Biscuits and Gravy

For those of you who have been with me on this blog from the beginning, will remember my post about the best homemade biscuits ever. I love making biscuits and gravy for breakfast on cold autumn mornings like this one. So I used the biscuit recipe and this gravy recipe given to me from a dear friend:

1/2 pound Jimmy Dean Regular ground sausage

1/3 cup flour

Salt about a tsp.

Pepper about a tsp.

1 Quart (4 cups) milk

Brown sausage in pan. Add flour, pepper and salt and stir for a few minutes until combined. Then add milk stirring until it is thick and bubbly.

So Yummy! Plan on hanging out in the kitchen for about 30-45 minutes when preparing this breakfast. (Great time to catch up on a good conversation with your kids, and help them make their lunches for school!)

I like to use cookie cutters for my biscuits for whatever season it is or upcomming holiday.

Acorn Sugar Cookies

I had so much fun making these acorn cookies! I used the recipes and techniques from this post. I am still practicing on having a steady hand, but I was happy with the colors, and the over all look.

Pizza Quesadilla

Put cooked tortilla on preheated griddle, spread pizza sauce, top with mozzarella cheese, favorite toppings (toppings shown are: sausage, mini pepperonis,and mushrooms) and top with more cheese...

I found these great little Hormel Pepperoni Minis last week at Walmart. I Love them! They are so cute, and they were on sale!

Now put a tortilla on top and cook until the bottom is nice and crispy, flip over and do the same until all the cheese is gooey...

Remove from the pan onto a cutting board, cut and serve hot!

Pizza Sauce
1 (10 3/4 ounce) can tomato puree

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/8 teaspoon basil

1/8 teaspoon thyme

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pour the left over Pizza Sauce into an ice cube tray and freeze. When frozen, put in freezer baggie for future single serving of sauce.

Candle ReUse, Recycle (or whatever you want to call it)

Look at this cute little candy dish. Would you ever think that it was once home to a delicious smelling pumpkin pie candle?

Do you have a candle on your candle warmer that's just about all used up? Or some candles you burned a while ago and have piled up in a cupboard somewhere thinking you might do something with them some day????

You might just throw away the candle when it's all gone.

Or you could.....

Make a candy dish or some cute little mini candles.

To make the mini candle (that looks a lot like a Reese's Cup):

Set the short, almost all used up wick in the middle of a mini muffin paper, and pour some of the melted wax around it. Then carefully carry it to the freezer and place on a flat surface and let it set for a few minutes...

and peel the paper off...

Then you have an adorable mini candle. You can burn it and still enjoy the candle scent, or trim off the black end of the wick and you have a brand new mini candle you can give as a gift. Jeff is 9 and made this candle with a bit of supervision and wrapped it up and is giving it to his school teacher for a little Thanksgiving gift.

If you just want to make the candy dish, melt the wax and pour into an old plastic container and throw it away in the trash. Then wipe the rest of the melted wax out with a napkin or paper towel. Warning: Never, I mean NEVER pour hot wax down the drain or you will be calling your plummer!!! Also ,Warning: If you don't have a candle warmer, but you want to melt the wax, NEVER melt it in the microwave if it has a wick in it, because it has metal and you could have a serious disaster if you put metal in the microwave!!! Instead, put it on a pan on the stove on medium heat (watching carefully) until the candle is all melted and then continue on with your project.

The other night I was thinking of all the things this adorable glass dish could hold, like: Veggie dip, Salsa, Buttons, Beads, Sea Shells, and, Oh, my...My mind just decided it's late and time for sleep and I can't remember all the great uses I thought of the other night. Well, You get the idea. It was really fun and easy to do. I liked this project and will do more, Because MY cupboard is full of used up candles!!! Now Im going to go eat one (or three, or four) of those candy corn pumpkins and go to sleep.

Fall Kitchen Table

What's on your kitchen table?

Banana Walnut Muffins

For this recipe I used my previous Marvelously Moist Muffin Recipe.

I followed the recipe EXACTLY. When it came time to add the fruit and nuts,

I added:

1 cup smashed over-ripe bananas

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

and there you have it: Banana Walnut Muffins

I think they taste best, (more moist) after I put them in a plastic container or big ziploc bag for a day or two.

