I have developed into a pretty good cook. Granted, baking is not my strongest point, but I got a great lesson in humility this weekend. Isn't it funny how the Lord keeps us humble.
I decided to whip up a batch of chewy oatmeal cookies. I have tried this recipe and it is great! I followed directions such as keeping wet and dry ingredients separate, etc. and everything else. They were in the oven, smelling wonderful when I took a peek.....instead of drops of cookies, the dough was spread out all over the pan, there was no bulk, it was watery and flat. Reviewing the recipe in my mind, I just couldn't figure out what I had done wrong until it hit me like a ton of bricks (or oats), I didn't add the oatmeal...DUH! So, I will post this great cookie recipe soon, just don't forget the oatmeal!!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sweet and Spicy Pork Roast
This recipe is for a pork roast I have made several times. I could not find the printed recipe for it so I'm not able to give exact amounts. This is made with a spice rub and there is room for lots of experiments with it.
Ingredients:
Pork Roast - pork loin or any kind of pork roast
Spices:
1 tsp of each - garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, chili powder
Dash of salt and pepper
Dash or up to 1/2 tsp red cayenne pepper
1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar
Mix spices together in small bowl. Place roast in pan lined with foil. Press spice mixture into meat covering completely top side. Cover with foil and bake slowly in 325 oven according to chart on roast. You may bake uncovered for the last 15 minutes to brown.
This has a delicious sweet, spicy flavor and be cooking covered and slowly, is very tender.
Ingredients:
Pork Roast - pork loin or any kind of pork roast
Spices:
1 tsp of each - garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, chili powder
Dash of salt and pepper
Dash or up to 1/2 tsp red cayenne pepper
1/4 to 1/2 cup brown sugar
Mix spices together in small bowl. Place roast in pan lined with foil. Press spice mixture into meat covering completely top side. Cover with foil and bake slowly in 325 oven according to chart on roast. You may bake uncovered for the last 15 minutes to brown.
This has a delicious sweet, spicy flavor and be cooking covered and slowly, is very tender.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Light and Fluffy Cheesecake
I am so excited about this recipe! I made it yesterday and left for church while it was setting. DH (dear husband)got home before me and had a piece. He later asked "where did you get the cheesecake? Like I had bought it! That was a huge compliment for me. This is so easy and delicious!
Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese - softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 & 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust
Mix cream cheese and sugar in bowl with beaters on medium speed until well blended.
In another bowl, whip heavy whipping cream with vanilla until fluffy. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Spoon mixture into crust and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Top with any fruit or pie filling if desired.
Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese - softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 & 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 (9 inch) graham cracker crust
Mix cream cheese and sugar in bowl with beaters on medium speed until well blended.
In another bowl, whip heavy whipping cream with vanilla until fluffy. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Spoon mixture into crust and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight. Top with any fruit or pie filling if desired.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Seven Layer Casserole - Man's Meal
1 and ½ cups rice
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
salt and pepper
2 cans of 8 ounce tomato sauce
¾ cup of water
½ cup of chopped onion
½ cup of chopped green bell pepper (optional)
1 and ½ pound ground beef
package of bacon
Preparation and Cooking
1. In a basic 9 * 13 pan or cooking dish add 1 and ½ cups of uncooked long grain white rice
2. Add 1 drained can (normal size) of whole kernel corn and spread out on top of rice
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
4. Pour over 1 can (8 ounce) of tomato sauce and spread over corn with the back of a spoon
5. Evenly distribute ½ cup of water on top of tomato sauce
6. Add ½ cup of finely chopped onion
7. Add 1 and ½ pounds ground beef on top. It should look like a huge hamburger patty on top of everything. Make the patty about ½ inch thick. You may want to use more ground beef. (You can season the meat if you like)
8. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
9. Pour over 2nd can (8 ounce) of tomato sauce and spread evenly over ground beef
10. Add ½ cup of chopped green bell pepper and spread over ground beef (optional)
11. Evenly distribute ¼ cup of water over entire dish
12. Cover entire casserole with as many strips of bacon as you desire (1 layer is fine)
Cover the pan with tin foil and place in oven which should be preheated at 350 degrees. Bake for 1 hour. Remove tin foil and cook an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven (depending on how fatty the ground beef you use is you may want to dump out the excess grease). Let cool for 10-15 minutes and enjoy. I like to put hot sauce and ketchup on mine but it is wonderful all by itself as well. It is very quick and easy to prepare. The hard part is waiting for it to cook.
