Churros

Ingredients:

Vegetable or Olive Oil (for frying)
1 cup water
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs

For topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:

Prepare to fry the churros by heating oil in a pan (1 to 1&1/2 inches) to 360 degrees F.  To make churro dough, heat water, margarine and salt to rolling boil in 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat. Beat in eggs slowly so you don’t cook the eggs and beat mixture until smooth.

Spoon mixture into cake decorators' tube with large star tip (like the kind use to decorate cakes). Squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into hot oil. Fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Mix the cinnamon and sugar together and roll the cooked churros in sugar mixture until they are coated.

Difficulty: Easy

Time to Make: about 30 minutes

Recipe Origin: online at http://user.xmission.com/~dderhak/recipe/churros.htm

Southern Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:

Shortening for the pans

2 + 1/2 cups flour

1 + 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. fine salt

1 tsp. cocoa powder

1 + 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 T. red food coloring (1/2 ounce)

1 tsp. white distilled vinegar

1 tsp.vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour cake pans.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl, whisk together the oil,buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.

Using a standing mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.

Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake at 350 degrees until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans. One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.

Frost the cake. Place 1 layer, rounded-side down, in the middle of a rotating cake stand. Using a palette knife or offset spatula spread some of the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake. (Spread enough frosting to make a 1/4 to 1/2-inch layer.) Carefully set another layer on top, rounded-side down, and repeat. Top with the remaining layer and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting. 

Difficulty: Easy

Time to Make: about 45 minutes

Recipe Origin: Cakeman Raven, Cakeman Raven Confectionery, NYC

Roasted Potato Wedges

Ingredients:
potatoes (number and variety of your choosing: Russets work well)
1/4 cup (approximately) olive oil
salt, to taste
fresh herbs, to taste


Optional Ingredients:
2 T. butter, melted
garlic, minced
2 - 3 T. balsamic vinegar
cayenne pepper
paprika


Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash potatoes.  Cut potatoes into wedges.  Toss with oil, butter, salt, pepper, and whatever else you’d like: garlic, balsamic, spices, etc.  Roast for 15 minutes.  Shake around. Stir.  Roast for another 20 minutes. Check them and if they aren't done keep them cooking till they are tender and soft. Add more seasoning if necessary.  Sprinkle with herbs.  Serve immediately.


Difficulty: Easy
Time to Make: about 35 minutes
Recipe Origin: The Pioneer Woman
   found here at http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/04/roasted-potato-wedges/

Goolash

Ingredients:

2 cups macaroni, cooked and drained
1 lbs hamburger, browner and drained
1 can corn, drained
1 quart diced tomatoes, with the juice
1 medium green pepper, chopped
Ketchup
Chili powder

Directions:
In a large pot, cook the 2 cups of macaroni according to the directions on the package. While the macaroni is cooking, brown the hamburger in a large skillet. Drain the water from the macaroni and drain the grease off the hamburger. Add the green pepper to the hamburger and cook for a few minutes until the green pepper is tender. Add the macaroni, corn, and tomatoes. Stir until well mixed. Add enough ketchup to make the ingredients moist. Add chili powder to taste and serve hot.

Difficulty: Easy
Time to Make: about 30 minutes
Recipe Origin: Mom

Funeral Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 small-medium onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp. butter
1 28-oz. bag shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
2 c. sour cream
1 10-oz. can cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom) soup
2 1/4 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
OPTIONAL: Crushed cornflakes, seasoned bread crumbs, crushed potato chips, or crushed Ritz or saltine crackers

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat. Add the thawed hash browns, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, cheese, salt, and pepper and combine well. Add additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Spread the mixture into a 9×13″ (or similar) dish and bake for 50-60 minutes or until the casserole is hot in the center and the cheese is bubbly throughout. Makes 6-8 main dish or 10-12 side dish servings.

Time to Make: about 15 minutes prep time plus 1 hour for baking
Difficulty: Easy
Recipe Origin: ourbestbites.com

Sour Cream Buns

Ingredients:
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (105°F to 115° F)
1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
3 T. granulated sugar
2 T. shortening
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 to 3 + 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Cinnamon Spread:
2 T. butter, nearly melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Icing:
1 - 2 cups powdered sugar
3 - 4 T. milk
1/3 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla


Directions:
In a large bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. In a small saucepan combine sour cream, granulated sugar, shortening, and salt. Heat and stir over medium-low heat until warm (105°F to 115°F) and shortening is melted. Stir in baking soda. Stir sour cream mixture and egg into yeast. Stir in as much of the flour as you can with a wooden spoon. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately soft dough ( 3 to 5 minutes total). Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.

Grease a large baking pan. Combine the ingredients for the cinnamon spread until well mixed. On a lightly floured surface roll dough into an 18x12-inch rectangle; Spread dough with cinnamon spread up to the edges. Roll up, starting from long side; seal seam. Slice into twelve 1-1/2-inch-wide pieces. Place each bun, cut side down, into the baking pan (OR in a prepared, greased, muffin cup). Cover and let rise in a warm place until 1/4 to 1/2 inch above tops of cups (45 minutes).

Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake buns in the preheated oven about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans. Combine ingredients for the icing and spread a little over the rolls while still warm. Serve warm.

Tip: If you use a baking pan to bake the rolls, pack the rolls a little so that they will bake touching each other. This will make them better.

