+LET'S SHARE RECIPES AND/OR TIPS FOR COOKING +

Different Ballgame said:

Trick When Baking Cookies
Another trick when baking cookies. Instead of placing cookies on a cookie rack, place them on the brown paper. Get your brown paper bags from the grocery store (not plastic bags). Cut them so they open up totally flat. You want the inside of the bag facing you and the outside of the bag on the table. From the cookie sheet, place the baked cookie on top of the brown paper bag which absorbs some grease from the cookie and leaves the bottom of the cookie...impression free. My mother did this when she baked cookies.

Also if any of you are making french fries from scratch, drain them on the brown paper but first place the brown paper on a cookie sheet. When I got married, I refused to do this and used paper towels. It took me 10 years to finally recognize that my mother was right. The brown paper bag absorbed the grease 100% better than the paper towels.

Lots of Hugs,
Janelle

Great tip Janelle!  I just made homemade french fries last weekend with the steaks that my hubby cooked outside and they were still a lil bit greasy.  I will start using the brown paper bags now. 

Thank you!

desertgirl947 said:

Mini Meatloaves

This is a favorite here at our house -- and when we invite guests to dinner.

1# lean ground beef                              ½ c. chopped onion

1 egg, beaten                                         ½ c. quick oats

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese*           ¾ c. milk

1 tsp. salt                                                       pepper to taste

Topping:       1/3 c. packed brown sugar

                                 2/3 c. ketchup

                                  1 tsp. prepared mustard

==

1.      In a large bowl, beat the egg and milk.

2.      Stir in the cheese, oats, onion, and seasonings

3.      Add in the beef and mix thoroughly.

4.      Scoop approximately ½ c. of meat mixture at a time and shape into a small loaf.

5.      Place in greased 13” x 9” x 2” baking dish.

6.      Spoon the topping over the loaves.

7.      Bake uncovered at 350º for about 45 minutes.

Other notes:

1.      Sometimes I have other shredded cheeses open and use them instead of cheddar cheese.  I have used taco-seasoned cheese or Mexican blend (gives a hint of that flavoring to the meat); I have used a combination of Monterrey Jack/Colby, as well.  Not sure about other kinds, but you can always experiment, if you have some of the harder cheeses around.   If I need to, I grate my own for what I need, if I don’t have packages of already-shredded cheese.

2.     I usually also do baked potatoes.  Since this recipe only bakes for 45 minutes, I usually give my potatoes about a 20-25 minute head start at 450º before I drop the temp back to 350º when the meat goes in.

Desertgirl, you've given us our dinner for tomorrow!  Thank you!

pinkkari09 said:

Super Bowl Cheeseball
I know it's not super bowl time but this can be shaped any way you like.

Super Bowl Party Cheeseball

4oz jar of Old English Cheese Spread
4oz jar of Olive and Pimento Spread
8oz Cream Cheese
Ritz Crackers
Stick Pretzels

Mix all 3 cheeses, chill them in order to make shaping easier
You can roll this in some crushed ritz (crush finely) to make handling and shaping possible.
Shape like a football on a large plate, this is super easy.
Use your stick pretzels to make the laces

This is the best Cheeseball recipe I've ever tried, mm mm good.

Enjoy,
Kari

I was looking for new recipes on this post and found this one from Kari.  It is so sad to know that she has passed on.  I am making her recipe for next week's superbowl party and I will be thinking of her.

Leeza

DianeBC said:

I always loved this thread! Thanks for starting another one!
Cheesy Potato Soup and Ham

10 MEDIUM POTATOES
1 CAN CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP
1/2 LB. VELVEETA CHEESE
2 CUPS DICED HAM
1 CAN CREAM OF CELERY SOUP
16 OZ. SOUR CREAM
2 MEDIUM ONIONS

PEEL AND DICE POTATOES. CHOP ONION, COVER WITH WATER AND SIMMER TILL TENDER. DO NOT DRAIN, ADD SOUPS, SOUR CREAM, VELVEETA CHEESE AND HAM. SIMMER 15 MINUTES.

