Joy in the Kitchen!

Octodogs make lunchtime fun for kids and little work for Mom!  You can serve a variety of things with it, today we chose ramen noodles. Jaylyn (8) can cook ramen noodles by herself and she helped by doing these. The girls thought the ramen looked like water. (If we had added green food coloring, it would have been great seaweed!) Here are your directions: For each octodog, use a paring knife to make a cut lengthwise - all but about an inch.  Turn and make 3 more cuts lengthwise for the tentacles. I do realize that this actually makes a Hexadog, but it doesn't sound as cool! :)  IF you use jumbo sized hot dogs, you can get 4 cuts in, making 8 tentacles.  Bring a pan of water to a boil.  Drop the hot dogs in and cook for 5 minutes or so until it's heated good.  The tentacles will curl up while it cooks. If you don't mind your child being close to the stove, let them watch - it's almost magic! Prepare your side dishes.  Use tongs to lift your octodo...

My young chefs were up early and eager to get in the kitchen this morning!   We tried something new today.  Breakfast Pizza!  I've seen something similar in McKay's Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook.  They used bread dough and pressed onto a full sized pizza pan.  WE did our own thing and made individual pizza's using Pillsbury Grands biscuits.   We decided, after trying these, we'd DEFINITELY do them again! (the girls were SO sad Daddy wasn't here to share our fun and yummy food.)  We also decided that one individual pizza is a lot for a little girl, so next time they'd split one. :) (I have to confess here... I spent a lot of time thinking it would sure be easier to just have bacon, hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, and bicuits separately.... BUT, as the girls were assembling these, it was so much fun to hear their exclamations of "Man!  These are gonna be GOOD!" and "I can't wait to eat these!" and "I wish Daddy was here,...

Cinnamon-sugary and crisp, Snickerdoodles are quite a treat!  These cookies are easy to mix up and kids love to help shape each ball and roll it in cinnamon sugar before baking.  Your kids can help more or less depending on their age and skill level.  McKay (13) could easily mix these up & bake them by himself.  He hangs out in the kitchen with me quite a bit and is comfortable using the mixer and old enough to use the oven.  Jaylyn & Nicole (6 & 8) are much less experienced so I stand right with them (breathing down their little necks lol) while they use the mixer, and I take the hot cookies out of the oven. (my 8 year old carefully puts them in the oven)  Yes, these cookies mix up MUCH quicker and with less mess when you just do it yourself, but what a wonderful opportunity to teach and laugh with your children if you let them help!  Don't forget to teach about securing long hair into a ponytail & handwashing! If your children are ...

My children are out of school the next 2 weeks for potato harvest. (Spud Harvest in Idaho lingo. lol )  We're going to spend some of our time off having FUN in the kitchen!  Stay tuned for recipes and activities that you can enjoy with your Kids in the Kitchen !   Some of the things we're looking forward to are:  Snickerdoodles, Octodogs, Purple Cow Shakes, Food Storage Mosaics, polka-dot pizzas, and more! Here are two of my helpers in the kitchen... though I doubt they'll be wearing their dance costumes this week.  (Ds13 will be helping as well, he's already a pretty terrific cook)   While you're here on my blog, be sure to vote in the poll at the top of the page on the right.  Let me know what you'd be interested in seeing!

My Sister-in-law Lanette makes THE BEST Cinnamon Rolls! She gave me her recipe a long time ago, and now, after a little practice, I make pretty darn good cinnamon rolls too! I make these large, about lunch plate sized. You should get about 24 large cinnamon rolls. The recipe works best with a heavy duty mixer that can handle 10 cups or more of flour or cut the ingredients in half for a smaller (4-quart) Kitchen Aid type machine or to do by hand. Lanette's Cinnamon Rolls 3 ½ C. warm water 1 C. oil 6 T. yeast (I use instant yeast) ¾ C. sugar Mix together and let set 15 minutes. Add: 3 beaten eggs 2 tsp. salt 10 C. flour (no more than 11) (The dough will be a tad sticky, but will be easy to handle once it's ready to roll out.) Knead 10 minutes in mixer. Oil or flour counter (I prefer to lightly oil it and sometimes I put a little flour on top of that) Roll out to ¾ in thick. You'll get a rectangle about 26 inches by 18 inches. Spread with 1 cube melted ma...

