Raspberry Cheese Blintzes

Crepes:

1 1/2 c. flour

2 c. milk

2 T. butter, melted

3 T. granulated sugar

2 eggs

1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

butter (for pan)

Filling:

1 c. cottage cheese

1 c. soft farmer cheese or softened cream cheese

1/4 c. powdered sugar

1/4 t. vanilla

Topping:

Whipped Cream

Raspberry Jam

Raspberries

Powdered Sugar

Blend all the crepe ingredients (except the butter for the pan) in a large bowl or mixer. Blend just until smooth. The batter will be very thin.

Combine the filling ingredients in a med. bowl and mix by hand.

Preheat a frying pan over med. heat. When the pan is hot, add about 1/2 t. butter.

When the butter has melted, pour 1/3 c. batter into the pan. Swirl the batter so that it covers the entire bottom of the pan. Cook until golden brown on one side. Flip the crepe and lightly brown on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the batter and stack the finished crepes on top of each other to keep them warm.

Heat the cheese filling in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until it's hot.

Spread 2-3 T. of cheese filling on each crepe. Then spread desired amount of raspberry jam on top. Roll up like a burrito (So all the good stuff won't fall out). Sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Add whip cream, fresh raspberries and drizzle raspberry jam on top. Enjoy!

Addi wanted to cook breakfast this morning. We found this recipe in one our cookbooks, and added our own little twist. My kids expected them to be sweet, like a dessert, but it's not. It was still good though.

Peanut Butter Stir-Fry

1/2 lb. chicken or beef, thinly sliced (We just cut up chicken into large cubes).
1/2 tsp. curry powder
1 T. oil
1 T. water
1 bag stir fry vegetables
1/2 c. sauce

Cook chicken and vegetables in oil (Mike used Grape seed oil), curry and water, add the sauce.

SAUCE
(We doubled the sauce recipe, but you don't have to...we like things SAUCY!)
2 T. creamy peanut butter
2 T. vinegar
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. red pepper or to taste

Mix all ingredients together well and add to stir fry.

Mike made this for dinner tonight. I must say it was delicious! I'm just bummed I didn't take a picture. Mike served with rice, although I've seen this dish served with noodles.

*Sams club has a WONDERFUL bag of frozen stir fry vegetables in the frozen food section for a great price. We only used a half of a bag.

Fruit Pizza

12" pizza pan
1 pkg. refrigerator sugar cookie dough (or make your favorite sugar cookie dough recipe)
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/3 c. pineapple juice or milk (I like to use the pineapple juice)
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. favorite preserves or jam (Peach, Raspberry, Strawberry etc.)

Several fresh or canned fruits of your choice (strawberries, kiwi's, mandarin oranges, blueberries, etc.)

Spray pizza pan with pam. Cover pizza pan with sugar cookie dough. Bake according to package directions or sugar cookie dough recipe. Cool. Whip softened cream cheese, pineapple juice or milk and powdered sugar together and spread on cookie crust. Arrange fruit in circles according to your taste. Drizzle preserves or jam over the top. Chill. Enjoy!

This is a wonderfully refreshing summer dish. My advice...DON'T let the cookie dough get too thick. A nice thin crust is good.

Bakin' Bacon

Line a cookie sheet with raised edges with tin foil. (This will save a lot of future clean up.) Lay strips of bacon on cookie sheet. Pre-heat oven to 425. Bake 15 to 20 minutes (time will depend if you like your bacon soft or crunchy). No need to flip bacon. No splatters in the oven. Easy!

I found my new favorite way to cook bacon! I just can't bring myself to cooking it in a skillet over the stove again!!! Did I mention EASY clean up?

Snickers Trifle Treat

Recipe Club Theme: Favorite BBQ Dish

Submitted By: Keri Bodkin

Layer Twice:

Brownie Chunks (pre-made brownies)

Chocolate Pudding (pre-made according to pkg. directions)

Dry roasted peanuts

Caramel Bits

Whipped Cream

Snickers Chunks

Caramel and Hershey Chocolate Drizzle

Peanut Butter No Bakers

Recipe Club Theme: Favorite BBQ Dish

Submitted By: Kasey Roberts

1 c. white sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. white corn syrup

Mix and cook over low heat until dissolved. Add :

1 1/3 c. peanut butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

until all mixed together. Then add:

5 c. rice crispies

Drop on waxed paper.

