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.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible and so appropriate for this post.

My daughter has just started her own company.  She strongly believes in trying to help small businesses to reach their full potential.  Her company:   JMS Marketing Solutions has been developed to help those businesses gain exposure through internet and social media avenues.  If you have a business:  Do you have a website, do you have a Facebook and/or Twitter account, can you send out a newsletter?   If you have a small business and you do not have a web presence you are not in tune with the modern generation.  Contact JMC Marketing to find out how they can help you expand your business.  Their rates are very reasonable.  Their web site is:  www. jmsmarketingsolutions.com  Check out the link on My Blogroll.

This was a dish at a recent Pot Luck.  I ask for the recipe and repeated it today for a family dinner.  It was a big hit.

2 cans carrots – drained and mashed with a fork or a pastry cutter

1/2 medium onion – sauteed in 3 T. margarine until translucent

1 box corn bread stuffing mix

1 stick margarine or butter – melted

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all together and place into a greased 2 quart casserole.  Bake in a 350^ oven for 30-35 minutes.  Great way to sneak carrots into your children’s diet.  This is a wonderful casserole.

I catered a banquet last Thursday and prepared this sauce for the roasted Pork Loin and everyone said it was Great.    At our Church’s Free Meal today we also served this over Ham.

Equal parts of Apple Cider and Brown sugar

I used 1/2 gallon of Cider and 1 lb. of brown sugar – this made a LOT of sauce (enough for about 50 people)

1 large box of raisins ( use how many you like)

Heat the cider and brown sugar until the sugar melts.  Add the raisins.  Allow to sit overnight or cook for several minutes for the raisins to “plump” up.

Add cinnamon  and vanilla to taste.  You could also add other spices if you want:  ginger, cloves, etc.

I made a “slurry” of cornstarch and cider to thicken the sauce.

Several people took home the leftover sauce.  I think it would be excellent warm over vanilla ice cream and it would also make a good topping for Bread Pudding.

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.

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.

Spaghetti for 100 September 2008
2 comments

Diaper Cake April 2008
1 comment

Pork Chops and Potatoes June 2007

Taco Casserole for 40 – 50 people February 2009

Let me introduce myself April 2007
25 comments

We served this today at Manna. The original recipe is for 200, but I have broken it down for about 15 servings.

1 Chicken – use about 20 oz. of canned chicken or one whole chicken that is cooked and the meat is pulled off
6 eggs
4 cups bread crumbs
4 cups of chicken gravy or cream of chicken soup that has been slightly thinned
1/2 cup of pimentos
1/2 cup of chopped celery

Mix all together and place into a deep dish 9 x 13 pan. Cook at 350′ for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Plate and you can top with some additional gravy if desired.

We served this at our Manna meal today and 170 diners thought it was great.

This is so EASY, but SOOOOOO good.  You mix one 16 oz. jar of peanut butter with 1 can of vanilla frosting.  That is IT!!!!  I mixed with a mixer.  Press into a non-stick 8 x 8 pan and refrigerator for about 1 hour.  Cut into squares.  This is an amazing smooth fudge. 

I have not tried other variations but maybe:::   Peanut butter/chocolate, Peanut butter/caramel, Peanut butter/Cream cheese, who knows what else.  Maybe other types of butters:  Almond, Cashew, etc.

I prepared this dessert for a recent banquet that I catered.  I have forogotten how good it really is.  You can prepare in a 9 x 13 pan or simply spoon into small cups as I did for the banquet.

If preparing in a 9 x 13 pan – make this crust

2/3 cups butter or margarine

1/2 cup sugar

7 cups Rice Chex – crushed

Mix all of these together and press into the pan.  Bake at 300′ for 12  minutes and cool.

Mix the remaining ingredients:

1 can condensed milk

1/2 cup lemon juice

1 -  4 pkg of lemon pudding

1 can (160z) fruit cocktail – drained

Mix together and either pour into the prepared crust or place into individual cups.  Freeze.  allow to sit at room temperature for approximately 20 minutes to thaw slightly before serving.  You can refreeze leftovers.  This is a wonderful refreshing summer time dessert.