From the monthly archives:

October 2008

Fruit Salsa

2 cups diced fruit (papaya, pineapple and cantaloupe)
1/2 c finely chopped green or white onion
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1 T. orange juice
1 T. fresh lime juice
1/2 – 1 chopped jalapeno
1/2tsp. salt, optional

Mix together and chill. Serve with lime flavored tortilla chips.

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Sweet Potato Soufflé

4 cups mashed sweet potatoes, no juice
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

TOPPING:
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/4 cup butter, melted
Mix first 6 ingredients together and place in buttered 2 quart baking dish.
Mix all topping ingredients very well. Place on top of soufflé before [...]

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Quick Beef Minestrone

1/2 pound ground beef
16 ounces frozen Italian mixed vegetables
2 cans water
2 cups shredded cabbage
grated parmesan cheese
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked

In a soup pot, cook beef until well browned. Drain off fat. Stir in frozen vegetables, undiluted soup, water and basil. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Simmer 15 minutes. [...]

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Potato ‘n Broccoli Supreme

3 cups homemade mashed potatoes (with milk)
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons margarine
2 1/2 ounces canned Durkee French fried onions
20 ounces frozen broccoli spears, cooked, drained
1 cup shredded American cheese
Whip together first 5 ingredients until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Fold in 1/2 can onions. Spread potato mixture over bottom [...]

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Spanish Rice

1 1/4 cups white rice, uncooked
1 3/4 cups water
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Place all ingredients in covered saucepan over medium-high heat until the mixture bubbles. Stir and reduce heat. Cook 10-12 minutes, covered. Stir once or twice during cooking to keep the rice from sticking.
Servings: 3

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Baby’s Food Preferences

Baby’s Food Preferences
Moms are such idealistic people. We see our babies as perfect angels. Then, we try to feed them and we become enlightened. This enlightenment doesn’t come so much from the light bulb going on as it does from the glob of purple baby food running down baby’s face and our shirt.
When baby doesn’t [...]

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Twice-Baked Potatoes

2 medium baking potatoes
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons sliced green onions
milk
paprika (optional)
Scrub baking potatoes with a brush. Prick with a fork in several places. Place potatoes in a shallow baking dish. Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power for 6 to 8 minutes or till potatoes are tender. Cut a lengthwise slice from the [...]

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Wild Rice

1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1/2 cup grated parsley
1/2 cup butter
10 ounces tofu
2 cups water
1/2 cup wild rice
1/2 cup short grain brown rice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
In skillet, stir-fry celery, onion, and parsley in butter for 10 minutes. Blend tofu and water together; add to skillet; also add wild rice, brown rice, lemon juice [...]

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Zucchini Bake

1 pound shredded zucchini (3-4 cups)
3 eggs
1 small onion, grated
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup Bisquick or similar biscuit mix

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9-inch pan or 11-by-7-inch baking dish with a nonstick vegetable coating; set aside.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Pour into [...]

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Garlic Dill Pickles

13 cups water
6 cups 5% acidity vinegar
1 cup canning salt

Boil above ingredients 15 minutes. Pack quart jars with cucumbers and dill. On top of each jar, put 3 cloves garlic and 1 teaspoon sugar, pinch of alum in each jar. Pour hot liquid into jars and seal tight. Set jars in boiling or near boiling water [...]

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Artichoke Dressing

4 oz. French bread, torn into medium pieces.
¼ cup olive oil
1 ½ cups chopped onions
4 oz. whole mushrooms, quartered
2 cans quartered artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg, beaten
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pint half-and-half
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
Preheat oven to 325 degrees [...]

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How Planning Your Meals Saves Time and Money

Save Time and Money by Planning Your Meals
Many households are looking for ways to save time and money on the “food” portion of their budget. Food expenditures are often one of the largest expense categories in many household budgets, so savings there will have a dramatic impact on your household financial health.
Plan your meals before [...]

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Quiche

5 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
splash milk
salt and pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Ham, chopped into small cubes
Onion, chopped
Green or red pepper, chopped
Mushrooms, sliced

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat eggs in a large bowl, add remainer of the ingredients, mix well. Pour into greased pie plate and bake for 35 – 45 minutes, until center is set.

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White Chili with Chicken

2 cup cooked, diced chicken
16 oz. can chicken broth
16 oz. Great Northern beans
1 1/2 T. diced onion
1/4 tsp. each:
garlic powder
curry powder
sage
red pepper
black pepper
salt
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
2 cans diced green chilies

Mix all ingredients. Bring to a boil, simmer 15 minutes, covered. Add 4 ounces cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese. Add a little cornmeal to thicken [...]

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Cranberry Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 2-3 pieces per breast or leave whole)
1/2 chopped onion
3 T butter or margarine
1 pkg onion soup mix
1 small bottle (or 1/2 a large bottle) of Russian dressing
1 can “whole” cranberry sauce
French-fried onions
Skillet method: cook chicken pieces in skillet with chopped onion and butter. Once chicken is cooked through, [...]

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Cherry Delight

Large can of cherry pie filling
Box of yellow cake mix
1/2 cup of margarine
Small bag of sliced almonds (optional)
Pour can of cherry pie filling on the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Spray with cooking spray first.
Pour yellow cake mix over the cherry pie filling. Spread evenly over filling.
Melt margarine, pour over cake mix.
Sprinkle sliced almonds on [...]

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Shrimp Scampi w/ Pasta

8 oz. multi-grain angel hair pasta
2 tsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
28 precooked, peeled large shrimp, thawed if frozen
1/4 c. white wine
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 T. fresh lemon juice (careful not too much!)
1/4 c. parsley
Cook pasta until tender, yet firm (al-dente).
Meanwhile in large skillet over med-high heat, add olive oil & minced garlic.
Sauté [...]

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Place Setting

I recently had dinner with a friend and was shocked that she used her salad fork for the entire meal. So I’ve found two place setting displays that show where and what everything is. One is more formal than the other.

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Mirage Martini

1 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. Bailey’s

Mix ingredients in martini shaker with ice. Pour into martini glass.

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Bailey’s Irish Cream Truffles

1/4 cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 tablespoon butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup heavy cream
Melt chocolate, Bailey’s and heavy cream together over very low heat. Whisk in yolks, one at a time. Mixture will thicken. Whisk in butter.
Refrigerate overnight, or until firm. With spoon make small balls. Roll in powdered sugar, cocoa, chopped nuts, sprinkles, [...]

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