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Muffins
combine dry ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves

combine, and then add to dry ingredients:
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup pumpkin
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup melted butter

~spoon batter into paper lined muffin cups
~fill until almost full
~bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes
~cool for 5 minutes

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat with electric mixer:
1 stick (8 Tbs.) softened butter
1/4 cup (2 ounces) softened cream cheese
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt

kids can decorate cakes

Three years ago (has it really been that long?) the boys decorated their own Halloween cakes for the school Fall Fest. They got their inspiration from magazines and websites. Baking and cake decorating with kids is so fun ( and messy)!

Pumpkin Pecan Waffles with Cinnamon Whipped Cream

I wanted something extra fun and Yummy for Halloween breakfast, (and for Bake at 350's Flavor of the Month) so I thought "why not tweek my waffle recipe and turn them into pumpkin waffles?" So I did, and here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Pecan Waffles with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
makes about 12 waffles
3 cups Flour
2 Tbsp. Baking Powder
1/4 cup Powdered Milk (optional)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
1/8 tsp. Ground Cloves
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
combine all dry ingredients,
then mix in...
1 1/2 cups cold water (or milk if you're not using powdered milk)
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup canola oil
4 large eggs
stir, and then pour batter onto preheated waffle iron,
sprinkle batter with chopped pecans and cinnamon and cook until golden brown.
The Pecans have that wonderful toasted nut aroma and flavor.
Serve with butter, maple syrup and cinnamon whipped cream!
Make cinnamon whipped cream by adding a little cinnamon and sugar to your heavy cream when whipping it. Top with more chopped pecans, and enjoy!!!

Coming soon: Pumpkin Praline Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting, Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Pesto, Tomatoes, Bacon, and Mozzarella Cheese, Super Moist Banana Walnut Muffins and more!!!

Halloween Brownies

My sister-in-law Stacey is a senior in high school and she is so creative! I went over to my in laws house last night and saw these super cute brownies on the kitchen counter. Stacey made them by: looking on google and finding some Halloween images, then she printed them out, cut them out, placed them on a brownie and sprinkled powdered suger over them! So simple and so cute!

Grilled Veggie and Steak Kabobs

I'm going to share with you one of my husbands FAVORITE meals! I know that when I cook this for dinner it 's sure to put a smile on his face! It's really pretty easy. The veggies we usually use are: zuchini, yellow squash, grape or cherry tomatoes, mushrooms( my favorite), white onions, red onions, bell peppers and a few chili peppers. After we put the veggies on the metal kabob sticks we brush them with melted butter mixed with Johnny's Garlic Spread (found at Costco). Then we grill them on medium high heat until they look done. When we take them off the grill and put them on the serving platter, we brush them once more with the melted butter mixture and cover with foil until we're ready to eat.

The meat is simple. Just cut a good quality steak into large cubes and brush with canola oil, and rub with homemade grilling seasoning (great with chicken and pork too!)

1 Tbsp. fresh ground pepper

1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt (must be kosher salt so it doesn't come out tough)

1/8 tsp. garlic powder.

When the meat is done cooking, put it on the serving platter, cover with foil and let it rest for a few minutes to keep the meat nice and juicy! This meal goes great with any rice of your choice (lately my favorite is a long grain and wild rice mix). My moms favorite is this lime cilantro rice from Leigh Ann over at YourHomeBasedMom, which I still haven't tried but heard it is amazing!

Peach Syrup

When My family came to visit a few weeks ago, my Mom brought some of her amazing home canned peaches. They were so good. We ate them up in just a couple of days, but were left with a jar of light syrup. When I made pancakes for breakfast I was sad that the peaches were all gone, and then I wondered what the pancakes would taste like with the peach syrup. Wow! I put a little butter and poured on the peach syrup (and got a little carried away). It was Sooooo good! Thanks Mom!!! Now I need your recipe for your canned peaches!

Soft Ginger Cookies

Need an idea to give to your visiting teaching ladies? I find that taking a food gift to give, always brightens the day and opens up the conversation with even the more challenging assignments.

Soft Ginger Cookies
from Better Homes and Garden New Baking Book
makes: 24-36 cookies Oven: 350 Bake: 10 min

2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses (or honey)
2 Tbsp. sugar

1. In a medium bowl combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the 1 cup sugar. Add egg and molasses; beat well. Stir flour mixture into egg mixture.
3. Shape dough into balls. Roll them in the 2 Tbsp. sugar to coat . Place balls about 2 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until lightly brown and still puffed. (do not overbake) Cool cookies on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.


