Homemade Corndogs

My kids love corn dogs, but I don't buy them very often is because having 3 boys they eat alot and corn dogs are kinda expensive in the store so I found this recipe to make them homemade and it is inexpensive.

1 cup flour
2 tablespoons super fine sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
Salt and Pepper
2 Teaspoon dry mustard
2 Teaspoon paprika
1 Teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 Teaspoon onion powder
1 Teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 Cup cornmeal
1 Cup milk
1 Egg
8 hot dogs
Wooden skewers

Heat oil to 250.  Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, pepper, mustard, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion and garlic powder into a bowl.  Stir in cornmeal.
In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, milk and 2 tablespoons oil.  Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients.  Put hot dogs onto wooden skewers and dip in batter.  Fry until golden brown.

***The next time I make these I am going to make mini corn dogs, it will be easier to fit in my fryer and to make.  They are delish and a big hit with my boys.

Fruity Party Punch

I made this for my son's preschool graduation.  The teacher asked me to bring a drink for around 500 people.  All I thought was YIKES that is a lot of punch.  So I racked my brain of a drink that will be cheap and easy to make for that many people.

Here is the original amounts it will make enough punch for 41 servings.

1 12oz can frozen lemonade
1 12oz can frozen orange juice
3 1/2 cups pineapple juice
1 1/3 cups cranberry juice

Prepare lemonade and orange juice as directed on cans.  Combine orange juice, lemonade, pineapple and cranberry juice in a large mixing bowl or pitcher.  Chill well.  Immediately before serving add ice cubes.

**If you want to stretch it out for more people you can add 7-up to it.  I didn't put 7-up in it when I made it.  

**If you don't want your punch to get watered down you can put some of the juice into ice cube trays and freeze them.  Put them in your punch when you are ready to serve,  When they start melting it will just chill your punch instead of watering it down. 

The amounts to make 500 servings:

12 1/2  (12oz) can frozen lemonade
12 1/2  (12oz) can frozen orange juice
43 1/2  cups pineapple juice
16 2/3 Cup cranberry juice

Dinner Tonight, 2 New Recipes!!!

I made steak, vegetable rice medley, and broccoli with cheese.  I made teriyaki steak,  I just use the Kikkoman teriyaki marinade and followed the directions.

Broccoli with Cheese Recipe:

1 medium bunch of broccoli, cut into spears
2 tablespoons water
3 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
dash of pepper
dash of nutmeg
1 Cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Place the broccoli and water in a microwave safe bowl.  Cover and microwave on high for 3-5 minutes or until tender.
Meanwhile in a small saucepan whisk cornstarch, seasonings and milk until smooth.  Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened.  Stir in cheese and Worcestershire sauce until cheese is melted.  Drain broccoli, top with cheese sauce.

***I didn't cook my broccoli in the microwave I just put a little water in a pot and cooked it on the stove.

Vegetable Rice Medley

1 Cup uncooked long grain rice
2 1/4 Cups water
2 to 3 Tablespoons onion or vegetable soup mix
1/4 Teaspoon salt
2 Cups frozen corn, peas, or mixed vegetable

In a saucepan, combine the rice, water, soup mix, and salt; bring to a boil.  Add the vegetables; return to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes.  Cook until rice and vegetables are tender. 

***The next time I make this recipe I will exchange the water out with chicken stock to give it a little more flavor and I would add a 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.  

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 Cup butter, softened
3/4 Cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 Teaspoon vanilla
2 Cups flour
1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 Cup semi sweet mini chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 1/2 Pounds chocolate candy bark, melted

In a large bowl cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy.  Add vanilla.  Gradually beat in flour and add milk.  Add chocolate chips and pecans, mixing well.  Shape into 1 inch balls.  Place on waxed paper.  Chill for 2 hours. 
***Since the dough is sticky roll your fingers into flour.  This will make it easier to roll.

Melt chocolate bark candy coating in a double boiler. Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover


These are very rich and you don't want to make them any bigger than an inch.

