Crunch Top Bundt Cake

 This is a delicious moist, dense bundt cake.  I added a glaze, but you don't have to.

Crunch Top Bundt Cake

2 cups sugar

1 cup softened butter

6 eggs, room temperature

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. lemon flavor

Heat oven to 300.

Cream together the sugar and butter.  Add 3 eggs, one at a time.

Add 1 cup flour.  Add the other three eggs then the other cup of flour.  Add the flavorings.  Put in a greased bundt pan.  Bake for 1 hour - 1 hour 20 minutes until top is golden brown.

Cinnamon Roll Crescents

 Delicious, easy cinnamon rolls in a jiffy.

Cinnamon Roll Crescents

1 8 oz can crescent rolls

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2-3 Tablespoons heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 375.  Unroll the dough on a large ungreased baking sheet.  Separate into triangles.

In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar with the cinnamon.  Spread the mixture on top of the trangles.  Put some of the mixture on each triangle, dividing evenly.  Roll up and put the rolls about 2 " apart on the baking sheet.  Bake 9-12 minutes, until lightly golden brown.  

Mix the powdered sugar, cream and vanilla together to make a glaze.  Drizzle over the warm rolls.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Update

 Michelle posted this recipe a long time ago.  It is really good and a favorite around here.  It's a nice one to make to feed a crowd as it is pretty easy and easily expandable.  

When we were at Kristen's she made it with breaded chicken breasts.  It was so delicious.  So that's the update.  Make the recipe, but use breaded chicken breasts.  Heat them in your airfryer or oven according to package directions, then make the sauce just as in the recipe.

Meatloaf Sandwiches

 My dad always used to talk about how much he loved meatloaf sandwiches.  But I don't remember seeing him prepare or eat one, so I didn't know how he liked them.  Years ago I tried a cold one and didn't like it.  It was too fatty.  Recently I had leftover meatloaf so I googled Meatloaf sandwich and found recipes for hot meatloaf sandwiches.  My, were they good!  Now I see why my dad liked them so much!

Make meatloaf.  I have two really good recipes: 

Mama's Meatloaf - my mom's tried and true recipe

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf - so good with a sweet, tangy topping

Meatloaf Sandwich

 (for two open-faced sandwiches)

Put butter in a frypan and fry meatloaf slices on both sides.  Spread soft butter on one side of two slices bread (I like Texas Toast) and melt a slice of cheese on each piece of bread.  I like to toast the bread and melt the cheese in the air fryer.  

Put the hot slice of meatloaf on the cheese and eat it open-faced.  You can add tomato slices and lettuce and top it with another toasted bread if you like.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

 

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

2 lbs. ground beef 

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

8 cloves garlic

3 cans (15 oz size) diced tomatoes

2 cans (15 oz size) tomato sauce

2 cans (6 oz. each) tomato paste

1/3 - 1/2 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning

1 T. dried basil

2 teaspoons marjoram

1 teaspoon salt 

1 Tablespoon beef better than boilion 

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Spaghetti, cooked el dente

In a large skilled, brown the beef.  Drain and add to a large crock pot.

Stir in the onion, pepper, garlic, tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste, sugar and the seasonings.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  Taste and correct seasonings.  Serve over spaghetti with grated Parmesan cheese.  

This recipe makes a little over 3 quarts.  We freeze two quarts for later.

Cherry Cobbler

 

Easy Cherry Cobbler

Melt 1 stick butter in the bottom of a 9x13 pan while the oven preheats to 350.  Mix together:

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour 

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup whole milk

Pour mixture over the melted butter.  Do not stir.  Spoon contents of 2- 14 ounce can cherries (including the syrup) gently over the flour mixture.  Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes.  Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.

Stuffed Ham and Cheese Biscuits

 

Stuffed Ham and Cheese Biscuits

1 can refrigerator biscuits, 5 biscuit size

5 slices deli ham

Shredded cheese

2 Tablespoons butter

Everything Bagel seasoning or sesame seeds

Open biscuits and pull apart the layers to split each in half

Flatten each half by pulling on the dough

Add about a Tablespoon of cheese and a slice of ha to each circle

Fold the edges together to enclose the ham and cheese, creating a ball.

