I got this from Karen, and am ASTOUNDED that we have not posted it yet.

Crazy.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 pound butter

DIRECTIONS:

Whip the butter.

Add the rest.

Whip it for a long time. You will need a KitchenAid or other stand mixer. If you use a hand mixer, I apologize. I used to make them with a hand mixer and had to stop every few minutes and shake out my hand.

You will need to whip it for AT LEAST five minutes, or even ten.

Whip it, whip it good.

Every few minutes, push down the sides so everything gets the beating it deserves.

When you are done with the whipping, it should look like this:

Bake it at 325 F for 20 minutes.

When they are done, they should look like this:

I normally hate shortbread, but these?

Are like a taste of heaven.

Filed under: Cookies
19 Comments »

I got this from a Real Simple magazine and it is OH SO GOOD.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 pound boneless chicken boobies, cut into 2 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 pepper (green, red, whatever floats your boat), sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 cup dry white wine (with more for sipping)
• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup white rice
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped

Directions:

HEAT the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

PAT the chicken with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper and cook until golden brown, 2 minutes each side.

ADD the onions and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute. Add the wine and the cans of tomatoes as well as their liquid. Add the rice, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Stir the peas into the concoction and cook, covered, until heated throughout, about 2 minutes.

Spoon onto plates and sprinkle with the parsley.

I added shrimp to mix it up, but think I may exclude it next time.

It was pretty tasty, regardless.

I would like to have taken a better photos, but Honey and my brother Lance were MOCKING ME FOR TAKING PHOTOS OF THE DINNER I MADE.

Maybe they should eat KD for dinner.

🙂

A

Filed under: Chicken
1 Comment »

I got this recipe from my Swaparooni buddy Assertagirl‘s recipe blog called Playing in the Dirt.

I used red onions instead, because I lurve red onions.

Here’s the lowdown.

For this recipe, you will need:

About six Roma tomatoes.
Half an onion. I used a red onion.
Two large sprigs of fresh basil.
A splash of extra virgin olive oil.
A clove of garlic, finely chopped.
Freshly ground pepper and salt, to taste.
A baguette or other bread that you like. I bought a multi-grain baguette.
Garlic spread (or just butter or margarine).
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, if desired.

DIRECTIONS:

Core and dice the six tomatoes.

Chop onions into pieces about the same size as the tomato dice. Add to the tomatoes.

Finely chop basil and add to the mix.

Finely chop the garlic and toss into the bowl. Add salt and pepper.

Drizzle some olive oil over the ingredients, and toss gently to combine.

Allow bruschetta to sit at room temperature for at least an hour to allow the flavours to combine.

Meanwhile, slice the baguette in half.

Spread garlic spread (or margarine) on each half.

Lightly toast the bread, and cut into individual serving sizes. Top each piece with the bruschetta mix and, if desired, freshly grated parmesan.

Dee-lish!

Angella

Filed under: Bread, Side Dish
1 Comment »

INGREDIENTS:

• White wine
• mushrooms
• browned ground beef (or turkey)
• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 1 32-ounce container chicken broth
• 1 15-ounce can white beans (I use chick peas)
• 1 15-ounce can kidney beans (optional)
• 1 9 or 19 ounce package frozen green beans
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 5-ounce bag fresh spinach or 1 10-ounce box frozen spinach, thawed

DIRECTIONS:

• Brown the ground beef and set aside
• Simmer the mushrooms in the white wine until the mushrooms are tender.
• Add the tomatoes and their liquid and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the broth, white beans and kidney beans (if using) and bring to a simmer.
• Add the green beans and cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
• Add the salt, pepper, and cook until wilted.
• Add the ground beef/turkey and simmer for a few minutes.

Any leftovers will freeze well. Can you tell that fall is here?

Filed under: Beef, Soups
Comments Off on Ministrone

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp table salt
•  1/2 cup margaine
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (can use Splenda brown sugar blend if you want)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup semi-swee, mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt
• Using an electric mixer (i.e. my sweet Kitchen aid, beat the margarine, sugar and brown sugar until well combined.  Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine.
• Gradually add flour mixture and beat until blended.  Stir in chocolate chips.
• Drop dough by tablespoons onto baking sheets.  Bake for approximately 10 minutes.

Filed under: Cookies
3 Comments »

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 Cup Cream Cheese
• 1 cup milk (0-2%)
• 3 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 Tbsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 Tbsp dry parsley or 1/2 cup fresh

Mix together in a saucepan and bring to a slow simmer.

Mmmmmm…

Filed under: Sauces
Comments Off on Alfredo Sauce

Brownies…in the form of a cookie.

I made them for the first time yesterday. Oh. Man!

INGREDIENTS:

4 squares unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350.Microwave chocolate & butter on high for 2 minutes. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, mix well. Refrigerate 15 minutes or until dough is easy to handle.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets.

Bake 8 minutes, or just until set. Let stand on baking sheet 1 minute; transfer to wire racks and cool completely.

Try to stop at just one. It won’t happen.

Filed under: Brownie/Bar
1 Comment »

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
3 Tbsp. butter
2 cups rice krispies
1 cup salted peanuts

DIRECTIONS

Melt together the first four ingredients. Mix with the last two ingredients. Spread and squish into an 8×8 pan and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Put under the broiler just until the chocolate is melted. You will want to double this…and they freeze well.

Filed under: Brownie/Bar
Comments Off on Sweet Marie Bars

INGREDIENTS

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1/4 cup white corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS

Melt all these in the microwave for 2 min. in a large bowl. Stir, then boil 2 min. more in the microwave. Add 1/2 tsp. baking soda. It will get kind of foamy. Stir well.
Pop one batch of popcorn- make sure to pick out all the un-popped kernels. Pour all the popcorn into a large paper shopping bag. Pour the sauce from the microwave on top of the popcorn. Roll the top of the bag and shake it well.
Microwave the bag with the popcorn/sauce in it for 1 min. more.
Shake the bag well. Microwave 1 min. more. Done!! Be careful not to burn yourself when you open the bag and scrape it all out into a bowl.

Filed under: Miscellaneous
Comments Off on Caramel Corn

INGREDIENTS

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup margarine
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

DIRECTIONS

Cream sugars, margarine and then add eggs and peanut butter. Add dry ingredients last. Drop by Tbsp. onto an ungreased pan. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 min. or less….do not overcook so they remain chewy.

Filed under: Cookies
3 Comments »