7.30.2011

Bacon Cheese Muffins recipe.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a another bowl, beat the egg, milk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

Bacon Cabbage Stir-Fry recipe.

Ingredients
6 bacon strips, diced
1 small head cabbage, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

Directions
In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Stir-fry cabbage in drippings for 5 minutes. Add garlic powder, salt, mustard and bacon; cook and stir until heated through.

Breakfast Bars recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Combine oats, flours and wheat germ; gradually add to creamed mixture. Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. In a small bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Stir in pecans, coconut and chocolate chips. Spread evenly over crust.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.

Beef and Brew recipe.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 cup water, divided
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound round steak - cut into 1 inch strips
2 onions, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Directions
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes, or until they are dark brown and tender. Add the beer, 1/2 cup water, bay leaf, thyme, ground black pepper and salt.
Add the meat, onions, green bell pepper and red bell pepper. Simmer for another 20 minutes, or until beef is tender. Remove bay leaf.
In a separate small bowl, combine the flour and remaining 1/4 cup water. Mix well, making sure the flour is completely dissolved. Stir this mixture into the meat mixture. Cook until thickened and bubbly, then cook for 3 minutes more.

Baked Beer Can Chicken recipe.

Ingredients
1/4 cup garlic powder
2 tablespoons seasoned salt
2 tablespoons onion powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 (12 fluid ounce) can light-flavored beer (such as Bud Light�)
1 (3 pound) whole chicken
4 green onions, sliced
4 green onions, cut in half crosswise
1 (12 fluid ounce) can light-flavored beer (such as Bud Light�)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Mix the garlic powder, seasoned salt, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and ground black pepper in a small bowl; set aside. Pour 1/3 of one can of beer into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place the open beer can in the center of the baking dish.
Rinse chicken under cold running water. Discard giblets and neck from chicken; drain and pat dry. Fit whole chicken over the open beer can with the legs on the bottom. With the breast of the chicken facing you, use a paring knife to cut a small slit on each side and press the tip of each wing into the slit to encourage even cooking.
Rub the prepared seasoning mixture over the entire chicken. Pat the sliced green onions around the whole chicken evenly. Some will fall into the beer, that's fine. Press the halved green onions into the top cavity of the chicken. Open the remaining beer and pour 1/2 of it into the pan under then chicken. Reserve the remaining beer.
Bake the chicken in the preheated oven. After 45 minutes, pour remaining beer into the pan under the chicken. Continue baking until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 30 additional minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove the chicken from the oven and discard the beer can. Cover the chicken with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 minutes before slicing.

Asian Lettuce Wraps recipe.

Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups uncooked white rice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground pork
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained and cubed
2 carrots, shredded
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon hot chile paste
1 head iceberg lettuce leaves, separated

Directions
In a saucepan combine the water and rice. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, until water is absorbed. Set aside and keep warm.
Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Cook the pork, green onions, and garlic for 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly brown. Add the tofu, carrot, Hoisin, and soy sauce, stirring frequently until heated through. Remove from heat, and stir in the sesame oil and chile paste.
To serve: spoon a small amount of rice into each lettuce leaf, top with the stir-fry mixture, and drizzle with additional soy sauce or hoisin, if desired. Wrap the lettuce leaf to enclose the filling.

Bavarian Pot Roast recipe.

Ingredients
1 (4 pound) boneless beef top round roast, halved
1 1/2 cups apple juice
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Directions
In a Dutch oven coated with nonstick cooking spray, brown roast on all sides over medium-high heat; drain. transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a bowl, combine the juice, tomato sauce, onion, vinegar, salt, ginger and cinnamon; pour over roast. Cover and cook on high for 5-7 hours.
In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into cooking juices until well combined. Cover and cook 1 hour longer or until the meat is tender and gravy begins to thicken.

Baked Fettucheesy recipe.

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package dry fettuccine pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium casserole dish.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, and cook the onion until tender. Stir in the fettuccine, heavy cream, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup Romano cheese, salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared dish. In a bowl, mix the remaining Parmesan, remaining Romano, and mozzarella. Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the fettuccine mixture.
Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and golden brow.

Best Basic Sweet Bread recipe.