Mango Bread

2 Cups flour
2 Teaspoon cinnamon
2 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 1/4 Cup sugar
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup oil
2 1/2 Cups mango, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 Teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 Cup raisins

Combine all of the dry ingredients.  Beat eggs with oil and add water to flour mixture.  Add mangoes, lemon juice and raisins.  Pour into 8x4 loaf pan.  Bake at 350 for about 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  I separated mine into two pans.  Next time I won't so the bread is taller.

Italian Minestrone Soup

Not the best picture, I had to make it and leave it on the stove for my family to eat while I was at with Ladies Golf Night.

1/2 Cup EVOO
1 Medium onion, chopped
6 Cloves garlic, chopped
3 Medium carrots, diced
2 Large celery stalks, diced
2 Medium yellow squash, diced
5 Cups chicken stock
1/2 Pound potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 Pound Swiss chard, cut into narrow strips
1 Pound spinach leaves, cut into strips
1 Cup orzo pasta
1 Cup chunky chopped Italian plum tomatoes
2 Bunches washed julienned  basil leaves
3/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoon kosher salt
Black pepper to taste

Heat the evoo in heavy bottom soup pot.  Add in the onions and garlic and saute for 5 minutes.  Stir in celery, carrots, squash and saute for 5 minutes longer.  Add in the chicken stock, potatoes, chard, spinach, pasta, and tomatoes and bring to a boil.
Lower heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and the pasta has cooked.  Stir in basil and Parmesan cheese.  Season to taste.

Been Gone Too Long

Sorry everyone that does read my blog, my hard drive went out in my 3 month old laptop and I lost everything.  I did get a new hard drive for free from HP.  They were really great to work with.  It just took awhile for it to get here.  I will try to get better about posting stuff.  I am sure I will be posting more creative recipes than I normally do.  I am getting bountiful baskets every week.  You never know what you get in your basket and it is kinda like Christmas when you get it. 


Last week I got my first basket and I loved it and so did my family.  In my basket this week I got corn on the cob, carrots, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard, Anaheim peppers, mushrooms, apples, mangoes, bananas, blackberries, cantaloupe tomatoes and I'm sure I am forgetting something.  You can add other things on with it.  I order the tropical pack. It came with mangoes, kiwis, plantains, papaya, pineapple, 2 vanilla beans, key limes and mint. 
This week I ordered the normal basket and a case of Valencia oranges.  I can't wait. 

Sorry for not posting in over a month.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Butter

1 Teaspoon Salt

4 Large Ripe Bananas, mashed

1 Egg

2 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon or Nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together sugar, eggs, and butter. Add flour, salt, soda, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix well. Add bananas. Bake for 1 hour or bake in bread maker as directed.

This is my mother in laws recipe. I added the vanilla and cinnamon and/or nutmeg. It gives it alittle more flavor.

This morning I had some extra banana bread that needed to be used up. I decided I would try making French toast with it. It turned out pretty good. I really liked it. My kids are on the fence with it.

Slush Burgers

Slush Burgers

Ingredients:

1 Pound Hamburger

1 Can Chicken Gumbo Soup

1/2 Cup Chili Sauce

1 Onion, finely chopped

1 Can Tomato Sauce

Directions:

Brown meat, add onions and brown. Then add remaining ingredients. Simmer together about 30 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns.

This is one of my husband and brother in laws favorites. I have made this recipe in advance and took it up on the mountain with us camping. I just made it and sent it with my husband bow hunting cuz you can freeze it and just thaw and heat. Great if you are in tents and have to pack light.

Ezra Taft Benson Lemon Meringue Pie

Rind of 2 lemons
3 Cups plus 3 Tablespoons sugar, divided
2 Heaping Tablespoons cornstarch
5 Eggs, separated
4 Cups water
Juice of 2 Lemons
1 9" baked pie crust


In a large saucepan, combine lemon rinds, 3 Cups sugar, and cornstarch. Stir in egg yolks, then water and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thickened. Pour into pie crust. Make meringue by beating and 3 Tablespoons sugar until stiff. Spread on pie. Bake at 425-450 degrees for 3-5 minutes, or until meringue is lightly browned.

