Giving a Shout Out!

 

I need to give a shout out to my brothers. They are quickly becoming seasoned cooks as well (so now, it's not just the gals in our family who like to cook). They all own smokers and have become pros on how to smoke meat. We have all benefited from their fantastic and delicious smoked meats at a number of family dinners. My brother brought a smoked turkey to our Thanksgiving feast that was to die for! It had such an amazing flavor and it was so moist. They now have a Facebook page and a YouTube channel. I definitely suggest you check them out!

Here is the link to their Pig & Beef Smoked Meat Facebook page.

Here is the link to their Pig & Beef Smoked Meat YouTube channel.

Here is the link to their first YouTube video.

Here is the link to their second YouTube video.

Here is the link to their third YouTube video.

Here is the link to their fourth YouTube video.

Those are the videos they have so far, but there will be many more videos and recipes to follow. I highly suggest you check them out...especially if you love meat as much as they do!

Below are some pictures of some of the amazing smoked meats they have made for us:

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the links for some recipes that my brothers have made that we have already put on our blog:

Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce

Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin

Glazed Cajun Meatloaf 

You won't regret checking these out. This is seriously good eatin'!

A Simple Change

 

Sometimes a simple change can have big results. This recipe is a good example of that. Corn on the cob is one of the best things ever, but this recipe can make it even better.

Kittencal's Milk Boiled Corn on the Cob

Ingredients:

6-8 ears of corn, husks and silk removed
Water
1 cup milk
1/4 cup whipping cream (or use 1 1/4 cups milk)
1/3 cup sugar (or to taste)
1/4 cup butter (optional, add to water)

Directions:

Fill a large stock pot half full with water (use a large enough pot to hold all the corn).

Add in the milk, cream, sugar, and butter.

Bring to a boil, then add in the corn cobs.

Reduce heat to a simmer and allow corn to cook for 7-8 minutes or until just tender, depending on size of corn. Be careful not to overcook the corn, or it will become tough.

Using long tongs, remove and place corn cobs on a plate or in a bowl, then cover with foil under ready to serve.

Serve with salt and butter to taste.

Source: Food.com. You can find it here.

Notes: This was really good. It just tasted richer and more buttery this way.

Time for Breakfast!

 

Awhile back, I had signed up to bring a breakfast casserole to a church function. It was a crazy week and I didn't have time to go shopping, so I searched through my fridge and cupboards to see what I had on hand and what I could make with it. I found these two recipes and since I had enough in my pantry, I made both of them. They are both similar, yet different. The first baked oatmeal recipe is almost like a streusel or a granola. The second one is creamy, soft oatmeal comfort food. They are both fantastic and I highly suggest that you serve them topped with milk, brown sugar, and even some fresh fruit or berries if you have any on hand.

Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients:

3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
Additional milk, for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and butter. Stir into oat mixture until blended.

Spoon into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake 40-45 minutes or until set. Serve warm with milk.

Yield: 9 servings.

Nutrition information: 1 serving equals 318 calories, 14 g fat, 78 mg cholesterol, 492 mg sodium, 43 g carbohydrate, 78 g protein.

Source: Taste of Home, submitted by Arlene Riehl of Dundee, New York. You can find it here.

Notes: This was so delicious. I got a picture of this one because there was some left over after the church function. The only reason it was left over though was because I got there late. If I had gotten there on time, the whole thing would have been gobbled up. This is so yummy.

 

Above: Still absolutely delicious, even without the berries!



Above: Baked Oatmeal from Quaker straight out of the oven.



Above: You can serve a slice as is...



Above: You can serve it with a little milk or even cream (please, don't skip this! It's soooo good!)

 

Above: Or, better yet, top it with milk and fresh fruit!

Baked Oatmeal from Quaker

Ingredients:

2 cups Quick Quaker Oats, uncooked
1/3 cup white sugar (I used 1/2 cup)
3 1/3 cups fat-free milk
1/2 cup egg substitute with yolk (I used 2 eggs)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8-inch square oven-safe baking dish with cooking spray.

In large bowl, combine oats and granulated sugar.

In medium bowl, combine milk, egg substitute and vanilla; mix well. Add to oat mixture; mix well. Pour into prepared baking dish.

Bake 40-45 minutes or until center jiggles slightly. Remove from oven to cooling rack.

Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over top of oatmeal. Using back of spoon, gently spread sugar into a thin layer across entire surface of oatmeal.

Return to oven; bake just until sugar melts, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Set oven to broil. Broil 3 inches from heat until sugar bubbles and browns slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. (Watch carefully to prevent burning. It may be necessary to turn baking dish.) Spoon into bowls to serve.

Recipe Notes:

You can use 2 1/4 cups Old Fashioned Quaker Oats instead of 2 cups Quick Quaker Oats.

You can use 2 lightly beaten eggs instead of 1/2 cup liquid egg substitute.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by Quaker Oats. You can find it here.

Notes: As mentioned above, I increased the sugar to 1/2 cup. As recommended in the recipe notes, I also used 2 1/4 cups Old Fashioned Quaker Oats and 2 lightly beaten eggs as substitutes for what was called for in the original recipe. Finally, I didn't melt the brown sugar by broiling it. I just sprinkled the brown sugar on top and called it good. It tasted delicious that way. I also poured a little milk on top as well. This was a delicious recipe and I had someone ask me for the recipe after the church function...because it's that good!

 

The Ultimate Salad Bar

 

Last summer (yes, I am behind in my posts), we had a lovely salad bar for one of our Sunday dinners. We made some wonderful homemade salad dressing discoveries. Plus, it's always handy to have a great list of salad bar ideas on hand. So, check out these salad dressing recipes and the massive list of options to have at your next salad bar!

Chef John's Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
4 ounces frozen blue cheese, grated

Directions:

Place mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk in a bowl. Add garlic, black pepper, dry mustard, salt, sugar, cayenne, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk together thoroughly.

Mix grated blue cheese into the cream base a little at a time to ensure it is evenly incorporated and doesn't clump.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (preferably overnight) to consolidate the flavors.

Source: Allrecipes.com, recipe by Chef John. You can find it here.

 

Creamy Italian Dressing I

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 small onion
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

In a blender or food processor, combine mayonnaise, onion, vinegar, and sugar. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by Cathy. You can find it here.

Famous Japanese Restaurant-Style Salad Dressing

Ingredients:

1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup peanut oil
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root
2 tablespoons minced celery
2 tablespoons ketchup
4 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

In a blender, combine the minced onion, peanut oil, rice vinegar, water, ginger, celery, ketchup, soy sauce, sugar, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until all of the ingredients are well-pureed.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by MARBALET. You can find it here.

 

Honey Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Whisk balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by GumboGirl. You can find it here.

 

Honey-Lime Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup canola oil

Directions:

Blend lime juice, honey, sugar, mustard, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and cumin in a blender, stream olive oil and canola oil into the juice mixture while blending to emulsify the oil into the juice.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by Lisa Weston. You can find it here.

Spaghetti Factory's Creamy Pesto Salad Dressing

Makes about 2 1/2 cups

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/4 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 1/2 tbsp dried basil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup freshly, finely grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Whisk until smooth and creamy.  Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate 1 hour (this will help the flavors develop).  Serve over salad or use as a dip.

Source: Again, I found this on Pinterest and it is from a blog called "Cooking Classy" which you can find here.

Recipe Notes: The author of the recipe noted that if you are in a hurry and don't have time to refrigerate the dressing for an hour prior to serving, you can serve it right away, if necessary.

Notes: This dressing was great.  I ate it on salad...and then I dipped some baby carrots in it...and then we dipped some pizza and bread sticks in it.  Seriously, this stuff was awesome.

Just Like Cafe Rio Cilantro Ranch Dressing/Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

Ingredients:

1 packet traditional Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not buttermilk)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
2 tomatillos, husks removed, cut into quarters
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic, roughly cohpped
Juice of 1 lime (1-2 tbsp bottled, if fresh is not available)
1 jalapeno (remove seeds for less heat, keep seeds if you like things spicy)

Directions:

Place all ingredients together in a blender. Mix until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Source: I found this online a few years ago on a blog very much like my own. I don't remember the particular site, however.

Notes: This dressing is so spot on. It tastes almost exactly like what you get in the restaurant. Be careful though. This makes a lot, and as you can see, it's not low fat!

