Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Crunchy Broccoli Casserole

My friends Shelley and Parker often cook most of their food for the week - on Sunday.  They are both busy at work during the week, and they like to plan ahead.  I was visiting last weekend, when this yummy thing came out of the oven.  And of course, I asked if I could taste it.  I love the flavor... and especially the crunch.  I made it for my family the next night!


Crunchy Broccoli Casserole

1st layer - 1 head of broccoli, blanched (cook for just about five minutes in boiling water, rinse w/cold)
2nd layer - 1 cup cheese crackers (all I had was Goldfish - would probably use Cheez-Its)
3rd layer - 1 small pkg slivered almonds
4th layer - Mix: 1 can cream of mushroom soup (I used cream of onion), 1/2  cup of shredded cheese,
1 small  2 oz jar diced pimento, 1 Tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 cup mayonnaise

Spray medium size baking dish (I used an oval French Corning Ware) and add in the four layers.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until bubbly and browning around the edge.

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Sunday, July 27, 2014

Blueberry Cream Cheese Butter Cake

I think this recipe caught my eye on Facebook - I actually don't remember. Wherever it was.... it connected me to The Southern Lady Cooks.   I don't normally make fruit cakes or fruit desserts because my girls always want chocolate.  Chris likes fruity desserts but he doesn't always say a whole lot - like the girls.  In fact, when I made this dessert, our middle daughter Jenna said, " Mom, what is this?  This isn't a typical Routh dessert!  Fruit?  walnuts?"  A friend came over and I offered her a piece of cake (the friends know that we usually have yummies around) and Jenna said, "Just know that this isn't a typical Routh Dessert!"  SO funny - these girls!

Anyway, so much as to say, this cake was really yummy.  The tart and sweet was especially good.  It was was gooey and moist - reminded me of a pudding cake that you can sometimes buy in the grocery store.  I did refrigerate it after a couple of days and Chris enjoyed it everyday for breakfast and for a late night treat.  Jenna, on the other hand, only had one bite.  I made her a batch of Everything Cookies 
\the next day - a family favorite!!

The glaze was tart and fabulous.  I had so much... that it was overflowing.  Plan to have a larger plate or poke bigger holes than I did.

P.S.  My preschool teachers gave me a silicone bundt pan a couple of years ago - LOVE IT!!  I can't tell you how easy it is to get the cake out - no more worrying about a bundt cake sticking!!


Blueberry Cream Cheese Butter Cake (adapted from The Southern Lady Cooks)

1 box Kroger Butter Recipe Cake Mix
3 eggs
2/3 cup evaporated milk (small can)
1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
3.5 oz box of Vanilla Instant Pudding and Pie Filling
1   8 oz pkg of cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup water
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray your pan well - with a floured baking spray.  In a mixing bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, and eggs.  Mix well with mixer.  Add milk and melted butter, cream cheese, water and continue mixing.  Batter will be thick.  Fold in blueberries and walnut pieces.  Pour into well greased pan.  Bake for 55 - 60 minutes or until center is cooked.  Run a knife around the edges.  Let stand 15- 20 minutes before removing from the pan.  Poke holes in cake with a toothpick and pour glaze over cake.  Use remaining glaze to pour over each individual piece.

Glaze:

1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar (more or less to get right consistency)

Mix ingredients in a small bowl stirring with a whisk until well combined and desired consistency.

Printable Version

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti

I don't make fancy spaghetti.  My version is usually just a quick dinner for during the week.  I was looking around the internet and found this yummy version.  Chris has been enjoying cream cheese on his pizza lately - with his standard pepperoni and jalepeno.  Cream cheese is a fabulous addition to pizza - so I figured let's try it in spaghetti.  Nothing like a little added fat and calories - right?  We eat grilled chicken and roasted vegetables most nights of the week anyway!!

I thought it was a fabulous spaghetti!  It was still easy since I used jarred sauce.  I made mine with ground beef but I think I would like some Italian sausage mixed in.  I always sprinkle the top with some Italian seasoning to give it lots of good extra flavor.

I found this recipe over at Gonna Want Seconds.  Visit Kathleens blog.  Her picture of this meal is better than mine - her family votes this recipe their favorite spaghetti!  Give it a try!!

