Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs is a favorite dinner in our house, we have this very often on Sunday's. This recipe is slightly different from your basic bread crumb Italian meatball recipe, but the flavor is the same.(please ignore the messiness of this plate....the kids were hungry and I was rushing!)

What you will need

1 lb of ground beef(you may sub chicken, turkey or do a combo of beef, pork and veal)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp parsley flakes

1 tsp pepper

2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 egg

You will begin by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Bring all ingredients together without over mixing.

Once you have finished combining, form into small balls, about an 1 inch in diameter. Bake at 350* for about 15 minutes(if you are making larger meatballs, allow a longer baking time). When finished baking place in your favorite sauce and simmer on your stove top for at least one hour, this will allow your sauce to cook into your meatballs.

French Bread

I made this french bread when I forgot to pick some up at the store for dinner to serve with Spaghetti. This bread is quite simple and tastes delicious. Try adding in other ingredients, such as, rosemary, oregano or a tbsp of olive oil, to change the taste a bit.

What you will need

1 1/4 cups water brought to 110*

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp yeast

Glaze

1 egg beaten

1 tbsp water

1 tsp garlic powder

Begin by proofing your yeast in your 110* water and your sugar. Allow to proof for 15 minutes. I like to use my stand mixer for the next steps, you can also use a hand mixer if you have a bread hook, or you may mix by hand. Next you will add in your flour 1/2 cup at a time and your salt. Once your mixture forms a ball, place in an oiled bowl, turning the dough so all sides are coated.

Now, allow your dough to rest covered in a damp towel for about an hour. This allows your bread to rise, it should double in size.

After the hour has passed, punch down your dough to let the air escape. Turn out onto a floured surface. Roll dough into a rectangular shape.

Once your dough is rolled out into a rectangle, begin to roll the dough, starting closest to your body and rolling upward. Once finished, tuck in the outside edges and cut about 4 shallow cuts into the top of your bread.

For rising, allow to sit for another 15 minutes, sitting under a damp towel. Once finished rising, brush with your egg wash mixture and sprinkle the top with your garlic powder. Bake at 375* for approximately 20 minutes.

Cinnamon Rolls

This cinnamon roll recipe is taken from familyfun.com, I have made a few changes, but used their recipe as a base. You can make these the night before and allow them to sit in the refrigerator overnight, then you can get them in the oven first thing in the morning! The aroma is something your family will love to wake up too!

What you will need

Dough

1/4 cup warm water

1 package dry active yeast

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup warm milk

2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

3 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp softened butter

Filling

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans(these can be omitted)

2 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp softened butter

Sweet Glaze

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

2 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp maple flavoring(sub with almond extract, lemon or orange flavor)

Start by taking your warm water and dissolving the yeast for about 5 minutes. Next, take your warm milk and dissolve the sugar, when this is finished, add in the beaten egg and vanilla. Now, add your milk mixture to your water and yeast. Once those are blended add in two cups of flour. With a wooden spoon, stir in your flour, mixing 100 times. Once finished mixing in the flour allow to sit, covered with a wet towel, undisturbed for 15 minutes.

Now stir in the softened butter and the flour 1/2 cup at a time. When the dough becomes hard to stir, begin to mix with your hands and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead for another 6 to 7 minutes.

Now place your dough in an oiled bowl, coating all sides of the dough with the oil. Allow the dough to sit in a bowl, covered with a damp towel for one hour. This will cause the dough to rise some more. Once the hour has passed, punch the dough down and allow to sit another 15 minutes.

Next you can prepare your filling. Chop the nuts to a fine consistency, then add in your brown sugar and cinnamon.

Now you may roll out your dough into a rectangular shape. Spread your 4 tbsp of butter on the dough, leaving one inch all around the edges.

Once you have finished, sprinkle your filling over the butter and pat down with your hands. Now roll the dough in a tight roll and allow to sit, covered in a damp towel for another 15 minutes.

After the cinnamon rolls have rested, cut into slices about an inch and a half in size. Place in a buttered baking dish and bake at 350* for 20 minutes.

