Zucchini Bread & Muffins

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Set aside.  Cream together:
3 eggs
3/4 cup applesauce
2 cups white sugar
1 Tbs vanilla extract

Add creamed mix to dry mix, then stir in 3 cups grated zucchini.  
Pour batter into prepared pans.  Sprinkle tops with sugar if desired.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Chicken Biscuit Stew

2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups cubed potatoes
1 tsp chicken bouillon 

Add veggies into large pot of water,  bring to a boil and cook until veggies are tender. Drain liquid, reserving 1 1/3 cups.  Add chicken bouillon to liquid and stir to dissolve.  Set aside. Make white sauce:


White sauce:
1/4 cup margarine
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
dash of pepper
Melt 1/4 cup margarine on low heat. Blend in 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and a dash of pepper.
Then add 1 1/3 cup reserved broth and 3/4 cup milk.  Cook and stir until thick.

Combine chicken, veggies,  and white sauce.   Heat through while baking biscuits separately,  or add to casserole dish and arrange biscuit dough on top.  Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown.

Biscuits
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Mix together dry ingredients, cut in 5 Tbs shortening. Add 1/2 cup milk.  Stir until just mixed.  Knead lightly on floured board.  Roll out to 1/2 inch, cut into biscuits.

Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

1 1/2  pounds strawberries (fresh, sliced) 1/2 cup  sugar 1 lb low fat cream cheese (softened) 3 tbsp orange juice 1- 8 oz tub  cool whip (extra for garnish, as desired) 1 large pound cake In a bowl, toss strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar; set aside. In a mixing bowl beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and orange juice until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip. Set aside. Cut pound cake into cubes. Drain strawberries, reserving juice. Drizzle cake cubes with reserved juice. Place half of the cake cubes in a 4 quart trifle dish. Top with half of the cream cheese mixture and half of the strawberries. Repeat layers. If desired, garnish with cool whip and strawberries, cut into fans. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours. inspiration from from yummly.com

Blonde Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup butter  (or 1/3 cup butter and 1/3 cup applesauce)

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup butterscotch chips (or Reeces pieces, chocolate chips, walnuts, whatever sounds yummy)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix dry ingredients together.

Cream sugar and butter together.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well.

Stir in butterscotch chips.

Spread into greased 9X13 pan and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Hard Boiled Eggs

Can it really be that hard?  I forget how every time I go to do it. Which turns out to be less than 3 times a year. But with Easter around the corner, I am going to get in some practice.

Cooking:

• Place your eggs in a single layer at the bottom of a saucepan. 
• Add enough cold water to just cover the eggs.  
• Add 1 tsp salt
• Bring to a full boil over high heat. 
• Then remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Cool eggs by running under cold water or putting them in ice water. 
• (one tip I have yet to try is to add 1 tsp baking soda to the cool water)
• When cool enough to handle, drain and store, or peel and use.

 Peeling:

•  Tap an egg on the countertop to crack the shell, then roll the egg with gentle pressure to loosen shell from egg. 
• Start on the large end and peel off the shell, it should come off pretty well
• Or just be as awesome as this guy. I guarantee the man of the house will want to give this one a try.

(Tips for this one: Blow from the wide end. We'll see!)

Other tips:
http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2011/01/kitchen-tip-easy-peel-hard-boiled-eggs.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Peel-an-Egg

Chili

1 lb ground beef, browned
1 onion, chopped
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 can tomato paste
1/2 tsp oregano
3/4 tsp cumin
2 Tbs Chili powder
2 large cans kidney beans
3/4 tsp salt
1 can diced tomatoes

Simmer at least 1 1/2 hours, best if simmered all day.

Doughnut Snowmen

I love this idea found at the idearoom