Table Talks

White Chicken Chili

2010-09-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

Its been so long since I posted a recipe, I guess the summer months are not my creative cooking months.lol...Well, here in Texas today it reached down into the 70's so it was cool and it called for some warm you up kind of dinner. I threw this together rather quickly but these are my guesses on about how much to use. I hope you enjoy....cook up some yummy cornbread to go with it or some homemade tortilla's. Enjoy!!

White Chicken Chili

5 Tbs of Olive Oil
1/2 of yellow onion, finely chopped
1 can 7oz green chilies
3 Tbs of flour
3 tsp cumin
1 tsp white pepper
2 cans of Navy Beans
12 ounces of Chicken stock
2 1/2 cups of shredded chicken

Optional toppings:
crushed tortilla chips
shredded cheese
sour cream
salsa

In large pot, cook onions with olive oil for about 2-3 minutes till tender. Add chilies, flour and cumin, cook and stir. Add beans, white pepper,chicken broth, and chicken. Simmer for at least 20 minutes. Or if you are like me for several hours. I sometimes will cook the day before and let it sit in refrigerator because it just taste better the next. Garnish with your favorite toppings.

Cheesey Cheddar Hash brown Casserole

2010-06-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

2 lb bag of frozen hash browns (thawed)
1/2 c. butter (melted)
1/2 c. chopped onions
1 can cream of chicken soup
8-10 ounce bag of cheddar cheese
16 oz sour cream

Combine hash browns and butter in large bowl, mix until coated.
In small mixing bowl add, chopped onions, chicken soup, cheese, and sour cream. Mix, then add to hash browns. Place in 9X13 pan (spray cooking spray in pan) Bake at 400 for 1 hour.

ENJOY!!

Yummy Orange Chicken

2010-02-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

If you like Chinese food you gotta try this recipe of Orange Chicken. It is so good. It takes a little bit to prepare it but let me tell you its worth it. Serve with steamed rice and you have a great meal. I found this yummy recipe on this site.

Ingredients:

Chicken
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-1/2” cubes)
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 eggs (beaten)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Peanut Oil (for frying)

Orange Sauce
1 ½ cups water
2 tablespoons orange juice
¼ cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon orange zest (grated)
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon ginger root (minced)
½ teaspoon garlic (minced)
2 tablespoons green onion (chopped)
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken in egg mixture and shake in flour mixture to coat. In large iron skillet pour peanut oil in skillet. Get it real hot and add chicken. Fry until crisp. You could use a deep fryer if you wanted to.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan combine 1 ½ cups water, lemon juice, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Blend well over medium heat for a few minutes. Stir in brown sugar, orange zest, ginger garlic, and onion. Bring to a boil.

Combine 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. Slowly stir cornstarch mixture into sauce until it thickens. Pour sauce over breaded chicken, and if desired add red pepper flakes and garnish with green onions. Enjoy.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

I hope you have a sweet day

A great site on Spices and Herbs

2010-02-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

I just found this great site called Jane Spice. Its all about spices and herbs. It tells you what you can replace with what spice or herb if you are out of one. Like today I didn't have any Rosemary so I just went to her site and found out that I can use Thyme for it. It has a lot of information on spices/herbs what to do, how to do and how long you can keep them. I hope you enjoy this site as much as I do.

Homemade Pizza And Sauce

2010-02-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Luke asked if we could order pizza today and I thought why order when we can make it. So, I said to him lets make our own pizza tonight.

So, that's what we did and I have to say it turned out pretty tasty. When it was all done Luke said look we made our own pizza and we saved money.lol.....I wonder where he has heard that?

Pizza Sauce Ingredients

1 can of tomato paste
2 cloves of garlic
2 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp fresh oregano
2 tsp fresh basil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp pure maple syrup
1/4 cup water

Add all of the ingredients together in small sauce pan-bring to a small boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes. I usually try to make the sauce up ahead of time so it can sit in the fridge over night but if you don't have the chance to do that its good either way.

Pizza Dough Ingredients

1 tsp dry yeast
4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup olive oil

Pour 1 1/2 cups warm water into a bowl. Add yeast to water. In another bowl, combine flour and salt. With mixer on low speed drizzle olive oil into flour mixture.

Stir water/yeast mixture gently and then slowly add to flour/oil mixture until dough forms a ball. Mixing with hands is recommended at this point. Once you have mixed and formed your ball of dough place it in a clean bowl. Drizzle with a small amount of olive oil over top just to coat it. Cover bowl with warm moist towel for about 1 to 2 hours. Set it in a warm area.

When dough is ready, preheat oven to 500. Divide the dough in half. Lightly grease pizza pan with olive oil. Using your hands, stretch one half of the dough out on your pizza pan. Stretch the dough to the desired shape, pressing the dough into the pan with your fingers. This is a thin crust dough pizza.

