Molasses Creams 26 August 2009

My favorite molasses cookies recipe.  Another one of my comfort foods.  From Recipezaar.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• ½ cup molasses
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• ¾ tsp. ground ginger
• ½ tsp. ground cloves
• ½ tsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1-2Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream 1 ½ cups butter and 2 cups sugar.
3. Add eggs and molasses, mix thoroughly.
4. Combine dry ingredients up through salt, gradually add to creamed mixture.
5. Shape into 1-inch balls.
6. Placed on ungreased baking sheets (do not flatten).  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done.
7. In a small mixing bolw beat 3 Tbsp. butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla, add enough milk until creamy.
8. Frost cookies while warm.

Spicy Stir-fry 16 August 2009

Only made this once so I don’t have any measurements for ingredients yet.  (I don’t cook that way)  So delicious I had to write it down immediately.  There are so many flavors in this that work together in perfect harmony.  And there’s just something about the combination of teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds that’s just amazing.

Ingredients

• pasta (I used linguini)
• vegetable oil
• boneless, skinless chicken breast (pork would likely also work well)
• salt & pepper
• red pepper flakes
• vegetables (I used carrots, snow peas, and water chestnuts)
• FRESH chopped green onions
• teriyaki sauce (I used JES Ginger Teriyaki marinade and sauce)
• toasted sesame seeds

Directions

1. Boil water and cook noodles to taste.
2. Meanwhile, cut chicken breast into1/4 inch pieces, season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
3. Chop vegetables as needed.
4. Cook chicken in hot oil in pan.
5. Add vegetables, cook 3 more minutes.  Add green onions, cook 1 more minute.
6. Add teriyaki sauce, stir.
7. Drain noodles and put back in pan.  Add meat, veggies, and sauce mixture to pasta and mix together.
8. Add sesame seeds, mix again.
9. Serve with sesame seeds sprinkled on top.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes 11 August 2009

An alternate method is to throw mashed bananas in the pancake mix.  Old brown bananas like you’d use for banana bread work best.  Haven’t yet tried both chocolate chips and bananas, but I will eventually.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 cups milk
• 1 Tbsp. oil
• chocolate chips

Directions

1. In large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder together.
2. Add the milk and oil and mix together carefully.
3. Stir in desired amount of chocolate chips.
4. Portion onto pan and cook on medium heat until center starts to become bubbly.
5. Flip pancake over and cook other side until golden brown.

Will also freeze will in packages of 2-3.  Reheat in the microwave.

Maple Whipped Cream 6 August 2009

Incredibly delicious.  Add some sugar if it’s not sweet enough for your taste.  I made it to top chocolate chip pancakes.  Ingredients listed as ratios instead of exact measurements for easily adjusting the size of the batch.

Ingredients

• 4 parts heavy whipping cream
• 1 part maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp salt for every cup of whipping cream

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a glass or metal bowl, whip with electric mixer until soft peaks form.

Bratwurst and Potato Stew 3 August 2009

A bratwurst is a wonderful thing…so versatile.  It’s a shame most people just cook ‘em and eat ‘em with a bun.

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp. butter or margarine
• 4 cups milk
• parsley
• oregano
• basil
• 3-4 bratwursts
• potatoes
• salt
• pepper

Directions

1. Slice potatoes into chunks and boil until softened.
2. Drain and set aside.
3. Slice up bratwurst and brown in a pan.
4. Remove from heat and set aside.
5. In another saucepan, combine margarine and milk and heat until margarine is melted.
6. Add parsley, oregano, and basil to taste.
7. Boil for 3-5 minutes to allow spice flavors to seep into the milk.
8. Put bratwurst pan back onto medium heat, mix potatoes and sauce in with it.
9. Cook on medium heat until it reaches the desired consistency.
10. If there is not enough sauce, add some milk.
11. Season with salt and pepper to taste.