My husband is a great cook.  In fact, when we got married, he was a better cook than I.  Since I made less of a mess when cooking though and had more time, I got the job. :) (and in my defense, I've gotten pretty decent at cooking in the past 20 some odd years! lol)  Dave does a lot of dutch oven cooking.  This recipe was invented specifically for that, but I do it in the oven or on the stovetop all the time.  You almost can't compare it to regular chili, this dish is loaded with beef, sausage & beans.  I'm drooling just thinking about it. When you're ready for a hearty meal that'll warm you from the inside out, give Grand West Chili a try! Grand West Chili If you've got a cast iron dutch oven (Dave uses a 12" deep) especially one with a flat bottom, it'll work great in your oven.  Otherwise, use a nice sized pot on the stove top.  We're talking a 6 quart pot or so. (I haven't tried this in my  roaster oven, but I think it would wo...

Celebrate fall by enjoying these moist apple muffins!  Muffins are a quick and easy breakfast!  These Cinnamon Streusel Apple Muffins use fresh apples which are abundant this time of year.  I double this recipe and freeze half.  (back in the old days, when we had 7 kids at home, we ate a double recipe of this... ahhh the memories)  The apple in these muffins keeps them really moist. Cinnamon Streusel Apple Muffins 2 C. flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 C. sugar 3/4 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt 1 C. milk 1 egg, beaten 1/4 C. butter or margarine, melted 1 C. apple, peeled, cored, and chopped Heat oven to 400.  Grease 12 muffin cups.  Stir together all dry ingredients in one bowl, mix together the milk, egg & butter in another bowl.  Stir the two together.  Fold in chopped apples.  Spoon batter into muffin cups and top with the following streusel topping: Streusel Topping 1 T. softened butter 3 T. sugar 1 T. brown sugar...

My husband and I have been "dating" again. :)  We've reserved Friday nights for our date night.  I quit working last year when we adopted our baby, we have a daughter in college, 4 children at home, paying off our adoption debt,  our budget, both financially and timewise are stretched.  We are becoming creative at finding inexpensive activities.  This last Friday was one of those that were fun and inexpensive. (actually it was FREE! My favorite cost!) I forgot to take pictures.  I am so sad.  You'll just have to form a picture in your mind I guess.  I hunted through our freezers and found one lone cornish game hen. (from 2 Christmas's ago lol)  I stuffed that hen with 3 fresh cloves of garlic & sprinkled a grill seasoning on the outside and set it on the grill for 20 minutes.  In the meantime, I cut 2 small zucchini lengthwise into wedges, sprinkled it with olive oil and a vegetable seasoning mix (which contains oregano, basil, ga...

Brownies are good in and of themselves, add a glass of ice cold milk and you have a little piece of heaven. (you're probably beginning to see my addiction to chocolate by now lol )  I took a basic cake-like brownie recipe and added a cream cheese layer dotted with chocolate chips.  They stay moist and taste WONDERFUL!  It is definitely one of our family favorites! Cream Cheese Brownies 2 C. sugar 1/3 C. baking cocoa 1 C. of margarine or butter (be sure it's the 100% margarine and not that 70% stuff or the texture is off) 4 large eggs 2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. salt 1 3/4 C. flour Mix sugar, cocoa and margarine until creamed well.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until blended with sugar.  Add salt and flour, mix just until smooth.  (I've noticed if I over mix it at this point, the brownies puff up a lot and then fall as they cool)   Grease 9x13 pan and spread batter in it evenly. IF YOU WANT PLAIN BROWNIES......   bake it at this po...

Apples are abundant and inexpensive right now. We have our own trees, so in the fall I'm always looking for ways to serve apples. This dip is one of our family favorites. I'm amazed at how many apple slices the kids will eat with this dip versus eating them plain. Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip 1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened 1/3 C. brown sugar 1 tsp. caramel or vanilla flavoring. Mix the above together until the sugar is dissolved. Chill until ready to serve. Joy's Note: We almost always use apples with this, but it would be great with a variety of fresh fruit. (or even spread on a bagel!) ALSO, I've added a few good sized spoonfuls of sour cream and another few Tablespoons of sugar to this for a thinner dip.

