Potato Soup or Clam Chowder

Every Christmas Eve my daughter-in-law Brandi makes potato soup.  Since it's Christmas Eve, she makes it very special and buys bread bowls from Panera Bread to serve it in.  It is a very special evening anyway because we always celebrate her husband's (my oldest son's) birthday, which is Christmas Day.  Well this year she gave me her delicious Potato Soup recipe to share with you.  It's easy and sure to be a hit with your family.

Potato Soup

1 cup onions, diced small
1 cup celery, diced small
2 cups diced potatoes
Add just enough water to cover the veggies and simmer until tender.

Mix together:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
Pour over the veggies.

Add:
1 quart half and half (you can use fat free)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Cook and stir until thick.

**You can also use this recipe to make Clam Chowder.  If making clam chowder drain the clam juice from 2 (two) 6 1/2 oz. cans of clams over the veggies first and then simmer.  Add the clams to the mixture when you add the half and half, salt and sugar.  Cook and stir until thick.

Cashew Chicken Pasta Salad

Now this is a delicious pasta salad.! It has chicken, cashews, grapes, apples . . . mmmmmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.  I got the recipe from Sister Turner who I served with at the Columbia South Carolina Temple.   Makes a lot, so great for a big crowd.

Cashew Chicken Pasta Salad

4 chicken breasts
2 packages bowtie pasta
2 cups celery, chopped
4 stalks green onion, chopped
1 (16 oz.) can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 bottle cole slaw dressing (Kraft Cole Slaw Dressing or Marzetti Low Fat Cole Slaw Dressing)
2 cups red grapes
2 cups red apples, chopped
1 (10 oz.) can salted cashews

Cook pasta.  Drain, set aside, and let come to room temperature.
Cook chicken and cut into pieces.  (You can use already cooked chicken breasts from Sam's or any store.)

Combine celery, onion, pineapple, mayo, and cole slaw dressing.  Set aside

Chop apples with the skin.  Combine pasta, chicken, apples and dressing mixture.  Add whole or chopped grapes.  Mix until well blended.  Add cashews before serving.

Green Bean and Corn Casserole

Over the holidays I did find a great green bean casserole.  My husband's cousin made this for Thanksgiving and it was a big hit.  So if you're tired of the classic green bean casserole with mushroom soup and fried onions, you have got to try this.  I definitely like this one better.

Green Bean and Corn Casserole

2 cans French style green beans
1 can white shoepeg corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped onion

Mix all ingredients together and put in a baking dish sprayed with Pam.

Topping:
1 stick butter, melted
1 roll of Ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 cup toasted almonds

Mix together and put on top of green bean and corn mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Pears with Bleu Cheese and Honey

Hope everyone had a Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas!

Here is a simple appetizer that your guests will love.  My friend Angie made this when my husband and I went to their home for dinner.  It was so good!  Angie shared the recipe with me and now I'm sharing it with you!  Happy New Year!

Pears with Bleu Cheese and Honey

Golden pears
Bleu Cheese
Honey

Slice pears and put on a tray.  Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with honey.

That's it!  How simple and how delicious!

No Bake Reindeer Cookies

Looking for something quick and easy to make for a Christmas treat?  I found this at http://www.southernliving.com/ and I thought they were so cute.  Come on, you gotta admit they are CUTE!  And they are QUICK and EASY.  My grandkids and their friends loved them.  They can even make them themselves.  Watch this VIDEO to see how to make them.

No Bake Reindeer Cookies

Nutter Butter Cookies
M & Ms
White Classic Icing (not whipped)
Pretzels

Watch this VIDEO to see how to make them.

Merry Christmas!

Zucchinni Bread

I've had this post since this summer when zucchini was growing in our garden.  Sorry I didn't get it out sooner.  Maybe next summer when you have tons of zucchini in your garden and don't know what to do with it, you can make this bread.  You can also grate the zucchini and put 2-3 cups in a freezer bag and freeze until you want to make the zucchini bread.  It is so delicious!

Zucchini Bread

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla
2-3 cups grated zucchini
1 cup nuts (optional)

Grease and flour two 8x4 inch pans.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Put all ingredients except zucchini and nuts in a bowl and mix together.  (I used a hand mixer.)
Add zucchini and nuts.  (Batter was a little thick but once I added the zucchini it was much easier to mix.)
Bake at 325 for 50 - 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool 20 minutes.  Remove from pan and let cool completely.

Marinated Braised Beef Brisket

Okay!  Okay!  I know you're tired of looking at the picture of my wheat pancakes.  So here is a recipe you can sink your teeth in.  Of course I got it from one of my favorite recipe books, The Pioneer Women Cooks.  I usually make my mom's brisket, but I decided to try Ree Drummond's braised brisket recipe and it was delicious.  My family really enjoyed it.  And so will you.  But be sure to plan ahead--brisket has to marinate at least 24 hours before cooking.

