Heidi and I did not know that her Hermit cookies were some of Beth's(our daughter) favorites but when she was talking to her today about her trip home this weekend, Heidi mentioned the hermits and she got all excited so I guess we know now that they are some of her favorites. She flies in tomorrow so Heidi is out in the kitchen right now making the hermits. The recipe actually comes from her Aunt Alice. She is another story all together that you will have to hear sometime. Just know that Beth says that she can take a rock, water, salt and a potato and make a soup so delicious you would eat it for a week!
Heidi and Aunt Al's Hermits
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/2 cups floor
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoons cloves
raisins
Mix this all together.
Pour into a greased or sprayed pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 - 40 minutes, we think, but I will edit this post later with the exact time. ------- The time is right - about 40 minutes but you need to have them in a pan so that they are about an inch thick. Heidi changed it a little this time, she did not use water but put coffee in instead -- Good choice, great taste!!
This is going to be a GREAT weekend with our daughter home for the first time in almost a year!
Jon & Heidi
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Jon's Spagetti Sauce
This is a sauce that I have made in the past from directions and ideas from many people. Everyone seems to like it a lot and the comment I get most is that is is great but not sour. I have many times had spagetti sauce, pizza sauce, salad dressing and he flavor is very good but there always seems to be too much vinegar in the dressings or the sauces are too sour or acidy.
This recipe takes some time to make but the majority of time is just sitting on the stove simmering. The prep and making of the sauce is not too bad time wise. The only time I use brand name ingredients is if they are on sale very cheap. As you know I am a big Aldis fan because of their quality, taste and price. Here is the recipe and you can decide on the brand of ingredients and how much you want to spend.
1 pkg sausage - 8 to 12 links - I like pork but have used turkey, chicken, beef and combinations of all so this is a matter of what you want to use.
1/2 - 1 lb ground beef(80/20 mix is best)
2 small onions or 1 large onion
Mushrooms(optional)
6 or 8 large cloves of garlic(or to your taste)
2 or 3 small cans tomato paste
1 large can(28oz) of diced tomatos
2 large cans tomato puree
1 large can stewed tomatos(I like the italian style)
2 - 4 small cans tomato sauce
1 or 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
1 good palm full of oregano(4 or 5 tablespoons)
1/2 palm full of basil(2 or 3 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon of kosher salt(if you use regular table salt use less. table salt weighs 2 times kosher salt)
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup sugar(maybe a little more - taste it first)
In a large pot put in the ground beef, sausage, garlic onions. On medium- medium high heat brown the beef and sausage. Near the end of the browning add the mushrooms.
Now add all of the other ingredients with the spices added last. Stir until it is well mixed and turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about 1-1/2 hours. After is starts to get nice and thick taste so that you can adjust the oregano, basil, salt and pepper. If you want more garlic add some minced garlic to taste. Pay attention to the acidity and/or sweetness and add sugar as you taste, a small amount at a time, about 1 teaspoon. Depending on the acidity of the tomatos you may have to add as much as 3 or 4 more teaspoons of sugar but be careful that it does not get sweet. It will cut the acidity and then very quickly start to get sweet. I like to add about a cup of water at this time and stir a lot to make sure everything is combined well. Simmer uncovered for 2 to 4 hours more or until it reaches the consistancy you like. I like my sauce very thick and would like you to try it that way at least once.
If you are using this on pasta, make sure you cook the pasta just until it is not quite done. Turn off and let it set until you are ready with the sauce and table settings. Drain the pasta but DO NOT rinse. The starch on the pasta helps the sauce to stay on the pasta.
Any that is left over, usually at least 2 quarts, put into plastic containers while hot or very warm. Fill to the top if possible. Seal the containers and put them into the freezer. This goes against what most people say but the quick cooling will seal the containers better and it will last longer with getting freezer burned.
This recipe takes some time to make but the majority of time is just sitting on the stove simmering. The prep and making of the sauce is not too bad time wise. The only time I use brand name ingredients is if they are on sale very cheap. As you know I am a big Aldis fan because of their quality, taste and price. Here is the recipe and you can decide on the brand of ingredients and how much you want to spend.
1 pkg sausage - 8 to 12 links - I like pork but have used turkey, chicken, beef and combinations of all so this is a matter of what you want to use.
