Insightful Vinyl For The Week
"Don’t be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. “Accentuate the positive.” Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life.” ~ Gordon B. Hinckley


Showing posts with label CLONE WARS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CLONE WARS. Show all posts

Sunday, February 5, 2012

CLONE WARS: HOMEMADE HOT COCOA MIX

I got this recipe from my SIL Taska, it's so creamy and yummy and my boys absolutely love it. It tastes just like Swiss Miss Milk hot cocoa. A great recipe to save money, super easy to make, and no preservatives!
Because I have a 2 yrs supply of #10 cans of powdered milk, I tweaked the recipe to use an entire can. What you will need:

1 #10 can powdered milk (12 cups)
1 -11oz container creamer or 3 c (I used Anthem brand from walmart $1 ea)
3 c cocoa
6 cups sugar
1 1/2 TB salt
Once mixed this will fill 2 #10 cans perfectly. I know this sounds crazy, but I mixed this is a clean garbage bag. It was super easy to shake it up and get it all incorporated really well without making a huge mess. Once mixed, I twisted the bag closed, snipped off a corner of the bag, and used it as a spout to pour the mix into the cans. Mix 4 TB to 8 oz hot water. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

CLONE WARS: OLIVE GARDEN'S STUFFED CHICKEN MARSALA




STUFFED CHICKEN MARSALA
Ingredients
Cheese Stuffing
1/2 cup smoked shredded cheese (I used 48+ aged gouda (Costco)
8-oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
2 Tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/3 cup green onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup sour cream
Sauce

1 small sweet onion, cut in half and thinly sliced lengthwise
24 fl oz Marsala cooking wine (I used Holland House brand from Smith's)
8 fl oz heavy cream
2 small containers button mushrooms, thinly sliced (I used one large container regular sized mushrooms)
2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I used chicken tenders and skipped #2, #3 and #4, gently fried the tenders in olive oil, then placed a molded portion of the stuffing between two tenders right before I baked them in the oven).
4 fl oz olive oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
Procedures
Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
1) COMBINE all cheese stuffing ingredients in a mixing bowl, set aside.
2) BUTTERFLY thickest section of chicken breasts to create 2 lobes. Pound each breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap until ¼” - ½” thick.
3) PLACE flattened chicken breasts on a plate and place desired amount of stuffing on one lobe of each chicken breast. Gently press stuffing down so it resembles a hockey puck.
4) FOLD over other lobe of chicken breast; does not have to seal.
5) HEAT large sauté pan over medium heat.
6) ADD olive oil and heat until shimmering.
7) PLACE flour in a shallow pan and season to taste with salt and pepper.
8) DREDGE stuffed chicken breasts in flour, shaking off excess.
9) SAUTE chicken breasts with preheated oil, cooking until each side is golden brown.
10) REMOVE chicken from pan and place in a baking dish.
11) BAKE for 10-20 minutes, or until juices run clean and center of chicken reaches 165°F.
12) ADD onions to sauté pan, and stir to loosen chicken drippings. After 2 minutes, add mushrooms and sauté until onions are translucent.
13) DEGLAZE pan with Marsala wine – make sure to incorporate drippings from bottom of pan.
14) HEAT wine to a simmer and add heavy cream. Simmer on low heat until reduced by half. (Takes about 35 min.)
15) PLACE cooked chicken breasts on a plate and top each with onions, mushrooms and sauce.
GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

6 small russets
2 lbs. peeled, diced russets
1/2 c - 3/4 c cream
1/2 c softened butter
2 TB olive oil
20 cloves garlic
Boil potatoes in water until tender. Meanwhile toss the peeled garlic cloves into a pan with 2 TB olive oil and gently brown until nearly caramelized. When done, once they are cool enough to touch, mash with the blade of a knife and chop into small pieces.
With an electric mixer, add the all the ingredients to a bowl and blend until light and creamy.
I added about 1 TB pesto to 1/4 c softened butter and spread it over a toasted dark olive loaf (Smith's .79/loaf in the day after bin).

Friday, August 26, 2011

CLONE WARS: THE CURSE OF MY FAVORITE AND EDAMAME SALAD


One bite and I was hooked.....line and sinker! I knew from that first bite it was doomed...star crossed doomed. It always is. I have what's called The Williams Luck. It's not a joke, it really exists. If I like it, watch it regularly on T.V, or by it often, it's pulled from the market, severely back-ordered or canceled after the first season (Moonlight, Off The Map). I ate this salad once AND Costco decided to no longer carry it. Coincidence...I'll leave that up to you. Luckily, I have recreated my own version and I even like it better than the original.

2 c shelled edamame
1 c thawed frozen sweet corn (or fresh kernels)
1/4 c finely diced red pepper
1/3 c diced canned carrots (using up food storage)
1/3 c pomegranate infused craisins
1/4 c sliced almonds
1 c potsticker sauce (ehtnic food aisle)
1/4 c brown sugar

