Recipe of the Day - Classic Red Chili

Courtesy of Mel's Kitchen Cafe
(http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/10/my-moms-classic-chili.html)

I am in the mood for something warm! It's cold and dreary outside - ugh! I know we are all tired of the rain and snow. Well, what a perfect day to try out a new chili recipe. This looks delish. Hope you have time to try it today:



*Makes 12-14 servings

2 medium onions, diced
2 teaspoons salt
2 to 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
3 large cans (29 ounces each) pinto beans, drained
46 oz. (one large can) tomato juice
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 cup ketchup
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup water
3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar

Brown the hamburger and onion in a large skillet. Drain grease. In a small bowl combine the 1/2 cup water with the garlic salt, pepper, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin and brown sugar.

In a large pot, combine tomato juice, beans, tomato sauce, and ketchup. Stir in hamburger and onions and seasoning/water mixture. Mix well. Stir in bay leaves.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer over medium-low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally (this can simmer for as long as 4-5 hours).

Recipe Source: from My Kitchen Cafe (www.mykitchencafe.blogspot.com)

Recipe of the Day - Lemon Trifle

Courtesy of Shannon Ray

Difficulty Level: Easy
Rating: 4 stars

I got this recipe from a neighbor in Saratoga Springs. It is SO good. Such a great spring dessert. Hope you like it:

1 angel food cake, torn into pieces
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 8oz. carton lemon yogurt
1/3 cup lemon juice
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
2 cups whipped topping
2 cups fresh strawberries or raspberries (I always use strawberries)
1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted (optional - I've never used this)
Fresh mint, optional

Combine sweetened condensed milk, yogurt, lemon juice, and lemon peel. Fold in to whipped topping. Place hand full of the cake cubes in bowl. Top with half of the lemon mixture. Repeat layers. Top with berries. Garnish with coconut and mint if desired.

Recipe of the Day - Devil Dogs

Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman
(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/02/devil-dogs/)

So, I've been so busy the past few days I haven't been able to upload a new recipe. But, I have wanted to try these for weeks now! They look so good. Guess this is what we'll be making tonight while Dusty is at young mens. Enjoy:

Ingredients
■1 whole Chocolate Sheet Cake (see "Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever" On Tasty Kitchen)- recipe below
■1 whole Recipe For "That's The Best Frosting I've Ever Had" On Tasty Kitchen (or You Can Use Frozen Whipped Topping)- recipe below
■Maraschino Cherries

Preparation Instructions
Bake cake according to recipe directions, thoroughly greasing and flouring the pan. Allow cake to cool completely, then turn out onto a flat surface.

Make frosting recipe, substituting half-and-half for milk for extra thickness/richness.

Cut cooled cake into rectangles.

Place frosting into a frosting bag. Squeeze frosting onto one rectangle of cake. Press second rectangle on top. Squeeze a dollop of frosting on the top piece of cake. Place a cherry on top.

Chill until ready to serve!

Cake Recipe

Ingredients
■2 cups Flour
■2 cups Sugar
■¼ teaspoons Salt
■4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
■2 sticks Butter
■1 cup Boiling Water
■½ cups Buttermilk
■2 whole Beaten Eggs
■1 teaspoon Baking Soda
■1 teaspoon Vanilla
Preparation Instructions
Note: I use an 18×13 sheet cake pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Stir together.
Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

Cut into squares, eat, and totally wig out over the fact that you’ve just made the best chocolate sheet cake. Ever.

Frosting Recipe

Ingredients
■5 Tablespoons Flour
■1 cup Milk
■1 teaspoon Vanilla
■1 cup Butter
■1 cup Granulated Sugar (not Powdered Sugar!)
Preparation Instructions
Bake your favorite chocolate cake and let it cool.

In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick, thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix is. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. (If I’m in a hurry, I place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools.) It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla.

While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don’t want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven’t beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

Grab a spoon and taste this wonderful goodness. If there is any left after your taste test, spread it on a cooled chocolate cake.

Cut yourself a piece and put it on a pretty plate. Grab a fork and prepare to experience the most divine pairing you can imagine. This frosting on chocolate cake is to die for. Sure, the recipe sounds strange — it has flour in it — but it’s sublime. Try it, you’ll see. You’ll love it so much you won’t go back.

