Spinich Salad

The 2nd recipe in the 3-part series of sweet young friend Rita's masterfully cooked meal that my familia partook (is that even a word?!?!) in. -- Cathy

SPINACH SALAD
Spinach leaves
Cashews
Apples, diced
Craisins

Mix just before serving. Top with Brianna's Homestyle Poppyseed Dressing. Rita says she has also used grapes and added chicken.

Two words: YUMMO YUMMO!

PS IF any of my family reads this "blob," (I have stolen this word from friend Kelly -- she calls her "blog" her "blob.") you best not be bringing this to the next family function, because I call dibs on it!!! :D

Chicken Pot Pie

I will be sharing a series of 3 recipes that sweet young friend Rita masterfully cooked for my family not long ago. I have gotten her permission to share these gems. -- Cathy

CHICKEN POT PIE
Pastry for 2 crust 9" pie (can use Pillsbury refrigerated crusts)
4 Tbsp butter or margarine
4 Tbsp flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp thyme
onion
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half and half (or whole milk)
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
2-3 medium potatoes, cooked and cubed
8 oz. frozen mixed peas and carrots, cooked.

Melt butter in large pan over medium low heat. Add onions and saute' until soft. Blend in flour, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook over low heat until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in chicken broth and half and half. Return to heat. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute. Precook chicken, potatoes, and peas and carrots, all separately. Add the chicken, potatoes, and peas and carrots to the sauce. Stir. Put bottom pastry in pie plate. Add chicken mixture. Put on top crust, venting with knife. Seal and flute edges. Cover edge with foil. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15-25 minutes.

One word: YUMMO.

Goulash

Quick and easy and tasty supper tonight.....Goulash. A friend of mine brought this over for us to have for supper after Peteyo was born. It became a regular meal for us. -- Cathy

GOULASH

1 pound hamburger
1 onion, chopped
1 cup elbow macaroni
1 can tomato soup.
1 can of water.
Salt and Pepper

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Add macaroni, soup, and water. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Cover and let simmer until macaroni is done. Goes great with some biscuits, a bowl of peaches, some green beans.

Chicken Chow Mein

Cathy is on an Asian inspired roll! -- ml

CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

Boil boneless/skinless chicken breasts (approx 3-4) and set aside

1 bunch celery (cut up)
1-2 onions (cut up)
sauté in oil

ADD:
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp salt
3 chicken bouillon cubes
2 cups water

ADD:
1 can water chestnuts
1 can bean sprouts
cut up chicken (cooked and in pieces)
Before serving mix in 4 Tbsp cornstarch plus 4 Tbsp water to thicken

DON'T FORGET THE RICE!!!!!!!

Oriental Salad

This one seems to be a hit with everyone. -- ml

ORIENTAL SALAD

1 bag coleslaw
1 package ramen oriental flavor noodles
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
3 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup oil
salt and pepper

Mix all the dressing ingredients together including flavor packet from the ramen noodles, pour over the cabbage. Shake it up stick it in the fridge. Stir in the crunched up noodles and seeds just before serving.

It should sit in the frig for at least an hour to get the flavors mixed together.

Toffee Malted Cookies

A wickedly yummy cookie. Best if not over baked. -- Cathy

TOFFEE MALTED COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 pkg (3.4oz) instant vanilla pudding
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup malted milk balls, chopped
3/4 cup English toffee bits or almond brickle chips

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pudding mix and vanilla. In a second bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture. Fold in milk balls and toffee. Drop by rounded tsp 2" apart. Bake @ 350 degrees for 12-15 min. or until golden brown.

Cocoa Mix

A staple of our life in winter -- hot chocolate. -- Cathy

COCOA MIX

4 cups powdered milk
2 cups Nestle's Quick
1 cup Coffee Mate
1/2 cup sugar

Mix all together. Makes about 1/2 gallon.

Add desired amount to hot water. Of course tastes great with a squirt of Redi-Whip or marshmallows (for those who don't have an aversion to marshmallows). :-)

Banana Bars

I am allergic to bananas, but don't let that stop you. -- ml

BANANA BARS

Cream together:
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1-1/2 cup sugar

Add:
2 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
2 ripe bananas - mashed
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp soda

Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees in jelly roll pan. Cool and frost.

Frosting
1 - 3 oz pkg cream cheese
3/4 stick butter
1 Tbsp milk
3 cups powered sugar

Strawberry Dessert

One of my all time favorites (sorry....I use that word a lot...where's my thesaurus?!?!). Grandma Nelson made this special treat while I was growing up. -- Cathy

STRAWBERRY DESSERT

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine

Mix together above ingredients and put in shallow pan (i.e., cookie sheet), bake 20 minutes at 325-350ish, stirring half way through. Sprinkle 2/3 of mixture in bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.

Combine and beat until very stiff:
2/3 cup sugar
2 egg whites
10 oz pkg frozen strawberries
2 Tbsp lemon juice

When stiff, fold in 1 cup whipping cream (whipped)

Pour in pan. Top with remaining crumbs. FREEZE OVERNIGHT.

Cream Waffles

Hmmm, Cathy has taken one of my favorite words "waffles" and put "cream" in front of it. Hooray! -- ml

CREAM WAFFLES

2 eggs (separated)
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1-3/4 cups milk

Mix milk and beaten egg yolks. Mix and add dry ingredients to milk -- add butter. Beat until smooth and creamy. Fold in beaten egg whites. Bake in hot waffle iron.

No Name Appetizer

This is a favorite appetizer that I usually bring to Christmas Eve festivities. I acquired this recipe from a gal several years ago.

I have NO idea if it has a formal name. :-) -- Cathy

1 pack of cocktail wieners
1 package of bacon
Brown sugar

Cut the bacon strips in thirds. Wrap each strip around a wienie and poke with a tooth pick. Put on baking sheet. Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake at 425 for ???? (sorry, I've never written down the time)...try about 10 minutes at first and check to see if bacon is done.

ABSOLUTELY addictingly delicious. :-)