Asian Egg Drop Soup

I actually feel embarrassed at how simple this is to make and that I've paid a few dollars for a bowl here and there. Stupid American! Now I'll just make it at home! The girls even love "eggie soup" and I've decided now to only make double-batches. (Wonder if I could can this...?)

Egg Drop Soup

4 cups chicken broth

1/8 tsp ground ginger (I left this out cuz I don't love it)

2 TBS sesame oil

2 TBS chives or green onions

1 1/2 TBS cornstarch

3 eggs (more or less to your liking)

Throw in everything except the cornstarch and eggs to a large soup pot.

Take out about 1 cup of broth. Stir in the cornstarch to the cool broth. Set aside.

Heat up the broth to boiling.

Crack the eggs in a soup or cereal bowl and mix them around - or you could just slowly dump them in while stirring the broth. The eggs will fully cook since the broth is boiling.

Last, add in the cornstarch thickened cup of broth.

Shazam. Now, pay me $3.95 and I'll give you a fortune cookie!

Mexican Rice

I worked in a mexican restaurant when I was 15 and loved the rice they made. I have tried to make yummy side dish rice since, but it never turns out. And RiceARoni just doesn't cut it. This recipe is just about perfect!!

Mexican Rice

1 cup uncooked rice

1 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 cup chopped onion (or 1TBS dry onion)

1/2 cup tomato sauce

2 cups chicken broth

Stir it all together. Boil. Reduce to simmer and wait 20-25 minutes until your rice is done. (I also like adding lentils!)

Easy Lemon Bars

I've never been a fan of lemon bars, but I had some extra lemon juice and decided to whip up a batch. Pretty simple. Pretty delicious. Empty pan. Bummer!

Easy Lemon Bars For the crust:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour Mix it up and smoosh it in a 9x13 pan. (Can use 9x9, but bars will need to bake longer!) Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes until it's starting to brown. To make the filling:

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups white sugar 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 2/3 cup lemon juice Mix this up and pour it over the partially baked crust. Bake an additional 20 minutes or so. Let cool completely before trying to dig in or it gets messy (but still delicious!)

Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini Brownies

I know it sounds weird, but I've made these several times and no one guesses that there is zucchini in these... If you're skeptical, it's worth a shot for all the extra zucchini at this time of year!

2 cups shredded zucchini (frozen from last year works too!)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg (eggs make these more cake-ish, so if you want fudge brownies, leave out the eggs - they still turn out fine)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 cups flour (wheat flour works great)

1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips - optional

Combine all ingredients. Grease a 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 mins.

Frosting

6 TBS cocoa powder

1/4 cup melted margarine

2 cups powdered sugar

1 TBS milk (use more or less for desired consistency)

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine and spread over cooled brownies. SUPER YUM!

Oat & Jam Bars

I found this recipe on AllRecipes.com and thought it was so easy and yummy. I just had to share!

Oat & Jam Bars

1 cake mix, yellow or white

2 1/2 cups oats

3/4 cup margarine

Mix that in a bowl until clumpy and sticky.

Take about 1/2 of the mix and press it into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.

1 1/2 cups of jam - strawberry, raspberry, whatever

1 TBS lemon juice or water

Mix that together until smooth. Spread evenly ontop of the pressed in layer.

Use the rest of the cake mix to sprinkle/crumble the top.

Oven at 375 - 15-20 minutes...............How quick is that??

And it uses food storage oats and can be adapted for anyone's taste!! YAY!

(Chloe even "helped" stir - aka eat the crumbles - while I spread the jam.)

Pancake & Waffle Mix

Bulk Style!

8 cups flour (white, wheat, oat, or a combo)
1 1/2 cups powdered milk
1 cup sugar
2 tsp salt
2 TBS baking powder

Optional add in's:
1/2 cup egg powder
1/2 cup honey powder
1/4 cup butter powder


Pancakes: 1 cup mix + 1/2 cup water
Waffles: Same, but add 1 TBS oil

Chicken Gravy Mix

Bulk Style!!

2 cups powdered milk
2 cups chicken bouillon powder
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter powder (if you have it)
1 tsp garlic powder
2 TBS onion powder
1 tsp black pepper

To make gravy: 1/2 cup dry mix + 1 cup water

Brown Gravy Mix

Bulk Style!

2 cups flour
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup beef bouillon
1 cup cornstarch
1 TBS garlic powder
4 TBS onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup butter powder (if you have it, helps make it creamy)


To make it: 3 TBS mix + 1 1/2 cups of water = gravy

Onion Soup Mix

Bulk Style!

2 cups onion flakes
1 cup beef bouillon powder
1/2 cup onion powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup butter powder (if you have it, this makes it creamy and yummy)

To use:
5 TBS mix = 1 package onion soup

Waffles

Found a great "food storage" recipe for waffles online. Thought I'd share.

In large bowl, mix:
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1/3 cup oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 TBS baking powder
3 TBS brown sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour




Mix until well combined. Pour batter into waffle maker (or on griddle for pancakes) and cook until well browned.

1 Packet of Onion Soup Mix

I hate spending money on packets of onion soup mix. So I found a recipe to make my own!!

