Tuesday Pancakes

We love pancakes for breakfast!
I like to make different kinds and
I'm always trying new recipes to
add to my favorites. Here's one. 

 I usually have all the ingredients on hand.

Eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream,
flour and sugar. Quickly mixes together.

 Cook on a griddle.

These are very light & fluffy pancakes.
Serve on heated plates with a little
butter and warm syrup.

 Or...my favorite way....raspberry sauce and
a dusting of powdered sugar. YUM!

Mix raspberry jam with a little lemon juice and water
 (about 1/4C jam to 1t lemon juice and 1t water).

Warm it in the microwave until the jam is
heated and melts.

Tuesday Pancakes
4 eggs
1 C cottage cheese, small curd 
1 C sour cream
2 T sugar
1 C flour 
Whisk the eggs with the sugar, cottage cheese, 
and sour cream.
Mix in the flour. Preheat a lightly greased skillet or grill pan to 375. Use a small ladle or large spoon to drop the batter onto the pan. Cook until the underside it a light golden, and flip, about 1 minute. Do not overcook. Cook another minute on the second side. Serve on heated plates. 
*Serve with, raspberry sauce , powdered sugar and a slice of lemon.


(I cut this recipe in half for the two of us.)
Enjoy!

Links: All Things Heart & Home, It's So Very Cherry, 
My Romantic Home, A Few Of My Favorite Things
source: Woman's Club of The United States Public
Health Service Hospital from New Orleans,
Louisiana 1967 cookbook

(Leftover) Turkey Crock Pot Chile

Give your leftover turkey a makeover.

 A big bowl of turkey chili and cornbread.

 Gather your cans and spices.

 Add the sauteed vegetables and 3C chopped turkey to the slow-cooker.

 Add the cans and spices.

 Stir completely.

 Set it and forget it!

 The corn is optional.

We like it served with rice and lots of toppings.

Fresh chopped cilantro, green onions, shredded cheese, sour cream,

cornbread or tortilla chips.

* if you don't have a slow-cooker, just let it simmer on the stove.

Crock Pot Turkey Chili

1C chopped onion

1C chopped green pepper

1C chopped red pepper

2T olive oil

3C chopped leftover turkey (seasoned)

2 -15oz cans  diced tomatoes (Mexican style)

2-15oz cans tomato sauce

2-15oz cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
(I add an extra can of cannellini beans)
(optional can of corn, drained)

1-4oz can diced green chilies

1T onion powder

1T garlic powder

1T ground cumin

2 t paprika

1/2 t oregano

1/2 t chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 t cayenne pepper

salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large saute pan over MH heat.
Add the onion and peppers and cook about
4 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
Add the vegetables to the slow-cooker.
Season the chopped turkey with
salt&pepper to taste (can also use grill seasoning).
Add the turkey to the pot.

Add all the cans and spices. Stir completely.
 Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Enjoy!

Peas and Carmelized Pearl Onions

A nice side dish for Thanksgiving or anytime.

 Use frozen peas and pearl onions. Carmelize the pearl onions in butter and sugar.

 Then add the peas It's easy to put together in one pan and can be made ahead at this point.

Then just finish cooking the peas. Season to taste with salt and pepper, toss and serve.

Peas and Carmelized Pearl Onions

1  12oz pkg or 16oz bag of frozen peas

1 C of pearl onions, from a frozen 16oz bag

2 T butter

1 T sugar

salt & pepper

In a cast iron or heavy skillet melt 1T butter over medium heat. Add the onions and sprinkle them evenly with the sugar. Cook, stirring frequently until the sugar carmelizes and the onions are golden brown. Add the peas and the last T butter and cook, stirring occasionally until the peas are done, about 5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Perfectly Chocolate Cake

I love chocolate cake! 

That being said, I have several favorite recipes.

 This is one of them.

 This is an easy recipe because you don't
need to cream the butter and sugar first.
Just combine the dry ingredients in one large
bowl, the wet ingredients in a smaller bowl.

 Then combine the two and beat for 2 minutes.

 Stir in the boiling water.

The batter will be very thin.

 I use a 9x13 pan because it's the easiest,
and you can frost the cake right in the pan.
Pour the batter into a sprayed 9x13

 pan and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. 

You can also make it in 2 - 9" round pans
and make it a layer cake. 

 Now make the frosting. 

The most important part of any good cake
 is homemade frosting. Wash out the large bowl
and the beaters. Combine the ingredients.

 and... beat until fluffy!

 Frost the cooled cake.

 This is fabulous with a tall glass of cold milk! 

 perfectly chocolate!

Skim milk, because you want to watch your calories!

  Perfectly Chocolate Cake

2 C sugar
1-3/4 C flour
3/4 C Hershey's Cocoa
1-1/2 t baking powder
1-1/2 t baking soda
2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C oil (vegetable, corn, canola)
2 t vanilla
1 C boiling water


Combine dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla.
Beat for 2 minutes on medium.
Stir in the boiling water. Batter will be thin. 
Pour into a sprayed 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. 
 9" cake pans about 30-35 minutes.
Cake is done when it springs back when lightly touched.
Let cool completely to frost.

