Cooking it up!

Sharing my Family & Summer Sunday dinner meal with you!!  

Menu: 

• Grilled Pork Chops marinated in jalapeno jelly 
• Peach Pie - Find recipe here! 
• Steamed fresh green beans 
• Baked squash casserole-  Courtesy of Paula Deen 
• All fresh vegetables farm grown at The Smithville Ranch... my dear friend Christina! 

Fresh Squash 

=great Baked Squash recipe courtesy of Paula Deen.. 

Peach pie was a hit... was talking while making so my lattice work is not perfect! :(

My hope is you enjoyed your Sunday with family - 

3 of the 4 kids... (we miss you Ashley!!)
Have a great week!
Valarie

Have a great week! 

Summer Sunday

Since 3 of the 4 kids are close by this summer, I am planning frequent dinners on Sunday. All of the kids are so busy with new careers and one left in college it's nice to catch up with them once a week and enjoy movies, new recipes, memories ... & enjoy the summer.. These are the recipes I tried out on them!!

Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers -

Recipe here .. 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 bell peppers, any color
• Salt
• 5 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
• 1 lb of lean ground beef  ( I USED TURKEY WE DON'T EAT BEEF!)  
• 1 1/2 cup of cooked rice (I USED BROWN RICE!!!)  
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned (if using can, drain of excess liquid first)
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 tsp of Worcestershire Sauce
• Dash of Tabasco sauce (I added 2 dashes - men at this dinner loved spicy!!) 
• Go to this recipe link for method -- 

Spinach Salad -
Spinach, fresh cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries - Toss & serve! 

Blueberry Banana Pie 

Yes, this is a store bought pie crust but the filling is homemade....

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 4 medium firm bananas, sliced
• 2 (9 inch) pastry shells, baked
• 1 (21 ounce) can blueberry pie filling
• fresh blueberries and mint and additional sliced bananas (optional)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and bananas. Pour into pastry shells. Spread with pie filling. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Just before serving, garnish with blueberries, mint and bananas if desired.

Hope you try the recipes out... The kids were here for dinner Sunday night - we had a blast!
Valarie

Just making cupcakes.....

Nothing like the smell of chocolate cupcakes baking.... 

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and muffin pans for cupcakes or use cupcake liners. 
2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Come on over and let's talk about our day and enjoy a cupcake!  

Did you say Apple Pie?

Went to see my dear friend Christine while in East Texas yesterday. Did you all click over to the link and see her knack for photography? You would love her too... We have been through birth of our 4 children, the birth of 4 grandbabies, the passing of my father, the passing of her mother & father, the passing of my sweet grandmother (who she named her daughter after Emily), college graduations, high school graduations, Halloween hayrides when our babies were young, and over many glasses of sweet tea in a mason jar we have healed the world.. we have laughed, cried, and I love her dearly!! 


Her sweet hubby (of 31 years) recently in Pennsylvania on business trip brought back let's just say bushels of all kinds of apples! She gave me several freezer bags full! I could not wait to get home to bake LOML (love of my life) a apple pie!!  Recipe super easy!! Enjoy!! 

8 Granny Smith apples, cored & sliced

1/2 cup butter

3 T flour

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup water

1 box of two refrigerated pie crusts 

cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Melt butter in sauce pan.  Stir in flour.  Add sugars and water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce temperature and simmer 5 minutes.

Place one pie crust in bottom of glass pie dish.  Fill with sliced apples.  Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on top.  Pour liquid over apples.  Cover apples with remaining pie crust.  Cut slits into crust.  Set pie dish on top of cookie sheet and put in oven.

Bake @ 425 degrees for 15 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 35-45 minutes. 

Thank you Christina!! Love ya dear!! Wish you were here to have the apple pie with me!! 

dinner is served...

TWO INGREDIENTS 

3 steps.. 1)spray pan with Pam, 2) cover bottom of baking dish with chili, 3) mix cornbread according to recipe on package & pour cornbread mix on top!

Bake at 400 for 15 minutes -

Serve with tossed salad!

Cooking made simple....

Valarie 

SUPER BOWL XLV HERE IN MY LONE STAR STATE!!

Are you ready for SuPeR BOWL XLV??    

Personally I am not a huge football fan, however, I love LOVE THE social aspect of all the glitz, glam, food, friends and fun. So this morning I am making a few of my favorite dishes to take to a party!!  I have shared them with you before .... Magic Cookie Bars click here and BBQ Jalapeno Poppers click here ... Fire up the oven and make it a day of memories!!!

Much hugs!!
Valarie

Friday night Fun!!

Aggie game & Apple Pie!!

I saved you a piece!! Click here for the recipe!! 

Happy Week-end!!
Valarie

won't you join me?

Breakfast for two! Banana nut muffins and orange juice... see you at 7:30! And if you can't make it, I'll be back tomorrow to catch up with you! 

Enjoy the recipe!   

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 egg whites
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites slightly. Stir in bananas, sugar, oil, and lemon peel. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in walnuts. Fill muffin pan cups 2/3 full.
4. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned. Remove muffins from pan.

Hugs,
Valarie

NOTHING like fresh squash!

Tonight we are having Baked Squash, a Southern recipe from Paula Deen! Pretty yummy I might add.. My dish above!  ENjoy!!  I have a few more servings.. come on over!!  Hugs! Valarie

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon Paula Deen House Seasoning
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
6 cups raw squash
4 tablespoons butter
1   large onion, chopped
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using a heated stewing pot, add 6 cups of raw sliced squash and water, and stir and let stew for 5-10 minutes. Then pour the stewed squash into a colander, covered in a clean rag or cheesecloth, and allow the water and juices to drain by mashing with a spoon.

In separate medium size skillet, saute the sliced onion in butter for 5 minutes.

Remove from pan and, using a large bowl, add squash, onions, sour cream, salt, pepper, and sharp cheddar cheese. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish and top with cracker crumbs.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Easy Peasy Apple Pie

Kim @Daisy Cottage, had an amazing pie recipe on her blog ... so I tried it! Yummy! My photo of the masterpiece below is not that pretty ... I should have taken a great photo with a piece of pie on a vintage saucer, with a cute napkin tucked in .... and I did think about that. But.... when it came out of the oven LOML & the angel grandson could not wait... and then when I went back to take the photo..... well you know the story....

Easy Peasy Apple Pie

8 Granny Smith apples, cored & sliced

1/2 cup butter

3 T flour

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup water

1 box of two refrigerated pie crusts 

cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

Melt butter in sauce pan.  Stir in flour.  Add sugars and water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce temperature and simmer 5 minutes.

Place one pie crust in bottom of glass pie dish.  Fill with sliced apples.  Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on top.  Pour liquid over apples.  Cover apples with remaining pie crust.  Cut slits into crust.  Set pie dish on top of cookie sheet and put in oven.

Bake @ 425 degrees for 15 minutes.  Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for 35-45 minutes. 

Thank you Kim.. it was amazingly easy to make and ohhhhh so good!!
Hugs,
Valarie

MaGic CooKiE BARS!!

Thought I would bake something sweet for LOML and I date night! I love these - my mom called them howdy Doody bars... but i think most folks call them magic cookie bars... either way they are to die for!! 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 cup Nestle chocolate Chunks!! (yummy!)   
• 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
• Instructions
• HEAT oven to 350°F. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
• COMBINE graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chunks, and coconut. 
• BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack. 

Yummy!! What did you have for dessert tonight? 

Happy Saturday night! 

Valarie