Put the balls in the air fryer, seam side down

Air fry at 380 for 6 minutes

Melt the butter.  When the balls are cooked, brush each with butter and sprinkle with seasoning or seeds.  Put back in fryer for two minutes.  Let them cool for a couple of minutes.  Serve with dipping sauce of choice: ranch dressing, honey mustard, barbecue sauce, etc.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

 A delicious fudgy dessert. I love that you don't have to get out the mixer.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

1 cup flour

2 tsps. baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

7 T. cocoa powder, divided

1 1/4 cups sugar, divided

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350.  In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, 3 Tablespoons cocoa, and 3/4 cup sugar.  Stir in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth.

Pour into a ungreased 9 inch square pan.

In another bowl mix together 1/2 cup white sugar, brown sugar, and 4 Tablespoons cocoa.  Sprinkle this mixture over the batter.  Pour the hot water over the top of all- do not stir.

Bale for 35-40 minutes until the center is set and the top is dry.

Let cool slightly before serving.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Creamy Chicken, Spinach, and Mushroom Pasta

 This is a tasty casserole that is quick and easy to make.

Creamy Chicken, Spinach, and Mushroom Pasta

1/2 lb. pasta of choice

4 Tablespoons butter

1 onion, diced

1 tsp. minced garlic

3 Tablespoons flour

2 cups whole milk or half and half

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

pinch of cayenne pepper

8 cups fresh spinach (or a box of frozen, drained)

1 box sliced mushrooms

2 chicken breasts, diced and cooked (I use rotisserie chicken breast)

Cook the pasta to el dente (reserve some of the pasta water- about 1 1/2 cups)

In a large skillet, melt the butter and saute' the onion for about 5 minutes.  Add the mushrooms and cook until done. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two.  Stir in the flour and cook another 2 minutes. Pour in the milk, whisking until thickened.  Add the spices and some salt and pepper.  Add the spinach and stir and cook until the spinach is wilted.  Add the chicken.  Fold in the pasta, adding as much pasta water as needed to make it smooth and creamy.  Taste to correct seasoning.  Add more salt if needed.

Caprese Crescent Rolls

 

Caprese Crescent Rolls

1 tube refrigerated Pillsbury crescent roll dough

4 ounces fresh Mozzarella cheese 

Tomato slices

8 large fresh basil leaves

Unroll the dough into 8 triangles.

Top each triangle with a slice of fresh Mozzarella cheese, a tomato slice, and a leaf of basil.

Roll into crescents and bake according to the package directions.  I do them in the air fryer at 300 for six minutes, then turn them over with tongs for another four minutes.  The air fryer and oven directions are on the package.  These are so good!!

Fresh Peach Pie

 So easy.  So yummy.  The peaches are fresh, not cooked.  I overwhipped the cream, so this picture isn't great, but this pie is really delicious.

Fresh Peach Pie

1 baked pie crust or graham cracker crust

Peaches, cut up- enough to fill the pie plate

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup lemon juice, bottled or fresh

1 1/2 cups fresh whipped cream, sweetened

Cut the peaches into the pie crust.  Make sure it is very full.  Mix together the milk and lemon juice.  Pour over the peaches.  Top with the whipped cream.  Refrigerate for at least two hours.  

Chili Crisp Patties

 This is a tasty little lunch.

Crab and Swiss Rice Patties

Mix some leftover rice (about 1/2 cup) with 1 egg and some chili crisp. 

This stuff is hot, so add to taste.   Form into a patty and fry or cook in the air fryer until the egg is cooked and it is a bit crispy. It looks kind of like a pancake. Top with crab (or imitation crab) and a slice of Swiss cheese.  Put in the air fryer or oven until cheese is melted.  

Garlic Cheese Toast

 This toast is SO good!  It is delicious with pasta or just on it's own.  The air fryer makes it so crisp and delicious!

