Post a favorite recipe that amateurs can follow

[Zac495]

Here's mine:


Capellini with Shrimp and creamy tomato sauce
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound peeled large shrimp (must be UNCOOKED)
3 large garlic cloves forced through press (or 1 -2 teaspoons)
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
½ cup sweet red vermouth
2 cans diced tomatoes
1.5 cans heavy cream
½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
½ pound capelini or angel hair

Preparation
Heat oil in 12 inch heavy skillet over medium –heat until shimmers then cook shrimp and garlic with oregano, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper turning once until golden about 2-6 minutes. Stir n vermouth and tomatoes scraping up any brown bits from bottom of skillet.

Meanwhile cook capellini in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts of water). Put capellini back in pot and pour sauce over it.
Angel hair
Olive oil
Oregano
Red vermouth
2 cans diced tomatoes
1.5 cups heavy cream
lemon

 

[Quiet Pine]

Chocolate Mousse Pronto

Chocolate Mousse Pronto

1/2 cup hot water
1 tsp. instant coffee
6 oz. package chocolate chips (1 cup)
3 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. rum
3 eggs

Put ingredients in blender, blend for 2 minutes, pour into cups, refrigerate until set, perhaps 2-4 hours. Can be served with whipped cream for topping. If you wish, soak maraschino cherries in brandy or rum and put one in the bottom of each dessert cup.

 

[Conan]

Mom's Meat Loaf
(dinner for 4 plus leftovers for sandwiches the next day)

1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 Tbs butter

2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup dried, seasoned breadcrumbs
2 slices white bread, cut in small pieces
generous glug of ketchup (2 Tbs))
1 Tbs mustard
1 tspn salt
1/2 tspn pepper

2 lbs lean ground beef

additional ketchup for 'frosting'

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Saute vegetables in butter until softened; set aside.

Beat eggs in large bowl, stir in milk, breadcrumbs, bread, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper.

Add the ground beef and cooked vegetables to the bowl with the egg, etc. and mix everything together. You can try using a wooden spoon, but it's best to squish the mixture by hand until uniformly blended.

Also by hand, move mixture into a shallow pan or rimmed baking sheet, form into rectangular loaf shape, and 'frost' generously with more ketchup.

Bake about 45 minutes until cooked through. If you have an instant-read thermometer, internal temperature should be 160 to 170 degrees.

Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes or longer. Cut in thick slices to serve.

Good with green peas and red wine.

 

[Kel]

Mexican Shrimp Cocktain

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (Easy)

1 lb. shrimp tails off (I buy frozen, let it thaw)
1 16 oz. jar of cocktail sauce
1 16 oz. jar of salsa
2 avocados cut into chunks
½ cup of chopped fresh cilantro

Fold ingredients in a bowl and chill for an hour. Serve in small cups or bowls and eat with a fork or spoon.

In the summer, I sometimes use mango salsa instead of regular salsa for a sweeter version.

 

[ace2000]

Perfect Toast

Ingredients
Two slices of white bread*
Butter or margarine

Take two slices of white bread. Place them in a toaster and press down the handle. Wait two minutes or until toast pops up. Spread butter over slices after removing them from the toaster. Serves two.

* For holidays or special occasions, raisin bread may be substituted but follow the same procedure as above.

 

[RonB]

Whole wheat pancakes

This recipe makes the best whole wheat pancakes I have had. It was sent to me by yummly:

Whole Wheat Greek Yogurt Pancakes
Author: Erica
Yields: 8 small pancakes (serves 2*3)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt (I used Fage)
3/4 cup milk (I used almond milk)
1 egg
2 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Sift the dry ingredients (flour through salt) together into a large bowl.
2. In separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (yogurt through vanilla). Pour into the dry ingredients
and mix until just combined. The mixture should be thick but not paste*like. If it seems too thick, gently stir
in more milk, 2 Tbsp at a time.
3. Let sit for 10 minutes to combine. After sitting, the batter should be fluffy.
4. Preheat a skillet or griddle over medium *low heat. (If you're not working with a large griddle, I like to place a
baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 200 so I can keep the finished pancakes warm as I go.) Add a pat
of butter to the skillet and swirl to coat. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, drop small scoops of batter onto the
skillet. You may have to gently spread the pancakes a bit as the batter will be quite thick. Cook until bubbles
form in the surface of the pancake and the underside is golden* brown. Flip and cook until golden *brown on
both sides.
5. Serve with maple syrup and raspberries, or your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Recipe by Coffee & Quinoa at http://www.coffeeandquinoa.com/2014/02/whole*wheat*greek*yogurt*pancakes/

 

[tashamen]

Ingredients
Two slices of white bread*
Butter or margarine

Take two slices of white bread. Place them in a toaster and press down the handle. Wait two minutes or until toast pops up. Spread butter over slices after removing them from the toaster. Serves two.

