Loaded Mashed Potatoes

This is a family favorite!

•  2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 TBSP butter
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 4-6 slices of bacon, cooked & crumbled
• 1 green onion, sliced

Place potatoes in a Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain and place in a large bowl. Add the sour cream, milk, butter, salt and pepper. Beat on medium-low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 cups cheese, bacon and onions. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Octopus in veggie dip

A cute addition to the pirate party.

Made vegetable dip using sour cream and a ranch packet. I then cut 2 orange bell peppers.  One for the body and one for the legs.  (I think someone ate a leg before I took the pic lol)  I had edible eyes I placed on my cute little guy using veggie dip to stick them on. 

Watermelon Pirate Ship

Thought this would be a cute addition to the Pirate Themed Party!

I cut this out with a supper sharp knife.  Then scooped out the inside. I chopped up the watermelon pieces and a cantaloupe and placed in the middle.  I then used a metal skewer stick, with paper sails and the pirate flag, threw the middle. 

Grape Salad

I got this recipe from a client, boy was I glad! It is so simple, yet so yummy!

• 3 lbs seedless grapes (red or black)
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup pecan or almond pieces
• 1/4-1/2 cup brown sugar

Wash grapes, drain, pick off and place in large bowl. In a bowl mix cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla and white sugar.  Pour over grapes.  Stir in nuts and sprinkle with brown sugar. 

Fresh Green Beans

We love to eat green beans from the garden!  These are full of flavor.

• 3 cups fresh green beans, washed and cut
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 TBSP bacon bits

Place green beans, onion, broth and bacon in a large sauce pan.  Bring to a boil.  Place lid on, turn to low and simmer for about an hour or until tender. 

Funeral Potatoes

This is a famous and well-loved favorite!

• 12 large potatoes shredded or 1 (32 oz) bag frozen shredded hash browns
• 2 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups crushed corn flakes
• 2 TBS butter, melted
• salt & pepper to taste

Grease a 9x13 in baking dish.  Place hash browns or shredded potatoes in dish.  Combine soup, sour cream, cheese, 1/2 cup butter, onions, and salt & pepper.  Gently blend into potatoes.  Combine crushed corn flakes and the 2 TBSP butter.  Sprinkle on top.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 30 minutes.

Twice Baked Potato

My husband doesn't like baked potatoes very well, but he loves these.

4 large baking potatoes

8 slices bacon

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup milk

4 TBSP butter

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic

1/2 tsp pepper

2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup chicken broth

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Scrub potatoes, pat dry and wrap in foil.  Bake for an hour or so until soft when squeezed.  While potatoes are cooking, fry your bacon until crispy.  Drain and crumble.  Once potatoes are done, slice in half long ways.  Scoop out most of the inside.  It's okay to leave a little, you just don't want the skins to tear.  Mash and then add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, garlic, pepper and 1 1/2 cups cheese.  When pretty smooth, spoon back into potato skins.  Place in baking dish and pour chicken broth around and under potatoes.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Remove and sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon pieces.  Bake for another 5 min or until cheese is melted.

Caramel Apple Slices

This is a great little treat or wonderful on ice cream or apple cake. We had it on our crepes and it was great!

• 6 large apples
• 2 TBSP butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 TBSP flour

 

Peel, core, and slice apples.  In medium saucepan melt butter.  Add brown sugar and flour.  Add apples and cook over low heat until tender, 15-20 minutes.



Watermelon Smoothie

A family favorite, around our house, are smoothies.  I had a bunch of watermelon leftover from a party, so I decided to make a smoothie with it and leftover sherbet...it was amazing!

• 6 cups chopped seedless watermelon
• 2 cups sherbet (I used tropical)
• 1 cup ice
• 1/8 cup sugar

Place everything in a blender and blend on smoothie setting until smooth.

Cole Slaw

This is the best Cole Slaw I've ever had.  My little boy says this is his favorite food!

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 1/2 TBSP lemon juice
• 1 1/2 TBSP white vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1 head cabbage, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, shredded
• 2 TBSP minced onion

Cut cabbage into 8 large pieces and the carrot into four pieces.  Place a few cabbage chunks and a few carrots in a blender, fill with water then chop.  Drain.  Once all the cabbage & carrots are chopped, place in a large bowl.  Combine mayo, sugar, milks, lemon juice, vinegar, salt & pepper until smooth.  Add onions and pour over cabbage.  Mix well. Cover & refrigerate for a few hours before serving. 

Banana Bread

Delicious! Mini loaves make wonderful gifts.