Garlic Cheese Toast

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp oregano

1 cup shredded Mozzarella

6 slices Provolone cheese

6 slices Texas toast

Lightly toast the bread (optional.)  Melt the butter and add the seasonings.  Mix well

Arrange the bread on your air fryer tray (or a baking sheet if using the oven.)  Spread the mixture over each piece of bread.  Sprinkle with the Mozzarella cheese and a slice of Provolone.

Bake in the air fryer at 350 for 5 minutes or in the oven for 6-7 minutes.  So delicious!

Orange Cream Cheese Loaf

 

Orange Cream Cheese Loaf

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 cup milk

Zest of an orange

1/4 - 1/2 cup orange juice

Preheat oven to 375 and spray a loaf pan.

Cream together the cream cheese and butter.  Add the eggs and sugar and beat until fluffy.

Turn off the mixer and add the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Turn the mixer to low and start to mix.  Then add some of the milk and turn the mixer on again.  Keep alternating and mix until all is well combined.  Add the zest and mix well.  Spread in prepared pan and bake about 50 - 60 minutes.  Toothpick should come out clean, but don't overbake.

poke holes in the cake, then add the orange juice over the top.

I felt it was too dry, so I mixed up some vanilla buttercream frosting and frosted it.  It made it a lot better.  

I didn't make it look pretty, but it tasted good.

Boston Brown Bread

My roommate used to make this delicious bread.  It is dense and moist and yummy.

 Boston Brown Bread

2 1/2 cups wheat flour

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup flour

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup boiling water

Butter for serving.

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 4-5 15 oz. cans or 1 loaf pan

Place raisins in a bowl and pour boiling water over.  Let sit for 10 minutes.

Combine the flours, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.  Beat in the egg.

In another bowl, whisk the baking soda into the buttermilk, then stir in the molasses.

Fold the wet mixture into the dry, mixing just until incorporated, then fold in the plumped raisins.

Pour batter into prepared pan and tap to remove air.

Bake for about 50 minutes.  Serve with butter or cream cheese spread.

Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwiches

 I have been trying recipes in the air fryer.  This one took awhile to perfect.  It made a delicious sandwich.

Ham, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich

2 slices Texas Toast

Deli Ham Slices

Cheese Slice

1 Egg, partially cooked in silicone egg cup.  You can do that in the airfryer by putting the egg in the cup and then in the basket.  Precook for about 7 minutes as it heats up.

Soft butter

Minced garlic or garlic salt

Grated cheese of choice

Salt and pepper

With the bottom of a glass, push a depression into one of the bread slices.  Spread both slices of bread with soft butter.  Put minced garlic or garlic salt into the depression.  On the other pieces of bread layer ham and cheese.  Put ham and cheese bread on bottom and the the other one on top.  Into the depression, put the partially cooked egg.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Put grated cheese around the egg on top.  Bake in an air fryer or oven at 350 until toasted, melted and the egg is done.  Cut sandwich in half. The yolk should be runny, but the white cooked.  So delicious!

Instapot Butternut Squash

 We love butternut squash prepared in the instapot.

Butternut Squash in the Instant pot

1 Butternut squash

Butter

Brown sugar

Salt and pepper

Cut the Squash in half and take out the seeds.  In the seed hole, put a chunk of butter and fill it with brown sugar.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Put the halves in the instant pot and add 1 1/2 cups water.  Pressure cook for 10-12 minutes and let steam release naturally.

Take the squash out.  When it is cool enough to handle, scoop the squash out of the rind.  Mash with a potato masher.  Taste and add more butter, brown sugar, salt, and pepper if desired.

Ham and Cheese French Toast

 

Ham and Cheese French Toast

4 slices bread

3 eggs

Ham slices

Salt and pepper

1/4 cup milk

Mayonaise

Grated Mozzarella cheese

Butter

Put Mayonnaise on all four pieces of bread.  Add ham and cheese and close as a sandwich.  Heat a skillet and put butter in.  While it's heating, mix the eggs, milk, and salt and pepper.  Dip the sandwich in the egg mixture, soaking even the edges of the sandwiches.  Put sandwiches in the hot skillet.  Fry until brown on one side, then add more butter, then turn over and brown the other side and cook until the cheese is melted.  Serve with syrup or jam and fresh fruit.  