1/2 - 1 lb ground beef(80/20 mix is best)
2 small onions or 1 large onion
Mushrooms(optional)
6 or 8 large cloves of garlic(or to your taste)
2 or 3 small cans tomato paste
1 large can(28oz) of diced tomatos
2 large cans tomato puree
1 large can stewed tomatos(I like the italian style)
2 - 4 small cans tomato sauce
1 or 2 large cans of crushed tomatoes
1 good palm full of oregano(4 or 5 tablespoons)
1/2 palm full of basil(2 or 3 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon of kosher salt(if you use regular table salt use less. table salt weighs 2 times kosher salt)
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup sugar(maybe a little more - taste it first)
In a large pot put in the ground beef, sausage, garlic onions. On medium- medium high heat brown the beef and sausage. Near the end of the browning add the mushrooms.
Now add all of the other ingredients with the spices added last. Stir until it is well mixed and turn the heat to low and let it simmer for about 1-1/2 hours. After is starts to get nice and thick taste so that you can adjust the oregano, basil, salt and pepper. If you want more garlic add some minced garlic to taste. Pay attention to the acidity and/or sweetness and add sugar as you taste, a small amount at a time, about 1 teaspoon. Depending on the acidity of the tomatos you may have to add as much as 3 or 4 more teaspoons of sugar but be careful that it does not get sweet. It will cut the acidity and then very quickly start to get sweet. I like to add about a cup of water at this time and stir a lot to make sure everything is combined well. Simmer uncovered for 2 to 4 hours more or until it reaches the consistancy you like. I like my sauce very thick and would like you to try it that way at least once.
If you are using this on pasta, make sure you cook the pasta just until it is not quite done. Turn off and let it set until you are ready with the sauce and table settings. Drain the pasta but DO NOT rinse. The starch on the pasta helps the sauce to stay on the pasta.
Any that is left over, usually at least 2 quarts, put into plastic containers while hot or very warm. Fill to the top if possible. Seal the containers and put them into the freezer. This goes against what most people say but the quick cooling will seal the containers better and it will last longer with getting freezer burned.
Now go ENJOY!!!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Beef Barley Soup Crockpot style
Here is a recipe from allrecipes.com
CrockPot Beef Barley Soup
This is new to us and Heidi says she wants to modify it before we post it. Well she can do that later when she decides to update this blog but for now let's try it this way.
Besides it's time we start to share other sites recipes.
Enjoy!!
This version is not in a crockpot
Now after you have taken a look at the first recipe here is Heidi's version. I like this one as it is a little more for things you will have around the the house more commonly. It is also geared for economy as we know many who can't just go out and buy stuff for a special recipe but have to make do with what you have. Here it is:
1/2 to 1-1/2 pounds lean beef cubed or hamburger - which ever you have on hand
3 tablespoons veg. oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 beef bouillon cubes
4 - 5 cups water
2 stalks of celery chopped
1 - 2 carrots chopped
1 Onion chopped
1 cup barley
1 teaspoon dried thyme if desired
In a skillet over medium heat, saute the beef in the oil for about 5 minutes or until browned on all sides. Stir in the salt and pepper and garlic powder and place the seasoned meat in a pot. Add a little water to the skilet and stir to get all of the bits for the soup and pour into the pot.Add to the pot water, celery, carrots, onions and barley. Cover and cook on low until the veggies are tender. If you want the thyme you can add it just before serving.
ENJOY
CrockPot Beef Barley Soup
This is new to us and Heidi says she wants to modify it before we post it. Well she can do that later when she decides to update this blog but for now let's try it this way.
Besides it's time we start to share other sites recipes.
Enjoy!!
This version is not in a crockpot
Now after you have taken a look at the first recipe here is Heidi's version. I like this one as it is a little more for things you will have around the the house more commonly. It is also geared for economy as we know many who can't just go out and buy stuff for a special recipe but have to make do with what you have. Here it is:
1/2 to 1-1/2 pounds lean beef cubed or hamburger - which ever you have on hand
3 tablespoons veg. oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 beef bouillon cubes
4 - 5 cups water
2 stalks of celery chopped
1 - 2 carrots chopped
1 Onion chopped
1 cup barley
1 teaspoon dried thyme if desired
In a skillet over medium heat, saute the beef in the oil for about 5 minutes or until browned on all sides. Stir in the salt and pepper and garlic powder and place the seasoned meat in a pot. Add a little water to the skilet and stir to get all of the bits for the soup and pour into the pot.Add to the pot water, celery, carrots, onions and barley. Cover and cook on low until the veggies are tender. If you want the thyme you can add it just before serving.