Now place whatever toppings on top of your pizza. Bake for about 10 minutes. Keep a close on it.

The other half of dough can be used to make another pizza today or tomorrow. You can wrap dough up tightly and place in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Ready to bake. At our house we have to do half with just cheese.

Cooked and ready to eat. Yummy!!

Best Chocolate Cake Around

2010-02-07T15:10:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from PW she uses it as a chocolate sheet cake but i decided to make it this time into a round two layer cake for Joe's moms birthday. You have to try it is the best chocolate cake I've ever made.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
2 sticks buter
4 heaping Tbs. cocoa powder

Icing
1 3/4 sticks butter
4 heaping Tbs cocoa powder
6 Tbs. milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Stir together and set aside.

In another bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and baking soda. Mix with a fork and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the cocoa. Whisk together to combine. Meanwhile,In a small measuring cup measure out 1 cup of water-microwave until boiling.When butter is melted. pour the boiling water in the pan. allow to boil for a moment, then turn off heat. Pour the chocolate mixture into the flour mixture. Stir together for a moment to cool the chocolate, then pour in the egg mixture. Stir together until smooth. Then pour equal amounts into greased 2- 9" round cake pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add the cocoa powder and stir until smooth. Add the milk and vanilla, then add the powdered sugar. Stir together.

When cake is done. Turn cakes over onto cake platter. Stack on on top of each other. Pour Chocolate icing over cake. I had extra icing left over. You can also, make cake in a large sheet pan instead of the round cake pans. Either way its delicious.

Chili

2010-02-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

Its been cold, or just raining dreary weather here so it just seemed right to make up a pot of chili. It was really good. I actually made it then stuck it in the fridge until the next day. Then just heat it up on the stove and serve. I think chili taste better if it sits over night. That's just me. You can cook this up and eat it the same night its great either way.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds of ground beef
1-8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 can pinto beans, drained
1 can dark kidney beans, drained
1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1 can diced chili tomatoes
1 tsp. salt
1/4 cup masa
2 Tbs chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbs cumin
1 tsp oregano
3 cloves of garlic-pressed

In large pot place ground beef and garlic. Cook beef until brown then drain off any fat. Pour in the tomato sauce, and then add the oregano, cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and salt. Stir together well, cover reduce heat to low and simmer for about an hour. Stir occasionally. About 1/2 hour after simmering you may need to add 1/2 cup of water. After an hour, place the masa in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup water and stir together. Pour the masa mixture into the meat mixture. Stir together.

Now add your pinto beans, dark kidney beans, jalapeno, and diced tomatoes. Stir. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve with cornbread. We also like to add shredded cheddar cheese and a tsp of sour cream on top of our individual bowls of chili. Enjoy!!

Skillet Corn Bread

2010-02-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

This is very easy to make and only takes a few seconds to whip up, throw in a skillet and then the oven.

Ingredients
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 Tbs baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp basking soda
1/4 cup shortening
2 Tbs shortening for the skillet

Preheat oven to 450

In large mixing bowl place cornmeal, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Stir, and set aside.

In small mixing bowl place, buttermilk, milk, and egg. Stir together. Then add the baking soda and stir.

Pour milk mixture into cornmeal mixture. Stir with fork until combined. In a separate small bowl melt 1/4 cup of the shortening. Slowly add the melted shortening to the batter, stirring until just combined.

In an iron skillet over high heat melt the 2 Tbs. of shortening. Pour batter into the hot skillet. Cook on stove top for about 1 minute, then remove place in oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until golden brown.

Enjoy!!

Chicken Enchiladas With Sour Cream Sauce

2010-01-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

Ingredients Needed:
* 2-½ cups Cooked, Shredded Chicken
* 2 cups Chicken Broth
* 12 whole Corn Tortillas
* Two-4 Oz Cans Whole Green Chilies, Diced
* 1 tsp Cumin
* 4 0z Cream Cheese
* ½ cup Heavy Cream
* 1/2 cup salsa
* 6 Tbs Butter
* 2 Tbs Flour
* 1 cup Sour Cream
* 2-½ cups Shreddred Cheddar Cheese
* Salt And Pepper, to taste
* Cilantro, Chopped

Preparation Instructions

Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Spray skillet with cooking spray. Fry tortillas for no longer than 20 seconds, just to soften (do not allow to become crisp.) Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 4 Tbs of butter in separate skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken, when chicken is done shred then add half of the green chilies, and 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Stir together. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and stir. Add cream and stir, allowing mixture to bubble and get hot. Add cream cheese and salsa. Turn off heat and set aside.

