Caramel Popcorn

I love everything coated, dipped, or filled with caramel. In the Russell clan we call these *Neesha's Best Ever* Caramel Popcorn Balls because they are the best ever!!

Caramel Popcorn
1 cup corn syrup
2 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 Tblsp vanilla
25-30 cups popped popcorn (1-1 1/4 cup popcorn kernels; 4-6 bags)

Cook first 3 ingredients to a boil.

add butter and milk

Heat to 228 degrees

Remove from burner, add vanilla

Pour over popcorn and coat well.

WARNING: Extremely HOT, use spatula to mix.

If desired coat hands with Pam and shape into balls.

Orange Chicken

YUM!  Need I say more?

 

Time: 1 hour
Serving Size: 8
Note: Heathy version is posted below

Fried Chicken Bites:
4 lbs chicken, cubed
1 1/2 c corn starch
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2-3 c bread crumbs
4 eggs, well beaten
oil (for frying)

Orange Sauce:
3 c water
1/2 c orage juice
2/3 c rice vinegar
5 T soy sauce
2 T orange zest
2 c brown sugar
1 t minced ginger
1 t garlic
4 T green onion (optional)
1/2 t red pepper flakes (optional)
6 T corn starch
4 T water

Combine corn starch, salt and pepper in one bowl.  Place beaten eggs in a second bowl.  Pour bread crumbs in a third bowl.  Dip chicken in egg mixture, dredge in cornstarch, then again in the eggs, and finally in the bread crumbs, set aside.  Heat pan with vegetable oil on medium to 360 degrees.  Fry chicken in batches until completely cooked.  (2-3 minutes)

In a large saucepan combine 3 c water, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce.  Blend well over medium heat for a few minutes.  Stir in brown sugar, orange zest, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes.  Bring to a boil.

Combine 3 T water and cornstarch and mix thoroughly.  Slowly stir cornstarch mixture into sauce until it thickens.  Pour sauce over breaded chicken and garnish with green onions.

* Healthy option:  Prepare chicken by dicing it into bite sized pieces, salting and peppering it, and cooking in a skillet with 2 T oil.  Make sauce and add to chicken.  Less sauce may be needed.

Rice Krispie Ice Cream Strawberry Dessert

Brittany's Berry Ice-Cream Dessert

3 c rice krispies
1/2 c coconut
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter
1/4 c chopped nuts (opt)
1 carton vanilla ice cream 
1 box danish dessert (found by puddings)(or premade in produce section..fruit glaze)
1 lb strawberries (can use blackberries, raspberries or blueberries)

Melt butter, and mix in rice krispy's, brown sugar, coconut and nuts. Can double this to make it extra crunchy.
Press half of crunchy mixture in to a 9X13 pan.  Cut ice cream into 1" slices and layer  it in the pan.
Spread rest of crunchy topping on top.
Freeze for an hour or two.
Prepare danish dessert and add strawberries. (We drizzled caramel on top also because we had it)
Top with danish dessert.

 

Alana's Sugar Cookies - Lofthouse Copycat

Alana's Sugar Cookies     Mom's favorite for 30 years

Lofthouse Copycat Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Bake for 15 minutes

Cream ;
1 cup of shortening
2 cups of sugar

Then add;
6 T milk
2 teas. of vanilla
3 eggs beaten

Sift ;
4 1/2 c of flour
1 t salt
3 t baking powder

Add dry ingredients into wet a little at a time mixing with mixer until all flour has been added.
Chill
Roll out about 1/4"-1/2" thick on floured surface. 
Frost with a butter cream frosting. (Kindra has a frosting listed with one of her cakes)  These are better than the ones at the grocery store.

Best Lemon Water Ever

Best Lemon Water Ever

1 gallon of water
1 bag of ice
3 cups of sugar
1 T lemon extract
1 T citric acid
This is great for parties and for Sunday too.  Dad sometimes makes it with splenda instead of sugar.

Aunt NaTel's French Bread

Aunt NaTel's French Bread

1/2 cup warm water
2T Yeast
3T sugar
dissolve yeast and sugar in water and let sit while preparing other ingredients
2c hot water
1T salt
1/2 c oil
3 cups flour
Beat well with spoon.  Add 3 more cups of flour(total of 6 cups of flour). Add yeast mixture and beat well with spoon.  Rest 10 minutes.  Beat down.  Repeat 5 times.
Divide into 2 parts.  Roll into a 12X14 rectangle on floured surface. Put on a oiled cookie sheet.  Brush top with beaten egg whites and then cut slits with a serrated knife diagonally about 2-3 inches apart along top of bread.  Rise for 30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

I was talking with my friend, Nicole, about how making dinner can be frustrating at my house because I don't have even ONE meal that everyone likes. Someone is always protesting. She agreed that it's that way at her house, except for ONE meal. All three of her girls LOVE it and are excited when she makes it. It's FISH (this recipe) and quiona! Her girls are young, ages 22mo - 6 years old. I had to have this fish recipe! I have tried feeding my kids fish a lot with very little positive feedback! 

She shared this recipe with me about a month ago. It's been so well received around our house, we've had it at least 4 times :) I still have one major protester... but I will take that. With other fish recipes I have tried, usually Douglas and I are the only fans. So with this recipe, we gained 4 more fans of fish :)

If you are hesitant about fish or know your kids will resist, try this recipe. We had good luck with it. YUM!

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Parmesan Topping:
1/2 c parmesan cheese*

2 T olive oil or butter, softened

2 T mayonnaise

2 T fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp celery salt

2-3 pounds tilapia fillets

Preheat your oven's broiler.  Line a broiler pan or rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, mix together parmesan cheese, oil, mayo, and lemon juice, dried basil, pepper, onion powder, and celery salt. If it's too thick, drizzle olive oil or lemon juice until it's spreadable. This is a lot of topping, enough topping for 2-3lbs of fish. I have refrigerated this mixture at this point and warmed it in the microwave for 30 seconds when it's time to use. I imagine you could freeze it for future use as well. Mix well and set aside.

Arrange fish in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for approx. 4-5 minutes.  Flip the fillets over and broil for another 4-5 minutes.  Remove the fish  from the oven and spread about 1T of the parmesan cheese mixture on the top side.  Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and the fish flakes easily with a fork.  

*If using freshly grated parmesean, use only 1/3c. You may also need to microwave the mixture for 15-30 seconds to get a smooth consistency.

Serves 6 adults

Recipe by Nicole Moore