Feb. 14, 2008 - Taking recipes!

It's been a VERY long time since the Chef Mommy blog has recieved any recipe contributions.  If you have a recipe that you just HAVE to share with anyone, please send them over!  Click the recipe button, and your recipe will be added!

Dec. 14, 2007 - Runzas

Runzas

Karla (whirlwind)

"What is a runza?" you ask. Think of it as a bread pocket with meat filling. =)  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runza has a great definition.  I make a BIG batch of these on my "bulk cooking" day and have one pan for that evening, and freeze the rest for fast meals.  It is very handy after a busy day to just pull them out of the freezer and throw them in the oven.
 
"Official" DOUGH:
(You can ALSO use 2 packages of store-bought/frozen dough to save time.  Sometimes, I use this recipe and just substitute unbleached or whole wheat flour, and sometimes I just use my own bread dough recipe.  I use my bread machine on "dough" setting to save time.)

4 1/2 to 5 c. flour
1/2 c.sugar
1 t. salt
2 pkg. dry yeast (or 4 1/2 t.)
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. shortening
2 eggs (room temp.)
 
FILLING:
3 lb. ground beef (I use ground turkey)
1 sm. onion
1 (32 oz) can of sauerkraut
2 T. butter
1 t. salt
 
Brown ground beef and onion in butter.  Add the drained sauerkraut.
 
For dough, measure 1 3/4 c. flour in lg. mixing bowl.  Stir in sugar, salt and yeast.  Heat milk, water, and shortening until warm (120-130).  Pour into flour mixture.  Add eggs and beat with electric mixer at low speed for 1/2 minute.  Continue beating for 3 minutes more at high speed.  Stir in remaining flour.  Dough will be soft and rather sticky.  Knead about 3 minutes until smooth (I add flour as I knead it, or just do this part in the bread machine, and add a bit of flour for right consistency).  Cover dough with plastic wrap and clean towel.  Let rest 20 minutes.  Roll dough very thin (1/4 inch) and cut into 6-inch squares. 
 
Place about 3 T. of meat mixture in center of each square.  (optional: add some shredded cheese to top of meat.)  Bring corners together and pinch edges.  Place smooth side up; let rise.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
 
If you would like to freeze them, bake only 10-12 minutes, cool and freeze.  When ready to use, thaw and cook for 10-15 minutes at 350.

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Dec. 14, 2007 - Mama Melcher's Healing Chicken Soup

Mama Melcher's Healing Chicken Soup

Karla (whirlwind)

This is the soup my husband requests whenever he feels a sniffle coming on, and what I make when we are under the weather.  The garlic, cinnamon and cayenne add some healing properties. And the nice thing about this soup -- you can make it in the crock-pot as well as on the stove.  Below is the recipe for the crockpot, but it’s pretty much the same if you are doing it on the stove, but just start it later in the day.

2-3 frozen chicken breasts
1 onion, chopped
2-4 carrots, chopped
6 chicken bullion cubes (+ or – depending on your tastes and the size of your pot or crock pot)
Leftover wild rice (or pasta, see below)
1 T. minced garlic (+ or – depending on your tastes)
½-1 t. Italian seasoning (+ or – depending on your tastes)
A good dash of cinnamon (+ or – depending on your tastes)
A dash of cayenne pepper (+ or – depending on your tastes – my hubby likes a good kick of it to help his cold, so I take the kids’ portion out before he comes home – that way he can doctor up the soup the way he likes it)
In the morning, put all ingredients to a large crockpot.  Fill with water.  Turn crockpot on HIGH, and let sit.  At noon, give it a stir and take out the chicken to cut up into cubes and then add it back. 
If using pasta, make sure to cook it before-hand since using a crockpt, and WAIT to add it until an hour before you serve, or just add it and serve immediately.

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Dec. 14, 2007 - Mom's Chili

Mom’s Chili

Karla (whirlwind)

1 ½ pounds hamburger
1 onion, chopped
salt & pepper
 
Brown above together.  Drain.
 
Add:
1 lg. can/bottle of tomato juice
1 sm. or med. can tomato sauce
1 med. can chili beans
Big heaping tablespoon brown sugar
Add chili powder to your taste.
Also sprinkle in a little garlic powder
 
Rinse cans with water and add to chili. 
 
My changes from my mom's "base" recipe:
When cooking meat mixture, I sprinkle "Montreal Steak Seasoning" on it for extra seasoning
I use 2 cans of chili beans
I add:
  2 cans of kidney or other type of beans (black, red, etc)
  2 cans of diced tomatoes
  And of course, I use minced garlic as we LOVE garlic in this house.
 
