HOMEMADE BROWN SUGAR

This is so simple to make.  It is much better for you, and stays fresh.  It tastes great, and works well if you have run out of your store bought brown sugar. 

1 cup of granulated sugar
2 tsps. un-sulphured molasses (blackstrap molasses)

First, put in a small bowl.  Next, Cut (mash) the molasses into the sugar with a fork.  This will take a little effort.  Do not be discouraged it will work in fast once it starts to.  Finally, put the finished brown sugar into a Ziploc bag and put in the refrigerator to keep it fresh. 

HOMEMADE OATMEAL BREAD MACHINE BREAD

I love my bread machine.   It is so handy on busy days.  I think homemade bread is so much healthier then store bought.  Here is my own recipe.  I hope you enjoy it.

It makes a 1.5 lb. loaf

1 cup and 2 Tbs. of warm water
3 cups of unbleached flour
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. raw honey or homemade brown sugar
1/2 cup old fashioned oats ( oatmeal)
1 1/2 tsp. yeast

Set your machine to #5 for a 1.5 lb. loaf and hit start.  Make sure you are there to hear the beep when it is done and get this out right away before it ends up being hard. 

CORNED BEEF HASH HOMEMADE

I don't know about you, but there is nothing that I hate any more then a can of Corned Beef Hash. YUCK!
This is how I make my Corned Beef Hash

First, I start by peeling a bunch of potatoes and boiling them in a medium kettle.  Then, I drain them and let them cool. Second, I heat up my cast iron frying pan with about 2 Tbs. of olive oil in it, on a medium heat.  Third, I dice up an onion and add that to the pan.  Next, I open a can of Libby's Corned Beef and add that to the pan and chop it up with my spatula.  Then, I slice my boiled potatoes and and them.  Now, I just let it cook until brown, while flipping it over every now and again with the spatula.  Add a little kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
I like to serve this with homemade oatmeal bread with a little olive oil on it and boiled eggs. 

Making Homemade Bagels

Wow!  Making homemade bagels can be a big job!  You have to start them with potato water.  So it is a good idea to think ahead and when you make potatoes, save your water for bagels.  I usually make mashed potatoes for supper the night before I am going to be making bagels.  I just save my water in a covered kettle in the fridge until I am ready.  Then I heat the potato water till warm on the stove.  This is one of my favorite things to make even though they take so long.  There is nothing like them.  They are so fresh and yummy.  The other thing that makes them a big job is that they have to be boiled 3 minutes on each side and then baked.  If you are still interested in making them after getting this information, I have included my favorite recipe.  These are the best topped with cream cheese and a homemade raspberry freezer jam.
Some benefits of making your own bagels is that they are a lot cheaper then buying them.  You can freeze them and use when ready.  If you raise chickens, this is a great way to use up extra eggs.

BAGEL RECIPE

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups potato water
2 packages of yeast
1 Tbs. of sugar
1 Tbs. salt
3 Tbs. canola oil
3 eggs
6 cups of flour

Heat water to just warm on your wrist.  Pour into your largest mixing bowl.  Add the yeast, sugar, salt, oil and eggs.  Beat with a wire whisk until all mixed.  Add the flour 3 cups at a time.  Then, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and kneed until smooth and elastic like.  Wash out the mixing bowl and dry it.  Grease the bowl and put the dough in it, cover with a cloth, and set in a warm place to rise.  Once the dough rises once, push it down and get ready to form it.  Start by forming the dough into 2 long log rolls.  Then cut each of these into 12 pieces.  These little pieces will each be 1 bagel.  Roll each one in your hands like a play dough snake.  Then, join the ends to make a ring.  Pinch together and just dab with water where you pinched it to hold it together.  After you have formed all the bagels, let them set and rise for about 20 minutes.
While they are rising.  Get your largest kettle, add 1/4 cup sugar and a gallon of water.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Once it is boiling, Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Add bagels to the water about 4 to a time and boil 3 minutes on each side.  Then put on a greased cookie sheet and bake.  These will bake until they are lightly brown on bottom and the top.  Keep in mind they are mostly cooked from boiling.  They are just going into the oven to brown. 
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50 MILES FROM A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, AND A MASSIVE CRAVING!

Here's the thing, I live so far in the boonies, that a simple thing like a fast food burger becomes impossible.  So the only thing to do is to rummage the cupboards and improvise big time.  This is what I came up with.  The rodeo burger!

Ingredients
2 lbs. hamburger 90 % lean
1 onion sliced in rings
salt and pepper
buns
lettuce
Angus barbecue sauce
deluxe American cheese

I made the hamburger into patties and put them on my George Foreman Grill.  Then I salt and peppered and  laid the onion on top.  See photo above.  Then closed the cover and cooked it half done.  Next, I turned the onion over on each patty so that it would brown on both sides.  Then, I closed the cover and let it finish cooking.  When the burgers were cooked, I laid a piece of cheese on them, put them on a bun, added lettuce and the barbecue sauce.  This was delicious and took care of the craving.  Where there is a will, there is a way I always say!!!

