Asian Coconut Rice

We like this with just about any kind of Asian dish.  Teriyaki chicken has become pretty popular in our house of late.  I also sometimes add unsweetened coconut flakes to make it more coconutty.

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
1 1/4 cup water
1tsp sugar
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 uncooked jasmine rice (although I just use whatever rice I have.  And I never have brown rice)

In a saucepan, combine coconut milk, water, sugar, and salt.

Stir until sugar is dissolved.

Stir in rice.

Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 18-20 min, until rice is tender

Sis. Chalmer's Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are literally the best cookies in Georgia.  When I make them elsewhere, like New Mexico, I have mixed results.  I assume it has to do with the humidity or some fine detail about the ingredients that I can't control when out of my home.

The original recipe makes like 2,000 cookies.  So I half it.  But honestly, we half even the half recipe for our family.  Because if you make them you will eat them.  Even if you hide them in the back of your freezer telling yourself that you wont eat a frozen cookie and therefore the 2 minutes that it takes to thaw will be surely enough time for you to rationally talk yourself out of eating yet another cookie you don't really need.  You can eat a frozen cookie, by the way.


1/2 Recipe for Sis Chalmer's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2/3 C Crisco
2/3 C butter or margarine (I use the latter)
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 eggs
3 1/2 C flour (I use unbleached all purpose flour, for what it is worth)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 - 1 1/2 C chocolate chips (let's be honest, I usually do the maximum amount)

Blend shortening and margarine.

Blend in sugars, eggs and vanilla

Blend flour with salt and soda, then add to the butter mixture (to save on dirty dishes I usually add those three right to the butter mixture, no pre blending)

Add chocolate chips

Bake at 375* for 8-9 minutes.  (Do not over bake.  They may still look a little raw and only barely brown on the edges but this makes a really soft, wonderful cookie.)

Cinnamon Roll Bread

So I did a little experiment that turned out delicious and thought I would share. I basically took the Croxall Roll recipe, added an extra 1/4 cup sugar and prepared as usual. Then instead of making rolls, I rolled it out, smeared it with butter, sprinkled cinnamon sugar on it and baked. Delicious! It was so good I skipped the powdered sugar glaze I was planning for the top. You know it is good when you are guarding the last 1/8 of the loaf from the children (and yourself) so your sweet husband can try it when he gets home from work.

Cinnamon Roll Bread

1 C milk (powder milk works fine)
1 egg
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
3-3 1/2 C flour (I originally put in 3 1/4 cup flour because that is what i do with the rolls but probably ended up adding another 1/4 c after taking it out of the bread machine)
1/2 C sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp yeast

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1. Put liquid ingredients in bread machine, break up the egg a bit.

2. Put dry ingredients in

3. Make well and put in yeast

4. Set to dough cycle

5. Punch down and roll out to about 24 -28" by 9".

6. Smear entire top with 1/4 cup softened butter.

7. Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar with 2 tsp cinnamon. Then sprinkle on the butter smeared bread.

8. Starting at one end of 9" roll the entire thing.

9. Place seamed side down in a greased 9x5 loaf pan. (I forgot to grease and so therefore do not a have a pretty picture of the bread). Let rise, about 90 min or so.

10. Cook at 350* for about 30 min, with a tent of tin foil on top, remove at the 30 min more and cook another 8-10 min until brown.

11. Let cool 10 min then remove from pan.

Best Black Beans

I make these for any Mexican-esque dinner we have. So yummy!

1 (16 ounce) can black beans

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

salt to taste

1. In a medium saucepan, combine beans, onion, and garlic, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Season with cilantro, cayenne, and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes, and serve. The longer you simmer it, the better it tastes.

Spanish Rice

I have been living off of this and Best Black Beans. So easy and yummy.

2 Tbsp veg. oil

2 Tbsp chopped onion

1 1/2 C uncooked white rice

2 C chicken broth

1 C chunky salsa

Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion and cook until tender, about 5 min.

