No Bake Cookies

I love these cookies because they are packed with peanut butter and oats!

 1 3/4 cups white sugar

 1/2 cup milk

 1/2 cup butter

 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

 3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

 3 cups quick-cooking oats

 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Prepare 2 cookie sheets covered in wax paper.  In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Stirring frequently, bring mixture to a boil then cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Quickly drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.  Makes around 30-35 cookies.

Easy Restaurant Salsa

Favorite Easy Restaurant Salsa

I know this recipe by heart and will never forget it, it is that easy and good!

2 cans of diced tomatoes

1 can of pickled jalapenos 

1 bunch of green onions

1 bunch of cilantro

1 lime

1 avocado

Garlic salt

Blend together tomatoes, 3-5 jalapenos ranging from Medium-Hot, mix well in blender and add garlic salt to taste.  Dice cilantro, green onions and mix in without blending.  Pour into a bowl and add diced avocado on the top.  Juice lime on top of the avocado and lightly mix with a spoon.

Variation:

I use 5 roma tomatoes from the garden and it works well both ways canned or fresh.  I also like to add the yellow or white onion finely chopped and have also added a few seeds from the habanero pepper bush in the back.  I love avocado so when I eat most of it in every bite, I'll go back and add more!

Tortilla Espanola

(This recipe can be adjusted according to the size of your frying pan.  This is for a 12 inch pan.)

3 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced1 small onion, diced6 eggsSalt and pepper to taste 

Olive oil for frying (NOT vegetable oil)

Mostly cover the bottom of a frying pan in olive oil.  Heat on medium.  Add potatoes and onions.  Cook thoroughly and stir as needed with a spatula (20 min).  Add salt & pepper to taste.  Remove potatoes/onions from pan and put in a separate bowl.  Don't need to be super careful about draining potatoes well (of the oil).  Drain oil from frying pan, but don't wipe clean.  In another bowl, beat eggs until frothy.  Add eggs to potatoes.  Stir just til potatoes are coated.  Heat about a tbsp. more of oil on medium heat in frying pan.  Pour mix into frying pan.  Cook 3-4 min. on first side until eggs are mostly cooked.  Place plate over frying pan.  Here's the fun part!!!  Flip tortilla over onto plate and slide uncooked side back into pan.  Cook about 3 min or until tortilla is cooked through.  Slice into pie wedges.  Serve immediately.  Chill remaining tortilla and eat leftovers either chilled or reheated. 

Soft Pretzels

Makes 6 – 8 pretzels
Prep (30 minutes) + Cook (12 – 15 minutes)

We originally got this recipe from a bakery called Just Cakes in Bethesda, Maryland, where a friend learned to make gourmet pretzels, cookies and breads, in addition to cakes, during a summer cooking camp.

2 packages active dry yeast
1 ½ cups warm water
1 tsp. sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for the counter)
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
Mustard, honey mustard, or melted butter or Cheddar cheese for dipping

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the water. Add the sugar. Let it stand for about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of the flour followed by the salt and the remaining 2 cups of flour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread a thin layer of flour on the counter or a pastry board (or on individual cutting boards or baking sheets if you have many little bakers). Transfer the dough to the counter and knead it for about 10 minutes, or until it becomes elastic and shinier. (This can also be done in a mixer for 4 – 5 minutes but that takes away some of the fun.)

Divide the dough into 6 – 8 equal parts.  Stretch each part into a long thin rope, about 2 feet long and about ½-inch thick, and then twist them into a pretzels shape (or whatever shape you like).

Place the pretzels a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make an egg wash by beating the egg with 2 tsp. of water. With a pastry brush, brush the surfaces of the pretzels with the egg wash.

Bake them for 12–15 minutes until they are golden brown.

Brush them lightly with butter.  Sprinkle them with a little kosher or sea salt or cinnamon and sugar, if desired.

Rich and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

I made this amazing recipe last night and am thrilled it turned out so good!  

It's also delicious with a pastry puff added on top. 

Now I don't have to go to my favorite Italian restaurant for my favorite soup!!

4 tomatoes, seeded and diced (if you don't use the freshest tomatoes it is best to use 2 cans of diced tomatoes)
4 c. tomato juice
14 leaves of fresh basil
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. butter
salt and pepper to taste

Place tomatoes and tomato juice in a stock pot over medium heat.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Puree the tomatoe mixture along with the basil leaves, and return the puree to the stock pot.  Place the pot over medium heat, and stir in the heavy cream and butter.  Season with salt and pepper.  Heat, stirring until the butter is melted.  Do not boil.

French Dipped Sandwiches with Au Jus

Is there a more basic yet delicious sandwich than this?!

I always feel guilty when I make these because they are so good but almost effortless to make!

