Breakfast Casserole

For Christmas morning brunch I made a breakfast casserole. It was so nice to make it the day before and just pop it in the oven Christmas morning. Delicious!

Sally's Breakfast Casserole
1 lb. sausage
8-10 slices of white bread - cubed
1 cup milk
6 eggs
1/2 - 1 cube butter - melted
salt and pepper to taste
Grated Cheddar cheese
1 can Evaporated milk
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Brown sausage, cube bread, combine milk, eggs, butter, and salt pepper in a bowl. In a 9X13 baking dish layer cubed bread, sausage, and egg mixture. Cover and set overnight in refrigerator. Next morning combine evaporated milk and mushroom soup. Pour mixture over top of casserole and grate cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

Candice's Sticky Bun Bites

Christmas Eve I decided to make my sisters recipe for Sticky Bun Bites, however, I put them in a bundt pan to make it more festive. It was delicious! We will be doing this every Christmas Eve. We enjoyed these tasty treats while watching A Christmas Carol. (I only made half the recipe.)

Candice’s Sticky Bun Bites
12 Rhodes rolls, microwave thaw for 1 min. 15 sec. (turn halfway through), cut into 48 pieces
6 Tbsp. butter, melted
¾ c. brown sugar, unpacked
2 tsp. cinnamon
Melt butter, set aside. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon, set aside.
Prepare caramel sauce.
Caramel Sauce:
1 c. brown sugar, packed
½ c. butter
¼ c. Karo syrup
1 c. pecans, chopped (optional)
Bring sugar and butter to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and add Karo syrup. Pour into an ungreased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle on pecans. Set aside.
Dip each piece of roll dough in melted butter and roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture. Place in baking dish on top of caramel. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter and let sit for a minute to let the caramel sauce drip over rolls. Serve warm.

Fluffy French Toast

Mine didn't turn out so fluffy because I didn't use Texas toast...


4 Eggs
2 cups Milk
2 tsp. Vanilla
3 cups Bisquick
4 tsp. Sugar
Cinnamon (optional)
1 Loaf Texas Toast
Crisco for frying

Beat together eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add Bisquick, sugar, and cinnamon. Stir until smooth. Melt Crisco in a heavy frying pan until at least ½ inch deep. Dip toast slices in batter and deep fry until golden brown on both sides. Place on a rack or paper towels to drain. Serve with powdered sugar, syrup, fruit, etc. Enjoy!

Christmas Goodie Making

My sister and I baked all morning and put together our Christmas goodie plates. I know it's early but it was the only day we could get together this month to do it. It is nice to have it done and it just means everyone will get to start early on eating yummy Christmas goodies.

Decorating for the holidays...

This morning Jake and I started our Christmas decorating while listening to Bing Crosby's White Christmas. Yes, I'm one of those people that listen to Christmas music way before Thanksgiving. Dan teases me but I know he loves watching me get excited for the holidays. I love the hunt to find or make the perfect gift for someone. It is so hard for me to keep a secret once I've found the gift. Poor Dan he knows most of his gifts already. I love to wrap the perfect gift in beautiful wrapping paper with beautiful wired ribbon. Half the fun of giving a gift is the wrapping of it. I love the scent of a real pine tree decorated with Christmas balls grouped together with white tinkle lights. I always look forward to buttery sugar cookies decorated with frosting and sprinkles. (I'm already feeling fat just thinking of all the goodies I'm going to enjoy this season!) Every year I have to get my fix of Christmas movies - White Christmas, The Bishop's Wife, Miracle of 34th Street, The Grinch, It's a Wonderful Life, etc. Each year Dan has given me a Christmas themed movie in my stocking and I'm hoping he keeps the tradition going. We'll be getting our tree after Thanksgiving and I can't wait to decorate it. (We're debating on whether to get an artificial or real tree this year with Jake around. We're worried he's going to eat the pine needles and pull the decorations off. So we'll see...)