Ideas for the Ultimate Salad Bar:

 

Protein:

Diced or shredded chicken (poached or from a roast chicken)
Diced turkey
Diced ham
Crumbled bacon
Cubed salami
Mini or small shrimp (or a shrimp tray)
Tuna
Sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs

A Little Crunch:

Toasted Sliced almonds
Toasted macadamia nuts
Candied pecans or walnuts (if you don't have tree nut allergies to deal with like we do)
Croutons
French fried onions
Tortilla strips
Toasted pita strips
Crispy chow mein noodles

 

Cheese:

Shredded or diced Cheddar cheese
Shredded or diced Monterey Jack cheese
Gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles
Cubed Swiss cheese
Mozzarella (shredded, cubed, or bocconcine fresh mozzarella balls)
Crumbled Feta
Parmesan
Cotija

Vegetable Toppings:

Peas
Baby corn (canned)
Sliced fresh mushrooms
Sliced beets (canned or roasted)
Black, green, or Kalamata olives
Pepperoncini peppers, whole or sliced
Tomato wedges
Grape or cherry tomatoes
Cucumber slices
Diced or sliced zucchini
Diced or sliced avocado
Thinly sliced red onion
Green onions, sliced
Thinsly sliced red, yellow, and/or green peppers
Shredded carrots
Sliced radishes
Chickpeas aka Garbanzo beans
Kidney beans
Cannellini, white, or navy beans
Black beans
Hearts of palm
Artichoke hearts
Bean sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts

 

Vegetable sides (for dipping):

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Sweet peas
Small sweet peppers
Bell pepper slices
Sliced jicama

 

Fruit salad toppings or sides:

Orange segments, mandarin oranges, or cuties
Quartered strawberries
Raspberries
Blackberries
Sliced kiwi
Diced apples
Diced pears
Dried cranberries
Dried cherries
Grapes
Watermelon

Lettuce Ideas:

Spinach
Romaine
Baby Romaine
Green leaf lettuce
Butter lettuce
Boston lettuce
Arugula
Kale
Sprink mix
Iceberg mix
Coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage (green or purple)

Dressing Ideas:

Ranch dressing (homemade, bottled, or prepared using Hidden Valley Ranch packets)
Italian dressing (prepared using Good Seasons packets)
Blue Cheese dressing
Green Goddess dressing
Thousand Island dressing
Poppy Seed dressing
Balsamic dressing
Asian Sesame dressing
Creamy Tomatillo Ranch dressing
Other favorite homemade or bottled salad dressings

Mexican Themed:

Shredded sweet pork
Crispy tortilla strips
Corn
Caramelized onions
Guacamole
Salsa
Sour cream
Black or pinto beans
Crumbled cotija cheese or Parmesan cheese
Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

Asian Themed:

Chow mein noodles
Mandarin oranges
Shredded poached chicken
Edamame
Asian Sesame dressing

Fruit Themed:

Berries
Romaine lettuce
Favorite nuts
Chicken (or not if you want to keep it more simple)
Poppy Seed dressing 

Did I miss anything? If so, let me know in the comments and I will add it in! What other ideas do you have? However, that right there is a list for a pretty amazing, satisfying, and filling salad bar!

Standing the Test of Time

 

Some recipes can fade in and out. Sometimes you're in the mood for them, and other times you're not. Some recipes, while fantastic, can somehow be forgotten. Other recipes, you just keep going back to because they become tried and true favorites. They stand the test of time. This is one of those recipes for me. It is so flavorful and versatile, and the leftovers are fantastic.

I have already posted it before on our blog here, here, and here, but it always gets lost in the shuffle of the other recipes that I have posted with it. This time, I'm posting it all by itself so that it can shine and get the recognition it deserves.

Mexican-Style Shredded Beef

Ingredients:

1 boneless beef chuck shoulder roast (about 3 pounds)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 cup salsa or picante sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions:

Place roast in slow cooker. Combine cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt, and red pepper in a small bowl. Place beef in slow cooker. Pour spices over beef and top with salsa.

Cover; cook on low 8-10 hours or until meat is tender.

Remove beef from slow cooker. Trim and discard excess fat from beef. Shred meat with two forks.

Let cooking liquid stand 5 minutes to allow fat to rise. Skim off fat. Blend water and cornstarch until smooth. Wish into liquid in slow cooker. Cook, uncovered, 15 minutes on High until thickened. Return beef to slow cooker. Cover; cook 15-30 minutes or until hot. Adjust seasonings.