Ingredients
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup butter
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, sugar and butter. Heat until slightly warm to the touch then remove from heat and stir in the yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Mix in the eggs, oil and the yeast mixture. Mix until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and continue to knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Grease a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of oil. Place the dough into the bowl and turn once to coat. Cover and let stand in a warm place until double in size, about 1 hour.
Use remaining oil to grease a cookie sheet or 9x13 inch pan. For plain rolls, punch down dough and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll the pieces into balls and place them into the greased pan side by side. Let dough rise for 20 to 25 minutes, or until almost double. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until rolls are golden brown.

Beth's Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

Ingredients
2/3 cup butter flavored shortening
2/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Stir in the pecans and chocolate chips. Use a measuring tablespoon to round dough into balls. Don't roll the balls, just make them rounded. Place onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until centers are set and very lightly browned. Don't overbake. Cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from baking sheets. Make sure you have lots of ice cold milk!!!

Blondie Caramel Heaven recipe.

Ingredients
10 ounces individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/2 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup butter, melted
Chocolate layer
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small saucepan combine caramels and 1/2 cup of evaporated milk. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth; set aside. Grease an 8x10 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, stir together the dry cake mix, melted butter and remaining 1/2 cup of evaporated milk. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan, reserving the rest.
Bake for 6 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool slightly. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the surface. Pour the caramel mixture over the chocolate chips, then top with the remaining cake mixture. The top should be swirled with caramel and cake mixture.
Return pan to the oven for an additional 18 to 20 minutes, until firm. Cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate for 1 hour before cutting into bars.

All-Bran Mesclun Mix with Cranberries and Walnuts recipe.

Ingredients
8 cups Mesclun salad mix
1 cup sliced or chopped sweet yellow peppers
1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces
1/2 cup dried cranberries
5 ounces soft chevre (goat's milk) cheese
1 cup All-Bran Buds* cereal
Balsamic or red wine vinaigrette dressing

Directions
Place salad mix on four serving plates or large bowl.
Add yellow peppers, walnuts and dried cranberries.
Crumble chevre over top.
Divide All-Bran Bran Buds* cereal among 4 plates or sprinkle over salad in salad bowl.
Drizzle with vinaigrette, to taste.

Apple, Beet and Avocado Salad recipe.

Ingredients
3 medium beets
4 cups mixed salad greens
1 onion, sliced into thin rings
1 apple - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 avocado - peeled, pitted and sliced
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts
3/4 cup apple cider
2/3 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Wash beets, and place in a baking dish with 1/4 cup water. Cover and bake for 1 hour or until tender. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
Whisk together the apple cider, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, mustard and celery seed.
Peel and slice the beets, combine with the vinaigrette and refrigerate at least half an hour.
Divide the greens among four salad plates. Drain beets, and reserve dressing. Decoratively arrange overlapping layers of beet, onion, apple, and avocado on the greens. Drizzle with reserved dressing. Sprinkle on the nuts, and serve at once.

Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Cheesecakes recipe.

Ingredients
1 (9.5 ounce) package Pepperidge Farm� Puff Pastry Shells
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped artichoke heart
1 tablespoon minced sun-dried tomatoes
1 tablespoon minced parsley
Cracked black pepper to taste

Directions
Bake, cool and remove the 'tops' of the pastry shells according to the package directions. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Stir the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl.
Spoon 1 teaspoon of the artichoke mixture into each pastry shell. Place the filled shells onto a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes or until the filling is hot.

Baked Cod with Boursin Herb Cheese recipe.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 pounds fresh cod fillets
1 (4 ounce) package Boursin cheese with herbs, room temperature
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with garlic, onion, and peppers, drained
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Pour 1 tablespoon melted butter into baking dish to coat bottom. Arrange the cod fillets in the dish. Pat fillets dry using a paper towel. Spread the Boursin cheese evenly over the fillets. Pour the tomatoes over the tops. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
Bake, uncovered, in preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Duck Breasts recipe.

Ingredients
1/4 cup salt
8 cups water
12 duck breast halves
12 slices bacon
1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing
toothpicks

Directions
Mix together salt and water. Set aside 2/3 of the mixture, and pour the rest into a glass baking dish. Soak the duck in the salt water overnight to remove the gamey. Change the salt water twice, or until mostly clear.
The next morning, discard the salt water, and pour salad dressing over the duck breasts, and marinate for at least 8 hours.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Wrap each breast half in one strip of bacon, and secure with a toothpick. Place the breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Bake for about 1 hour, or until bacon is crisp, and duck is cooked through.

Braided Almond-Herb Bread recipe.