Stocking Stuffer's

Stocking stuffer's for Jake's stocking this Christmas. shhhh, don't tell...
Here's a great website with a pattern and instructions: http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/

Jammie Pants

JoAnn's Fabric had their Simplicity patterns 5 for $5, so I bought a few patterns. One of them was a pattern for infant jammies. I found some fun Christmas fannel and made Jake some jammie pants. They turned out so cute and it was so easy I think I'll make him some more.

Caramel Apples

Apple of choice - Granny Smith is a good tart one.
Sticks
Caramel
Toppings of choice - ie. white chocolate with cinnamon and sugar, heath bits, nuts, etc.

Caramel: Grandma Carver's recipe

2 cups sugar

Pinch of salt

2 cups light corn syrup

1/2 cup butter - sliced in bits

1 2/3 cup canned milk

1 tsp vanilla or 2 Tbsp rum flavoring

Boil together in a pot sugar, salt, and corn syrup, stirring, until it reaches 238 degrees. Add butter and milk gradually so that mixture doesn't stop boiling at any time. Cook to soft ball stage. Stir constantly because mixture sticks easily. Add flavoring. Dip apples and top with favorite toppings or just leave plain. Delicious! (This is a great recipe for caramel corn too.)

Black Bean Salsa

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2-3 tomatoes, chopped
2 limes, juiced
1 pkt. Italian dressing mix
2 Tbsp water
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1/2 onion, chopped
cilantro, chopped to taste
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup vinegar

Combine all ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips.

Kitchen Towels

I'm lovin' my Amy Butler sewing books. There are so many cool projects and they are pretty simply. Here are some fun decorative kitchen towels I just made for my sister as a house warming gift. (Surprise Candice, I hope they match your new kitchen.)

Mock Turkey Pomodoro

This is one of my favorite sandwiches from Hagermann's Bakehouse. I wanted to see if I could duplicate it. I purchased their cranberry jalepeno jelly and a loaf of bread. Everything else I was able to find at the grocery store.
Mock Turkey Pomodoro
"Hagermann's Bakehouse"

Bread of choice
Cranberry jalepeno jelly
Thinly sliced Turkey Deli Meat
Thinly sliced cucumbers
Havarti Cheese slices
Roman Lettuce
Roasted tomatoes - found in grocery store deli's, ie. Harmon's.

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

Dan made this potato casserole dish to take to his parent's family Sunday dinner. It was really good and loaded with lots of yummy fatty foods. Enjoy!

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

"SouthernLiving - easy entertaining"

8 medium-size baking potatoes (4 pounds)

2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided

1 (16 oz) container of sour cream

1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 cloves garlic minced - (we used 1/2 tsp minced garlic and thought it strong. Use 1/4tsp)

1 tbsp chopped fresh chives

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

4 green onions, chopped

Bake potatoes. Peel potatoes, and coarsely mash pulp with a potato masher. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, sour cream, and next 7 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased 13 X 9 baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese, bacon and green onions. Yield: 8 servings.

Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

12 oz Small Shell Pasta

1-1 1/2 cups ranch dressing - I prefer Hidden Valley Ranch, made from a packet

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Real Bacon Bits

Combine all ingredients.

Mock Cafe Rio Salad

Uncooked tortillas
Cheese
Black Beans
Tomatoes
Onions
Lettuce

Fry tortilla and melt cheese on one side. Top with warm black beans, lettuce, and pico de gallo. Drizzle creamy cilantro dressing on top.

Candice's Creamy Cilantro Dressing:
1 C. Mayonnaise
1 pkt. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing
1 c. cilantro, loosely packed
1/4-1/2 fresh jalapeno, chopped
1/2 c. Herdez Salsa Verde
1/4 tsp. crushed garlic
Combine all ingredients and puree. Chill.

Gingersnaps

Don't you just love the smell of ginger and cloves? It just smells like fall to me.

Gingersnaps
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp salt
Granulated sugar

Mix shortening, brown sugar, egg and molasses. Blend in remaining ingredients except the granulated sugar. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Heat oven to 375. Shape dough into round balls. Dip tops in granulated sugar. Place balls, sugared side up, on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Tenders

Marinara of choice - fresh or bottled, if bottled spice it up with onions, garlic, basil, etc.