* For holidays or special occasions, raisin bread may be substituted but follow the same procedure as above.

Now that's my kind of recipe!

 

[Passepartout]

Ingredients
Two slices of white bread*
Butter or margarine

Take two slices of white bread. Place them in a toaster and press down the handle. Wait two minutes or until toast pops up. Spread butter over slices after removing them from the toaster. Serves two.

* For holidays or special occasions, raisin bread may be substituted but follow the same procedure as above.

Serve with:

Pine Float

2 large glasses tap water
2 toothpicks. Minty, optional

Place the toothpicks in the glasses of water. Serve promptly. Ice cubes optional, but a word of caution. Ice cubes can detract from the appearance and utility of the toothpicks.

 

[SueDonJ]

Toast. Hahaha!

My mom's Cranberry Nut Bread:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
¼ cup shortening
¾ cup orange juice
1 TBS orange rind, grated
1 egg, well-beaten
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 -2 cups chopped cranberries

Sift together dry ingredients; cut in shortening. Combine juice, rind and egg; pour into dry ingredients and mix to dampen. Fold in nuts and cranberries. Turn into greased loaf pan.

1 large loaf – bake 55 minutes to one hour at 350F.
4 small loaves – bake 30-35 minutes at 350F.

*****
Does anyone have a recipe for Date-Nut Bread? Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

Beef Burgundy

(can be made in a crockpot or simmered on low on the stove)

2 lb. of lean beef, cubed. (round steak works well)
1 can mushroom soup
1 cup burgundy or dry red wine (can substitute beef broth)
1 pkg. dehydrated onion soup mix (Lipton onion soup)
Optional
1 onion, chopped
1 pkg. or can sliced mushrooms
Fresh minced garlic to taste
Add a vegetable for a one dish meal.

1. Cube, season and brown beef.
2. Put all ingredients in crockpot and cook on high until simmering and then turn down to low for about 2 hours. Or cook on low for 6- 8 hours.
3. Serve over noodles, mashed potatoes or rice.

*On stove top - cook 2-4 hours on low until beef is tender.

This is great as a stew if you add cubed potatoes and carrots.

For easy clean up use a disposable crock pot liner.


Pepper Steak

(can be made in a crockpot or simmered on low on the stove)

2 lb. round steak, cubed
2-3 bell peppers, sliced (or 1 bag frozen, sliced bell peppers)
1 onion, chopped
1 cup beef broth
1/4 C. soy sauce
1 T. minced garlic - optional

Brown round steak and add all ingredients to crock pot - cook on low 6-8 hours, and serve over rice.

*On stove top - cook 2-4 hours on low until beef is tender.


Beef Stroganoff
(this is just as tasty with chicken)

(can be made in a crockpot or simmered on low on the stove)

1 (2 to 3 lb.) round steak, cubed
1 small bottle of steak sauce
1 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbsp of worchestershire sauce
1 can of cream of celery soup (or cream of mushroom)
1 can of sliced mushrooms (drained)
1 tsp of minced garlic
1 small can of tomato sauce
-------------------------------------
1 16 oz. carton of sour cream

Stir together all of the ingredients, except sour cream, in crockpot or large covered pot on stovetop. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. One hour prior to serving stir in sour cream. Let cook for 45 minutes more.

Serve over hot noodles.

*On stove top - cook 2-4 hours on low until beef is tender.

 

[Zac495]

The toast and ice water is too complicated, but I love the rest!!!

 

[tschwa2]

crock pot spiral ham

The smallest spiral ham I could find was 9 pounds but still too big for the crock pot. I used about 2/3's (6 lbs) and froze the rest for later.

1 cup of brown sugar on the bottom of the crock pot.
place the ham on top.
sprinkle the contents of packet that comes with it on top of the ham.
pour on 1 can of pineapple. I used crushed because it was what I had but chunks might be better.
pour a cup of ginger ale on top.

Cook on low for 3 hours.

 

[Talent312]

Cinnamon Toast

Ingredients
Two slices of white bread
Butter or margarine

Take two slices of white bread. Place them in a toaster and press down the handle. Wait two minutes or until toast pops up. Spread butter over slices after removing them from the toaster. Serves two.

Follow the above directions.
Take a bottle of ground cinnamon. Sprinkle over toast.

Thought about posting scrambled eggs, but the scrambling part can be tricky.
.

 

[DeniseM]

Follow the above directions.
Take a bottle of ground cinnamon. Sprinkle over toast.

Now that's funny - because you forgot about the SUGAR!

Apparently this recipe is too hard for YOU!

