Cool Treats to Beat the Heat

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It's going to be unseasonably hot this weekend here so I'm digging through my archives looking for anything to beat the heat! Here's what I found to help us beat the heat: Iced Coffee Homemade Cream Soda Ice Cream in a Bag Strawberry Shakes … [Read more...]

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies

Peanut Butter cookies

I've been in the process of going through my recipe collection and I'm surprised at how many wonderful recipes have fallen by the wayside.  This is one of those recipes.  I'm not too much of a cookie baker.  I just can't seem to get it together enough to make really delicious cookies. But this recipe is an exception -- this recipe is for the cookie inept.   This is pure peanut butter goodness! Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies 5.0 from 1 reviews Print Serves: 2 dozen Ingredients 3/4 cup flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 stick of butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup quick-cooking or regular oats For the filling: 3 Tablespoons butter at room temperature 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 3 Tablespoons heavy cream or half and … [Read more...]

How To Make Homemade Home Fries

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I like to have frozen potatoes in the freezer for a quick side dish or to use in a potato casserole.  Most store bought frozen potato products, however,  contain a chemical to keep the potatoes from going brown.  And the cost of pre-made frozen potatoes is higher than just buying a bag of plain old taters and making them up yourself! I prefer to make "home fries" because I hate shredding potatoes for hash browns.  However, if you want some frozen hash browns, just shred the potatoes instead of dicing them. I know there are "suggestions" out there as to what kind of potato works best for certain recipes. I can never keep track of that so I just use whatever it is I have on hand or find a good deal on.   How To Make Homemade Home Fries Print Ingredients Potatoes Instructions Cook your potatoes. I fill up my Crock Pot to 2/3 full and turn it on high. It usually takes about 2 hours to cook the potatoes (poke holes in them). But you could … [Read more...]

Noodle Kugel

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Noodle kugel is one of those dishes that you've never heard of unless you know someone Jewish.  I'd never heard of kugel until I married my husband.   Even then, it's taken me almost a decade to "get" kugel.  Is it a dessert? A side dish? Is it served hot or cold?  It's all very confusing! Noodle kugel is basically a noodle pudding.  It can be sweet or savory and can be served hot or cold.  I always make it sweet and serve it hot as a dessert.  I've always used my mother-in-law's recipe to make kugel, but this time I wanted to try something different just to compare.  When I read the story about Smitten Kitchen's family kugel, I had to try it out. This is a super yummy kugel on it's own, but I had to add one more touch -- a frosted flakes topping.  My mother-in-law covered her kugel with this topping and it's just divine! Noodle Kugel Print Author: Adapted from Smitten Kitchen Prep time: 30 mins Cook time: 2 hours Total time: 2 hours 30 mins … [Read more...]

Strawberry Shake

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Is there anything better than something (naturally) PINK in a glass? I have had a serious craving for a good strawberry shake lately.  I've tried two different shakes, from two different places,  and neither one had a nice, robust strawberry flavor. The first one was a malt and the malt flavor seriously overpowered the strawberry.  The next treat was a shake, but the strawberry flavor was still weak at best. As I noticed that I had about six pounds of strawberries in the fridge,  I wondered if I could create a decent strawberry shake with some vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, and milk.   Turns out, that's all you need for a delicious strawberry shake.  And if all your ingredients are organic, then you have an all-natural, organic treat. Strawberry Shakes Print Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 5 mins Total time: 10 mins Serves: 2-4 Ingredients 1/2 gallon organic vanilla ice cream 2-4 cups organic milk 1-2 cups organic fresh strawberries, … [Read more...]

