Pickle Rollup Dip

In honor of your Fairy Godmother's birthday, I thought I would post a recipe that is quintessentially her. This recipe won a cook-off challenge when I submitted it at work. People love its simplicity.

2-8oz. cream cheese, softened
2/3 C. mayonnaise
2 packs Buddig corned beef, cubed
1 pack Buddig beef, cubed
1 1/2 C. chopped dill pickles (homemade are best)

Combine ingredients.
Serve with Wheat Thin crackers.

{LDM}

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Our summer veggie garden yields some crazy-big zucchini ... so, when life hands you giant zucchini, make chocolate cake!

2 C. flour
2 C. sugar
3/4 C. unsweetened baking cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
1 1/2 C. vegetable oil
3 C. peeled and grated zucchini

Grease and flour 9 x 13 pan.
Stir flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and cinnamon together.
Add eggs and oil, mix well.
Add zucchini.

Bake @350* for 50-60 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Dust top with generous portion of powdered sugar.
Cool before serving.

{LDM}

Simmered Chinese Chicken

From Grandma G.

1 whole chicken
1/3 C. packed brown sugar
1 clove garlic
1/4 C. apple juice
1 T. ketchup
1/3 C. soy sauce
1/2 C. water
1 bunch green onions, sliced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Brown chicken on all sides in dutch oven or large stock pot.
Mix all ingredients, pour over chicken.
Simmer 45 minutes.

Remove chicken, sprinkling with toasted sesame seeds.
Thicken sauce with 1 tsp. cornstarch mixed into 1/4 C. water.
Strain.
Serve with chicken.

Perfect with plain brown rice and steamed vegetables.

{LDM}

Peanut Butter Blossoms

From Grandma S.
You may or may not just eat the chocolate off the top ... this are standard at Christmas.

1/2 C. margarine
1/2 C. peanut butter
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 T. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat together. Add 1 3/4 C. flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1/2 tsp. salt.
Roll into 1" balls, dip in sugar, and bake @ 350* for 8 minutes.
Remove from oven, and place chocolate star kiss on each cookie.
Return to oven for additional 2-3 minutes of baking.

{LDM}

Spaghetti Pie

From Grandma G.

1# hamburger
1/2 C. onion
1/4 C. green pepper
1 jar prepared marinara sauce
8oz. hot, cooked spaghetti
1/3 C. fresh Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp. butter
1 C. cottage cheese
1 C. mozzarella cheese

Cook hamburger, onion, and pepper. Stir in sauce.
Mix well.
In separate bowl combine spaghetti, Parmesan, eggs, and butter.
Place in bottom of 9 x 13 pan. Spread cottage cheese over top.
Pour sauce mixture over all, sprinkle mozzarella on top.

Bake @ 350* for 20 minutes.

{LDM}

Hot Reuben Dip

Made with your great-grandma S.'s homemade 'kraut ... wow!

16oz. sauerkraut, drained
1/2# corned beef
1 C. mayonnaise
1 1/2 C. sour cream
2/3 C. 1,000 Island Dressing
1 1/2 C. shredded Swiss cheese

Combine all in crock pot.
Set on low until melted together.

Serve with rye cocktail bread.

{LDM}

Korean Beef Strips

From Grandma G.
These were oft-requested in my house growing up. You could eat a whole pile!

1# beef flank steak or round steak, sliced thin
2 T. chopped green onion
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. oil
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp. Tabasco

Combine onion, sauce soy, oil, sugar, garlic, and Tabasco. Add beef.
Let marinade for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Broil until barely browned.

{LDM}

Ooey Gooey Bars

Just saying the name is fun!

3/4 C. melted butter
1/4 C. evaporated milk
1 white cake mix
Mix above together.
Put half the batter in 9 x 13 pan (may be hard to spread).
Bake @350* for 10-12 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes.

1 bag Kraft caramels
1/2 C. evaporated milk
Melt above together in microwave, stirring often.

