Breakfast cake

I clipped a recipe from a magazine that is just absolutely delicious.


Breakfast cake


1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour  (I used mostly wheat)
1 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar
1 cup of whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
dash salt
1 egg
1 cup of buttermilk (I sour my milk by adding a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to one cup of milk)
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup of applesauce (either sweetened or not... I think it needs the sweetened kind because this is not an extremely sweet cake)
1 tsp vanilla extract (I used maple)
2 cups of fruit.   I tried frozen berries the first time, but they were not sweet enough.  The second time, I tried canned, dark sweet cherries.  Perfect!

Grease a 9x13 cake pan.

Mix all dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.  Mix all wet ingredients separately except fruit.  Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients.  Fold in fruit.  Bake at 375* for  35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  (20 servings)

I love this with coffee!

Mushroom Noodle soup

I realize this recipe carb & sodium city, but today is the day before getting groceries.  I try to only shop twice a month so...  If anyone is like me, I usually have a few things left in the pantry (we always have tons of deer meat but who wants to cook that for lunch?).  This is what I threw together for lunch and it was just too tasty not to share:

1 package of Amish noodles
2 packets of mushroom gravy
1 packet of country gravy (white)
If I had them, I would add sliced fresh mushrooms too

Prepare the Amish noodles according to the package.  During the last 5 minutes (while the noodles are boiling).  Mix all 3 packets of gravy in about a 1 1/2 cup of cold water or milk.  Pour the gravy mixture into the boiling noodles and mix.  If you have mushrooms...add them too!
I will probably be bouncing off the walls in a bit after all those carbs (and very little protein) but it sure was good!

Grilled pizza

This recipe was in our electric consumer newsletter.  The boys loved it.

I am typing from memory so I apologize for the un-sofisticated style here. ;-)

You need bread, white cheese slices of your choice (mozzerella, monterey jack, etc), basil, and pizza sauce.

Make a grilled cheese sandwich with the bread and cheese, except sprinkle the bread with basil before you grill it.  Use a pizza cutter to cut into long strips.  Dip in warm pizza sauce.

I think next time I am going to try to put mushroom slices or even pepperoni in the middle! Well.. anything that might top a regular pizza would probably be good.

Creamy Chicken Stir-Fry

The other night I just kind of created as I was cooking and it turned out really yummy!
Here are my instructions:

• You need some cooked, diced chicken
• Boil stir fry vegetables (the kind with lo mein noodles)
• and white sauce or cream of chicken soup (or mushroom or celery)

After preparation, mix and enjoy a creamy one dish meal! 

*Edit: Thanks Lisa for naming my concoction!

No Bake Cookies

This is a favorite around here!

No Bake Cookies (from our church cookbook)

2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of milk
1 stick of butter

Boil for 1 1/2 minutes. Have ready:

1/2 cup of peanut butter
6 T (1/3 cup) of cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups of oats
Pinch of salt

Mix all together. Drop by teaspoon on cookie sheet and put in refrigerator for a few minutes (optional), until cooled and set.

Fun, frugal idea

I was about to throw away an olive jar, and I looked at it and realized it would make a really nice glass for the kids. So I washed it out (soaked it) and have been using it.

I have collected 3 so far (I think one had peppers in it). I like the odd shapes, and so do the kids.

Brownies

A good and easy brownie recipe. Icing is optional since they are so rich and sweet.

1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract (I used maple)
1/2 cup of butter, melted
1/2 cup of all purpose flour
1/3 cup of baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt

In a large mixing bowl, beat the sugar,eggs, and vanilla. Add butter; mix well. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; add to batter and mix well.

Pour into a greased 8 inch square baking pan. Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.


from Taste of Home Baking p. 96 (icing recipe is included in the cookbook)