If you're like me you spend most of the day trying to think "What's for dinner?". Sometimes I want to try something new or even just remember a good family favorite. I created this blog as a quick and easy way to help jog my memory and to share our family favorites across the web. My sister-in-law Marie and I post some of our most successful recipes with pictures. Bon Appetite!
An Ottley family Thanksgiving staple, Sweet Potato Casserole. Make it with or without pecans it's a great side dish!
4 1/2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 beaten eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
Combine in a casserole dish, then mix the following in a separate bowl for a topping.
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped
3/4 flour
1/2 cup softened butter
Once mixed together crumble on top of sweet potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
When only twice as much chocolate is needed these treats hit the spot!
Cookies:
2 sticks butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2-3 TBS cocoa powder
3 cups flour
Mix all together well. **
Drop by tablespoon on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.
Frosting:
6 TBS butter
1/3 cup milk
2 TBS cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
Cook butter, milk, cocoa until just before a boil. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Pour over the sugar in a bowl and wish until well incorporated. Spoon over warm cookies.
**Optional
Instead of frosting the cookies stir in chocolate chips before baking. Try white, peanut butter, mint or good ole milk chocolate.
6 quarts popcorn popped
2 cups brown sugar
1 can sweet & condensed milk
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup butter
Bring butter, syrup, and brown sugar to a boil. Pour sweet & condensed milk in slowly. Cook 3 minutes. Pour over popcorn and stir.
You can also use this recipe over 1 bag of corn pops to make a kernel free version.
This fun treat can be customized for the season or holiday by changing out the stir in ingredients.
12-16 cups popped popcorn
1 pound vanilla coating or 1 bag white chocolate chips
1 cup plain M&Ms
1 cup raisins
Melt coating, pour over popcorn and stir so the popcorn is coated. Add raisins and M&M's. Spread on cookie sheet to dry.
Optional stir ins:
Mini Chewy Spree candy
Sprinkles
Pretzel M&M's
Pretzel pieces
I've found that if I wrap asparagus in bacon or cover it with cheese sauce my most picky eaters don't complain which makes dinner time much easier.
This recipe comes from Kraftrecipes.com
1 lb. fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Microwave asparagus and water in covered 2-qt. microwaveable casserole on HIGH 5 to 6 min. or until asparagus is crisp-tender; drain.
Mix remaining ingredients in microwaveable bowl. Microwave 2 min. or until cheese is melted and sauce is well blended, stirring after each minute. Serve over asparagus.
Through out 2010 and 2011 our family experienced quite a few trials. After one such experience a neighbor stopped by to check on me. When she asked what she could do to help I mentioned that I had some chicken that needed to be cooked and asked if she had a good recipe. She quickly thru this main dish together for us in my crockpot. It has become a family favorite because it's so yummy. I like it because it reminds me how much that simple act of kindness meant to me during a very difficult time. Talk about comfort food!
2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs or both!
1 cup mild salsa
1 cup ketchup
1 Tbls Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
Combine together and place in a baking dish or a crockpot. Bake uncovered at 400 deg for 45 minutes or on low in the crockpot for 4-6 hours.
Serve with baked potato and use cooked sauce as a topping for potatoes.
All ingredients can be combined and frozen in a gallon size freezer bag, then cook using above instructions adjusting time to allow chicken to cook through.
I'm always looking for ways to use up over ripe bananas besides doing a banana bread. This is a quick and easy way and the whole family loves these moist breakfast muffins. This recipe comes from cooks.com.
1/2 c uncooked oatmeal
1/2 c milk
1/4 c butter, melted
1 egg
1 c mashed banana (about 2 bananas)
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
Line a muffin pan with 12 liners or spray well with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a medium bowl combine oats and milk; set aside until milk is absorbed.
In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients and stir. Add butter, egg, and bananas to the oat mixture. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stir until well moistened.
Spoon mixture into muffin pan, filling each cup 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