ENJOY
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Heidi's new trial recipe for yellow apple cake
Heidi made a new cake last night and it turned out REALLY good. She is dictating this recipe to me here for the blog --
1 yellow cake box mix
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 cup water
1 stick of margerine melted
In a different bowl mix:
3 apples peeled cored and sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 to 1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A handful of raisins and if you have them a handful of crasins
Put half of the batter in a sprayed tube pan
Sprinkle the apple mixture around evenly on this batter
Pour in the rest of the batter
Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes
Let cool
Remove from pan
ENJOY
I took a couple of pieces to work with me today after having one for breakfast. The guys I gave it to loved it. I am going to bring in half the cake tomorrow for Marianne and Emelia to split up. If I don't give it to them to dole out one or two people gorge on it and nobody else gets any. Guys react that way when they aren't used to good cooking but they need to SHARE!!!
Jon
1 yellow cake box mix
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 cup water
1 stick of margerine melted
In a different bowl mix:
3 apples peeled cored and sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 to 1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A handful of raisins and if you have them a handful of crasins
Put half of the batter in a sprayed tube pan
Sprinkle the apple mixture around evenly on this batter
Pour in the rest of the batter
Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes
Let cool
Remove from pan
ENJOY
I took a couple of pieces to work with me today after having one for breakfast. The guys I gave it to loved it. I am going to bring in half the cake tomorrow for Marianne and Emelia to split up. If I don't give it to them to dole out one or two people gorge on it and nobody else gets any. Guys react that way when they aren't used to good cooking but they need to SHARE!!!
Jon
Monday, September 12, 2011
Marizpan Cake
1 yellow cake mix
almond extract
4 eggs
1 stick butter or margerine melted
1 cup sour cream
1 cup water
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding (dry)
pour half of this into a bundt pan
add half a can of mazapan or almond paste (I got mine at stop and shop)
1/3-1/2 cup brown sugar
coconut if desired
slivered almonds if desired
then cover with the rest of the cake mix
on the top of the cake add some more brown sugar and almonds
Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes
I made this cake for a birthday party and Jon brought some of it into work and alot wanted the recipe so here it is sooo easy
almond extract
4 eggs
1 stick butter or margerine melted
1 cup sour cream
1 cup water
1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding (dry)
pour half of this into a bundt pan
add half a can of mazapan or almond paste (I got mine at stop and shop)
1/3-1/2 cup brown sugar
coconut if desired
slivered almonds if desired
then cover with the rest of the cake mix
on the top of the cake add some more brown sugar and almonds
Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes
I made this cake for a birthday party and Jon brought some of it into work and alot wanted the recipe so here it is sooo easy
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Living Today with almost no Money
This little post is a combination of political frustration and Heidi's talent for finding great food cheap. Sometimes it's coupons, sometimes just a sale like buy one get 2 free and other times it is the reduced produce rack or marked down meat.
Heidi and I both like to make great meals using items that we get really cheap. This enhances the pleasure we get out of it and the stories go well on this blog. Now for just a little political rant. After the Debt Ceiling fiasco and fighting going on in Congress and the vacationing President saying his is the only way, I see that ALL of the political dummies in Washington have not a clue about what it is like for us average people to live. All of the help that is given from them goes mostly to people to buy votes, not help the people like us that are just scraping by. We pay our bills and cut virtually all of our optional things we would like to have or do. I have invited our Congressmen and women from CT to come to my house and sit with us for a day to see how we have to live after paying all of the taxes and fees that they are imposing on us.
OK, now back to FOOOOD!!!
I see a problem with the way a lot of people's attitudes are about buying brand name foods. This is ridiculous! One of my favorite places to grocery shop is at ALDI's. The seldom have brand names but -- when you look at some of the things that have happened lately like the ground turkey recall, it all starts to be pretty clear. Aldi's brand ground turkey, Fit & Active and Price Chopper's brand of ground turkey, Shady Grove, were both from the SAME PLACE!!!! Aldi's was about $0.80 cheaper per pound. Aldi's milk sells for about $2.19 per gallon for Whole, 2% and 1%. The cheapest I have seen it anywhere else is $3.89 and Price Chopper, Stop&Shop and Big Y all are just a little under or over $4.00 per gallon for 2% and more for whole milk. Aldi's sells a lot of milk so it is always very fresh. As an example I can get a gallon on Saturday and it is still good the following Saturday. I have had other stores milk go bad in 4 or 5 days! Aldi's Cottage Cheese is by far the best I have had, above and beyond all of the big names like Hood or Sealtest etc., and it is much cheaper too. Butter at Aldi's is almost always at least a $1.00 cheaper. The house brand of Mayo at Aldi's is called Burmann and I know people that cannot tell the difference from Hellman's.
