HOME MADE with LOVE

Oh this is so Yummy.  I found it in a cookbook of mine and I had to add a few of my own touches to make it my very own.  I think I better give some of this away or I will eat the whole pan.  Here is the recipe: 1 Cup Butter (ONLY Butter) 1 Cup White Sugar 1Tablespoon Light Corn Syrup 2 Tablespoons Water 1 Cup Chopped Almonds (optional) 6 Ounces Chocolate Chips (Semi-Sweet) Course ground Sea Salt (optional) Combine Butter, Sugar, Corn Syrup and Water in a heavy Sauce pan.  Stirring constantly, cooking until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees.  Spread this mixture on a "buttered or criscoed" cookie sheet, then sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Spread the Chocolate chips evenly until melted and top is completely covered.  Then sprinkle with chopped Almonds and Sea Salt.  Place in the refrigerator to set.  Crack into pieces before serving.  **If you are not a nut person you can crush candy canes and put on top of the chocolat...

So I was searching for a Baked Potato Soup recipe today and could not find one that I liked. . . I ventured out and made it all up on my own!!!  The true test was feeding it to my picky family and guess what????  They all gobbled it up and LOVED it!!  Probably because I added LOVE!!  Here is the recipe. 1 Box Chicken Broth 2 1/2 Cups Half and Half (reserve 1/2 cup) 8-10 Red Potatoes, cubed with skin on 2 1/2 Cups Shredded Colby Cheese (I actually just used 5 handfuls of cheese, but for the sake of measurements it equals about 2 1/2 cups) 1 small onion diced up 4 slices of American cheese 4 carrots sliced up 1/2 cup sour cream Ham diced up or bacon crumbled up (as much as you want) 4 tablespoons Corn Starch mixed up good with remaining 1/2 cup half and half Salt to your liking Pepper to your liking Garlic to your liking LOVE Mix all ingredients together in a crock pot.  Have a whisk and a wooden spoon ready.  You will need to whisk away any...

For the Meatloaf: 1/3 cup Oatmeal 1/2 cup 2% Milk 1 pound ground beef 1 egg, beaten Onion powder to taste Salt to taste Pepper to taste Shredded Cheese (a handful, any kind will do. . . I used Colby *Mix ground beef, oatmeal, milk, egg, onion, salt, pepper and cheese in a medium bowl and let sit for 5 minutes or so.  *Spray loaf pan and place beef mixture in it spreading evenly.  Make 6 wells on top of the loaf for the sauce to settle in.  Pour 2/3 of the sauce on to the top of the loaf and sprinkle with shredded cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Then pull out and pour the rest of the sauce over the loaf and another sprinkle of shredded cheese.  Bake another 40 minutes at 350 degrees.  Pull out of oven and let sit for 10 minutes before cutting. For Sauce: 1/4 cup Brown Sugar 1/4 cup ketchup 1/4 tsp nutmeg 3 tsp Deli Style Dijon Mustard   Don't forget to add LOVE!! I served this with cheesy mashed potatoes and the f...

1.  To get rid of onion, garlic or bleach odor from your hands dampen your hands and rub them on a stainless steel sink.  2.  To remove stains from a tablecloth, soak the item in denture tablets.  3.  To clean up a broken egg on the floor, sprinkle salt, allow to stand a few minutes, and then sweep it up.  4.  If you have hard brown sugar--put a slice of fresh bread in the bag or container. 5.  If you Over-salted your veggies--pour boiling water over them, drain and taste, or put a raw potatoe in the pot for a few minutes. 6.  If you have soggy Mashed Potatoes--Add a few spoonfuls of instant mashed potatoes or put in the oven for a few minutes at 350. 7.  If you Scorched food in a pan--remove to another pan.  DO NOT SCRAPE THE STUCK PAN  Place baking soda in the scorched pan plus water and reheat to remove the stuck items.  8.  Mash your potatoes while they are still hot  If they cool before you mas...

