Sausage Potato Soup

Sausage Potato Soup

4 large russet baking potatoes, peeled and diced

2 cups chicken broth

1 medium onion, peeled and chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ lb. bulk sausage

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ cup milk

1 cup frozen chopped spinach

1 tsp. thyme leaves

1 tsp. celery salt

1 tsp. black pepper

½ tsp. red hot pepper flakes

In Dutch oven or large kettle, cook potatoes in chicken broth until tender (15 minutes or so). While potatoes cook, brown the sausage in a medium skillet. (I made little meatballs with the sausage.) Remove from skillet and set aside. Sauté onion and garlic in sausage grease for about 5 minutes. Once potatoes are tender, using a slotted spoon, scoop out 1-1½ cups of potatoes and place in large bowl to mash.  Add cream of chicken soup, milk, spices, mashed potatoes, and sausage to Dutch oven and bring to a gentle boil, stirring often. Sprinkle spinach over top and cover. Simmer just long enough to heat up the spinach. Stir gently and serve.

© Crackerberries 2014

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread

3½ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. baking powder

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup butter flavored Crisco

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin, cooked, mashed, cooled

1 cup fig conserves

*Preheat confection oven to 325º.

Spray two bread loaf pans (9x5”) with cooking spray, or grease with shortening.

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and baking powder; set aside.  Beat Crisco and sugar together until light and fluffy; add eggs one at a time and then add pumpkin. Blend well.  Stir in flour mixture and conserves.  Divide amongst the two loaf pans.  Bake 40-45 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool ten minutes and remove from pans to cool on wire racks completely.

*If using a conventional oven preheat to 350º and cook 55-60 minutes.

© Crackerberries 2014

Pig in a Blanket

Pig in a Blanket

Who says fun kid stuff isn't for adults?

Homemade blanket:

1 cup warm water (70º-80º)

2 tbsp. butter

1 egg

¼ cup sugar

3¼ cups flour

½ tsp. of each:

• thyme
•  basil
• oregano
• garlic powder

2¼ tsp. yeast

Combine all ingredients in the order given in bread machine and select dough setting.

1 lb. pigs (A.K.A. hot dogs)

Separate dough into two portions. Freeze one for later use.

Roll out dough into 12x10 inch rectangle and cut into eight strips.  Wrap strips around pig. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375º 15-20 minutes, until puffed and lightly browned. Serve with mustard, ketchup, horseradish, etc.

© Crackerberries 2014

Old Fashion Blueberry Pie

Old Fashion Blueberry Pie

Double 8- or 9-inch pie crust (recipe below)

3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1¼ cups sugar

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. lemon juice

3 tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca

½ tsp. cinnamon

1 tbsp. butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 400º

Combine blueberries, 1¼ cups sugar, lemon juice and tapioca. Pour into unbaked pie shell.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and dot with butter. Cover with top crust and flute the edges with fingers, or crimp with a fork. Vent the top. Sprinkle top crust with 1 tbsp. sugar.  Bake 40-50 minutes.  If crust begins to darken before pie is done, cut foil strips to lay over the edges.

Margarine Pastry:

2 cups lightly spooned flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. sugar

12 tbsp. margarine

¼ cup cold water

Combine flour, salt and sugar in large bowl. Cut in the margarine with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, adding more if necessary to hold pastry together. Use a pastry blender or fork because the heat of your hands will tend to melt the margarine. Mix just to moisten and form into a ball. Divide dough in half, roll bottom crust on a lightly floured pastry cloth. Roll at least one inch wider than pie pan.

© Crackerberries 2014

Salisbury Turkey Steak

Salisbury Turkey Steak

1¼ lb. ground turkey

1 egg

½ cup Italian style bread crumbs

1 pkt. Onion soup mix

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tbs. Sriracha hot rooster sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 tbsp. flour

1½ cup chicken broth

1 medium green pepper, sliced

½ small red onion, sliced and ringed

Mix turkey, egg, bread crumbs, 1 tbsp. of onion soup mixture, Worcestershire sauce, rooster sauce and half of the garlic in large mixing bowl. Shape into 4 oval patties.  Place in lightly greased shallow baking dish.

In large measuring cup or bowl, combine remaining onion soup mix, garlic, flour, and chicken broth and stir until flour and soup mix are well combined. Layer onions and green peppers over patties and pour mixture over top.  Cover and bake 350º for 45 minutes. Remove cover, increase heat to 375º and bake an additional 15 minutes.

© Crackerberries 2014

Fish Corn Chowder

Fish Corn Chowder

At 185 calories per serving you won’t even miss the thick cream normally used in chowders.

15 oz. frozen tilapia, slightly thawed

3 slices thick cut cherry wood bacon

1½ lbs. (5 medium) potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces

2½ cups chicken broth

1 can regular corn, drained and rinsed

¾ cups potato flakes

1 onion, chopped

1 stalk celery, diced

5 baby carrots, chopped

3 tbsp. butter

2 cups skim milk

½ tsp. curry

½ tsp. marjoram

1 tsp. lemon pepper

Sauté the bacon in large Dutch oven; remove and set aside. Drain grease except for about 1 tbsp. Sauté onions and celery in bacon grease just until opaque. Add potatoes, carrots and 2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and simmer about 15-20 minutes. Add corn and lay tilapia over top and cover tightly. Let simmer 15 minutes longer or until fish is white and flaking apart. Pour in milk, add butter, curry, marjoram and lemon pepper. Simmer but do not boil for 15 minutes. Add potato flakes to remaining chicken broth and add to chowder. Cook until desired thickness. It will thicken more as it cools.

