Column Summary
Christmas may be over but the magic never runs out. I could use a little Christmas magic in my New Year 2012, there has got to be leftover Christmas magic somewhere.
The New Year has arrived and with this New Year, tradition is to set into motion our resolutions; even if only in thought, they have made a move in the right direction. If the resolution thought is actually documented on paper greater the chances of actually making it to goal. Take it from a list writer; if its not on the list, completion percentage goes way down.
If there was any 2011 Christmas magic left, it is my wish that some of that would overflow into my 2012. I have projects that I would like to inject with quality shortcuts.
I would like to replace my spiral paper calendar with an instant entry design. I still want a flip-the-page picture calendar to continue hanging on the door to the laundry/mud room, but I would like the obligations, appointments, and reminders to magically appear, direct from my thoughts. Now I know many of you techies out there have the perfect device to take excess paper out of my life, but I want to enjoy each months photograph, and I want to X-out each day when day is done. Electronic datebooks wouldnt work for us; my family needs to read the calendar daily in the eye-level common area where it hangs. (Is there any magic out there to get them to do that?)
Its time to get a new address book; again a paper book version is what I want. Its been a couple years since the book has been updated and now it is filled with scratch-outs, white-outs, corrections, additions, and margin scribbles. A book-style home address book is a tradition that no gadget can replace to suit all the masses. A compilation of phone numbers and addresses needs to be easy access for the entire family at any time, stored on top the land-line phone book.
My request for magic here would be for changes to be made instantly as well; land-lines to cell numbers, students moving to college, new businesses open, old ones close, and a Christmas card list. (I do enjoy filling out a new address book with a new, easy-flow pen.)
I enjoy accumulating cookbooks, but I tend to have a lot of loose recipes. They are used as bookmarks, are tucked into one of two drawers, and some are typed placed in plastic sleeves and stored in a three-ring binder. The collection needs weeded out, some old favorites arent anymore and some concoctions should not have been saved after the first try. But they were, saved.
I would like to have a magic recipe book (hardback, of course) that instantly documents all the recipes that do work, and all the ones that were passed on through family, neighbors, and church. And, it would include a special feature that could retrieve recipes that never got wrote down they just happened.
There are self-cleaning ovens; was that leftover Christmas magic?
Soups and stews, whats been simmering on your backburner? Send recipes to Country Cupboard, 5973 Blachleyville Rd., Wooster, OH, 44691. Emails are always welcome; thewritecook@sssnet.com
Banana Bread
2 1/2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup melted shortening or cooking oil
1 1/2 cups sliced bananas (2 medium)
Sift first 5 ingredients into mixing bowl. Blend in blender the eggs, milk, shortening, and bananas in container 5 seconds or until smooth. Add pecans; blend 3 to 4 seconds or until pecans are coarsely chopped. Pour over dry ingredients; mix just until moistened. Pour into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven until done, about 1 hour. Cool in pan 5 minutes; remove from pan and finish cooling on rack. Pan size 9 x 5 x 3.
Bubble Bread
2 loaves of frozen bread, thawed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon caraway
1 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon whole thyme
1 teaspoon whole oregano
Cut loaves of bread in half, then halve again. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Add herbs to melted butter. Dip dough into melted butter mixture. Heap into angel food cake pan. Let rise until double. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Old-Fashioned Heavenly Rice
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup dice pineapple
2 cups whipped cream
1 cup sugar
24 marshmallows cut into quarters
Combine all ingredients except whipped cream and chill Fold in whipped cream and chill until eaten. This is best prepared the day before serving
Peach Pudding
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup flour
2 1/2 cups sliced peaches
Combine sugar and butter; add to other ingredients, alternate with milk. Pour over sliced peaches in bottom of pan.
Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoons corn starch
Mix together dry ingredients and sift over batter. Pour 1 cup boiling water over this. Bake in an 8 x 8 x 2 inch pan for 50 to 60 minutes at 350 degrees.
Sausage Lasagna Wraps
1 pound smoked sausage
Sliced mozzarella cheese (small package0
1(16 ounce) can tomato sauce
6 lasagna noodles
Cook and drain lasagna noodles. Divide 1 pound smoked sausage into 6 pieces. Split lengthwise and stuff with half slice mozzarella cheese. Wrap each piece in a noodle. Place in baking dish and cover with tomato sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with parmesan cheese.
Broccoli and Tuna Bake
1 cup cream of mushroom soup
2 cups cooked rice
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups tuna, drained and flaked (chicken or turkey can also be used)
1 (10 ounce) package broccoli spears, cooked and drained
1/2 cup shredded and processed cheese or Velveeta sliced
In a 9-inch round baking dish, combine soup, rice, milk, lemon and tuna. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes; stir. Arrange broccoli in spoke-like fashion on top of rice mixture.
Texas Hash
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 pound hamburger
1 can tomatoes
1/2 cup uncooked rice
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Brown ground beef with onion and green pepper until onions are yellow; drain. Sauté until mix falls apart. Add tomato, rice and seasonings. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until done.
Golden Parmesan Potatoes
6 large potatoes
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup butter
Chopped parsley
Pare potatoes, cut into quarters. Combine flour, cheese, salt and pepper in a bag. Moisten potatoes with water and shake a few at a time in bag, coating potatoes well with cheese. Melt butter in 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Place potatoes in. Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour, turning once during baking. When golden brown, sprinkle with parsley. 6 to 8 servings.
Sandwich Boat
1 loaf French bread
2 pounds hamburger
1 can undiluted vegetable soup
1 chopped onion
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg
1 cup crushed soda crackers
Bacon
Slice bread in half. Mix meat, soup, onion, seasonings, egg and crackers. Spread meat mixture on top of bread, top with bacon. Bake at 350 degrees 1 hour. Slice in 1/2 inch slices. Great served with salad.
