Spud Dunkers

This is a recipe from my Grammy (my dad's mom)! I personally think these are better than Krispy Kreme's doughnuts! This recipe isn't very expensive and makes a TON of doughnuts... unfortunately it's been since Thanksgiving since I made them... so I'm not sure exactly how many you can make, but it also depends on the size you make them. But just as a forewarning this is something that takes A LOT of time, the dough sits overnight... and then rises again, so don't think this is one you can just pop out because you're in the mood for doughnuts!

Ingredients:

1 TBSP dry yeast

1/2 Cup Warm Water

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Shortening

1 1/2 tsp Salt

2 Eggs, beaten

5 1/2-6 Cups Flour

2 Cups Milk, scalded

1 1/2 Cup Instant Potatoes

Directions:

Soften yeast in warm water in a small bowl. In a separate bowl mix sugar, shortening, salt, and instant potatoes. Add hot milk and stir to moisten potatoes and melt shortening. Add eggs and 1 cup flour. Beat until smooth and cool to lukewarm. Add softened yeast and mix well. Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Shape into a ball. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove dough, punch down. Let stand 20 minutes. Roll 1/2 inch thick, cut with doughnut cutter and arrange on an oiled cookie sheet to let rise until dough is doubled in size. Fry in hot oil (375°F) until light brown, turning once. Drain on paper towel. While the doughnut is still warm I like to put it in a ziploc bag of sugar and make it so it is coated in sugar! If you want to try a glaze you can make it using powdered sugar, water, and vanilla. I'm not sure of the proportions, but you want the glaze to be the consistency of a light cream.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

This one is great if you are hosting a baby or bridal shower! It's a nice light sandwich that tastes great! The recipe I'm giving is to feed 4. However you can quadruple this recipe and it is under $20!!!! And usually if you are serving it at a party each person will only eat half as much, especially if there is other food! I prefer to serve it on a nice fluffy croissant, but slices of bread work just as well.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Cooked diced chicken

20 grapes halved

1/4 Cup Miracle Whip (if you prefer Mayo that would probably work too, I just prefer to use Miracle Whip)

1 Rib of Celery finely chopped

1 green onion, chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

4 croissants (or 8 slices of bread)

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl mix chicken, grapes, miracle whip, celery, and green onion together. I usually will mix in a little salt and some pepper at this point, but you can leave that as something people can add to their preference. This is also a great mix that you can make up to a day in advance and just have in the fridge ready to be put on the bread!

Peanut Butter Bars

Eating these Peanut Butter Bars is like eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! They are SO good... in fact I like them more than Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! This is a recipe my husband got while he was serving a mission for our church.

Ingredients:

3/4 Cup of Butter

1 3/4 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (I just use one of the individualized packages that come in the big box you can get)

1 1/2 Cups Peanut Butter

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

2 Cups of Chocolate Chips (or you can use whatever your favorite chocolate is, chocolate chips is just what I usually have around the house!)

Directions:

Melt Butter. Mix in graham cracker crumbs, add peanut butter and powdered sugar. Mix really well. I use a cookie sheet that is about 10x14" and I line it with aluminum foil, you can also use a 9x13 pan the peanut butter portion will be a bit thicker. Put graham cracker mix in pan and spread out to make an even layer.

Melt chocolate. Usually with chocolate chips you can do one cup of chocolate chips in the microwave on high for one minute, then stir until it is smooth, then pour a nice even layer onto the graham cracker layer. 

Cool in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. You can then cut it into squares.

Or if you're feeling a bit fancy you can use a cookie cutter and cut out cute little shapes to share!

BBQ Chicken Pizza & No Rise Pizza Dough

Here's another one that's under $20, and feeds up to 6 people, but if you have big eaters, plan for it to feed only 4! This recipe is my own that I have perfected! There are two parts to this recipe, first is the no-rise pizza dough recipe, second is the Barbeque Chicken Pizza. Feel free to use whatever toppings you like on top of the pizza! Also if you don't want to make the dough you can always go to a place that makes pizzas and ask if you can buy some dough.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Warm Water (125-130°F; I usually just get the water from the faucet as hot as it will go)

1 package of rapid rise yeast (or about 2 TBSP)

2 1/4 Cups Flour

1 tsp Salt

2 TBSP Sugar

2 TBSP Olive Oil

Directions:

In a small bowl combine water and yeast. Allow yeast to dissolve. In a large bowl mix the flour, salt, and sugar together. 

Next prepare a pan.  I usually use a pizza pan covered in aluminum foil. Also I have found that the pizza is less likely to stick and to brown better on the bottom if you rub the foil with olive oil (about one TBSP). You can also use a cookie sheet or if you want a deep dish pizza use a 9x13" pan. Set pan aside.

Combine dissolved yeast to flour mix, add in olive oil. Mix well.