 

[ace2000]

S'mores Brownies

By the way I have to give credit to the late Joan Rivers for the toast recipe, it's all hers. Here's a real one I'm planning on trying over the break.

S'mores Brownies

Ingredients

1 box fudge brownie mix
Water, oil, and eggs called for on brownie box
2 c mini marshmallows
4 graham cracker sheets, broken into pieces
2 milk chocolate candy bars, broken into pieces

Instructions

Prepare brownie mix according to package instructions.

Remove brownies from oven, and turn oven to broil.

Scatter marshmallows and graham cracker pieces evenly over the top of the brownies, and return to oven.

Broil 30 seconds to 1 minute or until the marshmallows become golden in color, watching carefully to prevent the graham cracker pieces from burning.

Remove brownies from oven, and immediately scatter chocolate candy pieces evenly over top of warm brownies.

 

[Passepartout]

A Million Dollar Recipe?

A Million Dollars! Seriously? Here's the back story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/16/pillsbury-bakeoff-winner-one-million_n_6333830.html

Peanutty Pie-Crust Clusters

Ingredients
1 Pillsbury™ refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box

1 bag (12 oz) white vanilla baking chips (2 cups)

1 tablespoon Crisco® Baking Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening

1 tablespoon Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter

1 cup salted cocktail peanuts

2/3 cup toffee bits


1 Heat oven to 450°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with Reynolds® Cut-Rite® Wax Paper.
2 Unroll pie crust on work surface. With pizza cutter or knife, cut into 16 rows by 16 rows to make small squares. Arrange squares in single layer on large ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove squares from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 5 minutes.
3 In large microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips, shortening and peanut butter uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring once, until chips can be stirred smooth. Add pie crust squares, peanuts and toffee bits; stir gently until evenly coated. Immediately drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto lined cookie sheets. (If mixture gets too thick, microwave on High 15 seconds; stir.) Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until set. Store covered.

 

[sue1947]

I got this from a magazine in the late '70s and it's been my go to recipe ever since. I usually make this as muffins and use them for a quick breakfast or snack.


Applesauce Oatmeal Loaf

In separate bowl mix: (do this part first to give the oatmeal a little time to soak up the applesauce).
2/3 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 c melted margarine or oil
1 c applesauce
1 1/2 c oatmeal
3/4 c chopped walnuts
1 c raisins

Sift together:
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg


Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and mix together until the flour is just incorporated.
Turn into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 60 min

Can also be baked as muffins. Bake 15-20 minutes depending on size.

You can also replace the applesauce with grated zucchini (like zucchini bread).

Sue

 

[pjrose]

quick and easy chicken, pork, beef

This is my go-to quick dinner for two with leftovers. Just did it tonight with 1 big BSCB sliced, a few TBSPs of greek salad dressing, a few pinches of thyme and rosemary, a tsp of cornstarch, maybe 5 minutes of marinating, 5 minutes of sautéing, and done.

1. pick a meat:

• boneless skinless chicken breasts
• boneless pork chops
• flank steak or other lean beef

Thinly slice on diagonal or horizontally into thin fillets; it's easier to do if the meat is partly frozen.
Put sliced meat in a gallon zip-top bag

2. pick a marinade / seasoning and add generous splashes/sprinkles to the bag:

• teriyaki or soy sauce (optional - powdered ginger, garlic, onion)
• Olive Oil & Cavendar's Greek Seasoning (WalMart), optional splash of Balsamic Vinegar, optional thyme and/or rosemary
• Olive Oil / dry Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix OR Good Seasons Italian salad dressing mix
• Olive Oil / honey / mustard
• Bottled salad dressing (not creamy) - e.g. Greek, Italian, Asian Sesame, ??

3. Optional but does something magical to make the meat really tender:

• add a few tsps cornstarch to the bag

4. close the bag and smush the contents around so it's all evenly distributed

5. wait about a half hour

6. heat a non-stick or well-seasoned wok or frying pan to medium high, add a bit of oil, and dump in about part of the bag's contents. Stir/toss/turn till done, remove to a bowl or platter, and repeat with remaining meat.

 

[CO skier]

Killer Steak Sauce

It is said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If that is true, this simple recipe will put you in the fast lane.

Take it from a man who has tried at least a hundred steak sauce recipes, this is the crack cocaine of steak sauce recipes. Seven ingredients, three of which are optional, what could be simpler? The porcini mushrooms add an intense, meaty flavor.