Super Yummy Scratch Brownies

Ingredients:

2 Cups sugar
4 Eggs
6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 Teaspoon vanilla
1 Cup butter or margarine
2 Cups flour

Directions:

Combine sugar and eggs. Mix together cocoa and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Add to sugar mixture and then add vanilla, butter and flour. Mix well. Bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes.




Icing:

1/2 Cup butter
2 1/2 Cups powdered sugar
1 egg
3 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Teaspoon vanilla

Cream together butter and powdered sugar. Add egg, mix well. Blend in cocoa and vanilla. Beat until spreadable. If too thick add milk, if too thin add powdered sugar.

This is my sister in laws Liz's icing recipe. It is the best icing ever on brownies. Thanks Liz.
One thing to suggest the icing tastes better is use imitation vanilla other than real vanilla. The real vanilla gives it a funny taste for some reason to me. But either one is great.

Mountain Berry Pie

Ingredients:

1 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup cornstarch
1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon, optional
dash of salt
1 Cup blueberries
1 Cup strawberries
3/4 Cup blackberries
3/4 Cup raspberries
1/2 Cup water
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
Pastry for double crust pie (9 inch)
2 Tablespoons butter

Directions:

In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in berries. Add water and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until mixture just comes to a boil.

Line a 9 inch pie plate with bottom crust, trim pastry even with edge of plate. Add filling, dot with butter. Roll out remaining pastry; make a lattice crust. Trim, seal, and flute edges.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-50 minutes or until crust is golden. Serve warm or chilled. Cool on a wire rack. Store in refrigerator.


This is a super easy pie to make. I don't normally make pies other than pumpkin at Thanksgiving. It turned out great. My dad really liked this pie. It is great with ice cream.

Caramel Apple Pie

6 Cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced (about 8 apples)
1 Tablespoon lime juice
1/4 Cup flour
3/4 Cup sugar
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 Teaspoon nutmeg
Pastry for a two crust pie
2 Tablespoon butter
1/4 Cup butter
2 Tablespoon heavy cream
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup pecans, chopped optional

Sprinkle apples with lime juice. In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and spices. Sprinkle over apples and lightly toss. Place in a 10-inch deep dish pie plate lined with an unbaked pie pastry crust. Dot with 2 tablespoon butter. Top with pie crust pastry. Seal and crimp the edges. Bake at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes. In a saucepan, combine 1/4 cup butter, heavy cream, and brown sugar. Stir on medium heat and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Pour over hot pie and sprinkle with pecans. Place on a baking sheet or foil. Return to oven for an additional 3-4 minutes until caramel bubbles. Serve warm with ice cream.

Note: Rome Beauty or Brae burn apples taste the best in this pie.

BBQ Chicken, grilled veggies, and confetti salad

For the BBQ Chicken,

I just salt and peppered the chicken and put it on the grill. After I turned it once I put Stubb's BBQ sauce.

 

For the roasted veggies.

I cut up potatoes, zucchini and squash out of our garden. Put them on a cookie sheet. Drizzle EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) over them. I put McCormick's Grill Mates Garlic and Onion. Sprinkle it over the veggies and toss them with your hands to coat all. Put in a 425 to 450 degree oven. Cook until potatoes are tender.

 

 

Confetti Salad

Ingredients:

2 Cans vacuum packed corn

Chop the following veggies small, about the size of the corn kernels:

1/2 Cup cucumber

1/2 Cup cabbage

1/2 Cup green onions

1/2 Cup tomatoes

1/2 Cup bell pepper (I use colored)

1/2 Cup sunflower seeds

Mix and dress with oil and vinegar dressing. I use Good Seasons Italian mix and make it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar according to the mix directions.

Adjust the ingredients and amounts to your taste.

I got this recipe from my recipe exchange group. She is my cute little neighbor down the road.