Cooking Class

One of my new year's goals was to take a cooking class. I signed up for a bread making class at Gregory's Wheat Shop where I bought my Bosch. The class was okay. The lady may have talked a little more than she cooked.. hehe! Defeats the purpose of a cooking class just a little. :) I did however learn how to make fresh stove top jam. It is pretty easy and totally delish!!! Another resolutions down. Several more to go....

Stove Top Jam

3 cups any type of fruit (can be fresh or frozen)
3/4 cup of sugar
zest of 1/2 a lemon (can use more if you'd like)
lemon juice of 1/2 a lemon (can use more if you'd like)
cover with water boil for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours (stir occasionally)
mash with potato masher
add about 1 TB sure gel to thicken
serve warm or cold
keeps in refrigerator about a week..do not freeze!

Coconut Caramel Pie

You have to try this recipe. I made it for Thanksgiving. It was inexplicably divine. Those of you who were lucky enough to try it need to leave a review so people know that I speak the truth.

1 package flaked coconut (7 ounces)
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 carton whipped topping (16 ounces)
1 package cream cheese (8 ounces)
1 jar caramel topping (12 ounces)
2 deep dish pie shells, baked

Preparation: Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add coconut and chopped pecans; cook until browned lightly then set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and condensed milk; beat well. Fold in whipped topping. Put 1/4 of the mixture into each pie shell. Drizzle 1/4 jar of the caramel topping on each, then sprinkle with about 1/4 of the coconut-pecan mixture. Repeat layers. Freeze. Serve frozen.

Best Chili I Ever Had

I used a new recipe to make Chili the other day on Halloween. It was the best Chili I ever had. I found it in one of my mom's Relief Society cook books. It's called Wendy's Chili...because it is supposed to be the same recipe Wendy's restaurant uses. It was Yum!!!

1 lb. hamburger
1 15 oz. can chili beans with sauce
2 15 oz. cans red kidney beans with sauce
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. diced green chilis
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4-6 dashes of Tabasco
Garlic salt to taste.

Brown hamburger in skillet, crumble with fork into a crockpot. Add all beans, sauces, chopped vegetables, and spices. Cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Note: I added more chili powder and tabasco sauce for more spice and I sauteed my onions with my hamburger.

Lemon Creme Bars

I found this new recipe for Lemon Bars and made them for the first time this weekend. This recipe is a lot easier to make then traditional lemon bars. And for those people that have a liking for oatmeal cookies this is the perfect recipe for you. It isn't as tart as other lemon bars but has a nice zing and light taste for summer barbecues.

1/2 cup cold butter
1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix
1 egg
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/4 cup lemon juice

Heat oven to 350 F. Spray bottom of 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, cut butter into cookie mix, using fork or pastry blender. Stir in egg until mixture is crumbly. Press half of cookie mixture into bottom of pan. Bake 15 minutes. In small bowl, stir condensed milk, lemon peel and lemon juice until thick. Spread over baked crust. Crumble remaining cookie mixture over top. Bake about 25 minutes longer or until light golden brown. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until set. Store covered in refrigerator.

I doubled the recipe and used a 13 X 9 inch pan.

The Cheeseball Secret

This may be a crazy thing to blog about but people are always asking about me my cheese ball. The recipe is actually my mother's. The secret to making the cheese ball yummy. Old English Cheese Spread and garlic salt. Here's the recipe. Try it out and let me know what you think.

Cheese Ball

1 12oz. Package Regular Cream Cheese
1 5 oz. Bottle Old English Cheese Spread
2 - 3 Cups Shredded Cheddar or Blended Cheese
Garlic Salt to Taste

Mix together with your hands or a hand mixer. Form cheese mixture into and cover with silvered almonds. Serve with your favorite type of cracker.

Recipe of the Week....

I love to cook!! I have found some really great recipes through the years that always seem to be a big hit. So, I am going to start a segment to add all of the recipes I have found to be party starters and heart stoppers.

This recipe comes from a dear friend of mine, Sister Bailey. She was the Relief Society advisor when I served in the Relief Society in Ogden. As always, I added a few of my own modifications at the end. Try it out and let me know what you think!

CHEX MIX
1 cup sugar
1 cup light karo syrup
3/4 cup butter
1/2 box Golden Grahams
1/2 box Rice Chex
1/4 cup coconut
1/2 cup sliced or slivered almonds
Bring sugar, karo syrup and butter to a boil. Boil for about 1 minute. Mix Golden Grahams, Rice Chex, coconut and almonds in large bowl. Pour liquid mixture over dry ingredients until well coated. Store in an air tight container.
Modification: I normally double the recipe for a bigger batch. And I just dump in the coconut and almonds until I think it looks like a good amount with the cereal. I also add extra Golden Grahams sometimes if I want it to be sweeter and crunchier.