Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Peanut Butter Cookies

These weren't bad, they will do in a pinch but I am still looking for the perfect peanut butter cookies



1 ½ C All Purpose Flour
½  tsp Baking Powder
pinch of salt
½  C Butter
¾  C Peanut Butter
1 ½  tsp Vanilla
½  C Brown Sugar
½  C White Sugar
2 medium sized Eggs
extra sugar for rolling

  1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.
  2. Beat together the butter, peanut butter, and vanilla. Mix in sugars, salt, and baking powder.
  3. Gradually mix in the flour, half at a time.
  4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
  5. Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and then roll the balls into sugar. Using a fork, flatten the cookie and make a criss-cross pattern. Bake for 12-13 minutes. Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet after taking them out for about 8 minutes before removing them with a spatula. Cool completely before storing. Enjoy!

Kaleen's Chicken

I may be way behind in the times, but I LOVE the way Kaleen season's her chicken. It is flavorful and really if you do it right, pretty healthy for you too!



Chicken
Butter/Olive Oil (I have used Olive Oil instead of butter and we can't tell the difference)
Garlic Powder
Garlic Salt
Onion Powder
Onion Salt

Place butter/olive oil in your pan let melt/warm up. Your chicken will cook faster if you cut it up, either way though. Place chicken into warm pan, and season to your liking with the spices. If I were to do a Hierarchy of the spices I would say Onion powder, then Garlic Powder, then Onion salt, then Garlic salt. We like garlic here, but not as a main taste, so less is better. Corbyn loves Kaleen's Chicken just plain, but we usually stick it in things (wraps, casseroles, etc)

Monday, May 19, 2014

Butter Tip

Saw this online
If your recipe calls for softened butter and you don't want to wait around for it to soften, you can cut it up on the counter, and it will soften much faster! Yay!


Meatball Tip

When making Mom's Meatballs here are a few tips to make life easier!

1. Make them in bulk and then freeze them

2. Rather than frying them all by hand put them in the oven at 350 and watch them depending on the size of your balls will determine your cook time. I cooked mine for just under a half hour.


Marshmallows!


Who knew you could make your own marshmallows?! To fall asleep I will watch cooking videos, Corbyn was watching with me one night, and we saw a video on making marshmallows, Corbyn really wanted to make them, so as the doting mother I am we made them!

Bloom
2 ½ TBS Gelatin
½ C Water
Boil
Sugar mixture
½ C Water
1/3 C Light Corn Syrup
2 C Sugar
¼ tsp Salt
Add
2 tsp Vanilla 
Coat
½ C Confections Sugar
½ C Cornstarch

The marshmallow fluff is very sticky, so start by lining a 9x13 pan with a foil ‘sling’. Make sure there are 2-3 inches of foil hanging off so that it is easier to release the marshmallows. Spray the foil with non-stick spray. I used olive oil.

1.       “Bloom” 2 ½ TBS of gelatin in ½ C of water. Place the water in your mixer first and then sprinkle the gelatin over the water.  Let it sit at least 15 minutes.
2.    In a Sauce pan combine ½ C water, 1/3 C Corn Syrup, 2 C white (granulated) sugar, and ¼ tsp of salt. ****NOTE**** to avoid crystallization pour Sugar into center of pan and don’t let it hit the sides.
3.    Bring to a boil over M-H heat You can swirl the pan from time to time BUT DON’T STIR!
4.    Bring syrup to 240°
5.    Attach whisk attachment and on low break up your gelatin mixture.
6.     With whisk on low SLOWLY and CAREFULLY pour in the hot syrup mixture, try not to splash.
7.    Gradually turn the speed to high and mix for 10-12 minutes (I set the timer) feel the bowl, when it is almost cool then your marshmallows are ready. Try to make it mix as long as possible. The longer it mixes the more springy your mallows will be.
8.     Toward the end add your vanilla
9.     WORK FAST!!!! Scrap the mallow mixture into your foil pan with a greased spatula. You wont be able to get all of it out so don’t mess with trying to get it all out. The mixture cools very quickly, smooth it as best you can.
10. In a bowl whisk together 1/2 C powder (confectioners) sugar with 1/2 C corn starch, sprinkle 2 TBS of the mixture over the marshmallow (***NOTE: I could have easily used a 1/4 C of each instead of the whole 1/2C)
11. Cover with wrap and let sit over night
12. Dump out marshmallow square, and using a greased knife cut into desired size(s). Then place marshmallows in cornstarch/powder sugar mixture to cover.
13. Tap off excess cornstarch powder in a sifter over the sink. 
14. Place in an airtight container for up to two weeks
15.  ENJOY!!!

