Wednesday, November 19, 2025
White Chicken Chili
Baked French Toast
Bread maker White Bread
Rice Pudding
Thursday, December 28, 2023
Friday, May 21, 2021
Homemade Hamburger Helper
1 pound lean ground beef
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups low sodium beef broth
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups pasta shells (can also use elbow pasta)
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a large saute pan with a lid, brown the ground beef over medium high heat. Remove cooked ground beef from pan and set aside, reserving 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan.
2. Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic for the last 30 seconds.
3. Add the flour and stir to cook for about 1 minute, slowly stir in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
Pour in the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder and pasta, stirring to combine. Cover with lid and saute for 12-15 minutes or until pasta is cooked, stirring occasionally.
5. Add in the cream and cheese and stir until all the cheese is melted. Add back in ground beef, cook for 2 to 3 minutes more to re-heat ground beef and serve immediately.
Notes
This dish is rich. If you need more liquid for your pasta you can add a little water or beef broth. You could substitute another type of pasta but try to use a similar size for the liquid ratio to work out.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Crescent Rolls
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Focaccia Bread
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Coca Cola Chocolate Cake
Greek Lemon Chicken Pasta
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Pie Crust
Prep time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
One of the secrets to a flaky pie crust is to work with very cold butter. Cut the butter into cubes and freeze, at least 15 minutes, best over an hour or even overnight. The minute I even think I might want to make a pie, the first thing I do is cut some butter into cubes and put it in the freezer.
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INGREDIENTS
All Butter Crust for Sweet and Savory Pies (Pâte Brisée)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
6 to 8 Tbsp ice water
METHOD
1 Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse 6 to 8 times, until mixture resembles coarse meal, with pea size pieces of butter. Add ice water 1 Tbsp at a time, pulsing until mixture just begins to clump together. If you pinch some of the crumbly dough and it holds together, it's ready. If the dough doesn't hold together, add a little more water and pulse again. Note that too much water will make the crust tough.
2 Remove dough from machine and place in a mound on a clean surface. If you want an extra flaky crust, shmoosh the dough mixture into the table top with the heel of the palm of your hand a few times. This will help flatten the butter into layers between the flour which will help the resulting crust be flaky. You can easily skip this step if you want. Gently shape the dough mixture into two disks. Work the dough just enough to form the disks, do not over-knead. You should be able to see little bits of butter in the dough. These small chunks of butter are what will allow the resulting crust to be flaky. Sprinkle a little flour around the disks. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour, and up to 2 days.
3 Remove one crust disk from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes in order to soften just enough to make rolling out a bit easier. Roll out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch circle; about 1/8 of an inch thick. As you roll out the dough, check if the dough is sticking to the surface below. If necessary, add a few sprinkles of flour under the dough to keep the dough from sticking. Carefully place onto a 9-inch pie plate. Gently press the pie dough down so that it lines the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Use a pair of kitchen scissors to trim the dough to within 1/2 inch of the edge of the pie dish.
4 Add filling to the pie.
5 Roll out second disk of dough, as before. Gently place onto the top of the filling in the pie. Pinch top and bottom of dough rounds firmly together. Trim excess dough with kitchen shears, leaving a 3/4 inch overhang. Fold the edge of the top piece of dough over and under the edge of the bottom piece of dough, pressing together. Flute edges using thumb and forefinger or press with a fork. Score the top of the pie with four 2-inch long cuts, so that steam from the cooking pie can escape.
All Butter Crust with Almonds
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling
1/2 cup finely ground blanched almonds or almond flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1 heaping teaspoon brown sugar
6 to 8 Tbsp ice water, very cold
Follow directions as for the All Butter Crust Pâte Brisée, but with the above ingredients. Include the ground almonds in with the flour and the salt and sugar in step 2 above.
To Pre-Bake a Pie Crust
If your recipe calls for a pre-baked crust, as many custard pie recipes do, follow all the steps above until you get to the point where it says to put in the filling. Note that you will need to make only a half recipe if you are only doing a bottom crust. Freeze the crust it for at least a half hour, until chilled. This is an important step in pre-baking. Otherwise the crust will slip down the sides.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. When the pie crust is sufficiently chilled, line the pie crust with parchment paper, wax paper, or aluminum foil. Fill at least two-thirds full with pie weights - dry beans, rice, or stainless-steel pie weights. Bake with weights for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, cool a few minutes and carefully remove pie weights. Poke small holes in the bottom of the pie crust with a fork and return to oven (without the weights) and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until the crust is golden. Cool completely before filling. You may need to tent the edges of the pie with aluminum foil when you bake your pie, to keep the edges from getting too dried out and burnt.
Combination Butter and Shortening Crust
Ingredients for one double-crust 9 inch or 10 inch pie:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
3/4 cup (a stick and a half) unsalted butter, chilled, cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1/2 cup of all-vegetable shortening (8 Tbsp)
6-8 Tablespoons ice water
1 Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Add the butter and pulse 4 times. Add shortening in tablespoon sized chunks, and pulse 4 more times. The mixture should resemble coarse cornmeal, with butter bits no bigger than peas. Sprinkle 6 tablespoons of ice water over flour mixture. Pulse a couple times. If you pinch some of the crumbly dough and it holds together, it's ready. If the dough doesn't hold together, keep adding water, a tablespoon at a time, pulsing once after each addition, until the mixture just begins to clump together.
