Buttermilk Pancakes

I know this is probably something everybody already knows how to make, but I'm putting it up because when I was first married and trying to learn how to cook, I was horrible at pancakes (and everything else). I had no idea how to cook them and they always came out yucky. So...here's to hoping someone else out there is like me and will benefit from this.

First off, here's your ingredient list. (Don't freak out about not having the buttermilk. I'll explain that later...) This amount makes us about 6 pancakes and should take no more then 10 minutes to make.

Before you start doing anything else. Preheat your stovetop, and pan, to med-low heat. This part is essential to having quick, easy to turn pancakes. (Learned this the hard way.)
Whisk together your beaten egg and buttermilk. If you don't have buttermilk (and who does?) take 1 cup of milk and add about 1 T. lemon juice. Let it sit for about a minute. It will curdle the milk, thus making buttermilk.)

Add in rest of ingredients and whisk until pretty smooth.
Spray pan with cooking spray then pour about 1/4 c. of batter onto preheated pan.

You will know the pancake is ready to turn (and won't fall apart when you attempt to flip it) when it starts to form a bunch of bubbles on the top. (Don't know if you can see it very well in this picture but there are a bunch of bubbles on top.) Once the bubbles form, flip the pancake over and let cook 2-3 minutes more.

Top with fruit, syrup, whipped cream, etc.

And enjoy!

Stuffed Franks

Here's another recipe that adults and kids will enjoy...

Ingredients:

*hot dogs/sausages

*mashed potatoes

*shredded cheese

(Any variety of the above can be used. Ex: for kids I use plain hot dogs, for adults I use brats and flavored potatoes)

Directions:

*Boil franks until heated through. Slice them length-wise, but not all the way through. Place the franks on a baking sheet (lined with foil for easy clean up).

*Spoon the potatoes onto the center of the franks.

*Put cheese on top of the potatoes.

*Broil until cheese is melted.

Broccoli Chicken Casserole

I got this recipe out of Feb/Mar 2007 Taste of Home's

Light & Tasty.

It's become one of our favorite meals!

And bonus! Its healthy!!

Ingredients:

* 2 1/2 Cups uncooked yolk-free noodles

* 2 1/2 Cups cubed cooked chicken breast

* 1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli florets, thawed

* 1 Small onion, chopped (optional)

* 1 Can (10 3/4 ounces) reduced- fat reduced- sodium condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

* 1/2 Cup fat-free milk

* 1/2 Cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

* 1 Teaspoon dried basil

* 1/4 Teaspoon salt

* 1/8 Teaspoon pepper

Cook noodles according to package directions; drain and place in a large bowl.

. Add the cooked chicken, broccoli and onion.

Mix together.

In a small bowl, combine the soup, milk, cheese, basil, salt and pepper.

.

Pour over chicken mixture and stir until combined.

Transfer to a 2-qt baking dish coated with non stick cooking spray.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly.

Enjoy!!

Homemade Oreos

This is one of my husband's favorite treats that his sister makes. I had never tried them before he decided to surprise me one day by making them. Now i'm hooked. Simple, yummy and of course chocolate......3 of my requirements to a favorite desert!

Cookies:
1 pkg devil's food cake mix
2 eggs
3/4 cup margarine or shortening

mix well and roll into small balls. Place on cookie sheet as whole balls (do now smash down) bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt all over.

Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup  margarine
powder sugar (to taste)
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix all ingredients. If frosting is still really runny put in fridge to firm up.

I was also given the tip to just buy a container or pre-made betty crocker cream cheese frosting instead of making frosting from scratch. I tried that and personally, I like the homemade taste better but both ways work great!

Enjoy!

Seasoned Red Potatoes

These potatoes are SO delicious.. they are addicting.

The fact that they are super easy to throw together and take no time to cook makes them dangerous :)

INGREDIENTS:

12-14 small red potatoes

1/4 cup olive oil (I used vegetable oil)

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1. Peal a strip from around each potato.

Place the potatoes in an ungreased 3-qt baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine oil, butter and seasonings; drizzle over potatoes.

(I doubled the recipe so that there was extra to pour over the potatoes when we ate them to give them extra flavor)

2. Bake, uncovered at 350 Degrees for 50-55 minutes or until tender.

 (I baked them for a hour)

Stir every 15 minutes.

And Ta-Da! Amazingly tasty pototoes :)

ENJOY!

Ham, Spinach, and Mostaccioli Casserole

This recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens Volume 2. It is SO good! I'm just going to type it straight out of the cookbook though sometimes I make a little variations here and there.

8 ounces packaged dried mostaccioli, cut ziti, or elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons margarine or butter
3 medium onions, cut into think wedges, or 5 medium leeks, sliced (what are leeks, btw??)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups half-and-half, light cream, or milk (milk works just fine!)
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained (I think fresh spinach is better in this)

Cook pasta according to package directions, Drain pasta; rinse with cold water. Drain again.

In a large saucepan melt margarine or butter. Add onions and garlic. Cover and cook about 5 minutes or till onions are tender; stir occasionally. Stir in flour, thyme, and pepper. Add milk and the chicken broth all at once. Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Stir in pasta, ham , and spinach. Spoon mixture into a 3-quart casserole.

Cover and bake in a 350 oven for 30 to 35 minutes or till heated through. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir gently before serving to distribute the rich and creamy sauce. Makes 6 servings.

**I don't do the whole "casserole thing" for the recipe. I cook the noodles at the end and we just pour however much sauce we want on it because we don't like noodles to be too soft.

Hobo Dinners

I was introduced to Hobo (aka tinfoil) Dinners this weekend. We made them with friends last night and liked them so much that we made our own for dinner tonight. What I think I love most is that there is no wrong way to make these, and you can totally make them unique based on what you prefer.

Ingredients:

-heavy duty tinfoil

-cream of mushroom soup (2-3 cans for 6 hobo dinners)

- hamburger

-veggies that you love (we used potatoes, carrots, and onions for Saturday and then added broccoli and cauliflower to the mix tonight)

-season salt or any other seasoning that you like

Step One: Roll out a large piece of tin foil and spread a thin layer of soup on the foil. This prevents your meat from sticking.

Step Two: Put your hamburger patty on the soup and then sprinkle seasoning on it. (Your patty can be as big/small as you want it to be)

Step Three: Top your hamburger with a glob of soup and then whatever veggies you choose to use.

Step Four: Sprinkle your veggies with seasoning and more soup.

Step Five: Wrap up your meal. I fold the top down in inch sections until you reach the food, then do the same thing with each sides. You want to keep a little air in there for the steam to circulate.

These are the six we made tonight, ready to be taken out to the grill. We carry them out on a baking sheet for convenience.

Step Six: Cook in your BBQ grill on low/medium heat for a good 30 minutes. Rumor has it that you can also cook in a dutch oven or in a campfire. (I'd never had these before last night and so the grill is all I know... :o) We turn them over every 10 minutes or so.

Step Seven: Unfold carefully- be careful you don't get a steam burn- and enjoy! We eat them right out of the foil. YUM!