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Breakfast Bake

1 can (8oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 pkg (8oz) Oscar Mayer Smoked Ham, chopped

6 eggs

1/2 c cold milk

1/2 tsp pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 350'F.

Unroll dough in 13x9 inch baking dish; press to cover bottom of dish, firmly pressing holes and seams together to seal.

Sprinkle ham over crust. Beat eggs, milk and pepper with whisk until blended; pour over ham. Top with cheeses

Bake 25 min or until center is set. I usually bake for 30-35 min. uncovered

Baked Chicken Breasts

2-3 whole chicken breasts, halved

2 Tb butter

10 3/4oz cream of chicken soup

1/2c dry sherry

1tsp driend tarragon, rosemary, or both

1tsp worcestershire sauce

1/4tsp garlic powder
4pz can mushrooms, drained

Place chicken breats in slow cooker.
In saucepan, combine remaining ingredients. 
Heat until smooth and hot. 
Pour over chicken.
Cover.  Cook on low 8-10hrs.
(The sauce makes an excellent gravy over mashed potatoes.)

houndstoothgourmet.com

Chicken Curry

4 chicken breat halves
1 small onion, chopped
2 sweet potatoes cubed
2/3 c orange juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 tsp curry powder
2TB cornstarch
2TB cold water

rice

Toppings:
sliced green onions
shredded coconut
peanuts
raisins

Place chicken in slow cooker.
Cover with onions and sweet potatoes.
Combine orange juice, garlic, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper, and curry powder.  Pour over vegetables.
Cover.  Cook on low 5-6 hours.
Remove chicken and begetables and keep warm.
Turn slow cooker to high.  Dissolve cornstarch in cold water.
Stir into sauce in slow cooker.
Cover.  Cook on high 15-20min.
Serve chicken and sauce over rice.
Sprinkle with your choice of toppings.

image from photobucket

Flank Steak Marinade-- go ahead, splurge on a nice cut of meat and indulge because this is worth it!

1/2lb flank steak per person
1c brown sugar
1c olive oil
1c soy sauce
2 c pineapple juice
1 t ginger
1 clove garlic minced

Mix all the ingredients together.  Marinade 24 hours.  Cook 5 min on each side.

Oatmeal Banana Bread

image from google images

I have meddled around in Banana Bread recipes for so long and have never found one that is truly my taste buds' romantic interest. But I think I've figured it out. I've put it together from the best of about 6 different recipes I've tried and vwalah, the love affair has begun. Try it out and tell me if your taste buds have any of the same feelings for it.

1 1/2 sticks salted butter

8 oz Neuftchal Cheese

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 whole egg + 1 egg white

3-4 ripened bananas

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cups white flour

1 1/2 cups wheat flour

1 cup quick oats

optional:

1 cup pecans/walnuts

and/or

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Cream together first set of ingredients then slowly add the dry ingredients altogether

If wanted, add nuts and/or chocolate chips last

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake in 2 loaf pans for 50-60 minutes

Iced Oatmeal Raisin Bran Cookies

(photo found off google images)

Sometimes I want to get rid of old cereal, so I put it in some sort of dessert. This is what I came up with this time as I tried to used up Raisin Bran....

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg white

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup wheat flour

1/2 cup white flour

1 cup oats

1 1/2 cup raisin bran

1/2 cup raisins

Cream first set of ingredients together

Add second and third set

Bake at 350 for 8 minutes

When cookies are cooled ice them with...

Icing:

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 - 1 cup powdered sugar

Makes about 18 cookies

Enjoy!

Frosted Banana Bars

I'm FINALLY posting on this blog!

These are a favorite around my house. They're so tasty! I made a few changes (in red) for the high altitude here in Utah. The first time I cooked them, they didn't cook all the way through, but my changes seem to have fixed the problem.

Bars:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana


Preheat oven to 350 degrees (with utah's high altitude i do 325). Grease 9x13 in. pan.


In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the wet batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana, spread evenly into the prepared pan.


Bake 25-30 min (45 minutes seems to be perfect at the lower heat). or unitl a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.


Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 lb. powdered sugar


In a bowl, combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until completely smooth.

After the bars have cooled, spread the frosting on top and enjoy!

Blueberry Scones

I made these a few days ago and they were DELICIOUS! I am already thinking of the variations I will try next... Ginger and Cranberries, Lemon and Raspberry.... oh the possibilities!

Blueberry Scones

1 cup white flour
1 cup wheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 tea baking powder
1/2 tea salt
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup + 1 TB Buttermilk
1/2 tea vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup blueberries

1 beaten egg plus cinnamon sugar for topping.

Cut the butter into the dry stuff, until you have a grainy looking mixture, mix it well. Beat the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla together and pour into the dry stuff. Add the blueberries and mix until just combined (do not overmix). Turn the dough onto a floured surface and shape into a long rectangle, about 4 inches wide. Using a brush, lightly coat the top with the egg wash, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Using a sharp knife cut into triangles/quadrangles/trapezoids/whatever. (I think I made 8) Spread out on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy!

Creamy Chunky Potato Soup

image from www.timeinc.net

6 cups cubed potatoes (leave the skin on...its better for you)

2 cups chopped carrots

2 cups chopped celery

1 large yellow onion chopped

1 bunch green onions (chop whites up through light greens)

3 cups water

2 cubes chicken bouillon

1-2 tsp minced garlic

1-2 tsp salt

1-2 tsp pepper

2 Tbsp butter

3 cups cream or milk

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 cups chopped ham or bacon

2 1/2 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese

In a large pot combine the water, bouillon, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, green onions, garlic, salt & pepper, and butter. Bring to a boil.

In another bowl combine flour and cream/milk

Pour flour/milk into boiling pot of veggies. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.

Add ham/bacon and continue to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Soup will thicken nicely.

Add the cheese either into the pot or just on top after serving....

Serve in a lovely breadbowl, too, if you can. :)

P.S. Just as I do with most of my recipes here,

I kind of just made this up

so if you try it leave a comment

and let me know if you love it or hate it. :)

Calling all Lady Chefs!

Ladies,
We are all STILL cooking, I'm sure, but we've forgotten about posting our recipes to share with everyone!

Now, more than ever, we want all of your recipes and ideas! Please jump back on board the PLEASANT AND PLUMP train and show us what you've got! We have had a huge number of "hits" to this site, so its obvious we're being watched!

Lets make it a goal to post a new recipe at least once a month...that should be easy especially since you cook with so many MORE recipes than that a week!

Here's to a new year and new tastes!
Hearty Hugs!

Fancy Lemon Pancakes

My mom has introduced me to a cooking catalogue called "King Arthur Flour" and in it I've bought all kinds of fun things to cook with. When my recent order came in there was this recipe included. Can't wait to try it but had to share it with everyone! Let me know what you think!

3 large eggs separated

2 cups buttermilk

3 Tbsp sugar

1 cup skim ricotta cheese

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 Tbsp grated lemon rind or 1/2 tsp lemon oil

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

Beat together the egg yolks, buttermilk, sugar, and ricotta cheese. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, lemon, nutmeg, and salt, stirring gently.

In a separate bowl, bea tthe egg whites until stiff and then gently fold them into batter.

Drop batter onto skillet and cook on both sides until golden brown.

Serve with honey butter!!!

3/4 cup butter

1/4 cup honey

OR HAVE TAMARA TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE HER SPECIAL HONEY BUTTER!!! :) MAYBE SHE WILL POST HER RECIPE HERE...

Oatmeal Carmelitas

I think some people call these Turtle Bars, but I haven't yet found a recipe that I really really like under that name. But I recentlycame across these "Carmelitas" in a recipe book I have and found them quite scrumptious. Let me know what you think!

Crust:
2 cups flour
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup softened butter

Filling:
1 x 12.5 oz jar (1 cup) caramel ice cream topping
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 13 x 9 inch pan.