In a separate large skillet, add 2 Tbs. of butter melt butter and sprinkle in flour. Whisk together and cook over medium heat for one minute. Pour in 1 1/2 cups chicken broth. Whisk together and cook for another minute or two. Stir in the other half of the chilies. Reduce heat, then stir in sour cream. Add 1 1/2 cups grated cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon cumin. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.

To assemble, spoon chicken mixture on top of tortillas, one by one. Top with plenty of cheese and roll up. Place seam side down in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Pour cheese mixture all over the top of the tortillas. Top with extra cheese if you’d like, then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Sprinkle generously with chopped cilantro.

Serve with salsa, if desired.

Chicken Pico Soup

2010-01-03T19:07:00.000-08:00

What do you do with all that Pico De Gallo that you made for the party the night before well, you make soup. At least that's what I thought I would do. Pico doesn't stay fresh very long and I thought it was a shame to have all that yummy pico go to waste so I started out with that in a sauce pan and I ended up with some very taste Chicken Pico Soup.

Ingredients

2 cups Pico De Gallo (Click here for a yummy homemade recipe)
2 cups grilled diced chicken
6 tbs butter (salted)
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 cup heavy cream
1 cup half an half
2 cup sharp cheese (grated)

Preparation

In sauce pan melt butter, then add pico, bring to boil and let simmer. Then add grilled chicken and chicken broth, and I added a little of the juice that was in with the pico de gallo. Let that simmer for about 5 minutes or so. Then transfer to a pot add heavy cream, and half and half. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer then add cheese stir until melted.

Serve with fresh rolls or crusty bread. This soup had so much flavor if you use the recipe here for the pico. Enjoy

Green Bean Casserole{Not Your Normal GB Casserole either}

2009-12-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

I've never liked green bean casserole. I always passed it up at big family functions and at small ones I took it to be polite. So, I know some of you are saying "yuck" but this one is good it doesn't have the mushroom soup in it. If you are like me I don't like mushrooms and I really don't mushroom soup. If that is you to you will want to try this version of GB Casserole. I was told over the holidays by two different people at my house for dinner that they loved it and they never usually take it. Try it you might like it.

Here are some of the ingredients that you will need.

Ingredients:
1-¼ cup Mayonnaise
1/2 yellow onion, Grated
1 1/2 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 teaspoon Ground Mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon Salt
2 cans French Style Green Beans (16 Oz)
1 can Water Chestnuts
1 1/2 cup French Fried Onions

Preparation Instructions:

In a medium-sized bowl, make the sauce by mixing the mayonnaise, onion, cheese, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Set aside. Chop water chestnuts.

In a 9 X 9 baking pan place green beans, then on top of green beans layer the chopped water chestnuts and then ending with the sauce. Top with onions. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

Potato Soup

2009-12-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

I had this great picture of this nice big bowl of soup for you all to see but for some reason it helps if you put your memory card in your camera. So, you will just have to trust me that its a really good soup with lots of chunks in it. Enjoy

Ingredients
5 whole Large Potatoes, Cubed
2 cups of Ham
1/2 White Onion, Chopped
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 half and half
4 Tbs Butter
1 Tbs Oregano
2 cloves of garlic-crushed
Salt/pepper To Taste
1 cup Broccoli, Chopped
2 cup Grated Extra Sharp Cheese

Prep Instructions:

Put potatoes, in a pot and barely cover with water. Cook until just tender. In a separate frying pan on low heat add 2 tbs of butter, cook onions until tender, then add ham to warm. When the potatoes are done don't drain(should only be like a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water in pot when potatoes are done), add ham/onion mix to the large pot. Pour in cream. Add butter,garlic and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add broccoli and simmer until broccoli is tender. Add cheese and stir until melted.

PW's MIL's Christmas Rum Cake

2009-12-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

The perfect way to start Christmas morning with a slice of this. Its moist, its yummy and you know you want to.

The Cake:

* 1 box(es) (about 18 Oz.) Yellow Cake Mix
* 1 package (3.5 Oz.) INSTANT Vanilla Pudding Mix
* 4 whole Eggs
* ½ cups Cold Water
* ½ cups Canola Oil
* ½ cups Rum (dark Or Light Is Fine)
* 1 cup Chopped Pecans
* Brown Sugar (optional)

The Glaze
* 1-½ stick Butter
* ¼ cups Water
* 1-½ cup Sugar
* ¾ cups Rum

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Grease and flour a bundt cake pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. If desired, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar over the nuts.

Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter into pan over nuts. Smooth out ’til the top is even. Bake for 1 hour, or a little less if the pan is black. Do not overbake!

Glaze:

While cake has ten minutes to go, make the glaze.
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Turn off flame and pour in rum. Stir to combine and reheat for 30 seconds.

