What do You do When You Don't Have Oatmeal

I was hungry for Apple Crisp, and we had a bunch of apples that needed to be used up before they go bad. So I got out some of my trusted cookbooks to look for a good recipe. I found one in my Betty Crocker Cookbook that I got for a wedding present from my Mother-in-law 32 years ago. Anyway, as I collecting all the ingredients, I realized that I did not have any oatmeal; What am I going to do? I didn't want to go to the store just for one item, so I looked around in the pantry to see what I had. I then saw Oatmeal to Go in several varieties, so I decided on the Oatmeal Raisin. I place 4 of these bars into the microwave to heat them for 1 minute, then crumbled them in the flour sugar mixture. So, if you don't have oatmeal around, you can almost improvise and use something else. Just use your imagination.

Comfort Food

Growing up, I remember my mother making a pot of beans with ham or bacon. Man were they good. But being a diabetic, I have to watch my carbs. However, this recipe is a good meal because I add lots of veggies to this. Sometimes, I leave out the ham or bacon and just make it vegetarian meal. You get your protein from the beans, and vitamins from the veggies - therefore it is a healthly meal.

So here is the recipe that I improved from my mother.

Ham and Navy Bean Soup

• 1 pound navy beans rinsed
  
• 1 cup of chopped ham or 6 slices bacon cooked
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1cup chopped celery
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  
• 1Tablespoon olive oil
• 1Tablespoon butter
• 8 cups of chicken broth ( you can use chicken bouillon, 8 cups water with 4 bouillons)
• salt and pepper
• two escarole lettuce (this is an Italian lettuce)
  

I never soak the beans overnight , just rinse them and put them in cold chicken broth and cook them.

1. Melt butter in olive oil. Add onions, carrots, celery, and garlic; cook until tender.
2. Add the veggie mixture to the beans.
3. If you want this to be vegetarian, don't add the ham or bacon, but if you want meat, this is a good time to add it.
4. Bring the beans to a boil, then turn down to a simmer (on an electric stove, that would be a 2. On a gas stove, you have to judge it). If you are using a slow cooker, just put it on high for two hours, then turn it to low.
5. It usually takes about 3 -4 hours for this to cook.
6. Now, I like to make mine spicy so I add about 2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and sometimes 1 small can of green chiles.
7. Just before the beans are done (about 1/2 hour before) chop up the escarole lettuce and put in the soup. It will cook down. If you don't have escarole, you may use spinach, which makes this very good.

This meal is great on a cold day and you can serve cornmeal and a salad or fruit to make this meal complete. Enjoy.

Lost Another Bet

Well, I did it again- when will I learn? I think I like betting so I can cook. I made another bet with Andy, but this time I lost (Stupid Giants). So, For Valentine's Day, I am planning an elaborate dinner for my favorite people. The menu is going to be a surprise. I notice all our bets involve food; but that is a good thing because you have really good fellowship.

I haven't posted to many recipes, but I am going through my files and trying to find some good comfort food recipes, and ones you can take camping with you. I have found out by camping with our good friends the Williams and Ruffetts that you can cook anything while camping as you do at home. We went camping with Sharon and Mike (we missed you Andy and Susan), and Mike made a Mexican pot roast while Sharon fixed tortilla soup. Both was great considering that it was colder than usual when we go camping. I must get Mike to post that recipe.

Well, I promise to do another recipe the next time I write

Dinner Was a Success

Well, both Andy and I survived each other while cooking this delicious dinner for our best friends. Neither of us like lamb, but we fixed it for those who do; but we did have our hot dogs.
Andy was late, so I started fixing the cake, but by the time the brie was done, and I was about to put the cake in the oven, he showed up. He did make the rolls and hot dog buns. I did some research on how to roast lamb and what spices to use. I made a mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, Italian spices, black pepper and Sea salt. I sprinkled the mixture on the lamb chops and let them marinate over night. On the dinner menu, we made brie, tomato/ mozzarella salad, and a relish tray. For the main course, we had crown lamb, asparagus with a sauce, roasted potatoes with olive oil, Italian spices, black pepper, and sea salt. and for dessert, we made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. We did get some rave review on the meal. To be honest, I will be very glad to fix an elaborate meal for the great friends we have.

