Photo from last year’s special needs group Harvest Party
Well, friends – I survived the Harvest Party/Dance! This past Friday found me helping out from 4:30 – somewhere after 9 p.m. (when I got just too tired to keep on keeping on, so I went home! – party ended at 8:30). We had a lot more people come than we thought would BUT we were prepared! Our leader bought 270 hot dogs! (We cooked 150 and there were leftovers . . . but I was just too tired to even care about bringing some home…sigh). The kids had a great time chatting/eating/dancing so it was all worth it. I’d say we had about 45 kids? attend and about 10 teens from the church volunteered to help out, also.
I have been getting in SO MANY yummy sounding recipes I just couldn’t resist sharing some:
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Holy Cow Cake
1 (18 oz) box devils food cake mix
1 1/3 C. water
1 1/4 C. vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 (8 oz) jar caramel ice cream topping
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed
milk
1 C. Butterfinger candy bars, crushed
1 (12 oz) tub Cool Whip, thawed
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Lightly spray 9 X 13″ baking dish
with nonstick cooking spray. In bowl
mix dry cake mix, oil & eggs using an
elec. mixer – blend on Low speed
1 minute; scrape sides of bowl & mix
on medium speed 2 more minutes.
(batterh will be thick) Pour batter into
prepared pan, smoothing top evenly.
Bake 35-38 minutes until cake springs
back when lightly pressed with your
finger & just starts pulling away from
pan sides. Remove from oven & poke
holes in top of cake using a drinking
straw or chopstick. Cool on wire rack.
–
Topping:
Place caramel topping & sweetn’d
cond. milk in small bowl & stir to
combine. Spoon mixture over warm
cake so it can seep down into holes.
Measure out half of crushed candy
bars & sprinkle pieces over cake.
In large bowl mix Cool Whip & cream
cheese – blend using elec. mixer on
Low speed until smooth & combined.
Spread mixture over candy-covered
cake. Sprinkle remaining crushed
candy on top & refrigerate 20
minutes before cutting into squares &
serving.
Store cake, covered in waxed paper,
in fridge up to 1 week.
(recipe: americantimesfood.com)
———————————
Roasted Autumn Veggie Soup
2 lb. sweet potatoes (about 4 medium)
2 lb. carrots (about 8 large)
1 1/2 lb. parsnips (about 6 medium)
2 large onions, quartered
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1/4 C. canola oil
3 (32 oz, ea) cartons chicken broth
1 C. evaporated milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
minced fresh parsley & sage,
optional garnishes
–
Preheat oven 400 degrees F.
Peel & cut sweet potatoes, carrots &
parsnips into 1 1/2″ pieces; place in
large bowl. Add onions & garlic; drizzle
with oil & toss to coat. Spray two
15 X 10 X 1 inch baking pans with
nonstick cooking spray & divide
veggies between pans. Roast 40-50
minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
Transfer veggies to Dutch oven. Add broth,
milk, salt & pepper & bring to boil. Simmer,
uncovered, 10-15 minutes.Cool soup
slightly & puree in blender in batches.
Return to pan & heat through. Serve
with optional garnishes. Serves 12 (4 quarts)
(recipe: tasteofhome.com)
—————————–
Southern Smothered Pork Chops
(crockpot)
4 center-cut pork chops
1/4 C. flour
3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. olive oil
1 1/2 C. chicken or beef broth
1 medium onion, chopped
–
Suggested ‘sides’:
cooked mashed potatoes (for 4)
cooked rice or noodles (for 4)
Pour flour, poultry seasoning &
salt in zip-lock bag – shake to mix.
Add chops & shake until lightly
coated. Heat heavy skillet large
enough to hold all chops over
medium-high heat. Add oil &
heat until it shimmers. Place
chops in pan & saute 2-3 minutes
per side until golden brown. Remove
chops from pan & add 2 T. flour
mixture from bag to skillet; stir a
few seconds to cook flour. Add
about 1 C. broth & cook, stirring,
to lift any browned bits from pan.
Add remaining broth & turn off
heat. (Reserve remaining flour
mixture for later).
Place onion in bottom of crockpot &
lay chops on top. Pour liquids from
pan over chops. Cover & cook on
High 2 hours. Remove about 1 C.
of liquids from crockpot into a
small bowl; stir in remaining flour
mixture from bag & mix until
completely smooth. Return this
mixture to crockpot, stirring to mix.
Cover & cook 30-45 minutes more.
