Butter Cream Frosting 

2 c unsalted butter

6 c powdered sugar (measured then sifted)

1/4 c cold heavy cream

1 t vanilla bean paste 

pinch of salt

Beat butter with mixer for 2 minutes until light and fluffly and pale in color.

With mixer on slow speed , gradually add the powdered sugar, followed by the heavy cream, vanilla and salt.

Once all of the ingredients are combined turn on the mixture to medium high and beat for 3-5 minutes.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for a couple more minutes.

(I wanted to make those cupcakes with big piped frosting on the top.  This recipe was recommended by Kindra for this purpose)

 Chicken and Pea Pod Stir Fry

Ingredients:

2.5 cups cooked and cubed chicken 

1.5 sliced carrots

1 zucchini  sliced(optional)

2 c  fresh snow or sugar snap  pea pods

1/4 c diced onion or green onions

2 tsp  fresh ginger or  grated ginger root 

Sauce :

2 T cornstarch

1T sugar

1 c water

1 T low salt soy sauce( liquid aminos)

peanuts (optional)

Directions:

Mix sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside

Cook chicken in  1 T oil.  Put cooked chicken aside.  Then cook carrots in oil for 3 minutes  cover and stir.  add pea pods , onions, zucchini and ginger.  Cook 3-4 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender.

Stir in sauce mixture and cooked chicken.  Cook stirring until mixture thickens and is thouroughly heated.   add peanuts(optional)  Serve over rice.

 Light Banana Bread  (wGluten free Option)

1/2 c softened butter

1/2 c sugar

2 eggs, beaten

3 mashed ripe bananas

2 cups flour  or Gluten free flour

1/2 t. salt

1 t baking soda

1 t vanilla

1 c sour cream

Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour  2  small bread pans( or use pan sprayed parchment paper).  Mix sugar and butter in mixer.  Then add eggs and mashed bananas. Then add flour, soda, salt and mix. Add vanilla.    Gently, fold in sour cream.    Bake 65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. 

 Evelyn's (Thackeray) Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat oven to 375

Ingredients:

2 sticks softened butter

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

Mix then add:

2 eggs

1 t vanilla

Mix then add:

3 c flour

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix then add:

2 c semi sweet chocolate chips or 12 oz

Bake at 375 for 12 minutes( depending on you oven  I just made sure they were starting to brown a bit around the edges)

 Chicken Rice Casserole  Chicken and Rice – super easy dinner recipe! Chicken breasts, rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, onion soup mix. Mix everything in the baking dish and pop in the oven. 

Ingredients 

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (dad uses 2 chicken breasts chunked up)
• 1 (10.5-oz) can of unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups regular white rice, uncooked
• 1 package onion soup mix
• 2 cups frozen broccoli (optional)

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 9x13x2-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Pour cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, chicken broth, rice and onion soup mix in bottom of baking dish. Whisk together. (you can do this in a bowl and pour it into the baking dish if you prefer)
• Place chicken on top of rice mixture. Mis in broccoli
• Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

 Best Bran Muffins 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Bran Flakes
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 c oil 
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar , packed
• 1 cup  grated carrots , grated on small/medium size holes
• 1 cup chopped pecans, optional
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 t salt 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners or grease with cooking spray.
• Add raisins to a small bowl and soak them in hot water for 10 minutes, to allow them to plump.  Crush Bran Flakes.( 1 1/2 cups after they have been crushed) Then mix together Bran Flakes  and buttermilk, let stand 5 minutes.
  
  
• Grate the carrots and chop pecans (if using) and set aside.
  
  
• Add egg, egg white, oil, sugar and vanilla to a mixing bowl and mix by hand until combined. Stir in bran mixture. Stir in carrots, nuts, raisins.
  
  
• Stir together flour, salt, soda, and baking powder, then add to the batter, stirring just until combined (don’t over mix!).
  
  
• Divide batter among muffin tins, filling them full. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
• Allow to cool for a few minutes in the pan before removing to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

White Chicken Chili (Whitney) 6-8 servings

3 cups cooked shredded chicken

4 c chicken broth 

1 cup of water

3 cans(15 oz) white northern or cannellini beans rinsed and drained

1 T salted butter

1 T olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 Jalapenos, finely chopped, remove membranes and seeds adjust to how much heat you can tolerate.( i omitted these all together)

4 cloves of garlic minced

8 oz of minced diced green chilis ( I used only 1 can)

1 cup corn (I used whole can) drained

juice of 1 lime

1 1/2 t cumin

1/2 t ancho chili powder

1/2 t dried oregano

1/2 t kosher salt

1/2 t black pepper

1/4 t smoked paprika

1/4 t cayenne pepper (I omitted)

1/2 c sour cream or plain greek yogurt

Toppings (optional)

sour cream

shredded monterey Jack cheese

chopped cilantro

sliced avocado

green onion chopped

corn chips

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place 1 cup of beans in blender with 1/2 cup of chicken broth and blend until smooth.  Set aside

Melt butter with olive oil

Add onions and jalapenos saute until soft and onions are translucent 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.