Serve as a meat filling for tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, or burritos. Leftover beef may be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 3 months.

Source: This recipe came from a cookbook called "Simple 1-2-3 One Dish" ISBN-13: 978-1-4127-2323-7. You can find the cookbook on Amazon here.

Deserving of a Repeat

 

This recipe was already blogged long ago, and you can find that original post here. However, this is such a great go-to recipe and is definitely one of our family favorites, so we felt it deserved to be posted again!

Crock Pot Sticky Chicken

Ingredients:

4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. white pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1 large roasting chicken
1-2 packets turkey or chicken gravy mix

Directions:

In a small bowl, thoroughly combine all the spices. Remove the giblets from the chicken and clean the cavity well. Pat dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken, both inside and out, making sure it is evenly distributed and down deep into the skin.

Place the chicken into the slow cooker. Do not add any liquid. As the chicken cooks, it will produce its own juices. Cook on low 8-10 hours and it will be falling off the bone tender. You can brown the chicken in the oven, if desired. The drippings can be used to make gravy which can be served over mashed potatoes or rice.

Source: This is a recipe we have had for years. I believe my mom got it from one of her friends.

Notes: Save the drippings to make a wonderfully spicy gravy. Simply use a turkey or chicken gravy packet (or two) and substitute the drippings for the water called for on the packet and prepare according to package directions. The gravy is fantastic served over the chicken, over mashed potatoes, or over rice.

 

Above: This is such an affordable and delicious meal.

 

Above: The gravy is fantastic served over the chicken as well as served over mashed potatoes or rice. My oldest son prefers mashed potatoes while my middle son prefers rice, so this time, we simply made both. We served it with our favorite Quick Yeast Rolls, which you can find the recipe for here, and an easy bagged salad mix.

Amazing Roasted Veggies

 

Roasted veggies are the best veggies, don't you think? Of course, fresh vegetables are awesome too, but what I mean is that why would you ever steam your vegetables when you could roast them? Roasted vegetables are way better than steamed vegetables!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
3 tablespoons good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Srinkle with more kosher salt, and serve immediately.

Source: Food Network, recipe by Ina Garten. You can find it here.

Saucy!

 

Sometimes what you really need to make something really special is homemade sauce. This is one awesome barbecue sauce, and it won't take long to whip it up from scratch.

Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
3 tablespoons A1 Steak Sauce
1 teaspoon onion flakes
1 teaspoon garlic flakes
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a heavy nonreactive saucepan and gradually bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat slightly to obtain a gentle simmer. Simmer the sauce until reduces by a quarter, 6 to 8 minutes. Use right away or transfer to a large jar, cover, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate. The sauce will keep for several months.

Source: You can find it online here. It's from Steven Raichlen's Barbecue! Bible Sauces, Rubs and Marinades, Bastes, Butters & Glazes.

Lost and Found

 

As I've mentioned before, we started this blog to keep track of all of the wonderful recipes we have come across. We try so many different recipes that it's easy for recipes--even some of the best--to get lost in the shuffle. Some have even been lost forever...sniff, sniff. We thought this first panzanella recipe had been lost forever, but luckily for us, we found it again! Yay! The second panzanella salad was another delicious one that we found when we were trying to hunt down the first one after having lost it.

 

Panzanella Salad

Ingredients:

6 cups day old Italian bread, torn or cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
3/4 cup sliced red onion
10 basil leaves, shredded
1/2 cup pitted and halved green olives
1 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-size pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, toss bread with 1/3 cup olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Lay bread on a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven until lightly toasted, about 5 to 10 minutes; allow to cool slightly.

While the bread is in the oven, whisk together 1/4 cup of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss together the bread, tomatoes, onion, basil, olives, and mozzarella cheese. Toss with the vinaigrette and let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by veggiemom. You can find it here.

Notes: We used sliced cherry and grape tomatoes rather than cutting a tomato in wedges. We also added green as well as Kalamata olives. Another good addition (which we didn't try this time, but might in the future) would be to add capers. Be careful not to toast the bread too much. You don't want the bread to be as hard as a rock. You just want it to be toasted enough so that it can absorb the juices of this salad without becoming mush.