This will make a soft dough. To keep the dough from sticking to your hands you can rub a little bit of oil on your hands and then press out the dough as you desire.

Ingredients:

1 (18oz) your favorite BBQ sauce (I usually will buy whatever is cheapest!)

1 TBSP Dried Cilantro (fresh works just as well)

1/4 Small Red Onion; sliced or chopped (yellow onions are just as good)

1 lb Cooked Chicken; cut in chunks (1-2 breasts; about 2 cups)

1/2 lb cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread BBQ sauce evenly on dough, I usually use almost the whole container. Sprinkle on cilantro, then onions.

Sprinkle on chicken, then top with cheese. Feel free to put as much or as little of the ingredients. Whatever looks good to you! 

Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. Cut and eat up!

No Bake Cookies

I think these are my husbands absolute favorite cookies! I haven't found anything yet that when given the option he will choose it over these! Once again it's a recipe from my mom, but I have tweaked to find what I like to make it perfect! This recipe makes about 30 cookies... I'm not sure of the cost on this one, mainly because these are all ingredients that I usually have around the house!

Ingredients:

3 Cups oatmeal

3 TBSP Cocoa

1/2 Cup Coconut (optional, I usually leave it out since that's what my husband prefers and I don't usually have coconut laying around)

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter (I use creamy, but crunchy works too)

1/2 Cup Butter or Margarine (if you use the sticks it's one stick)

2 Cups Sugar

1/2 Cup Milk

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

In a large bowl add oatmeal, cocoa, and coconut (if desired). Stir until well mixed. On top of the oatmeal add peanut butter. 

Melt butter (or margarine). Add sugar and milk. Bring to a boil until between 235-240°F, I have found this to be the perfect temperature. If you don't have a thermometer, then allow mix to boil for approximately 3 minutes.

Once this temperature is reached remove from heat and mix in vanilla. Pour syrup mix into the oatmeal mix. Stir until well blended. Drop onto wax paper (aluminum foil works too). Let set until firm (about 10 minutes).

Won Tons

This is one of my favorite things my mom use to cook, and what makes it even better is that it makes a lot of food for under $20. If you buy the right package of won tons I believe this recipe is inside one of them, but I don't know which brand, sorry. This recipe makes about 50 won tons, and I recommend planning on each person eating about 8 won tons. So, this recipe is good for up to 6 people. I will make it all (even if it's only two of us eating) that way we have leftovers, and this is a meal that I think is just as good cold as they are freshly made (and they make a great snack)!

Ingredients Needed:

1 lb ground pork (or turkey, lamb, or any combination, you can do half and half of different meats if you want)

5 green onions

1 (8 0z) can sliced water chestnuts

1 tsp ground ginger

2 TBSP Soy Sauce

1 package Won Ton wrappers (these can usually be found in the produce section, in a cool place)

Oil for deep frying (I prefer either Vegetable or Canola Oil)

4 cups cooked Rice (side)

Sweet and Sour Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, or Soy Sauce (optional, for dipping)

Directions:

This is a recipe where you get to dig in and get your hands messy (feel free to let your kids help)!!!!

Chop onions (using all of the onion) all the way up through the green. I usually don't use the top inch or so, usually because it doesn't look so good! Drain the water from the water chestnuts and finely chop. In a medium sized bowl mix pork, onions, water chestnuts, ginger, and soy sauce. I usually will just dig in with my hands and get it all nice and mixed up (make sure you remove any rings you may be wearing)! 

Next you will fill the won ton. To do this you will put about one teaspoon of the meat mix onto the center of the won ton wrap. Next moisten (with either the water drained from the water chestnuts or just water) the edge of the wrap (I only do half, I think it sticks better, if you get the square wraps just moisten two tangent edges, if you get the circle wraps moisten half the circle). Next fold in half over the filling. Starting at one edge, pinch the edges closed with thumb and finger. You can leave them just like this, but I like to bring the two corners that are farthest apart, add a little water, and stick together. Continue this until you have filled all the won tons. I usually will put them on a cookie sheet that I have lined with wax paper. What's nice about doing that is that you can have layers of wax paper and won tons.

Heat oil to 350°F, this is usually a medium to medium high heat on the stove. Fill pan with enough oil to cover won tons (about 1 inch deep). Fry won tons (I usually do about 6 or 7 at a time) until golden brown, turn once so won tons are golden on each side. Drain on paper towels.

Serve with rice and dipping sauce. ENJOY!!!

Welcome!

I have decided to have a blog of all my favorite recipes, that way they are here for my friends, family, and anyone else who is interested in trying them!

I love to cook and bake I just wish I had more time for it. I currently am a wife of a student (who is also working full-time), a mother to one very active boy, and expecting another boy. Needless to say I expect in the future food is something we will go through A LOT of!

I hope that you find this site useful for your meal planning too!