Bowtie Salad

Recipe Club Theme: Favorite BBQ Dish

Submitted By: Cindy Brown

1 pkg. bow tie pasta, cooked

1 can chunk pineapple

1 can mandarin oranges

1 c. chopped celery

1 c. cashews

1 pkg. craisins

2-3 green onions, chopped

1 c. halved grapes

1 16 oz. bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing

1 c. mayonnaise

Mix dressing and mayo. Set aside. Mix all other ingredients together. Add 2/3 of dressing mixture. Refrigerate until chilled. Before serving add the rest of the dressing mixture.

*Add chicken to make it a meal.

Restaurant-Style Potato Salad

Recipe Club Theme: Favorite BBQ Dish

Submitted By: Karla Christiansen

2 pounds russet potatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
4 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
4 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons chopped white onion
2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced celery
1 teaspoon minced pimento
1/2 teaspoon shredded carrot (Karla didn't add the carrot)
1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
salt to taste

1-Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop.

2-In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, sugar, onion, mustard, vinegar, celery, pimentos, carrot, parsley, pepper and salt. Mix well, chill and serve.

Oven Omelet

6 eggs

1/2 c. milk

1 c. shredded cheese

1/4 c. sliced fresh mushrooms

1/4. c. chopped onion

1/4 c. diced green pepper

1/4 c. chopped tomatoes

chopped bacon and sausage to taste
salt and pepper

Whip eggs and milk together. Add in rest of ingredients. Spray dish with pam. Pour into round casserole dish or pie dish. Cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes (we actually cooked ours for closer to 30-35 minutes).

My casserole dish has a spot for two different dishes. My son wanted a plain cheese and egg omelet. So we did half garden omelet, and half cheese omelet. I loved cooking this in the oven. Quick and easy!

Homemade Root Beer

4 gallons water
4 1/2 lbs. sugar
1 bottle root beer extract
5 lbs. dry ice

Add cold water to the 4 gallon mark. Next add sugar and root beer extract. Stir with a long handled spoon. Add dry ice. Let stand 30-40 minutes. Add regular ice to make it cold. This will make a full 5 gallon jug.

My favorite part of the homemade root beer is when you let the root beer sit for a few hours or over night, and all the dry ice falls to the bottom and ends up making a slush at the bottom of the jug. Yummy!

Refreshing Lemon Punch

This is a wonderfully refreshing drink. It has just the right amount of lemon and sugar. It makes a great drink for baby or wedding showers!!!

4 Quarts (1 gallon) COLD water
2 c. sugar
1 T. lemon extract
1 T. citric acid (VERY hard to find. We found ours in a health food store. Although I've heard many say they found it at a local pharmacy or home brewing store. It cost about $8 a lb. but it goes a long way).
Sliced lemons
Ice

Mix the first four ingredients together. Stir well. Add ice and sliced lemons. Enjoy!

We especially enjoy this drink on warm sunny days!

Crockpot Bean Dip

16 oz. refried beans
1 c. salsa
2 c. shredded cheese
1 c. sour cream
32 oz. cream cheese, cubed (yes...that's 4 c.)
1 T. chili powder

Put in crockpot & heat on high for 2 hours.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

1 slice Havarti cheese
1 slice mozzarella cheese
1 slice Danish fontina cheese
1/2 Tbsp. butter , softened (for best results, use high-quality butter)
Honey from a squeeze bear bottle
1 tsp. fresh basil , chopped
2 slices tomato
2 slices bread (organic multigrain bread works best)

Sauté pan large enough for 2 slices of bread
Butter bread on one side with melted butter. Place in pan, butter side down, over medium-low heat. Place mozzarella on one half of the bread and fontina and Havarti on the other. Cook until golden on bottom and cheese begins to melt. Place tomato on mozzarella side and honey on fotina/Havarti side. Place under broiler for a few minutes to heat up tomato. Sprinkle basil and assemble sandwich.

I was watching Oprah the other night, and the show was a sandwich quest and cook off. I saw this sandwich and just HAD to try it.

Mike's Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Meatballs
2 lbs. ground beef (or moose, elk etc.)
1 c. rolled oats
2 eggs slightly beaten
2/3 c. onion finely chopped
1 1/4 t. salt
1 1/2 t. worcestershire sauce
2/3 c. milk
a few grains of pepper

Combine all ingredients, mix well. Form into balls. Place in casserole dish in a single layer. Bake at 350 until brown.

Sauce
In saucepan...
1 c. pineapple juice
3 T. corn starch
1 T. soy sauce
2 1/2 T. vinegar
6 T. water
1/2 c. brown sugar

Cook until thick, stir constantly. Pour over browned meatballs. Put 1 can pineapple chunks and 1/2 c. sliced green peppers on top. Heat thoroughly at 350 degrees and serve.

Great Served with rice!

Mike made these wonderful meatballs for dinner the other night. We all thought they were fantastic!

