West's Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients:

1 loaf French bread (homemade is best). cut into 1 inch slices

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese at room temperature

1/2 cup preserves (raspberries)

1 grated lemon peel

7 eggs

1 1/2 cups half & half

4 Tbsp granulated sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Sauce:

1/4 cup preserves (raspberry)

1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup half & half

Directions:

Cut a horizontal slit in the side of each bread slice, cutting to but not through the other side. Beat the cream cheese, preserves, and lemon peel in a bowl until well mixed. Spread about 2 tsps of mixture inside each slice. Place stuffed bread slices in the greased pan.

Beat remaining ingredients until well mixed. Pour egg mixture over bread slices, and turn sliced carefully to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes but no longer than 24 hrs. Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Uncover the french toast. Drizzle with the 1/2 cup melted butter. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Add sauce when ready to serve.

Sauce:

Mix preserves, powdered sugar, lemon juice, half & half. Whisk until well mixed. Pour over baked french toast and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serves 8-10 people.

German Pancakes with Apple Cider Syrup

Pancake
Ingredients:
6 Tbsp butter
6 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
Melt 6 T butter in a glass 9x13 baking dish. Beat together other ingredients. Then pour into baking dish. Bake in oven at 425 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until puffy and lightly browned.

Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
2 T cornstarch
2 T lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Directions:
In a 2 quart saucepan combine ingredients. Bring to a boil and cook just until mixture becomes clear. Yield 2 cups syrup.

Thai Chicken Curry

This is another one of my favorites from On My Menu . It is so so good. I don't like coconut so I was surprised I liked this but the curry flavor overpowers any coconut flavor. I've made it both with the red curry paste and using the substitution and they are equally good.

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts

1 13.5oz can coconut milk

1 medium yellow onion, cut into wide slices

1 medium tomato, cut into thick 1 inch pieces

1 bunch asparagus or green beans, ends cut off and then cut into thirds (I used green beans)

1 1/2 Tbsp Thai red curry paste *

1-2 tsp curry powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Optional:

pineapple

1 tsp sugar

1/4 cup water

*Instead of curry paste: 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, 1 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne.

Directions:

Cut chicken into thin strips. Season with curry and broil on low, DO NOT overcook as it will simmer later. Heat vegetable oil in a large pan. Saute onions first, add asparagus/beans, then add tomatoes. Add the following ingredients one at a time and taste it as you go: curry paste, coconut milk, curry powder, salt, pepper, chicken. Simmer and taste and re-season until you can't wait anymore. Serve with steamed rice.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

I got this recipe when I was looking for a copycat recipe for the Red Lobster biscuits. Red Lobster's biscuits are softer and better than these but these are a decent second best.

Ingredients:
2cups bisquick
1/2 cup cold water
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

topping:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp parsley flakes
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp italian seasoning

Directions:
Mix bisquick, water and cheese together. Shape into biscuits and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 450 for 8-10 min.

Mix melted butter, parsley, garlic powder, and italian seasoning together. When the biscuits are done cooking brush them with this mixture.

Rolo Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 1/2 cups flour

about 48 pieces rolo candy

additional sugar

Directions:

Combine and mix the butter, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, brown sugar, eggs, cocoa, and flour. Wrap dough around a rolo candy and roll in sugar. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.

Easy Cherry Berry Chocolate Dessert

Ingredients:

1 21 oz can cherry fruit pie filling

1 10 oz pkg frozen raspberries

1 pkg chocolate cake mix

3/4 cup butter, cut into 1/4 inch slices

1 cup boiling water

Directions:

Heat oven to 350. Spread cherry pie filling in ungreased 13x9 inch pan. Spoon raspberries over cherries. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over fruit, top with butter slices. Pour water over top. Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes or until edges start to pull away from sides of pan.

California Steak

This was my favorite meal that my mom made when I was growing up. One major difference is that my mom made hers in a pressure cooker. Hers always turns out better---even when she makes it in a crock pot which she did once for me.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 lb round steak, cut into 6 serving pieces
1 medium onion, sliced
1 can condensed beef broth
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:
Combine 1/4 cup flour, salt, and pepper. Dredge meat in flour mixture, brown it on a skillet. Place in a crock pot and add onion, broth, and water. Cook on low for 6-7 hours. Remove steak and onion. Put juices into a saucepan. Blend sour cream and 2 Tbsp flour into broth stirring constantly, until gravy thickens.