2 Remove dough from machine and place in a mound on a clean surface. Divide the dough into 2 balls and flatten each into 4 inch wide disks. Do not over-knead the dough! Dust the disks lightly with flour, wrap each in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour, or up to 2 days before rolling out.
3 After the dough has chilled in the refrigerator for an hour, you can take it out to roll. If it is too stiff, you may need to let it sit for 5-10 minutes at room temperature before rolling. Sprinkle a little flour on a flat, clean work surface and on top of the disk of dough you intend to roll out. (We use a Tupperware pastry sheet that has the pie circles already marked.) Using a rolling pin, apply light pressure while rolling outwards from the center of the dough. Every once in a while you may need to gently lift under the dough (a pastry scraper works great for this) to make sure it is not sticking. You have a big enough piece of dough when you place the pie tin or pie dish upside down on the dough and the dough extends by at least 2 inches all around.
4 When the dough has reached the right size, gently fold it in half. Lift up the dough and place it so that the folded edge is along the center line of the pie dish. Gently unfold. Do not stretch the dough.
5a If you are only making a single crust pie, use a pair of kitchen scissors to trim the dough to within 1/2 inch of the lip of the dish. Tuck the overhang underneath itself along the edge of the pie dish. Use your fingers in a pinching motion, or the tines of a fork to crimple the edge of the pie crust.
5b If you are making a double crust pie, roll out the second disk of dough. Gently place onto the top of the filling in the pie. Use a kitchen scissors to trim the overhang to an inch over. Fold the edge of the top piece of dough over and under the edge of the bottom piece of dough, pressing together. Finish the double crust by pressing against the edges of the pie with your finger tips or with a fork.
6 Use a sharp knife to cut vents into the top of the pie crust, so the steam has a place to escape while the pie is cooking. Optional Before scoring, you may want to paint the top of your crust with an egg wash (this will make a nice finish).
Egg Wash
A lovely coating for a pie can be achieved with a simple egg wash.
1 Tbsp heavy cream, half and half, or milk
1 large egg yolk
Beat egg yolk with cream and brush on the surface of the pie with a pastry brush.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Whole Wheat Bread
1 Tbsp dry yeast
2 cups hot water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup cold water
7-8 cups whole-wheat flour
1/4 Tbsp. warm water
2 Tbsp shorteing
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup dry milk
Mix yeast and warm water and set aside. Pour hot water over shortening, sugar, and salt. Mix dry milk with 1 cup whole-wheat flour, add hot water mixture and 1 cup cold water, then add yeast mixture. Add 6-7 more cups of whole-wheat flour. Knead until smooth and elastic and let rise until almost double, then time as follows: Let rise 40 minutes, punch down. Let rise 20 minutes, punch down. Let rise 20 minutes, punch down.
Shape into 3 loaves and place in 3 small greased bread pans. Allow to rise until double in bulk. Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes.
Whole Wheat Muffins
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp soda
1 egg
Mix dry ingredients together in a medium sized bowl. In large measuring cup combine liquid ingredients. Pour over dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Spoon into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
Old Fashioned Biscuits
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp soda
2 Tbsp shortening
3/4 cup sour milk
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and soda. Blend in shortening. Add sour milk and work lightly. Cut into desired shape. Put on a lightly greased pan and bake until brown in a hot to medium oven.
Sourdough Bread
1 cup starter
1 1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup shortening, melted
1 1/2 tsp salt
5 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
In a large bowl, soften yeast in warm water, blend in starter batter, sugar, shortening and salt. Add 3 1/2 cups of flour. Beat by hand or with mixer 5 minutes. Cover and let rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Mix soda with 1/2 cup remaining flour. Stir into dough. Add enough additional flour to make a stiff dough. Turn on lightly floured board and knead 8 to 10 minutes.
Shape into 2 small loaves (round). Place on a greased cookie sheet. With a sharp knife, make diagonal cuts across top of loaf. Let rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Bake at 400 for 35 to 40 minutes. Can brush with melted butter.
Sourdough Biscuits
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
1 cup starter
Sift dry ingredients together. Cut in butter, add starter and mix. Turn out on a lightly floured board and knead until satiny. Roll 1/2 inch thick; cut with floured 2 1/2 inch cutter. Place on a well greased pan. Brush with melted butter, let rise 1 hour in warm place. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes.
Slow Cooked Corn Chowder
1 can cream-style corn
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 3/4 cups frozen corn
1 cup frozen shredded has brown potatoes
1 cup cubed fully cooked hap
1 large onion, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
salt and pepper to taste
In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Slow and Easy Chili
1/2 lb pork sausage, cooked and drained
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 can chili beans, undrained
1 can tomato soup
1 large onion, chopped
2 envelopes chili seasoning
Shredded cheese optional
In a slow cooker, combine the first seven ingredients and mix well. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until thickened and heated through stirring occasionally. Serve hot with cheese.
Flavorful Beef in Gravy
3 lbs beef stew meat
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 1/3 cups milk
1 envelope onion soup mix
Hot cooked noodles or mashed potatoes
Place flour in a large resealable plastic bag; add beef and toss to coat. In a skillet, brown beef in oil. Transfer beef to a 5 qt. slow cooker. Stir in the soups, milk and soup mix. Cover and cook on low for 708 hours. Serve with noodles or potatoes.
Chocolate Pudding Cake
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
2 cups sour cream
4 eggs
1 cup water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chocolate chips
Optional: ice cream or whipped cream
In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into a 5 qt. slow cooker that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm with ice cream.