THIS IS A TRADITION AT OUR HOME AT CHRISTMAS TIME. IT IS VERY GOOD AND VERY RICH! I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY IT!

and guess what I am serving.  Your soup recipe Diane.  I am going to have some sandwiches made up too, but, this should fill them up I hope.  lol

Thanks and I am sure we will all enjoy it!

Jan

Kylez said:

I had a girlfriend out for
I had a girlfriend out for dinner and served this with a green salad and some hard rolls. It was excellent! My hubby even loved it! Thanks!

Ingredients

• 1 pound beef top round steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup medium pearl barley
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1 cup frozen peas

Directions

• In a Dutch oven, brown beef in oil; drain. Stir in the broth, water, barley, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Add the carrots, celery, onion and parsley; cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until meat and vegetables are tender.  Stir in peas and heat thru. 
  

sbmly53 said:

A new one for me -
Saw this someplace last week and tried it. We love it!

Crescent rolls (like Pillsbury -I used store brand)
24 Hershey kisses

Put 3 kisses in each roll, roll up , bake as directed. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Just sweet enough - but only makes 8

Sue

Has anyone made little pizzas with the Pillsbury rolls?  Someone told me they had, but, I don't see it in this thread. 

Anyone know how to do that?

Noel said:

I think this is called

I think this is called Shepherd's Pie.  Sometimes when I make a meatloaf, I put the mashed potatoes on the top of the meatloaf and put it in the oven to really warm up and then I put just sliced American cheese on top of that and let it just barely melt.  You can do this if you make the meatloaf in a muffin pan too.

Loaded Potato and Buffalo Chicken Casserole:

2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, cubed (1")
8-10 medium potatoes, cut in 1/2" cubes
1/3 cup olive oil
1&1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. paprika
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
6 Tbsp. hot sauce

Topping:
2 cups fiesta blend cheese
1 cup crumbled bacon
1 cup diced green onion

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spray a 9X13" baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl mix together the olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and hot sauce. Add the cubed potatoes and stir to coat. Carefully scoop the potatoes into the prepared baking dish, leaving behind as much of the olive oil/hot sauce mixture as possible. Bake the potatoes for 45-50 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until cooked through and crispy and browned on the outside. While the potatoes are cooking, add the cubed chicken to the bowl with the left over olive oil/hot sauce mixture and stir to coat. Once the potatoes are fully cooked, remove from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Top the cooked potatoes with the raw marinated chicken. In a bowl ix together the cheese, bacon and green onion and top the raw chicken with the cheese mixture. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the topping is bubbly delicious.
Serve with extra hot sauce and/or ranch dressing.

jnl said:

OMG I am sooooooooo making

OMG I am sooooooooo making this Kristin.  Is the fiesta cheese like taco cheese though?
 

I am not sure I've seen actual fiesta cheese, but, I've never looked for it either.  lol

Thanks, Leeza

Yes, it is pretty much like taco cheese, so, you can use that Leeza.  You will love this!  We did!

Noel said:

I think this is called

I think this is called Shepherd's Pie.  Sometimes when I make a meatloaf, I put the mashed potatoes on the top of the meatloaf and put it in the oven to really warm up and then I put just sliced American cheese on top of that and let it just barely melt.  You can do this if you make the meatloaf in a muffin pan too.

Use the least fat content ground beef.  Brown in hot skillet, no fat required.  Add onion, cooked carrots, mushrooms, basically any veg you like.  Add low sodium brown gravy or make from scratch from low salt beef broth thicken only with cornstarch not flour.  Cook meat mixture 15 mins or so.  Top with mash potato sprinkle cheese of choice on top and brown under grill

This is the way made back home, original Shepherds Pie was made with Lamb Minced which we don't get here.  Enjoy