Recipes

[momtochloe]

And now it's December . . . yikes!  Oh goodness where did the year go?  I hope everyone had a happy, healthy and delicious Thanksgiving but we still have miles to go in the annual holiday mad dash to the finish line!   

Lots of good recipes being sent around this year.  Please share any new recipes you may have tried or as always please share your tried and true for both sides and mains.  Many thanks to our friend @Zhills   for sharing that rice pilaf recipe (and I too speak from experience and agree, it's delicious and a great idea for your Christmas menu) and let's kick off the month of December with an ingredient with the letter S:

Copied this recipe on here.  Don't know the poster, sorry!

It is worth making!  Delicious!

Next ingredient starts with an S or your choice.

[RespectLife]

Chocolate Sugar Cookies     

this recipe is from lifeloveandsugar.com

If you ever are looking for the BEST desserts...start w/ her!

Cheesecakes, layer cakes, pies....you name it!  Great site

Chocolate Sugar Cookies are supremely soft and chewy!    Serves 30

• 1 3/4 cups  all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup  natural unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup  unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups  granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sugar (additional for rolling)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
2. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder & salt in medium sized bowl and set aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it’s ready.
4. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well combined after each addition.   
5. Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
6. Add the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is well combined. It will be thick. Do not over mix. Once it’s well combined, use a rubber spatula to help it come together to form a more cohesive ball.
7. Create 1 1/2 tablespoon sized balls of cookie dough. Gently roll into a ball, then roll each ball in the additional sugar to coat. Set the balls on the baking sheet. Press down on the tops of the balls just a bit (I used the bottom of a glass)
8. Bake cookies for 7-8 minutes. Don’t overbake. The cookies will be a little puffy when you take them out of the oven but will fall a bit as they cool.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Calories	136
Total Fat 6.8g	9%
Cholesterol 28.7mg	10%
Sodium 87.1mg	4%
Total Carbohydrate 18.6g	7%
	Sugars 11.7g

next T

[Zhills]

TACO SOUP


1 lb ground beef, browned & drained
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes
1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans
1 (17 ounce) can corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 package taco seasoning
1-2 cups beef broth
Salt & pepper to taste

1 cup Cheddar cheese, grated (the sharper the better!)

And/or sour cream

In a skillet, brown beef & onions; drain. Add remaining ingredients, except cheese.

Simmer for at least 15 minutes (I usually leave mine on the stove for 30-60 minutes).

Serve with grated cheese on top.

U,V, W, X, Y or Z  Your choice pick one or add your choice!

[house_cat]

If it's okay, I'm totally disregarding the alphabet here.  I'm making these cookie jars for coworker gifts and thought I'd share. None of these photos are mine, they are from the SallysBakingAddiction website. She includes free printable tags with the recipe.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies in a Jar

• 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour 
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (90g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup (90g) chopped peppermint bark* 
• *gift recipient will add: 10 Tablespoons (145g) softened unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*I used Andes Candies peppermint morsels that I found at my regular grocery store.

Next recipe: 

U,V, W, X, Y or Z  Your choice pick one or add your choice!

[walker]

WILD RICE Turkey Dish

6 cups cooked WILD RICE

3 cups cubed cooked turkey

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup, undiluted

3 celery ribs, sliced

1 1/3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients in large bowl.  Pour into a greased 13 x 9" baking dish.  Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer or until lightly browned.  
Serves 6-8 

NEXT...INGREDIENT OR RECIPE TITLE USING LETTER..

           ......  X, Y, Z or.....rewind game....A, B, C ....

[house_cat]

@walker 

That sounds like a nice, simple recipe to have in your back pocket for those times when you want to use up turkey or chicken or even pork.

NEXT...INGREDIENT OR RECIPE TITLE USING LETTER..

           ......  X, Y, Z or.....rewind game....A, B, C ....

[walker]

APPLE Broccoli Salad

6 medium tart apples, chopped

3 cups broccoli florets

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup raisins

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, combine APPLES, broccoli, onion and raisins.  In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, lemon juice and salt; pour over the APPLE mixture and toss to coat.  Cover and chill at least 2 hours.  Just before serving, stir in bacon and walnuts.