Serves 4
(suggested sides: mashed potatoes or
cooked noodles or rice)
(recipe: allfreeslowcookerrecipes.com)
———————————–
Roasted Corn Chopped Salad
with Lemon Vinaigrette
1 can whole kernel corn
2 Romaine hearts, finely chopped
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1/4 C. slivered basil leaves
1/4 C. crumbled feta cheese
1/4 C. lemon juice (fresh from 1
large lemon)
2 T. prepared Dijon-style or
stone ground mustard
2 T. honey
3 T. olive oil
–
Drain & pat corn dry. Add 1 T. oil to a
skillet & heat to searing hot. Add corn
carefully & let roast 6-8 minutes,
stirring only occasionally, until it
develops a nice brown caramelization;
remove from heat & let cool.
Add chopped romaine & shallots to a
large bowl; crumble feta into bowl &
add cooled corn. In small bowl whisk
together lemon juice, mustard, honey &
remaining 2 T. olive oil to make dressing.
Drizzle dressing over salad & toss. Serve
immediately Serves 4
(recipe: slowcookergourmet.net)
———————————–
Crockpot Crustless Pumpkin Pie
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
3/4 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
2 T. butter, melted
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
–
Combine all ingredients in crockpot;
stir to combine. Cover & cook on
Low 2-4 hours. Serves 6
(recipe: recipesthatcrock.com)
———————————–
7-Layer Chicken Enchilada Dip
2 T. butter or margarine
1 box Hamburger Helper “Cheesy
Enchilada” flavor
1 3/4 C. water
1 C. milk
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained/
rinsed
2 C. chopped deli cooked rotisserie
chicken
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 C. sour cream
1 C. shredded Mexican-blend cheese
(OR) 1 C. Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 C. chopped pickled jalapeno chilies
1 tomato, diced
–
tortilla chips
–
In 10-inch skillet melt butter over
medium heat. Stir in uncooked rice
(from Hamb. Helper box); continue
cooking 2-3 minutes until rice starts
to brown. Stir in water, milk, seasoning
packet (from Hamb. Helper) & black
beans – heat to boiling. Reduce heat,
cover & simmer 20 minutes, stirring
frequently. Stir in chicken; cover &
remove from heat – let rest 5 minutes.
–
Spread refried beans on 14-inch serving
platter. In small bowl, mix sour cream &
topping (from Hamb. Helper box) – spread
over beans. Top with hamburger mixture,
cheese, jalapeno chilies & tomato. Serve
with tortilla chips for dipping.
(recipe: Mike Suddaby-FB, from Old El
Paso)
————————————–
Cheesy Bundt Bread
3 C. flour, sifted
1 C. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
1 C. Parmesan cheese, grated
2 large eggs
3/4 C. sour cream
3/4 C. plain Greek yogurt
1/2 C. unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. baking soda
1 T. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a Bundt pan with nonstick
cooking spray. Mix flour, baking
soda, baking powder, salt, garlic
& onion powders in large bowl
until combined. Whisk eggs, sour
cream & yogurt together & pour
into dry mixture. Add melted
butter & stir to combine. Mix
cheeses into mixture & pour into
prepared Bundt pan, spreading
evenly to edges. Bake 50-55
minutes until a toothpick inserted
close to center comes out clean.
Remove from oven & cool 10
minutes before slicing. Serves 8
(recipe: 12tomatoes.com)
=======================
Our weather is now typical Fall in Michigan –
temperatures in the 50’s & 60’s (although
it’s supposed to get up into the 70’s later
in the week – YAY!).
Knit project wise: still working on ONE baby
blanket in my old Plume pattern (lime green) –
have about 1/4th done. Finally made an
executive decision last night & ripped out
another baby blanket I’d been working on;
not really fond of pattern and kept making
big mistakes 10-12 rows BELOW where I’d
been working – time for that one TO GO!
I know I’ve got tons of patterns so it won’t
be difficult to start another one (this one
was a baby teal yarn). Working on one scarf
for homeless – really pretty yarn I obtained
from a yarn swap (variegated colors of tans,
greys & white).
Went to the library today to pick up some
books I had on hold and saw a new flyer:
they will be starting a KNIT GROUP at my
local library Weds. 10-12p.m. starting in
January. (I nicely asked if they would mind
my putting my business card by their
display and they said NO – kinda expected
that. My group meets in the evening, theirs
during the day – oh well….) I ‘did’ think of
attending their group just to see what it’s
like – we’ll see. Their flyer said bring your
own supplies, so it sort of sounds like my
group except they don’t offer any help –
will consider…later.
Hope you are enjoying your day – it’s
really sunny & breezy out today – in
low 60’s (had to get gas & go to library
so I got to enjoy it a little).
Hugs;
Pammie