I confess , I'm not a huge pie lover....   I've never cared for double crust pies, unless they're smothered with ice cream.   I do enjoy cream type pies however, banana and chocolate being my favorite.   This Colorado Peach Cream Pie is a wonderful, wonderful way to use fresh peaches!  I found the recipe years ago in a Farm Woman newsletter. (Actually, I think it was one of those letters trying to get you to subscribe to their magazine.)  You can serve this warm or cold, I prefer it cold. (Probably from snitching leftovers out of the fridge the next day.)  It does take a little time, but well worth it!  Let me know what you think when you try it!   --> Colorado Peach Cream Pie Crust: ½ C. butter 1 ½ C. flour ½ tsp. salt Cut butter into flour and salt.  Press into a 9-inch pie plate. Filling : 4 C. fresh, sliced peaches 1 C. sugar, divided 2 T. flour 1 egg ¼ tsp. salt ½ tsp. va...

One of my favorite things to can is salsa.  I can adjust how hot it is to our families taste, I can use vegetables we grow ourselves.  Mainly though, it's easy and it TASTES TERRIFIC!  This recipe made 25 pints today. :)  It may make less if you have a lot of "tasters" helping out. These are going to look fabulous on my storage room shelf.  :) (at least they will look fabulous until they're gone ) Salsa 9 Quarts peeled & diced tomatoes 6 C. chopped onion 6 C. diced green pepper 1 12 oz can pickled jalapeno's, sliced (find in hispanic section of grocery) 2 1/2 C. white vinegar 1/4 C. sugar 1/2 C. salt 1/2 tsp dried red pepper (I leave this out because we don't like it hot) 2 cans diced green chilis 4 cloves garlic diced 1 bunch cilantro (I use 1/2 a bunch) 1 Anaheim pepper (option if you want more heat) 4 tsp. cumin 4 tsp. oregano cook 2 hours uncovered and add: 3 large cans tomato paste Pour into pint jars & waterbath for 20 m...

I love harvesting from our garden right now.  A few vegetables are done producing, but most are still on.  (where we live anyway)  I'm always looking for ways to use zucchini and a frittata is a great way to enjoy it!  I looked on Wikipedia and it says that a frittata is a type of Italian omelet.  I didn't know that, I only remember my cousins wife who is from Spain, showing me how to make a potato frittata when I was young(er).  This is more directions than a recipe.  Play with it and make it your own. :) Zucchini Frittata zucchini eggs salt & pepper tomato for garnish if desired For just myself for lunch I use an 8 inch cast iron skillet, enough slices of zucchini to make 2 layers and 3 eggs. (Yes, I'll probably die from high cholesterol, but so far so good... and I don't eat 3 eggs every day)  If you have a mind to share your frittata (to each his own!), cut it into wedges like a pie and serve. Heat your pan on medium....

Buttermilk Syrup is.... well, WONDERFUL!  As promised in my previous blog, here's our family's favorite pancake syrup.  We mostly make it on special occasions.  My brothers family started making this syrup a few years ago at our family reunion and now it's considered tradition.  :)   The syrup isn't as sweet as regular maple flavored syrup.  Give it a try... you may be as surprised as I was at how good it is! Buttermilk Syrup 1 lb. butter 1 pint buttermilk 2 C. sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp baking soda Mix all ingredients EXCEPT baking soda in LARGE pan.  Bring to a boil stirring occasionally.  Turn off heat.  Add baking soda and stir. (It will really bubble up in the pan when you add the soda)  Serve immediately with pancakes.

My children love pancakes!  I'd never really loved them until I found this recipe.  It is so light and tender!  I pour out about 1/2 C. of batter and spread for nearly plate sized pancakes.  I included my syrup recipe as well.  I love how home made syrup soaks right into your pancake.  Mmmm!  My brother also introduced us to Buttermilk Syrup which is sinful!  It deserves its own post so watch for that coming up! Once you try these a mix just won't compare! Buttermilk Pancakes 2 C. flour 1 tsp. salt 1 1/4 tsp baking soda 3/4 tsp. baking powder 2 T. sugar 2 lg. eggs, unbeaten 2 C. buttermilk 1/4 C. margarine or butter, melted Mix all ingredients (will be lumpy and very thick) and fry on a hot skillet (about 375 if you have an electric griddle - or on my electric stove, just around medium).  Serve with butter and syrup! Joy's Note:  I usually like to add 2-4 T. of regular milk to thin it enough to spread easily. Home...

