Cranberry Bread

(from the book "Cranberry Thanksgiving")

2 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 c. margarine

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp orange peel, grated

3/4 c. orange juice

1 1/2 c. raisins or craisins

1 1/2 c. fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add egg, orange peel, juice; stir until evenly moist. Fold in raisins and cranberries. Spoon into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 10 min (may cook sooner, check it after 50 min.) Cool on rack.

Indian Chapati bread

I claim no expertise in making this bread and the picture may prove it  (I didn't bother to puff this batch: see step 7) - but my family loves it and it's a quick last-minute addition to a curry meal. Also a great way to involve my kids in contributing something simple and fun to the meal.

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup (more or less) water

To Prepare:

1. Spray skillet with oil and heat to medium high.

2. In medium bowl, mix flour and salt.

2. Make well in the center of the flour and pour in the water.

3. Mix with clean hands and knead into workable consistency.

4. Break off golf ball size pieces of dough, roll into a ball, dust with flour and flatten with hand.

5. With rolling pin, roll into thin circle and place onto skillet.

6. Cook on one side until bubbles appear, then turn and cook 1 or 2 minutes longer.

7. Optional step for me: to puff chapati, hold it with tongs over an open flame on a gas burner. If you don't have a gas stove, use a paper towel to push down on the edges of the chapati while cooking. Brush cooked chapati with butter or oil.

Peanut Butter Pie

(Tracy Belt's family favorite)

1 8-inch graham cracker pie crust

1 small box chocolate pudding (prepared for pie directions)

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 c. powdered sugar

8 oz whipped topping

Mix peanut butter and powdered sugar together with fork or pastry blender. Onced mixed, spread half of mixture into crust.

Prepare pudding and pour over peanut butter mixture. 

Spread second half of peanut butter mixture on top of pudding.

Refrigerate for one hour. 

Spread whipped topping on top.

This posting is long overdue! This is yummy stuff. I actually OD'd on it so beware. 

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Have you noticed I like to cook soupy things? Mmmm, the nutmeg makes this recipe awesome! This one is inspired by a recipe from Here.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup melted butter

1/4 cup flour

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken stock or bouillon

1/2 pound fresh broccoli

1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

8 ounces grated sharp cheddar

To Prepare:

1. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.

2. Stir constantly and slowly add the milk in stages, maintaining creaminess.

3. Add the chicken stock in stages, whisking all the time.

4. Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20 minutes.

5. Add salt and pepper. Use hand blender to puree.

6. Add the grated cheese; stir until well blended.

7. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.

Curried Sweet Potato Soup

Curried Sweet Potato Soup

2 tbsp canola oil
1 med onion
coarse salt
1 med sweet potato, peeled, cut into 1 inch chunks
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1 large garlic clove, chopped
1 tbsp curry powder
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 c. red lentils

There are two ways to make this recipe (that I have tried):
Option 1--
In small saucepan, boil 3 1/2 c. water.

Meanwhile, in large saucepan, warm oil over high heat. Add onion and pinch of salt. Saute, stirring occasionally.

Add sweet potato, ginger, garlic, curry, bay leaf and saute 1 minute. Pour in boiling water and stir in lentils. Reduce the heat to med low, cover, and simmer until lentils break down and potatoes are tender, 18 to 20 minutes. Season with salt.

Option 2--Saute all veggies in oil. Pour veggies and remaining ingredients into crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Option 3?--Next time I am going to try pouring it all into the crockpot without the saute step and see how it turns out.

Potato Pandemonium

This recipe is from a cookbook that the Sproats put out (I think for Christmas?) one year. I love two recipes from it. This is one of them:

6-8 potatoes, chopped
3-4 carrots, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
2 1/2 c. water
4 chicken bouillon cubes
2 c. milk with 2 T flour
2-3 c. grated cheese

Put all ingredients but milk, flour, and cheese in crockpot. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Mash to consistency of watery mashed potatoes. Add milk mixed with flour and simmer for another 30 minutes. Add cheese and cook until melted.

Junglelaya

Junglelaya

(Dave's version of Jambalaya)

3 large green bell peppers*

2 large sweet onions*

1 bunch celery*

2 cans diced tomatoes

2 cans tomato sauce

1 lb. andouille sausage, sliced on the bias

1 lb. chicken, cubed

1 lb. shrimp

1 lb. scallops

4 c. uncooked long-grain rice

6 c. chicken broth

2 c. water

salt

black pepper

paprika

thyme

oregano

basil

bay leaves

garlic powder

cayenne

the trinity*

Chop the trinity into medium sized chunks and saute in oil or butter over medium-high heat until the onions become translucent and the peppers begin to darken. Add the sausage and chicken and cook for a minute or two. Add the seasonings while the meat is cooking. The amount you add is according to your taste. Reduce heat to medium and add tomatoes and sauce. Let this cook for about ten minutes. Add broth and water and bring to a boil. Add rice and let simmer for about 15 minutes. Add seafood and cook for another 5 minutes. Serves a bunch of people. Mmm, mmm, tasty.

We were visiting family in Lincoln, Nebraska this past week and so requested that my bro-in-law, Dave, make Jambalaya. He's a good-old boy from Georgia and he knows what Jambalaya should taste like. This is very good stuff. The above recipe includes quite the array of meat and seafood. Its great even if you minus a few (I prefer it without sausage).

Uncle Dave says, "Eatyurjunglelaya!