Coffee Cordials

I've never personally made these, but my good friend, Cory, made them for me for Christmas last year - and they're DELICIOUS! Thanks, Cor!Ingredients:1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened1 c. brown sugar2 T. plus 1/4 t. instant espresso powder1 large egg2 t. baking powder1 t. pure vanilla extract1/4 t. plus 1 pinch salt2 1/4 c. flour1 1/4 c. powdered sugar4 t. whiskey36 chocolate-covered espresso beansDirections:1. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 375. LIne 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Using...

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Big Soft Ginger Cookies

Oh. my. christmas in a cookie!! So delicious... I'm not going to post the recipe here, because it's not mine, but please make these... next time, I'm going to make a double batch!!http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Big-Soft-Ginger-Cookies/Detail.a...

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Creamy Baked Fennel

my deliciousness! If you have never had fennel, you should definitely try it. My grandmother introduced it to me a few years ago, and I have looked forward to buying it from the farmer's market each summer. It's mostly known as a spice, "fennel seeds", and has a licorice taste to it. You can also eat the bulb, or use the stalks like celery, and garnish with the fronds.I found this recipe in a Rachael Ray magazine, and the first words out of Mac's...

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Classic Pound Cake

From America's Test Kitchen. 1 1/2 c. cake flour (if you don't have cake flour, you can replace 1 c. cake flour with 7/8 c. flour + 2 T. cornstarch)1 t. baking powder1/2 t. salt1 1/4 c. sugar4 large eggs, at room temp1 1/2 t. vanilla extract2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and hotAdjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 x 5" loaf pan with vegetable oil spray, then line the bottom with parchment...

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Chocolate & Vanilla Pudding

This is from America's Test Kitchen.I will never buy "instant" pudding boxes again... This recipe is just as fast, and I actually know all the ingredients that I am eating without added preservatives. It's very rich, so you don't need to eat a large serving of it.Vanilla Pudding:3/4 c. sugar2 T. cornstarch1/4 t. salt3 1/2 c. half-and-half3 large egg yolks1 T. unsalted butter1 T. vanilla extractCombine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan....

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Trifle Bar

This is a super fun and easy dessert when you have a casual get together. We had a great time looking at each person's creation and enjoying the various choices. You can include whatever you want for your trifle bar, but this is what we had:- Vanilla & Chocolate Pudding (Recipes to follow)- Pound Cake (Recipe to follow in a later post)- Brownies- Strawberries- Bananas- Walnuts- Chocolate Chips- Whipped CreamJust have each person take a goblet...

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Zucchini Brownies

So... as many of you might know, I happened across a ginormous zucchini a week ago.  It happens to many people, quite frequently, this time of year!  Anyhow, I ended making quite a few different things with it, and the top favorites were zucchini brownies and my variation of zucchini bread.  With that, here is the chocolaty delight!Zucchini Brownies1/2 c. vegetable oil1 1/2 c. white sugar2 tsp. vanilla2 c. white flour1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder1 tsp. salt1 1/2 tsp. baking soda2 c. grated zucchini (do NOT drain water out)1 c....

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Blueberry Cheesecake Pancakes

3 oz. cream cheese, softened3/4 cup cool whip1 c. flour (next time we'll use whole wheat)1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs1 Tbsp. sugar1 tsp. baking powder1/2 tsp. baking soda1/4 tsp. salt2 eggs, lightly beaten1 1/4 cup. buttermilk (we used regular, and it turned out fine, but next time I'm going to use buttermilk)1/4 c. melted butter1 c. fresh/frozen blueberriesmaple syrupFor topping, beat together cream cheese and cool whip until smooth.  Chill...

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Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad

The photo does not do this dish justice!  It's a great summertime meal... easy, few ingredients, and delicious!  Also, we made a lot of substitutions the second time we made it, simply because the ingredients were a bit expensive.... enjoy!7 oz. tofu (we used grilled chicken instead)1 large red bell pepper, seeded and halved lengthwise (any color works great)1 large yellow squash, halved lengthwise (we used zucchini the second time)1/2...

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Salmon w/ Lemon Relish

This is a recipe from my Grama posted for her! :) It's a wonderful, light, summer meal.1/4 c. pine nuts (or sunflower seeds - pine nuts are expensive)1/4 c. raisinsslivered zest and juice of 1 lemonabout 1 1/2 lbs. salmon filletscoarse salt and ground pepper1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley3 T. olive oil5 oz. baby spinachPreheat oven to 450.  Spread nuts on a baking sheet & toast in oven, tossing occasionally until lightly browned, 5-7 min.  Remove from sheet and reserve.   Place raisins & lemon zest in a small bowl and cover...

