SOUPS...

Anyone have leftover ham as i do..here is 1 of my favorite soups using leftover ham..

Linda's Potato Soup

Put leftover ham pieces and or ham bone in large stock pot , cover with water..heat to boiling then simmer till meat falls off bone, if using a bone also, if not:

 just continue to add lots onion, carrots, about a half cup or a handful of broccoli, fresh or frozen, if you don't like broccoli..don't add..i  like the bits of green color it gives, plus i love broccoli!

I add about 3/4 to 1 cup of chicken base ---  garlic powder ( if i had to guess amount--maybe 2 T) ---  salt and pepper.  ( mine has ton of pepper--you want to taste it)

Dice your potatoes and add to pot. ONce again i do not measure anything, i just add till it is thick with potatoes and thick to stir-- really can't go wrong ( well unless you don't add enough) I probably peeled about 8 to 10 potatoes in the batch made yesterday..

Add 2 bay leaves in pot and continue cooking till everything is tender--i use my masher and give it a few mashes so everything is not all chunks..

When ready add milk--maybe 2 cups..once again i just pour--i tell by color-- and at this point make sure heat is not too high as you do not want your soup to scorch the bottom...burnt milk--no good!  Then i thicken with corstarch and remove bay leaves..taste.. if needs more salt , pepper or garlic...add more and enjoy.

Pineapple Sour Cream Cake

Just another melt in your mouth delicious-ness!!

PINEAPPLE SOUR CREAM CAKE

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 teas salt
1 teas soda
1 teas vanilla
2 eggs
 1 can undrained crushed pineapple

Mix together and pour into greased 9X9 or 9 X 13 ( just a bit thinner is all)

BEFORE  baking in a 350* oven Mix together and sprinkle on top of batter:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup coconut
 BAKE until tests done...

FROSTING:

1/2 CUP BUTTER
1/2 CUP SUGAR ...  Mix this together well  FIRST then add 1 teas vanilla and 1 cup sour cream. Spread on mostly cooled cake...

ENJOY...ENJOY...ENJOY..

JERKY

Yup...def that time...wait...it is always time for jerky...homemade kind anyway!! Here is my recipe..have perfected it over the years...at least I think so..
Here it is:

start with whatever kind of meat...beef or venison even turkey came out good. Get whatever is cheapest that is lean and very little to no marbeling..2 to 4 pounds or more..your choice.. Trim off all fat and slice thin..put in bowl to marinate for 24 hours.
ADD:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon lawrys
2 teas garlic powder
1 teas salt ( or more if you like salty-- I DO!!)
1/2 teas pepper
2 teas liquid smoke ( unless you using your smoker outside with wood chips)

That's it..Marinate 24 hours and lay on your trays in smoker and wait till it is done to your preference. Mine is dry and crunchy!

If you do not have a smoker it works great in a 200-250 degree oven-- just layer on baking sheets and make sure your oven door is cracked a bit

Makes the house smell wonderful as it is drying!!

If you try it , be sure to let me know how you like it...

If you like hot and spicy i add crushed hot peppers that i made awhile back..mmmm good!!

Hushpuppies...

HOT GREASE!!  Brings up delicious thoughts of all kinds of different things...don't it!! Been making egg rolls...taco rolls and ham and cheese rolls and my son reminded me i haven't made hushpuppies in forever..so after the donuts these are on the list!

HUSHPUPPIES
1 CUP CORNMEAL
1/2 CUP FLOUR
3 TEASPOONS BK POWDER
1/2 TSP SALT
1 1/2 TSP SUGAR
1 MED ONION...FINELY CHOPPED OR GRATED
1/2 CUP MILK
2 EGGS

MIX ALL TOGETHER  AND DROP BY SMALL SPOONFULLS INTO HOT OIL...DRAIN...DEVOUR...MMMM

I use small spoonfulls  because if you make them too big they may be doughy in the center and close to burnt on teh outside...

Chocolate Zuchinni Bundt Cake

This is delicious...moist and chocolate chippy goodness!
The last time i made this i put a layer of chocolate glaze on it...delicious!

