Orzo Parmesan Spinach Pasta

1 cup orzo pasta

1 Tbsp Olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

1 onion, diced

1 Tbsp flour

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups spinach, roughly chopped (I usually put in a lot more and just rip it with my hands)

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp basil (optional, but I always add it)

Bacon bits or grilled chicken (optional)

In a large pot of boiling water, cook orzo pasta according to directions on package. Drain well (orzo is a small pasta so use a small holed or mesh strainer or you'll loose it all down the sink)!

Heat olive oil in sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and cook, stirring frequently until onions have become translucent, about 3 minutes.

Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and cook, whisking constantly until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.

Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in parmesan until melted. Add orzo pasta and gently toss to combine.

This is one of our favorites. It's easy, quick and even Maxwell will eat it!

Carmel Pudding Cake

Topping
Mix and boil together
4 c. water
2 c brown sugar
4 tbls. butter
Set aside to cool slightly

Cake
1 c sugar
1 c. grated apples
2 c. flour
1 tps. nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp soda
1 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. raisins
Beat together to make batter and pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan.
Pour hot topping mix over the top and bake 375 for 45 min.

Hot Fudge Pudding

1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c sugar
2 tbls. cocoa
1/2 c milk
2 tbls. oil

Mix dry ingredients together and then add liquids.  Stir all together if it is too dry add some more milk.  Mix in a 9x9 deep pan.

Topping
1 c br. sugar firmly packed
1/4 c cocoa

Mix together until blended well and then spread over the batter.  Pour 1 3/4 c hot water over the top of it all making sure it covers all the top.  Bake 350 for 40-45 min.  Put an old pan under it because it may overflow as it bakes.

Toll House Pie

2 eggs
1/2 c flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
1 c butter melted and cooled to room temperature
1 cup chocolate chips

Beat eggs until foamy, beat in flour, sugars until well blended.  Stir in melted butter.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Pour into unbaked pie crust.  Bake 325 for 1 hour.

Sour Sauce

4 Tbls. vinegar
2/3 c water
4 tbls. sugar
1 tbls. soysauce
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp sesame oil

Whisk together until the cornstarch is dissoved.  I usually put cooked crumbled hamburger in the sauce.

Lemon Chicken

1/4 c sugar
1/2 c chicken broth
2 tbls. water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp sesame oil
1/4 c lemon juice

Put all the ingredients together and whisk until cornstarch is dissolved.  Cook chicken in chunks and then add to sauce.

Chocolate Sheath Cake

2 c flour
2 c sugar
1 stick butter (1/2c)
1/2 c shortening
4 tbls. cocoa
1 c water
1 tsp soda
dash of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 c buttermilk

Melt butter and shortening in pan  then add cocoa and water and bring to a boil.   Pour over dry ingredients and mix well.  Add eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and mix well.
Pour into a greased cookie sheet and cook 375 for 15-20 min.

Blond brownies

2 c flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c butter
2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Melt butter and then add br. sugar and beat add rest of ingredients and beat together.    Grease a 9x12 pan cook 350 for 20-25 min.

My Bread

6 c. warm water
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c oil
2 tbls. salt
2 tbls. yeast
6 cups or more of flour

Put warm water and yeast, salt, sugar together and let grow.  Add oil and then half of the flour.  Mix and keep mixing and adding flour until the dough is not sticky and can be handled.  It takes a bit of mixing to get it there.  Put on a floured surface and kneed if you are doing it by hand or not then just take dough that is mixed and put on a floured surface and shape the loaves.   Make sure to grease the loaf tins well so the bread will dump out. I usually get 4 loaves and maybe a extra one.  Let rise and then cook 350 for 35 min.  I put mine in a cold oven and it rises as the oven heats and I set the timer for 35 min. from when I put the bread in.