**I only cooked a 4 pound brisket so I halved the recipe. 

Marinated Braised Beef Brisket

2 cans beef consomme (not beef broth), 10.5 oz. cans
1 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
Juice of 2 lemons
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 Tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)  I didn't use this. 
1 brisket (7 - 10 pounds), untrimmed  I trimmed mine a little bit.  Can't stand all that fat.

In a roasting pan, combine the first 5 ingredients.  Place brisket in pan, fat side up.  Ladle some of the liquid on top.  Cover tightly with foil and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 24 - 48 hours.

When you're ready to make the brisket, put into a 300 degree oven and cook for about 40 - 50 minutes per pound.  When the meat is fork tender, place on a cutting board.  Cut away the slab of fat from the top of the meat.  Then slice against the grain.

Now, put the sliced meat back into the pan, juice and all.  Cover with foil and place in the oven to warm up.  Serve.

And as Lee Drummond says, "It's a major crowd pleaser!"

Wheatberries and Blender Wheat Pancakes

I know you've been wondering where I have been.  Well, I was just called as Relief Society President in our ward so I've been BUSY!  The first activity we had (2 weeks after I was called) was a ward activity on cooking with wheat.  I didn't realize you could make such delicious foods using wheat--actually using wheat berries.  Cooking wheat berries provide an excellent way to extend meats, enhance soups and stews, add nutrition to desserts and introduce your family to the wonderful taste of wheat.

Pictured above are the Blender Wheat Pancakes, which were absolutely delicious--and so easy.  I've also included some of the other recipes we made that were unbelievable.  Yes, unbelievable because they tasted so good.  So hope you enjoy, but be careful if you're not use to eating wheat.  Don't eat too much at one time.  But these recipes are so good it will be hard to stay away!

Wheat Berries

1 cup wheat kernels
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups water

Combine ingredients.  Bring to a boil and let simmer about one hour.
Now you can eat them hot and cooked (great breakfast food).  You can add brown sugar and milk, or even a little honey.  You can use wheat berries like you would use rice and you can use them in the following recipes.

Blender Wheat Pancakes

1 cup uncooked wheat berries
1 cup milk
Blend about 3 minutes and then add:
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons baking powder
Blend until well mixed.

Cook on hot griddle and serve with toppings of your choice.


Boston Baked Wheat

4 cups wheat berries
1/2 - 1 cup ketchup or BBQ sauce
1 onion , sauteed
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup molasses
3 - 4 teaspoons mustard
3 slices bacon, cooked and diced
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all together and bake 30 minutes at 325 degrees. 


Wheat Chili

1/2 pound hamburger
4 ribs celery, chopped
l large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cups cooked chili beans
1 quart whole tomatoes, chopped (or use diced tomatoes)
2 cups wheat berries
3 - 4 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano

Brown hamburger with onion, celery and green pepper.  Add beans, wheat, tomatoes, and seasonings.  Bring to a simmer for the flavors to blend.  Taste test for personal spiciness.
**You can add wheat berries to your favorite chili recipe.


Tuna Wheat Salad

2 large cans tuna (drained)
2 1/2 cups wheat berries
1/2 cup celery, diced
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup Italian dressing
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Mix all together and serve as salad, sandwiches, or on crackers.


Wheat Berry Waldorf Salad

5 cups wheat berries
2 medium apples, cored and chopped
1 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup seedless raisins
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup brown sugar

Mix together and serve.  You can also add craisins and mandarin oranges.


Well, better end this post now.  Gotta go to a meeting!

Uncle Alan's Mock Crab Vegetable Medley

I didn't know this, but my brother-in-law, Alan, is a great cook.  He makes this mock crab vegetable dish that is so good.  He made it up himself.  I'm impressed!

Uncle Alan's Mock Crab Vegetable Medley

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

Olive Oil

fresh mushrooms

1 - 2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 - 2 packages imitation crab (pull apart)

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

fresh tomatoes

Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
pasta

In olive oil, saute the onions, bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper until tender.  Add the imitation crab and juice.  Simmer until the crab is fork tender.  Add fresh tomatoes and remove from stove.  Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve on top of pasta.

Here's Alan joking around, showing off his culinary skills!

5 Cup Salad

I love when my friends share their recipes with me.  Here is one my friend Kathi shared with me.  It is so light and fruity.  Plus, I love anything with marshmallows.

5 Cup Salad

1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup pineapple chunks (drained)
1 cup coconut
1 cup mandarin oranges (drained)
1 cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients, mix well and chill before serving. 

For variations, you can add a cup of whipped topping.  Of course, then it becomes a 6 cup salad :) 

Kathi has also added small amounts of food coloring to "jazz it up" for special occasions--like pink for her daughter's baby shower.