January 30, 2012

Disneyland's Loaded Baked Potato Soup



Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Carnation Café at Disneyland Park

Nothing sounds better on a cold night than a bowl full of soup. And nothing sounds better than this soup recipe!!

Serves 6

1 pound bacon, roughly chopped
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
3/4 cup diced celery
4 large Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
4 medium red potatoes, diced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups heavy whipping cream
Optional garnishes: chopped chives, bacon bits, sour cream, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

In a 6- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp.
Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving half for garnish. In bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken stock and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper.
Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency.
Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.

Cooks’ notes: Soak diced potatoes in cold water until ready to use to keep them from turning brown. To make bacon easier to chop, lightly freeze.

January 26, 2012

Haystacks or No Bake Cookies



I LOVED these growing up. I had a hankerin' today for something with oats and this was perfect.

1 Cube Butter
1/2 Cup Milk
2 Cups Sugar
3 TBSP Cocoa
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 Tsp Salt

3 Cups Quick Oats
1 Cup Coconut or
2 TBPS Peanut Butter (depending on the flavor you want)

Mix first section of ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add oats and coconut. Mix well and spoon onto waxed paper and allow to set, 30 minutes.

If you want the peanut butter flavor add that before the oats and allow to melt.

January 23, 2012

Buttermilk Syrup

I had this at our Ward Christmas Party last year and couldn't get enough. Its the kind of syrup you could just drink it's that good!

1 Cube Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Buttermilk

Combine all in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat.
Add 1/2 tsp Soda and
1 tsp Vanilla

Stir and serve warm over Pancakes, Waffles or French Toast

July 4, 2011

Story Teller's Cafe French Toast


Story Teller's Cafe French Toast

Vanilla Sauce:
2 Egg Yolks
2 TBSP Sugar
1 C Milk
1 1/2 Tsp Vanilla

Whisk together the yolks and sugar in a small bowl. In a a saucepan, bring the milk and vanilla to a low boil then remover from heat. Add a little of the heated milk to the egg mixture to temper it, then add to the heated milk. Simmer over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly until lightly thickened, but do not boil. Transfer to a bowl and set aside in an ice bath.

Caramel Sauce:
4 TBSP Butter
1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/4 C Heavy Cream

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and mix well. Add cream and bring to a simmer. Keep warm until needed.

French Toast:
1 Jumbo Egg
1 C Milk
1/8 Tsp Vanilla
8 Slices of Bread

In a shallow bowl, beat together the egg, milk and vanilla. Dip bread into mixture and cook on skillet over medium-high heat. Brown each side then transfer to a plate and spread the Vanilla Sauce on one slice then place another slice onto to make a sandwich. Cut diagonally and cover with the Caramel Sauce.

July 1, 2011

Frog Eye Salad


FROG EYE SALAD

1 1/3 C. (8 oz) Acini Di Pepe uncooked
1 Can (20 oz) Pineapple Chunks, reserve 1/4 C. Juice
1 3/4 C. Milk
1/4 C. Sugar
1 (3.4 oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 Can (8 oz) Crushed Pineapple, drained
2 (11 oz) Cans Manderine Oranges
2 C. Cool Whip, thawed
3 C. Rainbow Mini Marshmallows
3/4 C. Coconut Flakes

-Cook pasta 11 minutes. Rinse with cold water; drain well.
-In large bowl, beat reserved pineapple juice, milk sugar and pudding for 2 minutes.
-Gently stir in pasta and remaining ingredients, cover.
-Refrigerate at least 5 hours

January 20, 2011

Chocolate Frosting

Try this easy frosting on your next chocolate cake!


Chocolate Frosting
2 cups cream
1 1/3 cup milk
6 oz box of chocolate pudding

Mix until fluffy and creamy

January 10, 2011

Chewy Granola Bars

Extra chewy granola bars. You can make them your own by picking different ingredients to add in! Try using any combination of miniature chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, raisins, chopped dried fruits, mini M&M's or Reeces Pieeces, chopped nuts, etc

* 4 1/2 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2/3 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

November 25, 2010

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

1 package (about 1 pound) turkey bacon
2 cans water chestnuts (whole or sliced)

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Homemade chili sauce
1 cup brown sugar

Slice bacon into 4ths (Cut once horizontal and once vertical).
Wrap bacon around water chestnut and secure with toothpick.
Place into a 9 X13 pan.
Mix mayo, chili sauce and brown sugar well. Pour over water chestnuts.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes covered and then 30 minutes uncovered.

