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  • Monday, October 5, 2009

    Cooking With Sue Wilson

    Candies, Desserts

    Yummy Candy


    2 packages butterscotch chips
    1 package chocolate chips
    1 can peanuts
    Melt chips in microwave and add peanuts
    So easy, kids can do it with a little help!
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    Oatmeal Cookies

    1 c. shortening (margarine or butter) 1 tsp. soda
    1 c. white sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon
    ½ c. brown sugar 1 ½ c. quick rolled oats
    1 egg ¾ c. nuts, crushed fine
    1 ½ c. flour 1 tsp. vanilla

    Cream shortening, sugar and add egg. Add all other ingredients and mix. Chill for an hour (if you have time!). Make walnut-sized balls and put on greased cookie sheet.
    Butter bottom of a small glass, dip it in sugar, and flatten out the little balls. Dip the glass in sugar for each cookie. Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

    I found this recipe years ago in a cookbook and it has been a family favorite ever since!
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    Chocolate Pudding Brownies

    1 pkg. chocolate pudding mix (3 ¼ oz., not instant)
    1 pkg. chocolate cake mix (not pudding kind)
    1 12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
    Make chocolate pudding as per directions on the box. Reserve 2 cups and add to cake mix. Beat for 2 min. at medium speed. Add half the chocolate chips and stir. Pour into pan and sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips on top. Bake 30-35 minutes, 350 degrees.
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    Sherry Cake


    1 yellow cake mix 4 eggs
    1 tsp. nutmeg ¾ c. pale dry sherry
    ¾ c. vegetable oil 1 small vanilla instant pudding
    Beat for 4 minutes. Pour into greased bundt or tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees about 50 minutes.

    For Poppy Seed Cake: Cut out nutmeg; add 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 ½ T. poppy seeds

    *****

    Peanuts Blossoms

    1 ¾ c. flour ½ c. peanut butter (plain or nutty)
    1 tsp. baking soda ½ c. granulated sugar
    ½ tsp. salt ½ c. brown sugar, packed
    ½ c. butter or margarine 1 egg
    4 doz. Chocolate candy kisses 1 tsp. vanilla

    Cream together butter, peanut butter, and sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Blend in dry
    Ingredients (flour, soda and salt). Shape into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes at 375 degrees. Place a chocolate “kiss” on each cookie. Return to oven for 2 to 4 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen. Nice for cookie exchange at Christmas.
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    Magic Cookie Bars

    1 cube butter or margarine
    1 ½ c. graham cracker crumbs
    1 c. chopped nuts
    1 3 oz. can flaked coconut (or just a little if you don’t like it)
    1 pkg. (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
    1 (15 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
    Chopped nuts
    Melt butter in a 13x9x2 baking dish. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs, nuts, chocolate chips and coconut on it, in order. Dribble on the can of condensed milk.
    Bake 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cut in bars when cool
    Easy and Yummy!
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    Almond Graham Brittle


    1. Line Cookie Sheet (with sides) with aluminum foil.
    2. Lay 12 double graham crackers side-by-side on the foil.
    3. Sprinkle 4 oz. of slivered or sliced almonds over the cookies.
    4. In a sauce pan, melt 2 sticks of butter, then add ½ c. of granulated sugar.
    Heat mixture to boiling and boil until syrupy (about 2 min). Stir continuously!!
    5 Drizzle syrup on top of almonds and crackers.
    6. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
    7. Let brittle cool thoroughly (about 3 hours) before breaking into pieces.

    *****

    Salads, Soups
    Tortellini Salad

    2 packages fresh cheese tortellini – cooked and rinsed with cold water
    1 package Pesto Sauce, combined with ½ cup white wine tarragon vinegar.
    Whisk to blend. Mix with tortellini.
    Add asparagus, chopped bell peppers, 1 cup chopped walnut pieces.
    Serves 4-6. Easy potluck dish for a busy mom!