By the way, Scott is making a lamb stew for the camping trip this weekend, which I am looking forward to. Hope the weather is cooperative.

Homemade Bread

I asked Scott to get me a bread making cookbook for Christmas for I wanted to learn how to make Artisan breads; and he did. However, I have this one recipe that I got from my boss at the church where I assist in the Wednesday night dinners (my job is to make salads). I have perfected this bread so I would like to share the recipe and the changes I have made for this bread.

• 6 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast or 1 packet
  
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups water ( 90 -110 degrees)

1. Put the first 5 ingredients in a mixer with a hook. Turn the mixer on the 1st speed (Might say stir on your mixer if you have a kitchenaid).
   
2. Mix together until flour is like cornmeal.
3. Slowly at the water until it is mixed together.
4. After it is mixed together, turn the speed to 4 and mix until it pulls away from the wall of the bowl.
   
5. Mix for 5 minutes. You will have a soft dough
   
6. Place dough in a well greased bowl ( you can use cooking spray) and cover. Place in a warm place with no draft. ( oven is a perfect place, but make sure that it is off).
7. When the dough has doubled in size ( about 1 hour), take it out of the bowl and place on a floured surface.
8. Knead the dough until it has absorbed the flour. Smooth it out and with a rolling pin, roll the dough until it is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. At this time you may use a biscuit cutter to make rolls; or you can mold the dough into an oblong roll to fit in a bread or loaf pan.
9. Let the dough rise a second time (1/2 - 1 hour). Keep it in a draft free area.
10. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If making rolls, bake for 30 minutes, and if making bread loaves, bake for 45-50 minutes.

After you have mastered this, you might want to experiment on making cloverleaf rolls (use a small round cookie cutter to make small balls; place three in a greased muffin pan. Bake as if you are making rolls) I also use this to make hot dog buns, just have to find the right cutter for these.

Let me know if you have tried this and if you have any ideas.

A New Camper's Recipe

I have a wonderful recipe for you campers and non campers. This is an easy Bisquick Recipe. I make this every time we go camping for easy pancakes or biscuits.

• 8 cups of all purpose flour
• 3 Tablespoons of baking powder
• 2 sticks butter
• 1 Tablespoon salt

Mix all of this together with a pastry blender , fork or your clean hands until the mixture is the consistency of coarse cornmeal. Place in a gallon storage bag; and now it is ready whenever you are. I can't tell you how long it will keep because I use it up so quickly.

You will need to add about 1 cup of milk or buttermilk for 2 cups of bisquick for making biscuits. If you are to make pancakes, you will need to eggs, 2cups bisquick and two cups of milk or buttermilk. There is no limit in using this - use the recipes off the bisquick box.
If you have any other ideas, just let me know.

The Bet was a Tie

I am a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, and I have a good buddy who is a fan of Jacksonville Jaguars. We made a bet this year about these two teams. The bet was if the Colts lost both games to the Jags, then I would cook him a dinner of his choice, but if the Colts beat the Jags, then he would have to cook a dinner for me of my choice. In reality, this would have been a win- win situation for the both of us since we both love hot dogs or hamburgers. However, if the two teams split, which they did, then he and I would have to cook a dinner together for our spouses and a few friends. This is what happened. The Jags won the first game by a field goal in Indianapolis, but when the Colts came here to Jacksonville, they slaughtered the Jags. This made Scott and Susan as well as the close friends very happy because they were not going to settle for hot dogs or hamburgers. Instead, The spouses, especially Susan being it close to her birthday decided that she wanted Lamb; and Scott liking lamb also, agreed that would be a better meal. So here is the menu for our guests. Lamb, Roasted potatoes, Asparagus, and Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting.
Now Andy is going to be Sous Chef while I am going to be the Big Chef. I hope that there will not be a lot of pans or flour flying all over my new kitchen. We shall see.
However, I am looking forward to this.
Oh, by the way, Andy and I are going to have our hot dogs while the rest are going to have their lamb. Who said that we can't have cake and eat it, too...