Beef Curry

3 pounds of  eye round roast beef
1 large can of crushed tomatoes
1 box of chicken stock
1 cup red wine
3 T. Indian Curry unsalted
1T garlic powder
1T onion powder
1t. salt
1 t. cracked black pepper
1/4 t. cumin
2 cinnamon sticks
3 diced tomatoes
4 large dice zucchini
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 diced red bell pepper
8 cups cooked jasmine rice

This serves 14. But at our house 7 with a couple plates left for lunch the next day.
This is also a cook all day dish. It takes usually 5 hours and is served over rice.

Brown the beef on all four sides in a large pot or dutch oven.
Add the crushed tomatoes, chicken stock and red wine.
Then add all the spices. Mix well
Place on stove top on simmer with lid on.
This is braising the meat, and takes many hours to do, but it is fork tender when done.
I usually braise for 4 hours, then the last hour I add the tomatoes,peppers and carrots.
About 15 min before the dish is done i will add the zucchini, so it still has some crunch to it.
Take the meat out prior to serving and pull apart.
I usually keep the meat and curry separate for my picky non meat eaters.
I layer mine in a bowl, rice, meat and then curry with veggies..



If this isn't spicy enough for you, consider adding more curry powder. There are a lot of different kinds out there to experiment with.
You can also use whatever veggies you have on hand, good thing about curry , is things are not set in stone.. This is a good way to use up what needs to be eaten, veggie wise.

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

3/4 cup chocolate chips (i use milk, because I love something VERY rich, but semi sweet will do)

1/4 cup butter (the real stuff, margarine doesn't taste the same)

2/3 cup white sugar

2/3 cup heavy cream

Melt chocolate and butter in 2-quart saucepan over low heat until smooth (3 to 5 minutes). 

Stir in sugar and milk. 

Increase heat to medium; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a full boil (8 to 10 minutes).

 Continue cooking, stirring constantly, 4 minutes. . 

Serve warm. 

Store in glass jar in the refrigerator. 

Stays good for a week, but it won't last that long!

Rainbow Cupcakes

Looking for Leprechan's Pot of Gold at the End of these Rainbow Cupcakes.

Prepare per instructions on the back of the box, of white cake mix.

Divide batter evenly  into 5 bowls.

Dye the batter one different color in each of the five bowls.

I used pink, yellow, green, blue and purple food coloring

Line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners.

Evenly distribute the colors in each liner.

Start with the darkest on the bottom.

You can spread the color or just drop them in. 

 I dropped them in.

After all the batter is in. Bake according the back of the box's instructions.

Cool when done and then frost with whip cream or frosting.

Decorate according to what holiday it is!!

The kids thought these were the coolest!!!

Moist Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup baking cocoa
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flat Dr. Pepper
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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• In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients set aside. 
•  In another bowl add the eggs,dr. pepper, buttermilk, oil and vanilla; 
• beat on medium speed for 2 minutes (batter will be thin).
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet.
• Mix until smooth and glossy, about 3 min.
• Pour into a greased and floured 10 inch fluted pan.
• Bake at 350 degress for 45-50 min or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool at least 15 min. before inverting on a wire rack.
• Cool completely on wire rack
• Dust with powdered sugar or use your favorite frosting..
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Mexican Breakfast Casserole

12 white bread slices, cut into cubes 1 pound chorizo crumbled and cooked 3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar 3/4 cup fresco cheese 10 large eggs 2 cups milk or half and half 2 teaspoons dry mustard 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon hot sauce (i use red hot) Pepper Grease 9x13-inch glass baking dish.  Place bread in prepared dish.  Top with chorizo and cheeses.  Beat together eggs and next four ingredients.  Season with pepper.  Pour over chorizo mixture. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Chill.) Preheat oven to 350°F.  Bake casserole until puffed and center is set, about 50 minutes.  Cut into squares.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened (2 sticks)

1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed

½ cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla extract

1 ¾ cups flour

1t. baking soda

½ t. salt

1 ½ t. apple pie spice

3 cups rolled oats

1 bag chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans ( if you want)

Preheat oven to 375°.

In a large bowl beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla with a hand held mixer or your kitchenaid until well blended.

In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, apple pie spice.

Add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just combined.

Fold in rolled oats, nuts and chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto a cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Cool 2 minutes and remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 4-5 dozen depending on size of cookie

Chicken, Peas and Rice Casserole

4 cooked chicken breasts (cubed)

2 cup uncooked jasmine rice

1 cup of frozen peas

1 pkt French Onion Soup

1 can (440g) Cream Celery Soup

1 can (440g) Cream Chicken Soup

5 cup water

1cup sharp shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 320F (160C). 

Grease 9x13 inch casserole dish.

Mix pkt French onion soup with water and soups.

Layer in this order, Rice, Chicken, Peas, and then

Pour mixture over other ingredients and bake, covered for 2 hours.