Dave's Grandma was a wonderful baker.  I remember several years at Fair time, she'd bake LOTS of different cookies for a cookie jar contest and enter those in the fair.  She was the Cookie Grandma... always chocolate chip cookies in the jar when anyone came to visit.  These Killer Brownies are one of her recipes.  They are a little more work than the brownies I usually make, but well worth the few minutes extra they take.   Killer Brownies 2 C. flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt  1 C. butter or margarine 2 C. brown sugar 2 tsp. vanilla 3 eggs 1 C. nuts (optional) Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix in dry ingredients and nuts.  Divide batter in half.  Melt 2 squares of baking chocolate and blend into one half of batter.  Spread chocolate mixture on the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan.  Spread the plain half of the mixture on top of the chocolate.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.  Cool a...

We LOVE a good cup of hot chocolate on a cool morning! Or for a bedtime treat! Or after playing outside in the cold! It's just starting to be cool enough in the morning to start serving hot chocolate at our house. Hooray! Most of the time I use an all in one mix (I'll post a recipe for that another time) that you just add to water. It's okay... but my favorite is this kind made fresh. Honestly, you just have to play with this recipe and adjust it to your taste. There wasn't a recipe to begin with... I learned to mix the sugar and cocoa "To just the right color" by watching my Mother. The recipe below is my best calculations of sugar & cocoa to get the "right color". LOL I mix up quite a bit of sugar & cocoa and just keep it in the cupboard. Then all I have to do it warm the milk & add sugar/cocoa mixture until it tastes right. Here's enough recipe to get you started. Enjoy! 3 quarts milk (or the equivalent of that usin...

My Mom didn't care for garlic and I grew up not really knowing what it tasted like. In my own kitchen, I often use garlic. I love it! These potatoes make an easy side dish, I use red potatoes most often, but if they're not available pretty much any type of potato would do. (I guess I haven't tried sweet potatoes lol but you just never know!) I don't have exact amounts because I just cut potatoes until the pan looks right... you can't really do it wrong. 6 fist sized red potatoes (or however many it takes to make a nice layer in your 9x13 pan) 3-4 cloves of garlic minced 1/4 - 1/2 C. butter salt & pepper Spray your 9x13 pan. Cut potatoes into chunks and spread out in pan. You want to keep them fairly shallow so they'll crisp up a bit as they cook. Melt butter in a small saucepan and saute' garlic for a few minutes. Pour butter mixture over potatoes & stir them around so they're coated well. Sprinkle salt generously over the pot...

We grill a lot more than burgers at our house! (though you'd hardly know that this summer :) ) We have a Holland Grill it is different in ways from a regular gas grill in that it has a diffuser plate that keeps the flames from actually touching the food, and more evenly distributes the heat. I've baked bread, cupcakes, brownies and roasted turkeys on this grill. I love it! ANYWAY... (I do get carried away about the Holland grill. LOL )... These marinated pork chops grill up fast & easy. I love the tangy taste the orange juice gives. Hope you love them! These pork chops would be fine baked in the oven as well as grilled, and you could easily substitute boneless skinless chicken breasts for the pork chops. 4-8 Pork Chops - boneless or bone-in, any cut Marinade: 1/3 C. orange juice concentrate 1/3 C. water 3 T. soy sauce 3 cloves of garlic, minced 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 T. olive oil Put pork chops in zip lock gallon baggie, or large bowl with a lid that sea...

When I was young, our Saturday or sometimes Sunday evening meal would be a bowl of bread and milk. If it was summertime and the garden was on, Mom usually served radishes and green onions with it. I loved hearing Dad talk about eating bread and milk when he was a boy. Ahhhhh.... a delicious connection with the past. We don't always use bread and milk for dinner. Most often for us it's a snack or for myself, a breakfast. I had to chuckle when we took our dd18 to college, she was a bit nervous about getting to know her roommates. I spoke with her on the phone the next day and she said "Mom, I think I'm going to like Ashlynn, I saw her eating bread and milk." :) If you've never treated yourself to this simple dish, here are the directions: Break a slice or two of bread (I prefer home made white, but any will do) into a nice, large cereal/soup bowl. Pour milk over the bread and then drizzle with honey. Enjoy a simple and satisfying meal or snack. Y...