1 Cup Sour Cream 3/4 cup Sugar 1/4 cup Brown Sugar 3 Tbls. Maple Syrup 1 1/2 Tbls. Ground Cinnamon 1/2 Tsp.  Allspice 1/2 Tsp.  Ground Nutmeg 1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract 1/4 tsp Salt 2 Egg Whites 1 Whole Egg 1 Can (15 ounces) Pumpkin 4 ounces of Cream Cheese 1 Pie crust (recipe follows) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, sugars, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla extract, salt, egg whites, egg, cream cheese and pumpkin until thoroughly blended and mixture is smooth.  Pour mixture into Pie Shell Bake pie for 1 hour or until knife comes out clean.  Cool on wire reack for a bout 1 hour.  Pie for 8 people! Pie Crust (for a one crust pie): 1 cup flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/3 cup plus 1 Tlbs. Crisco (cold) 1 1/2 Tlbs. water (COLD) Mix flour and salt.  Cut in Crisco.  Sprinkle with COLD water. Mix with fork.  Roll out  dough on floured surface.  Move crust to pie pa...

Here is another bread that we made in our Apples of Gold Bible Study.  I can't take credit for this recipe either, but it is one worth sharing.  Enjoy!! Brick Alley Bread: 2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 1 egg, well beaten 1 cup buttermilk 2 Tbls honey Mix flour, salt and soda.  Combine beaten egg with milk and honey.  Add to dry mixture with a few strokes to form a sticky dough.  Do not over mix.  Shape into a small flat, round loaf on a greased baking sheet.  Cut two parallel slashes on top about 1/2 inches deep.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes. 

Oh I am so excited about this recipe. When my son was an infant I was involved in a Women's Bible Study where the older women mentored the younger women.  It was called "Apples of Gold".  It was a Bible Study and then a cooking class all rolled in one and then we got to eat together too.  This Irish Soda bread was one of my favorites and this time of the year it is GREAT with soups.  So this is not my recipe, but one that was given to me during the Apples of Gold Study.  Irish Soda Bread: 1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour 1 Cup White Flour 2 ounces margarine or butter (you know what I use. . .Butter) 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp cream of tartar pinch of salt A little Sugar (optional) (I use about 1 tablespoon) A drizzle of honey (this is an add on by me) Enough milk to mix dough into a ball Mix all dry Ingredients together in a bowl.  Rub margarine/butter into ingredients with fingers.  Mix to a fairly soft paste with enough milk to make dough easy ...

I got this recipe from a friend who got it from her mom.  I, of course, tweaked it a bit to make it my own!!  Yummy!! 1 pkg. Yellow Cake Mix 5 cups Rhubarb cut up 1/2 cup Dark brown Sugar 1/2 cup White Sugar 1pt half and half Mix cake as directed on box.  Put in 9x13 inch cake pan.  Mix together rhubarb and sugar.  Put on top of cake.  Pour half and half over cake.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 75 minutes (but check at 50 minutes and then every 5 after that).  Remember to add LOVE!! Enjoy

1lb. Ground Beef 1 packet Taco Seasoning 1 can Tomato Soup 1 can whole kernel corn 2 Cups shredded cheese (Cheddar or Colby) 2 Cups Bisquick 1 Cup Milk 2 Eggs A sprinkle of Chili Powder 1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown beef then remove from heat and add Taco Seasoning, Tomato Soup and Corn.  Mix well and add to ungreased 9 x 12 inch baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheese. 2.  Stir Bisquick, milk and eggs until blended.  Add a sprinkle of Chili Powder and mix well.  3.  Pour Bisquick mixture over beef mixture evenly.  4.  Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown Serve with Taco Sauce, lettuce, black olives, sour cream and chopped tomato if desired. Serves:  8

I love Twice Baked Potatoes, but I really don't like to mess with taking the insides out mashing them up with a bunch of goodies and then stuffing the insides back into the skin, so I have come up with a way that my family loves. 6 potatoes (red or white whatever you prefer) peeled, and cubed 1/4-1/2 cup Milk (Start with a 1/4 and then add as you see fit) 3 Tablespoons of Butter 3/4 cup Cottage cheese 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese 2 Cup Shredded Cheese (your choice) reserve 1 cup 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard (I use a spicy mustard) Salt and pepper to taste Garlic to taste 1.  Peel and cube potatoes and put them in a large sauce pan on High heat bring to boil and continue to boil until potatoes are soft.  Drain off water. 2.  Add Milk, Butter, Cottage Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheese, and mustard. Add salt, pepper and garlic as you wish.  Mix until blended (there will be a few lumps).  3.  Spray 9 x 9 inch glass baking dish a...