Buttermilk Bran Muffins

1/2 c. Raisin Bran

2 1/2 c. flour

2 1/2 t. baking soda

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter or margarine

1 c. warm water

2 large eggs

2 c. buttermilk (or 2 cups milk with 2 Tbls. vinegar, let stand for 5 minutes)

Combine raisin bran, flour, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut in butter. Set aside.

In another bowl, combine warm water, eggs and buttermilk; mixing well. Add all at once to dry ingredients; stirring only until dry ingredients are well moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven. Let cool completely on wire rack.

Makes 2 dozen muffins

My kids and I LOVE these muffins. I think they are better if muffin mix sits in the refrigerator for a few days. It's nice to have something on hand to make a quick breakfast.

Fresh Onion Dip

1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
about 1/4 onion chopped fine (you can add more if you are a REAL onion lover)

Add all the ingredients into a kitchen aid (or other mixer) and mix on med until well blended.

This has become a family favorite. We LOVE to eat the dip with the plain or crinkled lays potato chips. Yum Yum! Don't forget to buy some breath mints!!!

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 Tbls. beaten egg (see Notes, below)
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup corn syrup
3 Tbls. grated Romano cheese
2 Tbls. dry, unflavored pectin (see Notes, below)
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. dried parsley
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pinch red pepper flakes

-Pour the vinegar, lemon juice, and egg into a blender; blend for 10 seconds, then allow to rest for 10 minutes.
-Add remaining ingredients to blender and blend on low speed for 30 seconds.
-Chill at least 1 hour before serving, the longer the better.

Notes:
*Mixing the raw egg with vinegar and lemon juice will kill any Salmonella present.

*Pectin can be found in most supermarkets near the Jell-O® or with the Mason® jars (they use it to make Jam's and Jellies)

I used to have a recipe that tasted like the real thing, but I haven't been able to find it in years. So this is the next closest recipe we have. If you use the dressing right after it's made, it doesn't taste quite right. It has a sweet taste. But if you make this the night before it's A LOT better. Worth the wait if you ask me!

Oven Baked Corn On The Cob

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove husks and silks from the corn. Spread butter, salt and pepper over the corn. Wrap the corn in tinfoil. Place them on a rack in your oven and cook for about a half hour (it may need a little longer, test by cutting a small section off the corn, and if it's not tender, leave it in until it's done. You can also put a jelly roll type of pan underneath the corn just in case butter starts to escape through the tinfoil.

You can also put these tinfoil wrapped corn on the grill for about 10-15 minutes, turning every two or three minutes or so until done.

Why wouldn't you just boil the corn you ask? I've found on many occasions I've run out of my large cooking pans during cooking a big meal, and I have to cook the corn either before or after the meal has cooked. So if you want everything to come out at about the same time, this is a good way to do it.

Erika's Strawberry BananaTrifle

1 yellow (or white) cake mix (pre-made according to directions on pkg)
2 pkg. vanilla pudding (pre-made according to directions on pkg.)
1 lb. strawberries (sliced)
1 bunch of bananas (sliced)
Homemade strawberry (or raspberry) jam
lrg. Strawberry Jello (pre-made according to directions on pkg.)
Pre-made whip cream or cool whip (I like to use homemade whip cream)

Make all items that are required to be pre-made according to directions on package first. Cut cooled cake, and jello into small bite sized pieces. Place about a quarter of the bite sized cut pieces of cake for the bottom level of the trifle. Next add a quarter or so of the pudding mix (remember you need to save some for the layers). Add the desired amount of jam you'd like to use. Next add about a quarter of the jello. Add desired amount of strawberries and bananas. Add a layer of whip cream. Then repeat the layers starting with the cake and ending with whip cream. Fill the bowl to the top with the various layers!!! Enjoy!

Now I know this is not even close to a REAL authentic English trifle, but it's still really good. If you don't have a trifle bowl, any LARGE clear glass bowl will do. We just usually fill trifle with fruits we have on hand. But Mike specifically asked for a strawberry and banana one for Fathers day. Great choice Mike!

B.L.T.s (with cheese = B.L.T.C)

2 slices bread
1 slice cheese
lettuce
tomato
pre-cooked bacon
salt & pepper
mayo, ranch, mustard, or other desired toppings

Toast the bread. Spread on Mayo and other desired spreads (mustard, ranch). Salt and pepper desired amount. Add lettuce, tomato, cheese, and bacon. Enjoy!!! Yum!

I absolutely LOVE eating these in the summer. Especially when I lived in Utah and had a plethora of fresh home grown tomatoes. Yumm!