While baking you can prepare the glaze by putting your powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and maple in a bowl. Stir with a fork.

Allow your cinnamon rolls to cool for a few minutes then pour over your glaze.

Snow Ice Cream!

I heard about this Snow Ice Cream on facebook and thought...we have to do this! There is so much snow out there, we might as well make something yummy out of it! This is a great activity to do with your kids!


What you will need

7 cups of snow
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp of vanilla

First, put on your coats, hats and boots and go outside to get yourself some snow! Next, have your camera ready!

Put your snow into a large bowl, pour the sweetened milk over the top and stir. Finally add in the vanilla. Stir and serve.

Strawberry pie with Crumb topping

I had alot of frozen strawberries in the freezer so I decided to make this pie. This recipe is very simple and unlike most strawberry pies because it is baked.



What you will need

4 cups frozen strawberries
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cornstarch
2 tbsp butter

Topping
3/4 cup flour
3/4 brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
7 tbsp softened butter


Start by creaming your butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon together. When finished there will still be small pea size pieces of butter. Now mix your strawberries, flour, sugar and cornstarch together. Pour into your pie dish with your favorite pie crust recipe. Now take your crumb topping and pour over the top, place small dabs of butter on top of the crumbles.




Bake at 375* for 1 hour.

Easiest Pie crust

I found a variation of this pie crust on allrecipes.com, I changed a couple of ingredients. This recipe is so simple and very tasty. It can be made in minutes. If you would like to make this a savory pie crust, lower the sugar to 1 tsp and up the salt to 1 tsp. Also, try substituting olive oil for the vegetable oil.

What you will need

1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil

Place your flour, sugar and salt into your pie dish, whisk together. Now add in your oil and mix with a fork. Once finished press into your pie dish and poke holes with a fork into the bottom. Bake at 400* for 15 minutes.

Italian Bread Bowls

This Italian bread recipe can be used as a loaf of bread or made into bread bowls. This simple recipe makes for a delicious and easy addition to any soup or stew.

What you will need

1 package yeast
1 1/2 cups water brought to 110*
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp oil

Egg Wash mixture
1 egg white
1 tbsp water

This is easiest made in a stand mixer with bread hook if you have it. If not a stand mixer is just fine! Begin by warming your water to 110* most faucets will produce water to this temperature. Pour yeast into water and allow to proof, this will take about 10 minutes and will become creamy looking. Now add in the salt, garlic powder and oil, then begin adding the flour 1/2 cup at a time.

Once everything is combined place on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. When finished kneading place in a oiled bowl, turn to coat and cover with a damp towel, place bowl in a warm area. Allow the dough to sit for about 40 minutes while it doubles in volume.



When this process has finished "punch" the dough down and split into 4 portions, about 4 in. in diameter. Now place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Allow to sit for another 35 minutes, again allowing it to double in size.





Place in a preheated 400* oven and bake for 15 minutes. At 15 minutes take out and brush the egg wash mixture on top for browning, bake for another 15 minutes. Once finished baking allow to cool on a wire rack.

Chili

This is Chili that is not traditional in the sense that it isn't made with just meat. I also add beans to my chili. Instead of ground beef, try subbing ground turkey or chicken. This can also be made vegetarian by using "beef" crumbles or leaving out the meat all together.




What you will need

1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp(= 2 cloves) garlic
1 small onion chopped
2tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground red pepper
2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp hot sauce
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can chili beans
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce

Start by sauteing your garlic and onion in your butter. Once onion is translucent add in your ground beef. While browning add in your spices, crumble meat. Do NOT drain your meat once finished browning.


Now take your tomatoes and chop into smaller size. Pour drained kidney beans into pot along with your stewed tomatoes and undrained chili beans. Once you have added these put in your tomato sauce and your Hot Sauce.

Allow your chili to simmer for approximately 2 hours. This will allow for best flavor.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

This is one of our family favorites! Try mixing cheese, use half mozzarella, half cheddar. Or try using Monterrey jack cheese.