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Mash bananas and set aside.  In a large bowl cream sugar and butter together.  Stir in eggs and mashed bananas.  In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.  Add to first mixture and stir together.  Stir in nuts.  Place in two greased 9x5 in. loaf pans, or 4 mini loaf pans, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 min.  Reduce heat to 275 degrees and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  For muffins bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 min (makes 24).

Grilled Asparagus

 

My family loves asparagus!  Lucky for us, it grows wild on our farm so we get sacks full every year.  This is one of our favorite ways to eat it.

• 1 lb fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat grill on high.  Lightly cot the asparagus with olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Place on foil then put on grill.  Grill over high heat for 2-3 min tossing half way, cook to desired tenderness. 

Also can be put under high broiler in oven on baking sheet.

 

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Herb Garlic Butter

We love corn on the cob and our favorite is when it's grilled!

• 5 ears of corn
• Herb garlic butter

Pull the outer husks down the ear to the base. Strip away the silk from each ear of corn by hand. Fold husks back into place, and place the ears of corn in a large bowl of cold water for 10 minutes. Remove corn from water and shake off excess. Place the corn on the grill, close the cover and grill over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, or until kernels are tender when pierced with a paring knife. Remove the husks and eat.

Herb Garlic Butter

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup chopped fresh chives 

2 TBSP minced garlic

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Combine butter, chives and garlic in a food processor and process until smooth. Stir in salt and pepper. Brush on corn

Sara's Salsa

Love this in the summer when I can use fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro, & jalapenos out of my garden!

• 1 or more avocados
• 1 can black beans drained & rinsed
• 1 can corn, drained
• 2 med. tomatoes, chopped
• 1 med red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 jalapenos, minced

Mix everything in a large bowl.

• Juice from 2 limes
• 1 TBS red wine vinegar
• 2 TBS olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Mix in small bowl and pour over salsa.  Serve with tortilla chips.

I've made this with a can of petite diced tomatoes (drained) and green chilies when I don't have tomatoes and jalapenos on hand.  It was good too!

Homemade Rolls

There is nothing better than homemade rolls fresh out of the oven!  I'm so greatful my mother-in-law took the time to teach me how to make these wonderful things!

• 1 cup boiling water
• 3/4 cup instant mashed potato flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dry powdered milk
• 1/2 cup margarin
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 TBS yeast
• 5 cups flour

Mix first 5 ingredients.  Add margarine and eggs; mix well.  Mix yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water and set aside for 3 min.  Add to mixture and mix well.  Add 3 cups flour, one at a time, beating well.  Then if you have a dough hook I put it on, then add 2 cups of flour to make soft dough.  Knead about 20 times.  Place back in bowl and cover with plastic.  Let rise, about an hour.  Punch down and shape into rolls.  Let rise about 10 min and then bake at 350 degrees for 18-25 min, until golden brown.

Mashed Potatoes

So Yummy!

• 5 large potatoes cut into thirds
• 1/2 cup cream
• 2 TBS butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Peel and wash potatoes.  Boil potatoes until tender about 10 min.  Drain saving some of the water.  Mash potatoes with butter and cream adding drained water until the desired consistency.

Note: Make extra because you can create another meal...from leftover to gourmet!

Creamed Green Beans

I always make these when I have evaporated milk leftover and need to use it.  They are so yummy!

• 2 (8oz) cans green beans, drained
• 1/8 cup minced onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 TBSP flour
• evaporated milk

Put green beans, onion, garlic and butter in medium pot and bring to a boil.  Add flour and gradually stir in milk to desired thickness. Simmer for a couple minutes; add salt if needed.

Can also make with fresh green beans!  If using fresh, I've found if you wash and cut green beans and put them in a crock pot with chicken broth and cook all day they are super yummy!

Bread Sticks

These are so soft and yummy; my kids love them.  I'll make a double batch and freeze half and pull them out as you need them.

• 1 TBS yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/2-3 cups Flour
• 1/4 cup butter or oil
• 1 egg
• 2 TBS sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp dried onions
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese-divided
• garlic salt

Mix water and yeast until dissolved.  Beat in egg, sugar and salt. Then add 1 cup flour and butter or oil stir until all ingredients are mixed then gradually add 1 1/2 -2 (you want your dough to be on the sticky side) cups of flour and 1/3 cup cheese & seasonings.  Knead for 1 min. and let rise until doubled in size. 

Roll into large rectangle and cut in 1 in. strips.

Fold in half and twist.  Brush each stick with melted butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and a little garlic salt.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 min or until done.