Too Busy to Be Unprepared
My friend Roxanne shared this wonderful recipe with me!
Clean whole chicken. Take fresh rosemary sprigs, 1/2 lemon, 1/2 onion, 1/2 stick butter and stuff cavity with ingredients. Sprinkle cracked pepper and kosher salt on outside of bird, Place breast side down in deep dish.
Cook 1 1/2 hrs at 350 uncovered.
12 large jalapeños, cored, seeded and slit down one side
1 – 8 oz. bar cream cheese
1/4 c. freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
24 little smokies
12 pieces thickly sliced bacon, cut in half
24 toothpicks
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 t. ground cardamom
1/2 T. freshly ground pepper
Cut cream cheese into 12 equal parts. Roll each part in shredded cheddar and stuff one in each jalapeño. Also place two little smokies in each jalapeño. Wrap each jalapeño in the 2 halves of one slice of bacon, using toothpicks to secure the bacon.
In a separate dish, blend pepper, cardamom and brown sugar. Roll each wrapped-jalapeño in this mixture and place on a wire rack in cookie sheet, which is lined with foil. When finished gently spoon remaining brown sugar mixture over each one.
Bake for 30 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Enjoy!
Grocery List
jalapeños
cream cheese
sharp cheddar cheese
little smokies
bacon
toothpicks
brown sugar
ground cardamom
black pepper
Approximate Cost: $6.76
1.5 lbs. flank steak
8 oz. baby bella mushrooms
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
6 slices bacon
4 cloves garlic
1 1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. black pepper, freshly ground
1 1/2 T. Grill Mates Montreal Steak seasoning
a few toothpicks
In a food processor, finely process mushrooms, bacon, onion, 1/2 t. salt and garlic. Cook in a frying pan over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring every two minutes and constantly the last minute.
Lay out steak, salting it evenly. Spread cooked stuffing mixture evenly over the top of each steak. Slowly roll each piece and use 2 toothpicks for each steak to hold the roll together. Place in an oblong baking dish.
Cook at 375 degrees in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Serves 6-8.
Grocery List
flank steak
baby bella mushrooms
onion
bacon
garlic
salt
black pepper
Grill Mates Montreal Steak seasoning
toothpicks
Approximate Cost: $10.00
2 egg whites
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. butter, melted
In mixer, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in flour and butter until just blended. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw two 7 inch circles on the paper. Drop 3 T. batter in the center of each circle. Spread batter to the edge of the circle. Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
Place the cookies, bottom side up on a paper towel-lines work surface. To shape cone, begin with one edge and roll cookie a third of the way toward the center. Roll a third of the opposite side over the rolled portion. Shape top cone. Place seam-side down on a wire rack to cool. May need to return the second cookie to the oven for 1-2 minutes if necessary to roll. Repeat with remaining batter to make four more cones. Makes 6 cones. From Taste of Home’s June/ July 2005 catalog. Goes well with Homemade Peach Ice Cream and Homemade Vanilla or Chocolate Ice Cream.
Groceries
eggs
sugar
flour
butter
Approximate Cost: $1.75
2 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening or butter
4 eggs
1 c. sour cream
3 c. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking soda
6 very ripe bananas, mashed (2 1/2 c.)
1 T. vanilla extract
Frosting:
6 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. brewed, strong black coffee
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans and set aside. Cream together the sugar and shortening or butter. It will be dry and crumbly. Add the eggs and beat well. Mix in the sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and baking soda. Add to the creamed mixture and beat well. Add the mashed bananas and vanilla extract and mix well. Divide evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Check the cakes partway through baking and swap the pans around in the oven, top to bottom, bottom to top. Cool a few minutes and remove from pans. Finish cooling on a wire rack. This cake freezes very well if you’d like to bake it ahead of time to frost later. Wrap each layer in waxed paper and plastic wrap. There is no need to thaw before frosting the cake; it actually frosts quite nicely while the layers are still a bit frozen.
Frosting: Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa together into a large bowl. Add the softened butter and mix on very low speed until they are incorporated. Add the coffee and mix until smooth.
Tip: Icing Layer Cakes– Choose the smoothest layer for the top layer of the cake. To keep your plate clean while icing the cake, place four strips of waxed paper 1/2” under the cake, extending over the sides of the plate. Just pull them out when you’re finished. Put about 1/4” of frosting between each layer of cake. Frost the sides next, and the top of the cake last.
From Bill of Penzey’s Spices. We love their spices and have used them for over 16 years now.
Grocery List
sugar
butter
eggs
sour cream
all-purpose flour
baking soda
bananas
vanilla extract
powdered sugar
cocoa powder
butter
coffee
Approximate Cost: $9.33