Happy New Year

We've been published again

We have been published again.  "My Stars VIII" was published in November 2012 and we are pleased to 
announce that our quilt Child's Garden was selected to be included in their book.  This quilt is available on our website.



 

Cheese and Potato Casserole

I'm always on the lookout for a great recipe.  Christmas dinner today provided a good one. 

Cheese and Potato Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 bag 32 oz. frozen hash brown potatoes (We used the Ore-Ida Southern style diced potatoes)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup of sour cream

1 1/2 cup grated Colby Jack cheese

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons dried onion flakes.

Directions:

Potatoes should be thawed just to the point where they are all separated in the package. 

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and pour into a 9" by 12" casserole dish and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour uncovered, until hot and bubbling.  Serves 10-12. 

Grandma's legendary chocolate cake recipe

As far back as I can remember this has been the favorite cake of our family. It is served on all special occasions including thanksgiving where it sits side by side with the pumpkin pies. It is a must for birthdays. Enjoy!

1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
Bring to a boil in a small pan and then set aside 10 minutes to cool.

1/2 cup buttermilk blended with
1 teaspoon soda
Set aside to let chemical reaction occur.

In a large bowl mix together the following:
2 cups sifted flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cocoa
Mix together.
Pour in the margarine oil mixture and beat until smooth.

Beat in:
2 eggs
the buttermilk mixture from above
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Prepare your 9" by 13" pan by greasing it and sprinkle with cocoa.

Pour into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cocoa frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
3-4 tablespoons non dairy creamer
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix until nice and creamy in texture and spread on the cooled cake.

This cake is best on the second day so it is a good recipe to make ahead of time.  You can buy powdered buttermilk and reconstitute it for use in this recipe.

Another dishrag completed

American Macaroni and Cheese

American Macaroni and Cheese

One of my favorite dishes as I grew up was my mom's macaroni and cheese. I never knew it was different until I got married and found out most people use cheddar cheese in theirs. And after I had children it was hard to compete with a box of Kraft's my kids would cook.

I've given it a new life here with some interesting substitutions.

Heat oven to 350 degrees

2 1/2 cups of packaged macaroni cooked per the package instructions. I added 1 tablespoon of salt to the cooking water for better flavor and texture.  Drain and set aside.

4 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of flour
Put these two ingredients in a large saucepan, melt and stir to form a roux.
2 1/2 cups non-dairy creamer
Stir into the roux, mixing well over medium heat.
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of pepper to taste
Add seasonings to pot and stir.
1 pound of American cheese. Have the people at the deli counter slice it into approx. 1/2 inch slices. Tear the cheese into small segments and add to the pot. Continue stirring until all the cheese is melted and it has come to a boil. When it is done it will have a thick creamy consistency. Combine the noodles and the cheese sauce and pour into a 9" by 12" pan.
Top with bread crumbs. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Note: I often make this in small individual loaf pans and freeze them for an occasional small meal or side dish.  It makes 8-10 small pans.

Note: to make bread crumbs place 3-4 slices of bread In a blender or food processor and blend to create your own crumbs.

Finished! Check!

As if I didn't have enough unfinished projects I got an urge to crochet a dishcloth and I actually finished it ! In one night!
Now I can Check something off my list!

Forever in my Heart

I just love this new "Forever in My Heart" pattern.  It's made with the "Sweetcakes" line of  fabric from Riley Blake.  It's only 40 by 40 so it makes a good wall hanging for Valentines or anytime.  Red and White is one of the classics.  It would also make a cute baby blanket because who doesn't love babies.  Pattern available on my website www.pinkhippoquilts.com .

Beef Pie and French Dip Sandwiches

Problem:

If you find a sale on roast beef you can't turn down, here's an excellent recipe or two to try.  
Or maybe you just have a craving for roast beef but you don’t know what you are going to do with all those leftovers.

Solution: 

2 new recipes

It works well to prepare the roast a day ahead and have it already shredded or thinly sliced - store it in its own juices and refrigerate. You can slow cook it or cook it in a pressure cooker.

I chose the pressure cooker method.  