    *****

    Taco Salad

    1 head lettuce 1-2 medium tomatoes – cut-up
    4-5 green onions (to taste) chopped ½ c. sliced black olives
    1 c. browned hamburger or tuna Small can kidney beans
    ½ or more c. grated cheddar cheese

    Favorite salad dressing or avocado dip used a dressing
    Add at last minute – 1 c. nacho corn chips – crushed
    Makes a hearty dinner salad!

    *****

    Raspberry Pretzel Salad

    Crust:
    3 ½ to 4 c. pretzels (before crushing) ¾ c. butter
    3 T. sugar
    Filling:
    1 (8 oz) cream cheese 2 c. Cool Whip (12 oz.)
    1 c. sugar

    Topping:
    1 large pkg. raspberry Jello 2 small pkg. frozen raspberries
    2 c. boiling water

    Crust: Melt butter. Add sugar. Pour over crushed pretzels. Press lightly into 9/13 inch baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 to 375 degrees.
    Filling: Mix and pour into cool crust.
    Topping: Add 2 c. boiling water to jello. Add the frozen raspberries.
    Pour this mixture, after it begins to set, over top of cream cheese mixture. Set in
    Refrigerator until firm. Pretty Christmas jello.

    *****
    Sue's Hearty Soup (This is my creation! – turned out good)

    1. Ham bone – Cook in crock pot for 2-3 hours with can of golden mushroom soup and 1 can of water.
    2. Remove meat from bone and remove bone. Add 1 can chunky, undiluted potato soup, ½ to 1 can chunky pea and ham soup; 2 c. beef bouillon; carrots, celery; pasta; Other veggies and ingredients as desired.
    3. Cook in crock pot for 2 more hours. Could put on low all day while at work.
    Make enough so that it lasts for a few meals on busy nights.

    *****

    Easy Broccoli Salad

    2 bunches fresh broccoli (flowerets only)
    1 small bottle Italian dressing
    1 small jar green olives, sliced & rinses (Bernsteins recommended)
    ¼ c. bacon bits
    1 c. mayonnaise
    3-4 oz. Parmesan cheese
    4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

    Wash and cut broccoli into small bite-size pieces. Mix with other salad ingredients, all but dressing. Toss with dressing when ready to serve.

    *****

    Virginia’s Spinach Salad

    -Clean a bunch of spinach
    -Cut up an apple and add
    -Add blue cheese to taste
    -Chopped pecans
    -Light Raspberry Dressing

    Mix with dressing before serving

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    Dad’s Thousand Island Salad Dressing

    1/3 jar mayonnaise (Best Food’s quart size)
    1 jar “Homemade” brand of chili sauce (12 oz)
    ½ red onion, grated
    1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
    Heinz ketchup to taste and to thin down
    ½ tsp. Lawry’s Seasoned salt

    One of my Dad’s specialties. Great on crab or shrimp salad!

    *****

    Breads, Breakfast foods

    Red Lobster Biscuits (we probably have to change name . . . "Red Biscuits?")

    2 c. Bisquick 2/3 c. milk
    1/3 c. mild grated cheddar cheese ¼ c. margarine
    ¼ tsp. garlic powder

    Mix Bisquick, milk and cheese. Drop by the teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet, 2-3 inches apart. Bake at 425-450 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
    Melt margarine and garlic powder. Pour over biscuits hot from the oven.

    *****

    Chile Egg Dish

    10 eggs
    1 pint small cottage cheese
    ½ c. flour
    1 tsp. baking powder
    ½ tsp. salt
    1 lb. jack cheese, grated (or less if desired)
    ½ c. melted butter
    2 (4 oz.) cans diced green chilies

    Beat the eggs until light. Add everything else.
    Bake in buttered 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
    This is delicious for special occasions like Easter ……….even with the calories!!

    *****

    Special Cinnamon Toast

    Cut unsliced bread into thick slices. Cut slices in half, remove crusts. Dip each piece in melted butter. Then into a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon. Place on a buttered cookie sheet and heat in a 400 degree oven until golden brown and crisp. Good for breakfast and excellent for guests at morning coffee.