Mix rice into pan, stirring often. When rice begins to brown, stir in chicken broth and salsa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes, until liquid has been reduced.

Chicken and Corn Chili

This is a light recipe and went great with my rolls.

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, cored and chopped

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 can (14.5 oz) low sodium chicken broth

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatos, drained

1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces

1 box (10 oz) frozen corn, thawed

2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

3/4 tsp salt

shredded cheddar cheese

1. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and green pepper. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Stir in cumin, coriander, and chili powder; cook 1 minute.

2. Stir in chicken broth and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Add chicken. Cover and dsimmer over low heat for 10 minutes or unitl chicken is cooked through.

3. Stir corn, beans and salt into pot. Heat through. Spoon into bowls and top with shredded cheese.

Dutch Recipes

There was a request for these, I swear. Good old rustic, comfort food, Dutch style.


Stamppot Zuurkool (the white one)

3 lbs potatoes
2 lbs sauerkraut
1 lb bacon

Chop the bacon into small chunks and cook in a pot of water with the sauerkraut for 30 min., bring to a boil and then reduce to a medium heat. (Although in the future, I will fry the bacon pieces up, add everything including drippings to sauerkraut, bring to a boil, then drain. Then follow rest accordingly)


In a separate, larger pot, boil the peeled potatoes for 30 -45 min, until soft.

Drain bacon, sauerkraut, and potatoes and combine in large pot. Mash ingredients together.

Boerenkool (the green one)

3 lbs potatoes
2 onions (I always leave out because Brian hates onions)
1 bay leaf
1 lb kale
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground pepper
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp butter

1. Peel and dice potatoes and onions.
2. Clean, trim and chop kale.
3. Add the potatoes, onion, kale, bay leaf, salt and just enough water to cover all in a 3 qt pan.
4. Cover and boil gently for 25-45 min.
5. Remove bay leaf, and drain the vegetables.
6. Add milk and butter and then mash all together.
7. Serve with sausage and Rodekool.

Rodekool (the red one)

1 head red cabbage
3-4 Tbsp vinegar
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 pinch pepper
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp salt

1. Cut ans shred cabbage.
2. Cook in a small amount of boiling water with salt, cloves, and pepper for 45 min.
3. Don't let it boil dry but don't add too much water. (This is the hard part, I still haven't perfected it)
4. During the last 10 minutes add the vinegar.
5. Just before serving, add butter and sugar.

Sausage
I always buy the same brand HomeStyle Food Smoked Sausage in Mild (has a picture of an African-American man on it). I stick it in a 9x13 baking dish, drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle basil on top and cook at 375-400 for 40ish minutes. Oh, and dont forget to stick it with a fork before putting it in, like you would for a baked potato.

Fish Taco Sauce

I like to make Bonnie's cajun Tilapia recipe and then use the leftovers for fish tacos. What really makes them is the sauce.

small flour tortillas
shredded cabbage or bag of coleslaw mix
cajun fish, chopped up
fish taco sauce:
1/2 C plain yogurt
1/2 C mayo
1 lime, juiced (abt 1-2 Tbsp)
1 tsp minced capers
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried dill weed
1 tsp cayenne pepper

I try to mix up the sauce a couple of hours before dinner, but it isnt neccessary. Also, if you want it spicier (this is spicy enough for me) you can add a minced jalapeno pepper.

Then just assemble: flour tortilla, some fish, some sauce and some cabbage.

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

To reheat this rich sauce in your microwave oven, allow 15 - 30 seconds on high power.