When my parents would have a party at our house when I was growing up my mom would make these super yummy appetizers.  2 Cans of whole water chestnuts, drained 15 slices of bacon 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 1/2 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 tsp Dijon mustard a sprinkle of garlic powder 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.  Set aside.  Drain the cans of Water chestnuts.  Cut slices of bacon in half.  Wrap a slice of bacon around a water chestnut and secure with a wooden toothpick. 2.  In a small sauce pan, combine brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and garlic.  Bring to a boil over medium heat;  reduce heat to medium low and cook for 5 minutes or until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.  3.  Carefully dip each wrapped water chestnut into sauce;  gently tap against edge of saucepan, to remove excess sauce and place on pan.  Bake 18-...

I have been looking at this yummy recipe for awhile now and as soon as I am feeling good enough I am going to make these bars.  I will however be using Almonds instead of Pecans, so it will have to be called Almond Praline Cookie Triangles.  This recipe is from The Pampered Chef  and as always I have given my own twist to it!!  I also will be adding the ingredient:  LOVE when I make it!! Crust: 2 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour 3/4 Cup Powdered Sugar 1 Tsp baking soda 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter (always use butter) Filling: 3 cups pecan halves divided (I will be using Almonds) 2 cups packed Dark Brown Sugar 3 eggs 4 Tbls butter, melted 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla 1/4 tsp salt Powdered Sugar 1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  For crust, combine flour, powdered sugar and baking soda in medium bowl.  Add butter;  mix until crumbly.  Lightly press crumb mixture over the bottom of 9 x 13 inch bar pan (lightly sprayed).  lightly roll...

Okay so I am not the biggest fan of Tater tot Casserole, but my hubby asks for it quite often.  There are many different variations of this popular casserole. Some add corn, others add peas, some add carrots and still some add rice.  The favorite around this house hold is Green Beans!!  So here is the recipe I have used since we were married almost 10 years!! Preheat oven to 350 Spray a 9X13 inch glass baking dish 1 pound ground beef (I have used ground turkey as well) browned and strained 1/2 envelope of Onion Soup Mix 2 cans of green beans (french cut or whole beans) 1 can evaporated milk 2 cans cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup A handful of shredded cheddar cheese A bag of tater tots 4 slices of American Cheese Salt and pepper to taste 1.  In a large saute pan brown the ground beef with the Onion Soup Mix, drain and place in the bottom of the glass baking dish. 2.  In a large bowl combine 1 can of evaporated milk and the 2 cans of cr...

Apple Filling: 2 Apples (any kind you like) 2 Tablespoons of butter 1/2 cup packed Dark Brown Sugar 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Pancake: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon white sugar 1/4 tsp salt 2 Large Eggs 1/2 cup milk (2% works best) 2 teaspoons butter, melted Warm Maple Syrup 1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a round baker with non stick cooking spray.  For apple filling, peel core and slice apples.  Then take the slices and cut them in to small chunks.  Melt butter in a small sauce pan over medium/high heat.  Add apple, dark brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cook  for 20 minutes or until the apples are very tender.  2.  Meanwhile, for the pancake, combine flour, white sugar and salt in a bowl.  Whisk together eggs, milk and melted butter.  Add egg mixture to flour mixture; whisk until dry ingredients are moistened (batter will be slightly lumpy).  Pour batter into round  baker. Spoon  the appl...

I love this Spinach dip and just have to share it. 1 packet (10oz) Ranch Dip Mix 1 container (16 ox) sour cream (not fat free) 1 can of sliced Waterchestnuts (diced) 10-14 ounces of frozen (thawed) or fresh Spinach (don't use canned) A dash of Sea Salt A dash of Pepper A dash of Garlic salt Mix all together till well blended.  Cover and put in fridge overnight or at least 8 hours.  Serve with chunks of  Dark Rye Bread and Sour Dough Bread. Yummy!!  Enjoy

2 pkgs. Crescent Rolls 1 tsp Vanilla 2 pkgs. Cream Cheese (8oz ea) 1 egg yolk 1 cup sugar Topping: 1/2 cup Sugar 1 tsp. Cinnamon 1 Egg White In ungreased 9 X 13in pan, lay 1 pkg crescent rolls on bottom (like a sheet of dough).  Beat together Cream cheese, vanilla, egg yolk and sugar.  Spread this filling on top of crescent roll dough in pan.  Place second pkg of rolls on top.  Beat egg white and brush on top.  Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over egg white.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done.