Italian Seasoning

I love finding recipes and being able to make seasonings if I dont have it in my cupboard!!!!

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons dried basil

3 tablespoons dried oregano

3 tablespoons dried parsley

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes



Mix all ingredients in a spice grinder.

OR put in a small bowl and crush with the back of a spoon.

Store in an airtight jar for up to 6 months

Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2-1pkg chocolate chips
1 cup flaked coconut
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 cups rolled oats

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium mixing bowl cream shortening, butter, and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla until blended. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients, withholding the coconut until all other dry ingredients are blended. Add coconut.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients until moist. Drop on greased cookie sheet about 1-2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.
Remove from oven immedietly- if overcooked cookies get HARD.

Raspberry Jalapeno Jelly

There is a little sandwich shop here in town that I absolutely LOVE!! They have a sandwich that has Raspberry Jalapeno Jelly on it and I wasnt too sure about it but gave it a go and WOW!!!! It was love at first bite!! So of course I had to try and make some ;)


1 green bell pepper

1 cup frozen raspberries or 1 cup fresh raspberry

5 jalapeno peppers

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup cider vinegar

3 ounces pectin
Directions:

Sterilize jelly jars and lids according to manufacturer's instructions.

Remove seeds from green pepper and chilies Be very careful with chiles -- don't touch your eyes.

Fit the steel knife blade into the bowl.

Chop green pepper into 1/4-inch pieces.

Measure 1/2 cup.

Reserve rest for another purpose.

Chop jalapenos into 1/4 inch pieces.

Measure 1/4 cup for jelly.

Place the Raspberries, 1/2 cup green pepper and 1/4 cup jalapenos, sugar and vinegar in a large saucepan.

Bring to a boil.

Continue to boil 1 minute.

Remove from heat; let cool 5 minutes.

Stir in pectin.

Strain mixture through a fine strainer to remove pieces of peppers.

Pour strained liquid into sterilized jars.

Cover tightly and store in a cool place up to 6 months

A cake mix &

My lil boy came in the other night asking me to make some more cupcakes. I was in the baking mood and but was also trying to clean so I whipped out a 2 handy dandy cake mixes (yes I too use these) BUT I couldn't just make plain cupcakes so I started pulling stuff out of the pantry to experiment with and here is some of our ideas.

Peanut butter
Strawberry pie filling
Raspberry pie filling
Cherry pie filling
Caramels
Mints
Etc.

Man this was so much fun, it was like a cupcake sundae :) It would be super fun to do for a birthday party!!!

So all we did was make a cake mix according to the directions on the box. Then poured it into cupcakes leaving room for toppings & room to grow. Then we put a spoonful of peanut butter, strawberry, etc. If your putting the candy in you have to cover it with just a little bit of cake mix.

Bake according to directions on box. When cooled frost with frosting or eat without :)

Or you can make cake pops:

Make & bake cake according to directions on box. When cake has completely cooled crumble it into a bowl. Mix one tub of prepared frosting with cake. Form into silver dollar sized balls. Place in fridge for 30 minutes. When ready melt some chocolate. Dip sucker sticks in chocolate 1/2" the stick in cake balls. Let cool then dip balls in chocolate, making sure to cover the whole ball. Tap stick to shake off excess chocolate. Roll in sprinkles, crushed candy bars or cookies, or let set up then drizzle with white chocolate. Chill.

Goulash

1 large can tomato juice
1 pkg. elbow noodles cooked until almost done
1 lb ground beef, browned & seasoned with salt & pepper
1-2 cans corn drained or 1 pkg frozen corn
1 can tomato paste
1 can diced tomatoes optional
1/2 tsp garlic powder

mix all together until hot. Serve

Homemade Donuts (allrecipe.com)

I love how my kids think I am a superhero when they wake up to homemade donuts. Then for about a week after this AWESOME treat everyone that comes to our house gets told about Moms aka SUPERMOMS, donuts!!! Come on you know you want to be a super hero too!!! this does take a couple hours set be prepared!

2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1/3 cup butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 Tbsp. hot water or as needed

Directions

1. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of flour.

Mix for a few minutes at low speed, or stirring with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains.

3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Let doughnuts sit out to rise again until double. Cover loosely with a cloth.

4. Melt butter in a bowl. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside.

5. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slide doughnuts into the hot oil using a wide spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet or tray under racks for easier clean up.

Cinnamon Bread (Pioneer Woman)

My hubby and my son are totally addicted to Cinnamon Bread! I can not make it fast enough!!

1 cup Milk
6 Tablespoons Butter
2-1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
2 whole Eggs
1/3 cup Sugar
3-1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
1/3 cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing
Softened Butter, For Smearing And greasing

Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don't boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Combine flour and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add half the flour and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the other half and beat until combined.

Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat/knead dough on medium speed for ten minutes. If dough is overly sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and beat again for 5 minutes.

Heat a metal or glass mixing bowl so it's warm. Drizzle in a little canola oil, then toss the dough in the oil to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set it in a warm, hospitable place for at least 2 hours.

Turn dough out onto the work surface. Roll into a neat rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you're going to use, and about 18 to 24 inches long. Smear with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.

Smear loaf pan with softened butter. Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix a little egg with milk, and smear over the top. Bake for 40 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.

Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve, or make cinnamon french toast.

Peach Uncobbler ??? (Food Network)

Ok THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PEACH DESSERTS EVER!!!!!!

The recipe says the cobbler will rise to the top and mine didnt but we still loved it!!!!

4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup water
8 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/2 cups milk Ground cinnamon, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the peaches, 1 cup sugar, and water in a saucepan and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Put the butter in a 3-quart baking dish and place in oven to melt.

Mix remaining 1 cup sugar, flour, and milk slowly to prevent clumping. Pour mixture over melted butter. Do not stir. Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup. Sprinkle top with ground cinnamon, if using. Batter will rise to top during baking. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes.

To serve, scoop onto a plate and serve with your choice of whipped cream or icecream

Oven Baked Pork Chops

Ok honestly how many of you use Shake N Bake??? This recipe is similiar to that only better ;)

4 pork chops, trimmed
2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup herb-seasoned dry bread stuffing mix

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pour butter into a 9x13 inch baking pan. Stir together egg, milk and pepper. Dip pork chops in egg mixture, coat with stuffing mix and place in pan. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Turn chops and bake for another 10 minutes, or until no pink remains in the meat and juices run clear