I let it cook all afternoon on low and we can have several meals out of it.  A special "side" that I did last time was store-bought crescents dough (VERY special to have store-bought breads in our house), cooked and topped with powdered sugar icing.  If I think ahead next time I make it, I'll try to make homemade sweet rolls to go along with it.

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Dec. 14, 2007 - Best Sugar Cookies

Best Sugar Cookies

Karla (whirlwind)

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 T. milk
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder
1 2/3 c. flour
 
Cream butter thoroughly.  Add beaten egg, milk, & vanilla.  Stir in flour, salt, and baking powder.  Roll thin and cut with cookie cutter. (I chill for 1/2 hour or so if it's hard to work with.) Bake at 375 for about 8 minutes.  Watch them closely so they don't get too brown.  Decorate as desired.  Freezes well.

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Dec. 14, 2007 - Best Carrot Muffins

Best Carrot Muffins

Karla (whirlwind)

My husband loves to make carrot juice and we use the left-over carrot pulp to make these carrot muffins -- out of all the ones we have tried, this is our favorite recipe ....
 
2 eggs
1/2 brown OR raw sugar
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. melted butter OR oil
1 c. grated carrots
1/2 c. raisins
1 1/2 c. flour (I use whole wheat)
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. nuts, optional
 
Mix first 6 ingredients together. Add rest of ingredients and mix just until blended.  Bake at preheated 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.
 
**I double the recipe and sometimes do mini-muffins or mini-loaves.
 

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Dec. 14, 2007 - Whole Grain Berry Biscuits

Whole Grain Berry Biscuits

Karla (whirlwind)

These are a healthy, quick breakfast food/snack/tea item to whip up. Freezes well too!
2 c. while wheat flour
1/2 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. crushed wheat, oat, or other bran flakes cereal
1/4 c. natural sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. water
6 T. olive oil
2/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (may use other berries, or substitute raisins, craisins, etc)
Favorite fruit jam

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, or cover with parchment paper.  In a bowl, combine four, oats, crushed cereal, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Make a "well" in the center.
2.  Add milk, water, and oil; stir into flour mixture until just combined.  Gently stir in the berries.
3.  Spoon the batter into 12 or more mounds (about 1/3 cup each) on prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned.  If desired, serve with fruit jam.  Makes 12 biscuits.

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Dec. 1, 2007 - Main list of recipes

BEEF

Runzas

CHICKEN

Peanut butter chicken pasta

Chicken Tacos

chicken pot pie

For the Kids!

Edible Play-dough

BREAD

Whole Grain Berry Buiscuits

Best Carrot Muffins

SOUPS AND STEWS

Mom's chili

Mama Melcher's Healing Chicken Soup

CROCKPOT

BEVERAGES

BEANS

LUNCH

BREAKFAST

VEGETARIAN

SAUCES AND DRESSINGS

Green Salsa

Chipotle Cream sauce

Mahi Mahi marinade

Desserts

Sugar cookies

Chocolate Crinkles

Cinnamon Rolls

Best sugar cookies

 Seafood

Fish Tacos

Aug. 13, 2007 - Menu plan monday

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Jul. 23, 2007 - looking for recipes!

If you have a recipe that you would like to share, please send them in!  I am always welcoming new recipes to add to the exchange.  The more we get, the bigger the list of recipes will grow.  come share a favorite recipe with us!  click the send a recipe button, and send one in.  Don't forget to include your url to your blog, so I can link back to you and give you credit! 

Jul. 16, 2007 - Chipotle Cream sauce

Chipotle Cream Sauce

Bella (lil' daisies)

1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt (Kosher salt has the best flavor)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
2 chipotle chilies in adobo, minced
1/2 lime Juiced
Dash of sugar
Salt to taste

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Jul. 16, 2007 - mahi mahi marinade

Mahi Mahi marinade

Bella (lil' daisies)

1/4 cup canola oil
2 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Pour into a bag w/ fish and marinade for 15-20 minutes.

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Jul. 16, 2007 - Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos

Bella (lil' Daisies)

1/2 lb. Mahi Mahi fillets (per person) cut into approximately 4 long strips (Tip: Costco has frozen wild Mahi Mahi fillets individually packaged. Each is about 1/2 lb.)
OR you can use 2 lb tilapia (or any firm white fish) cut in 1" strips

1. Heat grill and baste with olive oil spray (or similar)
2. Brush Mahi Mahi with marinade 3. When grill is hot, place Mahi Mahi on grill and turn after about 4 minutes. Brush on more marinade and cook another 5 minutes or so.

