Friday, November 15, 2019

Kim’s Green Beans


Refrigerator Pickles

8 cups 1/2 inch thick sliced cucumbers
1 medium sweet onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
coarse salt
1  & 3/4 cups sugar
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon mustard seed

In large bowl, toss cucumbers, onions, and 1 1/2 tsp salt.  Set aside.
In small bowl,  combine sugar, vinegar, celery seed, and mustard seed until sugar is dissolved.
Divide cucumber mixture into clean jars or airtight containers, and pour vinegar mixture over.  Refrigerate at least 8 hours (or up to 2 weeks).

Kaitlin’s Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Salad

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs and breasts
1/2 to 1 cup Caesar dressing
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley or 2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
Romaine lettuce leaves
hamburger buns

Cook chicken in slow cooker with 1 cup water and 1/4 -1/2 cup Caesar dressing on low 4-6 hours.
Remove chicken and drain most of the liquid from slow cooker.  Shred chicken and place back in the cooker and pour dressing over.  Add Parmesan cheese, parsley, and pepper.  Stir until mixed evenly.  Cover and cook 30 minutes on high or until mixture is hot.
Spoon mixture onto bun. Top with extra Parmesan cheese, lettuce and more Caesar dressing.

Classic Baked Mac N Cheese

1 (8 oz) package elbow macaroni
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
salt and pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
1 (8 oz) bag of shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare pasta according to package directions.  Add a small drizzle of olive oil in the last 30 seconds of cooking and stir.  Drain and set aside.
Melt butter in saucepan on med-low heat.  Whisk in flour and milk, stirring constantly with a whisk and cook for 5-7 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from heat.  Stir in salt, pepper, cayenne, half the cheese, and the pasta.
Spoon mixture into dish, top with remaining cheese and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

*When the boys are home or we are having company, I will double this recipe.

Tortilla Pizzas

Soft tortilla shells
Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese
Sliced cherry or grape tomatoes
Sliced green olives
Chopped onion
Basil
Oregano
Black pepper
Garlic powder
Mozzarella Cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray pizza pan or cookie sheet with olive oil spray.  Place tortillas on sheets and brush with olive oil, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Add tomatoes, onions, and olives. Sprinkle on dried spices and then top with a little mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce temp to 350 degrees and bake for 4-5 more minutes. Cut with pizza cutter into wedges.

Sausage Fried Rice

2 cups cooked white rice
1 lb. Sausage cooked with chopped onions and 3 crushed/chopped garlic cloves, + diced red pepper, drained and set aside.
Steamed carrots & peas, or steamed mixed vegetables-chopped
4 eggs
Sesame oil
Canola oil
Soy sauce
To a hot pan with 1 tbsp sesame oil and 1 tbsp. Canola oil, add the vegetables and fry/cook for a couple minutes while stirring. Push to edge of pan and scramble eggs in middle.  Then add sausage mixture and rice. Add 3 tbsp. Soy sauce and black pepper. Stir and fry/cook for 5 - 10 minutes.
*I do double this recipe when the boys are home and add a few extra eggs.
*You can also use cooked chicken or pork in place of the sausage.

Cathy Richard’s Round Steak Casserole

2 lbs round steak, cut into pieces
1 med. Onion, chopped
1 can of mushrooms, drained
Green olives, sliced
1 can tomato sauce
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce
Egg noodles
Cheddar cheese
Cook steak in covered pan. Drain. Add mushrooms, olives, tomato sauce, ketchup, & Worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook on low for 1 hour.  Cook and drain noodles. Pour noodles into greased baking dish.  Pour steak mixture over and top with cheese.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30 min.
*I have substituted with penne pasta, pizza sauce, and Colby cheddar cheese (that's what I had on hand) and it was still delicious! I also only cooked the sauce for 30 minutes instead of 1 hr.