3/4 C semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 C butter or margarine
2/3 C sugar
1 5-ounce can (2/3 C) evaporated milk (I have used low fat evap milk with great results, but non-fat was not as good)

In a heavy small saucepan melt the chocolate and butter. Add the sugar, gradually stir in the evaporated milk. Bring mixture to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently over low heat for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat. Cool slightly. Serve warm over ice cream.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I seriously cannot resist these when they are warm. They are so dangerous I refuse to make them anymore. (Yet as soon as a banana gets over ripe I am whipping up a batch. uhg)

1 3/4 C flour
1/4 C sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 C milk
1/3 C veg. oil
1/2 C mashed banana (I never measure anymore, I just use 1 banana)
1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
1 C chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine egg, milk, oil, banana and applesauce in a seperate bowl. Stir wet ingredients into dry until just moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 min. Cool for 5 min before removing.

Chuck's Favorite Mac and Cheese

Very easy and super yummy! I usually leave off the topping to save a few calories.




Ingredients

* 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
* 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
* 1 (12 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
* 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 1/2 cup milk
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1 cup dry bread crumbs
* 1/4 cup butter, melted


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until done; drain.
2. In 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, milk, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden.

Baked apple "donuts"

Don't let the name fool you, these are not good for you at all.

1 1/2 cup flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup grated apple
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted (do not use vegetable oil spread with less than 60% fat)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Grease muffin pans - do not use paper liners. Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl or sifter. In a seperate medium bowl, mix beaten egg, milk and grated apple. Mix in, using low speed on mixer, shortening and sugar. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Drop into greased muffin pans. Bake at 350 for 20 min. Cool slightly and remove from pans. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Roll the muffins in melted butter and then in the sugar mixture. Serve on a pretty plate. Makes 12-16 regular sized muffins.

FYI- I perfer using a silcone muffin pan so that I can pop them out from the bottom. They break easily while warm but you dont want them completely cooled before doing the butter/sugar step. Takes some trial and error. The crumbs that break off in the butter and sugar are the best part.

Cinnamon Rolls III

per Cecily's request:

PREP TIME 2 Hrs
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 2 Hrs 20 Min
Original recipe yield 16 rolls

INGREDIENTS

* 1/4 cup warm water
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
* 1 cup warm milk
* 1 egg, room temperature (I actually never wait until the egg is room temp)
* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 cups bread flour
* 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3/4 cup chocolate chips

* 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup confectioners' sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 1/2 teaspoons milk

DIRECTIONS

1. In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start.
2. When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough. Then sprinkle chocolate chips over sugar mixture.
3. Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls bake, stir together cream cheese, softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.

I know this is a bread machine recipe, but I am sure you could convert it to hand mixing easily. If not, the first review on the site explains.

Ice Cream Syrup (aka: buttermilk syrup)

This is a breakfast syrup, one you would use on pancakes or waffles. I realize the name might be confusing. We call it Ice Cream syrup because the boys think it tastes like ice cream. Yummy, right? It is now the syrup of choice for breakfast around here.

Ingredients:
1 C sugar
½ C butter
½ C buttermilk (or sour milk - 1/2 C milk + 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice, let sit for 5 min.)
½ tsp. baking soda

Combine into a large saucepan.
Cook until sugar melts and is caramelized in color.
Remove from heat.
Add ½ tsp. vanilla.

Fabulous Homemade Wheat bread

Stephanie - I saw you started a post and never published it. I thought I would post this in case you were still looking.

This isn't 100% whole wheat but close enough. And we do think it is yummy. The original is done the old fashion way. I, of course, converted it to a bread machine. (I have no confidence doing bread by hand) Anyway, like usual I do the dough in the machine and then let it rise in a bread pan and bake it in the oven. The original recipe makes 6 loaves but I scaled it down to fit into my machine. This makes 2 big loaves or 3 smaller loaves.

2 1/4 cup warm water
1/3 cup veg. oil
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 cup white flour
5 cups wheat flour
2 1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 1/4 tsp yeast (you might want to experiment with that, depending on personal taste)

Put wet than dry ingredients in the bread machine. Set to dough cycle. Punch down, remove, shape according to desire and let rise. Bake at 350 for 35 min or so. Watch the top of the bread so it doesn't get too brown.