© Crackerberries 2014

Raisin Oaties

Raisin Oaties

At 65 calories per cookie, you’re going to love this sweet treat!

1 cup whole grain quick oats

1¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

3 egg whites

½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

¼ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup butter flavored Crisco (or butter)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup pear preserves (or apple sauce)

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325º

Combine flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in medium bowl and set aside. Whip egg whites until frothy; add sugars, butter and vanilla.  Stir in preserves and add flour mixture and stir well. Fold in raisins. Drop by tablespoon on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes and immediately remove to cool on wire racks.

Yield: 3 dozen plus 2

© Crackerberries 2014

Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed Cabbage

with Chili Pasta

5 large cabbage leaves

2/3 cup uncooked small pasta shells

3 cups prepared chili

28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

4 oz. Colby Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1 tbsp. oregano leaves

Preheat oven to 350º

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and stir into chili. Heat just until warmed.  Add cabbage leaves to boiling water and cook 2-3 minutes just until limp and pliable.  Divide chili/pasta mixture into each cabbage leaf, sprinkle with a little of the cheese and roll. Place in lightly greased baking dish. Pour crushed tomatoes over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Top with oregano and bake in 350º for 35-40 minutes, until bubbly.  Serve hot.

© Crackerberries 2014

Chili

Chili

It’s almost everyone’s fall favorite. Who doesn’t love a good chili on a cool fall evening?

1¼ lb. ground beef

1 lg. can diced tomatoes

2 cups leftover homemade baked beans, drained

1 cup tomato sauce

1 lg. green pepper, diced

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp. minced garlic

2 tbsp. chili powder

1-2 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tbsp. black pepper

1 tbsp. basil

1 tsp. celery salt

1 tbsp. paprika

Cook burger and drain off grease. Add onions, garlic and green pepper and cook until aromatic. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, spices and beans. Cook on medium heat, stirring often for about an hour. Serve hot with sour cream and homemade biscuits.  Pass the Texas Pete hot sauce if you like it on fire.

© Crackerberries 2014

Chex Mix Chicken

Chex Mix Chicken

It’s not just for cereal!

Preheat oven and lightly greased cast iron skillet to 375º.

2 lbs. chicken leg quarters, (give or take a few ounces)

½ cup whole wheat flour

2 tbsp. Chex party mix seasoning

• 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1½ tsp. seasoned salt
• ¾ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder

1 pkt. Onion soup mix

Combine seasoning, flour and soup mix in zip lock bag. Cut chicken into legs and thighs. Shake pieces one or two at a time. Place chicken pieces in hot skillet and return to oven. Cook 375º for one hour.  Let cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2014

Biscuits

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 stick butter

¼ cup butter-flavored Crisco

1 cup milk

Preheat oven 450º

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in large bowl. Cut in butter and Crisco with fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and combine just to moisten.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured pastry towel. Pat dough into ¾ inch circle. Using a drink glass or biscuit cutter cut rolled dough into a dozen or so circles. 

Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 14-16 minutes until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and serve warm.

© Crackerberries 2014

Autumn Chicken

Autumn Chicken

2 chicken legs

2 chicken thighs

1 tbsp. lime juice

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

½ cup Dijon mustard

½ cup honey

2 slices bacon, halved

4 mushrooms, halved

2 slices Monterey Jack cheese, halved

2 slices Muenster cheese, halved

Combine lime juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard and honey in medium bowl and beat with electric mixer just until frothy.  Remove skin from chicken.  Place in zip lock bag and pour ¾ of the mustard mixture over the chicken.  Let stand for at least two hours.

Preheat oven to 350º. In a cast iron fry pan cook the bacon until crisp; sauté the mushrooms briefly in the last minute or so of cooking bacon.  Remove bacon and mushrooms.  Sear chicken in pan for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.

In same pan, brush each seared chicken breast with a little of the reserved honey mustard marinade.  Lay one half of bacon pieces on each piece of chicken, top with two slices of mushrooms and top with the cheeses. 

Bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes until the cheeses are thoroughly melted and starting to bubble. 

© Crackerberries 2014

Baked Chili Casserole

Baked Chili Casserole

2 cups red kidney beans

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic pepper

1 tsp. cumin

1 medium onion, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

1 cup chopped carrots

1 medium green pepper, chopped

2-3 oz. bulk sausage

2 slices cheddar cheese

Preheat oven 350º

Sauté onion, celery, carrots, and green pepper. In large bowl combine kidney beans, and vegetable mixture. Brown sausage until no longer pink. Add to beans with spices. Spoon into lightly greased casserole dish. Lay cheese over top. Bake 350º for 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

© Crackerberries 2014