Remove cake from oven. Immediately drizzle 1/3 of the glaze on the bottom (top) of the cake. Allow to sit for five minutes. Invert the cake onto a serving plate. Prick surface a hundred times with a fork (gently, please.) Slowly drizzle remaining rum glaze all over the top of the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Cool to room temperature before serving to ensure glaze has soaked in.
Eat. Enjoy. And don’t feel guilty. It’s Christmastime!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Monster Cookies

2009-12-21T06:36:00.000-08:00

These are so easy to make and you don't need flour. They are yummy yummy!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 creamy peanut butter
4 1/2 cup Old Fashion Oats
1 cup of chocolate chips
1 cup of M&M's

Preheat oven to 350 Bake time 13 minutes

Add each ingredient in order mixing as you go. Once you get to the chocolate chips and M&M's fold them in with large spoon. Drop by tsp onto lightly greased cookie sheet. Then with a fork gently flatten cookies out just a bit not completely then press 2-3 M&M's on top. Bake and Enjoy!!

Candy Apple Red

2009-12-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Head over to Pioneer Women to win this BEAUTY!!!

Butternut Squash

2009-11-25T22:50:00.000-08:00

Joe HATES squash. I'm serious. I've made it several different ways and he just doesn't like it. Tonight I made it for tomorrow's dinner and yes its another PW's recipe. I couldn't help it,she has some fabulous recipes this year for Thanksgiving. But anyways, when Joe came home tonight. I gave him a spoon full of cranberry sauce to taste because that's one of his favorites then I slide the squash in.lol..He said immediately that is good. I said "do you know what it is"? He respond yes, "its like Squash Fluff".lol.....So if you don't like squash this is a must try. Don't squash it you might like it.lol...Ok its way too late. Happy Thanksgiving!! Have a great day!

Ingredients

* 1 whole Butternut Squash
* 2 Tablespoons (to 4 Tablespoons) Maple Syrup
* ½ sticks Butter
* 1 dash(es) Salt

Preparation Instructions

Start by slicing one butternut squash clean in half. Scrape out the seed and membranes with a spoon. Place both halves, face down, on a baking sheet and pour a little water into the pan, about a cup. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until the squash is fork tender. Remove from the oven.

Cut ½ stick of butter into pieces and throw into a mixing bowl. With a spoon, begin scraping out the flesh of the squash from the skin and place in the bowl on top of the butter. Don’t miss a scrap of it!

Add 2 to 4 tablespoons of pure maple syrup. With a potato masher, mash the squash until the large chunks are gone. Add a dash of salt. Place this mixture into your blender or food processor and give it a whir until it’s pureed.

Fresh Cranberries

2009-11-25T22:41:00.000-08:00

Well, PW's recipes have really sucked me in this year for Thanksgiving. I usually make fresh cranberries but its very simple with a little sugar, a bit water. etc. PW goes all out and adds real maple syrup and cranberry juice to hers. Its to die for. I NEVER eat the cranberries at Thanksgiving time but this year I'm EATING them. I tasted just tidbit of them tonight and let me tell you "Make Them"!!

Ingredients

* 3 Tablespoons Orange Juice
* 1 cup Pure Maple Syrup (not Pancake Syrup!)
* 1 bag Cranberries
* 1 cup Cranberry Juice (or Orange, Apple Or Any Other Juice Combination)

Preparation Instructions

Wash bag of cranberries under cool water, then dump into a medium saucepan.

Pour in 1 cup of cranberry juice (or whatever juice you choose).

Pour in 1 cup maple syrup.

Add orange juice (you could also do orange zest, lemon zest, lemon juice – anything citrusy).

Stir together and turn heat on high until it reaches a boil.

Once it comes to a rolling boil, turn the heat down to medium low and continue cooking over lower heat for about 10 minutes, or until the juice is thick. Turn off the heat.

Cornbread Stuffing

2009-11-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to taste a bit of this stuffing tomorrow. As I posted earlier in the week, I always make cranberry/pecan stuffing. Well this year I ventured over to PW's kitchen and found a cornbread stuffing recipe that I thought I would give a try. I started it tonight. I baked the cornbread and cut up the french bread its drying as we speak. So tomorrow I get to mix all of this wonderful bread up into some yummy stuffing. Now Joe isn't too happy about this stuffing but I keep telling him you will love it. He isn't really crazy about cornbread but I know he will like it.lol.. Well her is the recipe and don't forget its not mine its PW's.