2 1/2 tablespoons dried onion 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon onion powder Store in airtight container. This makes one envelope of soup mix.

Blueberry Oat Scones

Misty the little tree hugger, found this cool site weelicious.com and it's got some pretty fun recipes for kids. I tried this one and it was pretty good. I'd even make it again.

Blueberry Oat Scones (Makes 10 ice cream scooper sized scones)‬

2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Quick Oats (I used regular oats)
4 Tbsp Sugar
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Butter (I used margarine)
3/4 Cup Buttermilk (3/4 cup milk plus 1 tsp vinegar, microwave for 1 min=buttermilk)
1 Egg
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Blueberries (I used freeze dried blueberries and just put them in the buttermilk to hydrate)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the first 5 ingredients until combined.
3. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, rub the butter into the flour/oat mixture until is resembles coarse meal.
4. Whisk the buttermilk, egg and vanilla in a separate bowl.
5. Pour the buttermilk mixture over the flour/oat mixture and using a fork, stir until combined.
6. Stir in the blueberries until just combined.
7. Scoop out about 2 tbsp of the batter per scone onto a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet (I like using an ice cream scooper for this.)
8. Bake for 20 minutes.
9. Serve.

Hot Cocoa Mix

If you're a hot cocoa princess like me, and only like the expensive stuff, you can try this mix.


4 cups powdered milk
4 cups powdered sugar (less if desired)
3 cups Nesquik powder
2 cups powdered creamer
2/3 cup Nestle Cocoa Powder
1 tsp salt


Mix dry ingredients in HUGE bowl.
Add 1/3 cup mix to 1 cup hot water.

Easy Pizza Sauce

This goes very well with the pizza dough recipe. Then all you need is cheese and some toppings.


1 can (15oz) tomato sauce
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 tablespoon oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika



In medium bowl, mix all ingredients together. Makes enough for 2 pizzas. Freezes well for later use too!

EZ Pizza Crust

I've made "from scratch" pizzas a few times at home and this recipe is super quick and tastes great!

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (.25 oz) package dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)

Combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water.

Spread out on a large pizza pan. Top as desired.

Bake at 375 degrees C (190 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I got this recipe from my mom's 1970's Betty Crocker book. I've used it so often because it's easy and YUMMY!

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup butter flavored shortening
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt


1. Mix sugars, peanut butter, shortening, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.

2. Heat oven to 375ºF.

3. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten in crisscross pattern with fork dipped into sugar.

4. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Rachie's Salsa

Super easy.

1/2 small white onion
6 roma tomatoes
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 - 8oz can tomato sauce or paste
1 lime, juiced
cumin
garlic
salt
hot sauce (we like Pico Pica)


In food processor or blender, pulse onions until finely chopped.
Add tomatoes, cilantro, tomato sauce, lime juice and pulse again.
Add seasonings to taste.
Put in fridge overnight to let flavors blend.

Kierston's Cookie Dough Smash Balls

Our favorite "Special K" made these and brought them into Dispatch. After telling her they were not cooked, I decided they were still good, and worth putting on here. Enjoy!

2 cups Bisquick

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

Mix it up. Roll into balls. Roll around in sugar to cover.

Press with fork.

Bake 3 minutes. (I'd bake them longer though...)

Left Over Rice.. Rice Pudding!!

This is so easy and so yummy! I made it the other day because I had tons of left over rice from a dinner I had made. Here is the recipe, I hope you like it! We just added Cinnamon and my family loved it. No raisins or nuts were added. Add what you would like.. Good Luck!

2 cups cooked rice (brown or white)

about 3 cups milk

1/2 cup splenda or sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup raisins or fruit of choice..I used Regular and golden raisins

Spices to taste ...like cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice..etc

Walnuts for a crunch if you like

All add ingredients to the cooked rice except the spices and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes and then cook until most of the milk is absorbed. Once you get to your desired consistency, add your spices. Add the nuts if you want. Serve hot or cold! 

Enchilada Casserole

QUESTION: Why is Enchilada Casserole better than enchiladas?
ANSWER: 1 - Because you don't have to try and roll them without the tortillas falling apart on you (who hasn't this happened to),
2 - Because you can really fill up the pan with the layering. No wasted space equals lots of food!
3 - Because they tasts JUST AS GOOD AS THE REAL THING! :)

Enchilada Casserole

1 (1.5 ounce) package dry enchilada sauce mix
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 (16 ounce) can black beans

1 (12 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2.In a medium bowl, mix the dry enchilada sauce according to package directions, replacing tomato sauce with the tomato paste and water
3.In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with garlic salt and onion powder; drain fat. Mix tomatoes, beans and 1/2 cup of the prepared enchilada sauce with the meat.
4.Dip enough corn tortillas to cover the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish in the remaining enchilada sauce. Arrange tortillas in the dish. Spoon in half of the meat mixture, covering the tortillas. Spread half of the Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses over the meat. Cover with another layer tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Spoon in remaining meat mixture and top with a final layer of tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce. Pour any remaining sauce over the layers and top with remaining cheese.
5.Cover and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

This stuff TOTALLY hits the spot!