This recipe belongs to barbarabakes.com where she has many other delicious things to make..

• 2 cups flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sour cream ( i didn't have sour cream so used cherry yogurt)
• 3 cups grated zucchini*
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (can use mini as well)
• 1 cup dried cherries cut in half (or dried cranberries) or raisins maybe some pineapple...your choice!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 half size or a full size bundt pan and set aside.
2. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
3. In large mixing bowl, beat sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until well blended. Add sour cream and beat until well blended.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix just until combine. Mix in zucchini, chocolate chips coated in 2 tablespoons flour, and dried fruit.
5. Divide batter between pans. Bake half size bundts for 35 minutes; full size bundt for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Sometimes i add a glaze to this..not needed..just an extra bonus... Enjoy!

The Best Zuchinni Bread EVER

I thought for sure i had posted this already but i sure couldn't find it anywhere!  I use it for not only zuchinni, but any other kind of bread i want to make.. Delicious!

3 eggs 
1 cup oil
2 cups zuchinni-grated
2 cups sugar
3 cup flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 cup nuts (optional) or raisins or dates or pineapple.....

MIX all together   Bake 350*    45 min- 1 hour

PUFFINS.... Oh YA!!

Puffins--- Pizza muffins...so very delicious, so very easy.  Love the texture, love the taste. They freeze very well and are good...cold, lukewarm or hot and with or without pizza sauce for dipping. My preference is without but whatever bonks your noggin!

Puffins

3/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp bk powder
1/2 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1 teas salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup shredded cheese
1 cup pepperoni - cut in tiny pieces

375*  20 - 25 minutes- pick comes out clean

Mix together...and put 1/4 cup into regular muffin tins ( cupcake tins), should be about less than half full...will make 12.  This recipe doubles greatly.

Can also use any other pizza ingredient you like or add more than one, but keep it to 1 cup of whatever you choose to use.

Take out of pan and cool on racks.

PLAY-DOH ... Much Fun

We always have play-doh around but being kids it often gets dried out after a time. We could go out and buy more but it is so much more fun to make it. I've used different recipes but decided to try the kool-aid version of play-doh. Just did a batch of lime! Came out a pretty green color and a nice smell. Give it a try, easy and fun.

KOOL AID PLAY-DOH

1 CUP FLOUR
1 TABLESPOON OIL
1/4 CUP SALT
1 PACK UNSWEETENED KOOLAID
2 TABLESPOONS CREAM OF TARTAR
1 CUP WATER

MIX FLOUR, SALT,CREAM TARTAR AND KOOLAID IN MED SAUCEPAN.  ADD WATER AND OIL.  STIR OVER MEDIUM HEAT FOR 3-5 MINUTES. WHEN MIXTURE FORMS A BALL IN PAN--REMOVE ONTO A CUTTING BOARD AND KNEAD UNTIL SMOOTH. PUT IN PLASTIC BAG AND REFRIDGERATE.
KEEP IN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER WHEN NOT IN USE.

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Oh my gosh!! Delicious! Easy! Delicious!

I got 12 out of the recipe and i didn't have any applesauce so i made a small batch as I did have apples! It uses applesauce in place of the oil so even better for you!
I got this delicious recipe from:

http://sallysbakingaddiction.com
 and she has alot of yummy recipes there!!

Skinny Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

makes 10 muffins

• 1 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 2/3 cup diced strawberries
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray 10 muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, gently toss the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and applesauce until together until no brown sugar lumps remain – a fork works well to break up the brown sugar here.   Add the beaten egg white until fully incorporated.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry until *just* combined – do not overmix.  Fold in the strawberries and chocolate chips.

Divide the batter evenly between 10 muffin tins.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Muffins will be lightly golden in color and a toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.  Mine took about 17 minutes.  Allow muffins to cool and enjoy!

Muffins stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for 7 days.  Muffins can be frozen.

2013

Well it is days into the wonderful new year of 2013, doesn't seem like we should be this far into the future, but here we are. Just wanted to say "hi" , so hello!!