Ingredients

* 1 whole Pan Of Cornbread (I Use My Cornbread Recipe)
* 1 loaf French Bread, Somewhat Crusty
* 1 stick Butter
* 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
* 2 cups Celery, Chopped
* 4 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
* ¼ cups Fresh Parsley, Chopped
* ½ teaspoons Dried Basil
* 2 teaspoons (to 3 Teaspoons) Fresh Rosemary, Chopped
* ½ teaspoons Thyme
* Salt To Taste

Preparation Instructions

Chop the cornbread and loaf of French bread up into 1-inch cubes. Spread them out on two baking sheets and let them dry for approximately 24 hours.

Warm up a large skillet over medium heat and add one stick of butter. When it’s melted add the onion and celery and cook for a few minutes until onions are almost translucent. While it’s cooking chop up any fresh herbs you will be using.

Add 4 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add ½ a teaspoon of basil, ½ teaspoon of ground thyme, a few teaspoons of fresh chopped rosemary and ¼ cup of chopped fresh parsley. Stir until combined.

Place all of your dried bread cubes into a large bowl and mix them up a bit. Gradually ladle the broth mixture into the bread, tossing lightly as you go. Keep gradually adding the broth mixture, tasting as you go and adding more seasoning and herbs if needed. Add salt carefully. You don’t want to over salt your stuffing. If the mixture is not quite moist enough add a bit more chicken broth and stir.

Either stuff the bird and bake according to directions or place in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

This year beside family we are having friends over too. We're excited to have family and friends to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in our new house. So, whats cookin in our house.

Turkey
Gravy
Cornbread Stuffing
Butternut Squash
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Fresh Cranberries
Chocolate Pie

These are the things that I will be cooking and some other things that will be arriving at our house on Thursday will be: green bean casserole, rolls, and pumpkin pie. I'll be back later to post links to some of my recipes for what will be cookin in the Hamper House. Have a great Thanksgving!!! God Bless and Be Thankful!!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

2009-11-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

It was such a chilly day out today I decided to make some soup. I don't ever remember trying to make my own soup totally from scratch but it turned out really good. Rebecca and I were talking about Broccoli Cheese soup last night and it just sounded so good. If you try it I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients
1 head of broccoli cut into 1"inch pieces
3 cans of chicken broth-32 ounces
4 tablespoons of real butter
2-3 green onions
1 tsp of black pepper
1 clove fresh garlic (pressed)
1 dash Cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup half/half

In large pot bring to boil chicken broth, add broccoli. Boil until broccoli is tender. Once broccoli is done pour this mixture into large bowl. Set aside. Then in the large pot that you just used melt butter, then add chopped green onions. Brown onions/until tender. Add pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Then add flour stir for about 1 minute. Then add broccoli mixture back into pot. Whisk together quickly to dissolve any clumps. Bring to boil, will thicken. Take off heat. With hand mixer, blend to desired texture. Return pot to heat, add cheese and half/half. Mix together. Serve.

Award Winning Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

2009-11-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

This is another must have at Thanksgiving time in our house. Sweet Potato Pecan Pie. You must try it. Well, you don't have to because I don't eat it either but my family loves it. Enjoy!

Filling Ingredients
1 (9") unbaked pie shell
1 lb Sweet Potatoes, cooked and peeled (about 2 medium)
3 1/2 tablespoons of real butter
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

Topping Ingredients
1 egg
3 tablespoons dark corn syrup
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoons real butter
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
1 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl beat hot sweet potatoes with butter until smooth. Add remaining pie ingredients. Mix well. pour into pie shell. Bake for about 30 minutes. Until pie is set.

Mix topping ingredients together. Once pie has set remove from oven. Pour pecan topping evenly over top of pie. Bake for another 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. I always test the middle by placing a toothpick in, if it comes out clean its done. Enjoy. Refrigerate leftovers.

Crockpot Apple Crisp

2009-11-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

Yummy apple crisp that you just have to try.

6 cups Granny Smith Apples (or 6 Medium-sized Apples)
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons Ground Nutmeg
1/2 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
3/4 cups Brown Sugar
1/2 cups White Sugar
1/4 cups All-purpose Flour
1/2 cups Cold Butter, Cut Into Cubes
1/2 cups Chopped Pecans
1/4 cups Chocolate chips

Preparation Instructions

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Peel apples and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices. In a large bowl, mix apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice to coat. Place in the slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, mix oats, brown sugar, white sugar, flour and butter with a pastry blender or fork until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the apples. Top with chocolate chips

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Serve apple crisp with ice cream.

