Moist Zucchini Cake

Moist Zucchini Cake

CAKE:

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda

Beat eggs, add sugar slowly. Add oil, vanilla, and zucchini. Sift together flour, cinnamon, salt, soda, mix in well. Last, fold in chopped nuts. Bake in a bundt tube pan that is well greased and floured good. Dribble frosting over cake when cold. Serves 12-16. For a 9 x 13 pan bake 50 minutes and add frosting when cake is cold.

FROSTING:

1 cup powdered sugar
2 ½ Tbs milk
1 ½ Tbs margarine, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together with whisk or electric beater. Pour over cake when cold.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

½ cup softened margarine
½ cup oil
1 ¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
½ cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4-1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Cream margarine, oil, and sugar, then add egg, buttermilk and vanilla; mix well. Then add grated zucchini. Then add dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, soda, and cocoa. Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Bake at 325o for 40-50 minutes. Serves 12-16

Barbeque Meatballs

Barbequed Meatballs - kid tested, kid approved.



2 lbs ground beef

1 lb ground sausage

12 oz evaporated milk

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup cracker crumbs

2 eggs

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp chili powder



Sauce



2 cups ketchup

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp liquid smoke

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 cup chopped onion



To make meatballs, combine all ingredients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut sized balls. Place in a single layer on wax paper-lined cookie sheets; freeze until sold. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until ready to cook. To make sauce, combine all ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Place frozen meatballs in 9 x 13 pan. Pour on the sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Makes 80 meatballs.



** you may also make them fresh (larger) at 350 for an hour.

Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole

Hash Brown Casserole
like Cracker Barrel’s

1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz shredded cheese
½ cup melted butter
1 small onion
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 lb bag frozen shredded hash browns

Combine soup, cheese, butter, onion, salt, and pepper in mixing bowl. Add potatoes and mix. Pour mixture into 9 x 13 x 2 greased baking pan. Bake 35-40 minutes at 350o.

Easy Chili

This is my favorite winter meal. I got this recipe from my aunt Connie Wagler :)

Easy Chili

1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 Tbs butter
2 lb hamburger
1 1/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 tsp dry mustard
15 1/2 oz kidney beans ( can use black beans as well)
1 1/2 pt tomato juice
1 tsp chili powder

Saute onion in butter and add hamburger. Brown this mixture. In another saucepan, mix the rest of the ingredients and then add your drained hamburger mixture. Simmer for an hour or until celery and beans are soft. Serve with shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. Serves 6.

* I add fresh green pepper to saute with the onion and hamburger

** great meal to freeze for quick meals later.

Broccoli Rice Casserole

This is a very delicious, easy, casserole to make any time of the year. Makes a great side or main dish. :)

Broccoli Rice Casserole

3 cups Minute rice ( uncooked) can use white or brown
1 cup diced celery
1 cup chopped onion
16 oz cheese whiz (jar)
1 stick butter
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
16 oz frozen chopped broccoli

Spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Mix ingredients and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. (Make sure you mix very well or else you will end up with some uncooked rice.)

* You can add chicken to the dish to make it more of a main dish, but also add a little extra cheese to keep it moist

** can replace cheese whiz with melted velveeta cheese sauce

***for a healthier recipe I use 2% velveeta cheese, melted with skim milk, lowfat butter, and brown rice.

Pinwheel Appetizers

reat appetizer to serve at your holiday parties!

Beef & Cheese Pinwheels

12 oz thinly sliced deli roast beef (or turkey if you so desire)
4 oz package herb flavored cream cheese ( I use garden vegetable flavor)
4 large flour tortillas (about 10 inches)
2 cups spinach leaves (about 20 leaves)
7 oz jar of roasted red peppers, rinsed and drained

Spread cheese evenly over one side of each tortilla. Place deli meat over cheese leaving 1/2 inch border around edges. Place spinach leaves over beef. Arrange peppers down center, over spinach. Roll up tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to overnight before serving. To serve, cut each roll crosswise into 8 slices. Arrange cut side up on serving platter. Makes 32 appetizers.

Tips : Red peppers must be rinsed and dried to prevent soggy tortillas. Be sure to wrap tightly to prevent tortilla from drying out. Slice as close to serving time as possible.

Easy Bread Bowls

Make a delicious bread bowl to serve your soup and stews.


Easy Bread Bowls
1 loaf (1 lb ) frozen bread dough - thawed
1 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1/2 tsp garlic salt


Lightly grease outsides of 6 (10 oz) custard cups with shortening ( can use olive oil as long as you put on thick...do not use cooking spray). Place cups upside down on large cookie sheet. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, then pat into 6 inch round pieces. Place rounds over bottoms of custard cups. Brush dough w/ oil. Sprinkle with basil & garlic salt. Cover; let rise in warm place for 20 minutes. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 16 to 20 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from cups and place right side up on cooling rack (interiors of bowls may be slightly moist.


* I usually use olive oil on the outside of the bowls and sprinkle it with basil and garlic and then put the bread dough on it pretty quickly afterward so the oil doesn't drip off of it too much.


** When storing but into bowl so sides are supported.

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Apricot Chicken

I don't have a picture but this is a great dish for a cold day and its not just your ordinary chicken :)

Apricot Chicken

3-6 Chicken breast, skinned
21 oz apricot pie filling
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup pecan halves

rice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange chicken in a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle w/ salt and pepper. In a mixing bowl combine remainder of ingredients. Pour over chicken. Cover and bake for 55-60 minutes. Serve over hot cooked rice.

Christmas Rollout Cookies

In the spirit of the holidays I thought I would share my favorite recipe for roll out sugar cookies. I got this recipe from my aunt Rhoda Weldy :)


Roll Out Christmas Sugar Cookies
3 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup margarine or butter (softened)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 cups sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract ( make sure if anyone is allergic to use imitation
instead of pure)

Mix all together and refrigerate until chilled. Divide into thirds and roll out. Cut out desired shapes. Place on greased baking sheet, add sugar sprinkles if so desired, and put them into the oven for 8 - 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

These have great flavor on their own that you don't need frosting but they can be frosted as well. Makes a great way to entertain little ones when they get restless indoors!