*Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Casserole

Cook broccoli as directed on the package, then drain and place in a very large casserole dish or a large Crockpot. 

Cook Béchamel Sauce as follows:

·       6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter

·       4 Tbsp Flour

·       1 ½ c. Milk

·       salt & pepper, to taste

Melt butter and add flour.  Cook roux a little and begin adding milk until fully incorporated.  Mix together and cook until slightly thick.

·        4 (12 oz.) Packages frozen chopped broccoli

·        1 can cream of mushroom soup

·        1 jar (4 oz) sliced mushrooms

·        6 tsp minced garlic, from jar

·        16 oz Velveeta

·        8 oz sharp cheddar, grated for topping

·        2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed for topping

·        4 oz unsalted butter, for topping

·        Paprika, for topping

Add sliced mushrooms, garlic, and cream of mushroom soup.  Stir well.  Lower heat and slowly add chunks of Velveeta.  Stir almost constantly keeping heat low until cheese is fully melted.  Pour sauce of broccoli and stir gently until combined.

In a small sauce pan, melt butter.  Stir in crushed crackers over medium to medium-high heat to lightly toast.  Stir in a dash of paprika.  Sprinkle grated cheddar over the casserole.  Sprinkle toasted crackers on top of casserole.  Sprinkle a little more paprika on top.  Place in 350 degree oven until hot, bubbly and brown on top.

*May also put in a Crockpot and heat on low for 2 hours.

Alfredo - Olive Garden Copycat

Olive Garden Alfredo

1 pkg Pasta (penne or fettuccine)

1 stick of butter

1 clove of minced garlic

1 pint of heavy cream

1 cup of fresh Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp cream cheese

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp white pepper

Cook the Pasta al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for two minutes stirring constantly, then add in heavy cream and cream cheese, stirring constantly. Heat until the mixture begins to bubble along the sides, but do not boil.

Add in Parmesan Cheese, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Continue stirring until the sauce is fully incorporated, but do not boil it as that will cause the cream to curdle.

Serve over hot (drained & rinsed) pasta of your choice and add a lovely side salad to complete the meal.

Eggo Buttermilk Waffles - Copycat

Eggo Buttermilk Waffles

3 cups flour

1 Tbs baking powder

1 1/4 tsp salt

4 eggs

2 1/2 Tbs tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup buttermilk (or 3/4 c. Water and 3 TBS Buttermilk Powder)

3/4 cup water

1/4 c. vegetable oil

10-12 Drops Yellow food coloring (optional)

In a mixer, beat eggs and sugar with a mixer on high speed for 1 minute. Add water, milk, oil and buttermilk, mixing well until combined.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt mixing well.

Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl, mixing on medium/high for 1 minute.

Heat the Waffle Iron, Spritz it liberally with non-stick spray (we use an olive oil Misto!) Pour 1/2 cup of batter into the center of the waffle iron, allowing it to spread evenly and cook about 1 minute. Do not cook longer, the point is not to brown the waffle, this will be done in the toaster later!!

Cool, place in freezer or vacuum seal bags and freeze. 

To enjoy, pop a waffle or two into the toaster on the lowest setting and toast, top with butter, syrup, fresh berries, etc as desired.

The recipe makes about 9 large Round waffles, but we recommend using a square waffle maker because they seem to toast more evenly and fit in the toaster better!

* recipe courtesy budget101.com

*Decadent Roast with Pototoes, Carrots, and Gravy

• 1.8 lb London Broil
• 1 packet Ranch Dressing Dry Mix
• 1 packet Au Jus Dry Mix
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 2 c. Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2 c. low sodium beef broth
• 1 c. water
• 2 sticks celery, diced
• 8 oz. sliced mushrooms
• 3 lrg carrots
• 4 lrg Russet potatoes
• salt, a little as needed

Place meat in large crockpot.  Sprinkle about 2/3 of each seasoning packet on meat.  Slice butter and place evenly over meat.  Pour wine, beef broth, and water around meat.  Cut potatoes and carrots into large chunks and place around and on meat.  Sprinkle celery on top.  Sprinkle mushrooms on top.  Sprinkle the rest of the seasoning packets over mushrooms.  After simmering a couple hours, taste to see if salt is needed.  Add a little and allow to simmer a while before tasting again.  Cook on low for 8 hours.

*Easy French Dip Sandwiches

• 1½ lb Roast beef
• 1½ lb Baby Swiss cheese 
• 32 oz. beef stock
• 2 packets McCormick's Au Jus seasoning mix 
• 4 med yellow onions 
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 6 hoagie size sandwich buns, 6-7 inches

Slice the onions into thin slices.  Melt butter in a saucepan and add onions.  Saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Sprinkle the Au Jus seasoning mix onto the simmering onions and stir to coat.  Slowly add the beef stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes uncovered.  Turn off heat.  

Using a slotted spoon, dip the onions out of the sauce and place in a bowl. These will be put on the sandwiches.

Lightly toast the buns under the broiler in the oven.

Place the roast beef, some onions, and Swiss cheese on the buns.  Put back under the broiler to warm and melt the cheese.  Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.  Enjoy!

Squash Casserole

• 2 c. cooked cornbread, crumbled
• 2 c. squash
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• ½ - 1 med onion, diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom)

Grate squash on a cheese grater.  Saute squash, onion, and jalapeño in the butter.  Mix all ingredients together and bake in a casserole dish at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through.

Recipe courtesy of James Robert King.