Sour Cream Potato Bake

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Have you ever read any of the The Sweet Potato Queens' Books?  A classmate introduced me to them in law school, when I was looking for anything not serious to read, and they are very entertaining!  Well, you can call me the Potato Casserole Queen (only I'm not as funny) because I have a knack for finding really great potato recipes.   A friend of mine told me about this amazing recipe that a mutual friend of ours makes.  I decided I'd try it out on my Passover guests.  I would have eaten some of it myself, except about 15 minutes before we started dinner, I got sick.  Nothing like welcoming your guests and then sprinting for the bathroom!  That would also explain why the only picture I managed to get is one of the casserole before it was baked.  Come to think of it, this story would fit right in with the Sweet Potato Queens....  Anyway, this is a keeper (and thanks, Kim, for sharing the recipe!). Sour Cream Potato Bake Print Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: … [Read more...]

Bananas Foster French Toast

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French toast is a quick and easy breakfast option and this recipe makes for a special breakfast meal.  I've seen a few French toast recipes that call for briefly frying and then baking the toast, which supposedly gives the French toast a less mushy inside and a nice crisp outside.  It works!  The  frying and then baking makes for some terrific toast. Even if you don't want to bother with the bananas foster topping, try the rest of the recipe and bake the toast.  It's amazing! This was a big hit with even the pickiest eaters in our house.  I don't much care for warm bananas and even I liked it. Bananas Foster French Toast Print Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 25 mins Serves: 4-6 Ingredients 4 large eggs 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla A pinch of salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon allspice 12 thick slices of Challah or brioche bread 4 Tablespoons butter 1/4 cup sugar 2 bananas, sliced 1/4 teaspoon … [Read more...]

Chicken Souvlaki

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I can't believe that it has taken me this long to get this recipe posted.  This is hands down our favorite meal! Souvlaki is a Greek dish that is made by marinating meat (usually pork) and then slowly roasting it on a large skewer.  This souvlaki is really easy to make at home and is perfect for guests.  You can make everything ahead and keep it warm (or cool). The first time I made this meal, three years ago, I served it with homemade pitas and homemade tzatiki that I had made with homemade yogurt.   That might be overkill for most people.  Making tzatiki is easy and really, so are pitas, but store bought works, too. This recipe is for just over one pound of chicken, but we always triple it because the leftovers are amazing.   Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatiki Sauce Print Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 45 mins Serves: 2 Ingredients 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken, cut in to 3" strips 1 large onion, cut into … [Read more...]

Nelli and Joe’s Key Lime Pie

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I am not really a fan of key lime pie, but my husband is! So when I ran across this recipe made with Nellie and Joe's Key Lime Juice,  I was intrigued by how easy it was to make.  The only glitch was finding Nellie and Joe's key lime juice.  You'd think I'd just juice my own, but I really wanted to check out this product.  Fast forward a few months and what do I spot on the shelf of the grocery store but Nellie and Joe's -- and it was on sale, a sure sign that I had to try it. I took all the ingredients (all 3 of them) to my mom's house to make the pie.  She remarked that she'd just had the key lime pie at The Palm steakhouse restaurant and they told her it was made with Nellie and Joe's!  It's a small world when it comes to high quality key lime juice, I guess. No tricks here. Just mix, bake and chill. It takes about 20 minutes total and it tastes delicious! Nelli and Joe's Key Lime Pie 4.5 from 2 reviews Print Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 15 mins … [Read more...]

Easy Dinner Rolls

Dinne rolls

This is my favorite dinner roll recipe and I've been making it for years.  The rolls are light and buttery and a perfect addition to any meal. I've tried freezing the rolls and then baking later, but I've never had good luck getting the rolls to rise after they've been frozen. Perfectly Easy Dinner Rolls 5.0 from 1 reviews Print Serves: 24 rolls Ingredients 1 cup warm water 2 packages active dry yeast (2.25 tsps) (not instant) 1/2 cup melted butter 1/2 cup sugar 3 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 4-4 1/2 cups flour Instructions Combine yeast and water in a large bowl. Let rest 5 minutes. Stir in butter, eggs, and salt (let the butter cool or you'll cook the eggs). Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time until dough is too stiff to mix. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or up to 4 DAYS. When ready to bake, grease a 13 x 9 inch pan. Turn dough out on to lightly floured surface. Divide dough in to 24 equal pieces. Roll each piece in to a smooth … [Read more...]