Pasta of choice

Mozerella cheese

Egg, beated

Seasoned Bread crumbs - Progresso Bread Crumbs Italian Style

Oil

Coat chicken with egg wash and dip both sides of chicken in bread crumbs. Fry chicken tender on both sides until chicken is completely cooked through. Place chicken on cookie sheet and sprinkle mozeralla cheese on top and broil until melted. Serve over pasta of choice and spoon on marinara.

Old Fashioned Oatmeal

We woke up to a layer of snow on our neighborhood. To warm our insides we each had a bowl of oatmeal topped with our favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Oats
Water
Salt

Boil water and salt. Stir in oats. Cook about 5 minutes over medium heat. Just follow the instructions on the back of the Quaker Oats box.

Toppings:
Dan's favorite - ice cream and maple syrup
Michelle's favorite - brown sugar
Jake's favorite - peaches and cinnamon

Homemade Doughnuts

Seriously, what could be better than homemade doughnuts and Stephen's Mint Truffle hot chocolate on a cool October night?

Homemade Doughnuts

"the I Do cookbook for the Bride & Groom"

1 Tbsp yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

1/4 cup warm water

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup shortening

1 cup hot tap water

3 1/2 cups flour

Glaze

In small bowl, sprinkle yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar over 1/4 cup warm water. Let sit until dissolved, about 5 minutes.

In mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, salt, shortening, and hot tap water. Cool to lukewarm.

Add yeast mixture and 2 cups flour. Beat 1 minute. Gradually add remaining 1 1/2 cups flour and mix well. Dough will be sticky. Flour hand and scoop dough into greased bowl. Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rise until double in size, about 1 hour.

Place dough on floured surface. Sprinkle top lightly with flour and gently pat to 1/2" thick. Cut with doughnut cutter (dip in flour with each cut).

Place doughnuts on greased and floured cookie sheets. Cover and let rise until very light, about 1 hour.

In fryer or saucepan, heat oil to 350 degrees. Place each doughnut carefully in the oil and fry each side until brown. Drain on paper towels.

While still hot, dip in glaze of choice and set on rack. Allow to stand until glaze is dry.

Makes 1 dozen.

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla exract

Combine ingredients and mix until smooth. Dip each side of doughnut.

Chocolate Glaze:

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup whole milk

1 Tbsp light corn syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

In saucepan, combine butter, milk, corn syrup and vanilla. Heat to melt butter. Add chocolate chips and whisk until melted. Turn off heat and add powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth. Keep warm. Dip top of warm doughnut in glaze.

Sugar Cookies

We're feeling festive around here, so I used a pumpkin cookie cutter.

Elaine's Famous Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 cup salad oil

2 tsp. vanilla

4 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugars; beat in eggs one at a time until light and fluffy. Beat in oil and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to sugar mixture, beating till well blended. Cover and chill several hours.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. Use your favorite cookie cutters. Refrigerate dough not being used. Place cookies on cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes till lightly browned. Frost with vanilla frosting.

New Conference Traditions

We decided to bottle fresh salsa Saturday morning as we listened to General Conference. Dan has a greater appreciation for my salsa now after working along side me for 3 hours to make it. We enjoyed several plates of nachos with our delicious salsa piled on top.

Before the first session Dan made breakfast for us. One of his own creations, Pumpkin eye and Cat eye or better known to most as Camel's eye.

Doesn't it just feel like fall, I love this time of year.

Banana Nut Bread

Banana Nut Bread

The Best of Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library: Baking

2 1/2 cups white or wheat flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups sugar

2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 large)

4 eggs

1 cups chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease two medium loaf pans and dust with flour.

In a bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until well blended. Beat in bananas and then eggs until completely mixed. (Mixture will be lumpy.) Stir in nuts. Add the flour mixture and stir until well blended.

Pour batter into loaf pans and bake for 40-60 minutes or until a toothpick that is inserted in the center of loaf comes out clean. Turn loafs onto a wire rack for cooling.