After a couple of hours, uncover and then sprinkle and bake uncovered until cheese is melted.

Take out let sit for 10-15 min .

 Salt and Pepper to taste.

Golden Norwegian Sponge Cake

1 cup soft butter (2 sticks)

5 eggs

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1 t. almond extract

1 1/2 cups sifted flour

1 1/3 cups sugar

1/2 t. sea salt

Allow butter to become soft, but do not melt.
Place butter and flour in mixing bowl.(I know this sounds strange, but trust me it works)
Beat 5 min. at low speed.
Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, many times during mixing.
Add eggs, one at a time, blending each egg at slow speed.
Sift together sugar, baking powder and salt.

Add graduatl to creamed mixture.

Add extract.

2 min. after all sugar has been added.

Turn into 10" tube pan that has been greased with 2 T. butter and then sprinkled with fine bread crumbs ( used fine panko).

Bake 1 hour in 325 degree oven. (time will vary with the humidity and climate you live in).

This is a very spongey texture of cake.. 

Let this cool for 15 min before taking out of tube pan.

 Sprinkle top with confectioners' sugar and add fruit if you wish.

Sour Cream Walnut Coffee Cake

2 sticks butter, softened

2 cups granulated sugar

1 pint (16-ounces) sour cream

2 teaspoons baking soda

4 large eggs, room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Streusel Filling and Topping

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-1/2 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan. (If baking pan is shallow, use a 10 x 14-inch pan.) Mix sour cream with baking soda; set aside. In a small bowl, mix streusel ingredients; set aside. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt.

Alternately, add flour mixture and sour cream mixture to the creamed mixture, blending until just mixed after each addition. Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spoon half of streusel mixture evenly over batter. Spoon remaining batter over the streusel, then top with remaining streusel. Place pan in lower third of oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until cake tests done. (If top browns too much before cake is done, cover lightly with a piece of aluminum foil.) Makes 24, 2-inch squares.

Cream Cheese Danish

(Warning this isn't a a recipe for novice bakers)

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• 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs

Cream Cheese Filling

8 ounces cream cheese (room temp)

1/2 white granulated sugar

4 T. lemon juice

 

Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
6 tablespoons half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 2/3 cup of flour. Divide into 2 equal parts, and roll each half between 2 pieces of waxed paper into a 6 x12 inch sheet. Refrigerate.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the dry yeast and 3 cups of the remaining flour. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, sugar and salt. Heat to 115 degrees F (43 degrees C), or just warm, but not hot to the touch. Mix the warm milk mixture into the flour and yeast along with the eggs, and lemon and almond extracts. Stir for 3 minutes. Knead in the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is firm and pliable. Set aside to rest until double in size.
3. Cut the dough in half, and roll each half out to a 14 inch square. Place one sheet of the cold butter onto each piece of dough, and fold the dough over it like the cover of a book. Seal edges by pressing with fingers. Roll each piece out to a 20x 12 inch rectangle, then fold into thirds by folding the long sides in over the center. Repeat rolling into a large rectangle, and folding into thirds. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
4. Go ahead and make your filling. Mix all the ingredients together until, evenly mixed and there are no more lumps from the cream cheese. Set aside on counter until time to fill the danishes. Make your glaze as well.
5. Remove from the refrigerator one at a time, and roll and fold each piece two more times. Return to the refrigerator to chill again before shaping. If the butter gets too warm, the dough will become difficult to manage.
6. To make danishes, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. The dough can be cut into squares, with a filling placed in the center. Fold 2 of the corners over the center to form a filled diamond shape. Or, fold the piece in half, cut into 1 inch strips, stretch, twist and roll into a spiral. Place a dollop of preserves or other filling in the center. Place danishes on an ungreased baking sheet, and let rise until doubled. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (220 degrees C). Danishes can be brushed with egg white for a shiny finish.
7. Bake in hot over for 15-18 min or until top is golden brown. Drizzle Glaze over warm danishes.

Homemade Lollipops

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup white corn syrup

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp. Flavoring See note 1, below.

food coloring See note 2, below.

l/8 tsp. Citric acid (optional) See note 3, below.

1. Use 1/4 to 1 tsp. depending on concentration of flavoring.

2. To make opaque odors add 1/2 tsp. liquid white coloring (Liquid Whitener).

3. Citric acid may be added to fruit flavors to add tartness. Use 1/8 tsp. dissolved in 1 tsp. warm water.  Add at same time as flavoring.

Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in saucepan. Cook on high heat until mixture reaches 280 degrees F. Lower heat to Medium High. Continue to cook mixture to 300 degrees F. Remove from heat. Let stand until bubbles subside (approximately 265 degrees F). Add flavoring and coloring. Stir until blended. Do not over stir. 

This is where I buy my lollipop supplies. 

