Chewy Oatmeal

How to make chewy oatmeal with texture rather than mushy oatmeal. My husband likes it this way a lot better.

Basically Boil the water first, then add the oatmeal. I also use a little more oatmeal than the typical 2-1 ratio of water to oats.

- Bring 5 cups of water with a dash of salt to a rolling boil
- Add 3 cups of rolled oats (not quick oats)
- Boil for 1-2 min until most of the water is absorbed

All my kids eat this! Some with honey and some with brown sugar, but they all like it.

Toffee - A Holiday Favorite

My family has a few special desserts that we make during the Holidays. I love baking these festive treats. It brings back memories and makes new ones with my own family.

We never used a candy thermometer so cook time is based on color =)

- prepare a foil covered baking sheet
- sprinkle with 1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)
- in a medium sauce pan, combine 1 c sugar, 3/4 c butter (1.5 sticks), 1/2 tsp vanilla and a dash of salt.
- stir over medium heat continually until boiling.
- keep stirring until mix is the color of peanut butter (this is the final stage just before it burns)
- pour onto the baking sheet
- top with 1+ cups of chocolate chips
- the chips will soon melt and you can easily spread the chocolate over the entire surface of the candy with a spoon or spatula

TIP, when using a regular pan (not non-stick) be sure to not scrape the bottom and sides while stirring. This will keep the crystallized sugar from mixing with the smooth melted sugar in the middle. After pouring out the mix, don't scrape what has stuck to the sides onto the same pan.

TIP, I usually put a jar of peanut butter on the stove while I stir to see when to stop cooking.

You can view more images on this site. Her recipe is a little different, but the images are consistent with how we make our English Toffee. This site also says the Toffee should be cooked to 300 degrees. http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/01/08/national-english-toffee-day

Most Amazing Banana Bread I have ever Tasted!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0e8ojL0vcc
here is the link to a video of a chef making the best banana bread in the world, well, maybe, but it is easy to make and I LOVE IT! :)

Egg White Substitute

Many of you may already know this, but this is new to me. I just learned it.

2tsp. Meringue + 2 Tbsp. Water = 1Egg White

I use Meringue all time in making my icing but didn’t even know that you could substitute it for an egg white. You can get Meringue at Hobby Lobby in the Cake Baking section. I’m sure they have it a Wal-Mart, I’ve just never looked. It’s a dry powder so would be a good thing to have in food storage.

Freezing Tips

When I bake bread I usually make a ton. This way I don’t have to go through the mess and hard work for a while. I’ll freeze the bread. I usually store them for the short term. I’ve never frozen the bread I make for more than a year. If it is wrapped up and packaged good it should last a year. I wrap my loafs of bread in Alumina foil and then put them in a Zip Lock bag for extra freshness.

To thaw out, I pull them out of the freezer the night before. If it is a gift I will wrap it with Plastic Rap after it is thawed out and put some curly ribbon on it. I’ve done a last min. thing where I took the loaf of bread out of the freezer and raped it up in a hand towel and just defrosted it in the microwave. Most microwaves have just a defrost button.

I’ve done this with store bought bread as well.

Hope this is helpful.

One-Hour Dinner Rolls Italiano

Andy had these rolls growing up, so I got the recipe from my mother-in-law and made them tonight. They were wonderful! And so fast!

3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour
2 pkgs dry yeast
2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2 Tbs butter or margarine
1 egg
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbs butter, melted
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

In large mixer bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, yeast, sugar, salt and seasoning; mix well. Heat water, milk, and butter until warm (120-130 degrees, butter does not need to melt); add to flour mixture. Add egg. Blend at low speed until moistened; beat 3 min at medium speed. By hand, gradually stir in 1/2 cup cheese and enough remaining flour to make a firm dough. Knead on well-floured surface until smooth (3-5 min). Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm oven (turn oven on lowest setting for 1 minute, turn off) for 15 min.

Punch down dough and divide into 16 pieces. Form into balls. Dip tops into melted butter and 1/4 cup cheese. Place in well-greased 13x9 pan or two 8-inch rounds. Cover and let rise in warm oven about 10 minutes. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

*I didn't have Italian seasoning, so I made up my own (1/4 tsp each of basil, oregano, and rosemary because that's what I had). If anyone has any good recipes for homemade Italian seasoning, I would love to see them!

Protein Food Storage Brownies

I have it on very good authority that these are gooey chewy delicious, and her family loved them!

You can make brownies healthier, and with only ingredients from your food storage! All you need is:
1 can black beans
1 box brownie mix

Open can of beans and drain water, then fill can back up with water from the sink. Empty contents into blender and mushify into slush. Add slush to brownie mix. Bake as directed on box.

Super easy crowd pleaser with left over rice

Easy Cheesy Chicken Broccoli bake

1 can of chicken (drain juice into blender)
2 chicken boullion cubes (drop into blender)
2 cups (aprox) frozen broccoli (put into blender)
enough water to process it without having a broccoli shake (1-2 cups)

In a separate bowl dump
1-2 cans crm of chicken soup
1-2 cups cheese
1 cup sour cream
blender contents
The chicken chunks (from the canned chicken)
Left over broccoli chunks (or add into the blender if your family prefers it smooth)
3 to 6 cups of left over rice (or cook ahead)

You can add more salt or cheese to taste.

Throw it into a greased casserole dish or roasting pan and bake uncovered until hot and bubbly clear through. About 30 min at aprox 375 degrees.

It is not my hubby's favorite, but a big winner with the rest of us. And, everyone will eat it! Yeah.

Old Bananas

In my family nobody likes old, browning bananas.
I absolutely hate to waste food. But, sometimes I don't have time to peel, slice, and store in the freezer left over bananas. That does work well and you can choose to make smoothies or whatever.

If I don't have time to deal with them "properly" I just throw them in the freezer right in the peel. Then, when I have two or three and want to make banana bread, I set them out in a bowl to partially thaw.

Just cut off the end and the insides slide right out (like a push up pop only easier). They taste just as well blended for banana bread, etc.