Potluck Sunday... Salted Caramel Brownies

We have potluck at our church today and I feel like making dessert.  This is one of my favorite ways to spice up a box of brownie mix.

Ingredients:
Box of brownie mix
1 c butterscotch chips
salt

Instructions:
Mix the brownies according to the box.  Add the butterscotch chips. 

Pour into a pan.

Sprinkle some salt on to the top of the brownies.  Just enough so you can kind of see it on the top of the brownie batter.

Bake according to the directions on the box.

Enjoy!!!

Busy day, easy dinner... Italian beef sandwiches.

Today was busy, so I wanted to get dinner in the crockpot this morning.  Otherwise, I know it'd be too tempting to go out and eat.  So I got it in the crockpot early today.

We had Italian Beef Sandwiches.

Ingredients:

Beef roast (I used chuck)

1 c Italian dressing

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 jar mild pepper rings

6 french rolls

6 slices munster cheese (you could also use provolone.)

Instructions:

It's a pretty simple meal.  The roast goes in the crockpot.  Pour in the dressing, and add the onion and garlic powder.  Add the pepper rings, juice and all over the top.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Remove the meat and shred.

Return the meat to the juice in the crockpot.

Toast the buns under the broiler.  DON'T forget that they're in there.  They'll burn... ask me how I know.

Add the cheese.

Add a good amount of the roast, and then squeeze the sandwich toward the side where there is no cheese. 

Enjoy!  It's a great way to end a busy day.

Just for Grammie.... Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Grammies are wonderful people.  They love us, they comfort us, they feed us.... and sometimes we feed them wonderful things in return.  Like these cookies.  The boys shared them with their Grammie.  She loved them, so we're posting the recipe just for her.


1/3 c canola oil
1/3 c packed brown sugar
2 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP molassas
3 TBSP water
1 egg white
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/3 tsp salt
2 c old fashioned oats
1/2 c raisins


In a large bowl combine oil, sugars, molassas, water, egg white and vanilla.  Mix until all incorporated and happy.

In a different bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.  Add to sugar mixture and mix well.

Stir in oatmeal and raisins

Drop by 1/4 c on baking trays covered with cooking spray (the stuff with the flour in it is wonderful). Flatten slightly.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minute or until golden brown.

Share with someone you love.... like Grammie!!

Proudly shared at EatatHomecooks.com

Oops... Indian spiced chicken

Mistakes happen.  Things don't always work out like they're supposed to.  Like today, when I went to make dinner and realized the recipe that I was starting from was a crock-pot recipe.  And I had 30 minutes before all my boys would hear growling tummies.  The most growlie one being mine!

So I do what I do best... improvised.  And it was delicious. 

It was Indian spiced chicken.

Ingredients:
2 TBSP olive oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced
2 onions, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic , chopped
1 3/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 c golden raisins (optional, and we didn't use them)
2 c cooked rice

Instructions:

Anything that starts with this combination can't be bad!

Heat olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan, over high heat. 
Add garlic and onion, let cook one minute, until it starts to smell yummy.

Add chicken, 1 tsp of garam masala, 1/4 tsp of the salt and the pepper.

Add chicken broth.

Cook until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.

In a small bowl mix yogurt, the rest of the spices, and cornstarch. 

Add to the mix simmering (and smelling really good!) in your pan.

Cook 15 minutes on medium low heat.

Serve over rice.

ENJOY!

Snow-pocalypse 2011... salisbury steak with mushrooms

I love an excuse to be home, to not go anywhere, to hang out in our jammies all day and be a family.  I enjoy our home, our family and our lives.  But snow days make me want to eat cozy food.  I want something that smells good, that looks good and just makes me feel all warm inside.  And I've never cooked Salisbury steak before, so why not?

I found this recipe in the food network magazine. 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 egg
1 tsp onion powder
7 saltine crackers, crushed
1 tsp sage (I used the dry, rubbed from the health food store)
salt and pepper
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 TBSP worchestershire
3 TBSP flour
3 TBSP unsalted butter

Mix the beef, egg, onion powder, cracker crumbs, sage, 1/4 tsp salt and pepper in a large bowl.  I used my mixer to do that.  But you could use your hands if you don't mind getting messy.   Divide into 4 portions and shape into oval patties.

Heat 1 TBSP butter in a large skillet over med-high heat.  Brown the patties, about 4 minutes per side. 

Transfer to a plate.

Add 1 tbsp butter to the skillet and cook the mushrooms until they are nice and golden brown.  (about 2 minutes) Stir in the worchestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste.

Sprinkle in the flour and cook for a minute to get rid of that raw flour flavor.  Then add 2 cups hot water and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.

Add the last tablespoon of butter.  YUM!  Taste to make sure you have all the seasonings you want.

Add the patties back into the gravy.  simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens.

I served it over potatoes but you could definately do it over egg noodles too.



Enjoy it with someone you love!

My cozy home.... Pinto beans and cornbread

I love our home.  We live in the home that my grandparents owned.  The home that my mom grew up in.  The home that I spent so many summer days in.

It's cozy.  My grandad, Gang, put a ton of insulation in the attic.  It always feels warm.  I love cooking in the kitchen where my Grandma made dinner for her family.  I love meals that she might have made.   Tonight was one of those meals. 

Pinto beans
Ingredients:
1 lb dry pinto beans
water
2 tsp beef base or boullion
4 slices center cut bacon
1 tsp cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Rinse beans.

Put the beans, the bacon, the beef base and the water (enough to cover with two inches above) into a thick bottom pot.  Cook over medium high to boil.  Then lower the heat to low and cover.

Cook 2-3 hours.

Then add the cajun seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper. 

Let simmer another 30 minutes.

Serve topped with cheese and sour cream.  Serve some cornbread on the side.  It tastes so good crumbled into the beans.

Enjoy!

Sunday, Sun-day... coffee marinated steak

When the sun comes out, I have to grill.  I don't care if it's winter or not. 

Here's the thing.  I can't tell you how to cook the steak, because Husband does that.  And he does it well.  So I'll tell you what I do.

Today we marinated our steak in coffee.  It's so good.  I got the recipe HERE.

Ingredients:
1 cup strong brewed black coffee or espresso
1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp onion powder
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
About 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¾ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Mix the ingredients together.  Pour over steak, I used tbone and sirloin.

Let it sit for 2-24 hours.  I let it marinate while I was at church, about 4 hours.

Grill the steak. 

Enjoy.  (so much so we forgot to get pictures!  So sorry!!)