*Blackberry Chardonnay Cobbler

• 6 oz fresh blackberries
• ¾ c. sugar
• ¾ c. Yellow Tail Chardonnay

Combine blackberries, sugar and chardonnay.  Let set in the fridge for 4 hours.

• 1 c. self-rising flour
• ½ c. milk (2%)
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• ¾ c. sugar

Combine melted butter and sugar in a bowl with the blackberries and all of the chardonnay juice.  Add the milk and flour.  Stir well.  Pour into a nonstick baking dish and cook for 35-40 minutes at 350° F.

*Golden Creamed Potatoes

Golden Creamed Potatoes

2 c. instant potato flakes

2 c. unsalted chicken stock

4 Tbsp unsalted butter

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 tsp chives

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 1/4 c. milk

1/4 c. sour cream

Heat chicken stock and butter to a boil.  Dissolve salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Add chives.  

In a separate bowl, put potato flakes.  Pour chicken stock over potatoes and stir until dissolved.  It will be extremely thick.  Add milk and sour cream and stir well.  Serve hot. 

"Steakhouse Onion Burger Seasoning Blend" McCormick Grill Mates - Copycat Recipe

I was getting ready to make hamburgers last night, and I discovered I was nearly out of my favorite hamburger seasoning blend.  When I say "almost out," I mean about 1/2 a teaspoon left in the bottle.  I needed 1 & 1/2 to 2 tablespoons for my burgers.  So I decided to see if I could create a blend that tasted like it.  After reading the back of the bottle, I got to work mixing seasonings and compared it to what was left in the bottle.  Success!  We tried it with the burgers last night and they turned out delicious!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Steakhouse Onion Burger Seasoning Blend (copycat recipe)

4 tsp dry onion flakes

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

1 1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper 

1 tsp paprika

Mix ingredients well and store in airtight container.  Add 1/2 - 1 Tbsp per pound of hamburger meat.  If possible, add seasoning to meat 2-4 hours prior to cooking.  Keep meat refrigerated until ready to cook. 

*This will make enough to season 3.75 lbs using 1 Tbsp per pound. 

For a crowd (~7.5 lbs hamburger meat):

2 Tbsp + 2 tsp onion flakes

1 Tbsp + 1 tsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp + 1 tsp onion powder

2 1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp paprika

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

• 2 lbs red potatoes
• ¹⁄₂  cup milk
• ¹⁄₄  cup heavy cream 
• 3 Tbsp butter
• salt and black pepper, to taste
• ¹⁄₄ cup garlic (whole cloves)

Place a single layer of garlic cloves on a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil and wrap tightly.

1. Roast in 400F degree preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes or until soft.
2. Unwrap and let cool until touchable.
3. Peel cloves and mash with potatoes when they are ready.
4. Wash and rinse potatoes under cold water.
5. It is not necessary to peel potatoes, unless you desire.
6. In large sauce pan (or pot), bring red potatoes to a slow boil for approximately 20 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and drain in colander.
8. In pan or bowl, combine potatoes, peeled and roasted garlic cloves, and all other ingredients and mash with a potato masher.
9. Keep warm.

Hot Chocolate Mix

• 16 oz. Coffeemate (454 g)
• 24 oz. Powdered Sugar 1 1/2 box (680 g)
• 8 oz. Box of Hershey's Cocoa Powder (226 g)
• 1 8-qt. box Powdered Milk (726 g)
• ½ tsp. Salt

Directions:  Mix ingredients well in a large bowl and store in an air-tight container.

To make hot chocolate:  Add 1/3-1/2 cup (depending on how rich you like it) mixture to 1 cup hot water.  Enjoy.

Tips: 

**If not making the whole batch, I highly recommend using a food scale with grams on it to weigh out your ingredients.  I did this to make 1/3 of the recipe for myself. 

**If you buy in bulk: 

8 oz. Cocoa = 2 1/2 cups

1 pound of powdered sugar = 3 1/2 cups, unsifted

16 oz. of coffeemate = 4 cups

8 qt. box of dry milk = 10 2/3 cups

*Beignets

Time:  35 minutes

Makes:  about 12

2 c self-rising flour

1/2 c half & half

1 egg

3 Tbsp sugar

1/2 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

Powdered Sugar for topping

Mix egg, half & half, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt with a hand mixer. 

Slowly add 1 cup flour and beat until smooth.  Remove mixer and set aside.  Add the second cup of flour and stir by hand until soft dough forms. 

Roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick on a well- floured surface.  Cut into 1 and 1/2 inch squares.  Deep fry in oil at 350-360℉ until golden brown.  About 3 minutes.  You will need to flip them over at about 1 and a half minutes.  

Remove from grease and drain on paper towels. Top with powdered sugar after they have cooled slightly before serving. 

**Use a thermometer to monitor oil temperature.  If it gets too hot, the outside will burn and the inside will be sticky.  If it's too cool, they will soak up the grease instead of frying properly.

Best Ever Buttermilk Biscuits

• 1 1/4 c. Self-rising flour
• 4 tsp Sugar
• 1/2 stick frozen Unsalted Butter
• 2/3 c. whole Buttermilk 

Put flour and sugar in a bowl and stir.  Grate the frozen butter with a cheese grater.  Gently stir into flour mixture.  Dip out 2 inch balls of dough and lightly roll in loose flour.  Spray and flour small aluminum baking dish or small iron skillet.  

Bake at 425° for 25 minutes in aluminum pan or 350° for 45 minutes in the iron skillet.