Combine all the crust ingredients and when the mixture is crumbly, press half of it into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix together the caramel sauce and flour. When crust is done partially cooking, sprinkle the nuts and chocolate chips onto the crust, pour the caramel mixture over it, and then sprinkle the remaining crust mixture on top. Bake for another 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool for an hour, then cut into bars.

Asain Lettuce Wraps

Found this recipe online and we love it!

1 lb. ground turkey

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp minced garlic

2 tsp fresh ginger root

Cook turkey with above ingredients in skillet. Break up turkey (like taco meat)

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup water

3 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tbsp ginger root

1 tsp brown sugar

mix above ingredients for sauce

cooked rice (I cooked my rice with chicken bullion and soy sauce to give it some asian flavor)

shredded carrot

green onions

rd. bell pepper

lettuce leaves

whatever else you would like as toppings

Use lettuce leaves as "shells" - put some meat and rice and top with veggies. Spoon on sauce as desired.

Its super healthy and DELICIOUS - and quick and easy to make!!

Cafe Rio salad

I made this for dinner and it was SO GOOD, i was quite impressed. It was delicious and the closest to cafe rio/costa vida I have come across.

I am going to post the recipe from the blog that I used . . . and then after each recipe I will post the ways I tweeked it in red . . cause i don't know how to follow a recipe exactly.

SWEET PORK
2 pounds pork
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can sliced green chilies
3/4 can RED enchilada sauce (I used Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness)
1 c. brown sugar
Put the pork in a heavy duty Ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry). Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.
In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.Put shredded pork and sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!

I used Dr. Pepper instead of Coke, I did not marinate the meat the night before . . . Instead I just put some brown sugar into the crock pot in the morning during the first cooking with the other ingredients. I doubled the amount of meat so we would have leftovers . . so I did double the ingredients and cooked the meat before shredding for about 5 hours.

CILANTRO-LIME RICE
1 c. uncooked rice
1 tsp. butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 can (15 oz) chicken broth
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tsp. sugar
3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

In a saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. lime, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat. In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro. Pour over hot cooked rice and mix in as you fluff the rice.

I used instant rice . . . and it was still absolutely delicous. Also doubled this recipe.

BLACK BEANS
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/3 c. tomato juice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in the cilantro. (**NOTE** we added a can of corn, drained, to the beans with a dash of cumin and chili powder, it was AWESOME! We recommend doing this even though it's not "traditional Cafe Rio")

I did add the corn, and it was really good!

CILANTRO RANCH
1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeno (we like it SPICY so we kept the seeds in it, if you like it mild, just remove the seeds)Mix all ingredients together in the blender. That's it!

I just used Ranch Dressing (2 cups) from the bottle instead of the mix with mayo and buttermilk. It was still really good . . . and I used 1/2 the seeds from the jalepeno and it was still quite spicy!

We just put some cheese on flour tortillas and put them in the oven for 5 min . . . then added the meat, rice and beans . . . with lettuce, tomato/onion and the dressing. Big hit.

We fed 4 people . . . tons of meat and beans leftover (maybe cause my hubby won't eat them) . . . and just a tiny bit of rice leftover. We used about 1/2 the dressing.

Sugar Cookies

So - I had these sugar cookies at a baby shower the other day they were delicious! I had to get the recipe and wanted to share it as it is the season for sugar cookies and other treats. They tasted similar to those Grandmother's sugar cookies you buy at the store - YUM. Maybe its the margarine (totally unhealthy) or the almond extract (and I usually don't like almond extract), but they were wonderful!Here is that sugar cookie recipe before I forget:

Cookies:
1/2 c. butter (room temp)
1/2 c. margarine (room temp)
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. almond extract
3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. bk powder
1/4 tsp salt

Beat butter and margarine till creamy. Then add sugar, eggs and almond extract. Stir together dry ingredients and combine with wet ingredients. Cover and chill one hour (at least) Roll out dough on lightly floured board. Place on cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes until lightly browned.

icing:
1/2 bag powdered sugar
1/4 c butter (room temp)
dash of salt
almond extract to taste
1/2 vanilla
milk until desired consistency is reached