Author Archives: ruthep

BLT Ranch Dip

14 Tuesday Jul 2009

Posted by in bacon, Dip, ranch, tomatoes

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This is a dip for snack crackers. It is very addictive. This is the time of year that is perfect for making this dip. The tomatoes are in season and oh so yummy.
It doesn’t have lettuce like the L would imply, but it’s so good, who cares?

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Ranch dressing mix
1 Tablespoon water
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled- don’t forget to let it drain
2 cups chopped tomatoes- about 2-3 tomatoes

Mix dressing mix and water in a bowl and let it stand for a few minutes. Add the sour cream and mayonnaise and blend well. Add the crumbled bacon and the chopped tomatoes. Chill until serving.

Black Bottom Banana Bars

14 Tuesday Jul 2009

Posted by in bananas, bars, Chocolate, cocoa, Recipe, yummy stuff

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These are so good. They are very moist. If you love bananas and chocolate, you will love these bars.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
You will need a greased 13×9 baking pan.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups mashed bananas- you will need 3 or 4 bananas
1-1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup baking cocoa

Cream the butter and sugar.
Add egg and vanilla and mix well.
Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until smooth. Pour half of the batter into another bowl.
To the mixing bowl add the cocoa powder and mix well.
Spread the cocoa mixture into greased pan.
Carefully spread the reserved batter over the top and use a knife to swirl the batter.
Bake for 25-30 minutes til bars test done when a toothpick is inserted in the middle.
Cool before cutting.

Makes 12-16 bars.
They are very moist so don’t stack together for storage, without putting a paper towel in between layers.

Jalapeno Cheese Balls

14 Tuesday Jul 2009

Posted by in appetizers, Cheese, jalapenos, Recipe, snack

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These are tasty little snack bites. They don’t have a ton of heat, but there is a bit.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. You will need one large cookie sheet.

Ingredients:

1 egg
1/2 cup softened butter
3-4 finely chopped jalapeno peppers
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup cheez whiz
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flour

Beat egg well. Add he rest of the ingredients in the order given. Roll in 1″ balls and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or til light brown on the bottom. Remove from the pan to paper towels or a rack to cool. Sprinkle with paprika or chili powder.
Makes about 2-3 dozen. You can make them smaller and get up to 72 if you truly want them bite size.

Potato Salad

13 Monday Jul 2009

Posted by in potatoes, Recipe, salad

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This is just a simple potato salad. This is basically how my mom always made it. I have just tweaked it a bit to suit my tastes.

Ingredients:

1 small red onion, chopped
3 large hard boiled eggs, chopped
2 large potatoes- I prefer Yukon Gold but will also use Russets.
Approximately 1/3 cup mayonnaise
1-2 Tablespoons mustard
salt and pepper to taste

For variety cook and crumble 2 slices bacon

Peel and cube the potatoes. Cook in a pot of lightly salted water til tender. Drain and cool. Do not rinse them off.
In a bowl add the potatoes, chopped onion, and chopped egg.
Add mayonnaise and mustard. Blend in. If it seems dry add more mayonnaise, just a little bit at a time. Salt and pepper to taste. Now is the time to stir in the bacon if you intend to add it.
Let meld for at least a few hours for best taste.

Unbaked Cookies

12 Sunday Jul 2009

Posted by in Chocolate, cocoa, cookies, peanut butter, unbaked

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These cookies can be made in no time. You don’t even need to turn your oven on.

 

Ingredients:

 

2-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup evaporated milk

2 cups powdered sugar

 

 

 

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper or aluminum foil.

Combine the oatmeal and cocoa powder and set aside.

In a large pan melt the butter and peanut butter over

low heat. Stir it constantly til mixture is smooth.

Remove from the heat and stir in the milk. Gradually

mix in the powdered sugar. Blend in the oatmeal and

cocoa powder.

Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Or, a cookie scoop

works great too.

Let cool until firm.

You will get 4-5 dozen.