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Orange-Berry Bread

I made up this recipe... it's the first one I've ever actually made up.  Pretty excited about it!Zest & Juice of one navel orange1 Tbl. powdered sugar1/4 c. butter, melted1/2 c. raw cane sugar (or white sugar)2 eggs1/4 c. plain yogurt1/3 c. buttermilk1 tsp. vanilla1 2/3 c. whole-wheat flour (or use part white)2 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. salt1 1/4 c. frozen berries (I used a mixture of blackberries, marionberries, and blueberries)Preheat...

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Parmigiano and Herb Chicken Tenders

I have to give credit to Cory for this yummy recipe!! Every once in a while I get a strange and dire craving for chicken strips with ranch.. well, now I have a recipe so I can make them myself - and healthier!  Just a head's up, I followed this recipe pretty closely, but am giving you my improvised recipe I would use next time.  The original recipe called for double the coating ingredients and to season the chicken before coating.  We...

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Spinach and Feta Pita Bake

This was delicious... obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be posting it.  But, anyways, I made my own pita bread (using the same recipe as I did for our Thai Chicken Pita wraps), and then just chopped up all the veggies and spread on top!  We also made a change by adding about 1/2 cup cooked and chopped chicken to the recipe.  Chicken was seasoned with fresh parsley and rosemary from our herb garden.Ingredients:4-6 pitas (I used 4 large...

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Granola

                 Mmmm it's delicious!! And healthy... and multi-purposed... and really yummy. Okay, enough. I got this recipe from chowwreview.blogspot.com and adapted it a little bit.  Feel free to use your own combo of nuts and dried fruit but this is what I did:4 c. rolled oats1 1/4 c. chopped walnuts + 1/4 c. chopped hazelnuts (because I was using up the rest of them)1/2 c. brown sugar, packeddash...

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One-Pot Spaghetti

Ingredients:1/2 lb. ground meat (beef or turkey)1 c. mushrooms (I prefer fresh, and sliced)1/2 c. chopped onion (1 medium)1 14-oz can chicken broth1 3/4 c. water1 6-oz. can tomato paste1 tsp. dried italian seasoning1/4 tsp. black pepper6 oz. dry spaghetti, brokenDirections:Cook meat, mushrooms, and onion in a large saucepan over med-high heat until meat is browned and onions are tender.  Stir in broth, water, tomato paste, seasoning, and pepper and bring to a boil.  Add in spaghetti, a little at a time, stirring constantly.  Return...

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

These cookies are completely, one-hundred-percent, irresistible, give-you-a-heart-attack goodness. Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (use adam's chunky) 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (I actually substituted some whole wheat pastry flour) 1 tsp. baking soda 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup peanut butter...

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Lemon-Raspberry Scones

These are seriously AMAZING!! I LOVE them.  Really. I do. But, I can't claim them as my own because I got them from someone else's amazing food blog, and you should all check it out! http://www.101cookbooks.com/ Raspberry Mega Scones Recipe This particular scone recipe lends itself to endless combinations. I used raspberry jam here because of its color and flavor, but use whatever you have on hand - the chunkier the better. If you can't be...

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Cinnamon Rolls

FYI - this isn't healthy at all.  Just yummy. And, it's also not my recipe. It's Mary's.Rolls:4 1/2 tsp. yeast1 cup warm milk (105 degrees)1/2 c. granulated sugar1/3 c. butter/margarine1 tsp. salt2 eggs4-5 c. all-purpose flour (I used closer to 5)Filling:1/3 c. butter/margarine, softened1 c. brown sugar2 1/2 Tbsp. cinnamonIcing (Blend following ingredients with electric mixer):1/2 c. butter1/2 c. cream cheese3-4 c. powdered sugar1 tsp. vanillaDissolve yeast in warm milk in a large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Knead...

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Photos...

...of the dishes are coming soon!!...

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Fruit & Cream Trifle

Really easy and deliciously healthy (for the most part) We made it up, so sorry the measurements aren't exact.  Next time, I'll pay more attention to how much of each I put in each layer and such!Fruit of choice (we used strawberries, kiwi, bananas, peaches, and mandarin oranges all sliced, about 1 1/2 cups each)1 large pkg. vanilla pudding1 container cool whip, thawed1/2 pint whipping cream, whipped with 2 heaping teaspoons sugar and 1 tsp....

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Chicken Tortilla Soup

Very yummy topped with grated cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream w/ chips and salsa on the side! Ingredients: 3-4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (cooked and shredded) 1 (15 oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed 1 (10 oz.) can enchilada sauce 1/2 onion, chopped 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chile peppers 1 (14 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 cups water 1 (14 oz) can chicken broth 1 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper< 1 bay leaf 1 (10 oz) pkg frozen corn< 1...

