Cream Puffs

I know these look intimidating but they really aren't that hard to make, and they taste so good fresh. For an even easier finish just dust them with icing sugar or leave off the garnish altogether. 

 

Cream Puffs

1 c. boiling water
1/2 c. margarine
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. flour
4 eggs
whipped cream

Combine water, margarine and salt in a medium saucepan, stir to melt margarine and bring to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir vigorously until it forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from heat. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each is added. Drop by spoonful's onto greased baking sheet (leave room for them to expand). Bake at 425 for 30 minutes. (They should look dry) When cool you can either pipe whipping cream into each puff or cut off the tops and fill with whipping cream.
To garnish: you can melt chocolate in microwave and drizzle on top, dust with icing sugar or enjoy them as they are.

Chicken Salad (Sandwiches)

This a delicious way to prepare a traditional chicken salad, just in time for this beautiful spring weather we are enjoying! I love all the crunchy veggies that are packed in there, it just makes it taste so summery ;)

 

Chicken Salad

2 cans chicken (have also used shredded rotisserie chicken when I had leftovers)
2 stalks celery, finely diced
1 c. dill pickles, chopped (homemade are awesome!)
3 apples, peeled and chopped
1 c. peas
3 green onions, sliced

Sauce:
3/4 c. sour cream
1/4 c. mayonnaise
3 Tbs. heavy cream (I have used milk in a pinch too)

Mix sauce ingredients together and season with garlic powder, seasoning salt, pepper and a bit of dry ranch powder (I have used Epicure spices too, and have also omitted the ranch powder, it all tastes delish). Toss chopped veggies and chicken with the sauce. Serve on croissants (the best), rolls or pita bread.

I usually half the recipe for just our family, it makes a fair bit, hope you enjoy :)

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

Sorry it's been quite a while since my last post, little Miss E is getting bigger and bigger which means less nursing time (aka my blogging time). It's amazing how fast a family grows and changes and as things get busier I'm looking for easier and easier recipes that are fast and make big batches. These are an addictive snack that have everyone in our family sneaking a bite out of the freezer :)

 

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

3/4 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
2 1/2 c. quick-cooking rolled oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 c. caramel baking bits (Skor)
1 c. potato chips, crushed
3/4 c. mini marshmallow bits (I use regular mini marshmallows)

Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy, add the vanilla and eggs and cream again. Slowly add the flour, cinnamon and salt. Then slowly add the oatmeal, a bit at a time. The dough will be very stiff. Add in the caramel, marshmallow and chips (sometimes your hands are your best tools :) ) Spread into a greased 9 x 13 and bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Tex Mex Turkey Soup

This delicious recipe is from my amazing friend, Karen. She is such a good cook and I love trying everything that comes out of her kitchen. This soup is a nice change from the traditional, uses up leftover turkey (or like I do, buy one on sale around the holidays, cook it up and freeze it for recipes like this) and will leave you fighting for any leftovers. 

 

Tex Mex Turkey Soup

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. minced onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
4 c. water
1 can tomato soup
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 c. salsa
4 c. shredded cooked turkey
1 Tbsp. dried parsley
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 can black beans
2 c. frozen corn
1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. chopped cilantro

Cook onion and garlic in heated oil ~4 min. until soft. Add chili powder, cumin and oregano, cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in water, soup, tomatoes, salsa, turkey, parsley and bouillon, bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes longer. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 20-30 minutes. Serve with:

6 c. corn tortilla chips
3/4 c. green onions, chopped
1 c. shredded cheese
1/2 c. chopped cilantro
1/2 c. sour cream

Let everyone put on desired toppings and enjoy :)

Chocolate Velvet Dessert

Some people buy their Valentine chocolates and flowers, I bake! And this was part of Lyndon's Valentines' gift this year, and oh boy! was it delicious! Don't count calories with this one, because you don't want to know, but once a year it is fun to make something special and memorable. You only need a thin slice because it is filling. This would be an awesome WOW dessert to make for a crowd :)

 

 

Chocolate Velvet Dessert

 

1 1/2 c. chocolate crumbs

1/4 c. butter, melted

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

6 egg yolks

1 3/4 c. heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

 

Combine crumbs and melted butter and press into a greased 9" spring form pan, bake at 350 for 10 min. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips in a large pot, stir till smooth and allow to cool slightly. In a large bowl whisk together egg yolks, cream and vanilla, slowly add to melted chocolate whisking beating vigorously until smooth. Pour into crust and bake at 350 for an additional 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 1 hour, then run a knife around the edge and refrigerate overnight.

 

1/2 c. butter, room temperature

3 c. icing sugar

3 Tbsp. cocoa

3-4 Tbsp. milk

 

Beat together, and pipe onto cooled cake.

Tomato Soup

My husband loves tomato soup from a can, I'm not sure how this is better than a homemade soup from scratch but nonetheless it's a staple of his. This is a quick and easy recipe from my childhood that dresses up that can of tomato soup and makes it a bit heartier, it's one of those recipes that you just throw in general amounts, so I'll try my best to put a measurement to each of the ingredients. You can adjust the spiciness by how much of the taco seasoning you add, we like it on the mild side but the original recipe asks for the whole package.

 

Tomato Soup

3 c. water
~200 g. spaghetti noodles, broken into 1" pieces
1 lb. ground beef
3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 onion, diced
1/2-1 pkg. taco seasoning
4 cans tomato soup
4 cans water
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. parsley
1/2 c. milk

In a large pot boil water and noodles until thick. Meanwhile fry beef, celery and onion until beef is cooked through. When noodles are done combine all the ingredients in the large pot and heat through, enjoy :)

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Nothing is as refreshing as the taste of lemon, and these cookies are a delish sweet treat!

 

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. icing sugar

 Cream butter and sugar. Whip in vanilla, egg, lemon zest and juice. Combine salt, b. powder, b. soda and flour, slowly stir into creamed mixture until just combined, scrape bowl and briefly mix again. Roll 1 tbsp. of dough at a time into icing sugar to form a ball. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 9-11 minutes.