Everyday Buttermilk Waffles

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cup buttermilk*
2 eggs, separated
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled**
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
oil for brushing the iron

Combine thedry ingredients in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg yolks [may use whole eggs if in a hurry]. Stir in the butter and vanilla if you are using it. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry. Beat the egg whites with a whisk or an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold them gently into the batter. Spread in enough batter into the waffle iron to bearly cover it, bake until waffle is done. Serve immedietly or keep warm for a few minutes on an oven proof platter in a 200 degree F. oven.

* May use 1 1/2 cups sour cream or yogurt and thin with 1/4 cup milk.

**May use oil.

These are Awesome. If you like good basic recipes I do recommend Mark Bittaman's Cookbooks. They are very good. And I will freely confess this is his recipe.

Oriental Beef and Noodles

16 ounces broccoli stir-fry vegetables
2 pounds beef stew meat
12 ounces sesame ginger stir-fry sauce
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
3 ounces ramen noodles, broken

Place frozen vegetables in a 3 1/2 - 4 quart slow cooker. Top with meat, In a medium bowl, combine stir-fry sauce, water, and red pepper. Pour over meat and vegetables in cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat setting for 9-10 hours or on high heat setting for 4 1/2-5 hours. Discard spice packet from noodles [or save it for another use]. Stir noodles into meat mixture in slow cooker. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Stir before serving.


For the life of me I could not find the sesame ginger stir-fry sauce. So I used Kikkoman's plain stir-fry sauce. Delicious. I would happily endorse Kikkoman's products. I've used the soy sauce, and the sweet and sour sauce, and now the stir-fry sauce. Very excellent. I like more sauce so I used two bottles that makes 24 ounces. No red pepper, and I serve it with rice instead of using the noodles.

It was excellent.

I believe though that I would cook the meat and add the vegetables in the last hour of cooking. If you use low heat turn it on high when adding the defrosted veggies. - there was nothing left of the broccoli by the time we were ready to eat.

Easy Italian Vegetable Soup

Well, it is time to write again. Last Sunday we had Easy Italian Vegetable Soup. It turned out Very Good. There were a few things that I would do differently, and did do differently. But it was very good.

One thing I did differently was to add a small can of tomato paste, and a can of mixed vegetables. I used regular beef broth instead of condensed. Also Instead of using red wine, I simply added another can of beef broth to the mixture. I nearly forgot, I used about 2 tablespoons Ialian Seasoning blend instead of the basil alone. Next time I would add more veggetables, to make the liquid not seem quite so thin. Other wise this was delicious.

14 1/2 ounces diced tomatoes
10 1/2 ounces condensed beef broth
8 ounces sliced mushrooms [canned is fine]
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1/3 cup dry red wine or beef broth
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil leaves
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olivee oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces shredded mozzarella, optional

Combine tomatoes, broth, mushrooms, onion, zucchini, bell pepper, wine, basil, and sugar in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

Stir in oil and salt into soup. Serve garnished with cheese, if desired.


This would make a basic soup that would be very adaptable to whatever was on hand at the time.

This Month's Menu List.

Well, here is the menu for this week. A lot of this is the same ol, same ol. But when your budget doesn't stretch very far, well you do what you can.

1st. Pizza
2nd. hamburger helper
3rd hamburgers
4th tuna helper
5th sloppy joes
6th chili burritoes
7th Grilled Chicken Breasts and Potato Salad with Jalapeno Stuffed Olives*
8th Tator Tot Casserole
9th Waffles?* [I can't remember If I've posted this before, gonna have to look]
10th Italian Meatballs*
11th Hamburgers
12th Spam
13th Spaghetti
14th Slow Cooker Southwestern Chicken*
15th Hamburger Helper
16th Pizza Casserole
17th Oven Crusty Fish*
18th Hamburgers [he once bragged that he could eat hamburgers all th time - one of these days he's going to figure out no to say things like that to me...]
19th Tuna Helper
20th Sloppy Joes
21st Oriental Beef and Noodles*
22nd Spam
23rd Spaghetti
24th Hamburgers
25th Beefy Bean Chili?* [I can't remember If I've posted this before, gonna have to look]
26th Chili Dogs
27th Beans
28th Easy Italian Vegetable Soup*
29th Fried Wontons?* [I can't remember If I've posted this before, gonna have to look]
30th Omlete [aka breakfast]
31st Hamburgers

The * titles are the new recipes for this month. Or the recipes that I don't think I've posted before. In this case they will be posted as we [excuse me... I] make them.