Time to Make: about 90 minutes
Difficutly: Easy
Recipe Origin: Better Homes and Gardens

Brownies (Annette's Recipe)

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
4 T. butter or margarine
1 + 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup cocoa
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla

Icing:
3 T. powdered cocoa
2 dashes salt
3 cups unsifted powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
4-5 T. hot water
1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a microwavable bowl, combine the shortening and butter and heat until melted in 30 second increments. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cocoa, and salt. In another bowl, beat the eggs until fluffy. Slowly add the 2 cups sugar, beating all the time until light and fluffy. Add 2 tsp. vanilla and melted shortening/butter mixture while beating. Add the flour mixture and combine. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes in a greased 9x13" pan.

While the brownies are baking, combine all the ingredients for the icing and mix until smooth. Once the brownies are done, spread the icing over them almost immediately after they come out of the oven so the icing melts into the brownies, then cool completely.

Difficulty: Medium
Time to Make: about 45 minutes
Recipe Origin: Annette Gardener

BBQ pulled pork sandwiches

Ingredients:

4 pounds pork roast (shoulder or butt works best)
2 medium onions
1 cup ginger ale
1 - 18 ounce bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
Buns or rolls for sandwiches

Directions:
Dice or slice the onions. Put half the onions in a 4 quart crock pot and place the roast on top. Top with the remaining onions and the ginger ale. (add a little extra ginger ale if you need a bit more to cover the roast). Cook the meat on high for 4-7 hours (or until you can easily shred the pork). Shred the pork once it shreds easily and drain off and discard the liquid. Put the shredded pork in the crock pot and add the BBQ sauce (as much as you think it needs). Continue cooking for 2-3 hours. Serve as a sandwich inside your favorite rolls or buns.

Difficulty: easy
Time to make: at least 7 hours depending on your slow cooker.
Recipe origin: online somewhere

Chicken Taco Dish

Ingredients:
1 package Taco Seasoning
1 can black beans
1 can chili beans
4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours (stirring occasionally). After 4 hours, shred the chicken, stir and continue cooking on low for 2 more hours. Serve hot over rice or chips.

Difficulty: Easy
Time to Make: about 6 hours
Recipe Origin: Annette Gardner

Sugar Top Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup quick oats
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
cinnamon + sugar (for sprinkling the muffins)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl and stir till well blended. Add the beaten egg, milk, and vegetable oil and stir till just blended. Add the walnuts and stir till mixed. Pour batter into a greased (or lined) muffin tin and sprinkle each muffin with cinnamon and sugar. Bake for 18 - 20 minutes.

Difficulty: Easy
Time to make: about 30 minutes
Recipe Origin: Mom's cookbook

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed
1 cup carrots, sliced
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. celery seed (optional)
1 + 3/4 cup chicken broth (save the water you boil the chicken and veggies in)
2 tsp. chicken bouillon powder
2/3 cup milk
2 - 9 inch unbaked pie crusts

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. In a large pot, combine the chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add enough hot water to cover the ingredients. Bring to a boil and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain (save the water) and set aside. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan and saute the onions until they are translucent. Add the flour to the onions and mix well, then slowly add the chicken broth (using only 1 + 3/4 cup of the broth) and milk and chicken bouillon. Add the salt, pepper, and celery seed and heat until thick. Once thickened, pour the chicken and veggies into a pie dish lined with one of the pie crusts. Pour the onion/chicken broth mixture onto the top and cover with the top crust. Cut slits into the top crust to let out the steam and bake the pot pie for 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before eating.

Difficulty: Easy
Time to Make: about an hour
Recipe Origin: allrecipes.com by Robbie Rice

Seven Layer Dip

Ingredients:
1 can refried beans
1 small tub sour cream
1 small tub guacamole
2-3 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 medium tomato, diced
1 can olives, sliced
1 small bunch green onions, diced

Directions:
In an 8x8 pan spread the refried beans in an even layer. Spread the guacamole on top of the refried beans. Spread the sour cream on top of the guacamole. Top the sour cream with half the cheese, the tomatoes, the olives, and the green onions. Then top with the remaining cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.

Difficulty: Easy
Time to Make: about 15 minutes
Recipe Origin: unknown

Alice Springs Chicken

Ingredients:
3-4 chicken breasts
8 pieces of bacon
mushrooms
2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup monterey jack cheese, grated
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Chicken Marinade:
1/2 cup Dijon Mustard
1/2 cup honey
1 + 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. lemon juice

Directions:
Whip all ingredients for 30 seconds with an electric mixer and continue with the recipe below.

Wash 3-4 chicken breast and trip off the fat. Marinade the chicken with 2/3 of the marinade for about 2 hours. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Heat a frying pan with a few tablespoons of oil until hot. Sear both sides of the chicken in the frying pan and then place the chicken in a baking dish. Saute some mushrooms in a pan with butter. Brush the chicken with some of the marinade (but save some for serving). Sprinkle the chicken with some salt, pepper, and paprika. Stack 2 pieces of cooked bacon on each chicken breast. Spoon mushrooms on chicken, spread 1/4 cup of monterey jack cheese and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese on each chicken breast. Bake chicken for 7-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked completely. Serve with the remaining marinade.

Difficulty: Medium
Time to Make: about 30 minutes prep time + 10 minutes cooking time
Recipe Origin: online somewhere

Salt Dough

Ingredients:
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 cup flour

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and roll the dough into a ball. Flatten with a rolling pin and imprint with whatever design you want. Bake at 250 degrees for several hours (or until firm). Once the dough is cooled, paint and decorate however you want.

Difficulty: Easy
Time to Make: about 15 minutes prep time + several hours bake time
Recipe Origin: online somewhere