3.25.2009

Sticky Buns...

2 Doz frozen rhodes rolls
1 (3oz.) package instant vanilla pudding
3/4 cup white sugar
3 T. cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 cup whipping cream
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Arrange frozen rolls in 2 9x13 inch greased pans. Do
this while dough is still frozen (or three 9x9 pans).
Mix dry pudding,sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over
frozen dough.

Melt butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and cream. Warm
until dissolved, then add chopped nuts and pour
mixture over dough. Cover with plastic wrap and let
rise on counter overnight. Bake at 350 for 20-25 mins
when done turn upside down onto cookie sheet and
enjoy.

Funeral Potatoes...

8 lbs potatoes, boiled til tender (or you can bake them and then scoop out the insides...)
3 cups sour cream
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz cream cheese
3-4 cups grated cheddar cheese

Once our potatoes are cooked, dice them into small
pieces and place them in a large bowl. In a large sauce pan over medium low heat, combine the sour cream, soups and cream cheese and stir until melted and warm, then stir in the cheddar cheese and pour the sauce over the potatoes and stir to combine. Then pour the whole thing into a very large casserole dish and back at 350 until it's hot in the middle.

Taco Soup II...

1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 can RoTel tomatoes, Cilantro with Lime style
1 can whole kernel corn
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 package taco seasoning (I start with about half a package and add up to the whole packet if I think it needs it)
1/2 - 1 package hidden valley ranch packet
1 16oz can black beans
1 16 oz. can Pinto Beans or Chili Beans
shredded cheese
sour cream
corn chips

Saute beef with onion till cooked in a large pot. Add tomatoes, drained corn, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning and then drained and rinsed beans in that order (why, I have no idea, that's just what the original recipe said...). I sometimes have to add a half or a whole cup of water to get it to the consistency that I want. Simmer for one half hour or on low before serving. Top with shredded cheese, corn chips, sour cream, etc.

Brunch Strata...

3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
3 cups chopped zucchini
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 ½ cups chopped onion
1 ½ cups chopped red pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 (8 ounces) packages cream cheese, softened
½ cup half-and-half cream
12 eggs
4 cups cubed day-old bread
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

In a large skillet, saute the mushrooms, zucchini, ham, onion, peppers and garlic in oil until vegetables are tender. Drain and pat dry; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and half-and-half until smooth. Beat in eggs. Stir in the bread, cheese, salt, pepper and vegetable mixture.

Pour into two greased 11x7x2 inch baking dishes. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. (If refrigerated, may need more baking time.)

Creamy Cilantro Sauce

8 oz. cream cheese
1 T sour cream
1 (7oz) jar of Salsa Verde
1 t. ground black pepper
1 t. celery salt
2 t. garlic powder
1 bunch cilantro
1 T. fresh lime juice.

Combine above ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Serve with any type of Mexican dish as a topping.

Chocolate Bundt Cake...

1 yellow cake mix
1 large box instant choc. pudding mix
3/4 c. oil
3/4 c. water
4 eggs
8 oz. sour cream (plus more for the frosting, see below)
6 oz. chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients except the sour cream and chocolate chips and mix thoroughly. Stir in the sour cream and the chocolate chips. Pour into a bundt pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and then coated with granulated sugar. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Pour the frosting over the cake when it is just barely still warm.

Frosting

1 can Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Frosting
about 1/3 c. sour cream

In a glass bowl, warm the frosting in the microwave about 20 seconds, until it is soft and pourable, but not steaming hot. Stir in the sour cream and then drizzle over the barely warm cake.

Italian Sandwiches

1 1/2 lbs. hamburger
1 1/2 lbs. Italian sausage
2 large onions, sliced
2 large green peppers, sliced
2 large sweet peppers, sliced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
8 sandwich rolls
Monterey jack or pepper jack cheese

Brown hamburger and sausage. Drain. Place a third of veggies in the bottom of crock pot. Top with half the meat. Repeat layers; top with remaining veggies. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 6 hours on low. Serve inside roll with cheese on top. This is wonderful with or without red pepper flakes. Also is a great recipe to half as it makes a ton!

3.16.2009

Chex Mix...

1 box Rice Chex
1 box Golden Grahams
1/2 bag marshmallows
3/4 to 1 bag chocolate chips (Can use white or brown or a mixture)

Syrup
2 sticks +2 Tablespoons Butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups Karo syrup
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix in saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil for 3 minutes

Pour over cereal and mix well.  Pour over marshmallows and chocolate chips and mix really well.  Spread on parchment paper to cool.