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
salt and pepper
2 cans of 8 ounce tomato sauce
¾ cup of water
½ cup of chopped onion
½ cup of chopped green bell pepper (optional)
1 and ½ pound ground beef
package of bacon
Preparation and Cooking
1. In a basic 9 * 13 pan or cooking dish add 1 and ½ cups of uncooked long grain white rice
2. Add 1 drained can (normal size) of whole kernel corn and spread out on top of rice
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
4. Pour over 1 can (8 ounce) of tomato sauce and spread over corn with the back of a spoon
5. Evenly distribute ½ cup of water on top of tomato sauce
6. Add ½ cup of finely chopped onion
7. Add 1 and ½ pounds ground beef on top. It should look like a huge hamburger patty on top of everything. Make the patty about ½ inch thick. You may want to use more ground beef. (You can season the meat if you like)
8. Sprinkle with salt and pepper
9. Pour over 2nd can (8 ounce) of tomato sauce and spread evenly over ground beef
10. Add ½ cup of chopped green bell pepper and spread over ground beef (optional)
11. Evenly distribute ¼ cup of water over entire dish
12. Cover entire casserole with as many strips of bacon as you desire (1 layer is fine)
Cover the pan with tin foil and place in oven which should be preheated at 350 degrees. Bake for 1 hour. Remove tin foil and cook an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven (depending on how fatty the ground beef you use is you may want to dump out the excess grease). Let cool for 10-15 minutes and enjoy. I like to put hot sauce and ketchup on mine but it is wonderful all by itself as well. It is very quick and easy to prepare. The hard part is waiting for it to cook.
Parmesian Ranch Pork Chops
One or two packs of pork chops - boneless chops work better
Dale's steak seaoning marinade (you can use this to marinade anything)
Shake and Bake Parmesian/Ranch seasoning mix
Marinate pork chops in Dales for a few hours or overnight in a ziplock bag.
Drain marinade and dip pork chops in Shake and Bake seasoning.
Place on foil lined baking pan.
Bake per directions on Shake and Bake box or until golden brown and crispy.
Dale's steak seaoning marinade (you can use this to marinade anything)
Shake and Bake Parmesian/Ranch seasoning mix
Marinate pork chops in Dales for a few hours or overnight in a ziplock bag.
Drain marinade and dip pork chops in Shake and Bake seasoning.
Place on foil lined baking pan.
Bake per directions on Shake and Bake box or until golden brown and crispy.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Marble Cheesecake Squares
I LOVE Cheesecake! I found this recipe today, haven't tried it yet, but it looks easy and tasty.
1 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons margarine or butter melted
2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
1 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 ounce semisweet chocolate
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Place crumbs in a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray; drizzle with margarine. Toss with a fork until moist. Press into bottom of pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
Place cheeses in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until smooth. Add sugar and flour; beat well. Add vanilla, eggs; beat until well blended. Pour cheese mixture into prepared pan.
Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high 1 1/2 minutes or until soft, stirring after 45 seconds (chocolate should not completely melt). Stir until smooth. Drop melted chocolate onto cheese mixture to form 9 mounds. Swirl chocolate into batter using the tip of a knife. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes or until almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.
1 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons margarine or butter melted
2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
1 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1 ounce semisweet chocolate
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Place crumbs in a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray; drizzle with margarine. Toss with a fork until moist. Press into bottom of pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
Place cheeses in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until smooth. Add sugar and flour; beat well. Add vanilla, eggs; beat until well blended. Pour cheese mixture into prepared pan.