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Breakfast Cookies/Bars

Ingredients3/4 cup whole-wheat flour1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/4 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons unsalted butter (I substituted w/ 2 Tbsp. coconut oil)1/4 cup canola oil1/4 cup dark brown sugar3 tablespoons granulated sugar1 egg1/4 cup pumpkin puree1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/2 cup rolled oats1/2 cup bran cereal flakes1/3 cup raisins (I used 1/2 raisins, 1/2 craisins)1/3 cup walnut pieces, lightly toasted in a dry skillet for 2 minutes, until fragrant and choppedDirectionsPlace...

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Thai Chicken Pitas

I got this recipe from Rachael Ray, but I made quite a few changes.  It's yummy!! This is the original recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/thai-chicken-wrap-with-spicy-peanut-sauce-recipe/index.htmlIngredients2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces1 Tbls. Soy Sauce1 Tbls. Vegetable OilSalt & PepperStir-fry the above ingredients in a skillet over med-high heat. Drain cooking liquids and set...

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Paprika Chicken

DELICIOUS!! And really easy. Oh, and a little bit of a kick!This is from Gourmet Magazine, and calls for a 3 1/2 lb. whole chicken, cut into serving pieces.  I instead used 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut the spices in half, but would recommend 4 and keep all the spices if you're going to replace the whole chicken....1 whole chicken, cut into serving pieces (about 3 1/2 lbs)1 Tbsp. Extra-virgin olive oil1 1/2 Tbsp. Paprika1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper1/2 tsp. cinnamon1 sweet onion, cut into wedgesPreheat oven to 500 degrees.  In...

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March Menu

I'm only going to post recipes for the new recipes after I make them so I can tell you what changes to make. :) Also, my February menu left me with 3 extra meals (due to night's out or extra left-overs), so there's some repeats from last month...3/2-3: Spaghetti & Meatballs3/4: Turkey Noodle Soup (from the freezer)3/5-6: Chicken curry & rice3/7: Krautranzas (from the freezer)3/8: Popcorn, apples, and cheese3/9-10: Chicken Flautas3/11: Pita bread & hummus3/12: Thai chicken pitas 3/13: Thai chicken & rice3/14: Chili (from the...

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Really Simple Tomato-Mozzarella Casserole

1 lb. dry pasta (recipe calls for Ziti, but I used rotini... really, any short, sturdy pasta will work)1- 14 oz. can diced tomatoes1 - 32 oz. can crushed tomatoes2 cloves garlic1 Tbls. vegetable oil2 Tbls. Fresh chopped basil (or 2 tsp. dried - I used Italian Herb Seasoning instead)1/2 tsp. (or more) salt1/4 tsp. sugar8 oz (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese1/4 cup. grated parmesan cheeseCook pasta according to package in a large pot.  Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.  Put back in pot and set aside.  In a 12" skillet,...

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No-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies

2 cups white sugar3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 c. margarine/butter1/2 c. milk1 pinch salt3 c. quick cooking oats1/2 c. peanut butter1 tsp. vanillaIn a saucepan, bring sugar, cocoa, margarine, milk, and salt to a rapid boil for 1 minute.  stir in oats, peanut butter, and vanilla. mix well.  drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper and let co...

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Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

*Just a forewarning - these aren't my favorite pb cookies, but they can be made in the Philippines! :)1 cup peanut butter1 cup white sugar1 eggCombine ingredients and drop by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet.  Bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.  Let cool. (Anna, you could make these in the toaster oven, I'm pretty su...

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Hamburger Stroganoff

1 lb. ground beef1 medium onion, chopped1/4 c. butter2 Tbs. flour1 tsp. salt1 tsp. garlic salt1/4 tsp. pepper2 cans cream of mushroom soup1/2 c, sour cream2 c. hot cooked noodlesCook ground beef and onion in butter until onion is tender.  Stir in dry ingredients and mushrooms.  Cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat, stir in soup.  Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.  Stir in sour cream, heat through.  Serve over noodl...

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Madonna Salad

1- 3 oz. pkg. apricot jello1 sm. can crushed pineapple1/4 c. sugar3 oz. cream cheese1 sm. jar apricot baby food1 carton cool whipBring jello, pineapple and sugar to a boil.  Mix the cream cheese and baby food together.  Add to first mixture.  Fold into cool whip.  Chi...