I dare you to just eat one!! (Or 20....)

November 16, 2010

Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin, divided
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1/4 cup caramel ice cream topping
1/4 cup chopped Pecans

DIRECTIONS:
HEAT oven to 350*F.

BEAT cake mix, 1 cup pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. spice in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round pans.

BAKE 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.

BEAT cream cheese in medium bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar, remaining pumpkin and spice; mix well. Gently stir in COOL WHIP. Cut each cake layer horizontally in half with serrated knife; stack on serving plate, spreading cream cheese filling between layers*. Drizzle with caramel topping just before serving; top with nuts. Refrigerate leftovers.

*The recipe says to just frost between the layers, but I like to frost the sides of the cake as well!

Semi-Homemade Cake

This cake recipe is really easy and tastes better than your normal boxed cake...and it's just as easy to make! It's our favorite!

CAKE:
1 cake mix (any flavor)
3 eggs
1/2 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup oil
1 small pkg. pudding (same flavor as cake)

*Mix all ingredients and bake at 350* according to directions on the cake box. Usually bakes a bit longer--bake until toothpick comes out clean.

FROSTING:
1 cream cheese pkg. (softened)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 stick of butter (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla

*Mix all ingredients together well, and add food color of your choice

November 9, 2010

Grandma Skousen's Stuffing

Grandma Skousen's Stuffing

1 Can Biscuits
1 Box Jiffy Cornbread
1 lb. Loaf of Bread

Bake Biscuits and Cornbread according to package. Toast entire loaf of Bread.
Cut everything into cubes. Put in large mixing bowl, mix together, set aside.

1 1/2 C. Chopped Onion
2 C. Celery
1 C. Celery hearts and leafy tops.
2 C. Water
1 Chicken Bouillon Cube dissolved in 1 C. Hot Water

Combine in a large pot. Add:
1 TBSP Sage
1 TBSP Poultry Seasoning
Salt & Pepper

Bring to a boil and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.
Let cool about 15 minutes.

Pour liquid over your bread and stir. Add:
2 Beaten Eggs, mix.

If making ahead of time, put back into bread bag and freeze for up to 1 month.
Spread into a 9x13 baking dish. If you want to add a little water, or chicken broth to the mixture to avoid over drying.
Cover
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until warmed through.
Uncover last 5-10 minutes to crust the edges (optional)

September 7, 2010

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

1 Pkg Oreo's
1/2 Gallon Mint Ice Cream-softened
1 Stick Butter-softened
8 oz. Cool Whip
Pecans about 1/2 Cup (optional)
Hershey Syrup

In a mixing bowl crush Oreo's reserve 1 cup. Add butter and mix. Pat 3/4 of the mix into a 9x13 Pan.
Spread softened ice cream over crust.
Spread thin layer of Cool Whip over ice cream.
Mix nuts and rest of Oreo's and sprinkle on top,
Drizzle Hershey's and freeze.

Pumpkin Cake Dessert

-Crust-
1 Package Yellow Cake Mix-reserve 1 Cup
1/2 C Butter
1 Egg

-Filling-
3 C Pumpkin Pie Mix
2 Eggs
2/3 C Milk

-Topping-
1/4 C Sugar
1 C Reserved Cake Mix
1 TBSP Cinnamon
1/4 C Butter


Preheat oven to 350
Grease a 9x13 Pan
Combine Crust ingredients and press into pan
Prepare Filling ingredients and mix until smooth
Pour over Crust
Combine Topping Ingredients and crumble on top
Bake for 45 min.

Apple Syrup

1 C Apple Juice
1 TBSP Corn Starch
1/2 C Sugar
1 TBSP Lemon Juice
1 TBSP Butter
Cinnamon & Nutmeg to taste

Combine all ingredients and bring to boil stirring frequently. Turn heat to medium and cook for 5 or minutes.

Try on the German Pancakes!

German (Popeye) Pancakes

6 Eggs
1 Cup Flour
1 Cup Milk
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla (optional)

1 Cube of Butter ( it calls for 6 Tbs but is 2 more going to hurt?)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut butter into 6 slices and place in 9x13 pan and put the pan in the oven.

While the butter is melting, combine all the other ingredients and mix well. When butter is completely melted and bubbly remove and tip the pan to coat/grease it. Pour the egg mixture on top of the butter. Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes.