You can pour any remaining egg mixture in the hot skillet and make an omelet by cooking, turning over and putting grated cheese on top and fold over in half.  

Crab Pinwheels

 Here is my new favorite lunch!  This is a great air fryer recipe.  But you could make them in the oven too.  They are so delicious!

Crab Pinwheels

2 flour tortillas

Cream cheese spread

Imitation crab

Green onions

Softened Butter

Sweet Chili Thai Sauce

Spread the tortillas with the soft cream cheese.  Pull apart the crab and put it all over the cream cheese.  Using scissors snip green onions all over the crab.  Roll up the tortillas and spread the outside with the softened butter.  Slice into pinwheels.  Air Fry at 400 for about 4 minutes.  Serve them with Sweet Chili Sauce.  

There are many different brands, but this is Sweet Chili Thai Sauce.

Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Vegetables

 You can put this together so fast.  It smells so good cooking day and is creamy and delicious.  Comfort food!

Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Vegetables

1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 bag small new potatoes

1 onion, chopped

1 - 2lb. bag baby carrots

1/2 cup milk

1 cup chicken stock

Salt and pepper

Put all in the crockpot and cook all day on low.  You can add other vegetables if you like.

Chicken and Rice

 This is a delicious casserole.  I have just made it once, but it will be made again.  Both my husband and I loved it.

Chicken and Rice

2 cans cream of celery soup

3 -4 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 chicken breasts, cubed

2 cups uncooked rice

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Grated cheese, to taste

Heat oven to 375.  Spray a 13x9 pan or I used my enamel Dutch oven because it has a tight-fitting lid and well, because everything I make in it is delicious. 

In a bowl, mix the soup, chicken broth, and melted butter.  Add the rice, chicken, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.  Spread the rice mixture in the baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.  Bake until the rice is tender.  About 1 hour and 15 minutes (Ours was done after about 50 minutes)

Uncover and sprinkle with desired amount and type of cheese.  Return to the oven uncovered and bake until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.  Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.  

Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots

 

Have you ever ordered the baby carrots at Cracker Barrel?  They are so delicious.  I saw a copycat recipe online and tried them.  They were SO good.  I've made them several times now.

Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots

2 lbs. baby carrots

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Place the carrots in a saucepan.  Cover with water, cover the pan and boil for about 20 minutes.  The carrots should be fork tender.

Pour half of the water out of the pan.  Stir in the butter, brown sugar and salt.  Cover and cook for another 5 minutes or so.  Taste and add more of what it needs: butter, brown sugar, or salt.  

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

 I'm not a big fan of Cracker Barrel, but they do make a delicious meatloaf.  I make a pretty mean meatloaf, but we loved this recipe enough that I will make it again.  Here is a copycat recipe:

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

2 eggs

2/3 cup milk

32 Ritz crackers, crushed

1 / 2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 tsp salt

pepper

 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

 1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp mustard

Preheat oven to 350

Beat eggs. Add milk and crackers.  Stir in onion and cheese.  Add ground beef.  Mix well.  Shape into a loaf.   Combine the ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard to make the topping. Bake the meatloaf for 30 minutes.  Spoon half of the topping over the meatloaf after 30 minutes of baking.  Return loaf to oven for 10 more minutes.  Then spoon the rest of the topping over the meatloaf.  Bake for 10 minutes more.

I served it with cooked cabbage, mashed potatoes, and Cracker Barrel baby carrots.

Pecan Pie Dump Cake

 If you like pecan pie, you will like this delicious dessert.

Pecan Pie Dump Cake

2 3/4 cups brown sugar, divided

1 cup dark corn syrup (or you can use light)

1 14 cup butter, melted and divided

3 large eggs, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 cups pecan halves, divided

1 yellow or white cake mix

1 cup hot water

Preheat the oven to 350.  Spray a 9x13 pan

In a large bowl, mix together with a whisk: 2 cups brown sugar, Corn syrup, 1/2 cup melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.  Sirt in 3 cups pecan halves.  Spread the mixture in the prepared pan.

Sprinkle the cake mix over the top.

Drizzle 3/4 cup melted butter over the top of the cake mix.