Cherry-Pecan Stuffing

2009-11-05T16:58:00.000-08:00

This is a must in our house for Thanksgiving dinner. It goes great with chicken as well. The other day I decided that I would make it and let everyone have the recipe just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Stay tune in the next few days for a yummy sweet potato pie recipe. In the next few weeks here I'm going to try to share all my yummy Thanksgiving dishes for you. Enjoy

Cherry-Pecan Stuffing

Ingredients
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup butter
3 tbs. chicken broth
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. paprika
3/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 tsp pepper
6 cups soft bread cubes
1-1/2 cups sliced celery
1 cup dried cherries
3/4 cups chopped pecans
1 cup chicken broth

In a medium skillet, cook onion in butter till tender but not brown. Stir in broth, salt, paprika, thyme, and pepper. Transfer the ingredients to a large bowl. Add bread cubes(I just take wheat bread and cut into cubes), celery, cherries, and pecans, toss to mix well. Drizzle with the chicken broth, toss. Put in 9X13 pan bake at 350 for about 35 to 40 minutes or until crispy on top. At Thanksgiving time I stuff the turkey with it then bake remaining stuffing.

Blackberry French Toast

2009-11-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

I made this last week for my MOPS group. It turned out so good, and I wanted to share it with you. I just don't have a picture to show you how wonderful it looks, but believe me and a few other ladies it was GREAT!!

1 cup blackberry jam
1 loaf of french bread loaf, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 ounces of fresh blackberries
1 package (8 ounces) of cream cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 medium eggs
2 cups of half and half
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Take small saucepan and pour blackberry jam and fresh blackberries in pot. Cook over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes until jam is melted and fresh berries start to separate.

Place half of the bread cubes in bottom of 9X9 square baker pan that is lightly sprayed with cooking oil. Top with cream cheese cubes just spread them all over the top of the bread. Drizzle jam sauce over top of the bread. Top with remaining bread cubes. Whisk together eggs and next 3 ingredients. Pour over bread mixture. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Cover tightly, and chill for about 8 to 10 hours.

Next morning, preheat oven to 350. Bake covered, for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until bread is golden brown and mixture is set. Take out of oven drizzle with maple syrup. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Homemade Chicken N' Dumplings With Mashed Potatoes

2009-10-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Homemade Chicken n Dumplings
3-4 cooked boneless chicken breast
3 cans of chicken broth
2 cups Flour
1/4 tsp of poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 TBS butter
1 pinch salt
1 cup milk

Preparation Instructions

Boil chicken breast in separate pot, add salt pepper, and garlic salt. Just a dash of each. Add enough water to cover chicken breast. Bring to a boil cook until chicken is no longer pink in middle. Cut chicken into small chunks and set aside. Save about 3-4 cups of chicken water.

In a bowl, combine the flour, poultry seasoning, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry blender. Stir in the milk, mixing with a fork until the dough forms a ball.

Heavily flour a work surface. You’ll need a rolling pin and a pizza cutter to cut the dumplings with.

Roll the dough out thin with a heavily floured rolling pin. Dip your cutter in flour and cut the dumplings in squares about 2″x2″. It’s okay for them not to be exact. Some will be different sizes and shapes, that is ok.

Use a floured spatula to put them on a heavily floured plate. Just keep flouring between the layers of dumplings. Or if you don't want to roll them out just drop by fork into boiling broth. To cook them, bring the broth to a boil. Add 3-4 cups of the chicken water that you set aside earlier to broth. Bring to bowl. Drop the dumplings in one at a time, stirring while you add them. The extra flour on them will help thicken the broth. Cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they are not doughy tasting. Add the cooked chicken to the pot and you’re done!

Yummy Mashed Potatoes

3-4 large baking potatoes
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1 egg white
1/2 stick of butter-real butter
1/2 cup of half and half cream
salt and pepper to taste

Peel potatoes, cut in cubes. Place potatoes and lemon juice in enough water to cover potatoes. Bring to boil until potatoes are tender. Drain. Place back into pot. Add egg white, butter, and half/half cream. Mix with mixture until smooth and creamy. Add more or less cream to reach your desired consistency.

Serve Chicken N' Dumplings with a side of Mashed Potatoes and Corn. Very delicious meal. Go ahead have seconds I did.

Salsa Chicken Crockpot

2009-10-17T20:18:00.001-07:00

Well, its getting that time of the season to drag out your crock pot. So, I've been told. I don't normally cook in my crock pot. If I do its a roast or brisket. But a friend of mine asked for some crock pot recipes so I had to help her out. This was such an easy recipe and it made me wonder why I don't cook more often in my crock pot. You pull it out add all the ingredients, and your done. It cooks for hours and you have this perfectly yummy dinner that took no time at all.

Ingredients
3-4 boneless breast of chicken
1 1/2 cups of salsa
1/4 cup cilantro
1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can of corn (drained)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp of mexican chili powder
dash of salt

Place chicken in crock pot, then layer on rest of ingredients. Cook for approx. 6-7 hours. Chicken will fall apart when you pick it up. You can serve on rice, or on tortillas. I tried rice noodles and it was just ok. I then tried it with the tortillas and it was great, I topped it with shredded cheese and sour cream. Very yummy!!!