Place chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high 1 1/2 minutes or until soft, stirring after 45 seconds (chocolate should not completely melt). Stir until smooth. Drop melted chocolate onto cheese mixture to form 9 mounds. Swirl chocolate into batter using the tip of a knife. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes or until almost set. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill at least 4 hours.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Walnut Pear Muffins
Fresh pears are in season in my area and my uncle has a tree loaded with them! That is why I may seem to be on a "pear kick". In an attempt to use the pears up, I did an internet search for pear muffins and came across this one. It is the best muffin I have ever tasted! Hope you enjoy the recipe.
1 & 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 & 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon groung ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium pear, peeled and chopped finely
1 egg
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping Mixture
3 to 4 Tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
3 to 4 Tablespoons brown sugar
Place first 6 ingredients into a large bowl. Stir in chopped pear. Whisk together in a separate bowl egg, yogurt, vanilla and oil. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined - do not over mix. Fill greased muffin pans about 2/3 full. Mix topping ingredients together. Sprinkle topping mixture over each muffin. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 350 until lightly browned.
1 & 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
2 & 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon groung ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium pear, peeled and chopped finely
1 egg
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping Mixture
3 to 4 Tablespoons finely chopped walnuts
3 to 4 Tablespoons brown sugar
Place first 6 ingredients into a large bowl. Stir in chopped pear. Whisk together in a separate bowl egg, yogurt, vanilla and oil. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined - do not over mix. Fill greased muffin pans about 2/3 full. Mix topping ingredients together. Sprinkle topping mixture over each muffin. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 350 until lightly browned.
Pear Crisp
I have tried for years to make a good cobbler/crisp with no good results...until now! A dear kitchen saint at church gave me this recipe and it is fantastic.
Fresh pears 3 or 4
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 stick melted butter
Cook pears in medium size pot with 1/2 cup sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. Cook about 7 minutes, until still firm, but not hard.
In a mixing bowl combine sugar, flour and melted butter until crumbly. You can add some spice - cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice to this if desired.
Place pears in a 13x9 baking pan and spoon/sprinkle topping evenly over them. Bake at 350 until brown - about 30-45 minutes.
Fresh pears 3 or 4
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 stick melted butter
Cook pears in medium size pot with 1/2 cup sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. Cook about 7 minutes, until still firm, but not hard.
In a mixing bowl combine sugar, flour and melted butter until crumbly. You can add some spice - cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice to this if desired.
Place pears in a 13x9 baking pan and spoon/sprinkle topping evenly over them. Bake at 350 until brown - about 30-45 minutes.
Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions with Pasta
1 or 2 packages (depending on family size) of sweet Italian Sausage sliced thin
1 med onion
1 green bell pepper
5 cloves garlic (adjust according to your taste)
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
Italian Seasoning
Brown sausage, onion, pepper and garlic in pan. Add spaghetti sauce and italian seasoning to your taste. Simmer 30 minutes
Boil one box of pasta (I used ziti) in salted water until tender. Drain and add shredded parmesian cheese and Italian seasoning. You can use a combination or basil, oregano or parsely or buy Italian seasoning.
Serve the sausage dish on top of the pasta for a delicious and filling meal.
Family Meal At Church
Last night we had the monthly Family Meal at church. For my family's contribution I made Italian Sausage with peppers and onions, pasta side dish, ceasar salad and a fantastic chocholate cake found at Jenna's Fare
Recipes will follow
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Joyfully Cooking
Blogging is new to me and I am loving it! My first blog is www.joybright.blogspot.com and is filled with adventures within my home and family, plus a bit of Biblical devotion which blesses me and in turn I would like to share to be a blessing to you. This blog is dedicated to cooking and serving meals joyfully. We all have to cook...food that is prepared and served with love can create a warm and inviting atmoshpere in your home. I hope that this blog will encourage others to bring joy into their kitchens, home and family.
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