Add pureed bean broth remaining chicken broth, diced green chilis, corn and rest of spices. Bring to a boil then turn down to simmer 

Cook for 15-30 minutes. remove from heat and stir in sour cream/yogurt and chicken.   You can see where I made it not so spicy. 

Top with your favorite toppings

 Kindra's Chicken Pot Pie

I have had this at Kindra's and it is amazing.  She served it with precooked pie crust in squares.  So it was like soup and you add the amount of crust you like to your bowl.  Crust stays crunchy.  So good!

Elsie's Smoky Beans

 

We used to  make this as a conference meal.  I remember the first time I had it was at Elsie's.  I love the bacon and the smoky flavor.

Ingredients:

1 lb. of browned ground beef

1/4 cup of chopped cooked crispy bacon

1 c of chopped onion 

2 - 15 oz. cans  pork and beans 

1 can  drained kidney beans

1 can drained butter beans or lima beans

1 can  drained green beans (opt)

1 cup Ketchup

3/4 c brown sugar

1 Tbs.  liquid smoke

3 Tbs white vinegar

1 t salt

dash of pepper

Cook meat with onion. put all ingredients in a slow cooker. Mix well and cook on low 4-6 hours.

Chicken Ratatouille

 INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 small yellow onion
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 medium green pepper
• 2 - 3 medium zucchinis  sliced
• 1- 32 oz. can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

• Start by heating up oil in large saucepan. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper and cook until no longer pink.
• Add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and cook for 2 more minutes. This way you chicken will be flavorful. Remove onto a plate and set aside.
• Heat up more oil in pan, add garlic, onion and green pepper and saute until the onion is almost translucent.
• Add zucchini,and chopped tomatoes. Season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook until tender.
• Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth and cooked chicken, stir well and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with rice , mashed potatoes, pasta and or cauliflower rice. 
• opt add  t of sugar to cut acid if needed.

Thai Coconut soup

 

Maple Brown Sugar Cinnamon Roll Frosting

 I had this frosting on a cinnamon roll when I was teaching at Waverly HS.  I have cut the recipe into 1/4, to make it more to a family size tray of C rolls.

Ingredients:

1/2 stick of butter

1/2 c. brown Sugar

1/2 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

1 1/2 t. maple flavoring

3 3/4 c. powdered sugar

Melt butter and brown sugar and bring to a boil.  Cool slightly and add milk.  Mix with mixer, the remaining ingredients.   Frost rolls.

Smash Burgers

 MAKES 8 CHEESEBURGERS OR 14 SLIDERS

EQUIPMENT

• A seasoned cast-iron skillet or fl at top
  
• A stiff spatula
  
• A #12 salad scoop for full-size cheeseburgers, #16 salad scoop for sliders (see Note)
  

THE BURGER

• 8 potato buns (make sure to get the right-size buns for either cheeseburgers or sliders)
  
• Peanut oil, or other neutral oil
  
• 2 pounds (about 1 kg) fresh-ground 80/20 chuck
  
• Salt, for seasoning
  
• American cheese, thinly sliced (preferably fresh-sliced cheese from your deli counter, not prepackaged “singles”)

THE TOPPINGS
Not here, my friend. This classic American cheeseburger needs no condiments. So, before you add anything, taste it. There’s a good chance you’ll become a purist like me on the spot.

Note: If you’re making sliders, the patties will take slightly less time to cook than is listed here. Watch for red liquid to know when to flip.

1. Toast the buns in a preheated cast-iron skillet or on a preheated flat top and set them aside.

2. Preheat the cast-iron skillet over medium heat (or a flat top to medium) and add a drop or two of peanut oil. Use the spatula to spread the oil, coating the cooking surface.

3. Put the ground chuck in a mixing bowl. Using the salad scoop, form balls of beef (they should be heaping scoops), placing them on the heated skillet as you go. Each ball should have about 3 inches (7 cm) of space around it. (Depending on the size of your cooking surface, you may only be able to cook 2 or 3 burgers at a time.)

4. Sprinkle a generous pinch of salt on each ball of beef and then, using a stiff spatula, press them down, hard. Don’t be afraid, press harder! Press each ball until it’s a wide patty, just a bit larger than the bun it’s about to meet. Here’s the trick, though: Once the patties are flat, step back and don’t touch them again. Let them cook for 2½ minutes or until reddish liquid begins to form on the surface of the patties.