Sprinkle 1 C. chocolate chips onto baked batter.
Pour caramel mixture over this, and crumble remaining half of batter on the top.

Bake @ 350* for 22-25 minutes.
Cut while warm.

{LDM}

Green Bean Casserole

From Great-Grandma S.
I can never make it a full year to the next holiday without making this just because it's what I'm craving.

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 C. milk
1 tsp. soy sauce
Dash of pepper
4 C. cooked green beans
1-2.8oz. can French fried onions

Mix soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper, beans, and half can of onions.
Pour into casserole baking dish.

Bake @ 350* for 25 minutes until hot.
Stir, and sprinkle remaining onions on top and bake for 5 more minutes until golden brown.

{LDM}

Daddy's Taco Dip

Perfect for football on Sunday afternoons.

2# hamburger, browned & drained
1# Velveeta, cubed
1 package chipotle-style taco seasoning
1 package taco seasoning
1-8oz. bottle of taco sauce, medium flavor

Add all ingredients to crock pot. Cook on low until cheese is melted.
Serve with Scoops and Doritos.

{LDM}

Huntington Hotdish

From Great-Grandma D.
The first time I had this was at a craft show with Daddy's family; it was hunting season and this hotdish is a tradition every fall!

1-5# chicken
1 tsp. salt
1-10 oz. box shell macaroni
2 T. butter
1 T. flour
1 lb. cubed Velveeta
1-2 oz. jar pimento
1/2 C. chopped celery
1-2 oz. can mushrooms

Stew chicken, save broth. Debone chicken and cut up. Add salt.
Cook macaroni as directed on box and drain.
Melt butter and flour, mix well. Add 2 C. broth and cook until thick.
Mix chicken, macaroni, cheese, pimento, celery and mushrooms.
Add thickened broth and mix well.
Place in greased 9 x 13 pan and bake @ 350* for 1 hour.

{LDM}

Snicker Salad

From Mama's Godmother.
This is a staple at our extended family's potlucks!

6 Granny Smith apples, diced small
6 Snicker's Bars, diced small
1 1/2 C. miniature marshmallows
1 pint whipping cream, whipped with vanilla and powdered sugar to taste

Mix all together; my recipe says, can add more apples if you like but I think this perfect ratio is, well, perfect!

{LDM}

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

From Grandma G.
This is the recipe your uncle W. always requested for his birthday meal.

1 C. chopped onion
1/2 C. chopped green bell pepper
2 T. butter
2 C. sauteed chicken breast, chopped
1-4oz. can green chili peppers, drained and chopped
3 T. butter
1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. cumin
3/4 tsp. salt
2 1/2 C. chicken broth
1 C. sour cream
1 1/2 C. shredded monterey Jack cheese
12-6" tortillas

In large saucepan, cook onion and green pepper in 2 T. butter until tender.
Combine in bowl with chicken and green chilies, set aside.
In same saucepan melt 3 T. butter. Blend in flour, cumin, and salt.
Stir in chicken broth. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream and 1/2 C. cheese until melted.
Stir 1/2 C. of sauce into chicken mixture.
Dip each tortilla into remaining sauce in saucepan to soften; fill each with 1/4 C. of chicken mixture. Roll up and arrange in 9 x 13 pan; pour remaining sauce over. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake uncovered @ 350* for 25 minutes, or until bubbly.

Serve with shredded lettuce, black olives, and salsa.

{LDM}

Meat Loaf

From Great-Grandma S.
The best part about meat loaf? The cold sandwiches the next day with Miracle Whip on white bread and bread & butter pickles!

1# hamburger
1/2# ground pork
2 C. bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 C. milk
4 T. chopped onion
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 T. flour

Mix well, pack in greased loaf pan.
Top with:
3 T. ketchup
1 T. mustard
1 T. brown sugar

Bake @350* for 1.5 hours.
Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

{LDM}

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

I think the best part of family is the treasured recipes served to you throughout life at varying holidays and special occasions.
A few years ago I tried these cupcakes out at Valentine's Day for my girlfriends and decided, yes, there would always be Red Velvet Cupcakes at my house on February 14!

