Scotcheroos

This IS a family recipe. I defend this stance all the time with Danny....every time we go to a ward activity, or any other potluck-style dinner. Scotcheroos are always there. And I swear, the recipe we use in my family IS BETTER than the recipe everyone else uses. Other people may bring chocolate covered rice krispy squares, but I hold the one and only perfect scotcheroo recipe.

The Recipe:

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. karo syrup
• 1 c. peanut butter
• 6 c. rice krispies
• 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 c. butterscotch chips

1. Bring sugar and karo syrup to a boil. Remove from heat.
2. Add peanut butter and mix
   
3. Stir in rice krispies and get them well coated.
4. Press mixture into 9 x 13 pan (don't press it down too hard; it'll make them too dense)
5. In the microwave, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together. Start with 1 minute and then increase with about 20 second intervals until you can stir it smooth. **burning the chocolate will ruin the whole shebang. So, microwave as short a time as possible to get them melted.
6. Spread chocolate mixture over top of rice krispies mixture and let set a few hours
7. That's all folks!
   

Berok

Aunt Mel told me about this one. I guess Grandma used to make it and Great-Grandma made it before her. For some reason, every time I make something with cabbage I think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- they had cabbage soup for dinner every night. So to be honest, I'm trying to imagine my family eating it years ago, but all I can think up are scenes from the movie.........

The Recipe:

• 4 c. cabbage
• 2 lbs. hamburger
• 2 yellow onions
• 36 rhodes rolls

The directions are just too easy! First set out your rolls to thaw. Put the cabbage and onions in a frying pan, let them cook together for a few minutes. Then add your (already cooked) hamburger and let the flavors cook together for a bit. I love the green color from the cabbage. Note: this step can be stinky. May bother your husband's upper lip syndrome. Flatten out your roll, put a spoonful of the filling in the middle and wrap it up so it makes a ball. Then bake about 12 minutes on 350.

Yes, You Can! Bagels

I first made this recipe last week in my Family Meal Management class. Then I tried it with my sisters. It was a fun family activity, especially for a Sunday afternoon. So I think it qualifies for the family food blog. We spent the afternoon laboring over the bagels, then when they were finished we pulled out the old family videos and had a bagel/movie party. Funny how food and the past make such fun memories. We noticed that in several of the videos I was found sitting on the counter helping Mom with the cooking....or licking a beater....or snitching a taste from the bowl...... not much has changed huh?

The recipe:
(from Chef Emeril's "There's a Chef in My Kitchen")

• 2c warm water (110 degrees)
• 2 packets active dry yeast
• 3T sugar (+1 more T for later)
• 5-6 c. bread flour
• 2t salt
• 2t vegetable oil
• 2T yellow cornmeal

Note: This is NOT a good recipe to just mix together everything in the ingredient list. The directions are a big deal here!

1. Combine water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes.
2. gradually add 4 c. flour and salt. Mix.
3. Add 1-1 1/2 c flour 1/2 c at a time until very firm and stiff (should be stiffer than regular bread dough)
4. knead until no longer sticky- about 5 minutes, adding flour if necessary.
5. grease bowl with 1 t oil. Let rise covered in warm spot until doubled in size. (about 30 minutes in warmed oven)
6. Remove and punch down dough. Divide into 12 equal pieces.
7. Poke a hole in the middle and form doughnut shape.
8. place on lightly floured surface. Cover with cloth, let rest 20-30 min
9. Preheat oven to 400
10. Grease baking sheet with remaining oil and cornmeal.
11. In a large pot, bring to boil 12 c. water and 1T sugar. Boil bagels (about 3 at a time) 2 minutes on each side.
12. Place on baking sheet. Brush with egg for shine (if you want to add toppings like poppyseeds, cinnamon sugar, etc. do it here.)
13. bake about 25 minutes
14. Let cool on a wire rack
15. Get out the cream cheese, juice, and family videos and enjoy!
    

Good Wife's Guide

Have you all seen this before? I just came across it while planning some lessons for an Adult Roles class. I just think it's so funny. My how the times have changed. Instead of trying to cut and paste, I'll just type what it says:1. Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

2. Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

3. Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

4. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

5. Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

6. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

7. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

8. Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first- remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

9. Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

10. Your goal: try to make your home a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

11. Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

12. Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

13. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

14. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

15. Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

16. A good wife always knows her place.

Enough said.

Sweet & Sour Hamburger

I always HATED it when my mom made this as a kid. Looking back though, I just don't know why! So I got to thinking I should really give it another shot. I'm glad I did because sweet & sour hamburger is a lot more tasty than I remember! I asked my mom about it and she told me she got the recipe from her Aunt Marge. So she'll get the credit for this one.

The recipe:

1 1/2 lb. hamburger
2/3 c. evaporated milk
1/2 c. chopped onions
2/3 c. cracker crumbs
1 tsp. salt

• Mix the above ingredients and make into patties. Set aside.

2T cornstarch
1/2 c. brown sugar
2T soy sauce
1/4 c. vinegar
1 c. water
1 chopped green pepper
2 cans pineapple chunks

• Drain pineapple juice, and keep enough to make 1c. If there isn't enough, add water.
• Put in saucepan with cornstarch, brown sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar. Stir until thick and clear.
• Cook hamburger in frying pan (for me it was the George Foreman)
• Place pineapple and green pepper in sauce. Heat.
• Drain grease and simmer all together 15 minutes
• Serve with rice.
  

Chicken Noodles

I don't have many memories of my Cook Grandparents. They both died when I was little. This recipe, however, is one the Grandma used to make, so I felt like I was getting to know her just a little better when I made this. Aunt Mary is the expert on making homemade chicken noodles, so I called her for tips.

The recipe:

Noodles:
Whisk the following together with a wire whisk:
1 egg, beaten
3 Tbsp milk
1 tsp salt
Using a fork, mix in 1 cup of flour.
*Dough will be sticky

Using lots of flour, roll half the dough into a circle, as thin as you can get it. Make sure there is plenty of flour on top of the dough. Then roll it up and cut it into thin (1/8") noodles. Fluff them a little so they come unrolled. You can let them sit on a baking sheet (my mom has always dried noodles on a sheet so I put a pillowcase over my baking sheet).

Boil a whole chicken, or you can boil just parts for a small group. Usually about an hour or on lower heat a little longer. Take the chicken our and remove meat from the bones. bring the broth to a boil. Add chicken bouillon to the broth for taste. When the broth is boiling, add the noodles and let cook for about 15 minutes stirring constantly. Turn down the heat so you don't scorch the noodles.

Then make your mashed potatoes, and serve the chicken and noodles on top. Sounds crazy, but it's delish! Danny even said he liked it- and that's saying something. He wasn't as excited to pose with his food, but he obliged. There he is with his "seconds"

6-Week Bran Muffins

There are two scents that take my mind straight to my Grandma Allen's house: chicken noodle soup, and warm bran muffins. I probably asked Grandma to make muffins for breakfast just about every time I visited there as a child. Even today, there's something comforting about that smell.

The recipe:
-Mix 2 cups boiling water with 5 tsp. baking soda. Let cool.
-Cream 1 cup shortening, 2 cups (or less) sugar, and 4 eggs, beaten until fluffy.
-Add water to shortening mix, and add:
-2 cups All Bran Cereal
-4 cups bran flakes cereal
-1 qt. buttermilk
-5 cups flour with 1 Tbsp salt

-Mix all into a 10qt container. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

Best part of the recipe? It's good for 6 weeks!! (Just keep the batter in an airtight container in the fridge)