Honey "Caramel" Corn

from Jodi

A great treat at Christmas time or anytime!

photo: hellosputnik

Ingredients

• 8 quarts (2 gallons) popped popcorn
• 2/3 c butter
• 1 c honey
• 1 grated orange peel
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 c nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Place popped corn in 2-3 baking dishes.
2. Boil ingredients to make a sauce. Pour sauce over popcorn.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and place in a large pot or pan. Keep stirring and breaking up the popcorn until cool.

Out of Baking Chocolate?

from Renae

Do you want to make something rich and chocolatey without a trip to the grocery store? I found this useful tip at Like Merchant Ships.

One baking chocolate square equals three tablespoons cocoa and one tablespoon shortening.

For a substitute within a substitute, use butter for shortening. Now that's what I call creative cooking! Delectable art, anyone?

Guacamole

from Jan

Ingredients

• 2 avocados
• 2 tbsp plain yogurt
• 2 oz. chopped green chilies
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp water
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic
• 1/4 small onion, chopped

Directions

Mash avocados. Fold in rest of ingredients. Serve with tortilla chips or use as a condiment on Mexican food.

No-Bake Gingerbread House

from Renae

Want to make a gingerbread house without all the work? Use graham crackers. For complete instructions go to cookingvillage.com.

Pumpkin Muffins

from Julie

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 c flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder (1/2 tsp if using whole wheat)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• OR 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice in place of the three spices
• 1 c sugar
• 1/3 c oil
• 1/3 c water
• 2 eggs
• 1 c pumpkin
• 1/2 c raisins

Directions

1. Combine dry ingredients.
2. Mix wet ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Then add dry ingredients, except raisins. Mix well. Fold in raisins. Batter will be thick.
3. Spoon into well-greased or paper-lined muffin tin. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Yields 14 muffins.

Oriental Coleslaw

from Renae

Ingredients

• 1 head of cabbage, shredded or 1 pkg of coleslaw mix
• 4 green onions
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1/2 c sunflower seeds
• 1/2 c sliced almonds
• 1 pkg ramen noodles
• 1 1/2 c cooked, chopped chicken (optional)

• Dressing
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1/2 c olive oil
  

Directions

1. Chop onions and mix together with cabbage.
2. Stir sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds. Add chicken, if using.
3. Combine salt, sugar, pepper, vinegar, and oil. Mix. Pour dressing over salad. Mix well. Break ramen noodles into small pieces. Add just before serving.

Credit: Diane Davis

Monterey Spaghetti

from Renae

A long-time family favorite that receives rave reviews.

Ingredients

• 4 oz spaghetti, broken in 2 inch pieces
• 1 egg
• 1 c sour cream
• 1/4 c Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 2 c shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

Directions

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
2. In a a medium bowl, beat egg. Add sour cream, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder.
3. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture with Monterey Jack cheese, and spinach.
4. Pour into a greased baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

from Renae

My neighbor made these cookies for Thanksgiving. We liked them so much we forgot to eat pie!

Ingredients

• 1 c cooked pumpkin
• 1 c sugar
  
• 1/2 c vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 2 c flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 c semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda in the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture. Mix well.
2. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
3. Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

Credit: All Recipes

Pickles and Pomegranates

from Renae

Rummaging for a goody after dinner led to a new delicacy.


















Our cupboards resembled Old Mother Hubbard, but one ruby pomegranate remained in the fruit basket. As my two little girls and I enjoyed digging for the jewel-like seeds, my husband and son decided the slightly sour bursts of crunch were not worth the effort. They began munching on pickles.

The combination of ambrosia and sour dill pickles reminds me of my family. Pink princesses flaunt and an active sleuth creates while Mom and Dad enjoy the delectable variety.

Welcome to our family's adventures with food.