Ingredients
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup warm water (105 degrees to 115 degrees)
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, crushed
1/2 cup finely chopped almonds, toasted, divided
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon water

Directions
Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water; set aside. In large mixing bowl, combine butter, salt and milk. Stir in yeast mixture, 2 cups flour, herbs and 2 tablespoons almonds. Beat until well-mixed. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place dough in greased bowl, turning once to grease dough surface. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and cut off 1/3 of dough; set aside. Divide remaining dough into three equal parts, shaping each into a 14-in. rope. Braid ropes and place on greased baking sheet. Divide set-aside dough into three ropes and braid. Place smaller braid on top of larger braid. Cover; let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Combine egg and water. Brush over entire loaf; sprinkle with remaining almonds. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Amateur's Light Breeze Chicken Chili recipe.

Ingredients
2 (10 ounce) cans chunk chicken, undrained
2 (16 ounce) cans chili beans, drained
3 (14.5 ounce) cans Mexican-style stewed tomatoes
1 (12 ounce) jar sliced jalapeno peppers
1 large onion, chopped
2 large green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
10 cups water, or as needed
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
salt to taste

Directions
In a large stockpot, combine the chicken, chili beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, onion and green bell pepper. Season with chili powder and cumin. Pour in the chicken broth, and enough water to cover the ingredients. Stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and let simmer for one hour. Season with salt to taste.

Almond Apricot Jam recipe.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups apple juice
1 cup diced dried apricots
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
In a saucepan, combine the apple juice and apricots; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes or until apricots are tender. Remove from heat. Mash until desired consistency. Stir in almond extract and cinnamon. Pour into a pint jar. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.

Apple Sheet Cake recipe.

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
APPLE FILLING:
3 pounds apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening to the consistency of coarse crumbs. Stir in 1 cup cold milk slowly until completely blended. Separate dough into two balls. Roll out one ball of dough to fit a 15 x 10 inch pan with some dough extending over the edge of the pan.
In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon and 2 tablespoons flour. Place filling in an even layer over prepared crust. Thinly slice 1/2 cup butter and evenly distribute over the apples. Roll out the remaining dough and place over the apple filling. Seal edges and prick the top all over with a fork.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before frosting.
To make the frosting: In a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, 1/3 cup butter and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy.

Aunt Johnnie's Pound Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup butter
2 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons almond extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups cake flour

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
Cream shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy (for best results use an electric mixer). This will take a while. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in almond extract.
Combine baking powder and flour. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with the milk, starting and ending with flour. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Baby Carrots And Brussels Sprouts Glazed With Brown Sugar and Pepper recipe.

Ingredients
2 pounds baby carrots
2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and scored
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground black pepper

Directions
Blanch carrots in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer carrots to bowl of ice water using slotted spoon. Return water to boil. Add sprouts and blanch until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to another bowl of ice water. Drain vegetables, and refrigerate if making ahead.
Bring stock, butter or margarine, and brown sugar to a boil in a heavy large skillet. Stir until sugar dissolves. Boil until reduced by half, about 7 minutes. Can be prepared 6 hours ahead; return to boil before continuing. Add carrots. Cook until almost tender and sauce begins to coat, shaking pan occasionally, about 6 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and pepper. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes.

Apple-Cinnamon Syrup recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 medium apples, peeled, thinly sliced

Directions
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring brown sugar, water, butter and cornstarch and cinnamon to a boil; boil for 2 minutes until thick. Reduce heat to medium. Add apples; cook for 10-12 minutes or until apples are tender.

Beer-Baked Irish Beef recipe.

Ingredients
6 slices bacon, diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 1/2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
4 carrots, peeled and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
4 large onions, cut into eighths
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Irish stout beer

Directions
Place the bacon in a large nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat until crisp and brown. Remove the bacon pieces and set aside, leaving the drippings in the skillet.
Place the flour, salt, black pepper, and allspice in a large plastic zipper bag, and shake a few times to combine. Place the beef stew meat into the bag, and shake to coat the meat with flour mixture. Place the meat pieces in the skillet with the bacon drippings, and cook the meat until brown on all sides.
Remove the browned meat to a slow cooker, and add the carrots, onions, garlic, parsley, rosemary, marjoram, and bay leaf to the cooker.
Pour the beer into the skillet, and bring to a boil over medium-low heat, scraping all the browned bits of flavor from the bottom of the skillet. Pour the beer into the slow cooker, over the meat and vegetables. Cover, and cook on Medium setting until the meat is very tender, 4 to 5 hours.
Before serving, remove the bay leaf, and sprinkle the stew with the reserved bacon pieces.