Sprinkle 3/4 cup brown sugar over the butter.

Pout the hot water over the top of that.  Don't mix.  Sprinkle 1 cup pecan halves over all.  

Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.  It will be a bit jiggly in the center, but will firm while it cools.  When cool, serve with ice cream (too rich for me) or whipped topping or with nothing at all.

Chicken Salad

I love chicken salad.  When I ran across this recipe claiming to be the world's best chicken salad, I had to give it a try.  It was so good!  It looks so simple that I didn't think it could be that good, but it really is delicious.

 Chicken Salad

1 rotisserie chicken, deboned

1 cup Mayonnaise

1 stalk celery, minced

1 small sweet onion, minced

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 T chopped parsley

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. pepper

Salt, if needed, to taste

Mix together.  Serve on a lettuce leaf or in a croissant or bread.

I love it open face on a piece of bread.

Woolworth's Lunch Counter Ham Salad Sandwich

 I saw this recipe on a website on the Internet and thought it sounded good, so I tried it.  It was good, but I think next time I will grind the ham rather than just finely dice it.  It will make it more of a spread.

Ham Salad Sandwich

1 slice ham, 1 inch thick, finely diced

1/4 cup celery, finely diced

1 Tablespoon sweet relish

Miracle Whip, as desired

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 slices whole wheat toast (I only had white bread, so used that)

Always served with potato chips

Mix ham, celery, then desired amount of relish and miracle whip.  Season with salt and pepper.  Mix well and spread on the whole wheat toast.  

Fudge

 I tried a new fudge recipe.  It was really good.

Fannie Farmer Fudge

2 cups sugar

2 T. butter

2/3 cup evaporated milk

10 large marshmallows

1/2 bag of chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cups chopped nuts, optional

Boil the sugar, butter, milk, and marshmallows for 6 minutes, while stirring.  Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips, vanilla, and nuts.  Stir and stir until the chips are melted.  Pour into a buttered 8 inch pan.  Cool and cut. into squares.  Each square can be wrapped in plastic wrap.

Grilled Egg Salad Sandwiches

 I love egg salad sandwiches.  Grilling it like this with butter was really delicious.

Grilled Egg Salad Sandwiches

6 eggs, hard boiled

3 T. Mayonnaise

Splash of seasoned rice vinegar

Salt and Pepper

A good bread

Butter

Chop eggs.  Add Mayo a little at a time until you get the consistency you want.  Add salt and pepper.  Heat a skillet and melt 1 T. butter.  Butter one side of the bread.  Put the unbuttered side down of the bread in the skillet.  Turn over when browned.  Put 1/3 of the egg mixture on the bread and top with another piece of bread prepared the same way.  This will make 3 sandwiches.

Shoepeg Corn Casserole

This casserole makes a nice vegetable side dish.  

 Shoepeg Corn Casserole

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1/2 red pepper, chopped

1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 can shoepeg or white corn, drained

1 can green beans, drained

1 can cream of celery or mushroom soup

8 oz. sour cream

Salt and Pepper, to taste

1 sleeve Ritz, crushed

1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a casserole dish or 8 x 8 pan.  In a bowl, mix the celery, onions, red pepper, cheese, corn, beans, soup, and sour cream.  Season.  Put in the prepared casserole and sprinkle the cracker crumbs on top.  Pour the melted butter on top and bake for 45 minutes.

Italian Chopped Salad Sandwiches

 I love a good sandwich.  And this one was really, really good!  I watched an Italian chef make it on the Internet.  

Italian Chopped Salad Sandwich

Chop some salami and ham and provolone cheese into little square.  Mix together and put in a microwavable bowl.  Microwave until warm and cheese starts to melt.

On a cutting surface, put some shredded lettuce.  Add some chopped tomatoes, chopped olives, and sliced mushrooms.  Sprinkle with red wine vinegar and olive oil.  Add salt and pepper and a couple of scoops of Mayonnaise.  Mix well with your knife.  Add the meats and cheese and mix well all together.  

When well mixed put inside a sandwich roll.  You can add other meats and vegetables as desired and delete anything you don't like.  So yummy!