Thursday, September 17, 2015

Lasagna

1-2 boxes of Lasagna Noodles
2 bottles (24 oz each) of Ragu or Prego
2 lbs of Cottage Cheese
4 Eggs
2 lbs Hamburger
3 Tbsp Oregano leaves
3 Tbsp Basil leaves
3 Tbsp Marjoram leaves
Onion chopped
Cheese Mozzarella

Brown hamburger and drain add the chopped onion, oregano, basil, marjoram, salt, pepper and cook.  Take off heat and add sauce.  Add 1/4 of the sauce bottle of water to the mixture.  In a separate bowl combine whip the eggs and then add cottage cheese (add 2 eggs per lb of cottage cheese).

Layer in pan:
-Sauce/meat mixture in bottom
-Noodles
-Sauce
-Cottage Cheese
-Cheese
-Noodles
-Sauce
-Cottage Cheese
-Cheese
-Noodles
-Sauce
-Cheese

Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Place cook sheet under pan in case if it spills over.  Cook the last 15 minutes uncovered.

Let set for 15 minutes before serving.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Cilantro Lime Rice

4 C Chicken Broth 
2 C Uncle Ben's Original Long Grain Rice 
2 Cloves of Garlic 
1/2 Bunch of Cilantro 
1 Can Green Chilies-(or equivalent fresh) 
1/4 Onion 
1/2 Limes Juice 

Blend garlic, cilantro, green chilies, onion & lime juice together in food processor. Add all ingredients to your rice cooker stir and cook stirring a few times in between.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:
1 cup Butter (softened)
1 cup Strawberries (chopped)
1 bag powdered sugar (32 oz)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 almond extract (optional)

Directions:
Whip butter until creamy.  Slowly add strawberries and powdered sugar. (extra powdered sugar can be added until you reach desired consistency add vanilla or almond extract for flavor.

Homemade Oreo's

Ingredients:
Devil's Food Cake Mix
1/3 cup Shortening
2 Eggs

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together.  Roll into dime size balls and place on cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.  Frost backs of cookies with vanilla frosting and sandwich together.

Strawberry Nutella Chocolate Cake

Cake Ingredients:

·         2 sticks Butter
·         4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa Powder
·         1 cup Boiling Water
·         2 cups Flour
·         2 cups Sugar
·         1/4 teaspoon Salt
·         1/2 cup Buttermilk
·         2 whole Eggs
·         1 teaspoon Baking Soda
·         1 teaspoon Vanilla
·         1-1/2 cup Nutella

 Strawberries:

·         2 pints Strawberries, Hulled And Sliced
·         1/4 cup Sugar
·         1 teaspoon Vanilla (optional, I prefer without)

Whipped Cream Or Use Cool Whip
·         1 cups Heavy Cream
·         1/4 cup Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions:

·         Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 round baking pans with parchment, then spray the parchment with baking spray.
·         In a large mixing bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, and salt.
·         In a measuring pitcher or bowl, mix together the buttermilk, baking soda, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside
·         In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the cocoa and stir it until smooth. Pour in the boiling water, let the mixture bubble up for 20 seconds or so, then turn it off and set it aside.
·         
·         Stir in the hot chocolate mixture into the flour mixture, stirring gently until it's halfway combined and less hot. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and continue stirring gently until the batter is all combined.
·         Pour the batter into the pans and bake them for 20-25 minutes (start with 20 and check, you don't want to over cook), until they're just set. Remove them from the pans and set them aside to cool completely.

·         Prepare the strawberries by stirring them with the sugar and the vanilla. Let them macerate for 15 minutes, then drain off the excess juice.
·         Whip the cream with the powdered sugar.

Note: Don't assemble more than an hour before serving
·         To assemble: Cut the top of each cake off so it is flat. Turn one layer upside down on a serving platter. Spread half the Nutella all over the surface. Spread a thin layer of whipped cream (half or less) and top with half the strawberries Place the second layer upside down on top and repeat with the rest of the Nutella, whipped cream, and strawberries. Keep chilled until serving. Cut with a serrated knife!

Monday, August 17, 2015

Chocolate Fondue

Tips:
- Make sure everything is prepped before you turn the stove on.  
- Don't try and make the fondue in the pot. Do it on the stove first and transfer to the fondue pot after it's prepared.
- Do not leave the chocolate unattended after you've started - it will either clump, scorch or curdle if you walk away - don't know why, but it always happens to me. 

Ingredients:
2 ½ Cups Chocolate Chips
2 Cups Heavy Cream
1 Tbsp. Vanilla

Directions:
1. Combine the chocolate and the cream and heat over medium until the chocolate is melted, STIRRING CONSTANTLY.  Do not leave unattended!   
2. Add the vanilla off heat and stir until smooth.
3. Transfer to fondue pots and serve with:
Pound Cake
Fresh Fruit 
Bananas
Kiwi
Strawberries
Pineapple
Pretzels
Candy
Marshmallows


*The basics of this fondue is a chocolate ganache, all you would need to do to make truffles is scoop up little balls and roll it around in powdered sugar.  Add more cream and you can then chill the whole thing and whip it and it becomes chocolate mousse.

Cheese Fondue

Tips:
   1. Make sure everything is prepped before you turn the stove on.  
   2. Don't try and make the fondue in the pot. Do it on the stove first and transfer to the fondue pot after it's prepared.
   3. Do not leave the cheese unattended after you've started - it will either clump, scorch or curdle if you walk away - don't know why, but it always. 

Ingredients:
2 lbs. Grated Cheese (I prefer White Cheddar).
4 Cups Melting Liquid (This can be sparkling cider, or beverage of your choice that starts with a "B" and ends with an "R".)
4 Tbsp. Corn Starch
Hot Sauce to Taste
Garlic Powder to Taste

Directions:
1. Heat the melting liquid over a medium high flame. 
2. Take half of the cheese and toss in a separate bowl with the corn starch. (Keep the rest of the cheese in reserve.) 
3. When the melting liquid is simmering, add the cheese that has been tossed with the corn starch.  
4. Stirring until it has melted and been incorporated.  
5. Add in the rest of the cheese and the hot sauce and garlic powder to your taste preferences.  
6. Never add more cheese until the previous addition has been melted and incorporated.  Bring up to a melting point.  
7. Transfer to a fondue pot over a flame to keep warm. 
8. Stir the pot as necessary to prevent scorching. 

Serves 4 people

Serve with:
Bread
Veggies (Broccoli, Carrots)
Granny Smith Apples
Pretzels 

Tortilla Chips