Grandma Rayda's Butter horn Rolls

Butter Horn Rolls
 

2c. milk, scalded

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
3 t salt
2 pkgs. yeast
1 c. water
6 eggs, beaten
8-10 c. flour, add until dough is soft but not stiff

Bake at 400 for 15 mins.

 

(Grandma Rayda Stevenson made these rolls all of the time.  She had it down to an art and had made them so often that she made them from memory.  The aroma in the house was wonderful as they baked.  We could always look forward to them buttered and toasted the next morning for breakfast; we loved the “breakfast toast”.)

Pumpkin Roll (modification)

 

 Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs, beat on high for 5 minutes.

1 c. sugar gradually added to the eggs
2/3 c. pumpkin (stir into the above mixture)
1 t. lemon juice

In another bowl mix.

3/4 c. flour                                         

1 t. baking powder                               
2 t. cinnamon                                       
1 t. ginger
½ t. nutmeg
½ t. salt
 

Stir the above together and fold into pumpkin mixture.  Spread in a greased and floured jelly roll pan. (Parchment lined then floured and greased makes it easier to roll.  Wax paper can also be used) Top with 1 c. finely chopped walnuts (optional)  Bake at 375 for 15 mins.  Turn out on tea towel, cool.  Spread filling over cake.  Roll and chill.

Filling

1 c powdered sugar               (note we do one and half of the filling recipe to make a thicker filling)

8 oz. cream cheese
4 T. butter
½ t. vanilla

Beat until smooth.

(lg can of prepared pumpkin pie filling makes five pumpkin rolls.  The pumpkin roll freezes well.  Any left over pumpkin can also be frozen, simply measure out and place in a zipper freezer  label and freeze.)

Holiday Tableware (caution for lead poisoning)

I love dishes!  I used to collect dishes for different holidays, weddings, special occasions, etc.  Until a few years ago I learned of the lead poisoning that can occur from dishes.  There was a so called effort to try and regulate these types of items as they were imported or manufactured and stickers were being placed on safe items. Safe to use, to put in the microwave or dishwasher.  It was short lived and I rarely see those stickers anymore.  Specialty dishes are often the ones that have more lead in them!  Be sure you check the labels.  If you do have some don't use them in the dishwasher.  Much to my dismay my favorite special birthday plate was highest in measurement when I had some of my dishes  tested.  Unfortunately it sits on the shelf as a decoration now.

Inexpensive dishes often accompany neighborhood Christmas gifts this time of year so buyer be ware!

These Christmas plates are safe but because they are a type of china I never use them in the dishwasher,  I don't want the pattern to disappear.

 At a very young age I had and Aunt that gave me some depression glass.  I fell in love with it and have collected more over the years.  Only last summer as I was looking in an antique store in Carson City Nevada did I learn something I had never known about these dishes before.  The dealer held up a black light to show me that they were indeed depression glass and informed me that they were made with a radio active isotope.  The glassware glowed, wow!  I have never used these in the dishwasher either because of the age and not wanting them to be scratched.  Now I am relieved that I haven't because it would cause scratching from the caustic detergent and would have cause problems with the use of the glass.  I only use them once in awhile but I was grateful to learn more about them.  I still love them and will look for "special pieces."  I just won't use them as regular servings!

Orange Bread

Orange Bread

3 c, flour
2 c. sugar
¾ c. orange juice
2 eggs
½ c. oil
1 c. milk
zest from 1 orange
1 t vanilla
1 t baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1 t salt

Mix ingredients and pour into two greased and floured loaf pans. Bake in 350 oven for 45-50-minutes.

 

We use this to make French toast and it is heavenly!  Just after we were married the Gourmet Guy went with  a couple of friends to a wedding in California.  While they were there they picked fresh oranges and brought them home.  We had a lot for a young couple so we tried making bread from them and discovered that it was really good also makes really good French toast.  Some trial and error is just worth the effort.

Pasta Shells

This is one of the cookbooks I have collected over the years.  I chose this recipe because I literally had all of the ingredients in my pantry/fridge.  I only had the medium shells so it took longer to stuff them than it would have with the larger shells.  I also put the meat in with the cheese mixture and pulled some of my own homemade marinara sauce (recipe on the bottom of the blog as Lauri's Italian Sauce) out of the freezer.  What I realized is that the reason I chose this recipe on the fly is because I always have these ingredients in stock and it tasted much like my own. I would also use Sweet Italian Sausage rather than the ground beef in the future.  This is so close to the way I make my own Manicotti, not very risky but good flavors and seemed comfortable.

(From the Cookbook-Church Suppers)
 Stuffed Shells

25 jumbo shell
2 c. ricotta cheese
8 oz. mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 t. salt
1/8 t black pepper
1 t dried parsley
1/2 t dried oregano
1/2 . ground beef
1 28 oz. jar spaghetti sauce.