I just realized too that one of the changes that has happend for use was a chang from a weekly pay check, and weekly shopping to monthly. And yes, I do do most of our monthly shopping once. All that is except th highly perishables, that's usually only milk. So this is our monthly list. I think in the future I'm going to just post the new recipes, and any old ones that I havn't posted yet.

Grilled Chicken

A few weeks ago we were barbecuing hamburgers and hot dogs when I got this really off the wall idea to get him to cook my two chicken breast halves for lunch later. Now, if I haven't said it before - he hates chicken. This time however, he comes back in with the chicken and tell's me that if I tried the chicken I would want to eat it not, the hamburgers.??? What? You liked this?? Well, of course I had to sample my chicken, he was right!
Last time however he was paying more attention than this time, and this time he burned it - yuck. But it is worth a try if you can keep the black stuff off... Grin.

Grilled Chicken Breasts
Serves: 4

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
8 tablespoons olive oil
1 package all good Italian dressing seasoning mix
8 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
black pepper, to taste

Rinse the chicken breast. Flatten with the flat side of a meat mallet.

Dry chicken breasts and rub with 1 tablespoon oil per side. Pepper to taste on each side. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon salt on each side. Then divide the dressing mix per each side of chicken. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Grill over hot, direct heat, for about 15-20 minutes per side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.

Enjoy.

Sorry I've Been Away

Sorry we lost our innernet connection quite some time ago... We have finally managed to get it back on. It's amazing just how much a child will cost trying to keep it taken care of. Then job chabges on top of it all. But, now there are two little ones. So Here I am for now and hopefully for good.

Tuna Casserole

Tonight:

2(6 1/2oz)can tuna fish, water packed, drained
egg noodles or elbow mac, cooked
1 tsp instant onions
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Place cooked noodles in bottom of a casserole. Top with drained tuna. Sprinkle with onions. Cover with soup; spreading to edges to seal. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Notes: You can use 1 12 oz can of tuna instead of 2 6 1/2 oz cans. This may be doubled, but cooking time needs to be adjusted.

Mexican Lasagna/ Mexican Blend Herbs

3 pounds hamburger
12 tortillas, cut in half
23 ounces ranch style beans
14 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
10 ounces rotel tomatoes with green chilies
10 ounces cream of mushroom soup
1 onion chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder

Brown meat with onion. Drain. Add chili powder. In a baking dish layer 12 tortilla halves. Place 1/2 of meat on top. Top with beans. Place a layer of cheese over this. Place remaining tortilla halves over this. Mix together remaining meat and sup and rotels, Pour on top. Cover with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Notes: This was way too much for us the first time I made it. So I now make half the recipe. It is very good. The original recipe just called for tortillas as written above. But I've made it both ways, you really want to use corn tortillas. Also instead of using plain chili powder, I used a blend of Mexican spices, about 2 tablespoons. And finally I add a 4 ounce can of sliced mushrooms to the Meat/soup mixture [for half recipe so add 2 for the whole one].


Mexican Blend Herbs

3 Tablespoons oregano
2 tablespoons dry cilantro
1 tablespoon cayenne
2 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons cumin
pinch cloves
1 tablespoons onion powder
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1 1/2 tablespoon chili powder

Blend well. Store in an airtight container.

Spanish Beef/Chicken

1 whole chicken, boiled and boned
1 (10oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (10oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup onion, chopped
4 ounces grated cheddar cheese
crushed tortilla chips

Stir together all ingredients; pour into greased baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Note: Instead of Using Chicken, I used 1 pound browned hamburger meat. This turned out just as good as with the chicken. And I would imagine that it would be good with ground venison, lamb, pork, or other meats; these are the two ways I've tried though.

Shopping Day 10-12-2007

Here it is another week is upon us. Here is the weekly menu list for this coming week.

Spanish Beef
Mexican Lasagna
Baked Potatoes
Tuna Casserole
Pizza Cups
BLT's
Tuna Helper

I will try my best to get the recipe prepared over the weekend posted Monday morning.

Week's Recipes

Well, If you haven't noticed; yes there's a lot of mundane days where we eat a lot of the same things. This was one of those weeks. I believe that every thing listed has been posted except the Vegetable Stew, so here is that Recipe.

2 large cans veg-all
2-3 chicken bouillon cubs, or beef
1/4 cup cooked red kidney beans
1/4 cups cooked pinto beans
1/4 cup cooked garbanzo beans
1 can diced tomatoes
Any other Vegetables desired
Spices as desired
Water

Basically mix all in a large pot and cook until heated and flavor meld.