What you will need

1 pre made pizza dough(or store bought)
1 cooked breast of chicken
6 ounces of cooked bacon
ranch dressing
1 lb shredded mozzarella cheese

Start by cooking your chicken and bacon. I grill the chicken on the stove top and cook my bacon in the microwave. Slice the chicken and crumble the bacon.
Now spread your pizza dough in the pan(find a recipe here) with ranch dressing, you can make this as much or as little as you want.


Next, sprinkle the bacon as the second layer to the pizza.


Your third layer will be the sliced chicken, lay pieces of chicken on the pizza.


Finally top with cheese. Bake for about 20 mins at 375*

Simple Pizza Dough

This pizza dough is very easy, it does require yeast but you don't have to allow it time to rest. Try adding in a tsp of garlic powder for a extra special taste in your crust.


What you will need

3 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 packet of quick rising yeast
1 tsp of salt
2 tbsp oil
1 cup of warm water

Start by putting your flour, sugar, yeast and salt into a bowl. Whisk these ingredients together.


Now, add in your water(make sure the water is warm, this is what activates the yeast) and oil.


Finally mix all of these ingredients together, you will need to use your hands once the water is mixed in to finish combining.

Spread your dough into a pan, this recipe will make one thin crust pizza in a large jelly roll pan, or a thicker crust in a pizza pan. In this photo is a large jelly roll pan, the crust is thick and this is two batches.

Cream cheese frosting

I made this for a carrot cake, but this would be delicious on Red Velvet cake or any other cake!





What you will need

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of butter(1 stick) softened
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups sifted or whisked powdered sugar

If you are frosting the carrot cake add sprinkle these blended ingredients on the top

1/8 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup of walnuts finely chopped

Whip together the softened butter and cream cheese. Add in vanilla. Gradually add in the powdered sugar.

Frost the cooled cake.

Carrot Cake

Simply delicious! If you would like to change the batter a bit you can add pineapple. Try adding pecans or almonds instead of walnuts.




What you will need

Preheat oven to 350*

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup walnuts(finely chopped)

Start by grating your carrots, for grating you can use a food processor or a hand grater. Next
finely chop your nuts(I used a food processor)



Now blend together your wet ingredients: oil, vanilla and eggs, once blended add in your sugar.




Next in a separate bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk these ingredients together.



Once combined slowly add into the wet ingredients and mix.

Now, fold in the carrots and nuts.



Prepare your pan for baking by oiling and flouring the bottoms and sides. You can either use a 9x13 pan or two 8 in. rounds.

Frost with cream cheese icing.

Barbeque Sauce

This is a great topper for the Pulled Pork recipe or any other recipe calling for bbq sauce. Very simple and done in less than 15 minutes.

What you will need

1 tsp cooking oil
1 small yellow onion
1 tsp minced garlic
3 tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp prepared honey Dijon mustard
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup cold water
1 tsp cornstarch

Heat oil in pan and cook onion and garlic until soft. Now whisk in the Worchestershire sauce, vinegar, molasses, brown sugar and mustard, simmer for about 5 minutes.

Now add in your ketchup, cold water and cornstarch(if you want a thicker sauce add more cornstarch), simmer for another 10 minutes.

Here is the sauce on the pulled pork

Pulled Pork

The nice thing about pulled pork is you can use the less expensive cuts of meat and still have a very high quality, high filling meal.





What you will need

4 lbs Pork(I used pork western ribs 1.29lb at BJ's wholesale)
1 can beef broth or 1 to 2 cups of water plus 2 bullion cubes
dash of pepper
sprinkle of garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350*. Place pork in pan with broth and sprinkle with pepper and garlic powder.


Bake for 6 hours. Keep an eye on the liquid level, if it gets too low you may have to add more. Once your Pork is finished cooking allow to cool(I cooked mine the day before and cooled over night). Now, shred your pork.


Once you are finished shredding, discard cooking liquid and place bake in baking dish. You may serve just like this, use this bbq sauce or your favorite bottled sauce.