Oh, one other note. I have added wheat germ and flax seed to this without it changing the taste. Not too much, maybe about 3 Tbsp. It is worth experimenting to find your own personal taste.

Exquisite Pizza Sauce

We make homemade pizza fairly often in our house. This is our absolute favorite sauce and really ups the yummy of the pizza. Chaz finds it is a bit spicy but Brian and I love the kick so every other batch I leave out the cayenne pepper and pepper flakes. I can get at least two pizzas out of a batch. So I just freeze the leftovers and thaw them in the microwave when I need them.

1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
6 fluid oz warm water
3 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese (I have left this out with no problems but we prefer it in there)
1 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp honey
3/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp marjoram
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/8 tsp dried red pepper flakes
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
salt to taste

Mix everything together in a small bowl, breaking up any clumps.

Let sit for at least 30 mins, then spread over dough and prepare pizza as desired.

Croxall's Mint Brownies

3 squares semisweet chocolate
2 C brown sugar
1 1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 C veg. oil
3 eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Melt oil and chocolate together.
Add sugar.
Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.
Stir in dry ingredients and vanilla.
Bake in a greased jelly roll pan at 350 for 20-25 min.
Cool completely.

1 C butter
2 Tbs milk
4 C powdered sugar
1 tsp. peppermint flavoring
green and/or red food coloring

Cream together.
May need additional milk to make spreading consistency.
Spread over cooled brownies.

4 Tbs. veg. oil (can use less, you just want to make it spread easily)
2 C chocolate chips

Heat together.
Spread over the frosting (carefully) while hot.
Cut into small bars.

Norwegian Cookies

1 1/3 cup sugar
18 Tbsp. margarine - softened (do not use butter)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup mini chocolate chips

3 Tbsp. sugar
3/4 tsp. cinnamon

Heat oven to 350.

Beat 1 1/3 cup sugar, margarine, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
Stir in flour, baking powder, and chocolate chips.

Divide dough into 4 equal parts. Shape each part on a lightly floured surface into roll, 1 inch diameter and about 15 inches long.

Place rolls on ungreased cookie sheet (I put two rolls per cookie sheet); flatten slightly with fork to about 5/8 inch thickness.

Mix 3 Tbsp sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over dough.
Bake 13 -15 mins., until light brown edges.

WHILE WARM, cut diagonally into about 1 inch strips (I find a pizza cutter works best).

Black Bottom Chocolate Pie

Seems more complicated than it is. If I could get away with not sharing it, I would.



Chocolate Crumb Crust

* Nonstick vegetable oil spray
* 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
* 1 ounce bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped (I use chocolate chips)
* 30 chocolate wafer cookies

Spray 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish with nonstick spray. Stir butter and chocolate in heavy small saucepan over low heat until melted. Finely grind cookies in processor. Add chocolate mixture. Process until crumbs are moistened. Press crumb mixture into prepared pie dish. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.


Filling

* 2/3 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup cornstarch
* 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
* Pinch of salt
* 6 large egg yolks
* 2 cups low-fat (1%) milk
* 1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
* 6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped (I use chocolate chips)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Chocolate Crumb Crust


For Filling:
Whisk first 4 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Whisk in egg yolks to form thick paste. Gradually whisk in milk, then cream. Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and boils 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisk in rum and vanilla. Cool 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Transfer filling to frozen crust. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

Top with whipped cream and enjoy.

The Bod's Sweet Potato Souffle

Got this recipe from a friend whose mom is known as The Bod. You know it must be good.

2 C mashed sweet potato (about 4 med. sweet potatos)
½ C sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 C butter
½ tsp salt
½ C milk
splash vanilla

1. Steam sweet potatos (I have also boiled them in the past but they turn out runnier and not as nice)
2. Mix
3. Put in casserole dish
4. Add topping

TOPPING:
1 C brown sugar
1/3 C flour
1 C coconut
1 C nuts

5. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes