Dark Chocolate Mini Cakes (makes 18)

1)   Mix together:

1 box brownie mix (19oz)

2 eggs

2 sticks melted butter

1/3 cup very hot water

3 TBSP instant coffee (or use 1/3 c very strong brew coffee- HOT)

2)   Bake in lined muffin tin at 350 for 10 minutes.  Makes 18 mini cakes if filled a little past half way.

They will be slightly soft in the middle.  Once cooled, this makes for a semi-molten center.

DARK CHOCOLATE ICING

3)   Mix together with electric mixer:

1/2 stick butter, melted

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla

enough powdered sugar to make a thick icing that will hold it’s shape.

4)   Place in icing bag with wide tip (or ziplock sandwich bag and cut small corner off). Squeeze out icing in a spiral(like a snake) ending in the center.  

5)   TOP with raspberries stuffed with chocolate chips (stick one or two chocolate chips in the hole of the raspberry).  

Ok so I must add this initial disclaimer. If you are from the “north” this may not come as “variety” to you, I am pretty sure that narrows down the list to my sister-in-law, Michelle, our friends the Nelsons, and my immediate family.  But since most folk we know are of the mid-west or southern persuasion, we thought THIS would add some variety to your “side dish” at dinner time.

“Salt Potatoes”- an common dish eaten by salt miners in days past, now loved by many O’ New Yorkers!

Ingredients:

• one bag of “salt potatoes” (if you don’t live in new york, then your grocery store calls them “baby” potatoes- they used to call them “grade B” potatoes my first year I lived in MO, but then suddenly they we re-labeled with a new price tag as “baby potatoes” as if that made them sound fancier)
• 1 cup coarse salt
• 1 large pot boiling water
• melted butter

Add salt to water, boil, add potatoes, cook  until fork tender. Leave the potatoes whole- they should be about bite size.

Melt butter to dunk the potatoes in. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm a yummy yankee side dish! Seriously, I could eat this with fresh corn on the cob and be done!

Salt and Vinegar “chips”-  Since I spent most of my summer weekends pretending to be canadian with my friend Laura, I just LOVE vinegar on my “chips” which are really fried potatoes (any way you slice them is fine) Personally, I haven’t met a potato that I don’t like.

Ingredients:

• 1 large potato per person eating- sliced like very thick potato chips
• 2 cups vinegar (more if you are feelin’ really northern, eh)
• large pot boiling water
• salt and pepper
• olive or veggie oil

Add vinegar to water, par- boil potato slices- about 5 minutes.

Drain.  toss potatoes in oil- lightly

Lay out on greased cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with salt AND pepper

Broil on high 7-10 minutes (or more for extra crunchy)

Eat and enjoy. (oh, and to be more northern you can add additional malt vinegar before eating- but NOT ketchup)

Happy Belated Columbus Day!!!
 

Pizza Dip:

Ok- so I found this recipe on line and it is soooooooo yummy!!!! Served with fresh flat bread. I just make dough like I am going to make pizza crust. Sprinkle it with olive oil and salt. Bake.

I altered the original recipe that I found online.  I needed it to be more big family friendly- plus who wants to run out of something so yummy.  Better to have left overs than not enough!

Dandelion Jelly

It tastes just like honey, really it does.  Now I know there a just a few “bee lovers” reading this blog entry, so I challenge you to make some and do a taste test for yourself!  Let us know your thoughts.  As for us, non-bee loving folk, we think it tastes like honey!

Directions for fun:

Set children loose in dandelion infested lawn (free from little doggie piles )  Arm them with clean buckets and instruct them to attack all dandelions in sight.  Grabbing only the “head” and pluck with all your might!  Fill buckets.  Return home.

Ok, Now take them inside and cut off the little stems.  We just held on to the pedals and snipped off the stem that holds them together.  Place all the pedals in a large pot, add 5 cups boiling water. Cover and let “steep” (to make dandelion tea) over night.  Overnight is good because then it is stronger. Extra tea can be used as….tea! Just add sugar and serve over ice.

The next day, drain the tea .  We put a large coffee filter in our pasta strainer.  Discard the pedals, keep the tea. You need 3 cups of tea in the end. Proceed to making the jelly by combining tea, with 5 cups sugar, 2 Tbsp lemon juice (don’t skip this or your pectin wont work- pectin needs acid to set up), 1 box powdered pectin.  Now I doubled this recipe.  I made one big pot of tea, but then divided it to make the jelly in two batches.  For some strange reason every time I try to double jelly recipes they don’t set-up as well. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Put into jars, process ten minutes in boiling water canner.  Or stick it in your fridge and pass it out as a fun gift.

Two things.  First, I found the recipe on www.simplycanning.com  they have tons of great ideas for summer fun.  Second, although they are not pictured here, the boys did participate. They ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and collected some dandelions along the way

After a good dousing with the hose or sprinkler, comes CREATIVITY to the rescue!!!

Could they be octopus? A squid? Tails of some odd creature? How did they get there? How did she do that? Oh, I love to watch their wheels churn.  In the end, I finally told them how it was done. Easy peasy FUN!

Here’s the creativity secret………….drum roll please……………….

spaghetti stuck through a hot dog! Not rocket science, but brilliant (I found the idea on line) Boil and enjoy.  No need for butter, the hot dog “juice” takes are of that. Adults beware- the pasta tastes like a hot dog too!!!  See my one step tutorial below

In this recipe you have to give up those buttery, crispy edges around the circle of your pancake from frying them in butter….but you get a lot less stress, less dishes, no smoky kitchen, and you can actually leave the kitchen!!! A good trade in my book!

Recipe:

any pancake mix you like.  :)

I use TWO very large cookie bar pans (the kind with short sides).  Spray them VERY WELL with pan spray. Pour your pancake mix onto the sheets.  Bake in oven until done….about 10-15 minutes depending on the kind of mix you use and the flour in it.  Buckwheat and whole wheat take longer than white flour.

Use a pizza cutter to cut into large squares. Pour on the syrup of choice.  Chop little kids pancakes with pizza cutter- much faster than a knife and fork. (we use pizza cutters for everything)  Easy peasy!!!  Now, wasn’t that stress-free??!!

In My rice cooker I place:

6 cups rice

6 1/2 cups chickenbroth

8 oz of raw bacon (chopped up small)

1/4 cup fresh chopped chives (small)

1 Tbsp chopped garlic

1/2 tsp cumin (we like 1 tsp, but you have to like cumin to use more)

S & P to taste (use less salt if you use chicken broth cubes verses fresh stock)

1/2 stick of butter or vege spread (if need dairy free)

** 4 cups of cooked Kidney Beans-  add at end

Set rice cooker to white or brown rice depending on what you used.

Usually takes about 40 minutes to cook unless you use a really harty brown rice. Then it takes longer.  When finished I toss in beans.  Serve hot.  Makes a huge amount.   For our family, we use half one night and the other half I put in the fridge so I don’t have to cook on the next day.   You could top with Feta goat cheese. mmmmmmm (an excuse to use Feta)

* About the beans… this is an approximate amount.  I cook my beans in large batches in lightly SALTED water.  Then I bag up the beans in zip lock and throw them in the freezer.  This is especially helpful in the summer to reduce humidity.  Then I have them ready to use to throw into a cold pasta salad or soup.

The bacon just adds flavor.  I also buy my bacon in large packages and chop it up and divide it and place some in the freezer ready to use for the next meal.

3 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups rolled oats (thick)

2 Tbps baking powder

1 cup sugar

1 Tbsp salt

1 cup vege oil

1 1/2 — 2 cups water*

I cup dried fruit (any kind) & spice***

* The amount of water is approximate. I use fresh ground flour and thick rolled oats.  If you use grocery store flour and instant oats, then you will use less water.  You want the mix to be very thick.

*** I change the dried fruit depending on what I have in the pantry. Sometimes I add nutmeg or cinnamon too.  It is really good with shredded carrots also.  I just do not use any “juicy” fruits.

We just made some with rye flour, caraway seeds and raisins…mmmmmm

Mix all ingredients together. Spray a large cookie sheet or two. Plunk out mix onto sheets.  I generally make mine large ovals- they look like little footballs that I could hold in my open hand.  It makes 10-12 scones.  Cook at 375 for about 15 min.

We made him his favorite- BUCKEYES, to cheer him up.  Mom says they are just chocolate peanut butter balls with less chocolate. We love them both ways.  Here’s our recipe.

1 Jar (40 oz) creamy PB

2 sticks butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 box/bag (16 oz) Powdered Sugar

***Soften butter first.  Mix four ingredients together until smooth. Scoop into small balls. We use a melon ball scooper.

1 large bag Choc. Chips

1 stick Parafin Wax (found in baking isle)

Melt choc. chips and wax together to dip the PB Balls in. Place on wax paper and refrigerate.

**If you don’t have Parafin wax, then the chocolate is very thick. But you can still make them and just put the chocolate on the bottom. Makes enough for our family!

Keeps in fridge- not long because you eat them fast.

ENJOY

Eat pie all day long- you could invite friends over to celebate.

Breakfast- Egg pie (quiche) with bacon and cheddar cheese- yummy

Lunch- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Pie

                        We cook ours in deep dish pie pans with lots of cheese, sausage, sause and spinach. 

We put the cheese first (on the bottom-but on top of the dough) so the pizza crust doesn’t

get soggy and more cheese on top. You don’t need a recipe, but you do have to cook it

 longer for about 35 minutes or a little more.

Snack- Apple Blueberry Pie. 

We make a regular apple pie and mix in half a bag of frozen blueberries. Yummy.

Dinner- Shepherd’s Pie and Pumpkin Pie

Shepherd’s Pie:

3lbs ground beef- cooked

1 bag frozen corn- family size or two little ones

5 tomatoes chopped up

1/4 c Ketchup

2 tsp minced garlic & basil

salt, pepper

1/4 c cold water mixed with 2 Tbsp corn starch

**after you cook the meat, mix everything together and put in a large oven pan (we use our big lasagna pan because it is really deep) Then we pile up a layer of mashed potatoes on top and cover with cheddar cheese. Bake 350 for 30 – 40 minutes. You can make the day before, but then you have to bake it longer because it will be cold from your fridge.  One time we didn’t have potatoes and my mom made instant polenta with cheddar cheese- that was really good too.

Have a yummy day!