Help name the New Cookbook

Psalm 119: 32  I run in the path of your commands, O Lord, for you have set my heart free.

I have finished editing my newest cookbook.  I will be selecting the cover, design, etc.  The only problem is that I don’t have a NAME for this new book.  It will contain 250 recipes that I have prepared for my family on Sunday dinners, church pot lucks and regular dinners.  The first book was “Family Favorites”, which is currently sold out.  This book has many of the recipes from Family Favorites, but many new recipes as well.  Let me know your creative titles.  If I choose your Title you will WIN a FREE cookbook when it is published.  Looking for some creative ideas.  Get Ready – Set – Go – Get Creative.

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New Cookbook Coming

So sorry I have neglected this blog.  I am truly amazed at the number of people who continue to find the blog through searching for recipes, etc.  Thank you for visiting.  I have been working on Cookbook #2 and I am within about 20 recipes of finishing.  The new cookbook will have 250 recipes.  Some are from the first book, but many are new ones that I have developed over the past few years.

At least half of the profits from the book will benefit our church building fund.  The first book is sold out.  I was amazed at the interest in the first book, so I am hoping that the response will be just as good for this second one.  These recipes are the ones that my children grew up with and additional ones that we use for Sunday dinners for the grandchildren, church potlucks, etc.  They are not anything fancy, but they are good nutritious recipes (except for the desserts of course) that we enjoy.

If you are interested give me a post and I will contact when it is available.  To allow for printing we are anticipating 2-3 months from now.

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2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is on fire!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2010. That’s about 29 full 747s.

 

In 2010, there were 15 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 259 posts. There were 5 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 2mb.

The busiest day of the year was February 22nd with 220 views. The most popular post that day was Spaghetti for 100.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were frugalhacks.com, en.wordpress.com, search.aol.com, jamiegates.wordpress.com, and cookeatshare.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for church dinner recipes, diaper cake, spaghetti for 100, spaghetti for 100 people, and how to make a diaper cake.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Spaghetti for 100 September 2008
2 comments

2

Diaper Cake April 2008
1 comment

3

Pork Chops and Potatoes June 2007

4

Taco Casserole for 40 – 50 people February 2009

5

Let me introduce myself April 2007
25 comments

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Breakfast Protien Shake

Nehemiah 8:10  The joy of the Lord is your strength.

I am trying to lose another 30-40 lbs.  I have lost about 40 lbs. over the last few years by cutting back on portions, taking buns off of fast food sandwiches (when I had to eat out) and eating breakfast.  I am now trying to she the other pounds that I need to lose.

I get so hungry if I eat cereal or fruit for breakfast.  I think I need protien.  I found a recipe for a protien shake in at magazine that seems to be working.  I can’t testify to the weight loss, but I don’t get hungry for several hours after I have this shake and it is GOOD.  You choose a liquid:  carrot juice, unsweet cranberry juice, rice/almond/soy milk, pineapple juice or orange juice.  Then you add some fruit:  fresh/frozen blueberries, small banana, frozen peaches, frozen pineapple chunks or strawberries.  The third ingredient is 1 T. of chia seeds, ground flaxseeds or oat fiber.  The fourth is an oil:  1 T. of fish oil, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, almond butter or avocado oil.  This is put in a blender with a scoop of protien powder. 

My shake has been:  1 scoop of soy protien power, 1 T. ground flax seeds,  Rice milk or Soy Milk (chocolate sometimes), peaches, strawberries or banana, 1 T. walnut oil.  I blend this up and drink.  It has been great and I do not get hungry until lunch time.  The taste is really great.  The chocolate/strawberry combination is really good.  Feel free to try other combinations. 

The diet version says to have two of these shakes per day and then a dinner of lean protien and lots of veggies.

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Cheese Strata for 30

John  16:24  Jesus said, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Prepared today for another Manna Meal (free meal program).  We had an abundance of leftover hotdog buns that I had frozen.  I found Ham on sale this week, so I thought a Cheese Strata would be a good side dish for the ham. You can also use leftover bread. 

Cheese Strata

48 slices of bread to yield 22 C. of coarse crumbs (I used 16 hot dog buns-8 for each casserole)

6 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

16 eggs

10 cups milk

2 T. Worchestershire

1 T. mustard

salt and pepper

Crumble 1/2 of the bread into TWO 1/2 sheet pans.  ( you can use 9 x 13 pans, but you need the sides to be deep, more like Lasagna pans)

Top with 2 cups of cheese per pan

Put the other half of the bread on top.

Top with the remaining cheese – about 1 cup per pan

Wisk together the 16 eggs.  Add the mustard, Worchestershire, salt and pepper.  Add the milk and mix.  Pour 1/2 of the mixture onto each casserole.  I poured 2 cups at a time into each casserole.

Refrigerate covered overnight or at least 1 hour.  Bake at 325′ for 50 minutes or until puffy and brown. 

You can make this a main dish by adding:  Asparagus, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Ham and/or Bacon to the middle layer.  Serve with a salad for a perfect Brunch meal. 

This is a savory Bread Pudding type meal and resembles a souffle.  After baking this can be frozen for later use.  This can easily be reduced for the home kitchen, or made into multiple casseroles for a large gathering.  I made 12 of these today for the meal tomorrow.

