Thursday, October 31, 2013

Golden Harvest Soup

Notes: Had this on Halloween at home. Was delicious. Reminded me a little of broccoli soup squash style. Mom doubled it when she made it and had plenty left over.

from mom (who got it from LDS living magazine)

Ingredients:
1/4 C butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 leeks, white and light, green parts only, chopped (mom skips)
1 large potato, peeled and diced
1 C thinly sliced or diced carrots
2 C squash, diced (butternut squash is best)
3 C chicken stock or broth/boullion
1 1/2 C (approx) light cream or evaporated milk (Mom used half and half and extra milk)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. In a large heavy stock pot, melt butter. Cook onions and leeks in butter until softened but not browned. Stir in potato, carrots and squash.
2. Cook, stirring for 2-3 min.
3. Pour in stock, cover and simmer for about 20-30 min or until vegetables are all very tender.
4. Puree in batches in blender or food processor until very smooth.


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Spiced Pear Jam

from Taste of Home

 Spiced Pear Jam
Notes: I made some pear jam this year and we love it! But unfortunately, I forgot to copy the recipe on to my blog. But I'm pretty sure this is the recipe I used so I'm adding it now to help me next year as I know we'll be wanting to make more. The spices are subtle and really remind me of Christmas.

48 ServingsPrep: 1 hour 40 min. Process: 10 min.

Ingredients

  • 8 cups chopped or coarsely ground peeled pears (about 5-1/2 pounds)
  • 4 cups sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

  • Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven. Simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/2
  • to 2 hours or until thick, stirring occasionally. Stir more
  • frequently as the mixture thickens.

  • Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Carefully ladle into hot
  • half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe
  • rims and adjust lids. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water
  • canner. Yield: 6 half-pints.

Editor's Note: This recipe does not require pectin.
Nutritional Facts: 1 serving (2 tablespoons) equals 81 calories, trace fat (trace saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, trace sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, trace protein.
© Taste of Home 201

Sweet Chicken Pasta Salad

We had this at my bridal shower at home. It was great then and as leftovers. This recipe makes a really big batch.
 
from Mom
 
Ingredients:
4 c. diced chicken
16 oz each - rotine pasta, tri-color, curly and
                   bowtie pasta
1 20 oz. can pineaple tidbits
1 1/2 c. red grapes  (cut in half)
1 1/2 c.  green grapes (cut in half)
4 green onions - chopped
1 c. celery chopped
cashews if desired
 
Dressing and Directions: 
Mix 1 bottle Marzetti cole slaw dressing with 1 c. mayonaise.  This salad is better if mixed early and let set. It allows the flavors to "marry".
Add the cashews just before serving.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

My Mom gave me this for a trip to the Outerbanks. She had gotten it from my Aunt Nan. Next time would definitely try to cook it all beforehand and pull it, then just freeze and reheat when you are serving. It just took more time in the kitchen than I had planned with the beach tantalizing us the whole time.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs. boneless pork roast (or more) cut into chunks
2 med chopped onions
2 med green peppers, chopped
1 6 pz. tomato paste
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. cidar vinegar
3 T. chili powder
2 t. salt
2 t. worchestershire sauce
1 t. dry mustard
 
Directions:
Put in crock pot and cook all day.
Tear apart and shred with large forks. 
Serve on big kaiser or krusty rolls
Serves 10 6 in. hard rolls.
 
Mom's helpful notes: The green peppers really add alot of zing.  I usually don't put quite that many in.  Maybe even a little less onion also.
The other thing I do is much easier.  Just pour a bottle of Montgomery Inn barbeque sauce over boneless pork roast.  (This is also some sauce that I get from Nan but I hear you can get it online now.)

Bik's Sweet Potato Casserole

from my visiting teacher Bik D who brought this after Camilla was born and we loved it.