    *****

    Cheese English Muffins (favorite in our family)

    Top toasted English muffins with:
    1 slice tomato Cheddar Cheese, sliced
    1 strip cooled bacon

    Put under broiler until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with Lawry’s seasoned salt.

    *****

    Easy Huevos Rancheros
    Fry corn tortillas until crisp (flat)

    Top with: fried egg
    Grated cheddar cheese
    Salsa
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    Egg in a hole (great for kids)

    Per person:
    1 slice bread
    1 egg
    Butter

    Leave crusts; put a hole in the middle of your bread about 1”-1 ½”, reserving the hole.
    Butter bread on both sides & sauté in frying pan. When bread is getting brown, add egg in hole. When cooked on bottom, turn and cook on other side. Serve plain or with salsa.
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    Main Dishes, etc.

    Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

    2 10 oz. Packages frozen broccoli spears
    2 lg. chicken breasts, cooked & sliced
    2 cans cream of chicken soup
    1 cup mayonnaise and
    1 Tbsp. lemon juice
    ½ tsp. curry powder
    1 c. shredded cheese
    ¾ c. unseasoned bread crumbs
    3 Tbsp. butter

    Cook and drain broccoli well. Place in bottom of casserole; cover with chicken. Combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry – blending well. Pour over chicken; sprinkle with cheese. Combine bread crumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle over cheese. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until bubbling. Take time to heat through.

    *****

    Old Fashioned Beef Stew

    ½ c. flour,
    add ½ tsp. paprika
    and ¼ tsp. pepper.
    Add 2 lb. stew meat and turn to coat meat

    Brown in 1 Tbsp. Shortening.
    When brown – add 1 qt. (4 cups) hot water.
    Simmer covered for 2 hours. Add more water if needed.

    Add:
    1-2 pared potatoes; 2 carrots sliced; Diced celery; ½ c. diced onion; 2 tsp. salt;
    2 bouillon cubes.
    Cook until vegetables are tender – about 30 minutes.
    Good comfort food for a cold night!!!!

    *****

    Round Steak – (Cook while you are at church)

    1 Round Steak
    1 can Campbell’s mushroom soup
    1 can Campbell’s onion soup

    Wrap steak in foil with undiluted soups. Bake at 350 degree for 1 ½ hours.
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    Pigs in Blankets

    Split 8 hot dogs to ½” of ends
    Insert 3 thin strips American Cheese in each slit.
    Wrap each with one Crescent roll triangle (found in refrigerator section)
    Bake on ungreased cookie sheet, cheese side up at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until brown. Kids love these!

    Alternative: Mexican Hot Dogs. Wrap hot dog & cheese in tortilla, and fry until crisp.
    Serve with guacamole, if desired.

    *****

    Tuna Boats

    Bake 4 big russet baking potatoes until very done and mealy. Cut into halves lengthwise.
    Scoop out potatoes and leave in chunks – save the skins.
    In a bowl, add to potatoes:
    1 can drained, flaked potatoes 6-8 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled
    ½ c. chopped celery 2/3 c. cheddar cheese, in chunks
    1/3 c. chopped green onions

    Mix equal amounts of mayonnaise and sour cream. Lawry’s seasoning salt to taste.
    Add to your potato mixture. Put back into potato skins. Grate about ½ c. more cheddar cheese and sprinkle on top. Heat about 20 minutes in oven. Reheat well next day.

    *****

    Extra bonus!!!

    Dad’s Snack Mix

    In each cookie sheet: (one for each shelf in oven)

    1. Melt 1 cube margarine (cheap is fine)
    2. To melted butter add 6 T. Worcestershire sauce and 1 T. Lawry’s salt.
    3. Mix well.
    4. Then add to cookie sheet:
    2 c. wheat chex; rice chex; corn chex; pretzels
    1 c. nuts (with peanuts)
    2 c. cheese-its
    Other ingredients to taste
    5. Mix well until evenly coated.
    6. Cook at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes.
    7. Pour out onto waxed paper and cool.
    8. Pack in mason jars and screw lids tightly.

    This is a family tradition Christmas gift! My dad made it and now both of my sons make it for gifts. Four generations of family love it!`

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