Thursday, July 30, 2009

Copycat Crispy Green Bean Fries(TGI Friday's)

* This is my favorite appitizer EVER!!!
I had it on th eway back home in the airport in Dallas...and decided to find the resipe...

35 min | 15 min prep |
Ingredients

Wasabi Cucumber Ranch Dip
1/2 cup bottled ranch dressing (Hidden Valley is best)
1/4 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, minced
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon wasabi powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper


Green Beans
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
6-8 ounces fresh green beans
1 cup flour
1 cup plain breadcrumbs or seasoned dry bread crumb
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
vegetable shortening, for frying or vegetable oil

Directions
1 Combine dip ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.

2 Place in bowl; cover and chill till ready to use. Dip will thicken as it chills.

3 Place beans in the broth.

4 Bring to a boil and cook 15 minutes, then place in cold water to stop cooking process.
5 Mix beaten egg with milk in a shallow bowl.

6 Measure 1 cup of flour into another shallow bowl.

7 Combine bread crumbs, 3/4 teaspoons salt, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder into a third bowl.

8 Take a handful of beans out of the water and shake off excess liquid.

9 Coat the beans with the flour, shaking to remove excess flour.

10 Dip the beans, one at a time, into egg/milk mixture, then dip in breadcrumb mixture.

11 Place the beans on a plate until all are coated.

12 Heat the shortening or oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet(or use deep fryer). Use enough to cover the beans, about 1 1/2 inches.

13 Fry until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes.

14 Drain on paper towels.

15 To serve, place on a large platter and serve with the wasabi cucumber ranch dip.
Enjoy

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Easy Bread & THE BEST/EASIEST ROLLS


I use my standard bread recipe for everything I make I will give you that and then what I do for the Focacia,THE BEST rolls!  This makes a BIG ball of dough ...I mix it in my Boche mixer. The rolls you DON'T even have to knead..just pull the dough straight out of the mixer!!!!

BREAD
 10-12 cups Flour ( depending on my mood I use white, wheat or half and half)
1/2 cup sugar
5 Cups warm water
1 cup dry milk
1 cube melted
1 Table spoon salt
3 TBsp Dry FAST acting yeast (Not just active yeast but fast acting) 

In Bread Mixing Machine Add water, Milk, & Melted butter & 5 cups flour  Mix for one minute....allow to be on lowest setting as you add1 cup flour, Salt, & Yeast. Scrape side of Mixer and mix a little longer.Then while the mixer is on slowly begin adding cups of Flour. Usually I end up adding between 5 to six cups.Once the the dough is all completely pulled away from the mixing bowl you don't need anymore flour. Put lid on Mixer and mix on speed number two for 4 minutes.Once it is finished I cover the counter top with oil, If I am making regular bread I use Veggie oil, if I am making peperoni rolls and Focacia i use Olive oil.

I remove the Dough and knead it on the counter. What ever dough I am using a rework it on the counter top for a couple of minutes. I separate the Dough and what I am not using I cover with a hot wet dish towel.This recipe yields, 5 loaves of bread, or two cookie sheets of rolls and one loaf of bread.

Usually I make I cookie sheet of pepperoni rolls, one cookie sheet of cinnamon rolls and a loaf of regular bread or Focacia. 


For the Focacia , I knead it pretty well , oil down my Pizza stone and work the dough like I would pizza creating a round even circle.Once it is pretty even I add a little Olive oil to the top and create a lot of dimples in the top of the dough with my hands. Then comes the toppings you can use what ever you like , most of the things I like to add are, seat salt, fresh chopped Basil , lots of Rosemary, Fresh Chopped Garlic ( I use the minced in water garlic you can buy in a jar, it is sooo yummy toasted into the bread), dried onions or fresh chopped green onions, sun dried tomatoes, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Toasted nuts...it really is up to you.

I then dimple the bread again...and bake it at 350 for about 30 minutes.After it has cooled I use a pizza cutter and slice into wedges.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Over 50 MEAL idea's

Not all of these are gourmet meals ...but this is just a list of meal idea's that are nice to browse on days I feel like I am out of Idea's.

* If you want a recipe of the following let me know!!!