Salsa Chicken with Rice Noodles

Salsa Chicken on Tortilla's topped with cheese and sour cream.

Mmmmm....... Fish Taco's

2009-10-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

I love fish taco's never had them until I made them. I don't think people back in Michigan eat them. I've never seen or heard of them until I moved to Texas. But they're yummy!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp Mexican chili powder
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp cilantro
6 catfish fillets
1 tsp salt
1/4tsp pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
8-fajita-size corn tortillas

Combine flour, chili powder, cumin, and coriander in bowl, set aside.
Cut catfish into bit size pieces. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss fish into flour mixture, shaking off excess. Heat large pan with olive oil on medium-high. Cook catfish for about 3 minutes.

In another small frying pan, spray with cooking oil, and cook each tortilla. I do a small frying pan that only holds one and just spray a small amount of cooking oil in each time. Cook each side for about 30-40 seconds or until warm.

Once catfish is done place in tortillas with desired toppings. This goes great with my salsa that I posted a while back, crumbled fresco cheese, fresh cilantro and sour cream. Enjoy!!

Grilled Tilapia

2009-10-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

First of all I have to say this doesn't look like the yummiest dish because I had to go and make my family eat healthy last night. It was very good Tilapia along with the sweet potato but we could of went with out the acorn squash. So, here is the recipe for the grilled tilapia.

Ingredients
4-5 fillets of tilapia
2 Tbs olive oil
4 cloves garlic
2 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 cups fresh chopped cilantro
1/4 cups lemon juice
1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp cumin

Crush garlic in bowl, add cilantro, lemon juice, olive oil, peppers, and cumin. Mix together. Set bowl aside. Lay out to piece of aluminum foil, put 1 Tbs of olive oil on each piece of foil and spread the oil around. Lay 2-3 pieces of fish on each piece of foil. Grind salt over top of fish, then drizzle ingredients of bowl over top of fish. Grill for 5-8 minutes on medium high. Very yummy you could serve it with pretty much anything rice, potato's or pasta.

Even though my picture doesn't look that inviting to your stomach try it was very light, flaky and flavorful. Enjoy

Pasta Teriyaki Chicken

2009-09-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had this wonderful dish for dinner. It was so yummy. It will be one that I will make again for my family. The sauce is very light and simple. The chicken was juicy, tender and very flavorful. The vegetables where very crisp. Enjoy!!

Ingredients
4 large boneless chicken breast
1 cup Soy Sauce
1 cup Canola Oil
2 teaspoons Ground Ginger
3/4 cups Sugar
3 cloves of fresh Garlic

Mix soy sauce, canola oil, ginger, sugar, and crushed garlic in mixing bowl. Whisk together. Place chicken breast in Ziploc bag and add sauce. Marinate for 1 hour. If you don't have that much time 30 minutes will do. Place chicken on grill, when you turn chicken over bast chicken with teriyaki sauce. Once chicken is done. Cut chicken in strips and set aside.

Ingredients
1 pkg (8oz.) of Chinese Egg Noodles (you can use angel hair pasta as well)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons pure sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon hot chile oil
5 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons hot water
1 bunch of green onions-chopped
1 large red pepper
1 large green pepper
1 pkg shiitake mushrooms
1/2 large white onion
1 pkg pea pods

In small mixing bowl, add soy sauce, sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, hot chile oil, canola oil, and hot water. Whisk together, and set aside sesame sauce. (sesame sauce recipe is from PW's blog with a few adjustments from me)

In large pot bowl water, and add noodles cook for 5 minutes or what package states.

In large skillet add 4 tablespoons of canola oil, and 3 tablespoons of sesame oil. Heat oil. Slice, red pepper, green pepper, shiitake mushrooms, and large onion. Add vegetables to skillet, toss until heavily coated with oil. Cook until tender and crisp. Do not over cook.

In large bowl add cooked noodles, vegetables, and sesame sauce. Toss until coated. Serve noodles on plate, add chicken. Garnish with green onions. Enjoy!!

It's all in the chip

2009-09-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love chocolate chip cookies? Well, we do and as long as you have the right chocolate chips you got delicious cookies. You have to have Hershey milk chocolate chips!! I mean it don't buy anything else, go to the store and by HERSHEY MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS!! I hope you enjoy these cookies I know my boys do.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup salted butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 bags of HERSHEY milk chocolate chips (yes, a bag and an half you will thank me later)
Yield: 3 1/2 dozens

Preheat oven to 300
In medium bowl combine flour, soda and salt. Mix well with whisk. Set bowl aside.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer blend sugars at medium speed. Add butter and mix to form a grainy paste, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and vanilla extract, and mix at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the flour mixture and blend at low speed until just mixed. Add chocolate chips, and blend well with spatula.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Goes great with a glass of milk!! Enjoy one or two or three!!