The mixture rises pretty high so watch it to make sure it doesn't burn on top.

Serve with syrup, powdered sugar, fruit, etc.

July 12, 2010

Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad
Compliments of Lauren Skousen

Dressing:
3/4 C Seasoned Rice Vinegar
1/2 C Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
Mix well to dissolve sugar
1 C Vegetable Oil

Salad:
2-3 bags Romaine Lettuce
2 Packages crushed, uncooked, Ramon Noodles (throw seasoning out)
4-5 Oz. Package Slivered Almonds Toasted
2 Cups Cooked and diced Chicken, flavor with Onion Powder.

Mix well and do not add dressing until ready to serve!
Yummy Yumma!!

March 13, 2010

French Puffs


French Puffs-Breakfast
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening (Crisco)
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
2 sticks butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside. In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening, then add eggs and mix. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden. In a bowl, melt 2 sticks butter. In a separate bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Dip baked muffins in butter, coating thoroughly, then coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture.


Caramel Apple Recipe

1 pound brown sugar

2 sticks butter, at room temp

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 cup light corn syrup

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

12 apples

12 dowels


Topping:

1 (12 oz) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 TB shortening

Combine ingredients in a 2-3 quart saucepan. Heat at medium low temp, stirring constantly but slowly and frequently scraping the bottom of the pan. Cook caramel to the soft ball stage (236) degrees. Pour into a small deep metal or heat proof bowl and let cool to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Push a dowel or stick into the top of each apple. Dip apples into caramel using a straight up and down motion. (Too much agitation causes the caramel to separate and become oily). Place dipped apples on baking sheet and place in the fridge for 15 - 20 min. Next, dip caramel apples into melted chocolate, then sprinkle with decorative candy.

TIP: Granny Smith and Fuji apples are the best apples to use. Make sure you wash and dry them because there is a waxy film on the apples which will make the caramel not stick.

To make the sticks I cut a 12 inch dowel in half. Then cut out 5 inch by 1.5 inch scrapbook paper. I spread Mod Podge on the back of the paper and rolled it on the stick. It sealed perfectly!!

Orange Rolls

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup warm water
4 1/2 cups Better for Bread Flour - divided (note: my mom lives in UT and this works for her, I always end up adding a bit more flour here in OR, so you may need to adjust a little)
3 eggs, well beaten

2 Tbsp rapid rise yeast

Mix all ingredients together in mixer except for yeast and half of the flour. Then sprinkle yeast on mixture and add remaining flour. Mix until sticky. About 5 min. Place in lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel. Raise until double. About 2 hours.

Punch dough down and cover bowl with a damp towel. Refrigerate. (I make the dough the night before and then refrigerate it till whenever I'm ready to make it the next day)

Roll out as desired. Shape. (I divide the dough into thirds, roll each ball into about a 14" circle (about 1/4" thick) like a pizza crust and then use my pizza cutter to cut it into 12 triangles, then I roll them up into crescent shapes) Brush with melted butter. Place on baking sheets and cover lightly with plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray. Let raise 2-3 hours. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min or 375 for 12 min.

Makes 3 dozen

Filling:
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp orange rind (I use more)
1/2-1 tsp orange juice

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp orange juice
1/2-1 Tbsp grated orange rind
1 Tbsp melted butter

Brush filling onto rolls before rolling them up (and before they rise) so it's on the inside, then dip tops of rolls in glaze when rolls have cooled. Makes enough for 16-20 rolls.

Baked French Toast

I got this recipe off of another blog. She uses bread from Kneaders Bakery. I imagine you could use Cinnamon Swirl from another bakery. She insists its what "makes" the recipe. I imagine it does. Sounds SO good:)

1 Loaf Kneaders Chunky Cinnamon Bread cut into 8 slices
6-7 eggs
2 1/2 cups milk
1 Tbsp brown sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 Tbsp butter

Butter a glass 9x13 pan. Place slices flat in pan. Mix all remaining ingredients, reserving the butter and pour over the bread. Cut butter into pieces and dot over the tops. Refrigerate overnight. Bake 45-50 min at 350.

Emily's notes: First off, I can't fit it all in a 9x13, I end up using a 9x13 plus an 8x8. Also, I like it best when I refrigerate it overnight and then turn the pieces of bread over and let them sit an hour before you bake it in the morning so both sides really soak up the egg mixture. It is great with maple syrup or with strawberries and whip cream!