Grilled Cheese and Soup

Teriyaki Chicken

Tuna Casserole

BBQ Ribs

Hootenannies

BLT’s

Stroganough and Potatoes

Pizza

Fajitas

Sloppy Joes

Roast

Spaghetti

Enchilada’s Red, or White

Chicken Cabbage Salad

Taco Salad

Waldorf salad

Roast

Summer Stew

Baked Ziti

Homemade Chili & Bread

Pesto, baguette and veggies

Pancakes & Eggs

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Chili Fries

Fried Chicken Strips

Fried Rice

Chicken and Rice (Cream of Mushroom or Italian)

Corn Chowder

Quesadilla’s

Homemade Burritos

Nachos

Ravioli Alfraido

Lasagna

Lemon Pepper Hens

Fish sticks

Banana splits

Famous Daves Shredded Chicken Sandwiches

Chicken Pot Pie

Apple Salad and Tortellini Salad

Skillet

Stir- Fry

Garlic noodles and veggies

Baby English muffin pizza

Chicken Wings

Steak and mashed potatoes

Hamburgers and fries

Teriyaki Meatballs and Rice

Hot Dogs

Homemade Chicken noodle soup

Spicy Salmon Steaks w/ spicy noodles

Broccoli & Cheese Potatoes

BIG SUB SANDWICH

Short Bread

* We make this for Christmas and leave these out for Santa.....
1 ¾cup softened butter
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 ½ cup Flour
1 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 cookie sheet


Mix all ingredients together in a bowl… mixture will be thick. Spread evenly into cookie sheet. Prick with a fork.
Bake at 375 for 20 minutes… wait until cool, sprinkle with granulated sugar and cut into small rectangles.

Homemade Oreo’s or Ice Cream Sandwiches

What you will Need:
1 Chocolate Cake mix
2 cups cool whip
2 Eggs
1 can vanilla frosting
or vanilla Ice cream
Powdered sugar

Mix together cake mix, cool whip and Eggs. Chill in fridge for two hours.
Then roll dough into small balls… and then roll balls in powdered sugar… Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 7- 10 minutes
When cool sandwich with vanilla frosting …and place in air tight container…or sandwich with Ice cream … place in air tight container and put in freezer.

Milkyway Peek-A-Boo’s

What you will need….
1 bag mini milky way candy bars cut in half
2 boxes Devils food Cake Mix
4 Eggs
¾ cup oil

Cookie sheet


In bowl combine Cake mixes, eggs, and oil. Mix well..(you may have to knead with your hands…
Then take a table spoon size drop… roll into a ball, poke your finger in the middle and put in half the Milky Way candy. Then roll again to completely cover candy with cake mix.
Twelve per cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes.

MY FAVORITE

Cinnamon Sugar Almonds

Cinnamon Sugar Almonds

What you will Need:
4 cups Raw Whole Almonds
½ cup White Sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
1 Egg white
1 teaspoon cold water

Preheat oven to 250’. Lightly grease a metal 10x15 pan.In bowl
Lightly beat egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add nuts and stir until well coated.
In a cup mix together salt, sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over nuts. Toss to coat, and spread evenly on pan.
Bake for one hour in oven, stirring occasionally, until golden…. Allow to cool and store nuts in an air tight container.

Carmel Corn


What you will need:
Pop corn 8 cups popped
or 2 butter flavored microwave bags

Karo syrup- 1 cup

Brown Sugar- 2 1/3 cup

Sweetened Condensed Milk- 1 can

Sweetened butter- 1 Cube

Vanilla-1/2 teaspoon


Directions:
Combine Karo Syrup and Brown sugar in Pot place on stove top and cook on medium until “HARD BALL”. (Which means you can drop a little in a glass of water and it balls up hard…like hard tack candy)
Stir in one can sweetened condensed milk… Boil 2 minutes
Remove from stove
Add one cube softened butter
Then vanilla.

Stir well and slowly add over pop corn while mixing pop corn with two forks.

Ez puddn’ pie

What you will need:
1 store bought graham cracker crust
2 pkgs favorite instant pudding
1 tub cool whip topping
milk


Directions:
Make pudding according to pie directions on package… pour directly into graham cracker crust… refrigerate.

Fun combo’s are double layers of banana and chocolate pudding or spread creamy peanut butter on crust before adding chocolate pudding. A cream cheese pudding mixed with frozen strawberries is really yummy!