Brown Sugar Frosting recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon white corn syrup
2 tablespoons water
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions
Cook all ingredients except confectioner's sugar in iron skillet until smooth. Remove and add sugar. Spoon/drizzle over cookies. Frosting will harden when cool!

Angel Food Cupcakes recipe.

Ingredients
1 (18.25 ounce) package angel food cake mix

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper bake cups.
Prepare batter as directed on the box. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until done.

Baked Mushrooms recipe.

Ingredients
1 pound fresh mushrooms, quartered
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 dash pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons water
4 tablespoons melted butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a 1 quart casserole dish combine mushrooms, onion, garlic, green pepper, Italian seasoning, seasoning salt, pepper and parsley. Pour water and butter over mixture and cover.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes.

Brown Rice and Black Bean Salad recipe.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups uncooked brown rice
3 cups water
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (14.5 ounce) can collard greens, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can green peas, rinsed and drained
1 (15.25 ounce) can corn kernels, drained
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies
1 (4 ounce) can sliced black olives
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style tomatoes, undrained and chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Bring the brown rice, water, olive oil, and 1//2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes. Scrape into a mixing bowl, fluff with a fork, and refrigerate to room temperature.
Stir the collard greens, black beans, green peas, corn, green chiles, olives, and tomatoes into the cooled rice until evenly mixed. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Broccoli Chicken recipe.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup milk
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of broccoli soup
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken breasts until cooked through, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Combine the milk and cream of broccoli soup; pour over the chicken. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for a few more minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese until well blended, and remove from heat. Serve immediately over rice or noodles.

Basic Fondue recipe.

Ingredients
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ground dry mustard
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions
In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix together milk, Worcestershire sauce, ground dry mustard, garlic and flour. Heat until almost boiling. Gradually stir in Cheddar cheese. Continue heating until all the cheese has melted. Keep the mixture warm and melted in a fondue dish.

Butter Rich Spritz Butter Cookies recipe.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Sift together the flour and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in the egg yolks, almond extract and vanilla extract. Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients. Fill a cookie press with dough and shoot cookies about 1 1/2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. If you like, decorate with sugar or sprinkles at this time.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven.

Banana Pudding III recipe.

Ingredients
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups heavy cream
3 bananas, sliced
1/2 cup lemon juice
36 vanilla wafers

Directions
In a medium bowl, stir together condensed milk and water. Beat in pudding mix until smooth. Chill in refrigerator 5 minutes.
In a separate bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chilled pudding mixture.
Dip sliced bananas in lemon juice. Shake off excess.
In a 2 1/2 quart serving bowl, spoon 1 cup pudding mixture. Top with one-third each of the wafers, bananas and remaining pudding. Repeat layers twice. Chill until serving.

Banana Nut Bread III recipe.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x4 inch loaf pans. Set aside.
Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Stir in nuts, eggs, bananas, oil, and vanilla extract.
Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from pans.

Brown Rice Roll-Ups with Vegetables recipe.

Ingredients
1/3 cup UNCLE BEN'S� Natural Whole Grain Brown Rice
1/8 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/8 cup green bell pepper, diced
3 plum tomatoes, diced
2 tablespoons green onions, diced
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 cup poblano peppers, diced
6 (8 inch) flour tortillas
2 tablespoons sour cream (low fat)

Directions
Cook rice according to package directions.
Combine red and green peppers, tomato, green onions, poblano peppers, olive oil, lime juice and sour cream. Mix well. Add cooked rice and stir in.
To prepare roll-ups, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cheese and 3 tablespoons of vegetable rice mixture inside flour tortilla and roll firmly.

Bourbon Balls II recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup bourbon
1 1/2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

Directions
Combine wafer crumbs, finely chopped pecans, 1 cup confectioners' sugar and cocoa.
Blend the bourbon and the corn syrup together. Add the crumb mixture and mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in confectioners' sugar. Refrigerate.

Apple Crunch a la Mode recipe.

Ingredients
6 tart apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup white sugar
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Scatter sliced apples in the prepared baking dish. Whisk together the white sugar, cold water, cornstarch, and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until syrup is clear, and all sugar had dissolved, about 5 minutes. Pour hot syrup over the fruit.
Stir together the flour, brown sugar, oats, melted butter, walnuts, and cinnamon until crumbly. Scatter crumble over fruit mixture.
Bake in preheated oven until the top is brown and the crunch is bubbly, about 1 hour.