Recipe of the Day - St. Patrick's Day Marble Cookies

Courtesy of Red Couch Recipes
(http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/)

I've found some great St. Patrick's Day recipes on this site - hopefully I'll have time to try them all, lol.

1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon peppermint or almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon to add to chocolate dough, if needed
1/3 cup chocolate chips -- I used milk chocolate.
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
Sugar for rolling dough in
Green coloring

Put butter and sugar in medium mixing bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Add egg and almond extract and beat until incorporated. Then add baking soda and flour little by little. Divide dough in half; color one half with green coloring. For the other half, melt chocolate chips in microwave, being very careful that they don't burn. Cool chocolate and add melted chocolate and cocoa powder to the other half of the dough and mix until chocolates are incorporated. If the chocolate dough doesn't seem stiff enough, add 1 tablespoon of flour.

Take green dough and, using a little less than 2 teaspoons of dough, roll into small balls. Take chocolate dough and so the same and add to gether to make cookie ball as pictured below.


Roll the green and chocolate dough together and roll into sugar.

Place chocolate/green cookie ball on baking sheet. Press bottom of glass on cookie and smash until about 1/4 inch thick.


Bake in 350 degree oven for 8 -10 minutes, making sure you don't overcook.

Remove from baking sheet and cool on rack.

Recipe of the Day - St. Patrick's Day Marble Cookies

Courtesy of Red Couch Recipes
(http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/)

I've found some great St. Patrick's Day recipes on this site - hopefully I'll have time to try them all, lol.

1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon peppermint or almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon to add to chocolate dough, if needed
1/3 cup chocolate chips -- I used milk chocolate.
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
Sugar for rolling dough in
Green coloring

Put butter and sugar in medium mixing bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Add egg and almond extract and beat until incorporated. Then add baking soda and flour little by little. Divide dough in half; color one half with green coloring. For the other half, melt chocolate chips in microwave, being very careful that they don't burn. Cool chocolate and add melted chocolate and cocoa powder to the other half of the dough and mix until chocolates are incorporated. If the chocolate dough doesn't seem stiff enough, add 1 tablespoon of flour.

Take green dough and, using a little less than 2 teaspoons of dough, roll into small balls. Take chocolate dough and so the same and add to gether to make cookie ball as pictured below.


Roll the green and chocolate dough together and roll into sugar.

Place chocolate/green cookie ball on baking sheet. Press bottom of glass on cookie and smash until about 1/4 inch thick.


Bake in 350 degree oven for 8 -10 minutes, making sure you don't overcook.

Remove from baking sheet and cool on rack.

Recipe of the Day - Green Jello Cookies

Courtesy of Red Couch Recipes
(http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/)


So, I am sorry I have been MIA the past few days. I hosted a winter guard competition this weekend, and it was a little busy for me to say the least. But, I have found some great St. Patricks Day recipes that I wanted to share. Here are some Green Jello Cookies and I'll post another cookie recipe tomorrow.

3/4 cup butter or shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 (3 ounce) package of Lime Jell-o
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2-1/2 cups flour

Mix all ingredients. If you desire, I didn't today, add a dab of green food coloring to dough. Roll dough into small balls. Put them on a greased cookie sheet, then dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and press dough until flat. If you like mounded cookies, chill the dough for an hour, then roll in sugar and don't flatten the cookies. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Yield: About 32 cookies -- I used the Pampered Chef cookie scoop.

Recipe of the Day - Green Jello Cookies

Courtesy of Red Couch Recipes
(http://redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com/)


So, I am sorry I have been MIA the past few days. I hosted a winter guard competition this weekend, and it was a little busy for me to say the least. But, I have found some great St. Patricks Day recipes that I wanted to share. Here are some Green Jello Cookies and I'll post another cookie recipe tomorrow.

3/4 cup butter or shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 (3 ounce) package of Lime Jell-o
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2-1/2 cups flour

Mix all ingredients. If you desire, I didn't today, add a dab of green food coloring to dough. Roll dough into small balls. Put them on a greased cookie sheet, then dip the bottom of a glass in sugar and press dough until flat. If you like mounded cookies, chill the dough for an hour, then roll in sugar and don't flatten the cookies. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Yield: About 32 cookies -- I used the Pampered Chef cookie scoop.