Banana Sticky Buns

Dough
3 1/4 c. flour
2 pkg yeast
3/4 c milk
1/2 c water
1/4 c butter
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 1/2 c bananas

Topping
3/4 butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. brown firmly packed sugar
1 tbls. corn syrup
1 tbls. water

Warm together milk, water, sugar, salt and butter and then add yeast.  Make sure it is not too warm or it will kill the yeast.   Beat eggs with a fork and add and then the flour.  Beat it all together and then add in bananas.  Cover and let rise for 30 min.  It should double in size- sometimes I put a bowl of hot water under the dough to warm it up.
While dough is rising combine the ingredients for the toppng and heat until melted  DO NOT BOIL  JUST HEAT!  Put topping in 9x12 pan and then drop the dough a tbls. at a time onto it.  Bake 375 for 20 min and then invert on a cookie sheet.

Muffins

1 egg
1 c. milk
1/2 c. oil
2 cups flour or more
1/3 sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

Mix the liquid ingredients together and then add the dry ingredients.  Mix until all the dry is gone and things are mixed well.  Cook 400 for 15-20 min.  Make sure to grease your muffin tins well so that the muffins will come out.

Navajo Tacos

2 c. flour
3 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 c warm water
1 1/2 c shortening for frying

Combine dry ingredients then add the water and stir until it makes a soft ball.  Bring shortening up to where a small piece of dough cooks when dropped in and then make balls and flatted on a floured surface and drop into oil and cook.  We usually put chili and cheese and lettuce,  or just honey and cheese or whatever you want.

Pizza Dough

1 pkg. yeast
1 c. warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 tbls. oil
2 1/2 c flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Stir in remaining ingredients,  beat for 20 strokes.  Let rest for 5 min.  Cook 425. I usually use a cookie sheet to make pizza and this will cover a cookie sheet.  Remember to grease the cookie sheet.

Refrigerator Roll Dough

1 pkg. yeast
1 1/2 c warm water
1 c lukewarm mashed potatoes (I use instant potatoes with canned milk and about 1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c sugar
2/3 c. butter shortening
2 eggs beaten with a fork
1 1/2 tsp. salt
6 to 7 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Stir in rest of ingredient and 3c. of flour.  Blend and then add rest of flour a bit at a time until you have a dough that you can handle (not sticking to your fingers).  If not using a mixer then knead for  5 min. on a floured surface or let the mixer do it for a few min.  adding flour if needed so you can handle dough.  Grease a bowl with shortening and put dough in it and then turn it over so the greased side is up- cover with saran wrap leaving room for the dough to raise.  You don't want the air to get to the rolls they will dry out. Refrigerate overnight.  Make rolls whatever shape you want and then cook 400 for 8-12 min. Do not use self rising flour.

Chocolate Apple Loaf

2 c. sugar
1 c butter (2sticks) softened
3 eggs
1/2 c water
2 1/2 c. flour
2 tbls. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 c. chocolate chips
2 cups grated apples ( I use baking apples-golden delcious)
1 tbls. vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Cream together butter and sugar, beat in eggs and water until mixture is fluffy.  Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add vanilla and chocolate chips.  Bake in two greased and floured loaf pans at 325 for 1 hour or until done. 

German Pancakes

6 eggs beaten
1 c. milk
1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
5-6 tsp butter

Beat eggs until fluffly, add rest of ingredients.  Melt butter and pour into a 9x12 cake pan  add batter and bake 450 for 15-20 min.  If you are having issues with it sticking use non stick spray on your pan then pour the butter in.

Quick Cinnamon Rolls

1/3 cup sugar
3 Tbls. yeast
1/2 C. Oil
1 1/4 cup warm water
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 tsp. salt
5 1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. melted butter
1 1/2 tbls. cinnamon
1/3 c. sugar

In large bowl mix 1/3 c. sugar, yeast, oil with warm water until dissolved.
Cover and let stand in warm place for 15 min. (yeast should grow rapidly)
Blend eggs into yeast mixture, add salt to flour and then add to yeast  mixture slowly  to make soft dough.
Knead dough 5 min. on lightly floured surface.  Roll dough into rectangular shape about 1/4 thick.
Brush dough with melted butter.  Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over dough. ( I just put butter shortening not melted but just spread it over and dough and then sprinkle the dough with cinnamon and sugar.)
Roll up and cut, place in ungreased pan,  let rise for 10 or more minutes.
Bake 425 for 10-15 min.  Frost while warm.  For the family I usually triple the receipe.