Shrimp Dip

24 Wednesday Jun 2009

Posted by in Cheese, Dip, Recipe, shrimp

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This is a very simple dip that has great flavor. My friend Jacque shared this with me. Serve with snack crackers.

Ingredients:

1 4-1/2 oz can tiny shrimp or 4 oz of frozen salad shrimp
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3 green onions, chopped- tops and all
1 cup mayonnaise

Drain canned shrimp and mash with a fork. If using frozen, thaw and chop finely in a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and chill until serving. If you don’t have green onions, use about 1/4 cup chopped onion.

Coconut Diamonds

21 Sunday Jun 2009

Posted by in Baking, coconut, nuts, recipes, walnuts

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If you love coconut and nuts, this is a bar that was just made for you.
It is a 2-step bar. That means you partially bake the crust and add another layer and finish baking.

Preheat your oven to 350 degree F.
You will need a 9×9 square pan.

Ingredients:

CRUST-
6 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour

TOP LAYER-
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Cream together butter,1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir in 1 cup flour and pat into your baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes til lightly browned.
While the crust is baking, mix the top layer.
Beat the eggs lightly and add the vanilla and brown sugar. Blend well. Add the 2 Tablespoons flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in the coconut and walnuts.
When the baked layer is done, pour the coconut mixture over the top.
Bake for 20 more minutes or til toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
Cool and cut into diamonds.

Cereal – Peanut Bars

16 Tuesday Jun 2009

Posted by in bars, cereal, Chocolate, peanut butter, Recipe, yummy stuff

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These are so very yummy. I have had them with and without the chocolate chips and they are great either way.
If you love peanut butter and cereal bars, you are gonna love these.

You will need to butter a 9×9 square pan.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup light, or golden, brown sugar
dash salt
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup corn flakes, slightly crushed
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a large pan combine the corn syrup, brown sugar, and a dash salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the peanut butter. When it is blended in stir in the vanilla and both cereals. Stir in the chocolate chips.
Press the whole thing into the buttered pan.
Chill for 1 hour and cut into bars.
Store in the fridge.

Serves about 16.

Homemade popsicles

16 Tuesday Jun 2009

Posted by in frozen, homemade, popsicles, Recipe

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My mother made these ever since I can remember and I make them for my daughter.
They are extremely flavorful.
This will make from 16-20 popsicles approximately.

You can buy popsicle containers or you can buy dixie cups and when popsicles are slightly frozen stick wooden sticks in them. The sticks I mean are the ones from popsicles or fudge bars you buy or the kind you get for making caramel apples.

Ingredients:

1 small package jello
1 package unweetened kool-aid
1 cup sugar
2 cups boiling water
2 cups cold water.

Make sure the kool-aid and jello are the same flavor. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir til dissolved. Pour into dixie cups or popsicle containers.
They should be frozen firm in about 4 hours. If adding sticks to dixie cups, do that after about an hour and a half.

Raisin Bread

13 Saturday Jun 2009

Posted by in Baking, bread, cinnamon, raisin, Recipe

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This raisin bread recipe is an old family recipe.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven.
3 greased 8″x4″ loaf pans

Ingredients:

2 cups warm milk
1 Tablespoon dry yeast
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup margarine or butter
2 eggs
5 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups raisins
Approximately 6 cups flour

Proof yeast in bowl with warm milk. Let stand 5-10 minutes til frothy.
Mix sugar, butter, eggs salt, and cinnamon in separate bowl and than pour into yeast mix. Stir well. Add raisins and flour. I like to mix the raisins with about 3 cups of flour and add it together. Stir that and gradually add the rest of the flour. When it gets to thick to stir, now it it time to knead the dough. Add flour as needed. Do not add too much flour over 6 cups even if it seems to take it. It will not bake right. Knead for about 5 minutes. Put in greased bowl and cover. Let rise for an hour or two. Punch down and make loaves. Put in pans and let rise again. The second rise takes about 45 minutes.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. If you like you can bake for 35 minutes, but no longer.
Turn out of pans immediately.