Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Milk Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
  • 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2-3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
  • oil or cooking spray
In a large bowl beat eggs. Add buttermil, butter and vanilla and mix well. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well until mostly smooth. Fold in chocolate chips and let batter set for a few minutes.


Heat griddle or pan over medium heat. Add oil or cooking spray. Pour 2 tablespoons of batter onto the griddle. Cook on the first side until bubbles that form start to pop. Flip the pancake over with a spatula and cook until golden brown. Repeat until batter is gone. Let cooked pancakes rest on a heat proof plate in a 175 degree oven until ready to serve. Serves 4.

*I found this recipe on Joy the Baker's blog :)












"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of each day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different." ~Author Unknown

Easy Stromboli

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornmeal
  • 1 13.5 oz package refrigerated pizza dough
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
  • 1/3 cup shredded Parmesian cheese
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced provolone cheese
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced cooked ham
  • 4 ounces pepperoni
  • slices, sauteed mushrooms
  • chopped, sauteed onions
  • 1/3 cup chopped red, green, or yellow sweet pepper
  • 1 cup fresh prewashed spinach

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly brush a baking sheet with olive oil and sprinkle with cornmeal; set aside. On a lightly floured surface carefully stretch or roll pizza dough into a 13X10-inch rectangle. Arrange ham slices on dough about 1/2 inch from edges. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Layer spinach and pepperoni on cheese. Top with remaining cheese, mushrooms, onions, and sweet pepper. Roll up dough, starting from long side. Pinch dough to seal the seam and ends.

Place loaf, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Brush with egg. Using a sharp knife, cut slits in top for steam to escape. Bake about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes. To serve, slice loaf into serving-size pieces. Recipe serves 4.








"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Hebrews 3:13

Orange Spiced Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Dipped in White Chocolate

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup raisins
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 8 oz. white chocolate baking chips
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

In a small bowl, combine orange juice and raisins; let stand overnight. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg and orange peel. In another bowl, combine flour and baking soda; stir into butter mixture. Add raisins, any soaking liquid, and oats; mix well.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets; flatten slightly. Bake at 350 degrees, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to racks, and cool completely. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate and oil on low power. Continue until smooth when stirred. Let stand 2 minutes. Dip one-third of cookie in chocolate; set on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until chocolate is firm. Recipe yeilds about 3 dozen cookies.

Be prepared: these cookies have a strong orange flavor!













"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Psalm 103:12

Friday, December 24, 2010

Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup all-vegetable shortening
  • 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light-brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine peanut butter, shortening, light brown sugar, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add egg. Beat just until blended. Combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly in crisscross pattern with fork.

Bake at 375 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes, or until set and just beginning to brown. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to cooling rack. Recipe yeilds about 3 dozen cookies.







"Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

Ephesians 4:26b-27

Chocolate Banana Muffins

Ingredients

  • 3 ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup light-brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa, sifted
  • 1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a muffin pan with paper cups. Mash bananas by hand or with a mixer. While still mashing, add the oil, then the eggs and sugar. Mix the remaining ingredients together; beat gently into the banana mixture, then spoon into cups. Bake 15-20 minutes. Cool slightly in pan before removing to wire rack. Makes 12 muffins.







"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39

Grilled Zucchini Pasta Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch rounds
  • 1 red onion, cut into wedges
  • 1 large red bell pepper, seeded, cut into quarters
  • 1/2 cup light balsamic vinaigrette
  • 1 (14 oz.) pkg. multigrain penne pasta
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
  • 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese

Place zucchini, onion, bell pepper and vinaigrette in a large reseable bag. Seal bag; refrigerate 4 to 8 hours, turning bag occasionally.

Bring 4 quarts water to boiling in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Cook pasta al dente, 8-10 minutes or according to package directions.

Meanwhile, remove vegetables from marinade; reserve marinade. Place vegetables on grill. Grill, covered, turning once.

Drain pasta; transfer to a deep serving platter. Remove vegetables from grill; cut into bite-size pieces. Spoon vegetables over pasta; drizzle with reserved marinade. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan. Serve immediately.







"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testig of your faith develops perserverance."

James 1:2-3

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Oatmeal Scotchies

Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cups-all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups old fashioned oats, uncooked
  • 12 oz. (2 cups) butterscotch flavored morsels

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside.

In a large mixer bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract until creamy. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats and butterscotch flavored morsels. Drop by measuring tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cook sheets. Bake 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets and allow to cool completely. Recipe yeilds about 4 dozen cookies.







"Always remember to be happy because you never know who's falling in love with your smile." ~Unknown Author

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients
  • 2 pkg. chopped broccoli
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 onion, grated
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup white rice, cooked
  • Bread crumbs: Cornbread Stuffing (Pepperidge Farms)

Cook and drain broccoli. Cook Rice. Mix all ingredients together, adding cheese last. Top with bread crumbs/stuffing mix. Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.




"'Honor your father and mother'- which is the first commandment with a promise- 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'"
Ephesians 6:2-3

Zucchini Fries

Ingredients
  • 2-3 medium zucchini
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
  • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut zucchini into 3-inch sticks. Whisk an egg white in a small bowl, and add 1/4 cup milk. Combine 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan and 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs in a seperate bowl. Dip zucchini sticks into egg mixture, and then roll in breadcrumb mixture. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, and place zucchini on sheet. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.






"Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometime on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." ~John Lubbock

Brown Sugar Pretzels

Ingredients
  • 1 tube French bread or pizza crust dough
  • 1 egg, beaten

Streusel Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar for dusting (optional)


Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking sheet. Unroll dough into an 8x12 inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise into 4 strips. Roll each strip into a 16 inch rope; form into a pretzel and transfer to a baking sheet. Mix together streusel ingredients until crumbly. Brush pretzels with egg, then sprinkle with streusel. Bake until puffed and golden, about 15-20 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Other fun toppings include jam, granola, cinnamon sugar, or dried fruit








"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Ephesians 4:32

Potato Casserole

Ingredients
  • 2 lbs. frozen hashbrowns
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 pint sour cream
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups crushed Corn Flakes or Special K Cereal
  • 1/4 cup melted butter

Deftrost hashbrowns. Combine the first eight ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a 9x12 casserole dish. Cover with buttered corn flakes. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.








"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." ~ Lao-Tze

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients
  • 1 can (15 oz.) Veg-All Mixed Vegetables, drained
  • 1 can (10 oz.) cooked chicken, drained or 2 boneless chicken breasts cooked and chopped
  • 1 can (10-3/4 oz.) cream of chicken soup
  • 1/4 tsp. thyme
  • Two 9 inch frozen, ready-to-bake pie crusts


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine vegetables, chicken, soup, and seasoning. May also add chicken broth for desired consistency.

Fit one pie crust into a 9 inch pie pan; pour vegetable mixture into pie crust. Top with remaining crust; crisp edges and prick top with fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is hot.







"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~ Edith Sitwell