Red Velvet Cupcakes:
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 C. sugar
2 eggs
2oz. red food coloring
2 T. unsweetened baking cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. buttermilk
2 1/4 C. flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 T. white vinegar
1 T. baking soda

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time.
Make a paste with the cocoa powder and food coloring in separate bowl.
Add to the butter mixture.
Add salt and buttermilk.
Add flour, vanilla, vinegar, and baking soda.
Fill cupcake liners just above halfway.
Bake @350* for 15-20 minutes, until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely, ice with Cream Cheese Icing.

Cream Cheese Icing:
8oz. cream cheese
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1# powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients. Icing will be thick.

Serve iced cupcakes chilled.

{LDM}

Daddy's Fave Soup

From Grandma G.
Although, she can't take credit on the originality of this recipe, it's a recipe from the Olive Garden restaurant. Don't tell!

Zuppa Toscana

1# Italian sausage
3/4 C. diced onion
2 medium russet potatoes, sliced thin (I leave the peels on)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C, coarsely chopped kale
2 T. chicken bouillon base
2 C. water (enough to cover potato slices)
2 C. whole milk
1/3 C. whipping cream

Brown sausage with onion and garlic (can add few red pepper flakes for heat), drain.
Add potato slices, chicken base, and water.
Simmer 15 minutes until potatoes are tender.
Add kale leaves, milk, and cream.
Simmer 4 minutes.

Serve with grated fresh Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper.

{LDM}

Candy Bar Cookies

From Great-Grandma S.
Your auntie SG loves her some of these cookies, even if she thinks they take forever to make!

Cookies:
1 C. butter
1 C. creamy peanut butter
1 C. sugar
1 C. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 bags Snicker's mini's

Glaze:
1 C. powdered sugar
2 T. unsweetened baking cocoa
1 T. milk to thin

Beat butter, peanut butter, and sugars until fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients.
Shape heaping teaspoon of dough around 1 Snicker's mini, and onto ungreased cookie sheet @ 350* for 10-12 minutes.
Remove to wire cooling rack and drizzle with glaze.

{LDM}

Soy Sauce Chicken Wings

From Grandma G.
I remember asking your grandma for this recipe the summer I was pregnant with you. I ate A LOT of chicken wings that day!

Marinade for two hours:
3# chicken wings
1 C. water
1 C. soy sauce
1/4 C. sugar
1/4 C. pineapple juice
1/4 C. vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. ground ginger

Bake wings in marinade @ 350* for 35-45 minutes, basting every 5 minutes to keep wings moist.

{LDM}

Cedric Adams Hotdish

From Great-Grandma S.
The note on my recipe from her states, "This is mine and yours favorite," and she is right.

1# hamburger
1 onion, diced
1 medium head of green cabbage
1/2 C. uncooked white rice
1 can tomato soup
1 soup can of water
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. white vinegar
Salt & pepper, to taste

Brown hamburger with onion, add uncooked rice.
Shred cabbage into coarse pieces. Place in greased casserole dish.
Add hamburger mixture on top.
Mix soup, water, sugar, and vinegar and pour over beef layer.
Cover with lid or foil.
Bake @ 350* for 1 hour.

Serve with buttered white bread.

{LDM}

Bagel Dip

Your Grandma G. and I often think alike.
One year at a Mother's Day potluck, we brought this same recipe- and it was the first time we had both ever prepared it.

1 C. mayonnaise
1 1/2 C. sour cream
2 packages Buddig beef, cubed
2 T. dill weed
2 tsp. Accent seasoning
1 bunch green onions

Combine all ingredients.
Chill for at least 2 hours.

Serve with soft bakery bagels, torn into chunks.

