Taco Soup and other game day treats

Big football game yesterday...  The Holy War for Utah and my Aggies playing a big game as well.  Something easy and delicious for this time of year that can feed a crowd is, Taco Soup!

2 lb ground beef sautéed with onion (if onion desired)
2 cans corn (do not drain)
2 cans kidney beans (do not drain)
1 BIG can tomato juice (46 oz...which is a little over 1 quart)
1 pint Salsa
1 pkg Taco seasoning

Brown beef and then add other ingredients.  Mix and heat in a large pot on the stove. Top with Fritos, sour cream, and shredded cheddar. Also great to make in a crockpot after browning beef.  This is a large recipe but I would imagine it would be easy to freeze for later as well.

Another treat we made was Pumpkin Spice Chex Mix.  Pumpkin is all the rage and so Chex came out with a little spice packet to make the chex mix.  It was fine as is after following the directions on the packet but I would change it up a bit for next time.  Chex has a similar recipe not using the new spice packet that can be found here.

My version for next time...

3 cups cinnamon chex
2 cups corn or rice chex
1 cup honey teddy grahams
 mini chocolate chips
chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter
spice packet

In a large bowl toss chex, teddy grahams, chocolate chips, and pecans. Melt butter and mix with spice packet.  Stir over chex mix, until coated.

At this point the direction called for microwaving chex mix for 3 minutes, stirring every minute, to glaze...my bowl was too big so I spread onto baking sheet and baked at 350 for a few minutes until glazed, stirring it around.  This process takes a bit longer.

For an extra pumpkin kick I would melt some of Hershey Kisses, pumpkin spice kisses and drizzle over mix.  Allow to cool then break apart and enjoy!

Something Delightful

I've been slow at updating this as of late. But it is finally snowing here in Utah so I am feeling a bit more festive with the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving is a time of gathering together. Something delicious, warm, sweet, and it feeds many people should be on the menu. I've been craving this too so here is my friend Toni's recipe for Monkey Bread (rename it gratitude bread and say something you are grateful for with each piece...ta da great activity and snack for kids).


This recipe is SO EASY.

4 cans of biscuits (the exploding can kind)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
Cinnamon and sugar mix

Cut all biscuits in fourths and roll each piece in cinnamon sugar.
Place in well greased bundt pan (I have only tried this in a bundt pan but I would assume you could do a smaller version in a regular bread pan).
Melt butter and sugar together on the stove until boiling.
Pour over biscuit pieces in the bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.
Turn over onto plate, cool slightly, and pull apart to eat and enjoy.

Pumpkin Roll

It's FALL!!!!

Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup pumpkin

3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup powdered sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp. Butter, softened

1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 15x10x1 baking pan and line with waxed paper. Grease and flour paper.

Beat eggs, add sugar and pumpkin. Add flour cinnamon, baking soda. Spread in pan and bake for 15 mins. Immediatly turn onto a powdered sugar dusted towel (flour sack towels work best). Peel off waxed paper and roll up cake. Cool completely.

Mix filling of powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, cream cheese until smooth.

Carefully unroll cake and spread filling over and re-roll. Cover and chill until serving. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Can keep in freezer.

Blueberry and Peach Days Cobbler

A yummy start to fall...

1/2 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup apple juice or water
5 cups sliced peeled peaches (Approx. 10-12 peaches)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Top with:

1 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
A dash of salt
1/4 cup cold butter
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
Cinnamon Sugar mix

In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cornstarch, & cinnamon. Stir in apple juice or water. Bring to a boil & stir for 1-2 minutes until thickened. Add the peaches, blueberries, pecans, butter and lemon juice. Pour into a greased shallow 9x13 pan.

For topping combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add milk and egg (will be sticky). Spoon over fruit mixture. Sprinkle with Cinnamon Sugar mix.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and a toothpick inserted in the topping comes out clean. Serve warm. Top with Vanilla Ice cream

Breakfast Casserole

August's recipe of the month is one of my all time favs, a breakfast casserole. Simple, fast, and yummy. Learned this one in college from my roommate Sarah.

Sarah's Breakfast Dish

1 package crescent roll dough (in the "pop" can)

1 roll of sausage meat, cooked and crumbled

6-8 eggs

1 & 1/2 cups of shredded cheese

3/4 cup milk

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan.

Whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper.

Roll out crescent rolls to cover base of 9x13 pan. Sprinkle crumbled sausage over the dough and sprinkle with cheese. Pour over egg mix.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until eggs cooked through. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

FOR A LOWER FAT OPTION:

try and find fat free or reduced fat crescent roll dough. just sprinkle a small layer of cheese, and use non-fat milk. Subsitute with mostly egg whites. Use1/2 a roll of sausage, bacon bits, low fat sausage, or crumble up meatless sausage patties instead.

Pin Wheels

Inspired by the "Leaky Cauldron Pinwheels" used for my Harry Potter party and inspired by my friend Kellie from work who gave me the idea in the first place I give you pinwheels...

I bought loaves of frozen dough by Rhodes for mine but any basic bread recipe will do.

1. Roll out dough (after risen)
2. Fill with filling of choice (see below for ideas)
3. Roll up dough.
4. Cut like you are cutting cinnamon rolls.
5. Lay into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes until brown.