4 Layer Pudd’n Cake

what you will need:
1 Cake mix (your choice) ….I like German chocolate
2 packages Jell-O instant pudding (your choice)…I like pistachio instant pudding
Milk
Eggs
Oil

Directions:
Bake Cake in two round 8 or 9 inch WELL greased pans….set aside and let cool for 2 hours.
Make both pudding packages according to directions, in one large bowl…let stand in fridge.
When cake is ready carefully ….empty 1st cake onto flat open part of your hand… with long sera gated knife cut cake in half creating two flat circles. Carefully separate and place one round on cake plate… scoop ½ cup pudding on top and spread…place 2nd round on top…repeat pudding
Repeat this process with other cakes half.
Refrigerate…..

Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken and Linguine

What you will need:
1 small 6-8 lb. Chicken or Hen (you can cook two at a time)
Lemon pepper seasoning (Mrs. Dash)
Salt
1 cube butter
1 package linguine
Parsley
Garlic Salt
Fresh Parmesan

Serve with Green Salad or Squash

Directions:
Thaw Chicken ….rinse with luke warm water inside and out …. Take out insides.
Pat dry with paper towels.
Rub with butter
Lightly salt … then LIGHTLY (to much is WAY too much) dust with lemon pepper.
Wrap in tin foil and place in oven ….Bake according to package directions or until juices run clear.

Linguine: Cook according to directions … drain… put back in pan on low heat. Add 4 TBsp butter dash with garlic salt…. Throw in hand full of Parmesan… and stir until Parmesan is melted.

Chili Cheese Fries

What you will need…
1 bag frozen Fajita or Spicy Fries
2 cans of your favorite Chili
1 lb. of shredded cheese

Serve with Canned Green Beans.

Directions:
1st On a Greased Cookie Sheet Bake all fries spread out well … at 400 for 20 minutes.
Next open canned Chili… stir it up in side the can then pour over the top of fries evenly. Sprinkle Cheese on top. Bake for another 15 min … or until Cheese is completely melted.

Pesto with Baggette & Veggies




What you will need:
2 Packages of Cream Cheese
1 Container of Pesto (Costco has awesome pesto)
Parmesan Cheese
Baguette cut in slices
Fresh cut up Veggies of your choice…

Directions:
Cut Cream Cheese in half to make wider lay 4 slices on bottom of glass baking dish. Cover with Pesto. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes… Then Broil until edges are dark brown.
Let cool…. Serve as dip.

Mini English Muffin Pizza

Easy Quick Dinner to make with and for children.

What you will need:
English Muffins
Spaghetti sauce
Shredded Cheese
Topping your choice:
Pepperoni & Olives
Canadian bacon and Pineapple
Veggies
Serve with: Cut up Carrots and Celery

Directions:
Split English Muffins in half
Toast English muffins lightly….
Spared Tomato sauce on top
Cover with cheese.
Add toppings. Put on cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 until cheese is melted.

Big Submarine Sandwiches

What you need:
French bread
3 Choices of lunch Meat
2 to 3 Cheeses
Mustard
Mayo or Ranch
Green Peppers
Avocado
Tomato
Sliced Olives
Lettuce
Cucumber

Directions:
Cut French bread in half length wise and toast in oven …. Then add desired ingredients…. Cut into smaller sandwiches.
Serve with pickles…. Potato chips & Watermelon.

YUMMY Easy Corn Chowder





What you will need:
2 Cans Potato Soup
1 Can Clam Chowder
1 Can Whole Kennel Corn or I use my flash frozen coen (soooo good)
2 TB sp. Garlic Salt
Pepper to taste.....it really does need pepper

Serve with: Warm French bread
Honey & Butter

Directions: Put all ingredients in big Pot together… add milk until preferred consistency… salt and pepper to taste. Heat slowly as not to burn.

Pot Roast and Veggies

What you will need:
1 Roast (at lest 3lbs.)
3 packets of Brown Gravy (add water accordingly)
3 Red Potato’s
½ cup chopped onion
3 cups baby carrots
1 cup chopped celery

Crock-Pot

Serve with: Sour Dough Bread with Pesto.
Place Roast in Greased Crock pot: Add gravy mixed in water according to packaging…
Wash and cube potatoes
Add rest of veggies….

Cook for 6-8 hours on high.

