The Midnight Baker: Mushroom Asiago Chicken

The Midnight Baker: Mushroom Asiago Chicken

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (about 2 large) 2 cups mushrooms, cut in half 1 clove garlic, minced 3 springs fresh thyme 1 1/2 cups dry white wine 1/2 cup seasoned flour 2 tbs butter 2 tbs olive oil 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/4-1/2 cup shredded asiago cheese 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste) 1/4 tsp pepper (or to taste) seasoned flour: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper Read more: http://www.bakeatmidnite.com/2013/07/mushroom-asiago-chicken.html#ixzz3SRV8GVjZq

Breakfast Ideas

Chilled Fruit Cups 
From:  Real Moms Kitchen/ Delicious!!!!

• 1 can (12 ounces) frozen pineapple juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 medium firm bananas, sliced
• 1 package (16 ounces) frozen unsweetened strawberries (I have used sweetened strawberries and reduced the sugar)
• 1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple
• 18 clear plastic cups (9 ounces)

1. In a large bowl, prepare pineapple juice concentrate according to package directions. Add orange juice concentrate, water, sugar, lemon juice and fruit.
2. Spoon 3/4 cupful into each plastic cup. Place cups in a pan and freeze. Remove from the freezer at least 40-50 minutes before serving. Serve with spoons.  (You kind of break up the frozen fruit with you spoon and eat it like a slush) Yield: 18 servings.

Overnight Blueberry French Toast with Blueberry Syrup

From: Real Moms Kitchen                                                

French Toast:

• 12 slices bread, cut into cubes (french or Texas toast work well)
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cut in cubes
• 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 12 large eggs
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 cups milk (I use 1 cup milk and 1 cup cream)

Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 Tablespoon butter

1. Arrange 1/2 of the bread cubes in a greased 9 x 13 pan.
2. Sprinkle cream cheese cubes and blueberries evenly over the bread cubes.
3. Top with remaining bread cubes.
4. Mix together eggs, milk, and syrup.
5. Pour over bread cubes and cover pan with foil. Let chill in refrigerator overnight.
6. Bake covered with foil at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until fluffy and golden. Top with sauce. Serves 8.

Sauce: Cook water, sugar, and cornstarch until thickened. Stir in blueberries and simmer for 10 minutes. Add butter and stir until melted. Serve over the french toast.

Crunchy Coated Bacon

From: Real Moms Kitchen                                              

• thick sliced bacon
• flour

1. Line a large cookie sheet with edge with parchment paper or tin foil
2. preheat oven to 350°
3. coat thick sliced bacon in flour
4. lay on cookie sheet (do not overlap)
5. bake for 30 mins. (start check at 20 minutes to see if it’s done you don’t want burnt bacon)

*Be very careful removing the pan from the oven.

STRAWBERRY DESERTS

While looking at my subscribed recipe sites today, I came across two wonderful Strawberry Cake recipes.  With strawberries in season i'm sure all of us would enjoy these recipes. I found them on Southern Plate. I'm sure Christie would appreciate you coming to her site for all of her wonderful recipes.  I'm going to enjoy these. How about you.?  

                                                    

Fresh Strawberry Pie

• 1 C sugar
• 1 C Water
• 3 T strawberry gelatin mix
• 1 Pint Fresh Strawberries
• 3 Heaping Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1 pie crust, cooked and cooled (The recipe for my crust may be found here I made a recipe and a half for a bit thicker crust)
  

Combine sugar, cornstarch, and dry gelatin mix by stirring well. Add water and cook until thick and clear over medium high heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Set aside and let cool. Wash and hull strawberries, cut in half and arrange over pie crust. When filling is cool, pour over strawberries and chill pie until ready to serve. Serve with whipped cream. Think of me when you eat a piece  

Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake

                                                               

• 1 pkg Angel Food Cake
• 1 pkg 3.5 ounce instant vanilla pudding mix (this is the small box and I always use sugar free)
• 2 C milk (can use skim)
• 1 (8 oz) carton whipped topping
• 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and hulled

Trim brown from cake. Tear cake into small pieces. Prepare pudding as directed. Fold in cool whip. Place 1/3 cake pieces in a bowl. Top with 1/3 pudding mixture and 1/2 strawberries. Repeat and top with remaining pudding mixture. Garnish with strawberry. Refrigerate. 

Aprons with pockets

Aprons with pockets

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Country Casserole

Country Casserole

One of my favorite sites is Southern Plate. She has such delicious recipes and I love to read about her family during the depression days.  This is one of her recipes.  Please go here to find more.

Country Casserole

2 cups small shell pasta, cooked and drained

3 cups frozen mixed vegetables, cooked and drained

2 cups shredded cheddar, divided

One can French fried onions, divided

2 cups shredded cooked chicken (can use canned chicken)

1 can cream of chicken soup

¼ cup milk

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine everything in a large bowl, reserving half of the cheese and half of the onions for topping later. Spoon into 9×13 casserole dish. Bake for twenty five minutes. Top with remaining onions and cheese, bake until cheese is melted, about five minutes more.

Freezing options: Instead of freezing this in your casserole dish, simply spoon it into a gallon ziploc bag. Lay the bag flat so that it will thaw out quicker and place it in your freezer. On the day you want it, take it out the night before and refrigerate or place in fridge that morning.

If you forget to do all of this, no sweat! Just microwave the bag until it thaws just a bit, pour into your casserole, and bake!

To bake a casserole that is still frozen, simply place in the oven while the oven preheats. This allows the casserole to thaw quickly and then bake to perfection!