Cheesy Black Bean Burritos

These are just super simple, dinner in a hurry, and everyone in my family will eat them. I think they taste really good and they are healthy too. I think I heard somewhere that a bean served with corn makes a complete protein. If that is the case this is a perfect meal for a vegetarian.

Ingredients:
15 oz can black beans, drained
10 oz bag frozen corn
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
2/3 cup salsa
8-10 flour tortillas

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl mix black beans, corn, cheese, sour cream, and salsa. Spread mixture on tortillas, roll and place in pan seam side down. Bake for 20 minutes.

Granola Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/4 cup ground flax meal

3/4 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp salt

1 cup flour (I use 1/2 wheat)

1/2 cup honey

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup canola oil

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease 9x13 baking pan. In a large bowl mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, flax, cinnamon, salt, flour. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Cut into bars while still warm.

Crock Pot Chops and Gravy

Ingredients:
4 lean pork chops
4 T soy sauce
1/2 c sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp pepper
2 T Worcestershire sauce
2 can cream of mushroom soup
1 medium onion, sliced or diced
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp parsley


Directions:
Place pork chops crock pot. Lay onion slices over pork chops. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and pour over pork chops. Cook on low in crock pot for 5-6 hours (or in oven for 1 hour).

Beef Stew

Served with rolls.

Ingredients:

1 lb stew meat

2 cups diced potatoes

1 cup diced carrots

1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix

water to cover

optional: celery, mushrooms, onions, tony chacheres

Directions:

Put all ingredients in the crock pot. Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

Staff of Life Whole Wheat Bread

I got this recipe from my mom. I like that it completely uses whole wheat flour. This has got to be as healthy as bread gets--not one bit of refined flour or sugar. Plus I've been using my new wheat grinder to grind the wheat flour myself.

Ingredients:

3 cups hot water

1/4 cup olive or canola oil

1/4 cup of honey or sugar (I always use honey)

1 T instant yeast

2-2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (to start with, add more later--maybe 4 more cups)

1/2 T salt

optional ingredients:

1 T dough enhancer*

1/4 cup vital wheat gluten

Directions:

Put water, oil, honey , and yeast in a bowl. Add 2-2 1/2 cups of flour and (opt. 1/4 cup vital wheat gluten) and mix to a paste. Add salt and additional flour until dough forms a ball around the dough hook and sides of bowl are clean. Knead for 7 minutes. (Optional: add dough enhancer after the 7 minutes of kneading and knead for another minute until mixed in). Place dough on oiled counter. Divide into two equal pieces and shape into loaves. Place in greased bread pans. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until double in bulk, about 45 minutes. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place bread in oven, turn heat down to 350 degrees, and bake for 35 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool on wire racks.

*dough enhancer---I couldn't find any in my local stores for some reason so here is recipe for that in case it's needed:

1 cup Lecithin granules (find at a vitamin store)

1 Tbsp vitamin C powder

1 tsp ground ginger

Mix ingredients together and store in tightly closed glass jar.

Fried Oreos

Fried Oreos--can you imagine anything better or more fattening? Living in Texas has introduced me to a variety of fried foods--twinkies, snickers, tootsie rolls, etc. They fry everything here! The best fried food are the fried Oreos so we had to learn to make them ourselves. This recipe would make A LOT of fried Oreos--unless you are feeding a crowd you really don't want to make this much--way too fattening.

Ingredients:
1 large bag of Oreo Cookies
2 cups of pancake mix
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 eggs
4 tsp oil
powdered sugar for dusting

Or if you have pancake mix that just requires adding water use that--even easier.

Directions:
Preheat deep fryer to 375. Combine pancake mix, milk, eggs, and oil. Mix until there are no lumps. Dip Oreos into batter, make sure both sides are covered and put the Oreos into the deep fryer. The cookie will float so make sure you flip the cookie over so that both sides are golden brown. The cookies will cook fast so watch them so they will not burn. Take out Oreos and sprinkle with powdered sugar. The cookies are best straight out of the deep fryer. Makes about 54 oreos.

Cream Tuna on Toast

 

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cup milk
1 can tuna, drained
abt 6 pieces of toast

Directions:
Heat butter in 1 1/2 quart saucepan over medium heat until melted. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Add in tuna. Serve over toast.

Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

 
Ingredients:
1 pkg(10oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup Mayonnaise
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
1 pkg Knorr Vegetable recipe mix
1 can (14oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients except 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Spoon into a 2 quart casserole, then top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. bake for 35 min or until dip is hot.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

I first had this when the bishop from our first married student ward in Orem, UT invited us to his house for dinner. I fell in love with it then (15+ yrs ago!) and I still love it now. The cajun seasoning is a little spicy on the chicken so if you don't like spicy go lighter on the seasoning or use something that isn't spicy maybe...

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into thin strips
4 tsp cajun seasoning (I like Tony Chachere's)
2 Tbsp butter
1 medium green bell pepper, sliced
1 medium red pepper, sliced
4-6 large fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 green onions, chopped
2 cups evaporated skimmed milk (I used 1 can and it was plenty)
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
8oz linguine, cooked and drained
grated parmesan, optional

Directions:
Place chicken and cajun seasoning in re-sealable plastic bag; toss or shake to coat. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken in butter until almost tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat. Add seasonings. Simmer until linguine is done. Add evaporated milk, stir well and add linguine. Toss and heat through, sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

This is just from my Betty Crocker cookbook. My entire family loves this bread, especially my son Jason. It's amazing how quickly this bread disappears.

Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup shortening
1 Tbsp salt
2 packages regular or quick acting active dry yeast
2 1/4 cups very warm water (120-130)
3-4 cups all purpose flour
butter, melted

Directions:
Mix whole wheat flour, honey, shortening, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Add warm water. Bet on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough all purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in greased bowl and turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place 40-60 min or until double. (dough is ready if indentation remains when touched).

Grease 2 loaf pans, 9x5x3. Punch down dough and divide in half. Flatten dough for each loaf with hands or rolling pin into a rectangle, 18x9 inches. Fold crosswise into thirds, overlapping the two sides. Flatten or roll into square 9x9 inches. Roll dough tightly, beginning at one of the open (unfolded) ends, to form a loaf, tightly, beginning at 9-inch side. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge firmly to seal. Press each end with side of hand to seal. Fold ends under loaf. Place seam side down in pan. Brush loaves lightly with margarine. Cover and let rise 35 to 50 minutes or until double.

Place oven rack in low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 375. Bake 40 to 45 min or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped; remove from pans, cool on wire rack. Makes 2 loaves. 115 calories slice.

Mango Turkey Salad

This is my favorite lunch. Whenever I have Mango Salsa around this is what I eat. It's soo yummy!

Ingredients
Mango Salsa
Green Salad
Turkey lunch meat
poppy seed dressing

Instructions:
I use whatever green salad I have around--my favorite is a mix of romaine lettuce and spinach with red onion, red pepper, tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese is really yummy too. Then I just cut up some turkey lunch meat, add the mango salsa and top with poppy seed dressing. Delicious!

Mango Salsa

I LOVE this salsa. I can't get enough of it.

Ingredients:
1 red onion finely chopped
2 large ripe mangos peeled and chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
2 Tbsp lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!

Oven Roasted Potatoes

This recipe is just off of the back of the lipton onion soup box, I love that stuff.

Ingredients:
4 medium all-purpose potatoes cut into large chunks (abt 2 lbs)
1 envelope lipton onion soup mix
1/3 cup olive oil (I think you could get by with less)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425F. In 13x9 pan combine all ingredients. Bake stirring occasionally, 35 minutes or until potatoes are tender golden brown.

Black Bean Hummus

I am currently addicted to hummus. It is so good. I love dipping pita bread in it, but fresh veggies are good too. I think I like this made with the black beans even more than the original hummus. They are both delish!

Ingredients:
2 cans (15oz) black beans
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
12 Kalamata olives, thinly sliced
paprika to sprinkle on top

Directions:
Combine beans, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper in a food processor or blender. Process until mixed or it reaches the desired consistency, scraping the side of the bowl as needed. Spoon the hummus into a bowl and sprinkle with the olives and paprika. Serve with pita chips, bagel chips, fresh cut carrots. Refrigerate leftover.

Sirloin Tips

Ingredients:
1 lb sirloin tips, cubed (could also use stew meat)
2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 package liption onion soup mix
4 oz sliced mushrooms (could use canned)
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 small onion sliced
1 package egg noodles

Directions:
Place all ingedients except for the egg noodles in the crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. When it is almost time to serve cook the noodles until al dente and then place them in the crockpot and mix together. Instead of the noodles you could also serve over rice.