Recipe of the Day - Mint Oreos

Courtesy of A Whisk and A Prayer
(http://whiskandaprayer.blogspot.com/)

Difficulty Level: Medium
Rating: 5 stars

This might just be my heaven! It was that good. I made these yesterday because I want to make them tomorrow for an event I have going on, and I needed to give them a test try. SO SO GOOD! I didn't even have mint extract, so I substituted that for peppermint extract and it was delish! Oh, and I didn't have margarine OR unsalted butter so I just used 6 Tbsp. of salted butter. Didn't seem to make a difference. I'm going to make mint and peppermint ones for tomorrow. The mint ones are perfect for St. Patricks Day! Hope you enjoy:


1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons margarine (or Smart Balance)
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg white

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and margarine until well blended. Add the sugars and vanilla extract and beat on high speed for about one minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the egg white. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated.


Place the dough on your work surface and, using your hands, form the dough into a log shape that is about 9 inches (23 cm) long. Carefully wrap the dough in aluminum foil, parchment paper or wax paper and fold or twist the ends. Try not to flatten the log (easier said than done, some of my oreos were square). Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. (I didn't have parchment paper so I just sprayed a light layer of Pam.)
Using a sharp knife, slice into 1/4 inch thick wafers. Place on the baking sheet spacing about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes or until the the cookies puff and the tops of the cookies have crackles (ripples). Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Can be stored in an airtight container, at room temperature, for about 10 days.

Cream Cheese Filling(From Sister's Cafe)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 block of cream cheese, room temp (8 oz)
3-4 cups - powdered sugar (depending on desired consistency)
1 - tsp mint extract
A few drops green food coloring

Cream butter and add cream cheese, add food coloring and mix well.
Add powdered sugar slowly until you reach your desired consistency.
Frost backs of cookies and smoosh together. (I put the frosting in a freezer bag, made a small cut in the corner, and frosted them that way - a knife would work too.)

Recipe of the Day - French Breakfast Puffs

Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman
(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/french_breakfast_puffs/)

I'm sorry I didn't get a recipe up yesterday. I have a show that I'm hosting, so it's been a bit crazy at our house. But, I've been looking for something to make for the directors on Saturday and I think I might just have to make these. I know they are Breakfast Puffs, but I'm pretty sure I could eat them anytime. They look delicious! Here you go:

Ingredients
■3 cups Flour
■3 teaspoons Baking Powder
■1 teaspoon Salt
■½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
■1 cup Sugar
■⅔ cups Shortening (Crisco)
■2 whole Eggs
■1 cup Milk
■1-½ cup Sugar
■3 teaspoons Cinnamon
■2 sticks Butter

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups.

In a large bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening. Then add eggs and mix again. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.

Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

In a bowl, melt 2 sticks butter. In a separate bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Dip baked muffins in butter, coating thoroughly, then coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Recipe of the Day - Spaghetti with Brown Butter

Courtesy of Old Spaghetti Factory

Difficulty Level: Medium
Rating: 4 stars

Dusty and I found this recipe a few years ago online. I love the Old Spaghetti Factory - they have the best recipes with Mizithra cheese (which is hard to find - only a select grocery stores carry it). Well, this is definitely a hit in our house. SO GOOD. Hope you enjoy..

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup mizithra cheese
pasta of choice

Directions:
Browned Butter Procedure: Cut 2 sticks of butter into 8 pieces and place in a 2 quart sauce pan. Place the pan of butter on a burner on medium heat. Bring butter to a slow boil (about 5 minutes).

Once the butter begins to boil, stir constantly to prevent residue from sticking to the bottom of the pan. As the butter cooks, it will start to foam and rise. Continue stirring, otherwise the butter foam could overflow (about 5 minutes) and catch fire.

Once the butter stops foaming and rising, cook until amber in color (about 1 to 2 minutes). It will have a pleasant caramel aroma.

Turn off the heat and remove pan from burner. Let the sediment settle to the bottom of the pan for a few minutes.

Pour the brown butter through a strainer into a small bowl. Do not disturb the residue at the bottom of the ban.

The brown butter can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated in a microwave as needed.

Boil the pasta of choice until Al Dente. Drain pasta and divide into four servings. Spread 1/4 cup of Mizithra over each pasta serving. Top with 1/4 cup of hot brown butter.

Recipe of the Day - Candy Bar Chocoate Chip Cookies

Courtesy of Picky Palate
(http://picky-palate.com/2011/01/17/candy-bar-chocolate-chip-cookie-sandwiches/)

Wow - these look SO good. I saw this site on FB, and I am falling in love with it! It has so many good desserts, I can't wait to try them.


2 sticks softened butter
1 Cup granulated sugar
3/4 Cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla
3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
10 oz bag chocolate chips
Variety of snack size Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers and Kit Kat

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla until well combined.

2. Place flour, baking soda and salt in large bowl; mix then slowly add to wet ingredients. Add chocolate chips to combine. Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of snack size candy bar. Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of candy bar.

Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until candy bar is enclosed with dough.


Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until cookies are baked to your liking. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Serve with a tall glass of milk, enjoy!

Makes about 24 LARGE Cookies

Recipe of the Day - Honey Bars

Courtesy of Grace Violet
(http://www.graceviolet.com/)

Difficulty Level: Easy
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

These bars are amazingly good (is that a word...?). I made them a few months ago and I am going to make them again, right after I'm done with this post. Hope you enjoy!

Bars:
3/4 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
a few drops of milk

Mix the oil, honey, sugar and egg together. Set aside; mix the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon separately. Add dry ingredients to the first mixture. Mix well (it will be thick). Spread into a greased pan (I use a half-cookie sheet), and bake at 325 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Mix icing ingredients together; the consistency shouldn't be too thick, but not too runny either. I add the milk 1/4 tsp. at a time while stirring until I get it right. Ice while warm. Cut into squares after it has cooled.

Recipe of the Day - Chocolate Mint Cookies

Courtesy of ME (I found this recipe online a long time ago and tweaked it to my liking...)

Difficulty Level: East
Rating: 4 stars

So YUMMY!! That's all... Enjoy:



Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mint flavored semi-sweet chocolate morsels
6 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
Confectioners sugar

Directions:
In bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Over hot water, melt 1 cup mint morsels, stirring until smooth. In bowl, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add melted morsels and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in remaining morsels. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; freeze until firm. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; coat with confectioners sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, until tops appear cracked. Let stand 5 minutes on cookie sheet. Cool completely.

Recipe of the Day - Cheese-Topped Grilled Tomatoes

Courtesy of Kraft Foods
(http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/cheese-topped-grilled-tomatoes-106266.aspx)

Difficulty Level: Easy
Rating: 3 1/2 stars

This is such a YUMMY side dish. I made it with my homemade mac and cheese, and everyone loved it - and, it's so simple. Enjoy:

Ingredients
4 plum or small vine-ripe tomatoes, cut lengthwise in half
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh herbs (basil, chives and/or parsley)

Directions
HEAT grill to medium-high heat. Place tomatoes, cut-sides up, in greased 8-inch square foil pan. Top with dressing and cheeses. Place pan on grate of grill; close lid.
GRILL 10 to 12 min. or until cheeses are melted and bottoms of tomatoes are browned.
SPRINKLE with herbs.

(I just threw mine on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.)

Recipe of the Day - Tortilla Soup

Courtesy of Shannon Ray (with additions from me)

Difficult Level: Medium
Rating: 4 stars

This is certainly my family's favorite meal that I make! I always make it for parties or family get togethers because it is a big hit. It is a little time consuming - and I always do the first part and then throw it in the crock pot! I almost always double the recipe - especially if making for more than just my little family. Enjoy:

Ingredients:

2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
3-4 chicken breasts (cooked & shredded)
1/4 cup onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
pepper
1 can chicken broth
1 can corn, undrained
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can stewed tomatoes, undrained (I put in my food processor or blender to chop up with juices)
2 tbs. cilantro
sour cream
shredded cheese

Directions:
Saute onion and garlic, then add shredded chicken and seasonings. Add corn, broth, tomatoes, black beans and cilantro. Simmer. Top with sour cream and cheese when served.

Like I mentioned early, I usually saute the onions, garlic, chicken, and seasonings and then throw everything in the crock pot for at least 4 hours on low.