Serves 2:

½ cup homemade beef stock (or 8 ounces water plus generous ½ teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Beef Base [or Vegetable])
7 whole green peppercorns (or 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground)
4-5 dried porcini mushrooms (optional)
½ tablespoon liqueur (fino sherry, brandy, tequila, or 1 tablespoon dry vermouth, somewhat optional, but highly recommended for flavor)
½ teaspoon corn starch or arrowroot powder (optional)
2-3 fluid ounces heavy cream (not table cream or 1/2 and 1/2)
(good quality) non-iodized salt to taste

Crush each of the whole green peppercorns between thumb and forefinger, add to beef stock. Crumble the dried porcini as fine as possible (minus 1/4 inch), add to beef stock. Add the liqueur. Bring to a boil. (Microwave for about 2 minutes, but don’t let it boil over). Cover and let the mushrooms hydrate 30 minutes. Uncover and reduce slightly (6-8 minutes in the microwave at 3-4 power), if desired for a more intense flavor.

Mix the (optional) starch powder with the heavy cream. Add the mixture (or just the cream) to the sauce. Bring just to a boil to thicken. Add salt to taste. Serve over steak or other beef and roasted or baked potatoes.

If you make the sauce with Vegetable Base Better Than Bouillon, you can spoon it over your veggie burger.

This sauce is best with homemade beef (or vegetable) stock and green peppercorns, but few amateur cooks have that on hand. The Better than Bouillon is the best substitute. Don't use a canned or boxed beef broth -- that is too amateurish.

Serve the steak and this sauce in the center of a deeply rimmed dinner plate (not a flat Corelle plate). The sauce is intentionally thin to crush the potatoes into. Use more starch if a thicker sauce is desired.

Fair warning, after this sauce recipe, A1 and Heinz steak sauce will bring tears of disappointment.

 

[Fern Modena]

Easy Fudge

Easiest fudge you'll ever make. Tasty, too

1 package semisweet chocolate chips
1 package Andes mint chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk (like Eagle Brand)

Empty chips into a large microwaveable bowl, then pour sweetened, condensed milk over chips. Microwave one minute, then mix. Microwave another minute, then mix till melted and smooth. You may microwave 30 seconds more if needed, but do not over cook. You will have to hand mix to finish the melting.

Line a 8" by 8" glass dish with parchment, or plastic wrap, then pour in fudge.

Refrigerate three hours or so, then flip out, cut in squares and place in an air-tight container. You do not need to refrigerate any more.

That's it. Easy, peasy, and yummy.

Note--Andes chips are chips, not candy. Many stores have them this time of year, and I have found them at Walmart year round.
Fern

 

[Mosca]

These recipes are all too complicated. Except Fran's, that looks simple enough to follow.


Get boneless skinless chicken breasts. Coat them with a mixture of bottled bbq sauce and italian dressing. Grill over medium high heat until done, turning frequently to avoid burning.

 

[KarenLK]

Talent312, you need to be more specific. The whole jar of cinnamon???????he toast?

 

[Glynda]

Cheesy Appetizer

Cheesy Appetizer

1 package English muffins, split and untoasted

Mix together:
1 bunch green onions, chopped finely (use some of the green as well as bulb)
1/2 of a small can chopped black olives
1 package grated sharp cheddar cheese
Just enough Hellmann's mayonaise to bind

Set oven to broil. Spoon dollop of mixture onto one half of an English muffin. Continue until all mixture and muffins are used. Layer muffin halves on cookie baking sheet and place under broiler. Watch closely until mixture begins to bubble and brown. Remove and immediately, and carefully so as not to burn yourself, slice with pizza cutter into quarters. Place on platter. Serve immediately while hot and watch them disappear!

 

[Fern Modena]

Am I "Fran?"

Fern

These recipes are all too complicated. Except Fran's, that looks simple enough to follow.


Get boneless skinless chicken breasts. Coat them with a mixture of bottled bbq sauce and italian dressing. Grill over medium high heat until done, turning frequently to avoid burning.

 

[b2bailey]

The Easiest Apple Pie Ever

I was recently told about this pie from friends who then prepared it for me later in the week. At first I thought -- 2 premade crusts, apples, how is it any different. The secret is in the skillet. The part of the crust on the bottom absorbs the butter/brown sugar and gives a caramel like flavor. They cut the white sugar by 1/2. Any more and I think it would be too sweet.

Now, I must get an Iron Skillet.

===

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 pie crusts
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 -6 granny smith apples, peeled and sliced

Directions:

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2 Place butter in large iron skillet and place in oven to melt.
3 When butter is melted, stir in brown sugar, place back in oven and let that melt together.
4 Place 1 pie crust on top of the mixture that is in the skillet.
5 Mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon.
6 Place apple slices on top of pie crust and cover with the sugar/cinnamon mixture.
7 Place second pie crust on top and make small slits in crust and seal on the edges Bake 45 minutes or until lightly browned.
8 Serve warm with a vanilla cream or ice cream.