{LDM}

Mama's Sloppy Joes

From Mama's extended family.
This is the only way I knew Sloppy Joes were prepared until I met Daddy.

1# hamburger, browned and drained
1 can Campbell's Chicken Gumbo Soup
1/3 C. ketchup
2 T. yellow mustard
Half-package dry Sloppy Joe seasoning

Combine all ingredients.
Serve on soft white buns.
With dill pickles and plain potato chips.

{LDM}

Quilting Tea

I made this recipe one weekend when you, Grandma G., and I were making baby quilts for gifts.

4 Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger tea bags
4 Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger tea bags
4 C. boiling water
4 C. cold apple juice

Steep the 8 tea bags in boiling water for 10 minutes.
Discard tea bags, allow tea to cool.
Add apple juice, serve over ice.

{LDM}

Turkey Melt

From Grandma S.
One of my favorite food she prepares. We had this at your 1st birthday party, and I make it for Daddy's March Madness party every spring!

6 C. cooked turkey (or chicken), shredded
1/2 C. Miracle Whip (absolutely not mayo)
2/3 C. onion, finely diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients in crock pot on low. Cook until melted!
Serve on dollar buns.

{LDM}

Scotcharoos

From Great-Grandma S.
My absolute dessert on this Earth. I very much wanted this for my wedding cake, but chose instead to go the traditional route. That's another recipe for another post!

1 C. light corn syrup
1 C. sugar
1 C. peanut butter
6 C. Rice Krispies cereal
6oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 C. butterscotch chips

Combine corn syrup and sugar in saucepan. Cook over medium until boiling.
Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter.
Mix cereal in, coating well.
Press into greased 9 x 13 pan.

Melt both chocolate and butterscotch chips together until melted.
Pour over bars.
Allow them to settle and cool completely before serving.

{LDM}

Hot Artichoke Dip

From Grandma G.
It's been said this dip is delicious the next morning on a nice, chewy bagel.

2-14oz. cans artichoke hearts, drained
1 C. mayonnaise
1 C. fresh Parmesan cheese
2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 T. dried parsley

Arrange ingredients in casserole dish.
Top lastly with parsley.

Bake @ 350* for 25 minutes.

{LDM}

Chicken Parmesan

What I usually make for company!

4 chicken breasts
1 C. bread crumbs
1/3 C. grated Parmesan cheese
2 T. dried parsley
3/4 C. butter
4 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 jar prepared marinara sauce
1-16oz. box fettucine pasta, prepared as directed on box
1 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

In bowl, combine crumbs, cheese, and parsley.
Melt butter in separate bowl. Add in mustard and Worcestershire. Allow to cool 5 minutes.
Dip each chicken breast in butter mixture.
Roll breast in crumb mixture until well coated. Repeat for remaining chicken breasts.
Place in ungreased 9 x 13 pan.
Bake @ 350* for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown and chicken juices run clear.
Remove from oven, ladle marinara sauce over each breast, top with cheese.
Bake until cheese melts.

Serve on top hot, buttered fettucine noodles and remaining marinara sauce.

{LDM}

Deviled Eggs

From Grandma G.
Mama's youngest cousins always request these when they know their Auntie G. will be in attendance!

6 hard-boiled eggs
3 T. mayonnaise
1 tsp. yellow mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. cream or milk
(I add a few dashes of dill weed to mine)

Cut eggs lengthwise and slip out yokes.
Mash yokes with ingredients above and fill hollowed egg halves with mixture.
Top with dashes paprika.

{LDM}

Reece's Peanut Butter Bars

From: Mama's Godmother
An easy, delicious no-bake recipe!

1 C. margarine (absolutely has to be margarine)
2 1/2 C. powdered sugar
2 1/2 C. crushed graham crackers
1 C. peanut butter

Mix well; press into bottom of 9 x 13 pan.
Melt 1 C. chocolate chips and 1 T. peanut butter.
Smooth over crust.
Cool well before serving.

{LDM}