Microwave Popcorn

I saw this post about making your own microwave popcorn- I have tried it and it works! Rock on! I like it because it makes small batches- so there is no wasted popcorn.

Here is the link with the directions.

http://www.makeandtakes.com/easy-homemade-microwave-popcorn

Rolls

One of the blogs I follow- Little Birdie Secrets- featured these rolls. I thought they looked good and seemed pretty easy to do so I tried them out today. They are good... so good in fact I have eaten three already. I hadn't found my Go-to-Roll-Recipe- but I have now.

Little Birdies' Homemade Crescent Rolls

2 c. warm water, 110-115°
2 Tbsp. rapid rise yeast (aka bread machine yeast)
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. powdered milk
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. salt
5-6 c. bread flour

Softened butter

Pour water in a bowl and sprinkle yeast over the top. Allow to soften about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Dough will be a little sticky, but if it's really sticky add a little more flour. Allow to rise in bowl for 45 minutes. Punch down and allow to rise for another 45 minutes. Break into two equal pieces. On a floured surface, roll out each chunk into a large circle. Spread softened butter (not melted) onto entire circle. Cut into wedges with pizza cutter. (I do 12 for smaller rolls, or 8 for larger.) Starting with wide end of triangles, roll up like a crescent roll. Place on cookie sheets with pointed end tucked underneath (so it doesn’t pop open during baking) and bake at 400° for 10-14 minutes, or until just golden on top.

NOTE:

GO TO THEIR WEBSITE (the above link) to see pictures and commentary.

Also- I didn't have Bread Flour and so I just used All Purpose and it worked out just fine for me.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Cafe Rio Rice and Pork

Cafe Rio Rice

3 Cups Rice

6 Cups water

4 tsp. Chicken bouillon

4 tsp Garlic- minced

1/2 bunch Cilantro chopped

1 can diced green chilies

3/4 tsp. salt

1 Tablespoon Butter

1/2 Onion

Blend cilantro, green chilies, and onion together in food processor. Add all ingredients to rice and cook the rice as you would cook regularly. (Bring to boil, turn to low and cover. Do not disturb for 20 minutes.)

Cafe Rio Pork

3-4 Boneless pork chops

1 McKormick Grillmate Southwest Marinade packet

1 Bottle Dr. Pepper (or enough to cover the pork)

1/2 C. Vinegar

2 Tablespoons oil

2 Cups unpacked brown sugar ( I never use the full amount of sugar. I think I used about one cup and it tasted just fine)

Mix all ingredients together and cook pork in a crock pot on low for about 2 1/2 hours. Then take pork out and shred with a fork and then put the pork back in the mixture for 2 1/2 hours longer.

Cafe Rio Dressing

1 C buttermilk ranch dressing packet (make as directed on the package)

2 tomatillos

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 clove garlic (to taste)

juice of 1 lime

1 jalapeno

Put in the blender or food processor to blend all ingredients well, then refrigerate.

Notes:

I did not have all the ingredients for the dressing. I am sure it is best this way, but if all you have is ranch and cilantro it is good that way too.

Once you are done, warm tortilla in microwave with cheese. Add rice, pork, lettuce, dressing, black beans. It is all very tasty together.

Submitted by Melynda

Posted by Janelle

Chunky Apple Cake

Here is the recipe of the apple cake we had for my birthday- I am glad you enjoyed it. It takes a bit of work (cutting up all the apples) so it is one we make for a special occasion- it is not just a throw-everything-together-real-fast recipe.

Chunky Apple Cake

Cake Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cup flour

1-1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

6 cups chopped peeled tart apples

Butterscotch Sauce:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff). Stir in apples until well combined.

Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 30 minutes before serving.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Serve with cake.

-taken from Taste of Home website. I found this recipe after Kaley and I went to an orchard and picked apples in the Fall 2007. I was looking for something to use up the apples. This cake gets yummier with time- the next day tastes better than the day made.

Plum Pie

We got a bunch of plums from a neighbor. They are delicious but they are quickly getting too ripe so I have been making yummy treats I really shouldn't be making (because I am eating them). I made this plum pie last night. The girls are eating the last of it this morning and I want to make another one, it was so good. It has a really easy crust- no rolling out and simple ingredients. It actually tastes like shortbread to me. I think it would be good with any kind of fruit. I am going to make one with apple. Anyways- if you want to give it a try. I hope you enjoy (I know I am enjoying it too much).

Sidenote: After I poured the eggs on, I didn't quickly spread it over the pie so I had a couple of egg puddles. When I do it again- I will pour the eggs all over and then smooth it out right away.

Ingredients

• 8 plums (about 1 pound)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten

PASTRY SHELL

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions

1. 1

   PASTRY SHELL Combine flour and sugar; add butter and vinegar, mixing well. press evenly into bottom and halfway up sides of lightly greased 10-inch piepan. Prick bottom with a fork.

2. 2

   Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Cut each plum into 8 wedges; discard pits. Sprinkle flour evenly in bottom of partially baked pastry shell. Arrange plum wedges side by side in pastry shell, overlapping slightly.

4. 4

   Combine cinnamon and sugar;sprinkle over plums. Pour eggs over top, covering surface evenly. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Here is the link on Recipezaar.

chewy peanut butter brownies

Josh made these yesterday and they are yummy. We even had fun taking pictures. They are from the "3 books in 1" recipe book that Joy gave us for Christmas (pg2).

Chewy Peanut Butter Brownies
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1 3/4 c. sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 13*9 inch baking pan.
2. Combine butter and peanut butter in large bowl; mix well. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add eggs; beat until well blended. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt just until blended. Remove 1 3/4 cups batter into small bowl; stir cocoa into remaining batter.
3. Spread cocoa batter evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Top with remaining 1 3/4 cups of reserved batter. Bake 30 minutes or until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on wire rack; cut into bars.

Pancakes

I love this recipe for pancakes- if you have the time to make them from scratch or have run out of the just add water kind. I actually crave these pancakes and I am not even pregnant!

1 large egg

1 cup all purpose flour or whole wheat flour

3/4 cup milk

1 TBSP sugar or brown sugar

2 TBSP vegetable oil

3 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Beat the egg until fluffy. Beat in the remaining ingredients until smooth. For thinner pancakes stir in 1-2 TBSP milk.

Cook pancakes the way you normally do. (I didn't want to type out all those instructions).

Notes:

I double the recipe, using half all purpose flour and half wheat flour. Sometimes I use powdered milk- I just add about 4-5 TBSP powdered milk and 1 and 1/2 cup water (this is for a double batch). If you were doing just a single batch it would be 2 and 1/4 TBSP powdered milk to 3/4 cup water. You don't need to make the milk before adding it- just put the powdered milk and the water in with all the other ingredients.

These pancakes come out really fluffy (I think because of all the baking powder) and with the wheat flour it has a nice texture.

I hope you enjoy!