Pecan Cranberry Jello

The holiday season is right around the corner so time to start posting recipes. This one is from my sister-in-law, Debi, who lives in Idaho.

Pecan Cranberry Jello

1 Pkg. 3 oz Cherry Jello
1 Pkg. 3 oz Orange Jello
1 Cup Boiling Water

Stir together until jello dissolves.

Add:

1 Can Whole or Jellied Cranberries
1 Can (15oz) Crushed Pineapple DRAINED
1 Cup Orange Juice
1/2 to 1 Cup Chopped Pecans

Refrigerate until jello is set.

If can't find Cherry Jello, use Raspberry instead.

Chickens and Snow

The calendar says April. Which should mean showers so we have May flowers. However, we are having snow. And wind. I went out to feed the animals and the chickens and waterfowl were running around out in the pen. The horses were the smart ones, they were staying in the barn.
So for supper tonight we had Jamaican Jerk chicken, couscous with pine nuts (don't be impressed, it was a mix) and steam in the bag brussel sprouts. Andy likes the sprouts. I made the chicken (store bought, I can't eat one of my birds) by pounding boneless,skinless chicken with grandma's meat tenderizing hammer and then sprinkling the chicken with jerk seasoning and fry/steaming it with a little bit of olive oil. For dessert we had Klondike bars.
I wanted to get a picture of the snow but the battery died in the camera and Alex took the last AA batteries for the Wii.

Smelling the country

Monday I took a goat and five ducks to the auction in the back of my Jeep Cherokee. I keep a plastic tray under the duck cage but sometimes they squirt. The goat, it wasn't mine, left some little presents. Suffice it to say the Jeep doesn't smell exactly fresh. So this morning I went to the feed store, stopped by the little grocery store and got some powdery air freshner and country pork ribs for supper tonight. Then went to the feed store. At the mill picking up my order, you could smell IT. The sheriff's department had just been there and disposed of a Skunk. I didn't really notice it until I got home and was emptying the hen scratch into the storage bins but the skunk smell was on the bags. Bff Magie uses the feed bags under her poultry cages. I don't think I'll be taking these bags to her.
Today is school volunteer day. Tonight we are having the ribs. My grandma used to boil them for hours with bay leaves, peppercorns and potatoes. I'm going to use the crock pot.

Hot Chicken Salad

This is my version of Paula Deen's recipe.

2 cups of cubed cooked chicken
2 shredded carrots
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. hot pepper flakes
small diced onion
3/4 c mayo
can of cream of broccoli soup
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
juice of one small lemon

***crushed Ritz crackers

Spray 13x9 pan with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients except crackers together in large bowl. Put mixture in pan and spread. Crumble Ritz crackers to lightly cover top. Bake 375* for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Peter and Alex liked it, even with the carrots in it.

Easy Buffalo Wings

This is our traditional Super Bowl dinner.

3/4 c. Flour
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t salt
20 chicken wings
1/2 c melted butter
1/2 c hot sauce

Line a pan with foil and spray with your favorite non-stick spray

Mix flour, cayenne pepper, garlic, salt. Add wings and toss to coat. Place on pan and refrigerate for 1 hour. Whisk butter and hot sauce together. Dip wings into sauce and put back on sheet. Bake 400* for 45 minutes.

Verda's Hominy Bake

When you're married you have to arrange holidays to fit all the relatives in. Since we had Christmas day with my MIL, we spent Christmas Sunday at my parent's house. Mom made this as part of the dinner. Since my dad is on blood thinner meds, he has to watch what he eats, but he can eat this. More interesting, Mr. Picky-eater Alex liked it.

1 large can of hominy
3-4 beaten eggs
grated cheddar cheese
1 can green chilies

Put hominy in 9x13 baking dish. Cover with cheese. Sprinkle with green chilies. Pour beaten eggs over the top and bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes.

Even with the green chilies, this was not spicy hot. My brother was going to try it with jalapenos.

From "Favorites from our Table"

Fast and Easy Meatloaf

1 1/2 lb ground beef
2 slices white bread, crusts removed, and cubed
1/4 c milk
1 egg
1 small onion grated
3/4 c breadcrumbs browned in 3 T butter
1/4 c chopped parsley
1 t. mixed dried herbs
Put beef in a bowl, soak bread in milk and add to beef along with egg, onion, herbs, salt and pepper. Combine lightly. Shape into 2 loaves and arrange in a greased baking dish (with sides) leaving a space in the middle. Brush tops with soy sauce and bake 350* for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile combine 16 oz can of crushed tomatoes, 1 t. sugar, 2 crushed garlic cloves, salt and pepper. Season with salt and pepper. After the meatloaf has baked for 45 minutes, spoon tomato mixture in the middle and sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake additional 15 minutes. Serves 6

Wassail for Kids

School parties start soon. Halloween followed by Christmas. Magie and I are the homeroom moms for the 3rd grade Christmas party. I'm thinking this recipe for their drink. See what Magie thinks.
1 qt apple cider
5 cloves
2 c. sugar
1 t ground nutmeg
1 -- 6 oz can orange juice
1 stick cinnamon

Boil cinnamon stick and cloves in 3 c. water and sugar. Cool. Mix juices. Add spiced sugar water when ready to serve. Heat but do not boil. Delicious served cold. Makes 50 servings so with only 12 kids in the class maybe a 1/4 of the recipe.