Pizza Casserole

Last night we had Pizza Casserole. As always it was delicious! We could eat a lot of this. With too much ado here's the Recipe:

Pizza Casserole:

1/2 package shell pasta
1 roll bulk sausage
1 package pepperoni slices
1 jar pizza sauce
1 package mixed shredded cheese

Cook pasta and drain. Cook sausage and drain. Layer all ingredients [1/2 noodles, 1/2 sausage, 1/2 pepperoni, 1/2 cheese, then top with next layer] Top with sauce [1/2 jar] cook in preheated 350* oven for 25-30 minutes. Do not cover while cooking.

I make my own Pizza and Spaghetti sauces. They are really simple and easy to make.

Sullivan Family Spaghetti Sauce:

15 ounces tomato sauce
8 ounces tomato paste
sage
oregano
garlic powder
basil
thyme
celery salt
rosemary
dill
parsley
vegetables, cooked
meat, cooked
15 ounces diced tomatoes

Combine tomato sauce and tomato paste in a sauce pan and heat and stir until combined. Add seasonings, meats, and vegetables as desired.

For Pizza Sauce use tomato sauce and seasonings. Leave out the meats, vegetables, and diced tomatoes. Simply mix in seasonings as desired.

Breakfast

Saturday Night Hubby wanted Breakfast for dinner instead of anything on the menu. We had biscuits, sausage, and scrambled eggs. Hubby Wanted to try Grandma's Molasses again. He said that he's always liked it. So I bought that for him and he found that he did indeed still like it. My father was always a syrup and butter person. This is what I like to eat. Hubby's Father was a Peanut Butter and syrup person. This was strange with molasses. I can eat molasses, but prefer syrup. I think it would be better with plain syrup than molasses.

Syrup and Butter:

Simply mix equal portions of syrup and butter. Blend well. This when finished will look like a curdled mass, because the syrup doesn't mix well with the butter. but it's good this way none the less.

Syrup and Peanut Butter:

Mix Peanut Butter with about two thirds the amount of syrup or molasses. Blend well. This will be a smooth mass as they blend well.

Freddie's Scrambled Eggs

8 eggs
1/2 cup butter
salt and pepper

In skillet combine eggs and butter, heat and scramble, adding salt and pepper when half done. Cook until done to desired done-ness.

Shopping Day October 5, 2007/ Chili And Crackers

Well, another week has passed. And here we are time to post another shopping day menu. Here it is:

Chili and Crackers
Breakfast
Pizza Casserole
Grilled Cheese and Soup
Hamburgers
Sloppy Joes
Vegetable Stew
Spaghetti

Now I know that there's 8 meals listed here. This is because Hubby wanted to have breakfast for dinner one night. I had the ingredients necessary to make it without having to take something off the list. So One of these will not be made. But I'm not too sure which one it will be.

Friday Night we had Chili and Crackers

Hamburger And Potato Hash

Tonight:

He loves this. It is often his request.

1 pound hamburger
salt
pepper
seasoned salt
potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
water
cheese


Brown hamburger meat, seasoned with salt, pepper, and seasoned salt. Drain. Place hamburger meat and potatoes in a large pot and mix together well. Add enough water to steam potatoes. When potatoes are tender add cheese to taste. Serve hot.

Club Sandwich And Fries

Cook’s tip: A light non-hamburger meal that people of all ages enjoy.

2 slices of good quality white or wheat bread
4 slices of chicken breast or turkey
2 slices of medium crisp bacon
1 slice tomato
1 leaf lettuce
1 slice cheddar cheese
3 slices of pickle (optional)

1.Toast the bread on light.

2.Spread it with butter or mayonnaise on only one side.

3.Arrange the chicken, bacon, tomato, cheese and pickles on one side of the bread.

4.Cover it with the other piece. Cut it into four pieces.

Hubby Likes these. They are always good.

Pizza

Pizza, Yum.... Tell Me, Who doesn't like Pizza?

Pizza Crust

1 package active dry yeast, or 1 tablespoon
instant yeast
1 1/8 cups warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons oil
3 cups flour

YOur method depends greatly upon which yeast your using. If using regular yeast you must proof it. Mix your yeast with the warm water and sugar. Let stand until bubbly. Add Oil and Salt. Gradually work in as much flour as possibly until you have a stiff dough.

If your using the instant yeast Mix the water, sugar, salt, and oil. Combine yeast and 1 cup flour. Gradually add yeast-flour mixture to water mixture until thoroughly combined. Then proceed in adding flour until a stiff dough is obtained.