So some of you people just break down a little and try the house brands. Some of them are not so great but many are at the same standards for taste and quality as the big brand names.
One last political comment -- When election day comes PLEASE go and vote!!! I am going to vote for anyone who IS NOT in office. We need fresh blood and to get rid of the "Good ole Boy" way of doing things. When everyone condemns the Tea Party, please remember that it is NOT an offical party but a very basic grass roots bunch of people like you and me trying to get the politicians to do the right things. Please be careful about all of the people that label them racist or rednecks etc. EVERY party or group has its bad side but it is the minority of that group and they are not taken seriously. Think about how people talk about both parties and how biased to the Left or the Right and things that have been said or done. Please watch how things are reported so that you notice that one reporter will condemn a democrat for something and then just ignore it when a replublican does the same thing. Please don't let the media's bias influence you to harshly.
Jon
Heidi and I both like to make great meals using items that we get really cheap. This enhances the pleasure we get out of it and the stories go well on this blog. Now for just a little political rant. After the Debt Ceiling fiasco and fighting going on in Congress and the vacationing President saying his is the only way, I see that ALL of the political dummies in Washington have not a clue about what it is like for us average people to live. All of the help that is given from them goes mostly to people to buy votes, not help the people like us that are just scraping by. We pay our bills and cut virtually all of our optional things we would like to have or do. I have invited our Congressmen and women from CT to come to my house and sit with us for a day to see how we have to live after paying all of the taxes and fees that they are imposing on us.
OK, now back to FOOOOD!!!
I see a problem with the way a lot of people's attitudes are about buying brand name foods. This is ridiculous! One of my favorite places to grocery shop is at ALDI's. The seldom have brand names but -- when you look at some of the things that have happened lately like the ground turkey recall, it all starts to be pretty clear. Aldi's brand ground turkey, Fit & Active and Price Chopper's brand of ground turkey, Shady Grove, were both from the SAME PLACE!!!! Aldi's was about $0.80 cheaper per pound. Aldi's milk sells for about $2.19 per gallon for Whole, 2% and 1%. The cheapest I have seen it anywhere else is $3.89 and Price Chopper, Stop&Shop and Big Y all are just a little under or over $4.00 per gallon for 2% and more for whole milk. Aldi's sells a lot of milk so it is always very fresh. As an example I can get a gallon on Saturday and it is still good the following Saturday. I have had other stores milk go bad in 4 or 5 days! Aldi's Cottage Cheese is by far the best I have had, above and beyond all of the big names like Hood or Sealtest etc., and it is much cheaper too. Butter at Aldi's is almost always at least a $1.00 cheaper. The house brand of Mayo at Aldi's is called Burmann and I know people that cannot tell the difference from Hellman's.
So some of you people just break down a little and try the house brands. Some of them are not so great but many are at the same standards for taste and quality as the big brand names.
One last political comment -- When election day comes PLEASE go and vote!!! I am going to vote for anyone who IS NOT in office. We need fresh blood and to get rid of the "Good ole Boy" way of doing things. When everyone condemns the Tea Party, please remember that it is NOT an offical party but a very basic grass roots bunch of people like you and me trying to get the politicians to do the right things. Please be careful about all of the people that label them racist or rednecks etc. EVERY party or group has its bad side but it is the minority of that group and they are not taken seriously. Think about how people talk about both parties and how biased to the Left or the Right and things that have been said or done. Please watch how things are reported so that you notice that one reporter will condemn a democrat for something and then just ignore it when a replublican does the same thing. Please don't let the media's bias influence you to harshly.
Jon
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
My Bread done in the bread maker
This is a great recipe to stretch the week when you need bread
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs sugar
2 teas yeast desolved in the warm water with one of the tbs sugar
3 cups flour
1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
use your bread make to mix and bake or just to knead it and then let raise and bake in the oven 350 degrees till done about 25 minutes
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs sugar
2 teas yeast desolved in the warm water with one of the tbs sugar
3 cups flour
1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
use your bread make to mix and bake or just to knead it and then let raise and bake in the oven 350 degrees till done about 25 minutes
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