Apple Beet Salad recipe.

Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can diced beets, drained
2 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup walnuts
3/4 cup creamy salad dressing, e.g. Miracle Whip ™

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the beets, apples, walnuts and salad dressing. Mix together and chill before serving.

Bread Pudding II recipe.

Ingredients
6 slices day-old bread
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Break bread into small pieces into an 8 inch square baking pan. Drizzle melted butter or margarine over bread. If desired, sprinkle with raisins.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Beat until well mixed. Pour over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until bread is covered and soaking up the egg mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly tapped.

Aunt Carol's Apple Pie recipe.

Ingredients
2 pounds Granny Smith apples
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

Directions
Peel and slice apples. Toss with sugars, cinnamon and flour. Set aside.
Roll crust to make slightly larger to fit 10-inch glass pie pan. Fit bottom crust in pie pan. Turn in apple mixture and dot with butter. Put crust on top and crimp edges of crust together.
Wet hands with water and dampen top of pie. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Puncture top of pie with fork so pie will vent.
Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C), reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking for about 45 minutes more, until crust is golden brown. It's a good practice to place a piece of aluminum foil slightly larger than the pie under the pie plate to catch overflows. Serve warm.

Apricot-Filled Empanaditas recipe.

Ingredients
4 cups chopped dried apricots
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground cloves
1 (.25 ounce) envelope active dry yeast
1 cup lukewarm water
1/4 cup shortening or lard
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

Directions
Place the dried apricots and 1 1/2 cups of water into a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, and allow to cool slightly.
In the container of a blender or large food processor, combine the apricots with any remaining water, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Cover, and puree until smooth. Set aside.
Pour 1 cup of water into a large bowl, and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Let stand for about 5 minutes to dissolve the yeast. Mix in the shortening and salt. Gradually mix in the flour using a sturdy spoon until the dough is stiff enough to knead on a floured surface. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Do not set aside the dough to rise.
Roll out the dough to 1/4 to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into circles with a large biscuit cutter or round cookie cutter. Spoon about a tablespoon of the filling in the center of the circles, and fold over. Seal the edges by pressing with your fingers.
Heat about 1 inch of oil in a deep heavy skillet over medium-high heat, or to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Fry the pastries in the hot oil, turning once, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Broccoli Hamburger Casserole recipe.

Ingredients
2 (16 ounce) packages frozen broccoli
2 pounds ground beef
1 (8 ounce) package fresh mushrooms
1 large onion, chopped
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of celery soup
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (16 ounce) package shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare the broccoli according to package directions.
In a skillet over medium heat, mix the ground beef, mushrooms, and onion. Cook until beef is evenly brown; drain grease. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in cream of celery soup and sour cream. Continue cooking until heated through. Transfer to a medium baking dish, and evenly layer with broccoli. Top with cheese.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly brown.

Broken Thermostat Curry recipe.

Ingredients
1 small onion, chopped
5 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups water
1 medium yam, peeled and diced
7 small red potatoes, cubed
2 cups cauliflower florets
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Directions
Puree the onion and carrots in a food processor or blender until finely ground. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the garlic until fragrant and lightly browned. Pour in the carrot puree, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes.
Pour in diced tomatoes, water, yam, red potatoes, and cauliflower. Season with turmeric, curry powder, cumin, garam masala, cayenne, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes.

Apricot Pineapple Jam recipe.

Ingredients
12 ounces dried apricots
1 cup water
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
3 cups sugar

Directions
In a large saucepan, bring apricots and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until apricots are very tender. Mash. Add pineapple, grapefruit juice and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour or until thick and translucent, stirring frequently.
Pour into jars or freezer containers; cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover and let stand overnight or until set, but no longer than 24 hours. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.

Baked Rice and Vegetables in Broth recipe.

Ingredients
3/4 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 tablespoon uncooked wild rice
1/4 cup uncooked brown rice
1/4 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/4 chopped fresh broccoli
1/4 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish combine white rice, wild rice, brown rice, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, onion, salt, onion flakes, paprika, black pepper and broth. Mix well; cover.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until cooked through; stir once during baking.

Black Forest Angel Food Cake recipe.