Sweet Creations

If you live out West you may be able to find these things in a local craft store..

Island Teriyaki Sauce

1/2 cup Soy Sauce

1/4 cup packed Brown Sugar

2 T. White Vinegar

1/2 t. cracked Pepper

1/4 t. Garlic Powder

combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.

Excellent on chicken (above picture), pork chops and steaks.

My kids also love it as a dipping sauce for meat.

I triple the recipe and then store leftover in a jar with a lid in the fridge.

recipe courtesy of Ann Marmo SuperNurse

Lion House Rolls

2 cups warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
2/3 cup instant nonfat dry milk
2 T. yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 t.  salt
1/3 cup butter, shortening, or margarine (I use butter flavor crisco)
1 egg
5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour, or bread flour

In large bowl or electric mixer, combine water and yeast; let sit 5 minutes. Add dry milk yeast, then sugar, salt, butter, egg, and 2 cups flour. Mix on low speed until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes at medium speed. Add 2 cups flour; mix on low speed until ingredients are wet, then for 2 minutes at medium speed. (Dough will be getting stiff and remaining flour may need to be mixed in by hand). Add about ½ cup flour and mix again, by hand or mixer. Dough should be soft, not overly sticky, and not stiff (It is not necessary to use the entire amount of flour).
Scrape dough off sides of bowl and pour about one tablespoon of vegetable oil all around sides of bowl. Turn dough over in bowl so it is covered with oil. (This helps prevent dough from drying out). Cover with plastic and allow to rise in warm place until double in size, about 45 minutes.
Scrape dough out onto floured board. Divide dough into two. Turn dough over so it is floured on both sides; gently flatten to about 1 inch thick. With rolling pin, roll out to a rectangle about 12 inches long, 8 inches wide, and ¼ inch thick. Brush with melted butter. With pizza cutter or very sharp knife, cut dough in half to make two strips about 4 inches wide. Make cuts through strips of dough every 2 inches, making about 12 pieces of dough.
Starting with short end, roll up one piece of dough, with butter on the inside. Place roll on parchment-lined pan with other short end down on the paper (I just use a greased pan). Repeat with remaining pieces of dough. Be sure all rolls face the same direction on baking pan. You can roll the rolls however way you want.. 

Cover lightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise until double in size, about 1 to 1 ½ hours. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until light to medium golden brown. Brush tops of rolls with melted butter. Makes 2 dozen rolls.

Helpful Tips for Making Rolls

Always add flour gradually and keep dough as soft as you can handle. A soft dough will produce a lighter roll.
It is not necessary to use the entire amount of flour called for in the recipe—add only enough flour to make dough manageable.
To shorten dough’s rising time, use one of these methods:
1) When dough is thoroughly mixed, oil bowl and cover dough with plastic wrap. Fill sink or larger bowl with about 2 inches of hot water or enough water to come about half or three-fourths the way up outside the dough bowl. Place bowl of dough in bowl of water and allow to rise until double in size.
2) Just before mixing dough, turn oven on lowest possible temperature. Place a pan of hot water on bottom oven rack. When dough is thoroughly mixed, place in oiled bowl. Cover dough with plastic wrap; place in oven. Turn oven off, shut oven door, and allow dough to rise until double in size, about 50 to 60 minutes. Shape or cut into desired rolls. Place rolls on greased or parchment-lined pans and allow to rise until double in size. Bake according to recipe.
Brush top of rolls with butter when first taken from oven.

Coca-Cola Cake

1 cup Coca-Cola

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 3/4 cups sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 t. vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1 t. baking soda

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Coca-Cola Frosting:

• 1/2  cup  butter or margarine
• 1/3  cup  Coca-Cola
• 3  T.  cocoa
• 1  (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
• 1 T.  vanilla extract

Garnish: 3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Combine Coca-Cola and buttermilk; set aside.

Beat butter at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar; beat until blended. Add egg and vanilla; beat at low speed until blended.

Combine flour, cocoa, and soda. Add to butter mixture alternately with cola mixture; begin and end with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended.

Stir in marshmallows. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 10 minutes. Pour Coca-Cola Frosting over warm cake; garnish, if desired.

Dyno-MITE Doughnuts

1T rapid rising yeast 1 3/4 cups lukewarm milk 1/2 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1/3 cup shortening 5 cups all-purpose flour   Glaze: 1/3 cup butter 2 cups confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 4 tablespoons hot water or as needed

	Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk and let froth for 10 min.
	In a large bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix for a few minutes at low speed, or stirring with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains. I heat my oven to 150 degrees and then turn it off and put my dough in there to rise. It rises a lot faster that way. Warm draft free proofing cupboard.. :)
	Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Let doughnuts sit out to rise again until double. Cover loosely with a cloth.
	Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside.
	Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degrees F. Slide doughnuts into the hot oil using a wide spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet or tray under racks for easier clean up.