Pasta Bolognese

2009-09-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had this tasty Italian dish. It looks like spaghetti but it taste so much better, pasta bolognese. I served it over thin spaghetti noodles because that is what I had but I think it would be fabulous with egg noodles. Try it your stomach will thank you. My stomach did but if I keep eating these yummy dishes I'm sure I will never shed these pounds.
Buon appetito!

Bolognese Sauce
1 large carrot, grated
1/2 of a large red onion, diced
1/3 cup olive oil
2 pounds ground beef
2 tablespoons Oregano leaves
2 tablespoons basil leaves
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup red wine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire
salt
pepper
3 14-ounce cans whole tomatoes
1 cup milk
1/3 cup heavy cream
Fresh Parmesan cheese

Grate large carrot, and chop purple onion. Heat large pot, pour olive oil in, then carrots and onion. Cook until tender. Set aside. Place hamburger in pan, brown until done. Mix carrots and onions back in. Add oregano, and basil. Stir until blended. Add tomato paste, and crushed garlic. Stir until blended again. Push mixture so there is a well in middle of pot, then add wine to center of pot, then add Worcestershire. Stir until blended. Add whole tomatoes, stir. Add milk and heavy cream. Simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with your favorite pasta and grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!!

bolognese sauce

pasta served with the bolognese sauce

Tres Leches Cake

2009-09-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

This is a delicious recipe that I found on PW's blog. I tried it out the other night. It is very light, airy, fluffy-its a must try!!

Tres Leches Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

5 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup milk

1 can evaporated milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup heavy cream

Frosting
1 pint heavy cream, for whipping
5 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray 9 x 13 inch pan very well-heavily coated.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside
Separate eggs.
Beat egg yolks with 3/4 cup sugar on high speed until yolks are pale yellow. Stir in milk and vanilla.
Pour egg yolk mixture over flour mixture and stir very gently until combined.

In separate bowl beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. With mixer on, pour in 1/4 cup sugar and beat until egg whites are stiff but not dry.
Fold egg white mixture into other mixture very gently until just combined.
Pour into prepared pan and spread to even out surface.
Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Turn cake out onto a rimmed platter and allow to cool.

Combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, and 1/2 cup heavy cream in a small pitcher.
When cake is cool, pierce the surface with a fork several times.
Slowly drizzle all but about 1 cup of the milk mixture—try to get as much around the edges of the cake as you can.
Allow the cake to absorb the milk mixture for 30 minutes.
Whip 1 pint heavy cream with 5 tablespoons of sugar until thick and spreadable.
Spread over the surface of the cake.

Yummy Chicken Quesadillas

2009-09-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I made these wonderful quesadillas. I served them with pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. They are so easy to make and really don't take any time at all. I fixed these quesadillas for a group of ladies that are at my MOPS table this year. We had a great time getting to know each other and eating this yummy little dinner. Now go try it out and let me know what you think.

Chicken Quesadillas

10-12 Flour tortillas
2-3 boneless chicken breast
8 ounces Mexican Tomato sauce (salsa de chile fresco)
1 large onion
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese-grated
1 cup of Sharp Cheddar cheese-grated
2 tablespoons olive oil

Cut chicken into small cubes. Pour red sauce over chicken. Set aside.
Chop onion, and peppers into large slices. Heat frying pan over high heat and add olive oil. Cook vegetables over high heat until they start to get brown/black. Remove from pan and set aside.
Return pan to high heat, then dump in the chicken with the sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is done. Mix chicken and vegetables together. Grate cheeses.

In a separate small frying pan, heat butter. Place a tortilla in the pan, then layer on cheese, vegetables, and chicken. Top with a little more cheese and a second tortilla. Flip tortilla and add another small amount of butter so the tortilla isn't dry.

Remove from pan and slice into wedges. Serve with sour cream pico de gallo, guacamole. Enjoy!!

SALSA

2009-09-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

Today, is my first post for Table Talk, its taken me a while to design the site. I'm sure there will be changes as I go but this is the start.

I will start with a very simple but yummy recipe. I make this salsa weekly for my family. I hope you like it!! Enjoy!

Salsa
10-12 roma tomatoes
1 jalapeno
bunch of cilantro
1/2 white onion
1 clove garlic

Warm up your grill outside, place tomatoes, jalapeno, onion, garlic on grill. Cook until moderately blackened on outside. Take off grill. Place grilled ingredients in blender, then add a handful of cilantro, and a dash of salt. Blend on high until completely mixed. Pour into bowl, eat while still warm or chill. Enjoy.