1 lb. beef, thinly sliced from the deli

4-6 french bread or hoagie rolls

1 packet of Au Jus sauce

1/2 lb. swiss cheese

Toast rolls in oven, open faced with swiss.  Follow packet Au Jus sauce instructions on the stove, when hot add beef to sauce.  Assemble sandwiches with Au Jus served on the side for yummy dipping!!

Tortellini Vegetable Soup

Soup to warm the soul!

2 tsp. dried basil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. oil
4-6 c. chicken or vegetable broth
1 c. cheese tortellini (I actually use the whole bag)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)(if you like tomatoes, use 2 cans)
1 can green beans (drained)(I prefer French cut)
½ c. sliced carrots (can use baby carrots sliced in half lengthwise)
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Heat oil in large pan, cook basil and garlic for one minute. Add broth, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Add tortellini, tomatoes, green beans and carrots. Return to boiling, reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-15 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add a baguette and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Indian Fry Bread (for navajo tacos)

Navajo tacos are my favorite meal at the Olson's house when we visit Utah! This is a quick recipe; and Sometimes, when we don't have time, I put a couple cans of chili on the stove and start making this dough!

4 c. flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. powdered milk
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. hot water

Stir dry ingredients together, mix in water and knead until soft (5 minutes). Squeeze off a golfball size piece and roll it out flat. Cook in hot oil (canola is best), turn once, until golden on both sides. We put chili, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, sliced olives, salsa and sour cream on our Navajo tacos.

My Mother-in-law gave me this amazing recipe!

N'Orleans Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta

This is an amazing recipe!

2-4  skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

12 oz.  linguine, cooked al dente

6 tsp.  cajun seasoning

4 tbsp.  butter

1  bunch of green onions, thinly sliced

1 1/2- 2 c.  heavy whipping cream

4 tbsp.  sun-dried tomatoes, julienne cut

1/2 tsp  salt

3/4 tsp.  dried basil

3/8 tsp.  black pepper

3/8  tsp. garlic powder

3/4 c.  parmesan cheese, grated 

Cajun Seasoning Recipe:

2 tsp. white pepper

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. black pepper

Place chicken and cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.  In a large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken in butter until chicken is tender and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.  Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through.  Pour over hot linguine and toss with parmesan for about 5 minutes on low heat.

*We make ours a little differently, I use olive oil instead of butter and used extra cajun seasoning to the chicken for extra kick.  I love the the taste of sauted scallops so I added it in with the chicken towards the end instead of adding into the sauce, and I did half shrimp and half chicken.   So yummy!!

Stuffed Peppers

This is so good and can be made surprisingly quick!

4 Bell peppers, hollowed out

1 box of spanish rice (we use Near East) and follow package instructions

1/2 - 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained

1/2 c. grated cheese

1 sm. can of tomato sauce

Preheat oven to 350 F. One rice is finished cooking and you've browned and drained your beef, mix them together.  Stuff peppers with mixture then sprinkle cheese over the tops of each pepper.  Neatly top with tomato paste and bake for 25 minutes.  Voila!!

Teriyaki Chicken

A great, easy recipe to make in a dutch oven while camping. The cheater's version is to buy a really good teriaki sauce ( Very Very Teriyaki)and use it instead of all the ingredients below... except the chicken.

10 chicken thighs
1 c. soy sauce
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. mirin (Japanese rice wine)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp. freshly shredded ginger

I love adding chile oil or red chile rooster sauce for a kick!

Combine all ingredients into large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover then reduce heat and allow to simmer until the liquid becomes concentrated( about 30 minutes). Take the chicken out of the pot while still hot. The remaining liquid can be used as gravy if desired or you can freeze it. Serve it with a good sticky rice (we sometimes just use regular brown or white 15 minute jasmine rice). You can also make it spicey by adding Duck Chile Sauce.

Mediterranean Pepper Salad

My new favorite recipe!  
This isn't the best picture but don't let this fool you because this salad is amazing!!

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup cold water
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 a red onion, cut into a 1/2-inch dice (use less if your onion is huge)
3 bell peppers, your choice of colors (I used one red, orange and yellow)
1 c. grape tomatoes
1 kirby cucumber,
1/4-pound firm feta cheese
1/4 to 1/2 cup pitted kalmata olives
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Swish together the red wine vinegar, water, kosher salt and sugar in a small bowl until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Add the red onion and set it aside.

Core and seed your bell peppers and chop them into 1/2-inch pieces. Chop the cucumber and feta into similarly-sized chunks. Put your peppers, cucumber, feta and olives in a large bowl.

By now, your onions will have lightly pickled, both sweetening and softening their blow. Drain them and add them to the other vegetables in the large bowl, but reserve the vinegar mixture. Pour a quarter cup of the vinegar mixture over the salad, then drizzle with olive oil. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, or to taste. Toss evenly and serve at once, or let the flavors muddle together in the fridge for a few hours.