Cook shells according to the package directions; drain.  In a large bowl, combine the cheeses, eggs, salt, pepper, parsley, and oregano.  Preheat the oven to 350. Fill each shell with 2 T of the mixture.  In a large skillet, brown the beef and mix with the spaghetti sauce.  Spread a thin layer of sauce in 3 qt. rectangular baking dish.  Place the shells 1 deep in the dish and cover with sauce.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake for 35 minutes.  Make 6 servings. 

German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake

½ c. shortening

1 ½ c. sugar
3 eggs, beaten separately
pinch of salt
1 t. soda
1½ c. buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1½ squares of baker’s chocolate

Cream sugar and shortening, add egg yolks, melted chocolate and a little red food coloring

Alternate buttermilk, with soda added, with flour.  Fold in egg whites.  Bake in layer pans 30-35 minutes at 350.

German Cake Icing:

1 can evaporated milk

1 c. sugar
3 egg yolks
1 t. vanilla
¾ small package of coconut
pecans, finely chopped

Mix ingredients except the coconut and cook, about 12 minutes at a boil.  Stirring constantly not to let it scorch.  Cool and spread on cake.

(This was a recipe that Grandma Smith was well known for.  It was a treat for my sister and me to get this cake for our birthdays.  Two days before she passed away she was concerned that she had not been able to get a birthday cake made for Rosemarie. She had all of the ingredients purchased and waiting on her counter top.  We were all touched that she worried about the cake not being taken care of even as she was dying.  I love the frosting but cheat and put it on a much moister cake than the above recipe.  However, this is her true recipe.)

Cinnamon/Orange Rolls

 

After craving these for many months I finally broke down and made these sweet rolls. I used  the remaining mashed potatoes from another day because it makes the dough so soft. Since there are only two of us in the home I have been reluctant to make them, only because I knew that I wouldn't eat just one.  One of my solutions is to share with family and friends.  They were every bit as good as they sounded, nice and soft and filled with cinnamon and or orange.  Next time I'll do the Sticky Bun version!  ( I only made half of the recipe.)

Cinnamon Rolls

4 c. scalded milk  (Or 4 c, hot water and 1 c. powdered milk)

1 ½ c. sugar

2 t. salt

8 eggs, beaten

2 c. mashed potatoes

1 ½ c. shortening

½ c. warm water

2 pkg. yeast

6 c. whole wheat flour (or enough white flour to make a soft dough. approx. 9-10 c.)

 

Combine ingredients and let raise.  Roll out.  Sprinkle with butter, sugar, and cinnamon.  For orange rolls sprinkle with sugar and orange rind and some fresh squeezed orange juice. Roll and cut, place on a greased jelly roll pan and let raise once again.  Bake at 375 until golden brown.

Sheperd's Pie or Green Bean Casserole (Multitasking)

(individual portions for tonight and one for a freezer meal for another night, multitasking)

 

 

Shepherds’ Pie or Green Bean Casserole

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped
1 15 ½ oz. can green beans, drained
1 10 ¾ oz. can of tomato soup
3-4 medium potatoes
cheddar cheese, grated

Peel potatoes and cut into smaller pieces to speed up the cooking time, add to salted boiling water.  In a large frying pan brown the ground beef, add the onions when the meat is no longer pink.  When the onions become translucent, stir in the green beans and tomato soup, heat through.  Place the meat mixture into an oven safe casserole dish and top with the mashed potatoes and cheese.  Bake at 350 for 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly on top. 

Sweet Pork Burritos /Salad (Copy cat Cafe Rio)

Tomatillo Dressing

1 jalapeño pepper, minced finely
2 tomatillios, cut into pieces
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
Juice from 1 fresh lime
¾ jar of Ranch Dressing with peppercorns (Kraft)
Salt to taste


Sweet Pork

4 lbs pork butt roast
4 8oz cans tomato sauce
3 tsp minced garlic
3 cups brown sugar
4 tsp cumin
Dr. Pepper
3 Tbsp molasses
1/2 tsp salt

Put pork in crockpot with Dr. Pepper and cook on high for 7-8 hours. Strain and add the other ingredients and some more Dr. pepper, cook on low for 5 hours.

Cilantro lime rice
2 cups rice
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp- 1 tsp garlic salt
1 tbsp minced onion
Juice of 1 small lime
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Add all ingredients to rice cooker and press start.
Tortilla Strips
Cut corn tortillas into thin strips. Deep fry, drain, and salt.

*Serve with lettuce, black beans, quacamole or avacado, cheese, etc on warm tortilla.

Multitasking/ Mashed Potatoes

While making potatoes for chicken pot pie I knew that I had Shepherd's Pie on my menu and also wanted to the  make Cinnamon Rolls that I had been craving so I make extra potatoes.  Peeling  potatoes takes time and since I was already in the moment I decided to do it all at one time.  After cooking the cubed potatoes I removed the quantity that I wanted for the pot pie mixture and then I mashed the remaining potatoes and put them in the fridge for another day or two. While I could use instant potatoes for both the Shepherd's Pie and Cinnamon Rolls, and I have, I love the real thing.