NEXT ..... B

[RespectLife]

I copied this from Carol1229 in 2011 !  Many of you will remember her!

BLUEBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE ZUCCHINI BREAD

3 eggs, beaten
1 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. cheesecake flavored oil (optional)
1 c. canola OR vegetable oil
Juice and grated rind of 1 lemon
2 c. peeled, grated zucchini
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 (4-serving size) pkg. cheesecake instant pudding mix **SHE RESPONDED TO A QUESTION AND SAID USE VANILLA IF YOU CAN'T FIND THIS....I NEVER HAVE FOUND IT !
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 oz. white chocolate, grated OR finely chopped
2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries (if using frozen blueberries, do not thaw)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease (2) 9x5-inch OR (5) 5x3-inch loaf pans; set aside.

Place shredded zucchini in a mesh strainer to drain; set aside while assembling other ingredients.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, cheesecake oil (if using), canola oil, lemon juice and lemon rind until light.

Squeeze excess moisture out of shredded zucchini; stir into egg mixture.

In a medium bowl. combine flour, cheesecake pudding mix, salt, baking soda, baking powder and grated white chocolate; mix well. Add all but about 1/4 cup flour mixture to egg mixture; stir just until combined.

Toss blueberries in the remaining flour mixture; gently fold berries and whatever flour mixture is left into the bread batter just until combined.

Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake @ 350 degrees for 45-60 minute for the large loaves and 35-45 minutes for the smaller loaves, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let breads cool in pans on wire rack for 15 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack and cool completely, Makes 2 large or 5 small loaves.

NEXT C OR POSTERS CHOICE OF FAVORITE RECIPE

[walker]

Apple-CINNAMON Baked French Toast

12 slices day-old French Bread Baguette (3/4" thick)

6 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 3/4 cups 2% milk

2/3 cup sugar, divided

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

4 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced

2 teaspoons Ground CINNAMON

3/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon butter

Optional....whipped cream and maple syrup

Arrange 6 slices bread in a greased 9 x 13" baking dish.  Combine eggs, milk, 1/3 cup sugar and vanilla; pour half over the bread. Top with apples.  Combine CINNAMON, nutmeg and remaining 1/3 cup sugar; sprinkle over apples.  Top with remaining 6 bread slices; pour remaining egg mixture over bread.  Dot with butter.  Cover and refrigerate  8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350.  Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats.  Bake, uncovered, until knife in center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.  If desired, serve with whipped cream and syrup.  (or maybe sprinkle with Confectioner's Sugar)

(I have not tried this yet but it sounds good.  Make ahead and bake...👍.  Found in recent Taste of Home magazine.

Thank you to J.C. of IL.)

NEXT ..... D or your choice

[northiie57]

Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad 

1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced

• 1 cup mandarin oranges, drained

• 1 cup pineapple chunks, drained

• 1 cup kiwi, peeled and sliced

• 1 cup bananas, sliced

• 1 cup grapes, halved (seedless)

• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

• 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant cheesecake pudding mix, unprepared

• 1 cup International Delight French Vanilla Creamer (or you can substitute with 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy.

2. Sprinkle the cheesecake pudding mix over the cream cheese and beat until well combined.

3. While continuing to beat, slowly add the creamer (or heavy cream and vanilla extract) to the cream cheese mix. Beat until smooth.

4. In a separate large bowl, combine strawberries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, bananas, and grapes.

5. Gently fold the cheesecake mixture into the fruit.

6. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until ready to serve.

7. Garnish with additional fruit or a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs if desired.

Notes:

• Add the bananas just before serving to prevent them from browning.

• You can swap out any of the fruits for others you prefer or that are in season.

• If you can't find the instant cheesecake pudding mix, you can use vanilla pudding mix as an alternative.

• The creamer gives it a rich and creamy flavor, but for a lighter version, you could use milk or a milk alternative.