Saturday, August 6, 2011

CLONE WARS: GIRL SCOUT THIN MINTS

Are you a GS Cookie Junkie? I am! Looooooove the Samoas. Toasted coconut, buttery cookie, caramel and chocolate...it's one of the best cookies they sell. I'm the one crazy woman you tell all your friends about......"as she passed the Girl Scout while driving down the road, she slammed on her brakes, jumped out her van and tried frantically to catch the poor little Girl Scout, who is now frightened and has high tailed it in the opposite direction, literally running for her life from stranger danger, (while dutifully pulling her handy dandy red flyer wagon full of boxes of cookies), her pig tails scarf bouncing all around as she escapes the "crazy" woman chasing her down the street!
Needless to say my life drastically changed when Keebler graced the cookie market with the presence of Coconut Dreams....they truly give Samoas some serious competition.
Keebler's Grasshopper cookies have always curbed my mint fix as well, they are really very good. But alas, once more my cookie loving world has been rocked forever! Enter my college roommate Michelle who came to stay with me for the weekend. She introduced me to the sweet and salty and crunchy and mint chocolatety marriage of Ritz crackers and Dark Mint melting chocolate. Oh yes my friends, oh yes....it is delicious!
Just as darn good as Voodoo Donuts butter cream maple bars with big ol' thick pieces of bacon on top!
This is very dangerous stuff. To know that you are only 5 minutes away at anytime from fresh, crispy, mint chocolate cookies....threatening. I'm out of semi-sweet chocolate chips (waiting for the case lot sale), or I would have just tried using them with 1 TB shortening and 1/2 tsp peppermint flavoring. Since I was out and about running errands anyway, I bought the chocolate melting wafers at Hobby Lobby for $3.28, then used the 40% off coupon to pay only $2.10 (cheaper than non-sale chocolate chips). These cookies were incredibly delicious. I'm not a big fan of candy bark or melting chocolates, but I couldn't tell the difference.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

CLONE WARS: CAFE RIO TOMATILLO RANCH DRESSING

I love Cafe Rio's House Tomatillo Ranch! I could drink it, it's that good. Several years ago I found different recipes online, then made up this recipe so I didn't have to blend the ingredients.....so I'm lazy sometimes, I admit it! I picked Herdez salsa because it has tomatillos, onions, serrano peppers and cilantro already blended together.
1- 7 oz can Herdez Salsa
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
1 c mayo
Dressing container (easier than cleaning a blender, but feel free to use a blender if you wish)
1 TB lime juice, optional
I start by layering with the salsa verde on bottom, then the ranch, then the mayo. It makes it much easier to shake and mix together.
It's very creamy, but still has a slightly chunky consistency. It's the perfect amount of heat in my book, but feel free to add tobasco or red pepper as needed for your taste buds. Enjoy!

Monday, January 31, 2011

CLONE WARS: BISQUICK

BISQUICK
I love Bisquick. It's all business! When I'm in a hurry, or let's face it....just plain lazy, it's my best friend. It can be used for a plethora of things, believe me. From cakes, cookies, breads, meals, on and on and on. Just Google Bisquick and you'll see the thousands of possibilities, including wall putty......kidding on the last one...don't choke.

RECIPE
Blend the following ingredients with a pastry cutter until all ingredients are well blended:

10 c flour
1/3 c baking powder
1/4 c sugar
1 TB salt
2 c powdered milk
2 c shortening

Store on the shelf in an airtight container. Use as Bisquick in any recipe.

Here is one of my favorite Bisquick Recipes:
CLONE WARS: RED LOBSTER CHEDDAR BAY BISQUITS:
2 c homemade bisquick
2/3 c milk
1 c shredded sharp cheddar
**Dough will be very sticky.
Drop dough onto cookie sheet and bake at 430 for 8-10 minutes or until tops are lightly golden.
Hot out of the oven brush with:
1/4 c melted butter
1 TB Johnny's Greek seasoning or
1/4-1/2 t. garlic powder & 1 tsp dried crushed Italian herbs

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

CLONE WARS: SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
From caramels, to popcorn balls, 7 layer bars or an easy Brazilian limeade.....this sticky sweet goodness is pure gold and it's one staple any true dessert connoisseur can't live without.
RECIPE:
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c water
1 c plus 2 T. powdered milk
Combine all ingredients. Heat to boiling. Cook until thick, this will take 15-20 minutes. This recipe equals one can of Borden Sweetened Condensed Milk.

Friday, January 14, 2011

AMY'S CLONE WARS! HERSHEY'S CHOCOLATE SYRUP



I'm always looking for ways to save money, save time, and make meals and treats for my family as healthy as possible. Since I've done the leg work, I've decided to share some recipes I've been using for many years now. These are easy homemade recipes for everyday products you might use and buy from the store. This week I'm spotlighting CHOCOLATE SYRUP.
Nearly every super market on the planet has their own version. And don't forget about Hershey's, the classic that mom used to make my chocolate milk with as a little girl. It's not entirely expensive either, so why bother to make it from scratch? Why buy it when it's full of preservatives and ingredients you can't even pronounce and it's simple and inexpensive to make. Think of it. You are at this very moment, only 3 ingredients and 7 minutes away from decadent chocolate bliss, and although it's sugar and cocoa, it's healthier than a product with a shelf life....and it wasn't made in a factory in Taiwan!
RECIPE:
1/2 c cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 c water
1/2 tsp vanilla
I double this recipe when I make it. Mix sugar and cocoa in a heavy saucepan. Over medium heat add water and stir until smooth. Increase heat to med/high and continue to stir until it begins to boil (about 5 minutes). Once boiling, stir constantly and boil for 2 minutes then take off heat and continue to stir until it stops boiling. Once it is cool, pour into a container and refrigerate (I use an empty ketchup bottle). Use in anything as you would Hershey's chocolate syrup. Great in milk, or on ice cream, or just a spoonful!