Chicken Pot Pie (update)

(for this post/batch I only did a half of a recipe and still had enough for 2 ramekins for a dinner, a freezer meal for the "Gourmet Guy" and I and a small freezer meal for my Mother-in-law.  I also had two previously grilled chicken breasts in the freezer that I used on the fly for this instead of cooking a whole chicken like I typically do.

Chicken Pot Pie

 

Boil a chicken roaster or use rotisserie chicken left overs or any leftovers you many have such as turkey.
 

Make Gravy:                                                       Half recipe gravy:

2/3 c. margarine or butter                                  ½ c. butter                    
2/3 c. flour                                                         ½ c. flour                                  
1 t. salt                                                               ½ t. salt                                   
½ t. pepper                                                          ¼ t. pepper
3½ c. broth                                                         1¾ c. broth
1 1/3 c. milk                                                        ¾ c. milk

Melt butter over low heat, blend in flour, salt, and pepper.  Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly, remove from heat.  Stir in broth and milk.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil and stir one minute.  Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients.  (reserve about 1/3 of gravy for top when serving.)

Stir in

2-4 boiled potatoes, cut up
cooked meat                               
1 4 oz. can mushrooms
1 16 oz. bag of frozen vegetables

Pie Crust

1/3 c. plus 1 T. shortening                                         
1 c. flour                                                                       
1/2 t. salt
 2-3 T .cold water

(Double for two crust)

Pie crusts did not come easy to me until my mother-in-law showed me how to make them.  The method of rolling them out in wax paper was the best advice I have ever had.  A double pie crust recipe was perfect to top all of these.  For the full recipe it would take two double pie crust recipes to top all of the mixture.  These freeze really well for up to about six months.  Because they freeze like a brick they should be taken out the night before and placed in the fridge to thaw.  They may still be partly frozen and need to be out on the counter for an hour before baking.  I have put them in completely frozen and it took at least two hours to cook through and some even longer.  Bake them at 425 until the mixture bubbles through the slits on the top of the pie and the crust is golden brown. the fruits  of one evening, four meals and I did extra potatoes and mashed them for a couple of other projects that will be in the next few days,  Maybe it is has been awhile but they were the best tasting mashed potatoes that I have make in quite awhile, I guess good practice for the upcoming holiday! 

 

 And the chicken filling inside of the flaky crust was just the meal I was looking for that night. Pure comfort food.



 

The efforts of the night and multitasking in a nice way!

Bread Sticks (repeat)

Bread sticks

1 T. yeast

2 T. sugar
1½ c. warm water
Add:
1 t. salt
3½ c. flour

Mix slightly sticky dough.  Let raise once.  Roll out, cut, and twist.  Put on cookie sheet with 1 cube melted butter.  Sprinkle with garlic salt, Parmesan cheese, and sesame seeds.  Let rise until double and bake at 400 until golden brown.

I also use this recipe to make Calzones!  Cydney uses this to make the bread sticks as well as cinnamon knots for her family.

Low Cal Tostadas - Pantry Staples

I have been watching recipes on Pinterest for new or improved recipes.  I have noticed a lot that are called Mexican Pizza's or Mediterranean Taco's or something similar.  I came up with something from my pantry.
I always have corn and flour tortillas in my fridge as well as salsa's or my own Pico.  In my freezer I have chicken breasts, chicken thighs, drumsticks, and whole chickens.  I also have cooked chicken, sometimes grilled, baked or boiled, cut up into pieces ready for certain recipes.  In food storage I have my home canned salsa, green chilie's, black beans, as well as frozen chilie's from my garden. so this is my version of Low Cal Tostada's

2-4 corn tortillias
olive or canola oil
black beans, warmed and drained of most liquid, mashed
1 c. cooked chicken, cubed
1/3 med. onion, chopped finely
1 t. cumin, more if desired
tomato, cut in pieces
1/2 half avocado, sliced

 Place tortillas on a foil lined baking sheet and brush with olive or canola oil.  Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes to turn crisp, a shorter time will make them tough.  Put black beans into a pan and heat thoroughly, drain leaving a small amount of the liquid to mash.  In a skillet place a small amount of oil and saute the onion until transparent, add the chicken, the green chilie's, and cumin and warm through.  Place the beans on top of the shell then the chicken, avocado, and tomatoes.  Additonal toppings if desired.



other possible ingredients: (this would add calories and no longer be dairy free)
sweet corn
cheese
sour cream
olives

Homemade Bread (the lost recipe)

White-Whole Wheat Bread

2 T yeast
3/4 c. warm water
2 c. milk lukewarm  (I use 2/3 c. powdered milk with two c. warm water)
1 T shortening
1 t salt
7-8 c. flour

425 until Golden Brown.  Makes two loaves