Sweet And Sour Sauce for Canning

Okay so if you have an over abundance of tomatoes and you are not in the mood for salsa try this fabulous recipe out. Thanks to a friend "JEAN" for sharing this recipe. I used my food processor to chop the onions and tomatoes I left the green peppers in bigger chunks for all the great flavor but the ability for picky eaters to remove them .

MANDARIN SAUCE FOR CANNING
(printable Version)

MANDARIN SAUCE for canning  (A great sweet & sour sauce)
 
8C. blended tomatoes (wash blanch and peel them, throw in the blender
3 C. chopped tomatoes (peeled and chopped, added mostly for texture)
4 C. chopped onions 

4 C. green peppers 
2-20oz. cans pineapple tidbits (save the juice to mix with the thickener)
5 C. sugar
8 TB. soy sauce
3 C. vinegar
1 C. Clear jell or ultra-jell 
1 C. cold water (to mix with thickener)
 
Put all ingredients together except pineapple juice and water and 
cornstarch.  Heat in large pan to boiling, stirring frequently.  
Gradually add the juice, water and clear jell/ultra jell that you have mixed 
together in a separate bowl.  Cook until thickened, stirring 
continually.  Fill your sterile canning jars, leaving 1/2" headspace.  
Put on lids tightly.  Process 35 minutes in water-bath canner. 

For a quick meal heat up with some cut-up leftover meat and heat until nice and 
hot, serve over rice, and add some crunchy Chinese noodles if you want. It works well

with any sweet and sour dish. 

Creamed Potatoes and Peas

If your looking for a different potato dish to serve as a side this one is a good option. My oldest daughter shared this recipe on her blog. The good news is that it is also a very frugal recipe with no fancy ingredients.

Creamed Peas and New Potatoes   ( courtesy of Budget Bites)

 

(Printable Version)

1-1/2 pounds (about 15) tiny new potatoes (we used yukon gold, just peel and dice them any potato would work)

1 to 1-1/2 cups fresh peas (we used frozen peas; this would also equate to about 1 or 1-1/2 pounds shelled peas)

3 Tbl sliced green onion

4 tsp butter or margarine (we prefer butter)

4 tsp flour

1 cup milk

(salt and pepper to taste)

Scrub potatoes; pare off narrow strip of peel around center of each. Cook in boiling salted water 15 to 20 minutes; drain. Meanwhile, cook peas and onion (I Preferred to saute my onion and add in with the peas after they were cooked )in small amount of boiling salted water 8 to 15 minutes; drain. Make a white sauce of butter, flour, dash salt, and milk.(Simply melt the butter and stir in the flour and cook for a minute or 2. Slowly stir in the milk wisk as you go and heat until thickened). Combine vegtetabes and sauce (and season with salt and pepper to taste). Serves 4 to 6.

German Pancakes

 This is a great version of German Pancakes. Enjoy we sure did!!


German Pancakes
(printable version)

Yield 2  9-inch pancakes.
4 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup flour, sifted
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons soft butter
Heat oven to 400°F. Butter two 9-inch cake pans well. Put eggs in blender container, cover and process at “stir” until light yellow in color. Push “mix” button, remove cover and add remaining ingredients; process until smooth. Pour into prepared pans and bake 20 minutes; then reduce heat to 350°F and bake 10 minutes.

Crunchy Parmesan Chicken

Looking for a great chicken dish and short on time. This dish is for you!!! Pair it with rice, pasta or fresh garden veggies and your family will love it. Check out the Food Nanny on Byu TV. She has some great recipes and ideas. Thanks to my friend Mary for sharing this with me.

Food Nanny's Crunchy Parmesan Baked Chicken

(Printable Version )

2/3 Cup Buttermilk or Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
2 Cups Plain Panko Crumbs
1/2 Cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Teaspoons garlic Salt
2 Pounds of boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders
1/3 Cup butter
.

1. Preheat Oven to 400* Grease an oblong baking pan (I used a Pampered Chef stoneware Bar Pan)
2. Pour the buttermilk or ranch dressing into a wide, shallow dish or pie plate. Mix the Panko, parmesan cheese, and garlic salt in another shallow dish. Roll each piece of chicken in the buttermilk and then the panko mixture to coat.
3. Arrange the chicken pieces in the prepared pan. Melt the butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave and drizzle over all the chicken pieces. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is tender and no longer pink. Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper to taste

Amish White Bread

 I went  looking for a great 2 loaf white bread recipe and found this one . It was great addition to our Sunday meal.  It is easy to make and has a slightly sweet taste.

Amish White Bread  (printable version)

Ingredients

• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups bread flour ( I used 5 )

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time.( This is important as the recipe called for 6 cups but I only ended up using 5 ). Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

Swiss Steak

We have been eating lots of garden veggies at our house the last two weeks. My son requested requested something with MEAT. This recipe was a compromise ,we used garden peppers and onions, I also added some fresh corn. This recipe fit the requests perfectly. 

