Applesauce

Last fall (2009), we made 21 quarts of applesauce.  This year, I made about 7, but still worth it! The kitchen becomes a workshop! First you wash the apples...  Then you quarter them...  Put 'em in a big pot Add a little water and cook 'em til they're soft but not mushy Get your water-bath canner ready (fill with water and bring to a boil); Start sanitizing those lids too!  Set up the "Squeeze-O" Mash the apples through...

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Lasagna

From the ATK Healthy Family Cookbook, this is a modified lasagna with less fat and carbs than traditional lasagna.  As usual, no photo due to the quick consumption by 4 hungry men! This recipe calls for ground chicken, however I used lean ground beef instead. Ingredients: 2 c. nonfat ricotta cheese (16 oz) 3 c. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (12 oz) 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese (1 oz) 1 c. chopped fresh basil 1 large egg, lightly beaten Salt and pepper 1 1/2 t. olive oil 1 onion, minced 6 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 t. dried oregano 1/8...

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New Cookbook!

For Christmas I received thew newest Test Kitchen Cookbook! You can expect to see many recipes from this new favorite in 20...

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Mama Leone's Chicken Soup

Mac's co-worker passed along this recipe to us and it is phenomenal!  I had seconds. :)  Next time, I will add more chicken. Ingredients:1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts2 t. salt plus extra for chicken1/2 t. black pepper plus extra for chicken1 T. olive oil4 t. butter1 medium onion, diced3 celery stalks, diced1 T. minced garlic1/2 t. dried tarragon1/2 t. dried oregano2 t. paprika1/2 c. plus 2 T. all-purpose flour8 c. chicken...

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Peppermint Bark

These have been my favorite Christmas treat so far. Ingredients: 20 ounces white chocolate, coarsely chopped, divided 30 peppermint candies, crushed, divided 10 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped 6 T. heavy cream 1 t. peppermint extract Directions: Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.   Melt half the white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over just barely simmering water stirring frequently.  Spread the...

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Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

I thought these were a little on the sweet side, next time I will reduce the amount of sugar and use dark chocolate. Ingredients: 2 c. milk chocolate chips 2 T. shortening 1/2 c. butter 1/2 c. peanut butter 1 c. powdered sugar 2/3 c. graham cracker crumbs Directions: Melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat in a heavy saucepan.  Stir occasionally until smooth, 3-5 minutes. Coat 30 mini cupcake liners with about 1 teaspoon of the melted...

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Pumpkin Bread

From allrecipes.com.  I adapt and use 5 mini-loaf pans and 1 large loaf pan. Ingredients:1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree4 eggs1 c. vegetable oil2/3 c. water3 c. white sugar3 1/2 c. flour (I use 2 cups whole wheat, 1 1/2 regular)2 t. baking soda1 1/2 t. salt1 t. cinnamon1 t. nutmeg1/2 t. cloves1/4 t. ginger Directions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour loaf pans (3 7x3 inch loaf pans).In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour,...

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Gingered Nuts

From a good friend of the Ovenell Family, Debbie Sutherland. Ingredients: 1 lb. unsalted mixed nuts 3/4 c. minced candied ginger 1/4 t. cayenne pepper 2 t. coarse salt 1/4 t. pepper 2 T. sesame seeds 1/4 c. sugar 1/4 c. water Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine all but the sugar and water.  Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, and stir occasionally, about 3 minutes.  Pour syrup over...

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Christmas Treats

Every year around this time, I have a crazy baking frenzy.  This year, my wonderful friends Melissa and Katie joined the bonanza.  This years treats are listed below and recipes are posted following this post: * Gingered Nuts * Pumpkin Bread * Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups * Chocolate Covered Pretzels * Peppermint Bark * Vanilla Bean Sugar Cook...

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Gingerbread Mayhem

This is what happens when 5 tired 20-something year-olds attempt to build a gingerbread house with limited decorations...  The hot tub, bbq, and american flag are the work of Jimmy Neutron Drebin... "ladder" and reese's tornado are from Brett. :) OH MAN, there goes a wall!  I think the frosting is just AMAZING...  Intense work here... Finished product... I promised the guys I would post this on the blog, so here you go, boys!  Merry...

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Healthy

This is not a recipe.  Just a little disclaimer of my philosophy of nutrition... :) God created a variety of wonderful foods, all with its each unique purpose and place in human development.  Man added a few crazy edible items to God's list, all of which are not as easy to digest and most which tend to add pounds and discomfort.  The best way to eat is food in it's natural, original form.  This includes fat foods like unsalted butter, olive oil, and avocados.  Our body needs fat, sodium, sugar to survive and work to the...

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Healthy Fudge

No picture as I have not made this yet for the season... I've made this recipe for fudge a couple times, and while it is not quite as delicious as my Aunty Pam's fudge that I remember from childhood,  it's a close second.  My grandpa's wife requested that I post some "healthy" dessert recipes, so this is my attempt to start that trend... :) Here you go, Bea! Recipe courtesy of http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/ Ingredients: 1 cup cocoa powder 1 cup coconut oil, divided (virgin unrefined coconut oil is recommended for its nutritional...

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Fruit Cobbler

Now is the time of year when I resist the urge to use ALL of my frozen summer berries at once... Unfortunately, once those holiday get-togethers pick up, my ability to maintain composure fails completely and I succumb to baking one of these delicious cobblers, just so I can have a little taste of summer to share with everyone... You can use pretty much any type of fruit (fresh or frozen) for this cobbler, as I have listed for your enjoyment.  My...

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