Strawberry Muffin Brownies

Strawberry Muffin Brownies

1 package strawberry muffin mix, mixed as per instructions

1 Double Batch Brownie Batter

Make brownie batter (don’t forget to double all ingredients) and pour into a 9 X 13 inch pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Take prepared muffin mix and drop by spoonfuls onto top of batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for about 40-45 minutes or until done. 

Brownies

 1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp shortening

6 tbsp cocoa

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

½ tsp vanilla

¾ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

½ cup nuts (optional)

Melt shortening and coco on stove over low heat until smooth, remove from heat and add sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in rest of ingredients and pour into a 8X8X2 pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in a 350 oven 30 to 35 minutes or until done.

Fried Tater and Quest Burgers

Fried Tater Burgers

Fry diced potatoes in shortening until crispy and golden brown.

Pat out 2 hamburger patties until thin

Place a spoonful of potatoes in middle, top with a small but of queso cheese dip, cover with other patty and seal edges.

Do this for however many burgers you want and fry in a skillet until burger is done. Top with a little more queso before serving.

Chili Cheese Potato Cakes

Chili Tater Cakes!! YUMMY and EASY!!!!

Chili Tater Pancakes

8-9 Small to Med Potatoes Shredded ( I just used a cheese grater)

2/3 cup flour

2 eggs

2 Cans Chili, with or without beans

8 oz Shredded Cheddar

Sour Cream

Mix potatoes, flour and egg in a bowl, spoon into hot skillet with melted shortening and flatten like a pancake. Fry on both sides until golden and potatoes are done. Place one cake on a cookie sheet, top with chili, another cake and shredded cheese, repeat with remaining cakes. Bake on 350 for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted, top with sour cream……………This makes about 7 servings but with my husband and teenage son, I’m thinking I may need to make more next time. They were inhaled!! HAHAHA!

Homemade Baked Beans with Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

Homemade Baked Beans with Crock Pot Roasted Chicken......awesome and easy!!

This was my first attempt at making baked beans from scratch, normally I'm a Bush's kind of girl ;)

HomeMade Baked Beans

1 lb dry beans ( I used black eyed peas but you could use kidney, pinto, great northern, etc)

2 c. Packed Brown Sugar

1 C. BBQ Sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays Honey)

1 onion

1 green pepper

2 TBS yellow mustard

2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce

½ C Ketchup

Splash of Green Tabasco

Soak beans over night. In the morning, drain and rinse. Put in pan with JUST enough water to cover, stir in all ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring frequently for about 25 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for about 6 hours. More water can be added if they start to look too dry, you want them to be thick but the beans will need the liquid so just sort of use your own judgment.

NOW, in hindsight, I really wish I would have used a different type of beans. The flavor was really good, but I didn’t really care for the texture of the black eyed peas. Maybe if I would have let them cook another hour or so, but, you know how it goes when it’s dinner time and the family doesn’t want to wait! LOL! Also, these are pretty sweet, which is how I like them, but, you could always reduce the amount of sugar to suit your own taste.  They were a hit, but I think they would have been a MEGAhit with a different bean. Next time I’m going to try great northern or pinto I think J

Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

The easiest roasted chicken you will ever make!!

Spray inside of crock pot with cooking spray, place a whole chicken inside, sprinkle with salt and pepper…………..DO NOT ADD LIQUID, it will make it’s own! Let cook on low for about 6-7 hrs or high for 4-5. PERFECT!

Yellow Squash Pancakes

Yellow Squash Pancakes

2 Yellow Squash (could use zucchini too)  (I had 1 large and 1 medium)

2/3 cup flour (approx)

2 eggs

Salt and Pepper to taste

Shred squash and place in bowl with flour and eggs, stir until all squash is coated in flour and egg. Heat oil in skillet (I use an electric skillet) and drop by spoonfuls flattening out with back of spoon into a pancake shape. Fry, turning once until both sides are crispy and golden

Salted Caramel French Toast

This is sooooooo good for breakfast, brunch or dinner! Serve it with bacon or sausage!

Salted Caramel French Toast

Ingredients:

Salted Caramel Syrup:

5 TBS Unsalted Butter

1 C. Packed Brown Sugar

1 C. Granulated Sugar

2 TSP Vanilla

3 TBS Milk

Water (more on that in the directions)

Sea Salt

Chopped Walnuts or Pecans (optional)

French toast:

1 Loaf French Bread (sliced to desired thickness)

3 Eggs

½ C. Milk

2 TSP Vanilla

Directions: Melt butter in saucepan, add sugars, vanilla and milk. Start by adding 3 TBSP of water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly until sugars are dissolved. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring frequently. Continue to add water 1 TBSP at a time until syrup is the desired consistency ( I believe I ended up adding about 10 tbsp total) When syrup reaches desired consistency add Sea Salt to taste. At this point do NOT dip your finger in the syrup to taste (like I did) ………it is very, very hot……TRUST me!! LOL!  Remove from heat and stir in approx. ½ cup of chopped nuts if desired. If syrup becomes too thick while waiting on the toast, you can just add a little more water.

Toast:

Whisk together the 3 eggs, ½ cup milk and 2 tsp vanilla in a bowl. Dip both sides of the bread in the mixture and cook on a griddle or in a skillet, turning once until both sides are golden brown. If you burn one side (as I usually do) it’s ok, just serve with the pretty side up………..no one will ever know ;)

Place bread on plate and top with syrup…………..YUMMY!!!!!