This cookie is perfect for Autumn time. The flavors and aroma reminded me a lot like eating pie, and what goes best with pie? vanilla ICECREAM! So I kicked it up a notch and made Ginger Cookie Icecream sandwiches. Now this was a true taste of Autumn!!! Yumm!

Fry Bread

Living in New Mexico, we love eating Fry Bread. It is a Navajo tradition and is readily available just about at any public event, flea market or community activity. Sometimes we just crave it at home and love that my Mother-in-law Tina has lots of traditional New Mexico recipes up her sleeve that she has learned and mastered since moving here as a teenager in the early 70's! She lives right next door and loves cooking for people especially when they have a craving or special request. This recipe of hers is simple and fun to make for the kids. Sometime I will post more of her New Mexico recipes including green chili enchiladas, red chili enchiladas, tortillas, Mexican rice, chili rellenos, green chili stew, smothered Christmas burritos, tacos, etc. etc. etc!
It's kind of funny because growing up, my Mom use to make the most delicious flapjacks for us! They were so similar to fry bread. I think she got the tradition from her mom, my Grandma Sevey. When my Mom would bake bread, she would also save some of the dough, roll it out and fry it up and call them flapjacks. We would eat them with honey or beans and cheese, and Missy's personal favorite honey and cheese! One of my favorite childhood memories was bread baking day with my Mom and sisters!
My kids love hearing the origins of our traditions and I love that I can pass this tradition on to my kids from both sides of the family!

Fry Bread
6 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1 cup powder milk
2 ¾ cups warm water

Mix all dry ingredients
Slowly knead in warm water
Let rest a few minutes
Roll ping pong size ball dough out thin fry in very hot oil
Makes about 11/2 to 2 dozen
Serve with honey and powered sugar

Marvelously Moist Muffins

Mmmmm! Muffins!!! I found this recipe from a Bed and Breakfast website in Cape Cod. I'm always a little skeptical trying a new recipe, but I was really happy with these muffins! They were moist and dense and very delicious! We took them on our annual "Sunrise Breakfast" the other day! I made one batch of Blueberry Muffins and one batch of half Blueberry and half Raspberry. Here is the recipe copied from the website:

Marvelously Moist Muffins presented by Isaiah Clark House

Start with this basic recipe and add different ingredients for a large variety of muffins. Preparation time is about 10 minutes plus preparation time for your fruit ingredients.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup of white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 egg

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 T Vanilla

Cinnamon/sugar mixture

Paper liners for muffin cups

~Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

~Sift together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder into a mixing bowl.

~Create a "well" in the center.

~In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork and add the milk, vanilla and oil.

~Pour at once into the flour "well" and mix quickly and lightly until mixture is moist throughout. ~Batter will be thick and lumpy.

~(Additional ingredients such as fruit(1 cup per recipe) and/or nuts (1/2 cup) would be added now, quickly and without too much stirring).

~Spoon batter into paper lined muffin cups.

~Pile high above the top of each cup for a large "muffin top".

~Sprinkle top evenly with cinnamon/sugar mixture for a sweet crispy top.

Bake for

35-40 minutes for large muffins

20-25 min for regular size muffins

8-12 minutes for mini muffins

until muffins are golden brown and top springs back to touch. Toothpick will come out clean.

NOTES FOR VARIATIONS:Fresh fruit is best if available, but when adding frozen fruit such as blueberries and raspberries, rinse ice crystals off with cold water, drain and pat dry with paper towel, then add sugar to coat fruit and allow to stand before mixing in.

Try apples and raisins, peaches or bananas or combine for variety.We prefer walnuts chopped very small but almonds or chopped pecans can be used. SPECIAL NOTES:For cranberry muffins, cut cranberries in half for full flavor. Use orange juice instead of milk (apple juice for apple muffins) and add 2 T orange zest.

MAKES 6 LARGE MUFFINS or 12-15 regular size muffins or about 36 mini muffins

Watermelon Award

Thanks Beth for my very first Blog Award!

So in order for me to accept this award I'm suppose to list some things that make me happy!

Hmmmmm!

There are so many things to choose from!

I am usually a happy person, but I don't really think about the specifics very often.

What makes me HAPPY???

