Chicken Lo Mein

by Renae

Ingredients

• 12 oz. angel hair pasta
• 3 tsp sesame oil
• 5 T chicken broth
• 5 T soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 T vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed
• 6 chicken breasts halves, boneless, and cut into thin strips
• 3 C cabbage, finely shredded
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 1/2 C mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 C onions, chopped

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Transfer pasta to a large bowl; add sesame oil and toss until coated. In a small bowl, stir together the broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, and pepper, set aside.

2. In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds.

3. Add chicken strips and stir-fry about 3 minutes or until no longer pink; remove from skillet and cover to keep warm.

4. Add cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, and onions to the skillet and continue to stir-fry another 3 minutes. Add broth mixture to the skillet. Stir-fry, mixing well, for 2 minutes more. Return chicken and garlic to the skillet and heat through. Serve.

Credit:
Saving Dinner

Favorite Cookbooks

by Renae

I've gone through every cupboard and closet pulling out as much stuff as I can. Prying things out of my fingers and my mind. Letting things go so there is less to pack. Today I stalled at the kitchen cupboard. My cookbooks take up half a shelf. Many of them are old friends.

They've taught me how to cook. They've introduced me to spices and healthy, homemade food. The following are a few of the well-worn, food splattered cookbooks being carted to Idaho:

Kitchen Wisdom by Pamela Cross- One of my first cookbooks. It is now out of print, but perhaps you can find it in a used bookstore. The recipes are delicious although few. They are scattered amongst helpful information like how to set up a pantry, essential kitchen tools, and introductions to various spices. An inspiring introduction to cooking.

More-with-Less Cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre- A Mennonite cookbook focusing on healthy meals with low cost, low fat, and low sugar. Real food. My first introduction to recipes based on something besides meat.



A Taste of Country- A wedding gift I still use. Contains a variety of recipes, and my family likes every dish I've cooked.

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book- Inherited from my grandmother last year. A wonderful resource with delicious recipes for everything. Lots of basics and picture tutorials.



What are your favorite cookbooks? Please leave a comment to let me know!

Four Layer Cincinnati Chili

from Renae

I just got an email requesting this recipe from my husband. He's staying with Julie, Jodi, and Jessica's mom while I paint and pack. (Yes, we are moving back to Idaho, in case you haven't heard.) It must be his turn to cook.

This meal is one of our family favorites. Combining beans and pasta may seem strange, but it's tasty and inexpensive. A great way to feed a family or a homesick husband.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (optional)
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 can (28 oz) stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 C water
• 2 Tbls chili powder
• 1 tsp each: salt, cumin, and paprika
• 8 oz think spaghetti, cooked and drained
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans (or equivalent cooked dried beans)
• 1 C finely shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Brown ground beef (if using), 1 chopped onion garlic in a Dutch oven. Drain fat (if using beef). 2. Stir in tomatoes with juice, water, spices, and beans. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 min.
3. To serve, layer spaghetti, chili, chopped onion, and cheese on individual plates. Serves 6.

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

from Renae

My sister sent these cookies. They are delicious! I'm so glad she included the recipe.

Ingredients

• 2/3 C butter, softened
• 2/3 C brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 C old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 (6 0z.) package sweetened dried cranberries
• 2/3 C white chocolate chips

Directions

1. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and mix well.
2. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition.
3. Stir in cranberries and chocolate chips.
4. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 min. or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes 2 1/2 dz.

Birthday Cake

from Renae


Ingredients

• 2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 C butter
• 1 3/4 C sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 egg whites (I usually add the yolks)
• 1 1/3 C buttermilk or sour milk (add a 1 Tbls vinegar to the milk)

Directions

1. Sift dry ingredients.
2. Beat butter. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until mixed. Add egg whites and beat one at a time.
3. Add dry mix and milk alternately.
4. Pour in a prepared pan and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Makes 2- 8 1/2 inch cakes.

Tip: I tried many ways to prevent the finished cake from sticking to the pan. Nothing worked well. The butter and flour baked into the cake, and the wax paper pulled the cake apart. It's not ideal because of the ingredients, but baker sprays work the best.

Do you know of another way keep cakes from sticking to the pan?

Orange Julius

from Renae

My mother used to make this as a treat for breakfast. It's refreshingly cool on a hot summer day.

photo: itchy's

Ingredients

• 3 oz. frozen orange juice
• 5-6 ice cubes
• 1/2 c milk
• 1/2 c water
• 1/4 c sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions

Place all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Makes 4 small servings, but is easily doubled.

Menu Planning

from Renae

I try to simplify my responsibilities as homemaker, so a list of recipes hangs on the refrigerator. The ingredients are stored awaiting their transformation into yummy goodness. It works well for me.

However, I knew there had to be an easier way than searching through cookbooks every two weeks.

Photo: brighterworld's

Then I discovered How to Menu Plan: A Guide at SimpleMom. Her idea to use Google Calendar revolutionized my menu planning. Her plan of having certain types of meals for each day of week is genius.

It took me less than an hour to set everything up, and the month and half of menus was worth it. Future plans will take mere moments. I am not a slave to paper, but the neatly printed calendar frees my mind for laundry and lesson plans.

Also, of interest is the article Make a Deli.icio.Us Coo.kbo.ok. Del.icio.us is a bookmarking site I use to store links for homeschooling, home management, craft tutorials, and a myriad of other interesting things. Now I'm adding recipes. Here is my recipe book.

Do you plan menus? If so, what is your method?

Taco Soup

from Renae

Using beans is an easy way to reduce the grocery bill. My family enjoys this simple recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cans (4 oz. each) chopped green chilies
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 1 1/2 c water
• 2 c frozen corn
• 3 cans stewed tomatoes
• 3 cans beans, any variety (or equivalent prepared dried beans)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Tortilla chips

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or kettle, cook onion. Add remaining ingredients except last two.
2. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 min.
3. Serve with cheese and chips. Serves 10.

Teddy Bear Birthday Cake

from Renae

I created this cake for Sweet Pea's 1st birthday.

To make the body use two stainless steel nesting bowls for cake pans. The paws and ears are cupcakes. The bear is frosted with German Chocolate icing and decorated with Thin Mints, Junior Mints, and chocolate chips.

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?

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.

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.