Ingredients
1 (9 inch) angel food cake
2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping (such as Cool Whip�), thawed
3 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1 (20 ounce) can cherry pie filling

Directions
Use a long serrated knife to cut the angel food cake in half, width-wise. Hollow out each cake half; use the bits of cake to fill the hole in the center, making 2 cake bowls.
Whisk the pudding mix, whipped topping, milk, and almond extract in a large bowl; beat well. Pour pudding mixture evenly into the cake bowls.
Evenly spoon cherry pie filling around the top edge of each cake. Chill cakes in refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

Brandy Pecan Pie recipe.

Ingredients
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
3/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon molasses
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 tablespoons brandy
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl, beat eggs together with half-and-half. Mix in sugar, flour, salt, molasses, corn syrup, vanilla, and brandy. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie crust.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until done.

Bacon and Macaroni Salad recipe.

Ingredients
1 pound sliced bacon
1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped
4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup sliced green olives

Directions
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni pasta, and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add the bacon, pasta, tomato, cucumber, egg, and celery. Gently fold until the salad is evenly covered with the dressing. Sprinkle with the sliced olives to serve.

Barb's Famous Broccoli and Cheese recipe.

Ingredients
5 (10 ounce) packages frozen broccoli florets
2 (1 pound) loaves processed cheese (i.e. Velveeta�), cubed
1 pint sour cream
1 cup margarine, melted
2 1/2 cups coarsely crushed buttery round crackers

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place the broccoli into a large saucepan and fill with about 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, and cook just until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and transfer to a 4 quart casserole dish.
In a separate pan, combine the processed cheese and margarine. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until cheese has melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Pour evenly over the broccoli in the casserole. Stir together the crackers and margarine; spread over the top of everything.
Bake in the preheated oven until the top is browned, about 25 minutes.

Bread Salad with Tofu recipe.

Ingredients
1 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 cup tomato juice
dried basil to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 (1 pound) loaf day-old bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 (7.5 ounce) package smoked tofu, diced
2 large tomatoes, diced
2 cups chopped fresh spinach

Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tomato juice, basil, salt, and pepper. Toss with the cubed bread, tofu, tomatoes, and spinach just before serving.

Almond Sticks or Rings recipe.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 cups almonds, finely ground
1 small lemon, zested and juiced
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions
Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Place the confectioners' sugar, egg yolks, and eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer, and mix on Medium-Low until well combined. Stir in the the ground almonds, lemon zest, and enough lemon juice to make a thick, smooth batter.
Place the batter into a cookie press with a 1/4 inch star-shaped tip, and press out a 6 inch lines of batter. Cut the batter into 2-inch sticks,or form into rings or letters, and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake in the preheated oven until the cookies are crisp and light brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool.
Place 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a fine mesh sieve, and lightly dust the cookies before serving.

Apple Citrus Pie recipe.

Ingredients
1 double crust ready-to-use pie crust (such as Pillsbury�)
3 cups water
1 cup honey
5 seedless oranges, thinly sliced
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
4 Macintosh apples - peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons melted butter, divided
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions
Line a 9 inch pie pan with one of the pie crusts, and chill at least 20 minutes before baking to prevent shrinkage. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line pastry with a double layer of aluminum foil and a layer of pie weights or dried beans. Bake in the preheated oven until edge of crust is golden, about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and weights and bake until the crust has set, about 5 minutes more. Let cool.
Bring the water and honey to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Stir in the orange slices, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer 30 minutes, then drain, reserving the orange slices. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger in a mixing bowl. Toss the apples with the sugar mixture; set aside.
Spread 1/3 of the orange slices into the bottom of the pie crust, then top with 1/3 of the sweetened apples. Form 4 more layers with the apples and oranges, then place the second pie crust on top of the pie. Crimp the edges, then cut 3 slits into the top of the pie. Brush the crust with half of the melted butter.
Bake in the preheated oven until the top crust is flaky and golden, about 1 hour. Remove the pie from the oven, and brush with the remaining butter; sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Aunt Edith's Baked Pancake recipe.

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
confectioners' sugar
Lemon wedges

Directions
In a mixing bowl, beat eggs until very light. Add salt, flour and milk; beat well. Thoroughly rub bottom and sides of a 10-in. cast-iron or heavy skillet with butter. Pour batter into skillet. Bake at 450 degrees F for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake 5 minutes more or until set. Remove pancake from skillet and place on a large hot platter. Dust with confectioners' sugar and garnish with lemon. Serve immediately.