Lettuce Wraps

4-6 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, dice into very small pieces

Iceberg or Romaine Lettuce

1 8oz. can slice water chestnuts, diced into small pieces

1 cup onion, diced

2 Tbsp. bottled minced garlic

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1/4 cup Hoisin Sauce

2 tsp. bottled minced ginger or 1/2 tsp. gound ginger

1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar or red wine vinegar

2 tsp. Asian chili pepper sauce or 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

3/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced

2 tsp. Asian Sesame Oil

Combine garlic, soy sauce, Hoisin suace, ginger, vinegar and chili pepper sauce. Set aside. In a large skillet, stir fry chicken at high heat in a small amount of oil until done. Add chopped onion and continue to stir fry for a couple of minutes. Lower heat to medium high heat and add sauce mixture. Stir to blend and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes. Add chopped chestnuts and reduce heat to medium heat. Add green onion and sesame oil. Cook and stir untion the onions begin to wilt. Remove from heat and serve with crisp lettuce leaves.

*Beware your house will smell of garlic for a while.

One Costume Finished

Growing up I don't remember putting much effort into my Halloween costumes. We use to buy the pastic masks and little plastic costumes from the grocery store. I'm not sure why I decided to do a family theme this year. Maybe it's because I have a little more time on my hands these days to be creative. My sister came to help me work on my Halloween Costume on Tuesday. I finally finished yesterday during one of Jake's naps. Now I just need to find some old overalls for Dan's costume as a scarecrow.

Grandma Carver's Potato Salad

12 White potatoes, boiled with skins on until tender when poked with a fork, then peeled and chopped small
9 eggs, hard boiled and chopped small
1 bunch green onion, chopped
1 c. mayo, thinned with milk (or more if needed)
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients.

Halloween stuff

I felt crafty so I started on my Halloween decorations and costume today. Can you guess who I'm going to be for Halloween?



For Christmas last year, Dan got me a subscription to Martha Stewart Living. I love it. There is always something fun and totally mindless to do from it. This cute pumpkin and other creatures were displayed hanging over a table of food for a party. I think I'll try hanging mine in my windows.

One Hour Dinner Rolls

1 1/2 Cup Hot Water
1/4 Cup Powdered Milk
1/4 Cup Butter
3 Tbsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Yeast
1 Tsp Salt
4 Cup Flour
2 Tbsp Butter, Softened

Combine hot water, powdered milk, sugar, and 1/4 cup butter. Stir until butter melts and mixture is warm. Add yeast and salt, let dissolve until yeast reacts. Add flour and mix until combined. Let rise for 15 minutes. Grease muffin tins (12) with cooking spray. Roll out dough on floured surface into a rectangle and spread with softened 2 Tbsp butter. (If dough is sticky knead a little flour into it.) Fold dough in half lengthwise. Cut into strips and tie dough into a knot, tucking ends under and place in muffin tin. Let rise 15 minutes and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Cinnaburst French Toast

Great Harvest Cinnaburst Loaf of Bread
Milk
Eggs
Cinnamon

Mix Milk, eggs, and cinnamon in a shallow dish. Dip sliced bread in egg mixture. Fry over medium heat. Drizzle warm homemade syrup on top.

Parenting

If they only knew what they were in for...

This morning I had a short conversation with my mother about parenting. As I was in the shower I had an idea to create a blog about my parents and memories I have of them. I asked my siblings to post as well so we can get a good perspective on how our parents have impacted our lives. We owe so much to them. It will be fun to see how our relationships have changed over the years through stories. Each stage of life they are and have been there for us. We love you mom and dad... http://veaterkids.blogspot.com/

Scalloped Potatoes

Tonight I made scalloped potatoes for part of Dan's birthday dinner. It's my great grandma Carver's recipe and I love them. I'm not sure if they are better than other recipes but they have a sentimental value for me.


10-12 medium sized potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly
1 onion, diced small
Whipping cream or milk
Salt and Pepper
Flour

In a 9X13 pan layer potatoes, onions, salt and pepper, and sprinkle flour over entire layer. Repeat layering until potatoes are gone. Pour cream or milk into pan until it is just about to cover the top layer of potatoes. Place strips of bacon on the top layer of potatoes. Bake at 375 for about an 1 hour or until potatoes are soft. (Place 9X13 dish on a cookie sheet in oven for any spillage.) Let stand for 30 minutes. It will thicken as it cools.