Put 2 cups beef bouillon in the bottom of the pressure cooker.  Place the sirloin tip roast on the rack in the cooker. Sprinkle the meat generously with Montreal Steak Seasoning and dried roasted garlic chips.  Close the pressure cooker following your manufacturer’s instructions.  Cook at high pressure for 45 minutes.  Let the steam valve release naturally.  Shred or thinly slice beef and store in a bowl with all the juices from the pot.  Cover and store it in the refrigerator.

(Day 1Recipe).  This same shredded roast beef also makes an excellent French dip sandwich on a hoagie bun

(Day 2 Recipe)

Beef Pie Recipe

First:

Take out 1/2 of Pepperidge Farms frozen puff pastry dough from package – it needs about 40 minutes to arrive at room temperature.  Follow the instructions on box.

Next:

Set the oven to 400 degrees.

In a large frying pan stir together and bring to a boil:

About 2 cups leftover shredded or thinly sliced roast beef 

1 package (12 ounce) frozen corn

1 can Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup with roasted garlic

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon dried tarragon 

A handful of Kraft's Philly three cheeses Blend (shredded Colby, jack, and cheddar with cream cheese)

Bring the ingredients above to boil and stir.  Then pour in a round ovenproof clay dish.

Add the puff pastry to the top:

Using the puff pastry dough prepared above and lay it on top of dish, cut out and seal sides.

Sprinkle the top with some more of the shredded cheese and a very light sprinkle of dried tarragon.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes

Take out and let rest for 20 minutes before serving

Serves 6

Chicken in Sour Cream

In an effort to save money I've been eating at home more and trying new recipes which I always end up changing to my tastes. I think this one is a winner! Hope you like it too.

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Chicken in Sour Cream

One serving is 2 thighs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:

8-10 boneless skinless chicken thighs (more or less thighs will work)

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or Crisco

Pinch of salt

Pinch of black pepper

Pinch of paprika

Pinch of Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning

1 Tablespoon onion powder

1/2 Cup sour cream

1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic soup

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

1). Brown chicken in frying pan over medium heat using Crisco or oil. Place in greased baking dish (I used my round stone pan). Sprinkle the chicken with salt, black pepper, paprika, and Greek seasoning.

2). In a bowl, combine the soup, onion powder, sour cream and lemon juice. Spread over the chicken.

3). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Note: I probably could have doubled the sauce.

Quilt Fest class quilt

This is a new version of my L'amour Est Trouve (Love is Found) quilt.  Some of you may recall the original that was done in black and pink.  I taught this quilt at the Utah Quilt Guild Quilt Fest in September, held in St. George Utah.

Silhouette my way

This is a new birthday quilt for my grandson Carson. It has a minky back in blue to match the front and it matches his room. I'm excited to give it to him today. The pattern is Silhouette from Mar 2012 McCalls Quilting.

Household Hints

1. Two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately, without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers.

2. Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.

3. Altoids peppermints can clear up your stuffed nose.

4. Mix one tablespoon of horseradish in one cup of olive oil and let it sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles.

5. Just ¼ cup of vinegar with ¼ cup of honey kills bacteria causing a sore throat. Take one tablespoon six times a day.

6. Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms.

7. Honey is a remedy for skin blemishes. Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and lace a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. It works overnight!

8. Listerine is a known therapy for toenail fungus. Just soak your toes in it.

9. To prevent screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

10. Formula 409 is a great bug killer. It takes care of bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets.

11. Pour a drop of Elmer's Glue all over a splinter. Let it dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue and easily removed.

12. Hunt's Tomato Paste is a boil cure. Cover the boil with the paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.

13. To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine. It is a powerful antiseptic.

14. Vinegar can heal bruises. Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for one hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

15. Mix two cups of Quaker Oats and one cup of water in a bowl and warm it in the microwave for one minute. Let it cool slightly and apply it to your hands to sooth arthritis pain.

How to decorate your cast

What a great idea for decorating a cast. Visit Sew Serenity (Kay Whitt's facebook page) to read all about this

Eat. Quilt. Sleep. Repeat.