5. Flip them once and resist the temptation to press the patties again.

6. Add a slice of cheese to each patty and let them cook for another 2 minutes.

7. Remove the burgers from the skillet and place them on toasted white buns.

Applesauce Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1/2 c. shortening

2 eggs

1 t. soda

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. cloves

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. salt

2 c. flour

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1c. applesauce

1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips (mini chips work great too)

1 c nuts (opt)

 Preheat oven to 400°.  Combine applesauce and soda.  Mix sugars, shortening and eggs.  Add applesauce mixture. Add flour spices and salt that have been sifted together.  Add chocolate chips and nuts.  Drop on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 9-12 minutes.  These cookies are soft.  Makes about 4 dozen.

Jon's Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce.

 Ingredients:

2 1/2 c flour

2 t baking powder

3/4 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

2 t ground nutmeg

1/4 t ground ginger

1/4 t ground allspice

1 c oil

1 c sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1 c unsweetened applesauce

4 large eggs

1 t vanilla

2 T orange juice

3 c chopped, and peeled apples( 1 tart and 2 sweet)

Preheat oven to 350,  grease 9X13 pan.  Whisk wet ingredients and stir into dry.  Fold in apples.

Bake 45-50 min. until toothpick comes out clean.  At 30 min mark tent ccake with foil.

Remove cake  from oven and cool on  cooling rack fro 30 min.

While cooling make caramel sauce.

Caramel sauce

1/4 c butter

1 c packed brown sugar

1/2 c heavy cream

1/2 c powdered sugar

In saucepan  on medium heat  mix butter, br sugar, and heavy cream. Stir constantly let mixture come to a rapid boil.  Boil for 1 minute. Give it a quick stir, Turn heat to low and let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar.  Let sit  and thicken for 20 minutes. If sauce gets to thick heat in microwave.

Thackeray Reunion Granola

Preheat oven to 325

Ingredients:

Mix together in bowl

6 c rolled old fashioned oats

2 c. chopped pecans or sliced almonds

1 c shredded coconut

1/2 c brown sugar

Stir together with:

6 T coconut oil melted

1/2 c maple syrup or honey

1/2 t salt

1 t vanilla

Spread on 2 large cookie sheets.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Turn off oven and let it finish toasting. Cool.

Crumble/ break into pieces for cereal or toppings.

Sausage Egg Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

Spray a 9x13 with cooking spray.

Place 8 frozen hash brown patties (or a layer of tater tots) in the bottom of 9x13.

Brown 1 lb sausage (could use bacon or ham) and sprinkle on potatoes. 

-If you want to add veggies (peppers, onions etc) sprinkle them on at this point too.

Whisk 12 eggs, 1 cup milk and salt and pepper in a bowl. Pour over potatoes and sausage.

Sprinkle 1c of cheese on top.

(You can cover this and keep in fridge until you are ready to bake)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Bake COVERED foil for 25 minutes. 

Remove foil and bake for another 20 minutes or so.  Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, then cut into portions and serve.

Hawaiian Haystacks

3-4 cooked and diced chicken breasts

2 cans cream of chicken soup

Milk add  enough to make a gravy consistency

Heat in saucepan until warm  add more milk if needed.

Toppings:  Use only the toppings your family likes

Pineapple tidbits(sweetened)

grated cheddar cheese

shredded coconut

sliced mushrooms

chopped green pepper

chopped green onions

Maraschino cherries (no stems)

sliced black olives

diced  fresh tomatoes

crunchy chow mein noodles

Serve over rice, top with chicken gravy(made above) and the toppings of your choice. 

Rice Krispy Treats  Microwave 

So nice to be able to make rice krispy treats in the microwave.    Extra marshmallows make these extra yummy.  You will need a larger microwaveable bowl.  Julie's recipe.

1    9X13 buttered dish

3- 10 oz. bags of marshmallows

1 stick of butter

1 12 oz box of Rice Krispies cereal

Put 1 stick of butter sliced in thick chunks and 2 bags of marshmallows in bowl and microwave for 1 minute.  STIR  repeat this step until marshmallows are melted.  Add extra bag of marshmallows and stir. 

Microwave 30 sec more stir.  A few marshmallow chunks make this even yummier.

Add  box of rice krispies stir until coated and press into  buttered 9X13 dish.

PEANUT BUTTER VERSION:  add 1 cup of peanut butter with the first 2 bags of marshmallows and the butter.  Continue recipe.

Crockpot Thai Chicken Curry

 Crockpot Thai  Chicken Curry

1-2 Cups Chicken broth

2-4 T Thai red curry paste

1 T soy sauce

1 T sugar

1 T Minced ginger

3 cloves minced garlic

1 lb chicken breast or thighs,  cut into bite size pieces

1 zucchini,  cut into 1 inch cubes

1 med onion chopped

14 oz can coconut milk

1 large bunch kale or spinach, cut into small pieces

Put all ingredients in crockpot( not kale or coconut milk)   Set crockpot on high for 4 hours.     After 4 hours, stir in coconut milk and kale.   Thicken with flour.

SERVE over rice

More spice?  Add chopped chili peppers.

Garnish   lime, cilantro  optional.