Strawberry Truffle Cake

Ingredients
1 box of Angel food cake mix made according to directions
1 small box of jello cook vanilla pudding made to directions on box
1 small container fat free cool whip
1 box of fresh strawberries hulled and sliced

In a large punch bowl put half of the angel food cake in diced. Then half of the pudding drizzled on top. And then half of the strawberries. Then the other half of the angel food cake diced and the rest of the pudding. Then the whole container of cool whip and spread evenly and then the rest of the berries. Put in fridge for an hour before serving.

Fried Rice

Ingredients
6 cups of cooked rice
3 tbs. oil
1 clove garlic
1 onion diced
2 celery stalks sliced
1 carrot pealed and sliced
1/2 package fresh mushrooms sliced
1/2 green pepper chopped
2 tbs. chives
1/2 lb. hamburger cooked and drained
2 eggs scrambled
1/8 cup soy sauce

Heat oil in heavy pan add vegetables and saute until until slightly done. Then stir in the rest and heat through

Breakfast Pizza

Dough Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 package yeast
1 tbs. sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tbs. oil
2 1/2 cups flour

In mixing bowl add yeast and water stir then add the rest and mix well. Grease hands and knead a couple of times until dough is smooth. Cover with a dish towel and let set for 1/2 hour.

Topping Ingredients
5 eggs
2 cups mozzarella cheese
half pound of bacon or sausage cooked
Optional: mushrooms, green pepper, onion
Heat oven to 400
After dough has set press into a greased cookie sheet. Wisk eggs together and put on dough and spread. Then top with cheese and other toppings. Bake until brown on top and is done through. About 30 minutes

Fried Pickerel

Many people think that pickerel are not good to eat because they look strange. They are so delicious. Here is what I do. Clean the fish, put it in warm water and scale. Then fillet them you can get a fillet off of each side and along the back bone. Make sure you are using a very sharp long knife.

In a heavy pan heat a small amount of oil on medium heat. Roll the fillets in flour and add a little seasoning salt and pepper. Fry on each side until golden brown.
Serve with potato and corn on the cob!

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie!

Crust Ingredients
2 1/4 cups flour
2/3 cups shortening
1 tsp. seasoning salt
10 tbs. cold water

Filling Ingredients
3 chicken drumsticks ( or the equivalent of, can even use leftover chicken or turkey)
3 bouillon cubes
1 mug boiling water
2 tbs. butter
2 tbs. flour
3 carrots pealed and sliced
2 potatoes pealed and diced
1 onion chopped
1 celery stalk sliced
1/2 can peas ( optional )

Start by boiling the chicken until it comes of off the bones. Discard bones and skin. Dice chicken and add to a frying pan with a little bit of oil add vegetables and saute1 minute, In another frying pan add butter and melt then add flour and cook untill forms a ball, add the water with the bouillon cubes dissolved in it and beat with a wire wisk. This will make a gravy. Poor over the meat veggie mixture and simmer.

Make your crust. In a mixing bowl add flour and salt stir together, add shortening and work into the rest with a fork until well cut. Then add water and mix well, you may need to kneed it a little to get it mixed. Then roll out on floured surface. Put down bottom crust in pie pan then add filling then repeat with top crust. Poke 9 holes in top of crust with a fork and tuck under extra dough and pinch crust around the edges. Bake in preheated 450 oven until brown and done.
serve with mashed potato or rice.

Cream Puffs And Filling

Cream Puffs
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/2 cup of butter
1 cup of flour
4 eggs

Heat Oven to 400

Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a medium sized heavy pot. Stir if flour. Stir constantly over low heat until in forms a ball ( 1 minute ) Remove from heat add eggs. Mix with mixer on high until it is very smooth. Put onto ungreased cookie sheet a 1/3 cup at a time leaving about 3 inches in between each one. Bake until puffed and golden. about 40 minutes. Cool Cut off tops and fill with filling. Replace tops and drizzle chocolate sundae sauce on top.

Filling
Ingredients
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbs. cornstarch
2 cups of milk
2 egg yolks
2 tbs. butter
1 tbs. vanilla

Add everything to a heavy medium pot. Stir together with wire wisk. Bring to a boil on medium heat stir all the time. Turn to low heat and cook 1 minute still stirring. Let cool and fill puffs.

Tuna Casserole

Ingredients
1 package egg noodles
2 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
4 tbs. butter
1 large can tuna
1 can peas
1 can carrots
Italian bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350
Cook noodles and drain. Add 2 tbs. butter, peas, carrots and tuna. In a small bowl stir together the soup and garlic. Add to the rest and mix well. Put into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle heavily with Italian bread crumbs and then add 2 tbs. of melted butter. Bake until heated through and bread crumbs are brown.

Kick Your Chicken And Leave It Casserole

Ingredients
2 lbs. boneless chicken tenders
1 can of cream of chicken soup
8 ounce package of shredded Monetary Jack Cheese
1 box of stove top chicken stuffing mix
1 stick of butter

Preheat Oven 350
Grease lightly 9x13 pan. Lay the chicken in the bottom raw. Add can of soup all over the top. Then top with the cheese. Add stuffing mix dry all over the top. Melt the butter and pour on top of that.
Bake for 1 hour. Or until brown and bubbly all over.