Well, Here it goes,

I feel most happy when:

1. John gives me a hug and tells me how much he loves and appreciates me as a wife and mom!

2. My kids are being silly dancing to fun music or when they randomly say "I love you mom, you're the best mom!"

3. I have cooked or baked something for my family that they love!

4. I am at Disneyland with John and our kids!

5. I have just given birth and I'm holding my newborn for the first time (2 more weeks until I get to experience this for the 6th time!!)

6. I have recognized an answer to a personal prayer! Or go to the Temple or attend and participate in a great testimony meeting!

7. I do something thoughtful for someone else!

8. I am smiling!!!!!

light sabers

OK, this creative idea has nothing to do with me at all!!!

But, it is so cool, that I just had to share it!

I am so lucky to have a husband who is so super creative!

He made these light sabers with the boys yesterday.

He took the boys to Home Depot and bought some wooden dowels for $3.56 a piece.

Then he had the boys sand the dowels and round off one end.

Next he pulled out his acrylic paints, and the boys designed and painted the light sabers however they wanted to.

Finally, they accessorized with duct tape, old flashlight parts, and anything else they could find.

Pretzel Sparklers for the 4th of July

We have a family tradition every 4th of July to make these fun pretzel sparklers. The kids love making and tasting them! This year my sisters- in-law and my nieces and nephews came over to make them with us!

All you need is:

Pretzel Rods or mini pretzels
White Almond Bark (White Chocolate Candy Melts)
Sprinkles

1.Dip the pretzels in melted white chocolate
2.Sprinkle
3.Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet
4.Put in freezer for a couple of minutes until set

Flower Pot Utensil Holder

I found this cute flower pot under my kitchen sink, not being used for flowers, so I thought I would put it to better use and store all of my cooking utensils in it.

Labor of Love Mind Movie

I don't know how many of you have heard of "Mind Movies", but I have discovered that they are so fun to make and so helpful in personal goal setting! I have made several in the past and found them helpful! Here is a movie that I made this week to help me feel prepared for the birth of my sweet baby #6. My due date is July 30th, so I plan on watching my movie twice a day or more, starting last Thursday (six weeks or 42 days x's 2 times a day = 84 or more times I will have watched it before the babies birth! Do you think it will help?! I'll report back after the baby is born (by the way, I don't know if it is a boy or girl) Wish me luck!!!

Parker's Pancakes

I remember eating pancakes so many times on Sunday evenings, growing up! It just seemed like the perfect thing to eat at the end of the day. We would eat a big dinner early afternoon right after church, so by evening we were pretty hungry, and wanted something sweet. I remember a few other Sunday Evening treats including Waffles, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Tidbit Cake, or Rice warmed up with milk, cinnamon and sugar, but I'll leave those for another time, another post.

Last Sunday evening Parker carried on the tradition and made pancakes for everyone with his own little touches of creativity!

Pancakes

1 cup four

1 Tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 cup milk (or 1/4 cup powder milk & 1 cup cold water)

2 Tablespoons oil

mix dry ingredients. add milk, egg and oil and mix until just combined.( lumps in the batter are ok) preheat griddle to 375 degrees or a pan to medium to medium high heat. pour batter on pan and sprinkle with blueberries, or chopped almonds. flip when bubbles form. Parker also tried mixing into the batter- chopped strawberries, chopped bananas, chopped almonds and whole blueberries. They were so good with butter, maple syrup and whipped cream on top!

Orange Chicken

I don't know about you, but in my house we love Panda Express (or use to love it until I found this recipe!)
This is my #1 most requested meal!!!



Orange Chicken

recipe found on recipezaar.com
makes about 6 servings

I usually double or triple this recipe because it makes great left overs, if everyone in the Nunley Neighborhood (especially my Parker) doesn't eat it all first!!! He He! I guess what I'm trying to say is that it is a huge crowd pleaser!!!


to make Orange Sauce--
1 1/2 Tbs soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbs water
5 Tbs sugar
5 Tbs white vinegar
1 orange, zest only

-combine soy sauce, water, sugar, vinegar, and zest. mix and set aside. I usually do this before I start everything else so the flavors combine really well. Sometimes I put the ingredients in a small mason jar with the lid on and shake it up.