Chicken Cabbage Salad


What you will need…
1 Bag of Coleslaw… sold in packaged salad area in produce area
6 Green Onions Chopped
2 Packages Oriental Ramen Noodles
6 Table Spoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 cup Fresca soda
3 TBSP Soy Sauce
Small bag of chopped Almonds (optional)
2 Chicken Breasts cooked w/ garlic salt and cut up in bite size pieces
Or I use Foster Farms pre-cooked grilled chicken strips (Costco)
2 cans Mandarin Oranges ( drained and cut in thirds)

In Salad Bowl combine Coleslaw, Chopped Green Onions, Chicken, Crushed up Ramen noodles and almonds… in small container Combine Vinegar, and Both Oriental Season Packets (from Ramen Noodles) and Soda and Soy Sauce. Mix together well and toss over salad.
Keep Refrigerated.

Chicken or Steak Fajita’s

What you will need…
1o four Tortillas’
Packet of Fajita seasoning
1lb. Chicken or steak cut in strips
1 small white onion (chopped)
1 handful chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 green pepper (all peppers washed seeded and sliced into thin strips)
Juice of fresh limes

Garnish with:
Shredded cheese
Sour Cream
Salsa
To be served with Mexican rice and Pina Colada’s


In skillet pan add two table spoons of oil and brown your meat with onion… add a pinch of salt.
Next follow season packet instructions adding the water and seasoning…add juice of one lime and cumin.
Then add your peppers stir well and cover your pan…. Lowering the temp to medium low….let cook for 5 minutes and check… The filling will be ready when peppers are soft but still crisp slightly when you bite into them.
Have your tortillas warming on a plate inside your oven….

OPTION # 2 ~ Pam Crock-pot add meat, and frozen package of onions and red, green and yellow peppers.
cook on low for 6 hours.

Fill tortillas with mixture…
Add Cheese, sour cream, fresh lime juice and salsa to your liking.

YUMMY….


You can also throw all ingredients in to a croc pot on low for 6 hours.
Just remember to check on it and stir.

Beef Stoganough

What you will need…
1lb. hamburger
3 Table spoons Onion Flakes
Garlic Salt
1 cup Sour Cream
1 package Egg Noodles
or
Potatoes
Serve with Green beans and
Fruit Salad

Pan cook Hamburger w/ onion until well browned … add Sour cream and garlic salt to taste….

Use as topping to Baked Potato or Cooked Egg noodles.

For Baked potato’s…preferably red.
Wash potato, prick with fork, rub with butter, salt and cook potato at 400.
For Crispier skin place right on rack
For Soft skin put foil on potato.

Blackened Chicken Alfraido

What you will need….
Chicken Breasts- At least one per Person
Alfredo Sauce 1 or 2 Jars Depending
1 Package of Fettuccine Noodles
Olive Oil
Salt
Garlic Salt
Italian Seasoning
Fresh Parmesan Cheese
Serve with Garlic Bread or Bread sticks
Spinach salad or Sautéed yellow squash & zucchini


Take thawed chicken breasts and rub with Garlic salt and a pinch of Italian seasoning…. Pan Sauté with olive oil until well browned on both sides …. While browning add parmesan to chicken in pan so it will form a crust around the chicken. Set aside and keep warm in oven.
Boil noodles according to package with Olive Oil and Salt… after draining them add Alfraido Sauce in pan with noodles and cook on low (continue stirring until sauce in heated with the noodles…. Add parmesan and spices to taste.
On plate place the noodles with the Chicken on top.
Voila….
Must be served with lit candles and good music.

Red or white Chicken Enchiladas


I double or Quadruple this, because the middle is the same for each ...I sometimes will quadruple the recipe and do half and half and freeze them...
cook one hour instead of half an hour for thawed at 350.

What you will need….

8 Flour Tortilla’s
4 0r 5 Chicken Breasts
2lbs Shredded Colby jack cheese
8 oz. tub of sour cream
1 can chopped olives
6 green onions (optional) Chopped
(For Red Enchilada’s)
1 large can & 1 small can
Red Enchilada sauce
(Or for White Enchiladas)
1 Large can
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Mix with one full can water
1 large mixing bowl
1 greased 9x13 Pan

Directions:
Crock-pot Chicken and shred, or boil the chicken and chop, mix cheese(reserve some cheese to sprinkle on top), sour cream, green onions and chopped olives.
Use chicken mixture to fill flour tortilla's and roll up and put ends down in a glass or metal pan. Pour Sauce (red or white) over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese and olives.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Serve with Green Salad,
Chips & Salsa