 Perfectly Chocolate Frosting

1 stick butter
3 C powdered sugar
2/3 C cocoa
1/3 C milk
1 t vanilla
Melt the butter in the microwave. Mix in the cocoa
 and powdered sugar adding the milk as you go.
Beat on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the 
vanilla until fluffy. Makes about 2 C.


Chocolate is the answer!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch, My Romantic Home, Designs By Gollum

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

We planned on seeing a movie in the afternoon, so I set up the crock pot earlier in the day. That way dinner would be ready when we got home. Something easy.

I used my small crock pot for this. It's the original orange Rival Crock Pot that was first introduced in the late 70's.  It has a stone interior that is not removable. It still works great...after all these years. Now it's considered "vintage" and sells for about $35 on ebay. So, I've kept it, along with my newer, larger stainless steel slow cookers.  It's the right size for smaller meals.

 The fact that it looks nice with my fall decor is a bonus.

Put the beef cubes, soup, water, Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms and onions in the pot.
Give it a stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Add the cream cheese the last 10 minutes, cover and cook until it blends in. Stir.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

1 to 1-1/2 lbs beef cubes (stew)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/3 C water

1 T Worcestershire sauce

8 oz sliced fresh mushrooms

1/2 medium onion, chopped

salt & pepper

1/2 brick cream cheese, (4 oz)

Add the beef, mushrooms, and onions to the pot. Sprinkle lightly with salt & pepper.

Combine the soup, water and Worcestershire sauce. Add to the pot and stir to combine.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 5 hours. 

Add the cream cheese the last 10 minutes, cover and cook until it melts in. Stir to combine.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Baked Tilapia Caprese (with Tomato and Basil)

My new favorite way to make tilapia. 

Easy to put together. Then just roast for
20 minutes in the oven.

 You really don't need to measure. 

Adjust amounts for one to eight servings.

tilapia, fresh basil, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, 

onion powder, olive oil,  and tomato

Use a shallow ovenproof platter or baking dish. 

Spray or coat it with a little oil.  Arrange the fish
 in a single layer. Drizzle the tilapia with olive oil, 

sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion powder, 

chopped basil, oregano and garlic.

 Chop a tomato, or use canned, and scatter on
 top. Add a drizzle of olive oil.

 Bake at 400 for 20-25minutes.

 I also roasted potatoes along with the tilapia

 in my cast iron pan.

 Remove from oven and sprinkle the top with lemon juice.

 Serve.

The tilapia stays very moist and flavorful.

Baked Tilapia Caprese
with Tomato and Basil

1 lb tilapia (1-3 filets)

3 T olive oil

1/2 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1/2 t onion powder

1 T chopped fresh basil leaves

1 t minced fresh oregano

1 large clove garlic, about 1 t minced

1 large tomato, chopped, or
about 1 C diced canned tomatoes

a squeeze of lemon, 1-2 t lemon juice

 Arrange tilapia in a sprayed shallow baking dish.
Drizzle with about 2T olive oil. Sprinkle with salt,
pepper, onion powder, basil, oregano and garlic.

Scatter the tomato evenly over the fish, and
drizzle with the remaining 1T olive oil.

Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes.

Squeeze lemon juice over the fish.
 Serve immediately. Serves 2-3 

Enjoy!

for another favorite tilapia recipe click HERE

Links:  Facebook, Between Naps On The Porch, EKats Kitchen

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These pretty cookies taste like little
brownie bites.

These are very easy to mix up.

 A few basic ingredients you probably have in the
pantry. This recipe uses just just one bowl.

I've made them with baking chocolate squares or

unsweetened cocoa powder. Whichever I have

in the pantry. Melt the chocolate if using.

 Mix the sugar into the melted chocolate and oil.

 Beat in the eggs and vanilla.

 Dump the flour, baking powder and salt into a
sifter and mix that in.

The batter will be wet and needs to chill for
at least 1-3 hours. Roll it into 1-1/2 "balls.

Roll the cookie balls into the powdered sugar
until well coated. 

Put on a sprayed cookie sheet and bake for 

(8"- 12") 10 minutes at 350º.

Do Not Overbake

They will look wet but set up as they cool.

Let cool slightly on the cookie sheet then

transfer to a wire rack to cool. 

Top off this experience with a glass of cold milk.

Have a few now...

and save some for later.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
2 squares baking chocolate 
   (or use 1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder)
1 C sugar
1/4 C vegetable/canola oil
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 C flour
1 t baking powder
dash salt
powdered sugar for rolling-about 1/3 C

If using chocolate squares, melt in a medium bowl

in the microwave for 1-/1/2 minutes. Stir to melt
completely. Stir in then oil. Mix in the sugar.
Beat in eggs one at a time and stir in vanilla.
Stir in the flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt.
The mixture will be wet and needs to chill for for
at least 1-3 hours. Moisten your hands with water and
roll the dough into 1-1/2" balls. Roll cookies well in
powdered sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on a
greased cookie sheet, or use parchment paper.
Bake at 350º for 8-12 minutes. 10 minutes 

works for me, or till the edges are set and
the tops are cracked. 

Don't overbake.  

Let cool on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes
 before transferring to a wire rack to cool. 

Enjoy!