VALENTINES DAY TREATS

Aw,  Valentine Day will be here soon.  Are your ready?  Have you chosen a card or gift for your favorite person?   How about some homemade cookies or a heart shaped cake or craft  something special.

Well, I am making  heart shaped cookies for my grandchildren to enjoy .  My husband also has a sweet tooth so I am making him a Texas Sheet Cake . 

Texas Sheet Cake       

By Diana  Rattray, About.com Guide

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• .
• Chocolate Frosting:
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 3 tablespoons buttermilk
• 2 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Preparation:

Cake Grease a 15X10X1-inch or jelly roll pan or a 13X9X2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a medium saucepan combine 1 cup butter, 1/3 cup cocoa, and 1 cup of water. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. With an electric hand-held mixer on medium speed, beat chocolate mixture into the dry mixture until thoroughly blended. Add eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat for 1 minute (batter will be thin). Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake in a 350° oven about 25 minutes for the 15X10-inch pan or 35 minutes for the 13X9-inch pan, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Pour warm chocolate frosting over the warm cake, spreading evenly. Place cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly before cutting. Makes 24 servings. Frosting: In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup butter or margarine, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, and 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat; add 2 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth. If desired, stir in 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans.

THIS CAKE IS SOOO GOOD!!!!!!!  YOU SHOULD TRY IT.

Now for my cookie recipe for my grandchildren:

Valentine's Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• Approximately 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Icing, recipe follows
• Silver balls
• Gold balls

Icing:

• 2 tablespoons egg whites*
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• Red food coloring

Directions

Cream the butter. Add the sugar and mix well. Add the egg, milk and vanilla and combine. Sift together 1 cup of the flour with the baking powder and mix it into the batter. Add some or all of the additional flour depending on how much the dough can handle. Form into a disk, cover in plastic and chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours. Roll out on a lightly floured surface about 1/4-inch thick. Cut out hearts with various sized cookie cutters and place on a greased sheet pan. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes until very light golden brown. Let cool on the pan.
Icing: Whisk together the egg whites and powdered sugar to form a slightly loose icing. It should flow a little bit but not too much. Transfer a small amount to a separate bowl and add a tiny amount of red food coloring to make pink icing. Pipe a rim of pink icing around the edge of the cookie and then fill in the center with white icing, or just pipe decorative designs on the surface. Embellish with silver or gold balls. Let dry and package up in cello bags tied with a ribbon.
Recipe from Food Network.

My Grandchildren and 1 Great grandson

        Halloween 2009                      

                         Christmas 2009

Sorry I have not posted in quite a while.  I have been busy keeping my grandson  who is 8 months old .  He is my son's youngest child.  He has two daughters age 16 and 13. I have been keeping Briar since he was born in May, 2009 and he is such a good baby. He has never been sick or had any of the baby problems.  He has his first tooth and is almost walking.  I love all of my granchildren as if they are my own.

I have another granddaughter  Nikki who is 20,  another grandson, Michael and his son, my greatgrandson Kingston.  They are all very precious to me and I love them so much.

Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies in a Jar

                           

Makes about 36

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 cup raisins

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour
                                                                                                                     
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix together flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart "wide mouth" canning jar. It will be a tight fit, make sure you firmly pack down each layer in place before adding the flour mixture. Find more recipes here

Instructions to attach to jar:

Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies

1. Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing
bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly blend mix.

2. Add: 3/4 cup butter or margarine softened at room temp. Stir in one egg, slightly beaten. Add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

3. Mix until completely blended. You may need to finish mixing with your hands.

4. Shape into balls the size of walnuts. Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart. DO NOT USE WAXED PAPER.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 11 to 13 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to baking racks to finish cooling.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

I ran across this bit of information on another site that may be of interest to you. It has helped me a lot.   It is a good idea to put a date on food when  you store it in the refrigerator and refer back to this list.   Thanks to Gail at dailyrecipe.com

ESTIMATED LEFTOVERS STORAGE TIME IN THE REFRIGERATOR


Cooked Food Item Refrigerator Storage Time

Roast turkey 3 to 4 days                                                              

Stuffing 1 to 2 days

Giblet Gravy 1 to 2 days

Canned Cranberry Sauce 5 to 7 days

Homemade Cranberry Relish 5 to 7 days

Roast Pork 2 to 4 days

Roast Beef/Veal/lamb 3 to 4 days

Baked ham 3 to 5 days

Meat w/ sauce or gravy 1 to 2 days

Cooked vegetables 3 to 5 days

Pumpkin pie 2 to 3 days

Fruit desserts/pie 3 to 5 days

*Seafood 1 to 2 days

Gumbo 1 to 2 days

Soups 2 to 3 days

*gail*

dailyrecipe.com

Peppermint Patty Brownies

1 box Betty Crocker® Gluten Free brownie mix

Butter and eggs as called for on brownie box

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract

2 1/2 to 3 cups gluten free powdered sugar

1 cup Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Line pan with aluminum foil; grease bottom of pan with shortening. Make and bake brownies as directed on box, using butter and eggs, for (8- or 9-inch) square pan. Cool 1 hour.

2. In medium bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk and peppermint extract. Beat in enough powdered sugar on low speed of electric mixer until blended and slightly crumbly. Turn mixture onto surface sprinkled with powdered sugar. Knead lightly to form a smooth ball. Pat mixture evenly over top of brownies.

3. Spread frosting over brownies. To serve, remove brownies from pan by lifting on aluminum foil; transfer to cutting board. With long sharp knife, cut into squares, 4 rows by 4 rows

http://www.bettycrocker.com/