2-3 cups oil for deep frying

-heat oil in Wok or deep -fryer to 375 degrees

2 lbs. (or about 4 breasts) boneless skinless chicken, chopped into bite sized pieces
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. salt
about 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 Tbs. canola oil

-place chopped chicken in a bowl and stir in egg, salt, pepper, and oil

1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup flour

-stir cornstarch and flour together.
-add to chicken pieces and stir to coat.
-add chicken, small batches at a time to hot oil, and fry 3-4 minutes until golden crisp
-remove chicken with a spotted spoon and drain on paper towels and set aside.

if you like bite size pieces of fried chicken or "popcorn chicken" just enjoy them as they are and be done cooking, or if you really do want orange chicken keep following the recipe

1 Tbs freshly grated gingerroot
1 tsp freshly minced garlic

-add gingerroot and garlic together in a small bowl and set aside.

1/2 tsp crushed hot red chili flakes (like the pizza topping that pizza delivery guys give you in those little packages)
1/4 cup chopped green onions

-add chili flakes and chopped green onions in a small bowl and set aside.

1/4 cup water
1 Tbs cornstarch

- combine water and cornstarch in a bowl and set aside.

You are almost done!!! Now for the very quick cooking!

Heat a clean Wok or NON STICK pan on high for 15 seconds
add 1 Tbs oil .
add ginger and garlic and stir fry for 10 seconds
add and stir fry crushed chilis and green onions for 3 seconds
add orange sauce and bring to a boil
add cooked chicken, stirring until well mixed
stir in cornstarch mixture
heat until sauce is thickened about 1 minute
serve over sticky (Calrose) rice found at Costco or the Asian isle at your local grocery store
Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!!!!

Homemade Pizza

When we lived in Colorado eight years ago, there was a little locally owned Italian restaurant we loved eating at. I can't remember the name of it, but the food was so good! One of our favorite things to order was the Shrimp Alfredo Pizza! Ever since then, we've been on the look out for a similar pizza and have had no luck!!! Finally, recently, I decided to just figure it out in my head and make it!!!!! So guess what, it was so easy and so good and only took 30 minutes until we were sitting down eating this Pizza with Salad and fresh Lemonade !!!!!


What you need for Shrimp Alfredo Pizza:
pizza dough (recipe below)
Sauce (recipe below)
cooked shrimp (I used about a half pound of large shrimp for each large pizza)
Mozzarella cheese
ground pepper


I just thought this one up with a little inspiration from a variety of pizzas we've eaten in the past!
What you need for the Specialty Pizza:
pizza dough
sauce
toppings:
cooked shrimp
1 vine ripe tomato sliced
about 1/4 cup chopped fresh spinach
4 slices of bacon cut up and cooked
mozzarella cheese
gound pepper


SAUCE:
(This is my husband Johns' creation- he uses it on pasta too-Yumm!)
for two large pizzas use
3/4 cup Classico Creamy Alfredo Sauce
1/4 cup Fresh Basil Pesto Sauce (From Costco)
Mix together and spread on pizza dough


I love homemade Pesto Sauce, but when I don't have any on hand, Costco Pesto Sauce is the next best thing. It cost around $8.00 for 22 oz., but it lasts sooooo long! In fact, I freeze it in a bunch of small portions and it's ready to use whenever I need it!

Secret Restaurant Pizza Crust Recipe
(I found this recipe a while back online somewhere, don't know where)
preheat oven to 500 degrees

for 1 large pizza crust:
2 1/4 tsp. (or one .25oz packet) active dry yeast
1/4 tsp. sugar
3/4 cup 110 degree water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

for 2 large pizza crusts:
4 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 cups 110 degree water
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt

-Dissolve yeast and sugar in water; rest 8 minutes.
-In a separate bowl combine flour and salt
-Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture and mix well
-Turn dough onto floured surface and knead for 2 minutes
-Working from edges to the center, press dough into a 12 inch circle
-Place dough on a lightly greased pizza pan and stretch to edges
-Spread sauce over crust, then toppings, then cheese, then a little ground pepper
-Bake at 500 degrees for 8-12 minutes
-Can freeze dough!!!!-roll dough into a ball and place in a sealable freezer bag that has extra room-thaw in fridge

First Sign of Spring

The Weather has finally reached 70 degrees and we are really enjoying the warmth! Yesterday was Earth Day and I'm not a huge environmentalist, but I do LOVE nature and I am so happy that Spring is here, so we can play outside more!!!!!

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookie Recipe

from allrecipes.com

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Flooding the Frosting ideas

from bakeat350.blogspot.com Using a thinned out Royal Icing

This was so easy and so fun! This is how I frost my sugar cookies from now on!!!! There are tons of other great baking tips on Bake at 350!