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (canned is good and easier)
3/4 stick butter or margarine
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla



Directions:
Mix well
Pour into a greased 9x13 glass casserole dish
Bake 425 for 15 minutes

Topping:

1 cup crushed cornflakes
3/4 stick butter or margarine (melted and reserved to drizzle over topping)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
Mix DRY ingredients and sprinle over top of cooked casserole
Drizzle melted butter over toppiing
Bake 400 for 15 more minutes

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Omelet Rollups

Omelette Roll Ups from favfamilyrecipes.com
from Fav Family Recipes

Notes: Loved it. I've always been a failure at omelets and these were a great solution for me. I also like that you could serve it on a buffet type brunch for holidays or company too with other foods. Was easy and good and everyone liked it at our house.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 c. milk
  • 1/4 c. flour
  • 6 eggs
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • Your favorite omelette toppings (such as):
  • bacon or sausage or ham
  • tomatoes
  • onions
  • peppers
  • spinach
  • avocado
Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a medium size bowl beat together the milk and flour. Add the eggs, salt, and pepper and beat until it is well blended. Pour the egg mix into a 9x13 glass pan lined with cooking spray.
  • Bake in preheated oven for about 6 to 7 minutes, the layer of egg should be fully cooked, no runny spots.
  • Top the egg with cheese and your favorite omelette toppings, for ours we did bacon and tomatoes. Return to oven for one minute, or until cheese melts.
  • Remove from oven and use a rubber spatula to loosen up the sides. You can roll it from either the long end or short end, depending on how big of rolls you want.
  • Roll up and slice into individual servings. If desired, top with sour cream and salsa.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Bombay House Style Chicken Coconut Korma


Bombay House Style Chicken Coconut Kurma

from Mattawamum

 Notes: I tried substituting cream of coconut with regular milk added in to dilute it. It worked but my sauce was definitely darker red than shown in her picture. Possibly less spice as Daniel said it had a very strong flavor. All that said, I was definitely craving the leftovers the next 2 days. And pretty easy and quick. I tried Favorite Family recipe for this as well and prefer this recipe although I'd go down on the amount of spices as noted before. Made again with the 1/2 tsp garam masala, was great and the right color. Want to try with 3/4 tsp next time just for curiosity's sake. Like it with the Greek yoghurt. Used Nicole's recipe for Pulao Rice but couldn't really taste the difference.

Ingredients:
{for the marinade}
3 chicken breasts
1 cup plain  Greek yoghurt (save 4 T for sauce later)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cayenne/red pepper
1/2 tsp tumeric
3/4 tsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin
{for the sauce}
2 Tbsp butter
1 small onion, diced
3 tsp garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp cayenne/red pepper (for medium, no cayenne for mild which is what we prefer as still has slight kick from cayenne in marinade)
1 tsp garam masala (used 1/2 today and was good, might try 3/4 next just to see, 1 was too strong)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground coriander
1 15oz can chopped tomatoes
1 15oz (regular size) can coconut milk
4 Tbsp plain Greek yoghurt
cashew nuts (about 3/4 cup)
golden raisins (about 1/2 cup)
cilantro and white rice to serve

Directions:
1. Cut the chicken into  thin slices. Place in a ziploc bag with all the other marinade ingredients and set in the fridge until ready to use (anywhere from 2 hours-24 hours).
2. In a pan over medium high heat, add a little olive oil and cook the chicken in two batches for 4-5 minutes on either side until no longer pink in the center.
3.  Melt the butter in a high-sided pan. Add the garlic and onion and cook for 1 minute.
4.  Add the spices: ginger, turmeric, cayenne, garam masala, salt, and coriander. Stir for 1 minute.
5.  Stir in tomatoes, coconut milk, heavy whipping cream and golden raisins. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. (PS you can add the cashews at this point, but they will get soft instead of crunchy).
6. Add the cashews right at the end, taste and season according to taste. Garnish with cilantro, cashews and golden raisins. Serve with white rice and garlic naan.