Gingerbread Pancakes

I have really enjoyed the last few days cooking and taking pictures and blogging about it. I haven't really done a lot with my food blog for the past two years but it is one of my goals this year to do more cooking and blogging! Yesterday, my recipe that I was making for yesterday's entry didn't work out too well. I was trying to make Gingerbread pancakes from a mix that my neighbor brought me and the pancakes were just not working out. They were sticking to the skillet and raw on the top and sticking to the bottom and I was just getting frustrated! So I poured the whole mixture in a pan and made it into a cake! It didn't turn out too bad. I am still trying to get the recipe for the mix so I don't have the recipe but I do have a picture of my "pan cake"!

Update 1/11/11: Here is the recipe:
1 C. cake flour

1 C. all purpose flour

7 T. buttermilk powder

4 T. sugar

2 t. ground ginger

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

1/8 t. ground cloves

1 C. white chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients. Transfer to a decorative jar.

Then here is what you do with these ingredients:
Attach a recipe card with these directions to the Gingerbread Pancake Mix:

Place mix in a large bowl. Add:

1 3/4 C. water

6 T. melted butter

1/4 C. molasses

2 eggs

Blend until just combined. Pour batter 1/4 C. at a time, in a hot skillet, to make the pancakes. Cook pancakes, turning once, about 2 minutes.

Yield: 20 pancakes

Chicken and Potatoes

This recipe comes from a cookbook called "Cooking with Food Storage" by Debbie G. Harman that I adapted for my family. It is fast and easy, one of the reasons I love it!

1 can chicken chunks (I use Costco's) You can put in more if you wish
3 cups dried potato slices (I got a can at Macey's, you can also get it in the bulk section at WinCo)
1 can green beans
1/2 cup sour cream powder (I think I also got this can at Maceys in the Emergency Preparedness section.)
3 cups water
Salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation: Combine chicken, potatoes, and green beans in Crock-Pot. Add 2 cups water. Mix sour cream powder with remaining water until smooth. Pour over chicken and potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. cook on high 1-2 hours or until potatoes are tender.

(You can also cook this recipe in the over 350F for one hour. Just combine all the ingredients in a casserole dish.) Enjoy!

Mom's Famous Pizza

My mom makes such good homemade pizza, I finally asked her for her recipe. She makes it every Halloween and New Year's Eve for our family parties that we have. I tried it tonight and although it didn't taste as good as mom's, it did turn out pretty good. The whole pizza was devoured by my husband and five kids. Here's the recipe:

1 cup water
1 tbsp yeast (mom likes SAF yeast)
1 tsp salt
2-3 cups flour
1 T vegetable oil (I used EVOO)


I started out by adding the yeast to the water in the measure cup.
In another bowl I put the salt and 1 cup of flour and then added the yeast mixture. I stirred it up and then started adding flour and then kneaded it with my hands till it wasn't too sticky but not over floured. I put the EVOO right in the pan and spread it around the pan. You put the dough right on it and the oil soaks in as it cooks. I used my rolling pin to roll the dough out but I think my mom just pulls it by hand till it is spread out. Then I put spaghetti sauce on the dough and added ham and mozzerella cheese. You can add whatever toppings you want and enjoy!!

Yummy Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinamon
1 tsp soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp all spice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 banana's, mashed
1 tbsp milk

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and beat well. Sift all dry ingredients together. Add sifted ingredients to creamed mixture along with banana and milk. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350F for 50-60 min or until a sharp knife inserted comes out clean.

Chex Mix Party Mix

http://www.chex.com/recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=6709&CategoryId=343

Chex Mix Party Mix

So I probably should have posted this yesterday before everyone's New Year's Eve parties but I enjoy this any day! I made this for our party with a little variation. Instead of mixed nuts, I just had cashews and I bought some Gardetto mix with the pretzels and bagel chips and added that. This recipe is the Original Chex Mix recipe right off their site. I really enjoy it, especially for a party. When I get the munchies, this will cure it right fast! Enjoy!

3	cups Corn Chex® cereal
3	cups Rice Chex® cereal
3	cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1	cup mixed nuts
1	cup bite-size pretzels
1	cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
6	tablespoons butter or margarine
2	tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2	teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4	teaspoon garlic powder
1/2	teaspoon onion powder

1.	In a large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2.	Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
Oven Directions Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

Chocolate and Fruit Trifle

We had a family party for the Pyne's tonight and I wanted to make something festive and fun. I saw this recipe and wanted to try it and it was a hit! I am so glad it turned out so yummy! I will have to find another recipe for a trifle. I love my new trifle bowl; isn't it pretty?

1 package devil's food cake mix

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 cup cold water

1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix

2 cups whipping cream, whipped

2 T orange juice

2 cups fresh strawberries, chopped

2 cups fresh raspberries

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped

Prepare cake batter according to package directions; pour into a greased 15 x 10 x 1 baking pan. Bake at 350 F until done. (20-30 minutes). Cool completely on a wire rack. Crumble enough cake to measure 8 cups; set aside (will be cake leftover.) In a mixing bowl, combine milk and water until smooth. Add pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Fold in the whipped cream. To assemble, spread 2 1/2 cups pudding mixture in a 4-qt glass bowl. Top with half of the crumbled cake; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon orange juice. Arrange half of the berries and kiwi over cake. Repeat pudding and cake layers; sprinkle with remaining orange juice. Top with remaining pudding mixture. Spoon remaining fruit around edge of bowl. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: 12-16 servings. Recipe from Quick Cooking magazine NOV/DEC 2000 issu