Category: Recipes with Pictures

The recipes in this category have pictures to view.

Categories
Miscellaneous Recipes with Pictures Snack

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

I found this recipe on the Simply Recipes website.   The flavor was fantastic, however we over baked them a tad so some of the seeds had a little burnt flavor.  The picture shows a browned pumpkin seed, I would recommend watching them closely, especially if your oven runs hot.

One medium sized pumpkin
Salt
Olive oil

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.
  2. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a half tablespoon of salt for every cup of water (more if you like your seeds saltier). Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
  3. Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a roasting pan. Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan, all in one layer. Bake on the top rack until the seeds begin to brown, 10-20 minutes. When browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating. Either crack to remove the inner seed (a lot of work and in my opinion, unnecessary) or eat whole.
Categories
Recipes with Pictures Side Dishes

The Best Sweet Potatoes in the World

2 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes
4 T. butter
1/4 C. maple syrup
2 T. brown sugar
1/3 C. pecan halves
1 1/2 C. mini marshmallows

Place sweet potatoes and water to cover. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 25-30 minutes, or until tender. Drain potatoes and cool slightly. Peel under cold water. Cut into large chunks, and place in 8 x 8 casserole. Preheat oven to 350.

In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in syrup and sugar over low heat for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle nuts over sweet potatoes and top with syrup mixture. Bake 25 minutes. Top with marshmallows. Bake 5-7 minutes.

Categories
Cookies Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Snickerdoodles

I got this recipe from another online recipe blog Popular Cookie Recipes.  The recipe is quite simple and the cookies are very tasty.  Just the right amount of crispy and chewy.   The recipe only makes about 24-30 cookies.  So you may want to double it if you’re looking for more.  Give it a try, it certainly won’t disappoint.

1/2 C. butter, softened
1 C. sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C. all purpose flour

4 T. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for 30 seconds.  Add the 1 C. sugar, baking soda, and cream of tartar.  Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.  Beat in the egg and vanilla until well blended.  Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer, and stir in remaining flour.

Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Combine the 4 T. sugar and 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.  Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat. Place balls of dough 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until edges are beautifully golden.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

Categories
Bars Desserts Recipes with Pictures

No Bake Bars

I got this recipe from my neighbor Kerri.  Not sure where she got it, but the photo copy she gave me had the following introduction to the recipe:

Susie Wingert, from Panama, Iowa, shares this recipe for chewy treats big on taste but needing little effort. “They are handy to make when the weather is hot,” she comments, “since the oven never has to be turned on.”

4 C. Cheerios
2 C. crisp rice cereal
2 C. dry roasted peanuts
2 C. M&M’s
1 C. light corn syrup
1 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients; set aside. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup and sugar to a boil, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat; stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture and toss to coat evenly. Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Cool. Cut into 3-in. x 3-in. bars.

Categories
Cheese Main Dishes Pasta Recipes with Pictures Vegetarian

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

I got this recipe from the Food Network website (link).  I didn’t follow the directions exactly as you see them below.  Here are the changes I made to the recipe: instead of three eggs I used just one, and instead of using a slow cooker I baked mine at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. It was excellent!

2 C. uncooked elbow macaroni
4 T. (1/2 stuck) butter, cut into pieces
2 1/2 C. (about 10 ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 C. sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C whole milk
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Categories
Bars Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Kit Kat Bars

Got this recipe from my co-worker Debi.  She always brings in great treats to share and this one is no different.  I was instructed to take two right away because they were SO good.  Regretfully I only took one, luckily there were a few left after I devoured the first.

75 Club crackers
1 C. butter
2 C. graham cracker crumbs
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 C. whole milk
1/3 C. white sugar
2/3 C. creamy peanut butter
1/2 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. butterscotch chips

Line an ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan with 1 layer of crackers, cutting to fit. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add cracker crumbs, brown sugar, milk and sugar.  Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and pour half of the butter mixture over crackers.  Place another layer of crackers evenly over butter mixture.  Pour remaining butter mixture evenly over crackers.  Top with remaining crackers.

In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch chips. Melt over medium low heat, stirring constantly.  Spread evenly over crackers.

Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.  Cut into bars and store in refrigerator.

Categories
Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Graham Cracker Snack

Another recipe our friend Erin Carlson unveiled at our 2008 New Year’s Eve Olympics. These were tasty little buggers.  Impossible to each just one.  Good thing my New Year’s resolutions started the next day.  Enjoy! Note: Picture taken before baking.

1 pkg. graham crackers
2 sticks butter
1/2 C. sugar
1 C. chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla

  1. Break graham crackers apart and lay on foil lined jelly roll pan.
  2. Melt butter with sugar.  Bring to boil, stirring often.
  3. Remove from heat.  Add pecans and vanilla
  4. Pour over crackers.

Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Categories
Chicken Main Dishes Recipes with Pictures

Southwestern Chicken Pizza

This recipe comes to you from Erin Carlson.  Erin and her husband Erik (Chuckie) hosted our annual New Year’s Eve Olympics this past year.  It’s a weekend where we play a bunch of boardgames and eat lots of food.  This particular recipe came out of that weekend.  It was delicious and appeared to be an easy dish to make, but that’s easy for me to say as I was only the taster.  Good stuff, thanks Erin!

1 medium onion
1 medium green pepper
1/4 C. water
2 (10 oz. ) tubes of pizza crust
1 1/4 C. salsa
2 pkg. (6 oz) southwestern chicken strips
2 C. shredded Mexican cheese
1/4 tsp. Garlic powder

In microwave, combine onion, pepper and water. Cover and cook 2-4 minutes on high until crisp-tender.  Drain well.

Unroll pizza crust onto greased 14 x 10″ pan.  Spread with salsa.  Top with chicken, onions, peppers and cheese.  Sprinkle with garlic.

Bake 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Categories
Bars Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Rice Krispie Bars (Treats)

Every recipe book, website or blog has to have the staple rice krispie treats recipe.  I was surprised to learn this site did not have one, that is until now.  A simple and delicious treat. I think I’ll go make (and eat) a pan right now.

3 T.  butter or margarine
1 pkg. (10 oz., about 40)  regular marshmallows or 4 C miniature marshmallows
6 C. Rice Krispies

  1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
  2. Add Rice Krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.
  3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.

Microwave Directions:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Categories
Bars Cookies Desserts Recipes with Pictures

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Got this recipe from Carol Robson, a co-worker of mine.  She brought these in one morning and they were gone in no time. Some of Carol’s comments about the recipe are below . . .

Watkins vanilla is mandatory (my Mom always insisted on that).  Guess you could call it “an old family recipe”. 

3 eggs
2 1/4 C. brown sugar
Mix until frothy – at least 4 or 5 minutes (stand mixer works best)

Add and mix well:
3/4 C. melted margarine

Sift together and add:
2 1/4 C. flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

Add:
1 T. Watkins real vanilla (no substitutes)

Stir in by hand:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Spread in greased 10 x 15 jelly roll pan.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-25 min.
Do not over bake!