Knead dough by hand for 2 minutes. Return dough to greased bowl turning to coat. Let stand in a warm place until doubled in bulk. Spread crust in pan and cover with desired toppings. Bake at 400 degrees until dough is cooked through.


Pizza is always a hit around this house. Last night I ran out of white flour and had to finish with whole wheat flour. It was good this way and Hubby didn't even know it... until I said something about it. .....HUM....

Mixed Beans

Wow, I am amazed at how fast time goes by. Now that the baby is teething I'm having a hard time getting things done.. hence the late posts. She wants to be with Momma every second and I can't type very well with her in my lap. Alas, here goes...

Mixed Beans

I've been looking into sneaky ways to make our meals better for us. Though Hubby is one of those "I'm not eating that Junk people." So I've got to figure out how to sneak the good stuff in. This is the reason for the Cream of Wheat. I cannot get him to eat whole wheat any other way.

1 1/2 cups pinto beans
1 cup black beans
1 cup kidney beans
1/4 cup garbanzo beans or chickpeas
4 chicken bouillon cubes
water
salt
salt pork
1 Tablespoon cream of wheat, optional

Dissolve bouillon cubes in 4 cups of hot water. Wash beans and add to water in pot. And enough water to cover. Boil, adding water as necessary, until garbanzo beans are about half tender, add salt pork. Boil until pork is cooked and garbanzo beans are tender. Gradually add Cream of Wheat; boil a few minutes longer. Salt to taste.

This was absolutely delicious. By the time the Garbanzo beans are done the black beans will have cooked to mush. the Kidney beans will be approaching that point and the pinto beans will be soft. This was served with cornbread [same as before]. My only complaint about this recipe is that the garbanzo beans took too long to cook. I will use an equal portion of one of the others in it's place next time. He liked them [though he adds too much Jalapeno pepper juice to know it they were any good or not], no complaints.

Chicken Jambalaya/ Beans

Chicken Jambalaya

1 large hen or 2 fryers
1-1 1/2 cup olive oil
8 small white onions, minced
1 can Italian tomatoes or tomato paste
2 bell peppers, minced
2 pimentos, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 cup raw rice
salt
pepper
Tabasco sauce
2 stalks celery, minced
dash oregano
dash rosemary
dash thyme

Cut chicken in pieces and boil 1 1/2 hours in water to which onions, celery, and bell pepper have been added. Then add olive oil, garlic and salt and allow to boil 1 hour longer. Wash rice and add with tomatoes and pimentos to chicken. There should be about 2 fingers of liquid above rice. Add a little water if necessary. Simmer slowly in covered Dutch oven for 30-45 minutes, or until rice is cooked. Stir once or twice while cooking.

[from: Talk About Good, The Junior League Cookbook of Lafayette, Louisiana.]

Beans

Well, instead of the usual pinto beans it's going to be a mixture of pinto beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. I've got tons of them all, and it's just for the sake of using them. Grin.

Well, that's it.

Shoping Day 9-28-2007/ Grilled Hamburgers/ Salad

Ok. Here Goes.. He had three days off and we were all over East Texas in these three days. This is the first time my computer has even been one this weekend. So here's my belated weekly menu and the recipes from the weekend and tonight.


28th
Grilled Hamburgers and hot dogs.

29th
Salad

30th
Chicken Jambalaya

1st
Mixed Beans

2nd
Pizza

3rd
Club Sandwich

4th
Hamburger And Potato Hash


Grilled Hamburgers and Hot Dogs.

This is an interesting feat every time. He's not used to using wood, he's always used charcoal. Given my choice I'd use wood every time. So guess who gets to start the grill and get it ready>>> Imagine that! A guy who doesn't know how to start a wood fire grill. I keep telling him it isn't much different than using charcoal, but he hasn't tried starting it yet. After the grill is ready he does the rest though. [I'll get him taught eventually though. LOL.]

The hamburger patties are the same jane old patties that he makes indoors. But as they are finishing on the grill, he places mushrooms on the top, lets them heat through and then places a slice of cheddar cheese on top of that. once that melts he takes them off the grill. This is delicious.

Salad

Salad is pretty simple and straight forward. Pretty much lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and anything else you'd like to add on your salad. This is a pretty big salad, huge might even be the word. Yes, at this size it's a meal all by itself. Sometimes on a given day it's all we want. Ah, delicious, good ol' salad. [Yes, my nick name could be buggs bunny. Love rabbit food.]