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Hamburger Soup

1 lb. hamburger1 onion, chopped3-4 potatoes, cubed3 carrots, chopped2 celery leaves2 - 8oz. cans tomato sauce1 sm. bay leaf1/4 tsp. pepper1/2 tsp. thyme1/2 tsp. basil4 tsp. salt1/4 c. rice1 1/2 qt. waterBrown beef and onion in a big pot.  Add rice, water, tomato sauce, spices, and carrots.  Simmer for 15 minutes.  add chopped potatoes and celery.  Simmer for 45 minut...

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No-Bake Cornflake Cookies

4 cups cornflakes1 1/2 cups flaked coconut3/4 cup chopped pecans1/2 cup light corn syrup1 1/2 cups sugardash salt1/2 cup evaporated milk1/4 cup butterIn a large bowl, combine cornflakes, coconut and pecans; set aside.  Place remaining ingredients in a 1-qt. saucepan.  Bring mixture to 240 degrees F (soft-ball stage), stirring constantly.  add syrup mixture to dry ingredients; stir well.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed pap...

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Skillet broccoli with red bell pepper and sweet soy sauce

1 bunch broccoli 1/4 cup water 2 Tbs. Vegetable oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 1/8 tsp. Red pepper flakes 2 Tbs. Soy sauce 2 Tbs. Rice vinegar 1 tsp. Sugar 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped Cut the broccoli florets and stalks into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces.  Combine the broccoli with water, soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Cover and cook over high heat until the water is simmering and the broccoli begins to turn bright green, about 2 minutes.  Uncover and add pepper.  Clear the center of the pan...

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Gazpacho

3 large, ripe tomatoes, cored and quartered 2 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, and chopped coarse 2 cucumbers, peeled, halved, seeded and chopped coarse 5 cups tomato juice 1 onion, minced 1/3 cup sherry vinegar 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 tsp. Tabasco Salt and pepper 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley or cilantro Extra-virgin olive oil (optional) Finely chop the tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers, and place in a large bowl.  Stir in the tomato juice, onion, vinegar, garlic, tabasco, and 1 tsp salt.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. ...

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Szechuan Chicken

1 lb. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 1/4 cup. Teriyaki sauce 2 tsp. Chopped garlic 1 cup. Sliced red bell pepper 1 cup sliced green bell pepper 16 green onions, cut in 1-inch pieces 2-4 Tbl. Szechuan sauce 1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts, unsalted Combine chicken with teriyaki sauce, and marinate at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.  Drain and discard marinade. Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray and stir-fry chicken with garlic until no longer pink.  Add remaining ingredients except peanuts,...

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Pasta Sea Shell Casserole

8 oz. Medium-size seas shell pasta (about 4 cups dry) 3/4 lb. Extra lean ground beef or ground turkey 3 tsp. Chopped garlic 1/2 tsp. Onion powder 3 cups spaghetti sauce 1 Tbl. Grated parmesan cheese (optional) Prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and oil.  Drain and set aside.  Meanwhile, continue with either method below. Stove Top: In a skillet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, brown meat with garlic and onion powder.  Simmer until cooked.  Add sauce and heat thoroughly add noodles...

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Naan

1 pkg. Active dry yeast 1/4 cup white sugar 1 cup warm water 1 egg, beaten 3 Tbs. Milk 2 tsp. Salt 4 1/2 cups flour 1/4 cup melted butter Dissolve yeast until frothy.  Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough.  Knead for 6-8 minutes, until smooth.  Place dough in well-oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap (or a towel) and let double.  Punch down dough.  Pinch off small amounts of dough to make 12-14 pieces.  Roll into balls and allow to rise again.  While dough is rising, warm a skillet...

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Cauliflower with potatoes & peas

4 T oil 2 medium onions, finely chopped 1 lb. Potatoes, diced into 1” pieces 1 small cauliflower, cut into 1” pieces 1/2 tsp. Ground cumin 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 tsp. Salt 1/2 lb. Peas 1/4 tsp. Sugar 1/2 t. Garam masala (indian spices, such as cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg) Heat oil over med-high heat.  Fry onions 3-4 minutes, until light brown.  Add potatoes and cauliflower and stir.  Add all spices and tomatoes, fry 2-3 minutes.  Add peas, cover and reduce heat to med-low and cook for about 20 minutes until...

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Chicken Curry

3/4 lb. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into strips 1 medium onion, chopped 1 Tbl. Chopped garlic 1-2 Tbl. Curry 1 1/2 cups diced apple 1/4 tsp. Salt (optional) 1 1/2 cups chicken broth 2 Tbl. Flour 2 c. Cooked rice Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray.  Stir-fry chicken with onion and garlic until chicken is browned.  Add curry, apple, salt, and 1 cup of broth.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until chicken is done.  In a covered container, shake flour with 1/2 cup of broth to prevent lumps. Stir into chicken...

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