Swiss Steak  (Printable Version)

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Ingredients

• 1 round steak (approximately 1 1/2 pounds), see note
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (14-1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 medium onion, cut into strips
• 1 medium bell pepper, cut into strips

Directions

Cut steak into serving-size pieces. Season, to taste, with garlic powder and salt and pepper. Dust meat with flour. In heavy skillet, brown both sides of meat in vegetable oil. Transfer to Dutch oven. Combine garlic, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and 1 tomato-can measure of water. Pour over steak and simmer over low heat until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours adding water, if necessary to keep meat partially covered. Season, to taste, with additional salt and pepper.

Hint: Cook this in a slow-cooker, according to manufacturers instructions, on low for a most fabulous dinner. Low heat on a slow cooker is about 200 degrees F and high heat on a slow cooker is about 300 degrees F.


Note: to ensure tenderness, it is necessary to have the butcher run the round steak through a cuber.

Cucumber Salad

Another garden fresh recipe for you to enjoy.

Cucumbers can vary in their level of bitterness. Usually the older the more bitter, and the seeds are often more bitter than the flesh. Once you cut into a cucumber, taste it. If bitter, scrape or cut away the seeds. You might also want to soak the chopped cucumber in salt water to help offset the bitterness. The cucumbers we get are usually fine as is, but I have had some bitter ones. With regards to peeling, we almost always peel our cucumbers, but there are some varieties with thin, mild peels that you don't need to peel. Taste first if there is a question.

Cucumber Salad

From Simply Recipes

(Printable Version)

Ingredients

• 1-2 large cucumbers (or 4-5 lemon cucumbers), peeled, quartered lengthwise, then sliced crosswise
• 1-2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill, basil, or Thai basil*( I used fresh basil)
• 2-3 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

*To chop the basil, chiffonade it by stacking the leaves on top of each other, rolling them up like a cigar, and taking thin slices from one end to the other.

Method

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, toss to coat. Serve immediately, or make ahead (up to a couple of hours) and chill.
Serves 2-4

Ratatouille

Are you experiencing vegetable overload ? I am gratefully getting an ample supply of summer veggies from our garden. I sought out this recipe and substituted with the veggies I had on hand . The result was perfect. The kids thought it was great and then requested to watch the Disney movie "Ratatouille" before bed. This is a flavorful side or maindish. Enjoy!!

Ratatouille

(printable version)

John Ratzenberger's Ratatouille:

    ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    1 large onion, chopped into chunks
    3 garlic cloves, minced
    1 small red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
    1 small yellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares
    1 small green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch squares ( I only had green today so I used 2)
   1½ pounds fresh tomatoes coarsely chopped (leave in skins and seeds or you can substitute 15 oz can of diced tomatoes)
   1 small can tomato paste
   ½ teaspoon dried thyme
   ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
   1 teaspoon dried basil
   1 dried bay leaf
   1 teaspoon salt
   ½ teaspoon pepper
   1 medium eggplant, unpeeled, cut into chunks (didn't have an eggplant so I used some Patty Pan squash)
   2 average zucchini, unpeeled, cut into chunks

Heat oil in a large pot with a heavy bottom over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent, then add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Once onions are a light golden color, add peppers and cook for five minutes. Mix in tomatoes, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, basil, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Then add eggplant and zucchini and cook for about 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until vegetables are tender -- about 30 minutes. Remove bay leaf and enjoy!
Cook's note: This dish is even better the next day!!

Make ahead S'mores

Don't you just love the Summer and camping and S'mores? I have been making these babies for awhile and they are a great alternative to the real deal when you want something fast that can be made ahead of time. These are a big hit with the young and old.

Make ahead Smores .....(printable version)

• 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk), divided
• 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate mini morsels, divided
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows
• 11 whole graham crackers, halved crosswise
• Toppings:
• chopped peanuts, candy-coated chocolate mini pieces, sprinkles

DIRECTIONS

Microwave half of Eagle Brand in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup chocolate morsels until smooth. Stir in marshmallows.

Spread evenly by heaping tablespoonfuls onto 11 graham cracker halves. Top with remaining graham cracker halves; place on wax paper.

Microwave remaining Eagle Brand at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes; stir in remaining 1/2 cup chocolate morsels, stirring until smooth. Drizzle mixture over cookies; and sprinkle with desired toppings.
If you want to make these on a stick ... Let stand for 2 hours; insert a wooden craft stick in center of each cookie

Revisiting Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

 

I have made this salad over and over again. I first posted the recipe 2 yrs. ago but I did not take a picture. So here it is again in picture form . You can find the recipe here. I did do a couple of things different this time . For one I did not have any bow tie pasta and used small shells instead. I also substituted the orange juice for the juice off the mandarin oranges. Both changes worked perfectly. This is a great salad to entertain with.