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Mixed Berry Jelly

Hebrews 1:9  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by annointing you with the oil of joy. 

Recently Raspberries, Blackberries and Strawberries were on sale.  I really wanted to make some lovely homemade Raspberry and Blackberry jam.  I followed the recipe in the Sure-Jel box to make lovely Red Raspberry and Blackberry Jam.  I had a lot of wonderful “pulp” and seeds that had a lot of flavor left over.  I also had a limited amount of blueberries and strawberries that were overripe.  I decided to make a mixed berry jelly.

I place the pulp from the raspberries and blackberries into an enamel pan.  I added the strawberries and blueberries.  I added some apple juice.  I allowed this to cook until all the juices had been released.  I then measured the juice according to the recipe for the raspberry jelly in the Sure-Jel package.  I now have 10 small jars of mixed berry jelly plus one pint.  I will donate the small jars for our church’s Bake Sale/Yard Sale the first weekend of October.  Last time these small jars brought $3.00 each. 

Homemade jelly/jam is really inexpensive and easy.  You will need a large pan that will hold the jars and enough water to cover them to a depth of 2 inches.  You will also need a jar lifter (readily available at Wal-Mart or other stores),  canning jars and lids.  Even if you have to buy the jars/lids the cost is minimal compared to store bought and so much better.  The jars can be used over and over.

Hope you will to make your own Jelly/Jam.

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Fried Cream Corn

Proverbs 15:4  The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.

My grandfather used to prepare Fried/Cream corn with biscuits for breakfast.  He lived in an attached apartment to our house.  He used canned biscuits, but his fried corn was the BEST.  I think I have almost mastered his recipe, but the modern day corn does not seem to have the same amount of starch to thicken the corn that it did when I was a teenager.  Try this for breakfast on biscuits with bacon as a side, or as a side dish with a dinner or lunch meal. 

Cut corn from the cob – do not cut entirely to the cob.  Then ‘scrap’ the corn cob to release the milky starch from the corn.  Use approximately 1 corn cob per person.

Place in a pot with some butter (1 t. per cob of corn).  Add enough water to just cover the corn.  Cook on low until the corn is cooked.  Most of the water will evaporate.

Add enough canned cream, cream or milk to cover the corn. Cook again on low until most of the milk has evaporated.  If the corn does not thicken you can use a little cornstarch dissolved in water to thicken the corn mixture.

Salt and pepper to taste.  Serve over biscuits or as a side dish.

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Spaghetti Carbonara Tartlets

2 Corinthians 8:9  You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thought he was rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

I found this recipe when visiting my daughter in Colorado.  This is a wonderful way to use leftover spaghetti.  This is a great appetizer, snack or a portable breakfast item.

1/2 lb. spaghetti – cooked

Bacon or Panchetta – 3-4 slices of bacon or 2 1/4 inch pancetta

3/4 cups grated parmesan cheese

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

Cook the bacon/panchetta and pour the fat into the cooked spaghetti.  Add 1/2 of the cheese and salt and pepper together.  Spray 12 muffin tins with non-stick spray.  Place forkful of spaghetti mixture into each muffin tin until 1/3 full.  Mix the eggs and milk together.  Pour approximately 1 T.  of the egg/milk mixture into each muffin tin.  Sprinkle remaining cheese and panchetta/bacon onto the top of each muffin tin. 

Bake 20 minutes at 375′ until browned on top.

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Not too late to enter Contest

Romans 9:16  It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

The recipe contest will end the last day of December.  Great time to send some favorite recipes for leftovers for the holiday meals, etc.  Look for the original post:   “Recipe Contest” and enter your recipe in the comment section.  If you don’t enter you can’t win.

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Cheap Pumpkin Latte

Proverts 3:5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

The weather has turned unseasonably cold today.  I am in the mood for a hot fall inspired drink.  Rather than spend $5.00+ at the coffee shops, I found this recipe.  I have not tried it yet, but I see no reason why it should not be delicious.  I will be making it in the morning.  Update:  I tried this and the coffee and spice flavor were too intense for me.  I changed the recipe to:  1 t. coffee and 1/4 t. pumpkin pie spice and I really liked that.  This is a wonderful way to add some very benficial pumpkin into your diet.  Adjust the coffee and spices to your taste.

Pumpkin Pie Latte

2 cups milk (soy, fat free, etc.)

2/3 c. water

1/3 c. pumpkin (buy the large can and freeze the remaining pumpkin in 1 cup bags to use in muffins, breads, etc.)  or freeze in 1/3 c. size for future lattes

3 1/2 T. sugar (I am going to use Equal – I can’t use Splenda because I am allergice, but that would work also)

4 heaping t. espresso powder ( I will substitue instant coffee – to taste)

2 t. pumpkin pie spice

1 t. vanilla extract

The directions say to heat all of this in a pan on the stove for 10 minutes.  I will use the microwave after mixing all the ingredients together, except the Equal.  Microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on your microwave.  This makes two servings and if you use sugar and soy milk the caloric value is about 275 calories. 

This will definately warm me up in the morning.  Maybe applesauce substitued for the pumpkin for an Apple Pie Latte ???????  Yum !!!!

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