Bran Muffins

Grandma Mary's

Mix together:
5 t. baking soda
2 c. boiling water
1 qt. buttermilk

Cream together:
1 c. shortening
1 t. salt
3 c. sugar
4 eggs

Add:
5 c. flour
5 c. bran flakes (cereal)

Pour into prepared muffin cups and or tin and bake @ 400 for 20 minutes. Bake what you want, store the remaining mix in the refridgerator. Do not stir after mixed, just spoon out what is needed. Recipe can be halved.

Lentils

Skip sent me this. It is from a girl in her ward. Looks like a really good food storage meal. I'll try it out for ya'all and tell you all about it.

2 tsp. oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced carrots
1 lb. lentils sorted and rinsed
1 can chicken or vegetable broth
1 tsp. cumin

In a LARGE skillett, saute onion, celery and carrots in the oil for 5 minutes on medium-high heat. Add rinsed lentils, cumin and then enough broth to cover. Once the broth comes to a boil, reduce heat to med or med-low and simmer for 45 minutes - hour only stirring once or twice. If you over stir, the lentils break up. Add salt and pepper to taste. It doesn't look appetizing, the color seems all wrong, but my kids love it, and they get excited for the leftovers, (the flavors intensify overnite, and it seems even better the next day).

Yummy Potatoes

2 lb. bag southern style hashbrowns
1 pt. sour cream
1/2 c. margerine or butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. chopped onions
1 1/2 c. shredded cheese
salt & pepper

Mix altogher. Top with corn flakes. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 min.

Fried Rice

I've tried this meal several times and failed miserably. But this week I conquered. So here's what I learned. Don't use Calrose rice for fried rice--I love it for everything else. Also, make sure your rice is completely cooled before frying.

Saute:

2 T. Butter

Chopped Onion

Add 1 or 2 eggs and scramble.

Add

cooked, cooled rice (I used brown rice--D-lish)

2 T. Soy Sauce

Flip it, turn it--feel like a chef

Add your veggies--frozen work great!

-carrots

-peas

-green onions

-mushroom

-green beans

-sky's the limit!

Chicken Ole

Chicken -- fresh or bottled
1 can Black Beans (optional)
1 can Tomato Sauce
1 can Corn
1 can Chopped Green Chilies or substitute with a 1/2 c. Salsa
1 1/2 t. Chili Powder
1 t. Onion Powder
Tortilla Chips or Cooked Rice

Cook Chicken in skillet. Add other indredients. Serve over chips or rice.

Garnish with Cheese and Sour cream.

I made this tonight. My kids all gave it a thumbs up--Wahoo!
I added the black beans, the recipe didn't call for them. I used Salsa instead of Green Chilies. It had a good flavor and I was thinking that you could probably try it without the chicken for a bean and rice type of recipe. Easy Smeasy Recipe

Sloppy Joes

This was really delicious. You can double this and freeze it in 1 c. portions to use it in tacos, soup, or casseroles. (I got it from a friend who does the Once a Month cooking thing)

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion (or minced onion)
1/3 c. ketchup
1/2 c. water--may need more to dilute at the end.
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. brown sugar
1 t. Worchestershire sauce
1 t. salt
1 t. vinegar
1/2 packet sloppy joe seasoning (if desired)

What to do with that leftover rice in the fridge? Add it to your sloppy joe or taco meat. It stretches your meet further and tastes great too.

Strawberry-Banana Jello Salad

From: Trina

Mix together:
3-3 oz. pkgs. Strawberry Jello
2 1/4 c. boiling water

Add:
1 c. crushed pineapple
20 oz. frozen strawberries (sliced are best)
3 smashed bananas

Mix all above ingredients together well, then pour half of mixture into a pan and let set in refrigerator. Leave the other half of the Jello mixture on the counter.

Once set, take out of fridge, and spread 8 oz. sour cream on top.

Then pour the rest of the Jello mixture on top.

Keep Refrigerated

Chicken Taco Soup

Here's a twist on our traditional taco soup and my fam loves it

2 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained (15 oz)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Place everything but sour cream and cheese in the crockpot. Cook on low heat 6-8 hours or high heat 3-4 hours. Shred the chicken or cut into cubes and add the sour cream and cheese when you're about to eat. Serve with fritos. Yummy!

Coconut Pecan Frosting

Since Mom's birthday is tomorrow, I thought I'd put this recipe on the blog since she loves German Chocolate Cake.

1/2 cup evaporated milk (12 oz can)
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 slightly beaten egg yolks
3/4 cup butter/margarine
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
7 oz coconut
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

Combine ingredients and put in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in coconut and pecans. Cool then apply to cake.

When I make this, I just use all of the can of evaporated milk. My family likes more coconut and I usually only put in about 1/2 cup of the finely chopped pecans. It's quite tasty and as you can see really healthy for you. ;)

Chicken Noodle Soup

Homemade Noodles:

1 beaten egg
2 TBSP mild
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup flour

Combine egg, salt, and milk. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Roll very thin on floured surface. Let stand 20 minutes. Then cut 1/8 in. thick. Let dry for 2 hours. Boil for 10 minutes.

Soup:
1 large onion
3 stalks celery
3 carrots
3 chicken breasts
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp salt
2 cups water
1/2 tsp basil

In above order put in pot. Bring to a boil turn down and simmer for 30 min to 1 hour (until veggies are soft)

When I made this, I added more water at the end that was flavored with chicken stalk. It was really yummy with a lot of flavor.

Blender Pancakes

From Aunt Marilyn

1 cup whole grain wheat (not flour)
1 cup milk
Combine in blender and mix on high speed for 2 full minutes
Add 3/4 cup milk and blend 2 more minutes

Add:
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tb. honey
Blend well. Just before cooking add 1 Tb. baking powder.

Breakfast Cookies

from the kitchen of Malia



2 cups old fashioned oats

1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

1 cup grape nuts cereal

½ cup wheat germ

½ cup oat bran

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature

2 large eggs

1 cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup sugar

½ cup raisins

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 cup almonds, toasted coarsely chopped (substituted for the least expensive nuts)

1 cup chopped pitted dates, optional*

Cream butters and then add remaining ingredients in order. Roll into balls and bake at 350-375 degrees for 6-7 minutes or until lightly browned.