Also, I doubled this recipe and froze an extra pan for later.  I love doing this.  I just didn't top with Parmesan or the French Fried Onion Rings.


Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti (adapted from Gonna Want Seconds)

8 oz dried spaghetti, cooked according to pkg directions(don't rinse - toss with a little olive oil to keep                                                                  it from sticking together)
1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage or a mix)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1   24 oz jar of favorite spaghetti sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup diced sweet red bell pepper
1/2 cup diced yellow onion
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature, cubed
2 Tbsp milk
1 - 11/2 cups Parmesan Cheese - shredded
Italian Seasoning
1 cup French Fried Onions

Preheat oven to 350.  Cook Spaghetti according to package directions.  In a large skillet, brown meat with oregano and salt and pepper, drain fat, add tomato sauce and set aside.  In another medium skillet, heat the olive oil to medium high heat, add peppers and onions and saute until tender.  Add cream cheese and milk and stir until well combined.  Set aside.  Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.  Pour about 1/2 cup of meat/sauce mixture in the bottom of the pan.  Layer all of the spaghetti next- spreading it out evenly.  Spread all of the cream cheese/veggie mixture next, spreading it out evenly. Next, add the rest of the meat sauce and spread it evenly over the top.  Now, sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese and Italian seasoning.  Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes.  Take out of oven and sprinkle with French Fried Onions - bake for another five minutes - watching so onions don't burn.  Enjoy!

Printable Version

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Coconut Cream Pound Cake

Chris and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary on Sunday, June 29th.  I made a cake to celebrate!  Everyone in our family likes pound cake .... and coconut.  I searched and found this Coconut Cream Pound Cake on All-Recipes.  It sounded like exactly what I was looking for.  It was perfect - dense, yummy, buttery, coconutty - we enjoyed it all week.  I think Chris ate a piece for breakfast everyday with his coffee.  Yummy!


Coconut Cream Pound Cake (adapted from All Recipes)

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,
softened
3 cups white sugar
6 eggs

DIRECTIONS:
1.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
2.In a large bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese until well blended. Add sugar, and beat until light and fluffy. Blend in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the coconut extract. Mix in flour and baking powder until just moistened, then stir in coconut. Spoon batter into the prepared pan.
3.Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.

Printable Version
1 teaspoon coconut extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flaked coconut

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Salted Nut Roll Bars

Hi friends - I apologize for not posting as much this summer.  My girls are all home and I just want to spend as much time with them as possible.  I am still cooking a lot - just not always trying new recipes.  If you are new to my blog - please visit back to some of my first-posted recipes.  These are some of my favorite.

Here are a few reminders that I have been making this summer....Chili Cheese Frito and Corn Salad, Some Great Pasta, Sausage Pinwheels, Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Corn and Cucumber Salsa.  I made Chris' favorite Banana Pudding ,,,,,and Mexican Cornbread is a favorite stand-by.   Also, please try the Black Bean and Corn Salsa and Craisen Salad this summer.  And, I made King Ranch Casserole this week - another favorite Mexican dish!  We are making these yummy RIBS today.....

My friend Amy made these fun bars for a pool party last weekend.  I loved how yummy and easy they are.  This is an easy no-bake recipe like Scotch-a-Roos.  I have been trying to not each much sugar - well these little babies about did me in last Saturday.  I kept taking a little bite.... and another little bite - you know what I mean.  They just hit the spot.  I love that I can just keep these items on hand and whip this up anytime!


Salted Nut Roll Bars

16 oz peanuts (I used dry roasted)
3 Tbsp butter
1 pkg peanut butter chips
1  14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1  10 oz bag mini-marshmallows

Grease a 9 x 13 bars.  Sprinkle half of the peanuts in the bottom of the pan.  In a saucepan or in the microwave, melt butter and peanut butter chips.  Add condensed milk and stir til mixed.  Take from stove (or MW) and stir in marshmallows and toss til coated.  Pat mixture down into peanuts in pan - until you have a layer of marshmallow mixture on top of peanuts.  Top with the rest of peanuts and pat firmly down into marshmallow mixture with a spatula.  Chill to firm.  Cut and enjoy!

Printable Version