Sliced banana, spread nut butter on outside, roll in chia seeds, coconut, crushed pretzels, or walnuts. Serve.
Sausage & Kale Soup
1 pound Hillshire Smoked Sausage, cut into 1/4-inch half-moon slices
3 medium Yukon Gold or red potatoes, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 bunch kale, trimmed and chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 bay leaves
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans or chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 carton (32 ounces) chicken broth (or more)
Toss is all in a soup pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes (until potatoes and onions are cooked through). Discard the bay leaves….or give a special dessert to the person who finds one in their bowl!
Original idea for the recipe (this one has been modified) was originally published as Sausage and Kale Soup in Country Extra September 2007, p51
Chicken & Mushrooms (Variation on Mrs. Wenger’s Chicken)
4 skin-on chicken breasts
salt & pepper
olive oil
16 oz mushrooms, sliced thickly
3/4 cup chicken stock approx.
3T butter
1T corn starch
3 cloves, minced garlic
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Season chicken on all sides with salt and ground black pepper.
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in an ovenproof skillet. Place chicken skin-side down in skillet and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Turn chicken over; stir mushrooms with a pinch of salt into skillet.
- Transfer skillet to the preheated oven and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 15 to 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 165 degrees F. Transfer chicken breasts to a plate and loosely tent with foil; set aside.
- Set skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat; cook and stir mushrooms until brown bits start to form on the bottom of the pan, toss in minced garlic, about 5 minutes. Pour chicken stock into the skillet, and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits off of the bottom of the pan. Make a slurry of corn starch and chicken stock, pour into mixture. Stir. Add butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Set chicken and any accumulated juices into mushrooms gravy.
- Season with salt and pepper. Serve over egg noodles.
NOTES: Think about serving over farro or other whole grain to make healthier.
Granola (adapted for our family from Tammy’s Recipes)
Granola
Yield:
10 cups
Ingredients:
6 c rolled oats
1/2 c brown sugar (or better yet, maple sugar…slightly less is necessary)
3/4 c wheat germ
1/2 c flaked coconut
1/4 c sesame seeds (skip most of the time)
1 c chopped walnuts, almonds, pecans, golden flax seeds, or raw sunflower seeds (I use walnuts or almonds and sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and ground flax and I use more than a cup total…probably closer to 2 cups total)
1/2 c nonfat dry milk
2/3 c honey (or better yet, maple syrup, use same amount)
2/3 c vegetable oil (I prefer canola oil…it is healthier)
2 T water (I just use milk instead of water here and if things seem too dry because of added nuts etc, add another one tablespoon)
1 1/2 t vanilla (not necessary if you are going for maple flavor, but add equal amount of milk instead)
1 c raisins (Don’t add until serving)
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl combine oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and nonfat dry milk (in other words, all the dry stuff).
2. Combine honey, oil, water, and vanilla (all the wet stuff). Add to oat mixture and mix thoroughly.
3. Turn into two large shallow greased baking pans or cookie sheets. Heat in 300 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until lightly toasted. Stir twice during heating.
4. Let cool for 15 minutes after removing from the oven and then stir again. Store in tightly sealed container. Add raisins before serving, or not at all.
Additional Notes:
Granola will be “wet” even when it is done baking. It doesn’t dry out or become crispy until it is cooling. So don’t worry if it looks like it didn’t turn out!
If stored in a sealed container or bag, away from sunlight or humidity, your granola will last a number of weeks. Granola may also be frozen for longer storage.
This recipe can be totally adapted using different nuts and seeds.
I usually double this recipe because it goes over really well. Also, this is a hearty breakfast and will keep an adult satisfied until lunch!
Hearty Beef Stew ( modified Martha Stewart recipe)
Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes with green chiles
Coarse salt and pepper
3/4 pound small potatoes, halved
2 medium onions, large chop
1/4 lb peas
3-4 carrots, large pieces
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large heavy pot, toss beef with flour. Stir in tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high, transfer to oven, and cook 1 hour. Stir in potatoes, carrots & onions and cook until beef and veggies are tender, about 1 hour more. Stir in peas and let sit 5 minutes before serving.
This can also be made in the slow-cooker…5 hrs on high.
Potato Casserole with Bacon and Carmelized Onion (untested, Dave wants to try, America’S Test Kitchen)
3 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large onion, halved and sliced thin
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/4 cups beef broth
3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
Instructions
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease 13 by 9-inch baking dish.
2. Cook bacon in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until crisp, 10 to 13 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel–lined plate. Remove and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot. Return pot to medium heat and add onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is soft and golden brown, about 25 minutes, adjusting heat and adding water 1 tablespoon at a time if onion or bottom of pot becomes too dark. Transfer onion to large bowl; add bacon, thyme, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Add broths to now-empty saucepan and bring to simmer over medium-high heat, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits.
3. Slice potatoes 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to bowl with onion mixture and toss to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Firmly press down on mixture to compress into even layer. Carefully pour hot broth over top of potatoes. Dot surface evenly with butter.
4. Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and golden brown on edges and most of liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let stand for 20 minutes to fully absorb broth before cutting and serving.
French Style Pan Roasted Pork Loin (untested, America’s Test Kitchen recipe)
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 2 pieces
6 garlic cloves, sliced thin
1 (2 1/2-pound) boneless center-cut pork loin roast, trimmed
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons herbes de Provence
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 onion, chopped fine
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1/4-3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 225 degrees. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in 8-inch skillet over medium-low heat. Add half of garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer mixture to bowl and refrigerate.
2. Position roast fat side up. Insert knife one-third of way up from bottom of roast along 1 long side and cut horizontally, stopping ½ inch before edge. Open up flap. Keeping knife parallel to cutting board, cut through thicker portion of roast about ½ inch from bottom of roast, keeping knife level with first cut and stopping about ½ inch before edge. Open up this flap. If uneven, cover with plastic wrap and use meat pounder to even out. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon salt over both sides of loin (½ tablespoon per side) and rub into pork until slightly tacky. Sprinkle sugar over inside of loin, then spread with cooled toasted garlic mixture. Starting from short side, fold roast back together like business letter (keeping fat on outside) and tie with twine at 1-inch intervals. Sprinkle tied roast evenly with herbes de Provence and season with pepper.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until just smoking. Add roast, fat side down, and brown on fat side and sides (do not brown bottom of roast), 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to large plate. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, apple, and onion; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is softened and browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in remaining sliced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in wine, thyme, and bay leaf; cook for 30 seconds. Return roast, fat side up, to pot; place large sheet of aluminum foil over pot and cover tightly with lid. Transfer pot to oven and cook until pork registers 140 degrees, 50 to 90 minutes (short, thick roasts will take longer than long, thin ones).
4. Transfer roast to carving board, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes. While pork rests, sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup chicken broth and let sit until gelatin softens, about 5 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf from jus. Pour jus into 2-cup measuring cup and, if necessary, add chicken broth to measure 1¼ cups. Return jus to pot and bring to simmer over medium heat. Whisk softened gelatin mixture, remaining 1 tablespoon butter, and parsley into jus and season with salt and pepper to taste; remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Slice pork into 1/2-inch-thick slices, adding any accumulated juices to sauce. Serve pork, passing sauce separately.
Blueberry Shredded Wheat Muffins (untested, online source)
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. crushed shredded wheat
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 c. milk
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. blueberries
1 tbsp. lemon juice
Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in cereal. Add egg, milk, and oil. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in blueberries and lemon juice. Fill greased 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 inch muffin pans about 2/3 full. Bake at 400 degrees until done and browned, 18-20 minutes. Yields 12 muffins.
Copy Cat McSkillet Burrito (untested, from “Daring to Cook”)
Copy Cat Skillet Burritos
12 eggs
3 regular size cans enchilada sauce
4 medium (fist sized) potatoes, baked and cooled
12 sausage patties
4 cups shredded cojack or cheddar cheese or cheese to taste – make sure you don’t put on too much or you won’t be able to shut the burrito!
12 burrito size flour tortillas
12 paper towels
2 gallon freezer bags
Thicken the enchilada sauce by simmering gently until it is reduced by 1/3 and is about the consistency of barbeque sauce.
Scramble the eggs.
Dice the potatoes into bite size pieces.
Cut the sausage patties in half.
Lay out a paper towel. Lay a tortilla on the paper towel. In a line down the middle of the tortilla, leaving an inch and a half or so of room on either end, start the layers. Two sausage halves laid end to end, then a single line of potato pieces, 1/4 cup of scambled egg, 2-3 T thickened enchilada sauce and 1/3 cup shredded cheese. Fold one side over the line of filling, then fold in the ends to seal in the line of filling, then roll over to form a burrito. Repeat the wrapping procedure with the paper towel around the burrito.
Continue the process 11 more times to make a total of 12 skillet burritos.
The burritos can be put directly into gallon freezer bags. To reheat, microwave for 2 minutes or so on high straight from the freezer. You’ll need to experiment a little with your own microwave to figure out the exact timing.
Banana Bread-Perfected Recipe for Our Family
3 sticks of butter
4 cups AP flour
1 1/2 t salt
1 t baking soda (maybe 1/4 t more too)
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 large eggs
6 very ripe bananas
1+cup(s) chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray/butter 2 loaf pans and set aside. In mixer, mush around your butter. Add sugar and cream together. Let the mixer go on high until the mixture is very pale yellow and fluffy. Scrap sides of bowl, mix in one egg at a time until combined. Now, against the wisdom of other recipes, I add the bananas here. Also, I put the baking soda and salt in now and mix everything together. Then with the mixer on low, I add one cup of flour at a time just until everything is combined. Toss your walnuts in with that last cup of flour and you at ready for the pans. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached. Set pans on a cooling rack for ten minutes and then remove from pans and continue cooling.
We store our banana bread in the refrigerator for up to a week or pop it in the freezer for a later date!