water
1 T vanilla

Bake in a 9x13 pan at 300 for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Top with dried fruit (or chocolate chips) and enjoy.

Visit Gayle's blog for more recipes.

Menu plan for the week

Wow! Already Monday night... time to get the menu plan for the rest of the week figured out. :) I loved following one the last couple of weeks.


For dinner tonight we had one of Rosalind's favorites. Black-eyed peas over rice. While she "helped" me prepare dinner she must have consumed at least a full serving of peas before I finally made her save a "bit" of appetite for later.



It's such an easy dinner to throw together after a busy day.

Combine and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

1/2 pound black-eyed peas, soaked and cooked
A can of diced tomatoes
1/4 pound of sausage
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin

Serve over rice with cornbread and a glass of milk.


Breakfasts~

Cereal with dried fruit
Eggs, hash browns and toast
Banana bread with smoothies
Homemade yogurt and granola
Sausage egg casserole
Blueberry pancakes

Dinners for the rest of the week~

Tuesday- Chicken broccoli casserole (in the freezer) with salad

Wednesday- Tacos with home made tortillas-yum!

Thursday- Spaghetti with french bread and salad

Friday- Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes with steamed veggies

Saturday- Going to my first college football game -- so something easy like nachos before we head out.

Sunday- Chicken pot pie

Check out Menu Planning Monday for more menus.

Recipe: Stuffed Zucchini

In our family the birthday boy (or girl) gets to choose dinner. When I asked Joshua what he wanted, I was expecting something like steak or tilapia. Instead he asked for stuffed zucchini, lots of it.


Ingredients:

2 large or 8 small zucchini or squash
2 large eggs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1+ cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 pound sausage
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup mozzarella or Parmesan cheese

Boil the zucchini for 5-10 minutes or until almost tender. Remove from water and cool slightly. Once they are cool enough to handle, gently cut off the top and with a spoon remove the insides leaving just a small rim.

Blend the pulp and add the eggs, cheese, bread crumbs, sausage and seasonings. If the mixture is soupy add up to half a cup more bread crumbs. Spoon into zucchini.

Place in a greased 9X13 pan and bake at 350 for 2o minutes or until tender. Top with cheese and bake five minutes more. Makes 4 servings. Enjoy!