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, or thighs, cut into 1/2 in. pieces
1/3 cup butter, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
1 celery rib, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup flour
3 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp. reduced-sodium chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tsp. coarsely ground pepper
1 pkg. (16 oz.) potato gnocchi
1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
In a large soup pot or dutch oven, brown chicken in 2 tbsp butter.  Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, saute the onion, carrot, celery and garlic in remaining butter until tender.
Whisk in flour until blended; gradually stir in the milk, cream, bouillon and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
Add the gnocchi and spinach; cook for 3-4 minutes or until spinach is wilted.  Add the chicken.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through (do not boil). I add a little chicken broth during those last minutes of cooking.
*Look for the potato gnocchi in the pasta section.
** You can also use a rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone-my favorite! I like the ones from Sam’s Club! Just skip the browning in butter part if using rotisserie chicken or any other already cooked chicken.
***I usually double this recipe for my family, cause it’s SO GOOD!

***DELICIOUS!

Kim’s Best Banana Bread

1/2 cup canola oil
1 cup sugar
2 beaten eggs
2-3 ripe bananas (mashed with a fork)
2 cups self-rising flour
3 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Beat oil and sugar.  Add eggs and bananas. Mix well with mixer.  Add flour, then milk and vanilla extract.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Let cool before slicing.

Chex party mix

6 tbls. butter
2 tbls. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
4 cups Corn Chex cereal
4 cups Rice Chex cereal
1-2 cups Wheat chex cereal
1 cup cheese its
1 cup pretzels
large can of mixed nuts

Microwave butter then add Worcestershire and seasonings. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
In a large bowl, add cereals, cheese its, pretzels, and nuts. Pour butter sauce over and stir well to coat. Add mixture to 1 or 2 roasting pans sprayed with cooking oil.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. 

My nieces, years ago when they would spend the night and we would cook together.

Sausage Gnocchi Soup

1 lb. ground sausage
1 small white onion, diced
4 cups broth
Red bell pepper, diced
Fresh spinach, chopped
1 lb. mini gnocchi (or cut in half the regular sized ones)
1 pint heavy cream
Salt and Pepper
Parm Cheese
Crumbled bacon

Brown sausage with onions and red peppers, drain.  Add broth and cream to soup pot and heat. Then add sausage mixture, salt & pepper. Cook on med/high until boiling then reduce temp. and add gnocchi & spinach.  Simmer on low for about 10-15 minutes. Garnish with parm and crumbled bacon.

Vegetarian Dressing

Crumbled cornbread
4-6 sliced crumbled loaf bread
vegetable broth
vegetable bouillon
diced celery
diced onions
sage
thyme
rosemary
salt & pepper
butter

Saute celery and onions in butter. Add bouillon.  In a large bowl, add cornbread, loaf bread, celery and onion mixture, seasonings to taste, and enough broth to moisten.  Spoon into large dish that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  Add more broth over during cooking time if needed.

*I actually prefer this dressing over the regular southern dressing.

Tortilla Chips

Flour tortillas
Spray tortillas with olive oil spray
Cut into wedges
Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
3 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetend condensed milk
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup Hershey's mini chips semi-sweet chocolate, divided
1 tsp. flour

Heat oven to 300 degrees.  In bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa, sugar, and butter.  Press evenly on bottom of 9 inch springform pan.  In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. 
Gradually add sweetened condensed milk, beating until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.  In small bowl, toss 1/2 cup mini chips with flour to coat.  Stir into cheese mixture.  Pour into prepared pan.  Sprinkle remaining chips evenly over top.  Bake 1 hour.  Turn off oven, allow to cool in oven 1 hour.  Remove from oven, cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate.

Sausage Cheese Balls

10 oz. sharp cheddar cheese
3 cups Bisquick
1 lb. sausage

Mix and shape into balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Ham & Swiss Cheese Rolls

Rolls
Sliced swiss cheese
Mustard Butter: mix 3 T. Mustard, small grated onion, poppy seeds, 1 T. Worcestershire sauce, and 1/2 stick softened butter.
Slice rolls. Spread with mustard mixture. Add ham and cheese. Spread other side with mustard mixture. Cover with foil and bake 20-25 minutes in 325 degree oven.

Carlton Salad

Romaine lettuce or baby spring mix
Feta cheese
Grilled chicken, diced
Avacado, diced
Orange dried cranberries, raisins
Fresh diced pear
Fresh oranges pieces
Pecans
Vinaigrette