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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Chocolate Covered Strawberries

1 Peter 4:8  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers overs a multitude of sins.

Sorry I did not get this posted BEFORE the big day, but hopefully this will be referenced next year.  Chocolate Covered Strawberries are so expensive if you purchase them, so why not Make Your Own!!!!!  They are really very simple.  Buy melting chocolate in either bar form or wafers.  Melt according to package directions.  Wash fresh strawberries and DRY until there is no moisture left.  Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper.  Dip the strawberries into the chocolate.  You can do this by grasping the green leaves or spearing them with a kabob stick.  Carefully slide them onto the paper.  Refrigerate until hardened.  You can roll them in nuts, coat with sprinkles or drizzle with white/red chocolate.   These should be eaten within a few days.  They are SOOOOOO Good.  Instead of 2-3 dollars each I made over a dozen for about $3.00.

Try these next year.   If you have leftover melted chocolate mix in some chopped nuts (peanuts) and drop by teaspoonfuls onto the paper.  This makes nut clusters.  Not too bad for leftovers.

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Pimento Cheese for a Crowd

Colossians 3:12  As God’s chosen people, holy and early loved, clothe youselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

This will make enough sandwiches for about 75 people depending on the amount of filling you put onto each bread slice.

1 – 5 lb. bag of finely shredded cheddar cheese

1 1/2 cups of diced pimentoes

1 c. pickle relish

1 c. water – or more to obtain desired consistency of the spread

2 cups mayonnaise or salad dressing

Combine all ingredients.  You can add more mayonnaise or salad dressing if desired.

Spread on bread and keep chilled until served.

Serve with soups or salads for a complete meal.

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Chocolate Spoons

Isaiah 62:5  As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

These are sold in Gourmet Stores, but are so EASY you can do these at home.

Purchase melting wafers or bark from your local grocery or craft store.  I use basic white and milk chocolate, but you can use any color that you wish.

Use red, green or white spoons.  Have mini-marshmallows, crushed peppermint or mini-chocolate chips available.

You will also need plastic bags (sandwich size) that you can place melted chocolate into.

Melt the candy according to package directions.

Dip spoons into the chocolate to cover and place on parchment paper.

Top each spoon with marshamallows, crushed peppermint or additional chips while the spoons are still WARM.

Allow to harden.  Put topping into the sandwich bags.  Snip off a small part of one corner.  Drizzle the chocolate over the spoons.  Allow to harden.

You can wrap into sucker bags or simply wrap 3-4 together with plastic wrap. 

Package with Hot Chocolate Mix or flavored Coffee mix for a great holiday treat.  Hope you enjoy.

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Mediteranean Dip

Jermiah 15:16  When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name.

My daughter-in-law prepares this often for Birthday parties.  I plan on making this for a Women’s Circle meeting on Thursday.  The amounts vary depending on how many people you are serving.  Place the ingredients onto a large plate or platter in the order given.  Serve with Pita Chips.  You can make these yourself or buy premade chips. 

First Layer — Hummus (make your own or your favorite flavor)

Second Layer — Feta Cheese – crumbled

Third Layer — Spinach – chopped fine or torn into small pieces

Fourth Layer — Cucumber – chopped, use English cucumbers or remove seeds from other cucumbers

Fifth Layer — Red Pepper – chopped fine

Sixth Layer — Tomatoes – chopped fine

Seventh Layer — Black Olives – sliced

This is a great fresh flavor to accompany a Pizza Party for the adults.

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Hot Pepper Jelly

John 16:22   Jesus said to his disciples, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

I was asked to make some Hot Pepper Jelly for our Annual Bake Sale at church.  I have not eaten this jelly, so I am relying on a recipe that I found online that had 5 stars.  Of course I added a few touches of my own. 

1 1/2 cups of course chopped peppers

     1.  Red Hot Jelly – Use Red Jalapenos

     2.  Green Hot Jelly – use 1 green bell pepper and the rest green Jalapenos

1 1/2 cups vinegar

     1.  Red Wine Vinegar for the Red Jelly

     2.  White distilled vinegar for the Green Jelly

6 cups sugar

1 box Sure-Jel

Appropriate food coloring to your desired color

Dash of salt

Chop the pepper in a blender with the vinegar.  Strain through a fine colander and then through cheese cloth.  Add the sugar to the mixture and the dash of salt.  Add the food coloring until you reach the desired color.  Heat the mixture to boil and boil for 5 minutes.  Add the Sure-Jel and stir well.  Boil another minute.

Ladle into jars (1/2 pint size or smaller).  Makes about 5  one half pint jars.  Top with hot lids and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

I understand this is great served with cream cheese on crackers.

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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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