Double Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients
2 sticks of butter
18 tbs. baking cocoa
6 tbs. vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Spread into a lightly greased 9x13 pan. Put into the oven and bake until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. About 40 minutes

Doggies In A Blanket

Ingredients

6 hot dogs
6 slices American Cheese
1 package yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tbs. sugar
2 tbs. oil
2 1/2 cups flour

In a large mixing bowl, add yeast and water, stir together well. Add sugar, oil and flour. Stir until well mixed. Put some grease on your hands and kneed the dough until smooth. Put a towel over the bowel and let set for 1/2 hour.
After dough has set. Preheat oven to 350. Take out a 9x13 glass baking pan and grease the bottom lightly. Divide dough into 6 even pieces. Put a piece of the dough in your hand and roll it out like a long snake. Lay it down in the pan and flatten out a little. Lay a hot dog on the dough centered. Break a piece of American Cheese in half, and lay on the hot dog, use the whole slice, it just fits better broken. Fold the dough around the hot dog, Do the sides first and then fold in the ends of the dough. Make sure the dough is sealed well, so that the cheese doesn't come out when cooked. Repeat until all hot dogs are wrapped. Make sure they are all seam side down in the pan.
Put in the oven and bake about 1/2 hour or so. Until the dough is lightly brown. Do not over cook.
Serve with french fries and some spicy mustard for the doggies!

Rustic Hash

Ingredients
3 large russet potatoes
4 tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. seasoning salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Scrub potatoes well, leave the skins on and dice. In a heavy skillet ( I like cast iron ) heat the olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the potatoes, seasoning salt and pepper. Watch it close to make sure it is not cooking too fast. You want it to be slightly brown on the outside and tender when poked with a fork. Cook until done, stirring often.

Variations

Onion Hash: Peel potatoes first and add 1 chopped onion. Use regular salt instead of seasoning salt. Use butter instead of oil. Can use leftover potatoes for this kind.

Fancy Hash: Peel potatoes first and add 1 chopped onion and a chopped colored pepper.

Deer Meat Steak Sandwichs

Ingredients

1 lb. Deer Steak
1 onion
1 green pepper
1 package of fresh sliced mushrooms
8 ounces of mozzarella cheese or American cheese
2 tbs. real butter
1 tbs. Worcester sauce
1 tsp. seasoning salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1tsp. mustard
3 tbs. Mayonnaise
1 package of sub rolls or hot dog rolls

Preheat oven to 300
In a heavy skillet melt butter, add Deer steak chopped fine, add onion and green pepper sliced, add sliced mushrooms. Then sprinkle Worcester sauce, seasoning salt, and pepper on top. Saute until meat in cooked through and brown.
Cut bun up the side and place on a baking sheet. In a bowel mix the mayonnaise and mustard together. Then spread on the buns. Now add the meat mixture to the buns and top with the cheese.
Put in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted.
I like to serve this with rustic hash.

Cheese Popcorn

Ingredients

1/2 cup hot air popcorn or 2 bags of plain microwave popcorn
1/2 stick of real butter
2 slices of American cheese
salt

Pop the popcorn. Put the butter into a coffee cup, fold the cheese in 4th's and lay on top of the butter. Put the mug in the microwave for 1 minute. Take out the stir. Dump over the popcorn and add salt to taste.

Deli Cheese Ends Mac and Cheese

Today I am cooking up something good, and cheap.

Ingredients
8 ounces of deli cheese ends ( assorted kinds)
1 lb. box macaroni
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 tbs. butter
2 tbs. flour
1tsp. onion powder
salt and pepper to taste

Cook macaroni, while macaroni is cooking, get out a heavy saucepan medium sized. On medium heat melt the butter, add the flour and stir together. Reduce heat to low. Add the milk, onion powder, salt and pepper and about 8 ounces of deli cheese ends stir constantly until melted. When cheese is all melted pour over the cooked and drained macaroni.

I served this with spam browned in a cast iron frying pan and asparagus. My 6 year old son who likes nothing, loved this meal.

Give it a try!

Spicey Spaghetti !!

Ingredients

1 package Hillshire Farms Kielbasa
1 large onion
1 large green pepper
1 small package sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. chili powder
2 large cans of tomato sauce
2 tbs. oil
You are going to need to start this first thing in the morning and put in crock pot!

I start by cutting the kielbasa into wheels, then chop the onion and green pepper. Mince the garlic, and slice the mushrooms if they are whole. Add the oil to a heavy skillet ( I like to use cast iron, but whatever you use will be fine as long as it is heavy) Heat the oil and then add the kielbasa, onion, green pepper, and garlic. Saute until the kielbasa gets brown. Add just a little bit of water in the pan at this point, and scrape the drippings on the pan with a spoon until it looks almost like a dark gravy.

Add this mixture to the crock pot with the chili powder and cans of tomato sauce.

Turn on low and simmer most of the day. Let it cool a little while for better flavor before serving.

I like to serve this sauce on cooked angel hair pasta, add a green salad and french bread for a beautiful meal. Also add Parmesan cheese to each serving.

This was my grandmothers recipe. Yummy!!