Here we are in the beginning of April – it’s very nicely sunny out, not very breezy and 32 degrees F., a light dusting of snow on the ground. It seems to be the ‘norm’ lately for us to get a light dusting almost every day – good thing is: it melts! Looking at the coming week, snow again Monday night/Tuesday morning and again on Thursday. Oh well – living in Michigan all my life, you come to sort of EXPECT it!
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Brown Sugar Caramel Pound Cake
1 1/2 C. butter, softened
2 C. light brown sugar, packed
1 C. granulated sugar
5 large eggs
3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. whole milk
1 (8 oz) bag toffee chips
1 C. pecans, chopped
=
Caramel Drizzle:
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed
milk
1 C. brown sugar
2 T. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
–
Preheat oven 325 degrees F.
Spray (12 C.) Bundt cake pan with
nonstick cooking spray (or grease &
dust with flour). Beat butter until
creamy; add sugars, beating until
fluffy. Add eggs, one-at-a-time. In
medium bowl combine flour, baking
powder & salt. Add flour mixture to
batter, alternately, with milk – beat
until just combined. Stir in toffee
chips & pecans – spoon batter into
prepared pan & bake 85 minutes
until a wooden toothpick inserted
near center comes out clean.
NOTE: To prevent excess browning,
cover cake with foil while baking.
Let cake cool in pan 10 minutes.
Remove from pan & let cool
completely on wire rack. Prepare
Caramel drizzle & spoon over cooled
cake.
Caramel Drizzle:
In medium saucepan combine cond.
milk & brown sugar – bring to boil over
medium-high heat, whisking frequently.
Reduce heat, simmer 8 minutes, whisking
frequently. Remove from heat; whisk in
butter & vanilla. Let cool 5 minutes
before using.
NOTE: Make sure to drizzle the caramel
while STILL HOT
(recipe: cookandbliss.com)
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Crockpot Ham & Cheddar Quiche
2 refrigerated pie crusts
2 1/2 C. shredded Cheddar cheese,
divided
1 C. chopped, cooked ham
4 green onions, chopped (plus
extra for garnish)
6 eggs
1 C. whipping cream
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
(optional: 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg)
–
Lightly spray insides of crockpot with
nonstick cooking spray. Arrange pie
crusts in bottom of crockpot – trim
crust should overlap slightly & be
about 2 inches up sides. Cover &
cook crust 1 1/2 hours on High. Evenly
arrange cheese, green onions & ham
over crust. In a bowl mix eggs, whipping
cream, salt/pepper (& nutmeg, if using)
pour into pie crust & sprinkle remaining
cheese on top. Cover & cook on High
an additional 1 1/2 hours until filling
is set completely. Uncover – let stand
5 minutes. Garnish with additional
chopped green onions, if desired.
Serves 6
(recipe: recipesthatcrock.com)
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Breakfast for Dinner
1 lb. ground pork sausage,
browned/drained
1/2 C. green onions, chopped
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded/
diced
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 C. Bisquick baking mix
1 dozen eggs, beaten
1 C. milk
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a 3 quart casserole dish
with nonstick cooking spray. Layer
cooked sausage, onions, peppers,
tomatoes & cheese. In large bowl
whisk remaining ingredients &
pour over casserole in dish. Bake,
uncovered, 55-60 minutes until
set & top is golden. Let stand
10 minutes before serving.
Serves 6-8
(recipe: gooseberrypatch.com)
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Chicken Puffs (appetizers)
2 (3 oz, ea) pkgs. cream cheese,
softened
3 T. butter, melted/divided
1 1/2 C. diced, cooked chicken
2 T. milk
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 T. minced onion
2 T. diced pimentos
2 (8 oz, ea) tubes crescent rolls
–
Preheat oven 350 degrees F.
Spray a baking sheet with
nonstick cooking spray.
In large bowl mix cream cheese &
2 T. melted butter. Add chicken,
milk, garlic powder, salt/pepper,
minced onion & pimentos – mix
well. Separate each pkg. rolls into
four rectangles. Spoon chicken
filling into center of each rectangle,
distributing filling evenly – bring
ends up, pinch closed & twist; brush
each with 1 T. melted butter. Place puffs
on prepared sheet & bake 12-15 minutes
until golden brown. Serves 8
Note: You can use all white meat
chicken/all dark or a combination
of both.
(recipe: mrfood.com)
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Spring Chicken Pasta Salad
8 oz. penne pasta, cooked accordg.
to pkg. directions – slightly cooled
1 (7 oz) container prepared pesto
sauce
2 C. cooked chicken chunks
4 plum tomatoes, cut into chunks
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 T. pine nuts
–
In large bowl place pasta; add pesto
sauce & toss to coat. Add remaining
ingredients (except pine nuts) &
toss until thoroughly combined.
Cover & chill 1 hour. Before serving,
sprinkle top with pine nuts.
Serves 4
(recipe: mrfood.com)
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15-minute Ham Fried Rice
1 C. cooked/chopped ham
2 bags Steamfresh White Rice
with veggies – cooked (Uncle
Ben’s)
2 eggs
salt/pepper, to taste
soy sauce, optional
–
Heat ham in large skillet; add
cooked rice w/veggies. Make
a well in center of skillet & add
the eggs, salt/pepper – scramble
eggs in center & gradually mix into
rice/ham mixture. Serve with
soy sauce, if desired. Serves 4
(recipe: goodenessgracious.com)
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Crunchy Cinnamon French Toast
4 eggs
1 C. milk
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 C. crushed corn flakes cereal
about 12-14 slices bread –
your choice; Texas toast works
very well)
–
Heat a large frying pan or skillet
to medium heat & spray with
nonstick cooking spray (or use
1 T. butter to coat pan). Pour
crushed cereal into a pie plate.
In a medium bowl mix eggs, milk,
cinnamon & nutmeg – transfer to
another pie plate. Dip 1 slice bread
into egg mixture to coat, then dip
in corn flakes. Place coated bread
in skillet & cook until both sides
are light brown, about 2 minutes
for each slice. Serves 8
(recipe: ourtableforseven.com)
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Later today husband & I are going to a
“Farewell” lunch/dinner for a couple
who’ve been in our Sunday School class
a good 15+ years – they’re moving down
South to be with their kids & grands. We
were asked to bring a main dish + a side
or dessert. I have a terrible time deciding
what to bring (I know-right? All the recipes
I post/view per week…oh well). I finally
decided on a bucket of Kentucky Fried
Chicken and a Blueberry Pudding Cake
(bought it – already made). I know there
will be tons of various salads and probably
lots of desserts. Some people do the big
crockpot of spaghetti or Tuna Noodle –
not really fond of either. I figured most
people like fried chicken and I cut the
cake into small pieces (you always want
to try SEVERAL desserts, right?). The
best thing is: I don’t have to cook dinner!
(not guessing there will be any leftovers
of the chicken). I’ve also learned with
all these dinners – make/buy something
YOU like, cause you’ll probably end up
bringing some home (I love the blueberry
cake thing – wink).
Well, we’ve had a rather relaxing week of
“Son NOT moving back home” – that sounds
terrible, but we’ve gotten into a rather
comfy ‘niche and really didn’t want to add a
CAT to our comfort. I like cats but – (I’ll leave
it at that).
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend –
take a nice rest/nap, eat/drink something
that makes you feel comfy – take a little
time for YOU!
Hugs;
Pammie
Everything looks so delicious, the pound cake, can’t wait to try it out.