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!

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.)

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!

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.

Homemade Brownies

2 sticks margarine

2 cups white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Whisk together dry ingredients. Add in wet ingredients, mix well.

Oven to 350. Spray the pan. 9x13 is minimum size.

35-40 minutes.

I've been looking for a good recipe and these turned out great. You could even omit the brown sugar and just use 3 cups regular white sugar.

The Dip

Megan is a goddess. She brought this dip in once and we've needed it like crack ever since.



2 packets Hidden Valley Ranch - Buttermilk Recipe


1 small jar Best Foods Mayo


1 16oz tub sour cream



Mix it all together and it's ready to go!



It's that easy and so good.

Holiday Toffee

So, April wanted this recipe a while back and I'm just getting around to sharing it. I usually make a TRIPLE batch and use a full sheet pan to cool it in. But this is the recipe for the single batch.

1 Cup sugar
1 Cup butter
3 TBS water
1 tsp vanilla
4 or 5 Hershey bars (or chocolate chips)
chopped nuts (roasted pecans are my fave)

Combine sugar, butter and water in heavy saucepan.
Cook to 300 degrees stirring constantly to prevent burning.
Pull from heat and add vanilla. Stir well.
Once all the bubbles are stirred out, Pour into a buttered 9x9 pan.
Lay the chocolate bars/chips on top and spread evenly as they melt.
While still warm, sprinkle chopped nuts over the top.
Cool thoroughly and break into pieces.



PS - I've made other recipes and the toffee is really hard. This recipe uses water and that adds a nice softness to the candy so you don't visit the dentist for chipped teeth - just cavities.

Carmel Corn

8 Cups popped corn

1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt

In heavy saucepan, combine corn syrup, butter, brown sugar and salt. Stir on medium heat until just boiling. Remove from heat. Pour over popcorn and stir until evenly coated.

Chex Muddy Buddies

Great snack to bring to dispatch - everyone gets a little giggly!

9 Cups Chex Cereal
1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 Cup peanut butter
1/4 Cup margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar


Pour cereal into large bowl, set aside.

In small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and margarine until smooth, stirring often. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until all pieces are evenly coated. Put powdered sugar in large plastic bag; pour cereal into bag. Seal and shake until pieces are well coated.

Holiday Chex Mix

Since I will not be making it this year..... I though I would pass on the recipe

2 Cups Coconut
2 Cups Slivered Almonds
1/2 Large Box Rice Chex
1/2 Large Box Corn Chex
1/2 Large Box Golden Grahams
3 Cubes Butter
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups White Karo Syrup

Boil butter, sugar & Karo, 6-8 min. Pour over dry mixture.

CrockPot Chili Dip

Great for entertaining! Double the recipe for a large group.

1 package cream cheese
2 cans chili (whatever you like)
1 tiny can chopped olives

Combine in crock pot. Stir as cream cheese softens. Serve with chips.