Mint and Chip Ice Cream Cake

Today's Dan's 29th birthday and he wanted an ice cream cake. I found a picture of a mint and chip ice cream cake that Cold Stone does for my inspiration.

Box of Devil's Food Cake

1 Gallon Mint and Chip Ice Cream (Smith's Premium Select Brand)

1 Pint of Whipping Cream - Beat cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar

Oreos

I baked two 9 inch round Devil's Food Cakes. Let them cool, wrapped them in plastic wrap and froze them. Take one 9 inch round and turned it top side down. Cut ice cream into 1-2 inches strips for layering on top of cake. (I pulled the gallon of ice cream out to thaw a little.) Placed second 9 inch round cake top side down on top of ice cream layer. Wrapped cake in plastic wrap and put back into freezer overnight. Frosted cake with whipped cream and decorated with crushed oreos.

Breakfast Burritos

For breakfast Dan requested breakfast burritos.


Cook uncooked torillas in a frying pan until golden brown.

Saute onions

Beat eggs, water, salt and pepper in small bowl.

Add onions to egg mixture and cook over medium heat.

Pile egg mixture, cheese, salsa, sour cream, sausage, bacon, etc onto a torilla.

Pig Lickin' Good Cake

I have a sweet tooth.

Yellow cake mix
1/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 10oz can of mandarin oranges and juice
Combine all ingredients. Pour into 9X13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until done. Let cool and top with frosting.

Frosting:
1 8oz can of crushed pineapple (drained)
1 8oz tub of cool whip
1 3oz box of instant vanilla pudding

Quiche

I love quiche. It's one of my comfort foods. It's easy to make too, especially if you buy the crust like I did. It's better with a homemade crust but if you're short on time a store bought one will do.




Broccoli Quiche
9 inch Flaky Pie Crust - bake at 375 for 7 minutes, set aside
6 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup chopped onion - saute onion
1 1/2 cups steamed and chopped broccoli
4 eggs
2 cups of shredded cheese
1 cup whipping cream or half and half
Salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients minus 1 cup of cheese. Put one cup of cheese in the bottom of the pie crust and pour the remaining ingredients in pie crust. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Let cool before serving.

Fabric Toy Ball

Jacob was given three fabric toy balls. I wanted to make him some more because he loves them. I found a pattern on-line (http://www.pjb.com.au/jug/pdf/two_piece_65mm.pdf) which I enlarged to make a larger ball.

Bottled Salsa

I went to my favorite local farm (The Rasmussen Farm in Draper) and picked up half a bushel of tomatoes to bottle fresh salsa.

50-60 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, chopped

3-4 green peppers, seeded - finely chop 2 and chop the other 1 or 2 in a processor

10 oz. canned mild green chilies

1 1/2 yellow onions, chopped fine in a processor

1 1/2 large sweet white onions, finely chopped

1/2 c. bottled jalapenos, chopped fine in a processor

5 Tbsp. salt

3 Tbsp. cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. crushed garlic

1 Tbsp. ground coriander seed

1 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 35-45 minutes. Place in hot pint jars. Seal and process in a hot water bath for 20 minutes. Makes 12-15 pints.This is really good fresh salsa. Save some in the fridge before cooking to eat right away.

Peach Crisp

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 cup melted butter
1-2 quarts of fruit (add sugar to fruit if not naturally sweet)
*Add cinnamon to fruit if desired

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add egg and mix. In 9x13 pan or ramekin pour fruit and top with flour/sugar mixture. Pour melted butter evenly over the top. Bake 375 for about 35-45 minutes till golden brown.

Bottled Peaches

I don't know what we were thinking when we decided to buy a bushel of peaches yesterday. It is quite a lot of peaches. We were all excited at the beginning to bottle them but after the first batch of 7 bottles we were losing steam. By the third batch I was hating it. My kitchen was a mess and totally sticky and I was exhausted. Who knows if I'll every do that again. Maybe this winter when I'm enjoying them I'll forget what a pain it was to bottle them and do it again next summer.