Granola

My boys love granola on their yogurt, but they do not like nuts in it. This recipe is excellent, you can add nuts and fruit if you like.

Granola

3 cups oats
3/4 cup sweetened coconut
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/8 cup honey
1/4 cup EVOO

Preheat oven to 250, in a bowl combine oats, coconut, wheat germ, and brown sugar (this is also where you would add 2 cups nuts if desired; 1c slivered almonds & 1 cup cashews) In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, honey, and EVOO, then mix with oat mixture. Pour onto 2 cookie sheets, and bake for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a bowl (at this point mix in any raisins or dried fruit. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Vegetable Soup

I combined my Grandma's recipe with my own, we really love this soup. I like to sprinkle mine with mozzarella, or parmesan cheese. Another topping that's fantastic is to take your favorite croutons sprinkled with cheese and heated in the oven. Several of my friends that I have served this to, have asked for the recipe.

Vegetable Soup

1-2 lb beef stew meat
1 T EVOO
1 tsp minced garlic
1/8 cup minced onion
1 large can V8 juice
2 cans beef broth (14.5)
3 cups of water
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5)
16 oz package frozen mixed vegetables

In soup pan brown stew meat in EVOO along with garlic and onion. Add V8, beef broth, water, diced tomatoes, and vegetables. Cook on medium to low for 3 hours.

Killer Brownies

Have you ever had the killer brownies at West Point Market in Fairlawn? If you haven't you have not lived. This is my version, and let me tell you they disappear quickly.

Killer Brownies

1 bag Kraft caramels
1 can evaporated milk
1 box German Chocolate cake mix with pudding
3/4 cup butter
12 oz chocolate chips
Powdered sugar to sprinkle on top
they have walnuts in theirs, I don't put them in mine, but if you want add 1 cup walnuts

Melt caramels with 1/2 cup of the evap milk and set aside. Mix cake mix with 1/3 cup evap milk, and butter. Butter 9x13 pan. Put half the batter into the pan. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes only. Sprinkle chocolate chips on the top, then the caramel. Don't let the caramel get onto the sides of the pan. Add the rest of the batter by teaspoonfuls, and gently spread. The batter will be stiff, and there will be some areas not quite covered...its ok! Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool overnight, then sprinkle with powdered sugar. It's grueling to wait for them to cool, but worth it.

Taco Salad (For Bert)

I sometimes crave this salad, I have had it at tons of picnics and potlucks. Its easy to make, and I'm sure alot of you have this recipe, but sometimes we all forget about some of our recipes that are tucked away, or forgotten. Last summer we had a taco tailgate party at one of our baseball games, and I brought this. My friend Bert asked if it was a family recipe, or if he could get a copy. He was so funny eating it...he just raved, and everytime I turned around he was going for more.

Taco Salad

1 lb ground beef
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 head of iceberg lettuce chopped
1 head of romaine lettuce chopped
1 package grape tomatoes
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can chili beans in sauce (I use Brookes)
1/2 bag of doritos (nacho cheese flavor-broken into peices
1- 16 oz bottle of kraft catalina salad dressing

Brown meat and add seasoning according to package directions and let cool.
In a large bowl mix beef, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, beans and sauce (do not drain), doritos, and the dressing. Mix altogether and enjoy!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have had so many people tell me that thier chocolate cookies never come out. I came across this recipe not long ago, and they are always perfect! I have given this recipe to friends and family, I am sure they will vouch for me.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup butter flavor crisco
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 T molasses
1  3.5 oz instant french vanilla pudding
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
2   1/8 cups flour
12 oz milk chocolate chips (divided)
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (divided)

Cream together butter, sugar, molasses, and eggs. Add pudding, and baking soda. Mix well, and add flour. Stir in half of milk chocolate chips, and half of semisweet chocolate chips. In a separate bowl mix the remaining chocolate chips together, and save for when the cookies come out of the oven, you sprinkle them on the top, just a few per cookie, and let them cool completely.
Roll the dough into 1  1/2 inch balls, and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
I place my cookies on wire racks, and sprinkle with the remaining mixed chocolate chips. The end up looking very professional, and tasting like heaven.

Crockpot Cube Steak

Getting ready to start dinner, we are having cube steak over mashed potatoes. When I was young and my mom made these, they were always tough (sorry Mom) A few years ago I came across this recipe, and it's fall apart yummy!

Crockpot Cube Steak

4-6 cubesteaks
1 medium onion
2 cups water plus on additional cup for gravy
3 (.87 oz) envelops of gravy; Brown, Onion, and Mushroom

4-6 cube steaks; salt and pepper, and dredge in flour.  Lightly brown in 1 Tablespoon of EVOO. Place in crockpot. Slice one medium onion and place on top of steaks. Add 2 Cups of water, and cook on medium 5-6 hours.
20 minutes prior to serving mix together one envelope of brown gravy, one envelope of onion gravy, one envelope of mushroom gravy, with one cup of water. Pour over meat.
Serve over my garlic mashed potatoes, I previously posted the mashed potato recipe.

Kahlua Cake...I need cake now!

Craving chocolate for no particular reason, I think I will fix myself a white russian and bake this, have another white russian, and eat this while it's still warm.

Kahula Cake

1 devils food cake mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1 cup sour cream
1 cup Kahlua
1 cup chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together, mix well. Pour batter into buttered Bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. When (if any left) cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Dana's Veggie Burgers and my Roasted Yukon and Sweet Potatoes

My friend Dana gave me this recipe last summer, and at first I was a little unsure, I didn't know if the family would like it. Then I threw caution to the wind and made them anyway, and even my pickiest eater loved them. We have them all the time, so my advice is to overlook any crazy thoughts about veggie burgers, and give these a try. You won't be disappointed.

Veggie Burgers

1 lb ground turkey
1 package frozen chopped spinach (thawed, drained, and squeeze dried)
1 envelope of Knorr Vegetable (like what you use in spinach dip)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients together and form into patties. I sometimes do normal size, and other times I will make sliders. I have cooked them on the stove as well as outside. I prefer to cook on the grill (all the cheese... easier clean up) even the aroma as they cook will draw you in...they are fantastic. Grill them up and put on your favorite bun. I like mine with lettuce and mayo, but the boys of course like ketchup.

Roasted Yukon and Sweet Potatoes

2 medium yukon potatoes
2 medium sweet
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1  1/2 tsp fresh rosemary
3 T EVOO

Wash and cut potatoes, sometimes I cube them, sometimes wedges. Mix salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, rosemary, and EVOO together, and toss potatoes to coat. Place on a cookie sheet, and roast for 45-50 minutes at 375 degrees.