 

Chef John's Panzanella

Ingredients:

2 cups 1/2-inch stale bread cubes, or more to taste
1/4 cup olive oil, or to taste
1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, or more to taste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, or to taste
1 pinch white sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced, or more to taste

Directions:

Pour bread into a large skillet and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, working in batches, if necessary. Cook and stir bread over medium heat, adding more oil as needed, until bread cubes are golden and crispy on the outside, 7 to 12 minutes.

Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top of the bread cubes, cook and stir until cheese is melted onto bread, and bread is crispy on the outside, but still chewy on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes more. Cool completely.

Combine tomatoes, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sugar, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.

Toss basil into tomato mixture; add bread cubes and stir. Let salat sit at room temperature 3 to 4 minutes. If liquid is completely absorbed, add more vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to taste. Season with salt and black pepper.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by Chef John. You can find it here.

Notes: This was really good. Just a great, classic recipe.

Blast From My BYU Past

 

Almost anyone who has ever been to the Wilkinson Center and the Cougar Eat (whether you attended BYU or not) has tried a BYU mint brownie...and if you haven't, you have probably heard of them. Well, in my BYU alumni email, they shared the recipe one fine day and I am going to share it with you as well.

They didn't divulge their whole recipe. That's probably how they preserve the legacy of these brownies. Ha ha! They shared the brownie recipe and the mint icing frosting recipe, but not the chocolate frosting recipe. They suggested using 12 oz. of canned chocolate frosting, or your favorite recipe for chocolate frosting. However, I found another blog with the recipe for these brownies and the author had cleverly altered the mint frosting recipe to make the chocolate frosting as well.

BYU Mint Brownies

Ingredients:

Brownies:

1 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tbsp. honey
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional (I omitted these because of my son's tree nut allergy)

Mint Icing:

5 tbsp. margarine or butter
Dash of salt
3 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. mint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring

Chocolate Icing:

5 tbsp. butter
Dash of salt
3 tbsp. milk
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup cocoa

Directions:

Brownies:

Melt margarine or butter and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts, if desired. Pour batter into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

Mint Icing:

Soften margarine or butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

Frost cooled brownies with mint icing. Place in freezer to stiffen icing while preparing chocolate icing.

Chocolate Icing:

Soften margarine or butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add cocoa. Mix until smooth.

Remove brownies from freezer and carefully top with chocolate frosting. If you would like, you can place the brownies in the freezer again to allow the frosting to set and to allow for smoother cutting of the brownies.

Source: My BYU Alumni email and a blog called Your Home Based Mom by LeighAnne Wilkes. You can find that blog here. You can find it on BYU's site here.

Notes: I didn't freeze my brownies after adding the chocolate icing and before cutting them. As a result, the cutting process was a little messy. The brownies could have looked neater and prettier if I had frozen them prior to cutting them. Oh well! The brownies were still delicious though!

Soup with a Little Spice

 

I made a smaller batch of this soup without the jalapenos and cumin for my boys. Without the jalapenos, this is a great and classic potato soup. With the jalapenos, it becomes something fun and different.

Jalapeno-Potato Soup

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons margarine or butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeno peppers, with pickling liquid (see notes)
1 pinch baking soda
2 cups evaporated milk
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Favorite toppings (additional jalapeno slices, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese)

Directions:

Melt margarine or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion in melted margarine/butter until tender, about 5 minutes.

Stir potatoes with the onion; season with cumin. Pour chicken broth over the potato mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, place cover on the pot, and cook until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

Remove pot from heat. Stir jalapeno peppers and baking soda into the broth. Stream evaporated milk into the broth while stirring.

Mash potatoes in the pot with a potato masher until coarsely smashed; stir. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Return pot to medium-high heat and bring soup to a simmer; reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, until the soup is warmed through, about 15 minutes.

Source: Allrecipes.com, submitted by Tina Waldher. You can find it here.

Notes: We really liked this. The leftovers were great too. We used tamed bottled sliced jalapenos, but if you want it spicier, use untamed jalapeno slices. As mentioned above, if you want just a classic potato soup, skip the cumin and jalapenos. We served ours in bread bowls topped with additional jalapeno slices, crumbled bacon, and shredded Cheddar cheese.