The marshmallow fluff is very sticky, so start by lining a 9x13 pan with a foil ‘sling’. Make sure there are 2-3 inches of foil hanging off so that it is easier to release the marshmallows. Spray the foil with non-stick spray. I used olive oil.

1.       “Bloom” 2 ½ TBS of gelatin in ½ of water. Place the water in your mixer first and then sprinkle the gelatin over the water.  Let it sit at least 15 minutes.

2.    In a Sauce pan combine ½ C water, 1/3 C Corn Syrup, 2 C white (granulated sugar), and ¼ tsp of salt. ****NOTE**** to avoid crystallization pour Sugar into center of pan and don’t let it hit the sides.


3.    Bring to a boil over M-H heat You can swirl the pan from time to time BUT DON’T STIR!
4.    Bring syrup to 240°


6.     With whisk on low SLOWLY and CARFULLY pour in the hot syrup mixture, try not to splash.
7.    Gradually turn the speed to high and mix for 10-12 minutes (I set the timer) feel the bowl, when it is almost cool then your marshmallows are ready. Try to make it mix as long as possible. The longer it mixes the more springy your mallows will be.

8.     Toward the end add your vanilla


9.     WORK FAST!!!! Scrap the mallow mixture into your foil pan with a greased spatula. You wont be able to get all of it out so don’t mess with trying to get it all out. The mixture cools very quickly, smooth it as best you can.
10. In a bowl whisk together 1/2 C powder (confectioners) sugar with 1/2 C corn starch, sprinkle 2 TBS of the mixture over the marshmallow (***NOTE: I could have easily used a 1/4 C of each instead of the whole 1/2C)
11. Cover with wrap and let sit over night

12. Dump out marshmallow square, and using a greased knife cut into desired size(s). Then place marshmallows in cornstarch/powder sugar mixture to cover.


13. Tap off excess cornstarch powder in a sifter over the sink. 

14. Place in an airtight container for up to two weeks

15.  ENJOY!!!



Delish!










BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Time: 10 minutes prep + 9 hours cooking
Yield: 6-8 sandwiches
  



1   3 pound pork roast (not frozen)
2 T olive oil
Montreal Steak Seasoning
3-4 C Root Beer ( Dr. Pepper or Coke would work too)
1 1/2 2 C Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce
8 rolls

1. Place your pretty pork roast on a plate. Season it generously with Montreal Steak Seasoning, top and bottom. Pat the seasoning into the roast with your fingers.
2. Into a large hot skillet pour about 2 T olive oil. Place your Pork Roast into the skillet. If you need sprinkle some more Montreal Steak Seasoning on. Sear all sides (seals in juices while it cooks in crockpot).
3. Place your pork roast in the crockpot. Pour root beer over the roast, set your slow cooker on low, and cook for 7 hours.
4. Remove the roast from the pan, shred it all up and place it back in the soda juices. Let it cook for 1 hour more.
5. Drain most of the juices pour the BBQ sauce in. Stir it well to incorporate. Cook for 30-60 more minutes.
Serve on some yummy buns.

Enjoy!


Saturday, April 12, 2014

Cinnamon Bun Waffles


SO EASY & SO GOOD! 
Ingredients:
1 Container of Pillsbury (or any brand) of uncooked Cinnamon Rolls.

Directions:
heat up your waffle iron, when hot place one or two cinnamon rolls on your waffle iron and cook until ready. Top with icing and enjoy! YUM!