Chocolate Almond Sheet Cake

I found this recipe in a cookbook which I received as a wedding present. It's easy to make and the boys like it. So they like any type of dessert.

3/4 c butter or margarine
1 c water
1/4 c baking cocoa
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
2 c sugar
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla
1 t almond extract

Bring butter, water and cocoa to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, soda, and salt. Beat in cocoa mixture. Add eggs, milk and extracts. Pour into greased sheet cake pan. Bake at 350* for 20-28 minutes depending on your altitude. Cool for 10 minutes. While the cake is cooling make the frosting. Put 1/2 c butter and 1/4 c milk in a saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until butter melts. Remove from the heat and add 3 c confectioners sugar, 1/4 c baking cocoa and 1 t vanilla. Beat well. Spread over warm cake.
This does really well for church potlucks and family get togethers.

Sun Dill Pickles

We were at brunch at my MILs today and we got to discussing stoves and the fact that you can't can properly with a glass top. The conversation came around to discussing the sun dill pickles so I thought I would share it today. By the way the melons from Rocky Ford are available and they are extra good this year.

Place 1 quart of water, 1 quart of cider vinegar and 1/2 cup of pickling salt into large saucepan. Heat slowly until boiling. Put 3 garlic cloves and 2-3 chunks of onions into a quart jar (this recipe makes 4 quarts). Add 2-3 sprigs of dillweed to each jar. Fill each jar with sliced cucumbers. Pour hot liquid over cucumbers to the top of the jar. Seal and set in the sun for 6 days. Rotate 1/4 turn each day. After 6 days store 4-6 months in cool place for best results.

Spicy Wings

Melissa and I made this recipe for supper on Saturday night. I also make this for the Super Bowl dinner.
3/4 c flour
2 T seasoned salt
1 t. pepper
dash of onion powder

I used two packages of chicken wings with this recipe. Dredge the chicken in the above mixture. put on rack and refrigerate for one hour. Mix together 1 cup of chipolte sauce and 3 T butter. Melt together. Baste chicken wings with hot sauce and bake for 1 hour at 400*
Peter is having the three leftover wings for his lunch tomorrow.

Chicken Wraps

So last night after spending the day in the hospital, I wanted to fix something quick and easy for supper. Alex thought it looked "gross" and wouldn't eat it.
I found the original recipe on a package of chopped cabbage and tweaked it a bit.
Cook 2 chopped green peppers in pan. Add small package of chopped cabbage (or chop it yourself) Add 4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts. Saute all until veggies are soft. Add teriyaki sauce to taste. Heat for a few minutes more. Wrap in flour tortilla and serve. Peter liked this so he's having leftovers for lunch today.

Pork chops and rice casserole

Last night we had supper at the MILs and she fixed this-

5 thin cut pork loin chops
2 cans consomme
1 t. thyme
1 t. marjoram
1 c. uncooked rice
Place rice in bottom of casserole dish. Brown pork chops well in skillet with a little grease (oil). Place in casserole. Salt and pepper lightly. Sprinkle with thyme and marjoram. Put thin slices of tomatoes, onions and green peppers on each pork chop. Pour consomme over all. Bake at 325* for 1 1/2 hours or until rice is done and liquid is absorbed.

Radio Pudding

Many year ago my Grandma Smith was listening to the radio and heard this recipe broadcast. She missed the name of the dessert so the family knows it as "Radio Pudding."

Make a syrup out of:
1 c. sugar
2 c. water
1/8 t. salt
Put into baking dish

Cream together 1/2 c. sugar and 1 T. butter. Add 1/2 c. milk alternately with mix of 1 c. flour, 2 t. baking powder, 1 T cocoa. Add 1/2 c. raisins and drop by spoonfuls into hot syrup.

Bake 350* for 25 minutes. Serve with whipped topping. Recipe makes 6-8 servings, in a 9x9 pan. Double for 9x13 pan.

We have had this for many family get togethers, mostly holidays. And there's never any leftovers.

Our church is celebrating it's Centennial. We are putting together a cookbook. This is one of the recipes that I'm submitting.

Meatloaf

My mom gave me a recipe for meatloaf. I made a few changes to fit my pantry.

1 1/2 lb hamburger
1 small can 8 oz tomato sauce
dash of salt
dash of pepper
1 cup of oats uncooked

mix everything except the meat. Add in the meat. Place into loaf pan. Cook 350* for 50 minutes, let sit for 5 minutes before cutting.

We had this for Easter dinner with scalloped potatoes and green beans with leftover Easter cake.