Grill Tortillas and Top with Fish and favorite garnishes
Here are our favorites:
Salsa
Green Cabbage
Green Scallions
Fresh Mango Chunks
Chipotle Cream Sauce

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Jul. 16, 2007 - Menu Plan Monday

Monday~ Beefy lentil soup

Tuesday~ Tacos

Wednesday~ Crockpot chicken and rice

Thursday~ Waffles

Friday~ BBQ with other city employees

(If you would like to contribute a recipe to the chef mommy blog, click the send a recipe button. Don't forget to include your url so I can link back to you!)

Jul. 15, 2007 - Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon Rolls

Christa  Darr (drtwns)

3/8 cup milk (heated approximately 1 minute in microwave)
3/8 cup warm water (110 degrees F.)
4 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
3 cups bread flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons dough relaxer (optional)*
3 teaspoons instant active dry yeast 

* The Vital Wheat Gluten helps the sweet bread dough rise better, be more elastic, and easier to roll out

Add all the ingredients in the bread pan of bread machine. Process according to manufacturer's instructions for a dough setting. Check the dough (don't be afraid to open the lid). It should form a nice elastic ball. If you think the dough is too moist, add additional flour (a tablespoon at a time). The same is true if the dough is looking dry and gnarly. Add warm water (a tablespoon at a time).

When the bread machine has completed the dough cycle, remove the dough from the pan to a lightly oiled surface. Knead the dough several times and form the dough into an oval; cover with a towel and let rest for 10 minutes.

Roll and stretch the dough into approximately an 9x18-inch rectangle.

FILLING RECIPE:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins, optional

Grease a 9x13x2-inch baking pan. Brush the melted butter on the dough. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins; sprinkle over prepared dough.

Starting with long edge, roll up dough; pinch seams to seal. With a knife, lightly mark roll into 1 1/2-inch section. Slide a 12-inch piece of dental floss or heavy thread underneath. By bringing the ends of the floss up and criss-crossing them at the top of each mark, you can cut through the roll by pulling the strings in opposite directions. Place cut side up in prepared pan, flattening them slightly. 

NOTE: At this point, the cinnamon rolls can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight (I've actually made them two days in advance) or frozen for 1 month. Before baking, allow rolls to thaw completely and rise in a warm place if frozen.  I have found that I have to take the unbaked frozen cinnamon rolls out of the freezer 10 to 12 hours before planning to bake. I just put the frozen cinnamon rolls (container and rolls) on my counter (not in the refrigerator) overnight for 10 to 12 hours.

If refrigerated, they can be either baked upon removing from the refrigerator or let come to a room temperature (I've done both ways). They do a slow rise overnight and it is not necessary to let them come to room temperature before baking.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Spread frosting over the cinnamon rolls while still warm. Serve warm. 

FROSTING RECIPE:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 tablespoons hot water

In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add hot water gradually, stirring just enough to give it a thick spreading consistency.

Yields 12 cinnamon rolls.

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Jul. 13, 2007 - Edible Play-dough

Edible Play-dough  

Amy (from CupHalfFull)

2 TB peanut butter*

2 TB honey

2 TB powdered milk

Give each child a bowl and a spoon. Depending on age and ability you can—allow them to measure and pour their own ingredients or in each bowl just place recipe amounts yourself in each cereal bowl and give them a spoon. Let them practice stirring and keeping all the powder milk from flying around (older kids like to show off to the youngers). Once mixed, help child check consistency—if need be, add more milk a TSP at a time. After a few times they feel so smart when they can tell you if it needs more milk or not!

Give them plastic knives, rolling pins and cookie cutters. Don’t forget a glass of milk, too. Once done playing (or while they are playing), my kids gobble theirs up! Sometimes I offer graham crackers while they play. =0)

*Use the creamy kind and not the natural kind that has to be stirred. Using the natural kind that must be stirred will yield poor results and a runny mess that is difficult thicken with powdered milk. The kids get frustrated that the dough is not really dough. LOL We’ve tried!

Jul. 11, 2007 - Win a scanalizer!

5 minutes for mom is having a contest, and the winner will win a scanalizer from Neat Receipts!  It isan amazing gadget, that allows you to scan and organize your papers (ie Recipes, bills, medical forms...)

This would be a wonderful tool for organizing all of the recipes that get collected.  You can just scan, and store the recipes into their own categories.

For more information, go to 5 minutes for mom. Enter the contest! You might just win!

(If you would like to contribute a recipe to the chef mommy blog, click the send a recipe button. Don't forget to include your url so I can link back to you!)

Jul. 10, 2007 - Chocolate Crinkles

Jul. 10, 2007 - Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies

Karen W

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar for decoration

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and stir in the vanilla and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; blend into the creamed mixture. Cover and chill for at least two hours.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Divide the dough into two parts. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of the dough out to 3/16 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle cookies with plain or colored granulated sugar.
3. Bake for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Jul. 10, 2007 - Chicken Pot Pie

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