Basically they are dinner cinnamon rolls...

Filling ideas:

1. Pizza. sauce dough and add toppings and cheese. Roll tightly.
2. Spinach and artichoke dip... Make a spinach and artichoke dip and layer that onto rolled out dough. Roll tightly to avoid too much leakage. I also thought adding chicken to this would be nice.
3. Beef and onion. Brown beef and sautee onion. Can also add mushrooms.
4. Ham and Cheese. I sliced the ham into the approximate size I was going to slice the rolls. I used kraft singles because they melt nicely.

Basically anything you could put in a roll or pie...this is just another variety!

Honey Pecan Chicken

Sorry I have been AWOL as of late...it has been busy.

Here is a dish I actually had in the hospital cafeteria and it was absolutely delish. This recipe is as close to it as I could find.

Honey Pecan Glaze

1 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
1 cup chopped pecans
sprinkle some parsley

Melt the butter in a pan over low heat. Whisk in the honey until well blended. Bring to a simmer and add the pecans. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

You can serve this over grilled chicken (the way I had it), fried chicken (which sounds divine) or even salmon.

Side it with some potatoes, green beans, or asparagus, and you are good to go!

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

This cupcake is inspired by a Boston Creme Pie Cupcake I saw in a Cake book.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

1. Make 1 box of Lemon Cake mix per box directions into cupcakes.

2. After they cool for 10 minutes, stick a butter knife in the middle and cut straight down, 1 cut.

3. With a decoraters bag pipe pudding into the center of the cupcake. I made instant vanilla pudding with a few drops of lemon flavoring (I didn't have any lemon pudding, but the vanilla was really good).

4. Frost with Strawberry frosting.

5. Decorate and enjoy!

Bierochs

This is a delicious dish my neighbor Teresa made for us everytime my mom had a baby. I have always wondered what it was called, and how to make it and I finally got the recipe. They are a meat filled pastry of the German/Russian influence.

Here you go:

Bierochs (or Bierocks)

Bread dough (Rhoades rolls, regular or texas size are the easy way to do it)

Ground beef or turkey

chopped onion

sliced mushrooms

shredded cabbage

pepper

Grated cheese

(there are no quantities, because this is a as much as you want or don't want type recipe)

Brown the meat, add onion, mushrooms, cabbage, and pepper to taste.

Thaw and flatten bread dough after it has doubled in size.

Put some shredded cheese in the middle, and scoop some meat and cabbage mixture on top.

Pinch the ends together to close the roll.

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake according to bread dough directions, generally at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until brown.

Enjoy!

For an alternative recipe with dough and measurements go here.

Star Wars Rules!

So for the recipe of the month I am choosing "Princess Leia Cinnabons." My family has been on a Star Wars kick lately so I made these cinnamon rolls that are featured in my Star Wars Cookbook. They were pretty dang good!

Princess Leia Cinnabons

1 package active dry yeast (1 Tbsp)

3/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, room temperature

2 1/2 cups bread flour

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar

1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the sugar, salt, egg and 1 cup flour; stir well to combine.

3. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well with each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes.
4. Lightly grease an 9X13 inch baking pan. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Spread dough with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll up the dough along the long edge until it forms a roll. Slice the roll into 16 equal size pieces and place them in the pan with the cut side up.
5. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake rolls until golden brown, about 20 minutes.

7. Frost with cream-cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 package (4oz) cream cheese, softened
1-2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

mix to desired consitency.



As for a starwars party I thought Make and Take offered a lot of great ideas. I especially loved the light-saber cupcakes, and death star pinata. Not gonna lie, i just may throw a starwars birthday party for myself this year. Who wants to wait to have kids!!

Game that sounds fun:

Release Hans Solo... this comes from a link on the Make and Take page...

"We also played "Release Han Solo". I used two of my son's Han Solo action figures and placed them in plastic rectangular containers. I then filled them with water, just so that Han was covered, and froze them solid. I explained to the kids, that in the movie "The Empire Strikes Back", Han was frozen in carbonite and that we were going to release him from his icy prison! We divided into teams, and the kids formed a bucket brigade line by dunking small buckets (one to each team) into large water-filled buckets (that I had set in the sun to heat up slightly), and passed them down the line and poured them over their frozen Han that was laying on the driveway in front of the last person in line. The first team to release Han won."

Blueberry Pigs

Blueberry pigs are a new creation I discovered yesterday, when I made them as Alyssa's birthday cake. Originally they are a blueberry filled pie crust rolled up. My version is slightly different, not as messy, but just as good.

Start with some pie-crust dough. You can make it, or to be quick and easy I just bought it. Spread the dough to be approximately 1/8 inch thick. Cut into circles the size of a standard ceral bowl. For extra goodness spread nutella all over the circle leaving a 1 inch border. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of blueberries (or any berries) in the center of the circle and sprinkle with sugar. Sliver up some butter and put a few on top of the berries. Fold circle in half to make a mini-pie. Slit x3 on top and seal edge with a fork press. Bake at 350 until brown approx. 30 minutes. Serve cold or hot with whip cream or vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!

Note: Remember that blueberries swell, so to avoid bursting don't over fill. Remember Violet in Willy Wonka??